Preparing for Worship
Sketch by Margie H.
In our second Fall worship series we are looking to the ancient prayer book of God’s people, the Psalms, to see what we can learn about prayer, about God, about ourselves, about praying both as individuals and as God’s people together. As you join in worship this morning, consider lighting a candle to represent God’s presence with you and among us all.
Call to Worship
Peter H. welcomes us and calls us to worship together:
Songs of Hope
Join in singing along to STJ 34 Loving Spirit, accompanied by Loretta T. and Michael P. You can use the song book or follow the lyrics below.
Loving Spirit, loving Spirit,
you have chosen me to be;
you have drawn me to your wonder,
you have set your sign on me.
Like a mother you enfold me,
hold my life within your own.
Feed me with your very body,
form me of your flesh and bone.
Like a father you protect me.
Teach me the discerning eye.
Hoist me up upon your shoulder,
let me see the world from high.
Friend and lover,
in your closeness I am known
and held and blest:
in your promise is my comfort,
in your presence I may rest.
Loving Spirit, loving Spirit,
you have chosen me to be;
you have drawn me to your wonder,
you have set your sign on me.
Let’s continue singing in hope with STJ 98 All Will Be Well, accompanied by Dianne H. and Michael P. You can use the song book or follow the lyrics below.
All will be well, and all will be well,
all manner of things will be well.
All will be well, and all will be well,
all manner of things will be well,
will be well, will be well.
Our Lord said that all would be well,
all manner of things would be well.
With all the sadness wrought in this world,
the good shall always prevail.
In all the doubts that shroud simple truths,
we pray for the wisdom of God.
Give us the faith to trust in your love,
when things are concealed from our view.
Our faith is firm and stands on the Word,
the Word that endures for all time.
And so we pray to trust in the hope that
all manner of things shall be well.
Offering
Thank you for your faithful giving over the past months! Please continue this act of worship in support of the church’s ongoing ministries. For online giving, please see the information here.
Community Life & Prayer
For announcements related to our church community, please see the eBulletin emailed to those on the church email list. You can also stay updated by checking the church Facebook page and this website.
This week in our prayers we especially remember:
- Those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, including those in Morden now with the virus. May God bring protection, provision, and healing to those most in need. May we walk in faith (not fear), hope (not despair), and love (especially for the most vulnerable among us).
- Church Council as they lead us in discernment related to the search for a new lead pastor. May they have wisdom and courage as they lead. May we as a congregation have faith and hope as we look to the future and trust in the faithful God to lead us there in love.
- Those among us facing difficult challenges, and those among us celebrating good things. May each one know God’s gracious presence, and may we show the empathy and compassion of Christ as we “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Rom 12:15).
- Us as a church: “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort our hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word” (2 Thess 2:16-17).
Peter H. offers this prayer for us today:
Prayer Song
Continue in prayer as we sing HWB 352 Gentle Shepherd, Come and Lead Us, accompanied by Loretta T. and Michael P. You can use the hymn book or follow along below.
Gentle Shepherd, come and lead us
For we need you to help us find our way
Gentle Shepherd, come and feed us
For we need your strength from day to day
There’s no other we can turn to
Who can help us face another day
Gentle Shepherd, come and lead us
For we need you to help us find our way
Scripture Reading
Our Scripture reading this morning is Psalm 42:1-11, read for us by Peter H. As we listen to our Scripture reading, and as we reflect on it together in our children’s focus and meditation, may we have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to us as a church.
Children’s Focus
If you are a kid (or a kid at heart!) you might enjoy this story by Cornelia Maude Spelman, produced by The Reading Train, called “When I Feel Sad.”
Meditation
Michael P. shares this meditation on our Scripture text for us today, called “Why So Downcast, O My Soul?”:
Moment of Reflection
Spend a few moments reflecting on our Scripture text and its interpretation among us. The good news of God has been proclaimed among us this morning.
- How have you heard God’s good news for you? for others in your life? for our world?
- What will you do this week to live out God’s good news?
Song of Response
Join in singing HWB 580 My Life Flows On, accompanied by Linda P. and Michael P. You can use the hymn book or follow the lyrics below.
Artwork by Rose B.
My life flows on in endless song;
above earth’s lamentation,
I catch the sweet, though far off hymn
that hails a new creation.
No storm can shake my inmost calm
while to that Rock I’m clinging.
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,
how can I keep from singing?
Through all the tumult and the strife,
I hear that music ringing.
It finds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?
What though my joys and comforts die?
I know my Savior liveth.
What though the darkness gather round?
Songs in the night he giveth.
The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,
a fountain ever springing!
All things are mine since I am his!
How can I keep from singing?
Benediction
Receive this benediction by Peter H. as we leave this time of worship together.
Sending Song
Join in singing HWB 427 You Shall Go Out with Joy, accompanied by Joel, Erin, Milo, and Jude K. You can use the hymn book or follow the lyrics below.
You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace.
The mountains and the hills will break forth before you.
There’ll be shouts of joy and all the trees of the field
will clap, will clap their hands.
And all the trees of the field will clap their hands,
the trees of the field will clap their hands.
The trees of the field will clap their hands,
while you go out with joy.
In the Week Ahead
Check the church website and church Facebook page regularly for resources for staying connected and for spiritual growth during this time. Grace and peace to you this week!
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