Sunday, August 14, 2022 - Decision Making that Can Give You New Energy
Online Playlist
Welcome
Hymn 613 O Lord, Our Lord (In Person Only)
Awakening to God’s Presence (In Person Only)
Prayer for God’s Guidance
Matthew 9:1-2 Common English Bible Translation
Boarding a boat, Jesus crossed to the other side of the lake and went to his own city. People brought to him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a cot. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man who was paralyzed, “Be encouraged, my child, your sins are forgiven.” (Question: What do you need to let go of in your life so that you can move forward?)
Matthew 9:3-8
Some legal experts said among themselves, “This man is insulting God.” But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why do you fill your minds with evil things? Which is easier-to say, “Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But so you will know that the Human One has authority on the earth to forgive sins”-he said to the man who was paralyzed- “Get up, take your cot, and go home.” The man got up and went home. When the crowds saw what had happened, they were afraid and praised God, who had given such authority to human beings. (Question: What do you think Jesus’ response would be to your struggles?)
Hymn 626 As the Deer (In Person Only)
Matthew 9:9-13
As Jesus continued on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at a kiosk for collecting taxes. He said to him, “Follow me,” and he got up and followed him. As Jesus sat down to eat in Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners joined Jesus and his disciples at the table. But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard it, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do. Go and learn what this means: I want mercy and not sacrifice. I didn’t come to call righteous people, but sinners.” (Question: What about Jesus makes you want to follow him?)
Matthew 9:14-15
At that time John’s disciples came and asked Jesus, “Why do we and the Pharisees frequently fast, but your disciples never fast?” Jesus responded, “The wedding guests can’t mourn while the groom is still with them, can they? But the days will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they’ll fast. (Question: What keeps you from celebrating and what helps you to celebrate God’s presence in your life?)
Hymn 192 Lord, the Light of Your Love Is Shining (In Person Only)
Matthew 9:16-17
“No one sews a piece of new, unshrunk cloth on old clothes because the patch tears away the cloth and makes a worse tear. No one pours new wine into old wineskins. If they did, the wineskins would burst, the wine would spill, and the wineskins would be ruined. Instead, people pour new wine into new wineskins so that both are kept safe.” (Question: What are you willing to do to bring new things into your life?)
Offering Ourselves to God
During this time let us reflect upon the words from the Belhar Confession
We believe that Christ’s work of reconciliation is made manifest in the church as the community of believers who have been reconciled with God and with one another; that unity, is therefore, both a gift and an obligation for the church of Jesus Christ; that through the working of God’s Spirit it is a binding force, yet simultaneously a reality which must be earnestly pursued and sought: one which the people of God must continually be built up to attain.
Special Music (In Person Only)
Prayers of the People and The Lord’s Prayer
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;
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom and the power
and the glory, forever. Amen
Closing Hymn 700 I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me (In Person Only)
Benediction
Hymn List
192 Lord, the Light of Your Love Is Shining
613 O Lord, Our Lord
626 As the Deer
700 I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me
Upcoming Themes for Sunday
Aug 21st – Giving Yourself a Chance at a Good Life
Aug 28th – Practices that Can Bring You Freedom
Baby Diaper and Wipes Drive: July & August
For Starfish Family Services
The need is great, especially now, for baby diapers and baby wipes. Diapers are basic material necessities all babies and toddlers require, as essential as food, shelter and clothing. Most state and national safety-net programs do not recognize baby diapers as a basic need.
The Need:
Diapers: Sizes 2 to 7
Pull-Ups: Sizes 3T to 7
Baby Wipes
Monetary donations to LPPC will also be accepted and applied to the purchase of baby diapers and baby wipes.