Mission Trip Sunday
October 27, 2019
9:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
PRELUDE At the conclusion of the prelude, a bell will be rung three times to signify the start of service. As the candles are lit we invite you to use this time for silent, personal preparation for worship.
WELCOME: Jessica will welcome the congregation, and announce that this service will not entirely a “typical” order of service.
GOD’S LIGHT AND WORD PRECEDE OUR WORSHIP
GREETING (Congregation reads the words in bold)
Grace, mercy, and peace be to this house and to all for whom this is home.
And also to you.
It does not matter where you’ve come from, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here in this Meeting House of worship. You are invited to participate in this community at prayer.
CALL TO WORSHIP Let us worship God together!
OPENING PRAYER (Psalm 139)
[Last week, we practiced slowing down a little bit in our praying. Let’s pray this prayer slowly and pay close attention to the words.]
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. {A moment for silent reflection}
Amazing God, we pray for you to be present with us this morning. We confess our many distractions, and the ways we have not lived up to our best intentions and your deepest hopes for our lives. And, we thank you for the truth your Son Jesus Christ came to proclaim and share with us: the mystery and power of your relentless love, which saves us from ourselves and the ways of this world. Help us to accept the invitation to live in the light of your love, and to share your healing grace with this world. Amen.
*WORSHIP SONG 10,000 Reasons https://youtu.be/vSxocnIaN0A
(9:00) INTRODUCTION TO THE THEME Relentless
(10:30) TIME WITH THE CHILDREN
As the children and their teachers depart to continue their worship and learning elsewhere we offer them our blessing:
The Congregation: God’s love be with you.
Teachers & Children: And also with you.
[Prior to reading Scripture passage, explain that there are many stories in the Bible that demonstrate God’s relentless love pursuing each one of us so that can fulfill God’s purpose for our life, and so that we might know joy. Samuel, a priest, was on a mission to find the next king of Israel, because it was clear that Saul was not being faithful to God or to his calling. Samuel would not relent from his search at Jesse’s house until he had seen all of the sons, and so they sent for David—the youngest—to be brought back from tending the sheep.]
SCRIPTURE READING
Old Testament Lesson: 1 Samuel 16:10-13a Pew Bible p. 226
[After Scripture text is read, then say:]
Samuel recognized that David was God’s chosen leader, and anointed him. Eventually, David became the king of Israel. Samuel had to pay attention to where he saw and felt God moving—in his prayer life, he had to practice listening closely to where God was present.
[Another person can talk about the role of “God sightings”]
One of the things we’re encouraged to do throughout the day is always keep an eye out for “God sightings”—where we see God at work, or where we hear God’s word speaking to us. And then we’re invited to share those with the entire group at our evening worship session. It’s always pretty amazing and inspiring to see what mundane things we’re doing provide opportunities for God to move among us!
REFLECTIONS “God Sightings”
[Youth/Adult Leader says:]
Our opening prayer started with Psalm 139, which was probably written by King David. In the psalm, we can see that he is confident that God is always with him. David’s experiences—as a shepherd guarding his sheep, then going up against a giant called Goliath, and then years later as a military leader, and eventually as the king—taught him that God is always near. He learned that God’s love continued to pursue him even when he messed up, even when he made selfish choices that harmed other people.
There was a time when King David saw a beautiful woman called Bathsheba and decided that he wanted her for his own wife. The problem was, she was already married—to a soldier in David’s army. But David was the king and with his power, he ordered Bathsheba’s husband to be placed on the front line during a battle, and he was killed almost instantly. David got what he wanted, but God was not pleased.
*WORSHIP SONG You Are Holy (Prince of Peace) https://youtu.be/QsYyuK1w3q0
Though the narrator was clear that God was not pleased with David’s behavior, he nonetheless made it clear that God’s forgiving love for David was relentless. David and Bathsheba suffered as a result of David’s selfish choices, but God’s grace and presence continued to abide with David.
We heard and were reminded across the week that God forgives each one of us—for everything. There is nothing we can do that will sever God’s love for us, or that will make God give up on us. Sometimes, we may give up on God—but God never, ever gives up on us; that’s just how relentless God is.
We were reminded that God’s ultimate demonstration of relentless love was manifested in Jesus Christ—God’s own son, who came to live as one of us so that we might start to understand what prophets through the ages had not been able to make clear. In Jesus, we learned that God’s love is so relentless it’s not even afraid to die for our sake. Not even a tortured, unjust, hideous death. And he did. But because the power of love is more powerful than death, we are the beneficiaries of Christ’s resurrection—the powers of this world could not keep Jesus in the grave. And Jesus gave each of his followers—that includes me, and you, and every other believer—the gift of his Spirit, the Holy Spirit, which is what empowers us to love and serve others.
ANTHEM Reckless Love {Jess to introduce} Played on TV
This is a new song we leaned this summer. Jessica will share the introduction we heard about the shepherd leaving his flock of 99 to go find his 1 lost sheep. (Remember it?: the Overwhelming Never-Ending Reckless Love of God…) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GGJ8cyYNzQ&feature=youtu.be
Youth/Adult participant says:
We are so grateful for the opportunity to participate in these mission trips. For the community experience and bonding they foster, for the possibility to focus our attention a little more closely on God in our world and in our lives, for the ability to make connections and form relationships with people whose lives are very different from our own—we are grateful and humbled to have this opportunity. And we are grateful for this church community, which supports us so generously in making it possible.
Here are a couple examples of our highlight moments from the week:
[1-3 individuals who’d like to share about their experience are invited to speak.]
SLIDE SHOW 2019 Mision Trip – Dexter ME
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
LORD’S PRAYER (unison)
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 debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
ORGAN RESPONSE
GIVING AND RECEIVING DIVINE GIFTS
Notices regarding how time, talent, and treasures are being used to further the work of Christ in the world.
OFFERTORY
*Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*Prayer of Dedication
*WORSHIP SONG My Lighthouse https://youtu.be/lFBZJGSgyVQ lyrics on screen
*THE LIGHT AND WORD OF GOD LEADS US INTO THE WORLD
*OUR COMMON COMMISSION (unison)
Let us now go forth into the world in peace, being of good courage, holding fast to that which is good, rendering to no one evil for evil, strengthening the faint-hearted, supporting the weak, helping the afflicted, honoring all persons, loving and serving the Lord, and rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.
*BENEDICTION (Mission Trip Crew in unison)
Go in peace to serve as our Savior Jesus Christ did, with God’s blessing and Holy Spirit abiding with you now and evermore. Amen.
*SHARING THE PEACE AND JOY OF CHRIST
*POSTLUDE
2019 Mission Trip Crew
Dexter, ME Workcampers July 21 – July 27, 2019
| Chase Adams | Holly Babcock |
| Kiyra Weaver Bartis | Grant Batson |
| William Bird | Lucy Daigle |
| Matt Dias | Jack Duquette |
| Kevin Duquette | Nate Eisenhauer |
| Eliza Gehan | Al Gilbert |
| Ella Gilbert | Josh Gilbert |
| Abigael Haskell | Julie Kopser |
| Naomi Kopser | Matt Kopser |
| JJ Leach | Jessica Marchant |
| Sean Morrissey | Will Morrissey |
| Abbie Ogren | Lindsay Rolls |
| Melinda Rolls | Amy Ryherd |
| Sal Vella | Sofia Walle |