Psalm of the Day April 1

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Psalm 5 (The Voice Translation)

1 Bend Your ear to me and listen to my words, O Eternal One;
    hear the deep cry of my heart.
2 Listen to my call for help,
    my King, my True God;
    to You alone I pray.
3 In the morning, O Eternal One, listen for my voice;
    in the day’s first light, I will offer my prayer to You and watch expectantly for Your answer.

4 You’re not a God who smiles at sin;
    You cannot abide with evil.
5 The proud wither in Your presence;
    You hate all who pervert and destroy what is good.
6 You destroy those with lying lips;
    the Eternal detests those who murder and deceive.

7 Yet I, by Your loving grace,
    am welcomed into Your house;
I will turn my face toward Your holy place
    and fall on my knees in reverence before You.
8 O Eternal One, lead me in the path of Your righteousness
    amidst those who wish me harm;
    make Your way clear to me.

9 Their words cannot be trusted;
    they are destructive to their cores.
What comes out of their mouths is as foul as a rotting corpse;
    their words stink of flattery.
10 Find them guilty, O True God;
    let their own devices bring them ruin.
Throw them out, and let them drownin the deluge of their sin,
    for in revolt they brazenly spit in Your face.

11 But let those who run to You for safety be glad they did;
let them break out in joyful song.
May You keep them safe—
their love for You resounding in their hearts.
12 You, O Eternal, are the One who lays all good things in the laps of the right-hearted.
Your blessings surround them like a shield.

Prayer:

Give us your peace, oh God, that we will know your loving care.  Help us be aware of your love which surrounds us and keeps us whole

Today we pray for our loved ones who are in need of your strength and healing…

We pray for our neighbors who may be lonely, ill, or grieving…..

We pray for healthcare workers who are pushed beyond exhaustion and who are giving their all in the pandemic….

We pray for our leaders, locally and nationally and internationally, that cool heads prevail, that they make informed decisions for the good of us all, that your gift of science and medical understanding may lead the way to spare the lives of those who are threatened….

We pray for those who are without: without support, without food and shelter, without hope, without love.  May we, your church, do as you have called us to do and demonstrate grace through our actions.
In Christ’s name we pray, Amen

 

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Psalm of the Day

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Psalm 34

Of David, when he feigned madness before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.
1 I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 O magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together.


4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me,
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Look to him, and be radiant;
so your faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord,
and was saved from every trouble.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good;
happy are those who take refuge in him.
9 O fear the Lord, you his holy ones,
for those who fear him have no want.
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.


11 Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Which of you desires life,
and covets many days to enjoy good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil,
and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil, and do good;
seek peace, and pursue it.


15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against evildoers,
to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears,
and rescues them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the broken-hearted,
and saves the crushed in spirit.


19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord rescues them from them all.
20 He keeps all their bones;
not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil brings death to the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned

Prayer of the Day

By your spirit, O God,  give us hearts to love you, minds to know you, souls to bless you, and strength to serve you.   Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
 

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Psalm for the Day

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Today’s psalm is actually our lectionary psalm for Sunday, Palm Sunday. It may sound familiar, with festal shouts and great praise.  As we make our way to Palm Sunday in this season of disruption, for what do you praise God?  If we were shouting to Christ with our palms, what would be our prayer?  How do praise God in the midst of our joys and our concerns?

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

118:1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!

118:2 Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”

118:19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.

118:20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.

118:21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.

118:22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.

118:23 This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

118:24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

118:25 Save us, we beseech you, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech you, give us success!

118:26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the house of the LORD.

118:27 The LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar.

118:28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extol you.

118:29 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Prayer of the Day:

Great God, You are one God, and you bring together what is scattered, and mend what is broken. Unite us with the scattered peoples of the earth that we may be one family of your united children. Bind up all our wounds and heal us in spirit that we may  be renewed. In Christ we pray, Amen.

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Psalm of the Day 141

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Psalm 141

Prayer for Preservation from Evil

A Psalm of David.
1 I call upon you, O Lord; come quickly to me;
give ear to my voice when I call to you.
2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.
3 Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord;  keep watch over the door of my lips.
4 Do not turn my heart to any evil,   to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with those who work iniquity;  do not let me eat of their delicacies.
5 Let the righteous strike me;
let the faithful correct me.
Never let the oil of the wicked anoint my head,
But my eyes are turned towards you, O God, my Lord;   in you I seek refuge; do not leave me defenceless.
9 Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me,
and from the snares of evildoers.
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
while I alone escape.

Prayer:

Everlasting God, you are our strength in times of struggle.  We thank you for the love you’ve shown us in Christ Jesus  We pray that his love will be reflected in our lives, what we say, think, feel, and do

Today we offer up prayers for those who heal, medical professionals, caregivers, chaplains, and hospital staff.  Be with them in this extraordinary time.  Give them strength and courage even as they cope with grief, exhaustion, fear, and frustration.
We pray for those who are sick and suffering…

Those who are lonely and isolated….

Those who are hungry, poorly housed, and without the means to meet their basic needs …

May we continue to be your loving church and offer what we are able  For all of these things we pray in Christ’s name, Amen

 



Noon Prayer

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Pope calls all Christians to pray Our Father together, March 25 at noon

As we are all united in the pandemic, may we all be united in prayer, Pope Francis urges.

Pope Francis invited all Christians of the globe to unite on March 25 at noon to pray the Our Father together — so that as the entire world is suffering from the pandemic, so the Lord might hear all of Christendom united in prayer.

Read more:

Pray the Our Father with the pope March 25 at Noon (7am EST) here

The Church Separate But Together – YouTube Version

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Based on Psalm 23. This is identical to what was previously posted to Facebook, but offered in a different format for flexibility.

https://youtu.be/iHxB1_3G4rA

Church Closure

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March 17, 2020

 

 

Dear Church Family:

It is with a heavy heart that I write this letter to you today.  The world in which we live has taken a turn many of us could never imagine.  We have been told to gather in fewer and fewer numbers and to avoid close contact, to practice social distancing, and to quarantine.  The most recent federal recommendation is to limit group gatherings to under ten people.  In an effort to follow those guidelines the Session met on Monday March 16 and voted to suspend all worship services and face to face meetings beginning with Fired Up on Thursday March 19.  We hope to return to our regular worship and meeting schedule on Sunday May 3.  The Session may revisit our reopening during their regular meeting in April to determine if we need to open sooner or later.  While we are closed, you may go to our web page at www.rollapresby.org or to our Facebook page where I will post video sermons and reflections.

I will be available via email (revhartley1000@gmail.com) or phone 912-230-5398. Katie Sands, our office manager, will maintain office hours for the time being.  Our custodial staff, Tina Sands and Cassie Mudd, will work to sanitize the sanctuary and all areas not used by the preschool.  Please note, during our closure, we ask that no one but church staff or trustees enter the building.  Even if you have a key, please do not enter the church building.

For the time being our preschool will remain open.  The State Department of Health and Senior Services recommends, at this time, that preschools remain open unless there is a confirmed case in the community.  If or when there is a confirmed case in Rolla, the preschool will then follow the guidelines provided by the state.  Currently, they are following sanitary protocols provided by the state. Also, they will begin having parents pick up and drop off at the door so additional adults are not entering the building.

Please understand these decisions are difficult, that information is constantly flowing and recommendations change quickly.  We will follow what the government’s recommendations and try to make the best decisions for our church, mission, and community.  If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact a session member.  If you need assistance getting your groceries, prescriptions, or trip to the doctor, please let us know.  While we will not be worshiping together as we are accustomed, we are still the church.  We still care for one another and our neighbors.  This is a time for us to reach out as we are able, through notes and phone calls, offering assistance, praying for one another, and doing our part to ease the virus’ spread.  I pray we all move forward in peace and health, graciously and patiently supporting one another until this trial passes. We will send out updates as they arise.  Be well.

Thank you and God bless you all,

 

Pastor Lou Ellen

Summary:

  • All Worship Services including Fired UP! will be cancelled beginning Wednesday 18, 2020. (NO Fired UP! on Thursday March 19.)

 

  • Worship Services are scheduled to resume on May 3, 2020.

 

  • Worship reflections will be available online through our website (rollapresby.org) or on our First Presbyterian Church web page.

 

  • The Building will be closed beginning Saturday March 21 – May 2 except for staff and trustees.

 

  • All face to face meetings on church property are cancelled.

 

  • Preschool will be upstairs in the education wing until the state advises otherwise.

 

  • If you have questions, please contact a session member.

 

Ken Kwantes            465-5569

Britt Whitaker            578-0081

Pam Cottingham      364-1079

Jan Roberts               364-2841

Susan Murray, clerk of session     308-9569

Jonathan Kimball     217-621-4586

Deanne Jackson      578-4380

Maudanne Pursely  201-9292

Nora Sandquist     368-6779

Pastor Lou Ellen Hartley     912-230-5398

Sermon Podcast – March 15, 2020 – Helpful Conversations

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Based on John 4:5–42, Romans 5:1–11, Exodus 17:1–7. Preached by Rev. Lou Ellen Hartley.

 

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