CCLI license #1913561
Sunday, July 26, 2020
Opening Words
O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, O offspring of his servant Abraham, children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
Music Be Thou My Vision-Ancient Irish Poem
1 Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art--
Thou my best thought by day or by night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
2 Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise.
Thou my inheritance now and always.
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart.
Great God of heaven, my treasure Thou art.
3 Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord;
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall.
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.
Opening Prayer
Holy God, we try to put you in a box, but you will not stay. You are love in motion: always breathing us into being, calling us to serve, sustaining us in the wilderness. Come to us as the morning breaks. Soften what has grown dry and brittle in our hearts until we worship with abandon, for we pray in the name of the Son you sent and through the Spirit that gives us life. Amen.
Prayer for Illumination
Spirit of life, meet us in words written, in words spoken; intercede for us with sighs too deep for words, until we shine with the hope that is hidden in our hearts, for we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
A Reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles 10:1—18
In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Cohort, as it was called. He was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God. One afternoon at about three o'clock he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius." He stared at him in terror and said, "What is it, Lord?" He answered, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa for a certain Simon who is called Peter; he is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside." When the angel who spoke to him had left, he called two of his slaves and a devout soldier from the ranks of those who served him, and after telling them everything, he sent them to Joppa.
About noon the next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat; and while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the ground by its four corners. In it were all kinds of four-footed creatures and reptiles and birds of the air. Then he heard a voice saying, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat." But Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean." The voice said to him again, a second time, "What God has made clean, you must not call profane." This happened three times, and the thing was suddenly taken up to heaven.
Now while Peter was greatly puzzled about what to make of the vision that he had seen, suddenly the men sent by Cornelius appeared. They were asking for Simon's house and were standing by the gate. They called out to ask whether Simon, who was called Peter, was staying there.
Sermon “ Let them Grow Together ” Rev. Russell Lehman
Offering of Our Gifts (One way to donate money is to use the "Donate Now" button on the main page of this website.)
Loving God, creator, redeemer, sustainer, we bow before you in
humility. You have given us life, and that which is needed to
sustain life. In the face of the pandemic which threatens all of
us, we understand our reliance on your grace. We offer our lives
and our resources in grateful thanksgiving. Use us as instruments
of your love in a broken and hurting world, through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
Musical Offering Because He Lives by Bill and Gloria Gaither
God sent His son, they called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal and forgive
He lived and died to buy my pardon
An empty grave is there to prove my savior lives
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives
How sweet to hold a newborn baby
And feel the pride and joy He gives
But greater still the calm assurance
This child can face uncertain day, because He lives
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives
And then one day, I'll cross the river
I'll fight life's final war with pain
And then, as death gives way to victory
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He reigns
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives
Closing Prayer
Creator of Life, and Love, and hope, I thank you that I do not stand alone. You go before me and you have surrounded me with a cloud of witnesses who walk beside me. I need not fear or be ashamed, for I am wonderfully formed and deeply loved. Amen.
Benediction
May God, who searches the heart,
Jesus, whose love overcomes all division,
and the Spirit, which helps us in our weakness,
continue to lead you into life that you may serve with abandon and joy.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
Are there dilemmas or relationships in which you feel separated from the love of God? Can you imagine that God might be at work there, bringing life in unexpected ways? What would change if you were to claim the promise that nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord?