(Clicking on the text underlined in blue will take you to Youtube videos. Most are songs, except for the Sermon, “Leaving the Dust Behind”)
All Prayers are from the Book of Common Worship (Westminster John Knox Press, 2018) and The Worship Sourcebook, Second Edition (Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Faith Alive Christian Resources and Baker Books, 2013)
Pray: O God, light of the hearts that know you, life of the souls that love you, strength of the thoughts that seek you: to turn from you is to fall, to turn to you is to rise, and to abide in you is to stand fast forever. Although we are unworthy to approach you, or to ask anything of you, grant us your grace and blessing for the sake of Jesus Christ our redeemer. Amen.
Sing or Listen: Traditional: Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah
Contemporary: Unbroken Praise
Confess: Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love. We have not loved our neighbors, and we have refused to hear the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Be: Sit (or stand) in silence for one minute.
Be Assured: Our righteousness is found in Christ alone, a gift of God by faith. Beloved people of God, believe the good news: through the grace of Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen.
Read God’s Word: Psalm 69: 7-18 (New Revised Standard Version)
It is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that shame has covered my face.
I have become a stranger to my kindred, an alien to my mother’s children.
It is zeal for your house that has consumed me; the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.
When I humbled my soul with fasting, they insulted me for doing so.
When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.
I am the subject of gossip for those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me.
But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord.
At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me.
With your faithful help rescue me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.
Do not let the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the Pit close its mouth over me.
Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
Do not hide your face from your servant, for I am in distress—make haste to answer me.
Draw near to me, redeem me, set me free because of my enemies.
Read God’s Word: Romans 6:1-11 (New Revised Standard Edition)
What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Watch the Sermon: Leaving the Dust Behind
Think or Discuss: Think of a time when you failed, either yourself, God, or someone else. Did you do better the next time?
Do: Try something that is difficult enough that you have a reasonable chance of failure. If you fail, learn from it, do better, and try again.
Pray: Use this time to pray, silently, at first, and then for others who need your prayers.
Finally, pray the Lord’s Prayer. (Our Father…)
Sing or Listen: Traditional: What A Friend We Have in Jesus
Contemporary: One Voice
Bless and Be Blessed: May the God of Peace and the Peace of God be with you always.