We held virtual worship on Sunday, July 19, 2020! You can watch the recording below, or on our Facebook page by clicking here.
WELCOME
We’ve come to worship God,
who loved us before we were yet born,
who knows us even better than we know ourselves,
whose presence never leaves us,
and whose love for us never ceases.
This is our God. Let’s worship together!
OPENING TO GOD Steve Garnaas-Holmes, mod.
God of infinite love,
awaken us like Jacob
to know you are in this place.
In strange times, in new places,
in unfamiliar circumstances,
you are here.
You walk with us.
You bear the burden with us:
you, our strength and wisdom.
You enable us to see with new eyes
and guide us as we find our way.
Though we may journey in an unknown land
your loving presence is steady.
Though we may face difficulty and uncertainty
your grace is sure and your blessing constant.
Thank you. Awaken our gratitude.
I need you. Deepen my trust.
Open our eyes. Open our hearts.
God of infinite love, you who walk with us,
give us faith to walk with you.
Amen.
PSALTER Psalm 139 paraphrase by Nan Merrell
O my Beloved, You have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You discern my innermost thoughts.
You find me on the journey and guide my steps;
You know my strengths and my weaknesses.
Even before words rise up in prayer,
Lo, You have already heard my heart call.
You encompass me with love where’er I go,
and your strength is my shield.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high;
boundless gratitude is my soul’s response.
Where could I go from your Spirit?
Or how could I flee from your Presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are there!
If I make my bed in darkness, You are there!
If I soar on the wings of the morning
or dwell in the deepest parts of the sea,
Even there your hand will lead me,
and your Love will embrace me.
If I say, “Let only darkness cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
Even the darkness is not dark to You,
the night dazzles as with the sun;
the darkness is as light with You.
HEBREW SCRIPTURE Genesis 28:10-19a NRSV
Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
And the Lord stood beside him and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it!” And he was afraid, and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”
So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. He called that place Bethel.
REFLECTION Jacob’s Ladder Barb & Mitch
MUSIC Take Time to Be Holy music & photos
by Kathryn Parker
PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
SHARING PRAYERS
LORD’S PRAYER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
BENEDICTION
As we go from here, remember this:
As followers of Jesus Christ,
we have not received a spirit of fear,
but one of hope and confidence.
For we are children of God,
members of God’s own family,
and heirs with Jesus Christ himself.
So go out with joy to love and serve the Lord:
Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, now and forever.
POSTLUDE Postlude in D music & photos
by Kathryn Parker
