Worship July 10

 Sermon – July 10, 2022

 

Luke 10:25-37

“The Hard Is What Makes It Great”

 

Hymns:

#22 – “God of the Sparrow

#726 – “Will You Come and Follow Me”

 

 

CENTERING PRAYER

 

Holy God, you call us to live out your justice and righteousness. Help us to walk in your footsteps, so we never lose our way. Enable us to live and love in the way you teach us, so we can act in grace, even with those we consider our enemies. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

 

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

 

Love the Lord your God,                              

with all your heart, and with all your soul,

and with all your strength, and with all your mind!

Love your neighbor as yourself,

with all your heart, and with all your soul,

and with all your strength, and with all your mind!

Do this and you will live!

Let us worship God!

 

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

Holy God, we are your children, descendants of the God most high, yet, we do not honor you and our actions belittle the love you have for us. We do not defend the weak or those without fathers or mothers. We do not uphold the poor or the oppressed. We do not commit to efforts to rescue the weak and the needy; we sometimes deliver them into solitude and neglect. Rise up to judge us, O God. We prefer your merciful justice over living with guilt and fear. Straighten our path,

so that we can be guided as a parent guides beloved children. (Silent Confession)

 

 

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – The Apostles’ Creed

 

 

OFFERING

 

As redeemed people, we live for giving thanks. Everything we do and everything we have, comes from God whose unconditional love lifts us up each day. Let us offer our gifts with thanksgiving as we pray...

 

Thank you, God: you are our soil, our food, our water, our sun, everything we need to grow. We offer these gifts to you, asking for direction as we work each day so that your kingdom of light becomes more and more of a reality in this world. Amen.

Scripture for July 9, 10

 Luke 10:25-37

By Balthasar van Cortbemde - http://collectie.kmska.be/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39346229

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”

28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

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Daily Prayer July 8

The sacrifice acceptable to God is a humble spirit; a broken and
contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Daily Readings for Friday, July 8, 2022

• Morning Psalms 84; 148
• First Reading Deuteronomy 31:7-13, 31:24-32:4
• Second Reading Romans 10:1-13
• Gospel Reading Matthew 24:15-31
• Evening Psalms 25; 40

Eternal God, you draw near to us in Christ and make yourself our guest. Amid the cares of our daily lives, make us attentive to your voice and alert to your presence, that we may treasure your word above all else. O God, you are infinite, eternal and unchangeable, glorious in holiness, full of love and compassion, abundant in grace and truth. Your works everywhere praise you, and your glory is revealed in Jesus Christ our Savior. Therefore we praise you, blessed and holy Trinity, one God, forever and ever. Eternal God, send your Holy Spirit into our hearts, to direct and rule us according to your will, to comfort us in all our afflictions, to defend us from all error, and to lead us into all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Add your prayers.) Amen.

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God through him.

(Opening sentences, prayers, and blessings are from the Book of Common Worship. Readings are from the daily lectionary)

Order of Worship for July 3

 Sermon – July 3, 2022

 

Galatians 6: 7-16

“Natural Consequences”

 

Hymns:

#340 – “This Is My Song”

#338 – “O Beautiful for Spacious Skies”

 

 

CENTERING PRAYER

 

O God, you send us out into the world as your disciples. Allow the church to be a healing presence, a place and a people living out the essence of your kingdom, here and now; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

 

Call upon the Lord! I asked for help and was healed.

The Lord gives liberty beyond measure. Praise God!

Sing to the Lord, all you faithful; give thanks to God’s holy name.

God turned our mourning into dancing!

Our hearts sing without ceasing!

O Lord our God, we will always give you thanks!

 

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

God, you catch us in our sinful behavior. We come to you with the hope of your restoration. We walk with our heads held high, without noticing others and their burdens. We are even blinded by our own! We keep our mouths silenced when we have stories to share of the good things you do for us. We are overwhelmed by the pains of this world and do nothing to overcome them. Fill us with your peace and mercy. Free us from the destruction of sin and restore us to a life lived in you. (Silent Confession)

 

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – WCF SC Q1

 

 

OFFERING

 

God gives us healing, hope, and forgiveness. God gives us everything we need. Let us now take the time to respond in gratitude, by joyously returning a portion to you. Let us pray...

 

Almighty Lord, help us to use the gifts you give us with mercy, love, and wisdom, so we can continue to honor the trust you put on us. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen.

 

Scripture for July 3

 Galatians 6: 7-16

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Not Circumcision but the New Creation

11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!

12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. 14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. 16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to[b] the Israel of God.

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Photo by Raphael Rychetsky on Unsplash

Daily Prayer July 1

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord. I know them and they follow
me; and I give them eternal life.

Daily Readings for Friday, July 1, 2022

• Morning Psalms 88; 148
• First Reading Numbers 24:1-13
• Second Reading Romans 8:12-17
• Gospel Reading Matthew 22:15-22
• Evening Psalms 6; 20

God of our forebears, as your chosen servant Abraham was given faith to obey your call and go out into the unknown, so may your church be granted such faith that we may follow you with courage for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. God of love, as you have given your life to us, so may we live according to your holy will revealed in Jesus Christ. Make us bold to share your life, and show your love, in the power of your Holy Spirit. Mighty God, sovereign over the nations, direct those who make, administer, and judge our laws; the President of the United States and others in authority among us; that, guided by your wisdom, they may lead us in the way of righteousness. (Add your prayers.) Amen.

Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.

(Opening sentences, prayers, and blessings are from the Book of Common Worship. Readings are from the daily lectionary)