We’ll be gathering in person and under the sunshine this week. We’ll be returning to our “You Asked For it!” series with the age-old question, “why do bad things happen to good people?” Spoiler alert: who knows? But, we can at least take some time to explore the options and wonder together how to live in the midst of the confusion. All the words that we’ll be using in worship are below. Or, you can download a copy to print here.

PRELUDE                                          Come, Now is the Time to Worship (see #526                                                                                                                        

CALL TO WORSHIP – from Psalm 136

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
   for his steadfast love endures forever.
O give thanks to the God of gods,
   for his steadfast love endures forever.
O give thanks to the Lord of lords,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever

It is the Lord who remembered us in our low estate,
   for his steadfast love endures forever;
and rescued us from our foes,
   for his steadfast love endures forever;
who gives food to all flesh,
   for his steadfast love endures forever.

O give thanks to the God of heaven,
   for his steadfast love endures forever.

*HYMN #302                                                                            Hear Our Praises

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Most High and holy God, you always remember us. Even in the midst of suffering and persecution, you never forget us. We confess that when bad things happen we get confused about that. Sometimes we question your goodness. Sometimes we doubt your love for us. Share your Holy Spirit with us. Remind us of your faithfulness. Help us find our way off of shaky ground and onto the firm foundation of your steadfast love. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

HYMN #621                                                                    Give Me a Clean Heart

please remain seated

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – from Romans 8:14-18

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption.

When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.

ANTHEM                                                                                  Come, Holy Spirit                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Jesus Loves M

SCRIPTURE                                                                             Ephesians 6:10-20

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.

SERMON                          When Bad Things Happen                                         

*HYMN #562                                                We Will Extol You, God and King

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                                                                                      Feelin’ Good                                                                

*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

What to do in the face of a pending storm is always a tough call. We know that not everyone will agree, but we’re erring on the side of caution. So, we’ve cancelled tomorrow’s worship service. Pastor Peter will be going live at 9:30am to share some reflections on “grace.” Our young people who were planning on making profession of faith will have to wait another week. Please help us spread the word. Thank you!

We’re not sure how to interpret this theologically, but grace is really messing with our faith! Tropical Storm Grace is set to arrive tomorrow afternoon at the same time that we were scheduled to be celebrating the Profession of Faith of some of our young folks. Sadly, we’ll be cancelling our picnic. But! We’ll still be meeting for worship and some of our young folks will still be making profession of faith. Join us!

This Sunday we’ll be celebrating the faith commitments of some of our young people. They spent six weeks unpacking the Lord’s Prayer and talking about what it means to put faith into practice; not just any faith, but a confidence that Jesus has shown us the true way of life. We’ll start with a worship at the church and then head out to the beach for some food and fun. We’ll have food to put on the grill. Please consider bringing a salad, side, or dessert to share. Drinks can be purchased from the beach club. Here’s the schedule for the morning:

9:30am – Worship @ SCRC

10:45am – Baptisms @ the beach (park at the St. Croix Country/Beach Club in F’sted)

11:00am-1pm- Food and fun!

We’ll be wrapping up our series on the Lord’s Prayer this week with a focus on the line “for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, amen.” All the words that we’ll be using for worship are below, but you can also down load a copy to print here. Also below are some options that might inspire you to rewrite the prayer in your own words. The hope is that by unpacking its meaning, Jesus’s prayer can be more meaningful to you.

PRELUDE                                                                     Blessed Are the Merciful                                                                                                                                 

CALL TO WORSHIP – from John 1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. 

All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.

What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 

To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 

No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

*HYMN #553                                             Immortal, Invisible God Only Wise

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Most High and holy God, you sent your most unique Son; your only Son committed to use his power and glory so that we might become your children. You have invited us to do the same; to use our status and rely on your Spirit so that others would know your love and become your children. Forgive us for the ways we fall short. Enlighten our minds. Encourage our hearts. Invigorate our bodies once again. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

HYMN #628                                                                       Give Us Clean Hands

please remain seated

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – from Ephesians 3:16-21

I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, 

and that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith, as we are being rooted and grounded in love. 

I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 

and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, 

to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.

ANTHEM                                                        Father, Let Your Kingdom Come                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Jesus Loves M

SCRIPTURE                                                                                                John 17

After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.

‘I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.

‘I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

‘Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.’

SERMON                      Lord, Teach Us to Pray (Part 6)                                     

*HYMN #559                                                                Ten Thousand Reasons

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                                                                              You Never Let Go                                                                

*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

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…

1.) Our Father in heaven, you created everything out of love to share with your children, let others see your love in us

2.) God of steadfast love, you provide for us and protect us, so let no one profane your name because of my life

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done…

1.) Change our minds so that we can find our way out of the darkness and into the light of love

2.) Let Jesus rule as king over the earth so that everyone knows your will

Give us this day our daily bread…

1.) Teach what I need for today so that I can share the rest with others

2.) Help me not to worry about tomorrow so that I can be generous today

Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors…

1.) Let my mercy triumph over my judgments so that I can remain in your mercy

2.) You have forgiven us for so much. Help me to forgive others in the same way

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…

1.) Empower me with your Spirit to resist the devil and save me from those who don’t.

2.) In every situation, help me to see the full humanity of every person; including myself.

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, amen.

1.) Everything that belongs to you, belongs to Jesus, who shares eternal life with us. Amen.

2.) The resurrection shows us that all of your glory and power are in Jesus forever. Amen

We gather to celebrate our communion with Jesus and with one another this week. We’ll also gather to consider the next line of the Lord’s Prayer: “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” This is week 5 in the series on the Lord’s prayer and you’ll find all the words that we’ll be using in worship below. You can also download a copy to print here. All the way at the bottom are some examples of how you might consider rewriting the Lord’s Prayer in your own words. As we unpack the meaning of the prayer you’re being invited to find fresh meaning for yourself as you rewrite it.

PRELUDE                                                                                Be Thou My Vision                                                                                                                                 

CALL TO WORSHIP – from Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
   He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
   he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
   for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
   I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
   your rod and your staff—
   they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
   in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
   all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
   my whole life long.

*HYMN #553                                                                      How Great Thou Art

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Most High and holy God, you guide us as a shepherd guides his sheep. You lead us with love. You promise to take us places that nourish our faith and our life. You promise to help us find rest. But, when we struggle to trust, we are tempted to wrong down a different path; to be led by different voices. We are tempted by power, by profit, by pleasure. Forgive us for all of the ways that we don’t put people first. Bless us with your Holy Spirit so that goodness and mercy follow us and flow through us all the days of our lives. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

ANTHEM                                                                                         Reckless Love

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – from John 8:12, 31-32

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Again Jesus said, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free.”

HYMN #611                                                                                 Mighty To Save                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Jesus Loves M

SCRIPTURE                                                                                         John 8:2-11

The Temptation of Jesus

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “One does not live by bread alone.” ’

Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, ‘To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is written,
“Worship the Lord your God,
   and serve only him.” ’

Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,
“He will command his angels concerning you,
   to protect you”,
and
“On their hands they will bear you up,
   so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.” ’
Jesus answered him, ‘It is said, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” ’ When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry

Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth

When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
   because he has anointed me
     to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
   and recovery of sight to the blind,
     to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’
And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’ He said to them, ‘Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, “Doctor, cure yourself!” And you will say, “Do here also in your home town the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.” ’ And he said, ‘Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s home town. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up for three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.’ When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

SERMON                      Lord, Teach Us to Pray (Part 5)                                     

*HYMN #825                                                                         Beneath the Cross

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

CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER                Table of Plenty (see #808)

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                                                                                          Everything                                                                

*DOXOLOGY #964

*BENEDICTION

*SENDING SONG #930                                                This Little Light of Mine

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…

1.) Our Father in heaven, you created everything out of love to share with your children, let other see your love in us

2.) God of steadfast love, your provide for us and protect us, so let no one profane your name because of my life

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done…

1.) Change our minds so that we can find our way out of the darkness and into the light of love

2.) Let Jesus rule as king over the earth so that everyone knows your will

Give us this day our daily bread…

1.) Teach what I need for today so that I can share the rest with others

2.) Help me not to worry about tomorrow so that I can be generous today

Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors…

1.) Let my mercy triumph over my judgments so that I can remain in your mercy

2.) You have forgiven us for so much. Help me to forgive others in the same way

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…

1.) Empower me with your Spirit to resist the devil and save me from those who don’t.

2.) Don’t lead me to places where I will do harm and rescue me from place where others would harm me.