Opening Praise ” I Sing the Mighty Power of God” # 46

 

Verse 1: I sing the mighty pow’r of God, that made the mountains rise, 

that spread the flowing seas and built the lofty skies. 

I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day. 

The moon shines full at God’s command and all the stars obey. 

 

Verse 2: I sing the goodness of the Lord, that filled the earth with food. 

God formed the creatures with a word, and then pronounced them good. 

Lord, how thy wonders are displayed, where’er I turn my eye,

if I survey the ground I tread, or gaze up on the sky!

 

Verse 3: There’s not a flow’r below, but makes thy glories known, 

and clouds arise, and tempests blow, by order of thy throne. 

While all that borrows life from thee is ever in thy care, 

there’s not a place where we can flee but God is present there. 

 

Opening Word Exodus 16:2-15

Call to Worship  

 

Leader: Give thanks to the LORD; call on the name of the LORD.

Congregation: T ell the world what God has done for us.

 

Leader: T he people of Israel were in trouble, God came to their rescue.

The LORD spread a cloud as covering,
and fire at night to give them light.

 

 

Leader: They asked, and quails came,
and with heavenly bread God satisfied them.

 

Leader: Sing to the LORD, and sing praises;
and tell of God’s wonderful works

 

Leader: Glory in God’s holy name
let those who seek the LORD rejoice to the core of their being.
Seek the LORD, and the strength of the LORD;
seek God’s presence continually.

Leader: Holy is your name, O LORD.  

We come to praise and worship you!

 

Hymn: ” Here In This Place” # 6

 

Verse 1: Here in this place, new light is streaming, 

now is the darkness vanished away. 

See, in this space, our fears and our dreamings, 

brought here to you in the light of the day. 

Gather us in the lost and forsaken. 

Gather us in the blind and the lame. 

Call us now, and we shall awaken, 

we shall arise at the sound of our name. 

 

Verse 2: We are the young our lives are a myst’ry, 

we are the old who yearn for your face. 

We have been sung throughout all of hist’ry, 

called to be light to the whole human race. 

Gather us in the rich and the haughty, 

Gather us in the proud and the strong. 

Give us a heart so meek and so lowly, 

Give us the courage to enter the song. 

 

Verse 3: Here we will take the wine and the water, 

Here we will take the bread of new birth. 

Here you shall call your sons and your daughters, 

Call us anew to be salt for the earth. 

Give us to drink the wine of compassion,

Give us to eat the bread that is you. 

Nourish us well, and teach us to fashion

Lives that are holy and hearts that are true.

 

Verse 4: Not in the dark of buildings confining, 

Not in some heaven, light years away, 

But here in this place, the new light is shining; 

Now is the Kingdom, now is the day. 

Gather us in and hold us forever, 

Gather us in and make us your own. 

Gather us in all peoples together, 

Fire of love in our flesh and our bone. 

 

 

Gospel lesson 

 

Hymn: ” Take My Life and Let It Be” # 389

 

Verse 1: Take my life, and let it be

consecrated Lord to thee. 

Take my moments and my days; 

let them flow in ceaseless praise, 

let them flow in ceaseless praise. 

 

Verse 2: Take my hands, and let them move

at the impulse of thy love. 

Take my feet and let them be swift

and beautiful for thee, 

swift and beautiful for thee. 

 

Verse 3: Take my voice, and let me sing, 

always, only for my King. 

Take my lips, and let them be filled

with messages from thee, 

filled with messages from thee.

 

Verse 4: Take my silver and my gold; 

not a mite would I withhold.

Take my intellect and us ev’ry pow’r

as thou shalt choose, 

ev’ry pow’r as thou shalt choose. 

 

Verse 5: Take my will, and make it thine; 

it shall be no longer mine. 

Take my heart, it is thine own, 

it shall be thy royal throne, 

it shall be thy royal throne. 

 

Verse 6: Take my love; my Lord, 

I pour at thy feet it’s treasure store. 

Take myself, and I will be ever, 

only, all for thee, 

ever, only, all for thee. 

 

Message Grace Is Not a Commodity

 

Epistle Lesson Philippians 1:21-30

Praying for Life that Really Is Life