Worship at Home: August 9, 2020

You can watch today’s service here.

If you are watching our live stream this morning, you are invited to find a candle, so that we can all light candles at the same time. 

CALL TO WORSHIP (written by Sarah Are for A Sanctified Art LLC)

When you dream, what do you dream of?
We dream of children who know love and churches with open doors.
We dream of rest and sunny days.
When you dream, what do you dream of?
We dream of peace without walls,
And equality for all people.
When you dream, what do you dream of?
We dream of milk and honey, food on tables, and an end to suffering.
We dream of the Church of Jesus Christ serving all God’s people.
Family of God,
This morning, we dream together. This morning, we worship together. For there is nothing on heaven or on earth strong enough to unravel God’s dreams for us. Let us worship Holy God.

OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray: Grant us, O Lord, the grace always to do and think what accords with your purpose; that we, who cannot exist without you, may be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

CALL TO CONFESSION

Sometimes we keep our fingers crossed and try to control the world around us, because having faith in the midst of uncertainty has never been easy for us. We ask forgiveness for the moments when we refuse to trust God. When life inevitably unravels, we ask for the strength to turn to God. That is our prayer of faith.

Please join me in the prayer of confession, followed by a silent personal prayer.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Lord of wind and waves, creation and creatures, your power is at work everywhere, stilling the storms, offering peace, lifting us up from the depths of our greatest fears. You come to us immediately when we call and yet we still lack faith in your ability and will to work within and around us. We get distracted and afraid, focused on that which threatens us rather than the One who saves us. We act out of a sense of scarcity, as if there is not enough of God’s love, grace and abundant goodness for everyone. In our anxiousness we hurt those entrusted to our care, we injure the earth we are to steward and we fail to tend your sheep. Forgive our failings and mistakes and in your mercy reform us into the people you call us to be, those blessed to be a blessing. Amen.

Moment of silent prayer–people of God, what do you confess this week? 

Assurance of Pardon (Romans 10:13)

Scripture tells us that those who call on the name of the Lord will be saved, that no one who believes in Jesus will be put to shame. Trusting this sure promise, we rejoice that God hears our confession and forgives us. Friends, believe the good news, in Christ you are a new creation, the old has passed away and a new life has begun.

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

How beautiful are the feet that bring good news. We are eager, Lord, to hear your good news, to listen to the gospel proclaimed and be changed. Open us to the leadings of your Holy Spirit that we might hear, believe and share your saving Word. Amen.

FIRST SCRIPTURE READING

Matthew 14:22-33

Jesus asked his disciples to get into the boat and go before him while he sent the crowds away. And when he had done so, he went up a mountain to pray, away from the retreating crowds. When evening fell, he was alone. But the disciples in the boat were in the middle of the sea, tormented by raging swells, for the wind was strong. Just before dawn, Jesus went to them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the rolling waves, their minds were as uneasy as the water. They cried out in fear: “Are we awake? Are we imagining a man on the water?” But Jesus called to them, saying “It’s alright! Don’t be afraid! It is me–I am here! Peter answered the call, saying, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” Jesus said, and Peter came down from the boat and walked towards Jesus on the water. But when Peter saw the strong wind, he was struck with fear and, beginning to sink into the water, he cried out, “Lord! Save me!” Immediately, Jesus stretched out his hand, grabbed Peter, and asked him, “You have a little faith. What made you waver?” When they got back into the boat, the winds grew weary of raging and there was peace on the water. The men in the boat came to Jesus to kiss his hand, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”

Consider:

• When have you felt overwhelmed by life’s storms? How did you get through it?
• When have you declared with certainty that Jesus is the Son of God? How did it help you understand all that was happening around you?
• Do you admire Peter for getting out of the boat or do you lament his doubt once he is on the water? Both?

SECOND SCRIPTURE READING

Exodus 1:22-2:10

Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, ‘Every boy that is born to the Hebrews you shall throw into the Nile, but you shall let every girl live.’

Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him for three months. When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him.

The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying, and she took pity on him. ‘This must be one of the Hebrews’ children,’ she said. Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, ‘Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?’ Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, ‘Yes.’ So the girl went and called the child’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, ‘Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages.’ So the woman took the child and nursed it. When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and she took him as her son. She named him Moses, ‘because’, she said, ‘I drew him out of the water.’

You can listen to Pastor Leia’s sermon, “God Will Unravel and Trouble the Waters,” here.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (JILL DUFFIELD)

Lord God, as we navigate strong headwinds and seek to see you through our fatigue and fears, we confess that you are truly the Son of God, the Savior of the world, the one who stills the storm and immediately reaches out your hand to keep us from drowning. We rest for a moment in the joy of your presence, no longer afraid, free from anxiety, assured that you do not leave us alone, but seek us out when we are most in need of your peace.

People of God, what do you give thanks for and rejoice in this week? 

We know, Lord of all, that none of our thoughts and hopes, our doubts or worries are off limits to your care and compassion. We know you, our teacher and our friend, welcome us as we are and hear whatever is on our hearts and minds. We ask you to hear our prayers for those in our midst most battered by the storms of our time.

People of God, what do you pray for this week? 

Grab the hands of those about to go under the waves of poverty or financial crisis. We ask for your intervention on behalf of families unable to provide basic necessities for their children, our siblings wrestling with food insecurity, those on the cusp of eviction and the unemployed facing the end of benefits. As we see those about to be swamped by the waves of this pandemic, move us to act in ways that lift others out of the roiling sea.

People of God, what names are on your hearts this week? 

Reach out and give courage and strength to people in leadership positions. Grant them wisdom to make decisions in the best interests of the most vulnerable. Inspire communities to use their power and resources, their will and gifts, to support the people on the margins, those for whom this difficult season has been catastrophic. We pray for teachers, administrators, parents and students as they all seek to navigate a new school year rife with uncertainty and unprecedented challenges. We are mindful of essential workers, who are facing the danger of this public health crisis every day. Protect and sustain them, Lord. We lift up the sick and all those who suffer. Give them hope, bring relief, surround them with your mercy.

People of God, who needs your love this week? 

Quiet the dangerous winds of discord and division and stir up the breath of the Holy Spirit to heal and unite us. Help us to build up the body, strengthen our witness and reveal to the world that we follow the One who commands us to love one another. May others look at your church and see your hands and feet at work in the world feeding and tending, forgiving and repairing, doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with God.

People of God, how are being called to follow God this week?

In this moment, Lord God, we rest in your presence, certain that you are our Savior and the Savior of the world, able to do abundantly more than we can ever hope or imagine, never far from us, always reaching out your hand to save us when we fear the wind and waves of life will overtake us. We worship and praise you as we pray the prayer you taught us, saying:

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

HYMN   Wade in the Water

INVITATION TO OFFERING 

No matter how small the gift, how meager our offering feels in the face of such large needs, Jesus receives it with gladness, blesses it, multiplies it and asks us to help distribute it to those who are hungry, weary and hurting. This is the time when we are given the unspeakable joy of participating in God’s miraculous, abundant grace. Let us worship God with our morning’s offering.

MORNING OFFERING

If you are able to, please consider mailing your offerings to the church (210 Smith Street). Alternatively, there is a link at the top of this page that will take you directly to a secure page where you can make a one-time donation. We appreciate your generosity as we seek to continue our mission and ministry throughout the community during this difficult time.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION 

Lord, we look in awe at the extent of your compassion, the unbounded care you give to all the earth. We rejoice that when we give you whatever we have, you accept it, give God thanks for it, expand its power to provide and allow us to witness the miracles of mercy that ensue as a result. We pray that you would take these very offerings and do with them what you did in that desolate place so long ago, feed people, nurture people, grant relief and give those who are hurting hope and assurance that they are seen and beloved. Amen.

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (written by Sarah Are for A Sanctified Art LLC)

I believe in God, the Great Tailor—
Who weaves us together in community,
Collecting our loose ends and turning them into belonging.
I believe in the Holy Spirit—
Who hems us in before and behind,
Catching us when we fall and writing us into God’s holy narrative.
And I believe in Jesus Christ—
Who loved and claimed the people society had thrown out, refusing to disregard anyone as scrap.
I believe God has woven part of God’s self into the fiber of our being,
Making us inherently worthy of love and belonging.
I believe the fabric of my life is weak,
That I am prone to error and need God’s handiwork to remind me of love.
I believe in the Church, and that like a quilt of different fabrics,
She is designed to be as diverse and beautiful as God’s creation.
And I believe that when life unravels,
God is there to stitch my wounds together,
To hold me in the palm of God’s hand, to tell me of love,
And to invite me into a new journey.
Amen.

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May God’s face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
May God’s countenance be lifted upon you and give you peace.
Remember that God is always with us,
no matter what happens.
God has seen us through times of broken dreams before,
and God will see us through again.
From wherever you are, serve the Lord: Creator, Son, and Holy Spirit.

VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR

If you are using this page to follow along with today’s worship service while it is being live streamed, please join us for virtual coffee hour! Turn on your video camera and join us after the benediction with this link. You could also join over the telephone by dialing (312) 626-6799 and entering the meeting code 146 874 134, followed by the password 075003.