January 1st Virtual Worship
| The Order of Worship |
|---|
| The Bells Call Us To Worship |
| Prelude |
| Call to Worship |
| Hymn of Adoration |
| Confession of Sin |
| Kyrie |
| Assurance of Pardon |
| Greeting of Peace |
| Gloria |
| Scripture Reading: Psalm 148 |
| A Message to Children |
| Worship in Music |
| Pastoral Prayer & The Lord's Prayer |
| Hymn of Reflection: |
| Sermon: Cosmic Praise |
| Communion Hymn |
| The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper |
| Hymn of Parting |
| Benediction |
| On Eagle's Wings |
| Postlude |
Music Ministry Team: Kristin Petty, Dwight Huntley, Matthew Leone, Rene Vazquez
Worship Team: Sarah Haas, Marc Hayden
Technology Team: Michael Kendall, Mark Raker, Jerry Weissinger
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Key Notes from the reading & sermon:
Cosmic Praise
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host! Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed. Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds! Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and women alike, old and young together! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven. He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the Lord!
[Reading Above - Psalm 148]
When our ancestors in faith gathered for worship, they invited all of creation to offer praise to the glorious Creator. Their view of the Divine was so expansive that they welcomed everyone and everything to acknowledge universal glory due God and God alone. From the servants of God in heaven to the creatures of the seas to those who call the land and skies their home, from the greatest monarchs to common people of every age, gender, nationality, and condition, no one is left out and everyone is invited to offer their gift in praise. The wider our community of praise, the greater God becomes in our lives, and the more we embrace the connections that make us one in the beautiful diversity that is creation, of which we are all a cherished part.
Questions for Reflection:
In this litany of praise humans are simply one of many called to worship. How does our tendency to put ourselves in the first order of importance undermine the health and well-being of our siblings: the land, the sky, the seas, the heavens?
This song insists that God and God alone is worthy of our praise. How does placing our Creator as our highest priority create a ripple effect of respect and justice that moves with grace throughout creation?
A Spiritual Practice to Try:
In a book entitled Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, I learned that some of the ancient people who first lived on the lands we call home, defined inanimate objects as those things created by humans and defined the animate as everything else. They believed everything of nature was endowed with life and worth from the Creator and had an important gift to share for the common good of all. This stands in contrast to an underlying view in our consumer culture that suggests everything in nature has been created for use and exploitation by humans. This week try thinking about and referring to the land, air, water, and sky not as available resources but as siblings who share worth and value as a gift of the Creator. Can praise for the Creator produce greater respect for creation which might just engender greater care for one another and the world?
A Practice to Focus on Discipleship:
Incorporate a faith journal in your spiritual practice. Use the journal as a way to:
jot down needs and blessings with words or drawings or pictures
respond to the questions for reflection in the sermon notes
make notes about the weekly scripture lessons and sermons
create a to-do list of discipleship actions
list questions you want to explore
write prayers, stories, poems, or letters
be creative!
If you need some guidance or support, you may reach me at pastormarc.friedensucc@outlook.com.
