Sermon Podcast – June 28, 2020 – Compassionate Welcome

Preached by Rev. Lou Ellen Hartley. Based on Matthew 10:40-42.

Psalm and Prayer of the Day June 25

Psalm 36

Transgression speaks to the wicked
    deep in their hearts;
there is no fear of God
    before their eyes.
For they flatter themselves in their own eyes
    that their iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
The words of their mouths are mischief and deceit;
    they have ceased to act wisely and do good.
They plot mischief while on their beds;
    they are set on a way that is not good;
    they do not reject evil.

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
    your judgments are like the great deep;
    you save humans and animals alike, O Lord.

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
    All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house,
    and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
    in your light we see light.

10 O continue your steadfast love to those who know you,
    and your salvation to the upright of heart!
11 Do not let the foot of the arrogant tread on me,
    or the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 There the evildoers lie prostrate;
    they are thrust down, unable to rise.

Prayer

Holy God, your love is higher than the heavens and your grace is wider than the sea.  Awaken our hearts to the joy of your presence and open our lips to sing your praise.  Today we thank you for….(personal thanksgiving).  Today we pray for the needs in our lives and in the world…(personal intercession). Amen

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Psalm and Prayer of the Day

Psalm 15

O Lord, who may abide in your tent?
Who may dwell on your holy hill?
Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,
and speak the truth from their heart;
who do not slander with their tongue,
and do no evil to their friends,
nor take up a reproach against their neighbors;
in whose eyes the wicked are despised,
but who honor those who fear the Lord;
who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
who do not lend money at interest,
and do not take a bribe against the innocent.
Those who do these things shall never be moved.

Prayer

Eternal God,
you never fail to give us each day all that we ever need, and even more.  Give us such joy in living and such peace in serving Christ, that we may gratefully make use of all your blessings, and joyfully seek our risen Lord in everyone we meet.  In Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

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Psalm and Prayer of the Day

Psalm 123

To you I lift up my eyes,
    O you who are enthroned in the heavens!
As the eyes of servants
    look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a maid
    to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the Lord our God,
    until he has mercy upon us.

Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us,
    for we have had more than enough of contempt.
Our soul has had more than its fill
    of the scorn of those who are at ease,
    of the contempt of the proud.

Prayer

Eternal God, we rejoice in the gift of life, which we have received by your grace, and the new life you give in Jesus Christ.  Especially we thank you for
the love of our families…
the affection of our friends…
strength and abilities to serve your purpose today…
this community in which we live…
opportunities to give as we have received…
(Other prayers of thanksgiving.)

God of grace, we offer our prayers for the needs of others and commit ourselves to serve them even as we have been served in Jesus Christ.  Especially we pray for
those closest to us, families, friends, neighbors…
refugee and homeless men, women, and children…
the outcast and the persecuted…
those from whom we are estranged…
the church in Africa…
(Other prayers of intercession.)
In Christ we pray, Amen.

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Psalm and Prayer of the Day June 22

Psalm 135

1

Praise the Lord!

Praise the name of the Lord;

give praise, O servants of the Lord,

2

you that stand in the house of the Lord,

in the courts of the house of our God.

3

Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;

sing to his name, for he is gracious.

4

For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself,

Israel as his own possession.

5

For I know that the Lord is great;

our Lord is above all gods.

6

Whatever the Lord pleases he does,

in heaven and on earth,

in the seas and all deeps.

7

He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth;

he makes lightnings for the rain

and brings out the wind from his storehouses.

8

He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,

both human beings and animals;

9

he sent signs and wonders

into your midst, O Egypt,

against Pharaoh and all his servants.

10

He struck down many nations

and killed mighty kings—

11

Sihon, king of the Amorites,

and Og, king of Bashan,

and all the kingdoms of Canaan—

12

and gave their land as a heritage,

a heritage to his people Israel.

13

Your name, O Lord, endures forever,

your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages.

14

For the Lord will vindicate his people,

and have compassion on his servants.

15

The idols of the nations are silver and gold,

the work of human hands.

16

They have mouths, but they do not speak;

they have eyes, but they do not see;

17

they have ears, but they do not hear,

and there is no breath in their mouths.

18

Those who make them

and all who trust them

shall become like them.

19

O house of Israel, bless the Lord!

O house of Aaron, bless the Lord!

20

O house of Levi, bless the Lord!

You that fear the Lord, bless the Lord!

21

Blessed be the Lord from Zion,

he who resides in Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord!

Prayer

God, our creator, you have given us work to do and call us to use our talents for the good of all.  Guide us as we work, and teach us to live in the Spirit who made us your sons and daughters, in the love that made us your sisters and brothers, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.  

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Sermon Podcast – June 21, 2020 – God is There Too

Preached by Rev. Lou Ellen Hartley. Based on Genesis 21:8-21; Jeremiah 20:7-13; Romans 6:1b-11; and Matthew 10:24-33.

Worship Podcast – June 21, 2020

Led by Rev. Lou Ellen Hartley. Pianist Lorie Francis. Soloists Mary Kwantes and Jonathan Kimball. Sermon based on Genesis 21:8-21; Jeremiah 20:7-13; Romans 6:1b-11; and Matthew 10:24-33.