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September 6 Worship

 

CCLI license #1913561

Sunday, September 6, 2020

Lakeview P.C. pastors are participating with the Circle of Faith pastors in a joint ‘live-streamed’ service which can be viewed via http://facebook.com/circlestpete at 11:00 a.m. and/or http://circle.faith/youtube at a later time. Circle of Faith also streams a Contemporary service with Communion each week and can be viewed at 10:00 am via http://facebook.com/circlestpete

Question for Reflection

What is it that is more precious to you than peace of mind and harmony with your neighbor?  That may sound like a silly question, but nearly all of us have something-- pride, wealth, status, a prejudice or grudge-- you just cannot "let go of."  It would be silly of me to say, "Just let It go," but acknowledging It and confessing It to God will lighten your burden and be a step toward that peace.

Our worship service for September 6, 2020, includes a celebration of Holy Communion.  If you wish to partake of elements when appropriate in the service, we invite you to prepare your juice and your bread (or alternative) ahead of time.

Prelude

As the Deer, sing along with Keisha Prime

Call to Worship [1]

Listen! The Lord calls out to us, offering life!
Walk in the paths of God’s commandments with delight.
Seek God with your whole heart, and find peace and joy

Opening Prayer

Almighty God, whose ways are far beyond our understanding, help us to trust your judgments so that we may do your will by loving you and one another, and find peace in your grace and joy in your Spirit.  In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Music If You Want Me To by Ginny Owens

Sung by Keisha Prime

The pathway is broken and the signs are unclear
And I don't know the reason why You brought me here
But just because You love me the way that You do
I'm gonna walk through the valley if You want me to 'Cause I'm not who I was when I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet
So if all of these trials bring me closer to You
Then I will go through the fire if You want me to It may not be the way I would have chosen
When You lead me through a world that's not my home
But You never said it would be easy
You only said I'd never go alone So when the whole world turns against me and I'm all by myself
And I can't hear You answer my cries for help
I'll remember the suffering Your love put You through
And I will go through the darkness if You want me to.

Scripture Reading:  Leviticus 19:9-10 NRS

When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the LORD your God.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 15: 22—28 NRSV

I preface this reading with the disclaimer that it is one of my least favorite passages.
While many attempts are made to explain away the xenophobic nature of Jesus’ words, he does call a woman a dog because she is not an Israelite. Dianna Butler Bass, in a sermon on this text points out that the word translated as “dog” in this passage can also be translated “beast,” or “slave.” I have chosen this passage because, in the midst of all the racial tensions in our country at this time, it does offer an invitation to a greater acknowledgement of the worth of those who are different from us, and a chance to replace fear and distrust with respect and compassion.
Hear now the reading of Matthew 15: 22—28:

Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon." But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."
Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly.

Message: “The Crumbs from the Table” Rev. Russell Lehman

Message by Rev. Russell Lehman

Hymn-Lord I Want to Be A Christian

Sung by Keisha Prime

Lord, I want to be a Christian In my heart, in my heart; Lord, I want to be a Christian In my heart.
Refrain: In my heart, in my heart, Lord, I want to be a Christian In my heart.
Lord, I want to be more loving In my heart, in my heart; Lord, I want to be more loving In my heart.
Refrain:
Lord, I want to be more holy In my heart, in my heart; Lord, I want to be more holy In my heart.
Refrain:
Lord, I want to be like Jesus In my heart, in my heart; Lord, I want to be like Jesus In my heart

Prayer

From the beginning until now, loving God, you have offered us life, but we have turned away from you, following lesser ways, pursuing a lesser life.
Yet you will not abandon us. You call out, warning and wooing us to return to you.
Even when we fail our brothers and sisters and trample on the beauty of your creation you remain present with us.
Help us to love as you love, until we find peace with you and to our neighbor.
In the name of Jesus, the way of peace, we pray. Amen.

A Statement about Offering our Gifts

Friends, God is faithful and gracious to us, upholds us, and raises us up. Let us show our thanksgiving by giving generously to support ministries that ease burdens and give rest to those in need.
Donations can be mailed to Lakeview Presbyterian Church at 1310 22nd Av S, St Petersburg, FL, 33705 or given online through our website @lakeviewpresbyterianchurch.org

Service of Holy Communion

The Invitation
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.” O taste and see that the Lord is good! Happy are those who find refuge in God!

The Words of Institution
On the night of his arrest, our Lord took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, saying, “This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, and said, “This cup is the new covenant sealed in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” Every time you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you. And also with you
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Holy God, creator of the universe, with joy we praise you and give you thanks. You brought light from darkness and drew land from the sea. You made us in your image to live with one another in love. You promised yourself in covenant with us, you told us your purpose in your law, and called for justice through the prophets. Through long generations you have been faithful to your people.

      Holy, holy, holy Lord, the Lord God Almighty, who was and is, and is to come.
      Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever!

We praise you for your love: bringing order out of chaos, breathing life into dust, leading captives into freedom, calling wandering children home, giving bread to the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, raising the dead to life. We thank you, Lord for Jesus: Word made flesh, light of the world, living water, shepherd and gate, way and truth, bread of heaven, cup of salvation, resurrection and life.

Spirit come – come and live in us: in this bread, in this cup, in your people, one in the body, one in the blood; one with Christ, one in ministry, in this place, in every place; in this world, in the world to come. AMEN

Partaking the Elements
When we break bread, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?
When we give thanks over the cup, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ?
Jesus said: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Prayer after Communion
Holy God, we thank you for this feast of grace and life. Send us out to answer the summons of our Lord Jesus Christ to a new life, and to follow him with joy and gladness. Set our feet in his holy way, that our lives may be signs of his life and all we do may show forth his love. AMEN

The LORD'S Prayer -- Sung

Sung by Keisha Prime

Charge (Romans 13: 8)

Owe no one anything, except to love one another. By doing this, God’s whole law is fulfilled.

BLESSING
May the love of God pursue you;
the grace of Christ overtake you;
and the Holy Spirit flow through you,
as love fills all the world.

Postlude-Lord Dismiss Us With Thy Blessing

Please sing with Keisha Prime