Beacon Worship 8/8/2021

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

• Our virtual midweek prayer gathering will be this Wednesday at 6pm on Zoom

• We are looking for folks to help water the plants in the garden. You can sign up here: https://signup.com/go/hWWYJWR

Facing God: adapted from Psalm 27

(Remain muted and read liturgy aloud at home)

Leader: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

All: The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Leader: Though an army encamps against me, my heart shall not fear.

All: Though war rises up against me, I still will be confident.

Leader: I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

All: Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage

Leader: Wait for the Lord! Let us worship God.

Seek Ye First

Seek ye first the kingdom of God

And God’s righteousness

And all these things shall be added unto you

Allelu alleluia

Ask and it shall be given unto you

Seek and ye shall find

Knock and the door shall be opened unto you

Allelu, alleluia

Alleluia

Alleluia

Alleluia

Alleluia, alleluia

Laying Down Our Burdens & Assurance

(Remain muted and read liturgy aloud at home)

All: God of Our Past, Present, and Future, We admit that, at times, we struggle to be the dreamers you call us to be. We let our fear block out our imagination. We limit what we believe is possible and we put boxes around Your power. Forgive us for our narrowmindedness and fear. Send Your Spirit to help us to see how you see. Strengthen us so we can build up Your kingdom around us. Mold us into the people You created us to be. We pray in the name of Jesus, who dreams with us. 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: All Who Are Thirsty

Come, Lord Jesus, come

Come, Lord Jesus, come

Holy Spirit, come

Holy Spirit, come

Children's Bible Story

Lectio Conversation (Genesis 15:1-6)

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

What stands out to you about this text?

How would you have reacted to God’s words if you were Abram?

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus? And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” But the word of the Lord came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Discussion

Homily

Speak O Lord

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You

To receive the food of Your Holy Word.

Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;

Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,

That the light of Christ might be seen today

In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.

Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us

All Your purposes for Your glory.

Teach us, Lord, full obedience,

Holy reverence, true humility;

Test our thoughts and our attitudes

In the radiance of Your purity.

Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see

Your majestic love and authority.

Words of pow'r that can never fail—

Let their truth prevail over unbelief.

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;

Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us—

Truths unchanged from the dawn of time

That will echo down through eternity.

And by grace we'll stand on Your promises,

And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.

Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built

And the earth is filled with Your glory.

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.

Offering

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

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

Guide My Feet

Guide my feet while I run this race.

Guide my feet while I run this race.

Guide my feet while I run this race,

for I don't want to run this race in vain!

Hold my hand while I run this race.

Hold my hand while I run this race.

Hold my hand while I run this race,

for I don't want to run this race in vain!

Stand by me while I run this race.

Stand by me while I run this race.

Stand by me while I run this race,

for I don't want to run this race in vain!

I'm your child while I run this race.

I'm your child while I run this race.

I'm your child while I run this race,

for I don't want to run this race in vain!

Sending/Blessing (from Ephesians 4)

(Remain muted and read liturgy aloud at home)

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

All: I therefore urge you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

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.