Worship for Sept. 30

CENTERING PRAYER  Gracious God, you give life and, in your Word, it is beautiful.  Thank you for this new day.  In each coming hour, help me to see beneath the ever-present difficulties and superficial joys into the mysteries that you have set out for your people.  Guide me toward those I meet today in a way that welcomes them and, in turn, grants me a welcome, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

CALL TO WORSHIP

Give thanks to the Lord, for God is good.

         God’s steadfast love endures forever.

Let our words and thoughts be acceptable to God;

         the Lord is our rock and our redeemer.

Let us worship our awesome God together.

   PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Merciful God, we confess we have not followed your way.  You rain down mercy upon us, yet we murmur in our discontent.  You cast out the evil within us, yet we fling curses at others. Forgive us, God of grace.  Call us home from our wandering, deliver our souls from death, and cover us with your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  (Silent Confession)

SCRIPTURE READING                                                                                                         James 5:13-20

   SERMON                                                 “The Outskirts of Hope”

Rev. Dr. Dave Burgess

 For the sermon"Outskirts of Hope", click here.

† AFFIRMATION OF FAITH - Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.  Amen.

Scripture for Oct. 7

Hebrews 1:1-4 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Resurrection of Christ by Carl Heinrich Bloch

God Has Spoken by His Son

1 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son,[a] whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. 3 He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains[b] all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Footnotes:

1. Hebrews 1:2 Or the Son
2. Hebrews 1:3 Or bears alone

Hebrews 2:5-12 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Exaltation through Abasement

1. 5 Now God[a] did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels. 6 But someone has testified somewhere,

   “What are human beings that you are mindful of them,[b]
       or mortals, that you care for them?[c]
   7 You have made them for a little while lower[d] than the angels;
       you have crowned them with glory and honor,[e]
   8     subjecting all things under their feet.”

   Now in subjecting all things to them, God[f] left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them, 9 but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower[g] than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God[h] he might taste death for everyone.

   10 It was fitting that God,[i] for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father.[j] For this reason Jesus[k] is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,[l]12 saying,

   “I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters,[m]
       in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.”

   Footnotes:

   1. Hebrews 2:5 Gk he
   2. Hebrews 2:6 Gk What is man that you are mindful of him?
   3. Hebrews 2:6 Gk or the son of man that you care for him? In the Hebrew of Psalm 8.4–6 both man and son of man refer to all humankind
   4. Hebrews 2:7 Or them only a little lower
   5. Hebrews 2:7 Other ancient authorities add and set them over the works of your hands
   6. Hebrews 2:8 Gk he
   7. Hebrews 2:9 Or who was made a little lower
   8. Hebrews 2:9 Other ancient authorities read apart from God
   9. Hebrews 2:10 Gk he
   10. Hebrews 2:11 Gk are all of one
   11. Hebrews 2:11 Gk he
   12. Hebrews 2:11 Gk brothers
   13. Hebrews 2:12 Gk brothers
   New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

   New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Daily Prayer for Oct. 5

FRIDAY

You, O Lord, are full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger, and rich in kindness.

Hosea 4:11-19; Acts 21:37-22:16; Luke 6:12-26

God our creator, you made all things in your wisdom, and in your love you save us. We pray for the whole creation. Overthrow evil powers, right what is wrong, feed and satisfy those who thirst for justice, so that all your children may freely enjoy the earth you have made, and joyfully sing your praises. Take all our doubts and uncertainties, O God, and fill us with such faith that we may be confident of your love and loyal in the service of him who died and yet lives for us, Jesus Christ the Lord. Merciful God, you bear the pain of the world. Look with compassion on those who are sick; cheer them by your word, and bring healing as a sign of your grace. God of comfort, stand with those who sorrow; that they may be sure that neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come, shall separate them from your love. (Add your prayers,) Amen.

As God's own, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, and patience, forgiving each other as the Lord has forgiven you, and crown all these things with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

(Opening sentences, prayers, and blessings are from the Book of Common Worship. Readings are from the daily lectionary in Daily Prayer. Both are published by Westminster/John Knox Press.)

Faithfulness in Times of Transition

Pastor Dave Burgess lead a discussion on faithfulness at St. Mark Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, September 19th, 2018 during our 3rd Wednesday discussion. If the video doesn't appear, click here.

Worship Prayers Sept. 23

CENTERING PRAYER  Thank you, God, for this good night and day, for time to sleep and wake, for dark and light, for silence and noise, for stillness and movement, for my body, mind, and heart.  Give me the strength today to bear my cross with patience so that whomever I meet will find a moment of calm in my presence because of you.  I pray this in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

CALL TO WORSHIP

Give thanks to the Lord, for God is good.

        God’s steadfast love endures forever.

The last are first in the realm of God;

        the least are welcomed in Jesus’ name.

Let us all worship God together.

   PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Merciful God, we confess we have not followed your way.  We sow the seeds of conflict while you seek the harvest of peace.  We argue about who is the greatest while you welcome in the least and last.  Forgive us, God of grace.  Draw near to us this day with the wisdom of your Word, and teach us how to serve you.  We continue to pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Silent Confession)

Click here for the sermon "Enough is Enough"

SCRIPTURE READING                                                 James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a

   SERMON                                           “Enough Is Enough”

Rev. Dr. Dave Burgess

Scripture for Sept. 30

James 5:13-20 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Photo by Rosie Fraser on Unsplash The Prayer of Faith 13 Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. 14 Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest. 19 My brothers and sisters,[a] if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, 20 you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s[b] soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. Footnotes: James 5:19 Gk My brothers James 5:20 Gk his New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Daily Prayer Sept. 28

FRIDAY

You, O Lord, are full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger, and rich in kindness.

Esther 8:1-8, 15-17; Acts 19:21-41; Luke 4:31-37

God our creator, you made all things in your wisdom, and in your love you save us. We pray for the whole creation. Overthrow evil powers, right what is wrong, feed and satisfy those who thirst for justice, so that all your children may freely enjoy the earth you have made, and joyfully sing your praises. Take all our doubts and uncertainties, O God, and fill us with such faith that we may be confident of your love and loyal in the service of him who died and yet lives for us, Jesus Christ the Lord. Merciful God, you bear the pain of the world. Look with compassion on those who are sick; cheer them by your word, and bring healing as a sign of your grace. God of comfort, stand with those who sorrow; that they may be sure that neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come, shall separate them from your love. (Add your prayers,) Amen.

As God's own, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, and patience, forgiving each other as the Lord has forgiven you, and crown all these things with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

 Amen.

(Opening sentences, prayers, and blessings are from the Book of Common Worship. Readings are from the daily lectionary in Daily Prayer. Both are published by Westminster/John Knox Press.)

Thank you St. Mark Congregation

Once again the ABC sale is just a memory. The racks and hangers have been put away, awaiting the

gathering, sorting and selling of treasures next year. It took so many of you contributing goods, time and talent to make the 2018 all-church rummage sale a grand success! The total reached nearly $12,000. What is important about that figure is that it will enable the Board of Deacons to reach out into the community with a helping hand and to hopefully make a difference in so many of the lives of our neighbors. The deacons will deliberate carefully in order to make meaningful choices.

In addition to the cash that was received and that will go right back out into our area, real goods were donated to a variety of places. During the week of the sale, a trailer from Remains sat outside in the back parking lot, ready to accept recyclable goods. After the sale, trucks pulled up to the front of the church, two from the Salvation Army and one from the Kidney Foundation to load unsold items from all departments except for clothing. The clothing went out the door by the kitchen into the truck from Isaiah 58. The loading was done by department workers and a “Takedown” committee, along with hardworking Boy Scouts and their leaders from the St. Mark troop. (We promised them many more spaghetti supper tickets would be sold next year!) Boxes of books were taken to the Veterans Administration to share at the hospital there. Suits, shirts, pants and suitcases were donated to the parole system so that those going out to find jobs would have interview clothing that they needed.

Organizations within the church benefit, too. The Christmas Boutique, the Claymont Preschool at St. Mark, the Fellowship Committee, Presbyterian Women, the Property Committee and Children’s Ministry all received items that they needed.

The sale actually continues year-round in yet another way. J. Morgan faithfully lists some unique treasures on EBay in the months to come in order to make additional funds for the Deacons to delegate. She takes on the task of monitoring this, shipping items all over in order to make the ABC event even better.

There are so many of you to thank, and we inevitably find that we have left someone out. The problem is that this all happens so quickly in the space of one week, and we often don’t have time to jot your name down or to have a sign-in sheet at a key place. Therefore we are not including a list with this article. Please know that we are grateful for each and every one of you, and we hope that you know that! By name we do need to thank Carol Pfeil, Jim Brewer and the Burgess family for all that they did during the week of the sale. And all of the rest of you (nearly 100) can feel certain that you have made a difference as you were doing God’s work. We pray that you will continue to help us next year; see you August 2, 3, 2019 - and the intense week before!

With love, C. Bartell, V. Chabot, B. Pierce

Worship Prayers for Sept. 16

CENTERING PRAYER  As I open my eyes, I can see the heavens that tell of your glory.  Allow me to be part of this creation that proclaims your handiwork and your real presence in the world.  Amen.

     

CALL TO WORSHIP

Look at the heavens!

        They are shouting the glory of God.

The days and the nights declare the magnificence of God’s creative works.

        Their voice goes through all the earth, and their words reach the ends of the world.

Let our words of praise be acceptable to you.

        Our Lord, our rock, our redeemer!

   PRAYER OF CONFESSION

You have called us, O God, and we have refused to listen; you have stretched out your hand, and we have not taken it.  We have taken what you have given us and used those gifts to hurt others and defy you.  We have refused to be tamed by your wisdom.  Forgive our inability to recognize you and live out the reality of your gospel.  Give us the insight we need to understand your place in our livesso that our words and actions reflect the glory of God in the lives of others.  In the name of the Messiah we continue to pray.  (Silent Confession)

SCRIPTURE READING                                                            James 3:1-12

† AFFIRMATION OF FAITH - Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.  Amen.

For the sermon "Burn Ban", click here.