|
Snowed-In Worship Service -
|
CALL TO WORSHIP
Say (or sing) the words from Psalm 46:10:
Be still and know that I am God.
OPENING WORDS
Light a candle.
I light a light in the name of the God who creates life,
in the name of the Savior who shares our life,
in the name of the Spirit who is the fire of life.
Amen.
Say (or sing) the words from Psalm 46:10:
Be still and know that I am God.
OPENING WORDS
Light a candle.
I light a light in the name of the God who creates life,
in the name of the Savior who shares our life,
in the name of the Spirit who is the fire of life.
Amen.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION & INVITATION Psalm 32:6-11 (from Psalms For Praying)
(May be done alone, or if in a group, take turns reading each line or have one person read. Refrain may be said all together)
You are my hiding place, I will trust in you.
Let everyone who is sincere give thanks to the Beloved,
For whenever we feel paralyzed by fear, we shall be embraced by Love.
Dwelling in the Heart of the Beloved, we are free from distress,
free to live more creatively.
You are my hiding place, I will trust in you.
O my Beloved, You are my guide,
You teach me to walk in the Light.
Be watchful of me, counsel me as I listen to You in the Silence.
I pray for the gifts of inner peace and wisdom,
for the grace to reverence all of Creation.
You are my hiding place, I will trust in you.
Many are the heartaches of those separated from Love;
Steadfast love abides with those who surrender their lives into the hands of the Beloved.
Be glad and rejoice! Let your life give witness to Love’s Way;
And shout for joy, all you upright of heart!
You are my hiding place, I will trust in you.
(May be done alone, or if in a group, take turns reading each line or have one person read. Refrain may be said all together)
You are my hiding place, I will trust in you.
Let everyone who is sincere give thanks to the Beloved,
For whenever we feel paralyzed by fear, we shall be embraced by Love.
Dwelling in the Heart of the Beloved, we are free from distress,
free to live more creatively.
You are my hiding place, I will trust in you.
O my Beloved, You are my guide,
You teach me to walk in the Light.
Be watchful of me, counsel me as I listen to You in the Silence.
I pray for the gifts of inner peace and wisdom,
for the grace to reverence all of Creation.
You are my hiding place, I will trust in you.
Many are the heartaches of those separated from Love;
Steadfast love abides with those who surrender their lives into the hands of the Beloved.
Be glad and rejoice! Let your life give witness to Love’s Way;
And shout for joy, all you upright of heart!
You are my hiding place, I will trust in you.
SCRIPTURE Matthew 4:1-11
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.
The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’
But he answered, ‘It is written,
“One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” ’
Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,
“He will command his angels concerning you”,
and “On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.” ’
Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written,
“Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” ’
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him,
‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’
Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! for it is written,
“Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.” ’
Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.
The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’
But he answered, ‘It is written,
“One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” ’
Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,
“He will command his angels concerning you”,
and “On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.” ’
Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written,
“Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” ’
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him,
‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’
Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! for it is written,
“Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.” ’
Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
WATCH THIS:
Movie By Si Smith, purchased and used with permission.
REFLECTION
CLICK HERE FOR REFLECTION/ SERMON
CLICK HERE FOR REFLECTION/ SERMON
OPTIONAL DISCUSSION OR JOURNALING
Can be done here, or at the end, together or alone...
Can be done here, or at the end, together or alone...
- What stands out to me in this scripture, movie or reflection?
- What is arising in me, what thoughts, questions, frustrations, insights?
- Do I sense an invitation?
- Do I have a response I'd like to say or write back to God?
PRAYER
In the silence of our hearts or in spoken word, let us give thanks for the gift of life, and pray for the life of the world...
(gratitudes and longings may be shared here)
Response after each prayer: God in your loving mercy, hear our prayer.
God, you know our hearts. You know this world.
You know the pain and the suffering. You know the need. You celebrate the joy.
We lift these to you, trusting you to act.
Amen.
In the silence of our hearts or in spoken word, let us give thanks for the gift of life, and pray for the life of the world...
(gratitudes and longings may be shared here)
Response after each prayer: God in your loving mercy, hear our prayer.
God, you know our hearts. You know this world.
You know the pain and the suffering. You know the need. You celebrate the joy.
We lift these to you, trusting you to act.
Amen.
LISTENING SONG or sing along...
RECEIVING THE BLESSING (adapted from prayer by ab simpson)
(If doing alone, change "we" to "I." Read slowly, and breathe along.)
Breathe in the breath of God
Breathe out your cares and concerns
Breathe in the love of God
Breathe out your doubts and despairs
Breathe in the life of God
Breathe out your fears and frustrations
We sit quietly before the One who gives life and love to all creation,
We sit in awe of the One who formed us in our mother’s wombs
We sit at peace surrounded by the One who fills every fiber of our being
Breathe in the breath of God
Breathe out your tensions and turmoil
Breathe in the love of God
Breathe out your haste and hurry
Breathe in the life of God
Breathe out your work and worry
We sit quietly before the One who gives life and love to all creation,
We sit in awe of the One who formed us in our mother’s wombs
We sit at peace surrounded by the One who fills every fiber of our being
I belong to God.
I am loved.
I am part of God’s plan to love the world.
I receive peace.
Amen.
Maybe today you need an angelic pit crew, and you need to just crash.
You’ll sleep, you’ll wander around your house in a haze and be fed and watered at intervals.
If that is true for you, have courage to receive that gift.
(If doing alone, change "we" to "I." Read slowly, and breathe along.)
Breathe in the breath of God
Breathe out your cares and concerns
Breathe in the love of God
Breathe out your doubts and despairs
Breathe in the life of God
Breathe out your fears and frustrations
We sit quietly before the One who gives life and love to all creation,
We sit in awe of the One who formed us in our mother’s wombs
We sit at peace surrounded by the One who fills every fiber of our being
Breathe in the breath of God
Breathe out your tensions and turmoil
Breathe in the love of God
Breathe out your haste and hurry
Breathe in the life of God
Breathe out your work and worry
We sit quietly before the One who gives life and love to all creation,
We sit in awe of the One who formed us in our mother’s wombs
We sit at peace surrounded by the One who fills every fiber of our being
I belong to God.
I am loved.
I am part of God’s plan to love the world.
I receive peace.
Amen.
Maybe today you need an angelic pit crew, and you need to just crash.
You’ll sleep, you’ll wander around your house in a haze and be fed and watered at intervals.
If that is true for you, have courage to receive that gift.
CLOSING BENEDICTION
If you have your finger rosary from Ash Wednesday, sing one round of prayers, "Be still and Know that I am God."
This will be our closing practice each week of Lent.
If you don't have your rosary yet, simply repeat the opening scripture, in spoken word or in song:
Be still and Know that I am God.
If you are with others, you may give one another a blessing, by taking turns laying a hand on each other's head, or making the sign of the cross on each other's foreheads. If you are alone, you may receive God's blessing by doing the same.
Blow out the candle and go about your day knowing you are with God and God is with you.
If you have your finger rosary from Ash Wednesday, sing one round of prayers, "Be still and Know that I am God."
This will be our closing practice each week of Lent.
If you don't have your rosary yet, simply repeat the opening scripture, in spoken word or in song:
Be still and Know that I am God.
If you are with others, you may give one another a blessing, by taking turns laying a hand on each other's head, or making the sign of the cross on each other's foreheads. If you are alone, you may receive God's blessing by doing the same.
Blow out the candle and go about your day knowing you are with God and God is with you.
