Call to Worship: Psalm 100

Read this loud enough so that your neighbor can hear it.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come into his presence with singing.

Know that the Lord is God.
It is he that made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him, bless his name.

For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

Opening Hymn

Our opening hymn today is Our God, Our Help, in Ages Past.

Please sing along:

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.

Prayer of Confession

If you are able, sit up straight. Place your hand palms up on your lap and offer this prayer.

Gracious Lord, help us focus on your kindness, compassion, and mercy.

Take three deep breaths.

With your mighty love cast out our fear, worry, loneliness, and despair.

Take three deep breaths.

We know that your perfect love casts out fear. And we know that in Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.

The Word

Read these passages of scripture slowly and tenderly.

1 Corinthians 12: 26-27 | "If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”

Genesis 2:18 | “Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.”

Matthew 6:11-13 | “Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.”

Affirmation of faith

This affirmation faith is from the United Church of Canada. After reading it, come back to a phrase that you found meaningful and reflect on it. Call someone from Church later today and share your reflection. Reflect together on the ways that we are not alone. (If you are “visiting” with us today or don’t have contact information for someone else, e-mail our pastor and he will call you this week. His e-mail is michael@fpcmiddletown.com.)

If you would like to recite it along with First Presbyterian Church, use this audio file.

We are not alone,
we live in God’s world.
We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus,
the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church:
to celebrate God’s presence,
to live with respect in Creation,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Prayers of the People

Our prayers are led today by Sandy Fisher.

SENDING

Lisa is sending us from this service with a story for the whole family.

Benediction

And now as members of Christ’s church: Be of good courage. Hold fast to that which is good. Render no one evil for evil. Strengthen the fainthearted. Support the weak. Heal the afflicted. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit. You are not alone. Amen.

Postlude

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