“Immersed in the Power”
Prelude “Breathe On Me, Breath of God”
Words of Welcome
Today, let us continue to explore the Path of Jesus for the 21st Century in our lives and in our families, as we come to God in worship.
Opening Song “Holy, Holy, Holy”
Psalm Meditation Psalm 8 Congregation reads bold print
Leader: O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
People: You have set your glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,
to silence the enemy and the avenger.
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have established;
what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
mortals that you care for them?
Yet you have made them a little lower than God,
and crowned them with glory and honor.
You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under their feet,
all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
ALL: O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Song “How Majestic Is Your Name”
First Scripture Genesis 1:1-2:4a
Song “Mystery“
Second Scripture Reading Matthew 28:16-20 (NRSV)
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Sermon “Immersed in the Power” Pastor Craig
Song “How Can I Keep from Singing?”
Prayers for Our World and One Another
Let us enter now into a time of prayer for one another and for our world. We will do what is called a Bidding Prayer. I will open, and then I will bid your prayers based around various categories. During the silence after each category is bid, I invite you to add your own prayers, either aloud or in silence. I will then close with a prayer, then the Lord’s Prayer. Let us be in prayer.
***
Let us pray now for all who are ill, in hospital or at home, especially those affected by cancer or COVID-19.
***
Let us pray now for all medical and emergency services personnel who are responding to the best of their abilities with the resources that they have at hand.
***
Let us pray now for all those who are hungry or food insecure, and for all community and religious efforts to provide food and shelter.
***
Let us pray for the leaders of nations around the world, not only regarding their response to this pandemic, but also that they may do everything possible to assure the health and welfare of their citizens.
***
Let us pray for our friends, family, and neighbors for their health and well-being.
***
Let us also express our thanks to God for the expressions of love and caring that we have witnessed in our families, communities, and world.
***
Let us express our gratitude for life and the myriad things that gladden our hearts.
***
These prayers, spoken aloud or in silence, we lift into the universal embrace of the One who is Love, and we make them in the name of the One who showed us what Love looks like in the flesh, Jesus Christ our Lord, and we now join our voices in the prayer he taught us, saying:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen
Prayer Response “You’ll Never Walk Alone”
Blessing 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 (adapted)
Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
Greet one another with holy letters, cards, phone calls, email messages. All the saints greet you.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
Closing
It lives in the seed of a tree as it grows
You can hear it, if you listen, to the wind as it blows
It’s there in a river as it flows into the sea
It’s the sound in the soul of a man becoming free
And it lives in the laughter of children at play
And in the blazing sun that gives light to the day
It moves the planets and the stars in the sky
It’s been the mover of mountains since the beginning of time
O Mystery
You are Alive I feel you all around
You are the fire in my heart
You are the holy sound
You are all of life It is to you that I sing
Grant that I may feel you
Always, in everything
And it lives in the waves as they crash upon the beach
I have seen it in the gods that men have tried to reach
I feel it in the love that I know we need so much
I know it in your smile, my love, when our hearts do touch
But when I listen deep inside,
I feel it best of all
Like a moon that’s glowing white and I listen to your call
And I know you will guide me, I feel like the tide
Rushing through the ocean of my heart so open wide
O Mystery, You are Alive
I feel you all around
You are the fire in my heart
You are the Holy sound
You are All of Life
It is to You that I sing
O Grant that I may feel you
Always in Everything