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Simply click on each link in order, to share in worship with John Knox!
Happy Birthday Church! Praising God with Music- Every Time I Feel the Spirit, by the Cosmo Warriors The Readings and the Message Offertory Music- Spirit of the Living God, performed on piano by Olivia Huisman. Prayers and Blessing
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Praise with music Enjoy this opening music, “Every Time I Feel the Spirit,” by the Cosmo Warriors. (If this sounds a little out of control to you, maybe Pentecost is supposed to be that way!) Welcome Call to Worship Bless the Lord, our God! Who sends us the Spirit: The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord. Bless the Lord, our God! Prayer O Lord, You send your Spirit to disciples of all times and places. May our ears be tuned to discern your voice and act on the gifts you have given us, for the sake of Jesus Christ, amen. First Reading Acts 2: 1-4 2When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. . Second Reading 1 Corinthians 12: 1-13 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Let Jesus be cursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Message Music and Offering During this time, or after our prayers, you may make an offering to John Knox by going to our homepage and scrolling to the bottom where you will see a link to online giving. When you give this way, consider giving a little extra to defray the cost of this service. If you prefer, you may mail you offerings to the church directly. Even though we are far apart, the church's expenses remain the same. We give out of pure gratitude for what God has done. Consider the great love and power of God as you listen to “Spirit of the Living God,” played by Olive Huisman on piano. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. (x2) Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Prayers of the People* Ever living and ever loving God, We praise you for your loving presence with us. Come, Holy Spirit, take and transform our societies-- that broken people find healing; that lonely people find love; that bitter people find peace; that fearful people find hope. Come, Holy Spirit, take our world’s leaders and governments and bring renewal-- that communication can be open; that relationships between hostile people and hostile nations will evaporate; that a hunger for justice addresses the hunger for food felt by so many. Come, Holy Spirit, fill your church-- that our worship will be ever more pleasing to you; that prayers will change our minds instead of trying to get you to change yours; that our lives will make a real difference to real people in the real world. Come, Holy Spirit, fill our lives with your presence-- so that more and more every day, all that we do and say and hope will be an act of worship to you and an expression of love to others, to the glory of your name. Amen. The Lord’s Prayer And now with confidence as the children of God, let us pray as Jesus taught his disciples: 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, now and forever. Amen. Benediction: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, and bring you peace. Amen. Today’s prayers are from —Clergy Stuff Worship Resources, Bloomington, Minnesota, 2016-2019. —Baptist Union of Great Britain website; www.baptist.org.uk/ Simply click on each link in order to share in worship with John Knox!
Praising God with Music- Revive Us Again, by the Prestonwood Choir The Readings and the Message Offertory Music- Rock of Ages, sung by Chris Rice Prayers and Blessing Make sure and listen to the end of the service for a special assignment for next week's Pentecost Sunday! Praise with music
Enjoy this opening music, “Revive Us Again,” by the Prestonwood Choir and Orchestra. Welcome Call to Worship Praise to God, who raises the dead! Death has been defeated! Bringing Jesus back to life, Death has been defeated! Praise our God, the Lord of life! Death has been defeated! Prayer O Christ, You have indeed, been raised from the dead. Therefore, let us live as though death no longer holds us hostage, putting our hope in the one who goes before us, both in death and in eternal life, our Savior, Christ, amen. First Reading John 10: 7-11 So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” . Second Reading 1 Corinthians 15: 3-8, 12–26 3 For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, 4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. ————————- 12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ—whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. 17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. 19 If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. 21 For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; 22 for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. Message I’ve been thinking this week about how very important it is for us to remember God’s love for us during times like this. In the Lunch Bunch study group we’re reading a book called “Tattoos on the Heart”, by Father Gregory Boyle, and he shares the story of his friend Bill, who was caring for his elderly father as he was dying of cancer. Bill’s dad was physically frail but mentally sharp. They had come to be in that position that some of us know where the parent has become the child and the child has become the parent, and one of the things that that included for Bill and his father was that every night he would get his father ready for bed, and Bill would sit in a chair next to his bed and read him to sleep. His father would lie there, staring at his son, smiling. Just like a parent, Bill would plead with his dad to just close his eyes and try to go to sleep, and his dad would apologize and close his eyes, but it never failed that after a couple more sentences he would open them again and smile at his son. It would go on and on like this. And after his father died, Boyle writes, “Bill knew that this evening ritual was really a story of a father who just couldn’t take his eyes off his kid.” Friends, this is how God is looking at you right now—whoever you are, wherever you are— with pure delight. God gazes at you not with judgment or criticism, but with love. With adoration. Another writer said of God, “Behold the one beholding you, and smiling.” And how important it is for us to remember this, in the midst of the anxiety. When Paul talks to the people in Corinth about Jesus’ resurrection, I think he’s trying to remind them of this— that God’s love is so immense that they have nothing to worry about. Paul uses a lot of words to say this, but what it comes down to is this— not only did Christ die for us, but in his resurrection, Christ has conquered death itself, so that it no longer has power over us. He has taken away that fear— the fear of the unknown, the fear of separation from loved ones, the fear of the shadowy place of nothingness. Yes, Christ has even taken away the fear of death itself. Because not only was Christ raised, but we also will be raised into the realm of God at the right time. Paul says this is what we know— Jesus died, he rose again, he appeared to Peter and the disciples and hundreds more of you and then finally to me, Paul. We have seen him. He is risen. This is how we know who he is. And this resurrection, more than anything else, is what we remember in times of fear. This is what we hold on to— That God loves us SO MUCH that she has destroyed death. At times during the last few months I’ve been pretty sure that I’m not doing quarantine right. A friend built like four victory gardens, and my nurse cousin is displaying her hard-earned “battle scars”— the marks on her face from the tight mask that she wears for thirteen hour shifts. I, on the other hand, have gone for a full week without wearing shoes. What must God think of that? So maybe you’ve gone along, business as usual, for the last few months. Or maybe you’ve gained ten pounds from sitting in front of the tv and stress-eating. Maybe you’ve started and completed the four home improvement projects that you’ve been wanting to do, or maybe you’ve huddled under a blanket the whole time. Whatever you’ve done, whatever you’re doing, God can’t stop looking at you and smiling right now. When you forget this— because we all do— think about the gospel that has been passed down from the disciples to Paul to the Corinthians to the Roman Empire to Christians in the middle ages, to the Reformers, to the pilgrims and pioneers and to us. Think about the cross, and our shepherd laying down his life for us, that we might have life in abundance. And most of all think about that risen Christ and the unsurpassable power that he has— he has conquered even death, and he loves us. Thanks be to God, the father, son and holy spirit, for this unfathomable love. Amen. Music and Offering During this time, or after our prayers, you may make an offering to John Knox by going to our homepage and scrolling to the bottom where you will see a link to online giving. When you give this way, consider giving a little extra to defray the cost of this service. If you prefer, you may mail you offerings to the church directly. Even though we are far apart, the church's expenses remain the same. We give out of pure gratitude for what God has done. Consider the great love and power of God as you listen to “Rock of Ages,” sung by Chris Rice. ——————————————————————————————- Prayers of the People* We pray for the church, the world, and all those in need. (A brief silence.) It seems too good to be true, but you have conquered death, O Lord, and removed its sting. May this truth give us hope, courage, and freedom to live bold lives as your disciples. God of abundant life, hear our prayer. As one thing dies, another is born; the cycle of death and rebirth is imprinted into your creation. Teach us to let go of what wants to pass on, so that we might embrace what is waiting to emerge. God of abundant love, hear our prayer. Our suffering in this life is but the blink of an eye compared with the eternal joy which awaits us. When trials overshadow us, give us perspective and hope for wholeness perfected in you. Today we offer prayers especially for all who provide health care for us, whether in times of crisis or times of questions. We pray for those who near the end of their lives in this realm, that they may know the good news of life in Christ that never ends. God of love, God of life, hear our prayer. Risen Lord, you give us hope in all things, and we entrust our prayers to your grace, knowing that you have heard us. In Jesus’ name, amen. The Lord’s Prayer And now with confidence as the children of God, let us pray as Jesus taught his disciples: 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, now and forever. Amen. Benediction: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, and bring you peace. Amen. A special assignment for this week: Next Sunday is Pentecost, and it is the tradition at John Knox to wear red clothes on Pentecost Sunday. Because we won’t be together on Sunday, put on some red clothes this week and take a picture of yourself— send it to becky@johnknoxhouston.org, or share it to the church’s facebook page, and we’ll post a mosaic of all our pictures together. Today’s prayers are from Clergy Stuff Worship Resources, Bloomington, Minnesota, 2016-2019. Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion, by Gregory Boyle, New York, NY, Free Press, 2010. “Behold the one beholding you, and smiling,” is a quote from Anthony De Mello, as found in Tattoos on the Heart, p. 20. Simply click on each link in order to experience worship with John Knox.
Praising God with Music-- Oh Happy Day, by the Combined Choir of First Baptist Church of Glenarden The readings and the message Offertory music-- Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, by the choir and congregation of the National Episcopal Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Prayers and Blessing Bonus Music! More bonus music! Praise with music
Enjoy this opening music, “Oh Happy Day”, performed by the Combined Choir of First Baptist Church of Glenarden. ——————————————————————- Welcome Call to Worship Hear, O people: The Lord our God is one! Hear, O people: The Lord our God is love! Come, you people, And praise the God of love! Prayer O God, You have shown that all we truly need is to love. Expand our hearts to embrace your world and show ourselves as children of a compassionate God, for the sake of your Son Jesus, amen. First Reading Mark 12: 28-31 28 One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” . Second Reading 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. 9 For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; 10 but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. Message I follow a website called “Humans of New York,” in which Brandon Stanton photographs people and they tell him about their lives. In this week’s stories there was one about a girl named Chloe and her assistance dog Ted— this is what she says: “…There are two options when you get an assistance dog. You can get a dog that’s already been trained. Or you can train the dog yourself—and that’s what I wanted to do. Because I needed something. I have this genetic disease. It weakens every part of my body, but it didn’t get bad until my teenage years. …It reached a point where I couldn’t see a reason to live anymore. I needed something to focus on besides my health. And Ted gave me that. I watched all the training videos I could find. I read all the books. I reached out to people and asked for help. It gave me a reason to talk to people again. I hadn’t done that in so long. … From day one—we’ve been so in sync. He can fetch me anything. He helps me get undressed. He even watches me when I sleep, and wakes me up if I’m having night terrors. My mom was having to help me with everything before I got Ted. And she loves me so much. But she has two other children, and I know she was getting so tired. But Ted doesn’t get tired. He loves to help. He’s so excited to help. He’ll pick up the same thing seventeen times. It makes him so happy. He’s my world—really. He saved my life. He made me happy again. And he takes so much pressure off my family. He gives me a break from being the disabled child. From being the focus of everyone’s attention. He lets me be a daughter. And a big sister. He lets me be Chloe again.” Paul is writing to the Corinthians in this reading and he’s not happy with them. They’re quarreling with each other, they’re behaving in immoral and unethical ways, and they’re not being good witnesses to the gospel. We’ve all been there, and maybe you feel it now in this time of elevated anxiety. Maybe you see that we’re not being very good witnesses to the God we know. So here’s what he tells them: Be more like Chloe’s dog. Be like Ted. Be patient. Be kind. Be gentle. Be faithful. Quit complaining and be the responsible, helpful adults that God knows you can be— that God already knows you ARE, in your very essence as the ones God created. Paul says it can be hard because you can’t see how everything is gonna turn out, but love never ends. And if you live out of your faith, and if you can be hopeful for the future, and most of all if you show love for God and for your neighbor, you’re gonna start to see glimpses of God’s reign, right here and now. Faith is abiding here; hope is living with you; love is in your house. And the greatest of these is love. Amen. Music and Offering During this time, or after our prayers, you may make an offering to John Knox by going to our homepage and scrolling to the bottom where you will see a link to online giving. When you give this way, consider giving a little extra to defray the cost of this service. If you prefer, you may mail you offerings to the church directly. Even though we are far apart, the church's expenses remain the same. We give out of pure gratitude for what God has done. Listen with joy to “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” sung by the choir and congregation at the National Episcopal Cathedral, Washington, D.C. ——————————————————————————————- Prayers of the People We pray for the church, the world, and all those in need. (A brief silence.) When our words and deeds are impressive but our hearts are empty, we are useless to others, O Lord. May we learn to begin all things in love, and allow our actions to follow. Loving God, hear our prayer. Everything that we know, own, accomplish and treasure will all come to an end one day. Teach us again and again that the only thing which truly endures across years, miles, and other barriers is love. May we live as though it is so. Loving God, hear our prayer. Love bears and endures all things, even those times when we doubt our ability to withstand adversity. Grant us your Spirit’s strength, and give your healing breath to all who need it, especially to all those who are sick, out of work, or struggling with isolation. Loving God, hear our prayer. Your holy saints devoted their lives to loving as Jesus showed love, and we long to reflect this in our lives as well. Join us forever in unbreakable bonds held together by you, dear Creator. Loving God, hear our prayer. In you we live and have our being, O God. Accept and grant these prayers which we bring before you, by the grace of Jesus Christ our savior, Amen. The Lord’s Prayer And now with confidence as the children of God, let us pray as Jesus taught his disciples: 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, now and forever. Amen. Benediction: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, and bring you peace. Amen. A bonus piece of music: All You Need is Love, by the Beatles. And one more bonus song: God and doG, by Wendy J. Francisco Next week: 1 Corinthians 15: 1-26, Death is destroyed. Today’s prayers are from Clergy Stuff Worship Resources, Bloomington, Minnesota, 2016-2019. The story about Chloe and Ted is from Brandon Stanton at humansofnewyork.com, May, 2020. Welcome to Worship with John Knox Presbyterian Church. To experience worship in this way, simply click each of the links in order. Thank you all for joining in worship today!
Praising God with Music -- Just a Closer Walk with Thee, by Joshua Stewart and the Bourbon Street Stompers The Readings and the Message Offertory Music -- Dona Nobis Pacem (Give Us Peace), a traditional canon Prayers and Blessing Bonus Music! -- another version of Dona Nobis Pacem, from the T.V. show MASH-- the sound is a little glitchy, but it's still great to hear. Praise with music
Listen with joy to “Just a Closer Walk with Thee,” by Joshua Stewart and the Bourbon Street Stompers, 2013. Call to Worship L: Blessed be God, who makes us one. C: Let us unite as sisters and brothers, L: Gathered around one table. C: Let us renew our bonds of love, L: Forged for us by Christ our Lord. C: Blessed be God, who makes us one! Prayer O Lord, You have made it clear that you desire your Church to be united. Break down the walls which separate us and build us back up again as one body in Jesus Christ, through whom we pray, amen. First Reading Acts 18: 1-4 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them, and they worked together—by trade they were tentmakers. 4 Every sabbath he would argue in the synagogue and would try to convince Jews and Greeks. Second Reading 1 Corinthians 1: 10-18 10 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. 12 What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. 18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Message So things in Corinth aren’t going quite as well as things in Thessalonica. In Thessalonica Paul said he didn’t even have to tell people about their church because everyone knew them by their love and grace. Here he says the people need to stop fighting and get themselves together. And wouldn’t it be great if you could just say to people, “stop fighting, stop being divided, and everyone just get along!” and they would do it? Twenty-eight years ago in the middle of riots in Los Angeles, Rodney King said those words that everyone who was around then remembers, “Can’t we all just get along?” But even today, we’re constantly reminded of the racism in our country by incidents such as the brutal murder of Ahmaud Arbery. Our world— even within the bounds of Christianity— is still divided by race, income level, gender, and politics— we’re still not getting along. We still haven’t done what Paul told us to do. So Paul goes on to tell the Corinthians to be united in one mind and one purpose. In other words, ultimately you’re all followers and believers in Jesus the Messiah. Put that first in your mind. Your quarreling over specifics does nothing for your witness. This doesn’t mean you have to deny who you are or pretend there are no differences. Embrace and learn from the uniqueness of each person— isn’t it remarkable that Christ has brought together this incredible spectrum of people and given us each gifts to use? But as disciples, in everything you do or say, you need to remember Jesus first. Remember the mission first. Remember the power of the cross. A story is told about three soldiers who were the closest of friends, and who were fighting in France during World War 2. One of them was killed, and his friends wanted to bury his body in a special place, and not just in the field. So they brought the body of their dead friend to a beautiful French churchyard that had a cemetery within it. They asked the priest for permission to bury their friend there, and the priest asked them if he had been a Catholic. “No,” they said, “he hadn’t.” The priest said that the man could not be buried in the consecrated grounds of the church, since it was reserved only for Catholics. So the two men took the body of their friend and did the next best thing – they buried him just outside the fence of the churchyard. The next morning, the two friends went back to the churchyard to pay their final respects to their friend. But when the looked where they had buried their friend, they could not find the grave. And so they went and knocked on the priest’s door again. “We cannot find the grave of our friend at all!” they said, “We buried him just outside the fence. “I know,” said the priest, “But I couldn’t sleep last night thinking of your friend and how I told you not to bury him on the church grounds. I tossed and turned, until I decided what I had to do. I got up in the night and moved the fence.” Friends, Christ has moved the fence for us and allowed each one of us to be a part of God’s family. We have been reconciled through the cross. We are called to focus on that mission we also have of reconciliation. Divisions don’t serve that mission well. So for a spiritual growth practice for this week of confinement, is to remember someone you feel divided from. Maybe you’ve fought over opinions of who’s right and who’s wrong. Maybe you’ve been out of touch for some time and you left each other on a sour note. Maybe it’s just someone you flat don’t like very much. Focus on the mission of reconciliation and reach out to them in love and forgiveness. Let go of your pride, and write them a letter. Call, text, email, whatever works. Move that fence you’ve built, and pray that they will do the same. Rather than being divided by our prejudices and opinions, be united by the power of the cross. Music and Offering During this time, or after our prayers, you may make an offering to John Knox by going to our homepage and scrolling to the bottom where you will see a link to online giving. When you give this way, consider giving a little extra to defray the cost of this service. If you prefer, you may mail you offerings to the church directly. Even though we are far apart, the church's expenses remain the same. We give out of pure gratitude for what God has done. Listen now to this offertory music, Dona Nobis Pacem, (Give Us Peace), presented by St Olai motettkör, Laholms manskör, ViN-kören, Sweden. Prayers of the People* Regardless of background, opinion, theology or ability, we all belong to you, O Lord. Speak over our stubbornness and certainty that we are right, and show us instead what it looks like to practice a radical love which truly listens to and respects others. Uniting God, hear our prayer. Your creation is a perfect model of the interdependence we all share as your children. When we fail to acknowledge our fundamental connections, everyone and everything suffers as a consequence. Bring us back to ourselves, to each other, and to you. Uniting God, hear our prayer. Bless all who celebrate Mother’s Day, and give strength and guidance to all who parent or mentor the young. As you tend and care for us, so may we look after those who are depending on us. Uniting God, hear our prayer. Send the power and comfort of your healing Spirit to all those whom we know need it, especially all those who are suffering from the coronavirus and all those working in healing professions. Uniting God, hear our prayer. Together with all your saints in light, we join our voices in praise to the one who forgives, redeems, and joins us all in one eternal fellowship. Uniting God, hear our prayer. May all these things be granted in the name of our Savior Jesus, who earnestly prayed that we might all be one, amen. The Lord’s Prayer And now with confidence as the children of God, let us pray as Jesus taught his disciples: 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, now and forever. Amen. Benediction: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, and bring you peace. Amen. Postlude: A less-polished version of Dona Nobis Pacem, from the cast of MASH, which ran from 1972-1983. The sound quality is glitchy, but still great to hear. Welcome to Worship with John Knox Presbyterian Church. To experience worship in this way, simply click each of the links in order. Because this is a communion Sunday, you are encouraged to prepare some food and drink to share during the service.
Praising God with Music The Readings and the Message Offertory Music Prayers and the Lord's Supper Praise with music Listen with joy to “The Church’s One Foundation,” by S.J. Stone, 1866. It is shared here by Giftson David of India. Call to Worship Psalm 27; John 4 Let us worship God, our light and our salvation. The Lord is the stronghold of our lives. Let us worship God in spirit and in truth. Teach us your ways and make straight our paths, in this hour of worship and always. First Reading Acts 17: 1-9 After Paul and Silas had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three sabbath days argued with them from the scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This is the Messiah, Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you.” 4 Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. 5 But the Jews became jealous, and with the help of some ruffians in the marketplaces they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar. While they were searching for Paul and Silas to bring them out to the assembly, they attacked Jason’s house. 6 When they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some believers before the city authorities, shouting, “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” 8 The people and the city officials were disturbed when they heard this, 9 and after they had taken bail from Jason and the others, they let them go. Second Reading 1 Thessalonians 1: 1-9 1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. 2 We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. 9 For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming. Message Music and Offering During this time, or after our prayers, you may make an offering to John Knox by going to our homepage and scrolling to the bottom where you will see a link to online giving. When you give this way, consider giving a little extra to defray the cost of this service. If you prefer, you may mail you offerings to the church directly. Even though we are far apart, the church's expenses remain the same. We give out of pure gratitude for what God has done. Listen now to this offertory music, The Lord Bless You and Keep You, by John Rutter, sung by the Batavia Madrigal Singers, Indonesia. It is recorded as a virtual choir, and presented for this time in our world. Prayers of the People
We worship you, Jesus, our Savior; you conquered death by your cross: you are the stone rejected by the builders; you have become the cornerstone; make us all living stones in your church. We pray to you for Christians: may they live in the joy of the resurrection and be a visible sign of your presence by their mutual love. We pray to you for leaders of your church: as they celebrate your resurrection with all your servants, may they be strengthened for your service. We pray to you for the leaders of the nations: may they exercise their office as servants of justice and peace. We pray to you for all who are suffering from illness, grief, old age, and exile: may your resurrection be a source of comfort and aid for them. Amen. The Lord’s Supper Invitation to the Table As we are gathered–like the stars scattered upon the sky— let us remember God’s covenantal promise to Abraham, that God will always and forever be our God and we will always and forever be the children of God. Knowing that God loves us, and that Jesus Christ took the most basic and essential food of the people and consecrated them, let us now celebrate communion together in this a new way. Great Prayer of Thanksgiving and Words of Institution Holy God, you alone are holy, you alone are God. The universe declares your praise: beyond the stars; beneath the sea; within each cell; with every breath. We praise you, O God. Generations bless your faithfulness: through the water; by night ad day; across the wilderness; out of exile; into the future. We bless you, O God. We give you thanks for your dear Son: at the heart of human life; near to those who suffer; beside the sinner; among the poor; with us now. We thank you, O God. On the night when he was betrayed, Jesus took bread and blessed it and broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take. Eat. This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper, he took the cup, and pouring it out, he said, “This cup is the new covenant, sealed in my blood shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. Drink this in remembrance of me.” Whenever we eat and drink at this table, we remember the saving death and resurrection of our Lord. Remembering his love for us on the way, at the table, and to the end, we proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. We pray for the gift of your spirit: in our gathering; within this meal; among your people; throughout the world. Blessing, praise, and thanks to you, holy God, through Jesus, by your Spirit, in your church, without end. Amen. The Lord’s Prayer And now with confidence as the children of God, let us pray as Jesus taught his disciples: 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, now and forever. Amen. Sharing the Bread and Cup The bread of heaven- the cup of salvation. thanks be to God. At this time, you may eat and drink the food that you have prepared. Prayer after Communion Nourishing God, thank you for inviting us to your table where all are welcome, and for feeding us with the bread of life and quenching our thirst with the cup of blessing. As you have filled our lives with love and hope, may we be a source of your love and hope for others who hunger and thirst for good news. Amen. Benediction: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, and bring you peace. Amen. Next week: Acts 18: 1-4 The Church at Corinth Today’s music: “The Church’s One Foundation,” by S.J. Stone, 1866, sung by a congregation in India. “The Lord Bless You and Keep You,” by John Rutter, sung by the Batavia Madrigal Singers, Indonesia. Today’s prayers are from —Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church (USA), Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, Kentucky, 2018. --The Worship Sourcebook, ed. 2, Faith Alive Christian Resources, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2013. --katyandtheword.wordpress.com, Rev. Katy Stenta, 2020. |
AuthorRev. Becky Downs, Pastor Archives
August 2023
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