Service for the Lord's Day

Praise with music
Let us praise God in every place, every language, with every people around the world! Get ready to worship with "Better," by Hezekiah Walker.

Call to Worship
L: God sees and knows all things,
C: And cannot be stopped.
L: We speak out of ignorance
C: The things we don’t know.
L: Praise God, who still loves us
C: The God of our wisdom!

Prayer
God of wisdom,
You have the power to forgive and restore our lives, just as you did for Job. Accept our remorse for where we have walked astray and bring us back into relationship with you, for the sake of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Job 42: 1-17
Then Job answered the Lord:
2 “I know that you can do all things,
    and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
    things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
4 ‘Hear, and I will speak;
    I will question you, and you declare to me.’
5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
    but now my eye sees you;
6 therefore I despise myself,
    and repent in dust and ashes.”

7 After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends; for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. 8 Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly; for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has done.” 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what the Lord had told them; and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.

10 And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he had prayed for his friends; and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. 11 Then there came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and they ate bread with him in his house; they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him; and each of them gave him a piece of money and a gold ring. 12 The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand donkeys. 13 He also had seven sons and three daughters. 14 He named the first Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. 15 In all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job’s daughters; and their father gave them an inheritance along with their brothers. 16 After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children, and his children’s children, four generations. 17 And Job died, old and full of days.

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 to this offertory music, taking a few minutes to reflect on the scripture. This is “Look at the World,” by John Rutter, at the Mark Thallander Foundation Choir Festival, 2008. 

Prayers of the People
God of all kindness,
you gave your only Son,
because you loved the world so much.

We pray for the peace of the world.
Move among us by your Spirit,
break down barriers
of fear, suspicion, and hatred.
Heal the human family of its divisions
and unite it in the bonds of peace and justice.

We pray for our country.Enrich our common life;
strengthen the forces of truth and goodness;
teach us to share prosperity,
that those whose lives are impoverished
may pass from need and despair
to dignity and joy.

We pray for those who suffer.
Surround them with your love,
support them with your strength,
console them with your comfort,
and give them hope
and courage beyond themselves.

We pray for our students and teachers.
Fill them with a desire 
for both knowledge and wisdom,
give them all the tools they need
to teach and learn in new ways,
and encourage them with your presence.

We pray for the Church.
Keep us true to the gospel
and responsive to the gifts and needs of all.
Make known your saving power in Jesus Christ,
by the witness of our faith, our worship, and our life.  Amen.  

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.

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Today’s prayers are from 

• Clergy Stuff Worship Resources,  Bloomington, Minnesota, 2016-2019.
• Book of Common Worship, Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, KY, 2018.