CCLI license #1913561
Circle of Faith
Lakeview Presbyterian Church
Church of the Beatitudes
July 31, 2022
Welcome Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Prelude “Spirit, Open My Heart” GTG # 692 Keisha Prime
Chorus:
Spirit open my heart
To the joy and pain of living
As you love may I love
In receiving and in giving Spirit,
open my heart
God,
replace my stony heart
with a heart that's kind and tender.
All my coldness and fear
to your grace I now surrender.
Write
your love upon my heart
as my law, my goal, my story.
In each thought, word, and deed,
may my living bring you glory.
May I weep
with those who weep,
share the joy of sister, brother.
In the welcome of Christ,
may we welcome one another.
Gathering Courtney Jones
Song “I Come With Joy” GTG #515
I come with joy, a child of God,
forgiven, loved and free,
the life of Jesus to recall,
in love laid down for me.
I come with Christians far and near
to find, as all are fed,
the new community of love
in Christ's communion bread.
As Christ breaks bread, and bids us share,
each proud division ends.
The love that made us, makes us one,
and strangers now are friends.
The Spirit of the risen Christ,
unseen, but ever near,
is in such friendship better known,
alive among us here.
Together met, together bound
by all that God has done,
we'll go with joy, to give the world
the love that makes us one
Gathering Prayer Phil Miller-Evans
Scripture Readings
Isaiah 43: 1-5 (ESV) Phil Miller-Evans
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. 4 Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. 5 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you.
Acts 8:26-39 Courtney Jones
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south[d] to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a
sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was
denied him.
Who
can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”[e] 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Reflections on Belonging Introduction: Lois Lehman
“Our need to belong is what drives us to seek out stable, long-lasting relationships with other people.2 It also motivates us to participate in social activities such as clubs, sports teams, religious groups, and community organizations.
In Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs, belongingness is part of one of his major needs that motivate human behavior. The hierarchy is usually portrayed as a pyramid, with more basic needs at the base and more complex needs near the peak. The need for love and belonging lie at the center of the pyramid as part of the social needs.”
When/where have you experienced a sense of belonging? When/where you have experienced a sense of not belonging?
What might our faith communities do to enhance and encourage a sense of belonging and communicate that to our community?
Special Music “Here in the Dark” Keisha Prime
Prayers of the People Russ Lehman
The Lord’s Prayer (This is the Ecumenical Version; feel free to use the words of your choice)
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen
Invitation to the Offering Walter Walker
Offering our Gifts
Donations can be placed in the offering plate near the baptismal font in the center of the sanctuary.
Or mailed to:
Lakeview Presbyterian Church, 1310 22nd Av S, St Petersburg, FL, 33705
Circle of Faith, 1310 22nd Av S, St. Petersburg, FL 33734
Church of the Beatitudes, PO Box 7798, St Petersburg, Fl 33734
or given online at:
lakeviewpresbyterianchurch.org
www.circle.faith/give
Loose plate offerings will be given to Operation Attack
Offertory “How Beautiful” Jay Witlow
Prayer of Dedication Walter Walker
Songs Blest Be the Tie that Binds GTG #306
Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship our spirit finds
Is like to that above.
Before our Father’s throne,
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one—
Our comforts and our cares.
We share our mutual woes;
Our mutual burdens bear;
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear.
When we are torn part,
It gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart,
And hope to meet again.
From sorrow, toil, and pain,
And sin we shall be free;
And perfect love and oneness reign
Through all eternity
Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling GTG # 418
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling
Calling for you and for me
See on the portals He's waiting and watching
Watching for you and for me.
Refrain
Come home, come home
Ye who are weary come home
Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling
Calling, "O sinner come home"
Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not his mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?
Refrain
O for the wonderful love He has promised,
promised for you and for me
Though we have sinned He has mercy and pardon
Pardon for you and for me
Sending Lois Lehman
Postlude “Where I Belong” Building 426 Keisha Prime
Sometimes it feels like I'm watching from the outside
Sometimes it feels like I'm breathing, but am I alive?
I will keep searching for answers that aren't here to find
All I know is I'm not home yet
This is not where I belong
Take this world and give me Jesus
This is not where I belong
So when the walls come falling down on me
And when I'm lost in the current of a raging sea
I have this blessed assurance holding me
When the earth shakes
I wanna be found in you
When the lights fade
I wanna be found in you