Author Archives: peter tewinkle
Backpacks, Blessings & Brunch, Oh My!
This is a big, kick-off weekend for St. Croix Reformed Church!
Tomorrow, September 18, we’ll be gathering to trim some bush, remove some trash, set up the sanctuary, and anything else that will contribute to a festive and welcoming atmosphere. If you’re available, please come up to the church between 7:30 and 8am. Many hands make light work!
Then, on Sunday, September 19, we’ll meet at our regularly scheduled time (9:30am) for an abbreviated and alternative worship service. We’ll be reconnecting with one another, blessing backpacks, and welcoming new members. We’ve set up two swing sets so that kids can have something to do. We’ll wrap it all up with a catered brunch of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, chicken and biscuits, fruit, donuts, and fancy lemonades.
The words above remind us that “community” helps us to “grow”; especially when it is diverse and we are “involved” in “outreach.” You’re invited to the table. Come, for all things are now ready!
Blessing of the Backpacks! – 9/19/21
We know that school is hard enough, but these days it’s harder still. Your kids can use all the help they can get (and so can we parents!). So, this Sunday we’ll be blessing the backpacks and handing out little reminders of God’s comfort and call. PLUS, we’ll be sitting at the table for a catered brunch so it will be a double blessing. See you Sunday!
Words for Worship – 9/12/21
The Bible is a story from front to back, a story that continues on in our lives today. Each fall we begin the Narrative Lectionary. It’s a set of passages chosen ahead of time that helps see how the story of God unfolds and how we might find our way into it together. All the words that we’ll be using in worship this week are below. Or, you can download a copy to print here.
PRELUDE Come, Now Is the Time to Worship
CALL TO WORSHIP – from Psalm 104
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
O Lord my God, you are very great.
You are clothed with honor and majesty,
wrapped in light as with a garment.
O Lord, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
Yonder is the sea, great and wide,
creeping things innumerable are there,
living things both small and great.
There go the ships,
and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it.
These all look to you
to give them their food in due season;
when you give to them, they gather it up;
when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
When you hide your face, they are dismayed;
when you take away their breath, they die
and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created;
and you renew the face of the ground.
May the glory of the Lord endure for ever;
may the Lord rejoice in his works—
who looks on the earth and it trembles,
who touches the mountains and they smoke.
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
May my meditation be pleasing to him,
for I rejoice in the Lord.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Praise the Lord!
*HYMN #4 God of Wonders
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Most High and holy God, you have formed and fashioned the world. You have sculpted and sustained the earth and all that live on it. Each of us has been knit together by your hands. We confess that we take this world for granted. How we live damages the earth. We can fail to see your handiwork in those who share our humanity. Share your Spirit with us so that we might share in your appreciation and compassion for all that you’ve made. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.
ANTHEM Lord Most High (see #593)
ASSURANCE OF PARDON – from Hebrews 11:1-3, 12:1-2
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
*HYMN #26 He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands
SCRIPTURE Genesis 1-:2:4a
SERMON It All Starts With Creation
*HYMN #10 We Sing the Mighty Power of God
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION & THE LORD’S PRAYER
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.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.
OFFERTORY Abide With Me
*DOXOLOGY #965
Inclusive lyrics: Praise God, from whom all blessings flow
Praise God, all creatures here below
Praise God, above ye heavenly host
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost
*BENEDICTION
*SENDING SONG #491 Hallelujah, Salvation, & Glory
Celebrate Good Times, Come On! – 9/19/21
“It’s time to come together. It’s up to you….” Ok. Enough Cool & the Gang. But, it really is time to come together. So, to entice you to gather, we’re going to have a catered brunch following an abbreviated worship service on Sunday morning, September 19th.
It’s catered, so all you have to do is show up. Worship will be short and participatory, so you can feel good about bringing your kids. We’ll do our best to follow social distancing guidelines to keep everyone safe. Please email stxreformed@gmail.com if you plan to come so that we have an accurate number for the caterer. It’s up to you!
Clean Up Day! – 9/18/21
On Saturday, September 18, we’ll be gathering up on the hill to clean up around the church property. We’ll pick up some trash. We’ll trim some trees. And, we’ll do whatever else seems necessary to spruce up the place. If you’re available, plan to arrive between 7:30 and 8:00am. Bring tools if you have them. We’ll try to wrap up before the sun gets too hot.
Words for Worship – 9/05/21
We gather to worship and celebrate communion this week. Jesus said, “Drink my blood.” That’s gross! But, what does it mean? We’ll meditate on it and thank God for the life we receive through it this Sunday. All the words that we’ll be using in worship are below. Or, you can download a copy to print here.
PRELUDE Come Let Us Worship
CALL TO WORSHIP – from Psalm 126
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then it was said among the nations,
‘The Lord has done great things for them.’
The Lord has done great things for us,
and we rejoiced.
Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like the watercourses in the Negeb.
May those who sow in tears
reap with shouts of joy.
Those who go out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
carrying their sheaves.
*HYMN #581 Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Most High and holy God, unless you build the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless you guard the city, the guards labor in vain. Unless we join you in your efforts, our efforts in vain. You are laboring to build your kingdom. You are guarding the vulnerable and oppressed, turning sorrow into shouts of joy. Lord, transform us with your Spirit so that we might leave our will behind and share in yours; so that we might lay our labors down and take up yours. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.
ANTHEM Deep River
please remain seated
ASSURANCE OF PARDON – from 1 Corinthians 15
For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled:
‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’
‘Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?’
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
*HYMN #375 Your Name
SCRIPTURE John 6:51-58
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.’
The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live for ever.’
SERMON What’s In This?!
*HYMN #691 Amazing Grace
GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.
AND ALSO WITH YOU.
Lift up your hearts.
WE LIFT THEM TO THE LORD.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
IT IS RIGHT TO GIVE OUR THANKS AND PRAISE.
O Holy God… we lift our hearts in joyful praise:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY LORD, GOD OF POWER AND MIGHT, HEAVEN AND EARTH ARE FULL OF YOUR GLORY. HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST. BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST.
We praise you… until we feast together in your eternal Kingdom
THROUGH CHRIST, WITH CHRIST, IN CHRIST, IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, ALL GLORY AND HONOR ARE YOURS, ALMIGHTY GOD, NOW AND FOREVER. AMEN
COMMUNION There Is A Redeemer (see #833)
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION & THE LORD’S PRAYER
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.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.
OFFERTORY Jesus Christ Is the Way (see #471)
*DOXOLOGY #965
Inclusive lyrics: Praise God, from whom all blessings flow
Praise God, all creatures here below
Praise God, above ye heavenly host
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost
*BENEDICTION
Words for Worship – 8/29/21
We are drawing to the close of the summer break series, “You Asked For It!” and will be exploring the question, “how does God reconcile those people who don’t believe in Jesus?” It’s one of those questions that come up every year and another one that doesn’t have easy answers. We’ll explore some options this Sunday. All the words that we’ll be using in worship are below, but you can download a copy to print here.
CALL TO WORSHIP – from Psalm 103
The Lord works vindication
and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love towards those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far he removes our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion for his children,
so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
For he knows how we were made;
he remembers that we are dust.
As for mortals, their days are like grass;
they flourish like a flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children’s children,
to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
*HYMN #571 Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Most High and holy God, you are a god of vindication, but all so patient. You are a god of justice, but also full of mercy. In your presence we find a love that is steadfast and compassion that recognizes our faults and fears. You are willing to look past what we have done so that we can become who you are. Forgive us where we fall short and strengthen us with your Spirit. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.
HYMN #343 Blessed Be Your Name
please remain seated
ASSURANCE OF PARDON – from 2 Corinthians 5
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation;
that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.
So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
ANTHEM Come As You Are Jesus L
SCRIPTURE Isaiah 65:17-25
For I am about to create new heavens
and a new earth;
the former things shall not be remembered
or come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice for ever
in what I am creating;
for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy,
and its people as a delight.
I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
and delight in my people;
no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it,
or the cry of distress.
No more shall there be in it
an infant that lives but a few days,
or an old person who does not live out a lifetime;
for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth,
and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.
They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
They shall not labour in vain,
or bear children for calamity;
for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord—
and their descendants as well.
Before they call I will answer,
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
the lion shall eat straw like the ox;
but the serpent—its food shall be dust!
They shall not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain,
says the Lord.
SERMON Reconciling All Things
*HYMN #743 O God, You Are My God
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION & THE LORD’S PRAYER
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.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.
OFFERTORY Truth I’m Standing On
*DOXOLOGY #965
Inclusive lyrics: Praise God, from whom all blessings flow
Praise God, all creatures here below
Praise God, above ye heavenly host
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost
*BENEDICTION
*SENDING SONG #930 This Little Light of Mine
St Croix Reformed Church 
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