Beacon Online Worship 3/7/21

We hope you join us for worship, either live-streaming on our Youtube Channel or via zoom. Email info@thewordatbeacon.org for zoom info.

Gathering Time (unmuted)

Feel free to say hi and check in with others before the service begins!

Welcome/Announcements

Communion today

There will be a congregation-wide home gathering on Zoom after worship today to collect information for our church Mission Study. All congregants are welcome to join!

We will be continuing our Anti-Racism Discussion Group this Thursday (7pm-8pm). Please fill out this survey to help us as we plan our sessions: https://forms.gle/UQAyQxuSMyjpS1C1A

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Facing God (from Psalm 19)

Leader: The heavens are telling the glory of God;

and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.

All: Day to day pours forth speech,

and night to night declares knowledge.

Leader: There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard.

All: Yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the

world.

Leader: Let us worship God.

We Will Make No Peace With Oppression

Chorus (2x)

We will make no peace, no peace, no peace with oppression,

We will make no peace, no peace.

Those who live by the sword will die by the sword

We will stand against violence of every form

We will march in the street, “No justice, no peace

arm in arm with our neighbor till we all stand free.

Almighty God, help us not to be afraid

Almighty God, give us your strength.

Laying Down Our Burdens & Assurance

(Remain muted and read liturgy aloud at home)

All: Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you by what we have done and what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart, mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. Forgive what we have been, help us amend what we are, and direct what we shall be, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways to the glory of your name. Amen.

Leader: The Good News is that Christ has come and Christ will come again.

All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God.

Refrain: Beautiful Things

You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of the dust

You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of us

Children's Bible Story

Lectio Conversation (John 2:13-22)

(Hold onto these questions while we read our scripture.)

What stands out to you about this text?

Why do you think Jesus was so protective of the temple?

Where do you find sacred space in your life today?

The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Discussion

Sharing Our Faith with One Another

Sharing questions:

1. What spiritual practices have been helpful for you, in general or especially in this season?

2. What is something you struggle with in your faith?

3. What is something you believe that you cannot be argued out of?

Homily

Prayers of the People

Now is the time when we share the prayers on our hearts and minds. If you have a private prayer, you can email them to us throughout the week and the pastoral team will pray over them.

If you have a prayer, please unmute your mic to share.

After each prayer, I will lead our response on mute:

Lord in your mercy // hear our prayers

***

Now I will offer a prayer for the greater community and world. We will end by saying the Lord’s Prayer together in whatever language you prefer. Let us pray.

(muted)

Leader: Just as God/Christ taught us to pray...

All: 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, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever, Amen.

Communion

Invitation

Leader: The Lord be with you.

All: And also with you.

Leader: Lift up your hearts.

All: We lift them up to the Lord.

Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All: It is right to give God thanks and praise.

Prayer

Institution

Canticle of the Turning

My soul cries out with a joyful shout

that the God of my heart is great,

And my spirit sings of the wondrous things

that you bring to the ones who wait.

You fixed your sight on your servant's plight,

and my weakness you did not spurn,

So from east to west shall my name be blest.

Could the world be about to turn?

Chorus:

My heart shall sing of the day you bring.

Let the fires of your justice burn.

Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,

and the world is about to turn!

Though I am small, my God, my all,

you work great things in me,

And your mercy will last from the depths of the past

to the end of the age to be.

Your very name puts the proud to shame,

and to those who would for you yearn,

You will show your might, put the strong to flight,

for the world is about to turn.

Chorus

From the halls of power to the fortress tower,

not a stone will be left on stone.

Let the king beware for your justice tears

ev'ry tyrant from his throne.

The hungry poor shall weep no more,

for the food they can never earn;

There are tables spread, ev'ry mouth be fed,

for the world is about to turn.

Chorus

Though the nations rage from age to age,

we remember who holds us fast:

God's mercy must deliver us

from the conqueror's crushing grasp.

This saving word that our forebears heard

is the promise which holds us bound,

'Til the spear and rod can be crushed by God,

who is turning the world around.

Chorus

Offering

To give online, click here: https://www.thewordatbeacon.org/donate

To give your prayers, email us at info@thewordatbeacon.org

I Want Jesus to Walk with Me

I want Jesus to walk with me

I want Jesus to walk with me

All along my pilgrim journey

Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me

In my trials, Lord, walk with me

In my trials, Lord, walk with me

When my heart is almost breaking

Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me

When I’m in trouble, Lord, walk with me

When I’m in trouble, Lord, walk with me

When my head is bowed in sorrow

Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me

Sending/Blessing (from Ephesians 2)

(Remain muted and read liturgy aloud at home)

As we close this time together, let us read this word from the second letter to the Corinthians:

All: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God — not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what God has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

Leader: The steadfast love of God goes with you, the deep and abiding peace of Christ goes with you, and the comfort and guidance of the Holy Spirit goes with you, now and always. Amen.

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Feel free to hang out a little longer and catch up with others! Please also leave us feedback in the chat so we know what's working well and what to tweak for the future.