Prelude: Stephanie Phillips
Call to Worship (from NCH #825 by Congregation Beth El of the Sudbury River Valley)
Pastor: Blessed is the One who spoke and the world came into being.
People: Blessed is the One who created the world.
L: Blessed is the One who speaks and does.
People: Blessed is the One who decrees and fulfills.
L: Blessed is the One who has compassion on the earth.
People: Blessed is the One who has compassion for all creatures.
L: Blessed is the One who rewards those who fear God.
People: Blessed is the One who lives eternally and exists forever.
L: Blessed is the One who redeems and saves.
People: Blessed is the Holy One.
Song: “Now Thank We All Our God” – NCH 419
Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done, in whom this world rejoices,
who from our parents arms, has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us,
and keep us still in grace, and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all ills in this world and the next.
All praise and thanks to God our Maker now be given,
to Christ and Spirit, too, our help in highest heaven,
the one Eternal God, whom earth and heaven adore,
for thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.
Scripture: (find a Bible and read along)
Psalm 23 | Ephesians 5:8-14
Meditation: “Walking in the Light Amidst Dark Shadows”
Scott B. Martin
Special Music: Stephanie Phillips
Prayer Joys and Concerns:
Text your prayer, joys and concerns to 830-515-2866 or leave them as a comment in the Facebook Live feed
Pastor Scott ahead of time and he will read it and light a candle for you. You can also email Pastor Scott with your prayer joys and concerns [email protected]. Please text or email by 10 a.m. so Pastor Scott has time to record them.)
Prayer:
(written by Dr. John Dorhauer, President & General Minister of the UCC)
O God in whom we move and have our being, and with whose first breath we were once created, we bring to you our grief, our anxiety, and our fear.
As the world responds to this new threat to our health and well-being, and as more and more elderly and vulnerable people face an uncertain future with the spread of this virus, instill within us a new capacity for love and compassion.
We call for blessings upon the medical care workers who will treat the sick and dying.
We call for blessings on government officials and elected representatives who will manage and steward the resources needed to fight this virus.
We call for blessings on the children sent home from school, especially those whose parents can’t come home from work to take care of them or who might be missing meals while not at school.
We call for blessings on all who must travel during this season.
We call for blessings all who are grieving the passing of a loved one and who cannot gather to memorialize their beloved dead.
May the power of your abiding and steadfast love inspire us all as all to be people of compassion, hope, and joy as we discover anew that there is nothing that can separate us from that love.
We ask this prayer in the power of your most holy name, AMEN
Lord’s Prayer (All)
(using “…forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us….”)
Closing Song: “God Be With You Till We Meet Again”
God be with you till we meet again; By good counsel guide, uphold you, With a shepherd’s care enfold you; God be with you till we meet again.
(Chorus)
Till we meet,….till we meet,….Till we meet at Jesus’ feet….. till we meet,….till we meet,…..God be with you till we meet again.
God be with you till we meet again; Wings of shelter safely hide you, Daily manna still provide you, God be with you till we meet again.
(Chorus
God be with you till we meet again; When life’s perils thick confound you,
Put unfailing arms around you, God be with you till we meet again.
(Chorus)
God be with you till we meet again, Keep love’s banner floating o’er you,
Smite death’s threatening wave before you, God be with you till we meet again.
(chorus)
Benediction (pastor) May the peace of the Lord Christ be with you: wherever you are or go; my God guide you through the wilderness; protect you through the storm; may God bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders God has shown you; may God bring you home rejoicing : once again into our doors. Amen.
Postlude: Stephanie Phillips
Our thanks to Sam Ward for coming and videoing this for facebook live!
