Interlude, A time of prayer: “Alma Dei Creatoris” – Mozart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=genc9IpOL6Q&list=PLH2tnBZzETg7QyQu82ndq_cdM1OFrC1PU&index=1
Call to Worship: Psalm 33:1, 20–22, Alt. Read Aloud Together
Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous;
praise befits the upright.
Our souls are waiting for you, O LORD;
you are our help and our shield.
In you do our hearts find joy;
we trust in your holy name.
Let your love be upon us, O God,
as we place our hope in you.
Hymn of Praise: “Praise you in this Storm” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YUGwUgBvTU
Invocation & Lord’s Prayer: O God, you have prepared for those who love you and your creation such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; May that love overflow so that we can share of its abundance, to all of your creation, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who taught us to pray:
Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.
Hymn of Prayer: “Let there be Peace on Earth” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_DxNpW1kHQ
The First Lesson: Acts 17:22-31
Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said,
‘For we too are his offspring.’
Since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
Children Worship & Wonder Video (all ages encouraged to watch and participate):
“Parable of the Great Banquet” Video Available on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvv_dOWdLvA4Tx3E79cVSrQ
Readings from the Epistles and the Gospel:
1 Peter 3:13-22
Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God's will, than to suffer for doing evil. For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you-- not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.
John 14:15-21
Jesus said, ”If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.
”I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”
Please remember to support our church and its ministries (Food Pantry, Samaritan Fund, Children & Youth, etc.) during this time with your tithes & offerings.
Donate Safely Online via Givelify @ https://giv.li/w063gb
Doxology: (Words below, for an interesting modern take on this song, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGPtYkaT6-o)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow Praise Him all creatures here below Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Communion Hymn: “We Remember” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Tg6Yzm13oI
At this time, We encourage all to prepare their own Sacraments for communion to share as a family. Reverently and prayerfully prepare the bread and the cup.
Communion Service Video with Rev. Bob Lane: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlVUCoIC3uE
LESSONS:
Sermon Video “Can You See?” from Rev. Bob: https://youtu.be/noXgFEqlGPw
Audio Sermon from Rev. Paul Simrell (Elpis): https://igw3.blog/
Hymn of Commitment: “Heaven Came Down” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toWi1L0Y1nc
Benediction:
Go forth into the world in peace; be of good courage; hold fast to that which is good; render to no one evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honor everyone; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.