Redeemed from the System’s Grip
Words of Welcome
Today, let us continue to explore the Path of Jesus for the 21st Century in our lives and in our families, as we come to God in worship.
Opening Song “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”
Psalm Meditation Congregation reads bold print
Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Let God rise up, let all enemies be scattered;
let those who hate God flee before God.
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away;
as wax melts before the fire,
let wickedness perish before God.
But let those who choose righteous paths be joyful;
let them exult before God;
let them be jubilant with joy.
Sing to God, sing praises to God’s name;
lift up a song to the one who rides upon the clouds—
whose name is the Lord—
be exultant before him.
Father of orphans and protector of widows
is God in the holy habitation.
God gives the desolate a home to live in;
God leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but the rebellious live in a parched land.
O God, when you went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness,
the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain
at the presence of God, the God of Sinai,
at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad;
you restored your heritage when it languished;
your flock found a dwelling in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth;
sing praises to the Lord,
O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
listen, God sends out God’s voice, that mighty voice.
Ascribe power to God,
whose majesty is over Israel;
and whose power is in the skies.
Awesome is God in the sanctuary,
the God of Israel;
he gives power and strength to his people.
ALL: Blessed be God!
Song “10,000 Reasons” (Celtic Worship)
First Scripture 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
First Reflection “Fiery Ordeals” Pastor Craig
Song “Once to Every Man and Nation”
Second Scripture Reading John 17:1-11 (NRSV)
After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.
“I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.
Second Reflection “Saved from the System’s Grip” Pastor Craig
Song “Siyahamba/We Are Marching in the Light of God”
Prayers for Our World and One Another
Let us enter now into a time of prayer for one another and for our world. We will do what is called a Bidding Prayer. I will open, and then I will bid your prayers based around various categories. During the silence after each category is bid, I invite you to add your own prayers, either aloud or in silence. I will then close with a prayer, then the Lord’s Prayer. Let us be in prayer.
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Let us pray now for all who are ill, in hospital or at home, especially those affected by cancer or COVID-19.
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Let us pray now for all medical and emergency services personnel who are responding to the best of their abilities with the resources that they have at hand.
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Let us pray now for all those who are hungry or food insecure, and for all community and religious efforts to provide food and shelter.
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Let us pray for the leaders of nations around the world, not only regarding their response to this pandemic, but also that they may do everything possible to assure the health and welfare of their citizens.
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Let us pray for our friends, family, and neighbors for their health and well-being.
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Let us also express our thanks to God for the expressions of love and caring that we have witnessed in our families, communities, and world.
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Let us express our gratitude for life and the myriad things that gladden our hearts.
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These prayers, spoken aloud or in silence, we lift into the universal embrace of the One who is Love, and we make them in the name of the One who showed us what Love looks like in the flesh, Jesus Christ our Lord, and we now join our voices in the prayer he taught us, saying:
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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen
Prayer Response “O Lord, Hear My Prayer”
Blessing
Closing