Worship Resources for Sunday June 14th

We encourage you to read and reflect on these scriptures, songs, notes, and prayers as we look forward to our time of worship together this coming Sunday.

Please print this guide or have it handy in digital format for use during the service.

And don’t forget to join us Sunday immediately following the service in our virtual foyer for a group video chat! https://us04web.zoom.us/j/202653556

CALL TO WORSHIP

Bold lines to be read aloud corporately. This is adapted from author Nancy C. Townley

Father, you have drawn us together this day
from a variety of backgrounds,
experiences, hopes, and dreams.
Be with us as together we experience your presence
and your healing love.
Open our hearts and our spirits to receive strength, encouragement, and peace.
For we gather under the banner of your son, Jesus.

Though we come from different circumstances
The Lord will make us one in worship.
Though we have traveled different paths
of struggles and successes
The Lord will make us one in healing.
Though each one of us experience struggle as well as joy
The Lord will make us one in hope.

Dear Lord, make us one

MUSIC: Instruments of Peace

Written by Leslie Jordan, Copyright © Leslie Jordan, 2020
Performed by Emmaus Road Worship Team

CONFESSIONAL PRAYER

Bold lines to be read aloud corporately. Used with permission from Redemption Church in Olathe, KS

In fervent hope that the arc of history does, indeed, bend toward justice, we lift up our prayers for racial healing, asking that you would bind our hearts together as a church, O Lord, empower us to break the chains of poverty, ignorance, prejudice, and despair which degrade the sacred dignity of humankind; teach us to love each other and the world around us, for your sake.

We confess that we are often blind to our own privilege.

Give us a holy curiosity about what being Black in America is really like; and what it means to suffer injustice because of race.

We confess that we are often blind to the subtle ways that race has shaped our hearts and minds; our speech and actions.

Open our eyes, O Lord, and teach us to see the truth about ourselves and our world.

We confess that the church has not always been on the side of the right;

Guide us to seek your grace and forgiveness for the terrible things that often have been done in your name.

We confess that we have not always been on the side of the right; we acknowledge our cold hearts and weak knees.

Free us from our cherished notions of being “good” that keep us from hearing this truth. Forgive our silence and insensitive speech; forgive our fearfulness and willful blindness.

We draw to mind those who have died, due to racism and racial violence.

        silence

We draw to mind those who work for racial justice, that they may be sustained in hope, empowered with courage, and filled with the grace to persevere in love.

silence

We draw to mind those of our family and friends who continue along the path of racism and injustice, and ask you to turn their hearts toward your kingdom.

silence

We draw to mind the victims of racial discrimination and their families, that they may be filled with hope for a more just future.

silence

Give us the eyes of Christ, to see ourselves, and the world around us with humility and compassion.

Healing our own wounds, and the wounds of others; give us courage to advocate for change and for peace, and the grace to overcome hatred with love.

We pray for the society in which we live, that we might learn to celebrate our racial diversity and the distinctive contributions of our rich cultural fabric.

We pray for wise and decisive action on the part of local and national leaders, that the scandal of racism may be eradicated from our society.

God of justice, in your wisdom you create all people in your image, without exception.

Through your goodness, open our eyes to see the dignity, beauty, and worth of every human being.

Open our minds to understand that all your children are brothers and sisters in the same human family.

Open our hearts to repent of racist attitudes, behaviors, and speech which demean others.

Open our ears to hear the cries of those wounded by racial discrimination, and their passionate appeals for change.

Strengthen our resolve to make amends for past injustices and to right the wrongs of history.

Teach us to love our neighbor as ourselves, to love our enemies, and pray for those who persecute us.

And fill us with courage that we might seek to heal wounds, build bridges, forgive and be forgiven, and establish peace and equality for all in our communities. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. (Galatians 4:4-7 NIV)

All: Thanks be to God

MUSIC: How Can I Keep From Singing

Written by Mary Lynn Lightfoot and Robert Lowry
Performed by Emmaus Road Worship Team

WORD

Holy – Week Two

Sermon Scripture: Exodus 3:1-6 (NSRV)

INTRODUCTION & RECAP
Holy means set apart and unique.

In the Bible, God, time, people, things, and places are all called holy.

From this we learn that God’s holiness is meant to be shared. God’s holiness doesn’t distance us from him. Rather, it invites us to participate in his own holiness.

However, God’s holiness hasn’t always been understood as inviting.

Did you notice that God said to him, “Don’t come any closer!” and that Moses was afraid and covered his face.

Early in the biblical story, the presence of God is seen as dangerous to the impure person! This had significant implications for temple worship. Remember, the temple was the place where God’s holy presence dwelled. Israelites that wanted to worship had to go there. Priests had to work there. If God’s presence was dangerous to an impure person, how could priests work there or worshippers gather there?

PURITY LAWS
The solution was that the priests and others had to become pure.

There were two types of impurity:

Moral impurity meant you had committed a sin and your sin needed to be atoned for through animal sacrifice.

Ritual impurity came from contact with anything related to death like diseased skin, dead bodies, even some bodily fluids.

God gave Israel detailed instructions on how to become pure in order to enter into His presence. The instructions are detailed and hard to manage (examples are found in Leviticus 11-15).

For a long time the people of God lived within this framework. Always worried about whether they were clean or unclean. It was a big weight to carry.

HOLY LOVE
Having a longer history in mind, we have come to know, through Christ who is the full revelation of God, that God’s single disposition toward humanity is love. The fullness of His holy presence is love.

But, that holy love can be dangerous….if we choose not to receive it. Theologians throughout history have articulated this:

“Love is….unquestionably given commonly to all. But love’s power acts in two ways: it torments sinners, while at the same time it delights those who have lived in accord with it.” -Isaac the Syrian, 7th century

“It is not God who is hostile, but we; for God is never hostile.” -John Chrysostom, early church father

God’s holy love is inviting us to forgive, love our enemies, free the oppressed, see the value in every life and if we participate in this love then we are transformed by it. If we refuse this love, we are tormented by it.

TABLE

Prepare the elements of “bread” and “wine” for use as we gather around The Lord’s Table. These can be any items convenient around the home that symbolize these for you. 

CONFESSION OF FAITH

Leader: In unity with the Church throughout the ages, we confess our faith: 
All: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

As we pray together, we invite you to share your own requests and testimonies with us this week. If you have a request you can share it live in our video stream chat, or you may email us at emmausroadfc@gmail.com

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father in heaven,
        hallowed be your Name,
        your kingdom come,
        your will be done,
        on earth as in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins
        as we forgive those
        who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation, 
        and deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom, 
        and the power,
        and the glory for ever and ever.
Amen.

BENEDICTION

May God, who gives patience and encouragement, help us live in complete harmony with one another, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then may we all join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen

(Romans 15:5-6 NLT)