“Hands and Feet”
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NOTE TO READER: Occasionally on Sundays, I will post a 40-minute worship video (I did several of these last summer, but not since). The video is directly below this text. Below the video on this page is the Order of Service for the worship. Below that is the text of this video, in case you would rather read than watch (though not everything from the video will be in the text). IMPORTANT!!— The video may not display in your email. YOU MUST click on the “Read on Blog” link in the upper right hand corner of your email.
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ORDER OF SERVICE
BELL / INVOCATION / CONFESSION OF SINS and ABSOLUTION
KYRIE
OPENING PRAYER
SONG: “Lord, I Hope this Day is Good”
SCRIPTURE: I Corinthians 12:27 and John 9:1-5
SERMON “Nick Vujicic”
SONG: “Oh Come, All You Unfaithful”
OFFERING
CREED
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH / LORD’S PRAYER
BENEDICTION / CLOSING BELL
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OPENING BELL / PRAYER:
Almighty God, you pour out your grace upon all who desire it. Deliver us, we pray, as we come into your presence, from cold hearts and wandering thoughts, so that with steady minds and sincere devotion, we may worship you in spirit and in truth; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
INVOCATION / CONFESSION OF SIN AND FORGIVENESS:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
We cannot come before God unless we are first honest with ourselves about who we are, about the mistakes we make, and about how well or poorly we care for others. In this spirit, let us each confess our sins unto the Lord…
Heavenly Father, I have sinned against you and I am no longer worthy to be called your child. I am not worthy, my Lord Jesus, that you should come under the roof of my soul. Nevertheless, since you desire to dwell within me, I bow before you. You invite me to open the door which you alone have made, that entering in there you may bring light into my darkened mind. I believe that you will do this.
For you did not throw out the prostitute when she came to you with tears; neither did you reject the tax collector when he repented, nor did you reject the thief when he sought to enter your kingdom, nor did you reject the persecutor when he repented. But you treated all who came to you in penitence as your friends. I too repent and am sorry for my sins. Create in me a clean heart, O Lord, and renew in me a right spirit.
Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins, his mercy endures forever. Amen.
KYRIE
As you know, and as you will, Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. Amen.
OPENING PRAYER:
O God, our guide and our guardian, you have led us apart from the busy world into the quiet of this time of worship. Grant us grace to worship you in spirit and in truth, to the comfort of our souls, and to the upbuilding of every good purpose and holy desire. Enable us to do more perfectly the work to which you have called us, that we may not fear the coming of the night, when the account of the deeds we have done will be complete. So may we worship you not only with our lips at this hour, but in word and deed all the days of our lives. Give us this day such blessing through our worship of you, that the week to come may be spent in your favor, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Gloria Patri: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and forever shall be, world without end. Amen.
SONG #1: “Lord, I Hope This Day is Good” Don Williams
SCRIPTURE
Let us pray: Almighty and eternal God, by your Word you create out of nothing. Open our ears to hear the Word of life that comes from you alone. Give us faith where doubt resides. Give us hope where despair threatens. Give us the peace that passes understanding in the midst of strife and uncertainty. Open our eyes to see the neighbors you have placed in our paths. Open our mouths to share your life-giving Word with a world that desperately needs the hope that comes from you alone, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
I Corinthians 12:27: Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
John 9:1-5: As he went along, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” This is the Word of the Lord.
SERMON: Nick Vujicic, at: https://www.iamsecond.com/film/nick-vujicic/#modal-media-vimeo
SONG #2; “Oh Come, All You Unfaithful”
OFFERING:
At this time, if you have not already done so, make a decision about what you will give to the Lord’s work this week. Reading from God’s Word, as written in Deuteronomy 16:17: Each of you shall give as you are able, bringing a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.” Therefore, with gladness, we present the offerings of our life and labor to the Lord.
As you think about that, consider what Nick said about how he, with no hands or feet, was called to be the hands and feet of Jesus. We are all called to be Christ’s hands and feet, as first expressed in this meditation by St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no hands, no feet now on earth but yours.
Lord Jesus, thank You for your hands that healed and your feet that walked this earth for us. We ask You to help us be Your hands and feet in the world today. Use us to bless, to serve, to comfort, and to go wherever You lead. Let our lives reflect Your compassion and carry the message of Your grace. In Your name we pray. Amen.
CREED Performed by Rich Mullins
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Lord God, all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works come from you: give to your servants that peace which the world cannot give; that our hearts may be ready to obey your commandments; and that, freed from fear of our enemies, we may live peaceful and fruitful lives. Lord in your mercy… Hear our prayer.
We pray, O Lord, that you strengthen our faith. May our faith be inspired by others, who by faith, endured much and accomplished much. Lord, in your mercy… Hear our prayer.
Almighty God, we pray for peace in the world, for unity and strength in your church on earth, and the well-being of all peoples. We pray that you bless and guide our elected officials, the leaders of all nations, and all in authority. Lord, in your mercy… Hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father; We thank you for food, and remember the hungry. We thank you for health, and remember the sick. We thank you for friends, and remember the friendless. We thank you for freedom, and remember the enslaved. We pray for all these we here remember before you, and may these remembrances inspire us to use what you have given us to do what we can for them. Lord, in your mercy… Hear our prayer.
Lord, be merciful to us all, and when we reach our final hour, grant us a blessed departure from this world, and, on the last day, a resurrection into your glory. And all God’s people say… Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER: Performed by Andrea Bocelli and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
BENEDICTION
Our Lord Jesus has said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). So now may Jesus give you that peace that passes all understanding; and when you have finished your course on this earth, may the King of Glory welcome you into His glorious Kingdom. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
CLOSING BELL / PRAYER:
As you go on your way, may the Lord Jesus Christ go with you. May he be near you to defend you; may he go before you to show you the way; behind you to encourage you; beside you to befriend you; above you to watch over you; and within you to give you peace. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, God forevermore. Amen. –Based on 10th century blessing.
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