May 15th 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: Acts of the Apostles 11:11-18 |
| A Message to Children |
| Worship in Music |
| Pastoral Prayer & The Lord's Prayer |
| Hymn of Reflection |
| Sermon: Who Are We to Hinder God? |
| Hymn of Parting |
| Benediction |
| On Eagle's Wings |
| Postlude |
Music Ministry Team: Kristin Petty, Dwight Huntley, Jenna Crafts
Worship Team: Sarah Haas, Marc Hayden
Technology Team: Michael Kendall, Mark Raker, Jerry Weissinger
If you wish to see more information about giving or to checkout our new Online Giving process, visit our GIVING page.
Key Notes from the reading & sermon:
Who Are We to Hinder God?
At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.’ And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?” When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, “Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.”
[Reading above - Acts of the Apostles 11:11-18]
Relationships, common experiences, and the stories they create change hearts, not arguments or debates. Arguments and debates serve to crystallize positions and produce losers and winners. Jesus offers an option. Jesus demonstrated the transforming power of God’s grace and taught with open ended parables that challenged conventional thinking. His disciples imitate this same approach, becoming agents of graceful transformation.
Questions for Reflection:
Read the whole story beginning with Acts 10:1-11:10. What is the meaning of Peter’s vision? What is so surprising about a Roman Centurion being a “devout man who feared God with all his household”?
The living Spirit of Christ is directing the action in this story. Why is the outcome of this story so important? How do you sense the Spirit directing the action in your life?
How might common experiences and shared stories of graceful changes of the heart be the path forward in our time and place when the divisions are so deep and the discourse is so meanspirited?
A Practice to Focus on Discipleship
We are using an ancient spiritual practice called Lectio Divina. This is a prayerful way of reading a scripture passage with mindfulness of Christ’s Living Spirit in the words. Try this practice with today’s scripture lesson. At the beginning of the week please slowly read through these verses a few times in an attitude of prayer. Pay attention to a word or phrase that stands out. Then apply this word or phrase to the challenges and opportunities of each day in the week. At the end of the week look back and give thanks for the way Christ has helped you live as a more faithful disciple. If you need help or guidance, you may reach me at pastormarc.friedensucc@outlook.com.
Sermon title and text for May 22th:
Acts 16:9-15 | Disciples Together
