This fall we are doing a series on The Beatitudes, the series of blessings Jesus gave that are recorded in Matthew 5. Thank you for joining us for worship!
WORSHIP VIDEO: Beatitudes Week 3
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Matthew 4:23-5:4 NRSV, Isaiah 61:1-4 CEB
HYMN: "Beauty for Ashes"
OFFERINGS
God's gifts to us are abundant, and in gratitude we offer our hearts and our gifts to God. Offerings may be contributed online here, or can be mailed to the home of our church Treasurer (address in church directory).
We also invite you to consider contributing to our Mosaic Mennonite Conference Shalom Fund. This fund helps our congregations and ministries respond to members and neighbors in ways that provide support for basic and essential needs. We greatly appreciate your generous support of this ministry.
This fall we are doing a series on The Beatitudes, the series of blessings Jesus gave that are recorded in Matthew 5. Thank you for joining us for worship!
God's gifts to us are abundant, and in gratitude we offer our hearts and our gifts to God. Offerings may be contributed online here, or can be mailed to the home of our church Treasurer (address in church directory).
We also invite you to consider contributing to our Mosaic Mennonite Conference Shalom Fund. This fund helps our congregations and ministries respond to members and neighbors in ways that provide support for basic and essential needs. We greatly appreciate your generous support of this ministry.
This fall we are doing a series on The Beatitudes, the series of blessings Jesus gave that are recorded in Matthew 5. Thank you for joining us for worship!
God's gifts to us are abundant, and in gratitude we offer our hearts and our gifts to God. Offerings may be contributed online here, or can be mailed to the home of our church Treasurer (address in church directory).
We also invite you to consider contributing to our Mosaic Mennonite Conference Shalom Fund. This fund helps our congregations and ministries respond to members and neighbors in ways that provide support for basic and essential needs. We greatly appreciate your generous support of this ministry.
PREPARING OUR HEARTS & MINDS FOR WORSHIP: Sadly, the destructive acts and logic of state violence and white supremacy were on display once again this week. We will, of course, continue to pray for our country and for racial justice. But as followers of Jesus we must also witness to a different way, and our worship must make space to acknowledge the reality we inhabit. For our pre-service worship activity you are invited to watch this powerful song video titled "Rose Petals". It is a lament, it's a call to confession/repentance/action for the church, and it's a call to hope and to act for a better world. You can find the lyrics to the song here.
In his new book, Who Will Be a Witness, Dr. Drew Hart writes the following about the church and our witness as that Body. After you watch the video (above), reflect for a moment on these words:
"I am committed to the church. Yet something is terribly amiss. I refuse to accept that what typically passes for Christianity in America is the actual embodiment of the faith... The church's witness is not all doom and gloom, though. There are churches that embody God's justice, love, and deliverance for their neighbors. And encounters with actual communities that take Jesus seriously--those that love their neighbors, incorporate practices for redistributing wealth, and confront and speak truthfully to those who unjustly abuse power, as Jesus himself did--are simply breathtaking and inspiring. They offer living hope. An encounter with a community living our their baptismal identity as followers of Jesus, and opting out of power dynamics that exercise domination over others, can surprise those who witness what God is doing. Jesus desires to lead us into a better way of living with others, and when people actually live that out in community, their shared life is compelling and contagious." (25-26)
MEDITATION:
(The worship video was pre-recorded, as pastor Chris was away on vacation this week)
OFFERINGS
God's gifts to us are abundant, and in gratitude we offer our hearts and our gifts to God. Offerings may be contributed online here, or can be mailed to the home of our church Treasurer (address in church directory).
We also invite you to consider contributing to our Mosaic Mennonite Conference Shalom Fund. This fund helps our congregations and ministries respond to members and neighbors in ways that provide support for basic and essential needs. We greatly appreciate your generous support of this ministry.
SENDING BLESSING
May the grace of Christ
that daily renews our lives,
and the love of God
that enables us to love all persons,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
that unites us as one body,
make us keep to discern
and prompt to obey
the complete will of God
until we meet again, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We give thanks for God’s steadfast love and faithfulness!
Though high above all things, God sees the lowly.
Even when we are in deep trouble, God makes us live again.
The love of God lasts forever!*
HYMN: The Church's One Foundation
PRAYER TIME
Offering of Prayers: Let’s take a moment to lift your prayers to God. Whatever you have on your heart today, share it with God in this moment of silent prayer.
Prayer & Lord’s Prayer: (based on readings from Matthew 16 and Romans 12)
Gracious God, though you are know by many names and depicted in many ways, we know you most fully in Jesus Christ, our Messiah, your Son. We thank you for forming us into the church, the body of Christ in the world. Help us to live as he taught us: loving you, loving neighbor, unified in Christ, using our varied gifts and skills in the service of ministry, until all things are transformed into what is good and acceptable and perfect. In Christ’s name we ask it, and together, as Jesus taught his disciples, we pray…
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
God's gifts to us are abundant, and in gratitude we offer our hearts and our gifts to God. Offerings may be contributed online here, or can be mailed to the home of our church Treasurer (address in church directory).
We also invite you to consider contributing to our Mosaic Mennonite Conference Shalom Fund. This fund helps our congregations and ministries respond to members and neighbors in ways that provide support for basic and essential needs. We greatly appreciate your generous support of this ministry.
SENDING BLESSING
May God who restores,
Christ who calls,
and the Spirit who empowers
bless you
and increase your joy and gladness,
now and always.*
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
How would you answer Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?”
What connections do you make when you reflect on these two scripture readings?
*Adapted from Kimberly Bracken Long. Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year A, Volume 2: Trinity Sunday through Reign of Christ (p. 131-136).
Monday, September 14, 2020 at 9:21AM 
