FREE PALM SUNDAY – EASTER TWO DAY COMMUNITY EVENT Everyone is Welcome!   Come as You Are! Sponsored by Spirit of Peace, Valley, NE

Potluck Lunch, Easter Egg Hunt and Easter Activity FUN!   Games, Best Costume!

Schedule: 12:00 Potluck Lunch and Easter Activity FUN! 1:00 Egg Hunt – Palm Sunday, March 20, 2016 from 12 pm to 3 pm or so. Rain/Snow Date: Easter Sunday – Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016 from 12 pm to 3 pm or so

Where: Valley City Park Large Pavilion ​ 400 West Vass Street Valley, NE 68064

Price:​ Free! (sweet!) Thank you!

Questions?: Please contact Pastors Michael or Cathy Hanus Interested in VOLUNTEERING? Spirit.Peace@outlook.com 402-541-7019 https://blog.peacelcmc.org RSVP assists Planning Purposes! EventBrite for Palm Sunday Activities

Anointed Celebration Reflection for the Community. 

Modern Song Focus on Contemporary Church Artists 

 performing hymns of traditional foundation. 

Everyone is Welcome!  
Anointed Celebration Reflection Introduction: 

Anointed. Women hold power then and now. Messiah means anointed one. In the culture of the time, a woman washed and anointed guest’s feet. Martha anointed Christ. Mary who sits at Christ’s feet and studies what He teaches anoints Him. Martha’s discipleship preaches with action, not words. Are we to believe that women are forbidden to anoint? Jesus is comfortable in the presence of women. Jesus lives holding women at the same social class status as men. All of humanity is created to live an abundant life. We should all practice our faith in this example. 

Restoration. Isaiah prophecies that the Lord will deliver on His promise to His people, those who believe. 

Our psalm is a song of ascent, going up. The restoration theme repeats itself here. 

We know love is human and divine. Parents love their children. Spouses love one another. Our Lord loves us. Paul longs to be like Christ in his love for the Philippians. This is no small task in humanity. 
You Are Mine 

David Haas 

I will come to you in the silence

I will lift you from all your fear

You will hear My voice

I claim you as My choice

Be still, and know I am here. 
Anointed Celebration Reflection Scripture: 

I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Is. 43:19. 

May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. Ps. 126:5. 

If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more. Phil. 3:4. 

You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me. John 12:8. 
Prayer: 

God of the covenant,

in the glory of the cross

your Son embraced the power of death

and broke its hold over your people.

In this time of repentance,

draw all people to yourself,

that we who confess Jesus as Lord

may put aside the deeds of death 

and accept the life of your kingdom. Amen. 
Be Not Afraid 

Bob Dufford 

performed by John Michael Talbot 

You shall cross the barren desert,

but you shall not die of thirst.

You shall wander far in safety,

though you do not know the way. 
Prayer: 

Sisters and brothers,

as Jesus, in the days before his passion,

offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears,

let us pray for those who suffer, those who are in need,

and those who seek reconciliation. 
Ps. 126. 

Sojourn Music 

Prayer: 

God of compassion,

you know our faults and yet you promised to forgive.

Keep us in your presence and give us your wisdom.

Open our hearts to gladness,

call dry bones to dance,

and restore to us the joy of your salvation. Amen. 
Savior Blessed Savior 

Godfrey Thring (1862).  

 performed by Chris Fleischer, piano

Savior, blessed Savior,

Listen while we sing;

Hearts and voices raising

Praises to our King.

All we have we offer,

All we hope to be,

Body, soul, and spirit,

All we yield to Thee. 
Prayer: 

Creator God,

you prepare a new way in the wilderness

and your grace waters the desert.

Help us to recognize your hand

working miracles beyond our imagining.

Open our hearts to be transformed

by the new thing you are doing,

so that our lives may proclaim 

the extravagance of your love for all,

and its presence in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Ain’t No Mountain High 

Marvin Gaye 

Listen baby, ain’t no mountain high,

Ain’t no valley low, ain’t no river wide enough baby

If you need me call me, no matter where you are,

No matter how far; don’t worry baby

Just call my name; I’ll be there in a hurry

You don’t have to worry,
We are all stewards spreading the Word of Jesus’ blessings for His people. 

Picnic Fellowship Activities for the Entire Family! 
Of course lively discussion and activities will be available! 

Perhaps you may prefer to sit and visit! 

Please Contact Us with Special Requests! 

Prodigal Celebration Reflection
for the Community.
Modern Song Focus on Contemporary Church Artists
performing hymns of traditional foundation.
Everyone is Welcome!

Prodigal Celebration Reflection Introduction:
The Parable of the Prodigal Son. Often told, almost as often misunderstood!
In Luke, Our Lord rejoices when a sinner is welcomed back into the community. Although we focus our attention on the younger son in the parable, for he was the prodigal loss to the family when he took his inheritance and squandered it; we should now focus on the behavior of the older son, for he becomes lost in his selfishness, not perceiving this event and forgiving as his father does. How do we react to the shepherd welcoming the lost sheep back into our fold?
In Joshua, it is the children of the Israelites fleeing Egypt that are delivered to the promised land, a whole generation has passed in wandering. The Lord keeps his promise. The people must keep their promise in living by the Covenant. Today we are in the Season of Lent and must remain focused on our Lenten journey. We are all saved by our belief in Jesus.
In our psalm, being blessed or happy is a way of living life. As we are forgiven for our sins, we must forgive others. Confession of our sin is imperative. Forgiveness is assured. Our restoration is cause for celebration! Upon receiving our forgiveness we must teach others from our experience.
In our 2nd Corinthians letter, Paul has already engaged strong words in rebuking the Church of Corinth, which is now reacting to Paul’s prior letter of rebuke. Forgiveness and Reconciliation is the order for the day on the part of both sides. Paul and Corinth are two small portions of the entire world. The Love of Our Lord for all His children in all our world as we know it is great and immense. Given this large perspective, surely Paul and Corinth can come to learn to love one another once more.

Prodigal Celebration Reflection Scripture:
The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt.” Josh. 5:9.
Many are the torments of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord. Ps. 32:10.
So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 2 Cor. 5:20.
“Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. We had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.” Luke 15:31.

There’s a Spirit in the Air
Brian Wren (1969).

There’s a spirit in the air,
telling Christians everywhere:
‘Praise the love that Christ revealed,
living, working in our world!’

Prayer:

God of wilderness and water,
your Son was baptized and tempted as we are.
Guide us through this season,
that we may not avoid struggle,
but open ourselves to blessing,
through the cleansing depths of repentance
and the heaven-rending words of the Spirit. Amen.

Fight the Good Fight with All Thy Might
John S. B. Monsell (1863).
performed by Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
http://youtu.be/SKrGJZmG9GQ

Fight the good fight with all thy might.
Christ is thy strength and Christ thy right.
Lay hold on life, and it shall be
thy joy and crown eternally.

Prayer:

My brothers and sisters:
reconciled to God by the mercy of Christ,
we pray with confidence for the needs of the church and the world.
Through Christ you make us a new creation, O God,
for with him we pass from sin to the new life of grace.
Accept our prayers in the warm embrace of your compassion,
and welcome all people to the festive banquet of your table,
where we may rejoice in your love
and celebrate the inheritance you have given to us.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

Henry Van Dyke (1907).
performed by London Community a Gospel Choir

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee,
Op’ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!

Prayer:

God of patient love,
you await the return of the wayward and wandering
and eagerly embrace them in pardon.
Through baptism you have clothed us with the glory of Christ
and restored our inheritance:
give us generous hearts
to welcome all who seek a place
at the table of your unconditional love.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

You Are My All in All

You Are My Strength When I am Weak
Dennis L. Jernigan (1990).
performed by Nicole Nordeman

You are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all
Seeking You as a precious jewel
Lord, to give up I’d be a fool
You are my all in all
Jesus, Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name
Jesus, Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name
Oh, Your name is worthy
We are all stewards spreading the Word of Jesus’ blessings for His people.
Picnic Fellowship Activities for the Entire Family!

Of course lively discussion and activities will be available!
Perhaps you may prefer to sit and visit!
Please Contact Us with Special Requests!

Christ and the Fig Tree Reflection
for the Community.
Modern Song Focus on Contemporary Church Artists
performing hymns of traditional foundation.
Everyone is Welcome!

Christ and the Fig Tree Reflection Introduction:
Isaiah calls for us to recognize the fullness of our Lord. A new day under a new king was traditionally met with a forgiveness from debt and a banquet. The Lord will quench our thirst for knowledge and forgiveness. Lent is an invitation for us to thirst for the Lord and seek Him.
Our psalm invites us to long for our Lord as least as much as the way in which we long for the presence of a loved one who is departed and physically separated from us for some time.
In Corinthians Paul is counseling his people from a physical distance by means of a letter. Believers must be prepared to manage challenges that arise in life. It is better for an entire community to support one another through testing than it is for an individual to carry this burden alone.
A conversation at the community water well: While Pilate was in power there was a massacre of Galilean Pilgrims. We can draw the act of blood shed here to that of Christ’s own blood shed while under Pilate’s reign of brutality. The Tower of Siloam appeared to fall on unsuspecting people by natural means. Both stories end people’s lives for no apparent good reason. Jesus tells us not to credit divine punishment for tragedy. Jesus does not assure us freedom from calamity, rather we must repent for that control we have upon ourselves. In the parable of the fig tree, Jesus likens repentance to a changed mind. Humanity, given its vulnerability, is a gift that we must care for in ourselves and others.

You Shall Cross the Barren Desert Be Not Afraid
Robert Dufford
performed by Michael John Talbot

You shall cross the barren desert,
but you shall not die of thirst.
You shall wander far in safety,
though you do not know the way.

Christ and the Fig Tree Reflection Scripture:
Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. Is. 55:6.
O Lord God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Ps. 63:1.
So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. 1 Cor. 10:12.
The Parable of the Fig Tree. No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Luke 13:3.

Prayer:
God of the covenant,
in the glory of the cross
your Son embraced the power of death
and broke its hold over your people.
In this time of repentance,
draw all people to yourself,
that we who confess Jesus as Lord
may put aside the deeds of death
and accept the life of your kingdom. Amen.
Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us
Dorothy Thrupp (1836).
piano accompaniment by Rick Betts

Savior, like a shepherd lead us,
Much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us,
For our use Thy folds prepare:
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are;
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.

Prayer:
Faithful God of love,
you blessed us with your servant Son
so that we might know how to serve your people
with justice and with mercy.
We gather the needs of ourselves and others,
and offer them to you in faith and love,
seeking to be strengthened to meet them.
Shape us and transform us by your grace,
that we may grow in wisdom and in confidence,
never faltering until we have done all that you desire
to bring your realm of shalom to fulfillment. Amen.

Safe in the Arms of Jesus
Fanny Crosby (1868).
performed by Altar of Praise Chorale

Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe on His gentle breast,
There by His love o’ershaded,
Sweetly my soul shall rest.
Hark! ’tis the voice of angels
Borne in a song to me,
Over the fields of glory,
Over the jasper sea.

Prayer:
God of infinite goodness,
throughout the ages you have persevered
in claiming and reclaiming your people.
Renew for us your call to repentance,
surround us with witnesses to aid us in our journey,
and grant us the time to fashion our lives anew,
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

I the Lord of Sea and Sky Here I am Lord
Dan Schutte
piano accompaniment
http://youtu.be/dLaadLgsV14

We are all stewards spreading the Word of Jesus’ blessings for His people.
Picnic Fellowship Activities for the Entire Family!

Of course lively discussion and activities will be available!
Perhaps you may prefer to sit and visit!
Please Contact Us with Special Requests!

Imitate Christ Reflection
for the Community.
Modern Song Focus on Contemporary Church Artists
performing hymns of traditional foundation.
Everyone is Welcome!

Scripture Introduction:
Abram has visionary experiences in his relationship with the Lord. In his journey through life, the Lord provides for Abram even when it does not appear likely such a result could occur.
Our psalm can be interpreted as trust, a prayer for help, or both.
Our Philippians passage calls us to imitate Christ, particularly his humility and self-sacrifice for the sake of others. How might you follow his example?
Life and death in Jerusalem is historically difficult for prophets. As Jesus goes about his ministry in the community it is clear that He is headed toward the Passion. Jesus will complete His work of deliverance for His people.

Amazing Grace
John Newton (1779).
instrumental performed by Kevin MacLeod
http://youtu.be/svTzighOsxM

Amazing grace how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found,
was blind but now I see.

Scripture:
Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great. Gen. 15:1.
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? Ps. 27:1.
Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me. Phil. 3:17.
You will not see me until the time comes when you say, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” Luke 13:35.

Prayer:
God of wilderness and water,
your Son was baptized and tempted as we are.
Guide us through this season,
that we may not avoid struggle,
but open ourselves to blessing,
through the cleansing depths of repentance
and the heaven-rending words of the Spirit. Amen.

Rock of Ages
August Toplady (1776).
performed acapella by Calvary Mennonite Choir

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.

Prayer:
God of the covenant,
you call us to be fruitful servants within creation,
and to offer our lives
as the foundation of your realm.
We lay before you the desires of our hearts,
that we may be transformed by their fulfillment.
Grant, O God, that the prayers we offer
may be your channel for new and abundant life
not only hoped for,
but worked for,
through faithful word and deed. Amen.

What a Friend We have in Jesus
Joseph Medlicott Scrivener (1855).
Performed by Tennessee Ernie Ford
http://youtu.be/4BtYlrWDVoA

What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!

Prayer:
Hope beyond all human hope,
you promised descendants as numerous as the stars
to old Abraham and barren Sarah.
You promise light and salvation
in the midst of darkness and despair,
and promise redemption to a world that will not listen.
Gather us to yourself in tenderness,
open our ears to listen to your word,
and teach us to live faithfully
as people confident of the fulfillment of your promises.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

We are all stewards spreading the Word of Jesus’ blessings for His people.
Picnic Fellowship Activities for the Entire Family!

Of course lively discussion and activities will be available!
Perhaps you may prefer to sit and visit!
Please Contact Us with Special Requests!

Ash Wednesday Reflection
for the Community.
Modern Song Focus on Contemporary Church Artists
performing hymns of traditional foundation.
Everyone is Welcome!

Ash Wednesday Introduction:
We begin our Lenten journey with the reminder that from ashes we have come and to ashes we will return and leave with that symbol of ashes in the form of a cross upon our foreheads as a lasting reminder of our fragile physical mortality. It is our spirituality that will live on.
We do not blame the Lord for natural disasters yet we pray for his assistance in healing our broken lives.
Our psalm today is a lament to the Lord about our experiences with dust, disaster and deceit. Martin Luther said this psalm contains instruction about the chief parts of our religion: repentance, sin, grace, and justification, as well as worship we ought to render to the Lord.
Paul certainly had competition in Corinth. We can imagine the challenge, even today, in convincing all believers and non-believers to get behind Jesus Christ and the Good News.
Alms, prayer and fasting are three gestures of piety Jesus speaks of in Matthew. Jesus informs us that these gestures are without merit if we lack appropriate spirituality to motivate them. Do not confuse God’s glory with self deception.

Savior, More than Life to Me
Fanny Crosby (1875).
performed by Harding Concert Choir

Ash Wednesday Scripture:
Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing. Joel 2:13.
Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. Is. 58:1.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Ps. 51:1.
We entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 2 Cor. 5:20.
Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Matt. 6:1.
Prayer:
Righteous God,
in humility and repentance
we bring our failures in caring, helping, and loving,
we bring the pain we have caused other,
we bring the injustice in society of which we are a part,
to the transforming power of your grace.
Grant us the courage to accept the healing you offer
and to turn again toward the sunrise of your reign,
that we may walk with you in the promise of peace
you have willed for all the children of the earth,
and have made known to us in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Spirit Divine, Attend Our Prayers
Andrew Reed (1829).

Prayer:
Gracious and merciful God,
you see into the secret places of our hearts,
where we mourn our sins.
As we turn again to your grace, receive our prayers.
Look with mercy on our contrite hearts,
wash from us the stain of iniquity,
and create a new and right spirit in us,
that we may declare your praise
and offer an acceptable sacrifice in these Lenten days;
through Christ Jesus, who bore our sins on the cross. Amen.

O! for a Closer Walk with God
William Cowper (1772).
performed by Charles Stanford Manchester Choir

Prayer:
O God, you delight not in pomp and show,
but in a humble and contrite heart.
Overturn our love of worldly possessions
and fix our hearts more firmly on you,
that, having nothing,
we may yet possess everything,
a treasure stored up for us in heaven. Amen.
Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery
Marty Haugen
performed by Richard and Bro. Pasky Church of St. Mary
http://youtu.be/4wIv2A43KG4
We are all stewards spreading the Word of Jesus’ blessings for His people.
Picnic Fellowship Activities for the Entire Family!

Of course lively discussion and activities will be available!
Perhaps you may prefer to sit and visit!
Please Contact Us with Special Requests!

Transfiguration Celebration
for the Community.
Modern Song Focus on Contemporary Church Artists
performing hymns of traditional foundation.
Everyone is Welcome!

Transfiguration Celebration Introduction:
What a glorious experience if we could see the glowing person of Jesus Christ and hear the Word of the Lord! But we do! in our community of believers!
Exodus tells us the Lord is dwelling with His people in the Wilderness. The experience of dialogue with the Lord transforms Moses into a man with a radiant face, as it can and will to to all of us as believers.
Our psalm is an Enthronement psalm. It calls on all of creation, which includes humanity, to bow before, tremble and worship the Lord. We see the continuation of the transfiguration theme in our readings.
Paul tells us that we should remove the veil in engaging our neighbors in society. We risk the muted protection of our Christian thoughts behind the veil, but this is not they way Christ demonstrated and exemplified the lives we are to lead in pleasing the Father.
Luke tells us that Jesus is present with Moses, representing law, and Elijah, representing prophecy. The people celebrate the protection the Lord gives them in the wilderness wandering during the Feast of Tabernacles. The transfiguration of Jesus is a metamorphosis that invokes the Holy Spirit and prepares Jesus to continue His work among His people. Jesus goes on to heal the disgraced boy possessed by demons. Jesus is impatient with His disciplines who lack in the belief and capacity to do this work themselves.
There is no better way to experience the Transfiguration than to get out of our “safe” places where we hide and go out into the community to do work that is pleasing to the Father. Amen.

Transfiguration Celebration Scripture:
Moses came down from Mount Sinai … with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand. Exodus 34:29.
Extol the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy. Ps. 99:9.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Cor. 3:17.
“This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” Luke 9:35.

Be Thou My Vision
Ancient Irish (700).
Mary Byrne, Eleanor Hull

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art –
thou my best thought, by day or by night;
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Prayer:
Holy God, mighty and immortal,
you are beyond our knowing,
yet we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ,
whose compassion illumines the world.
Transform us into the likeness of the love of Christ,
who renewed our humanity so that we may share in his divinity,
the same Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who live and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God.
performed by Maranatha Singers

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with your free Spirit.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Ps. 51:10.

Prayer:
O God, as your Son drew apart
to be in prayer with you,
we offer our prayers
for the transformation of the world and the church.
You revealed your glory and presence
in your beloved Son, Jesus the Christ.
In receiving our prayers,
reveal the glory and presence of your Spirit
alive in the world today,
free us from all doubts,
and empower us to act as a transfigured people. Amen.

O Come O Come Emmanuel
John Mason Neale (1851).

O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

Prayer:
Eternal God,
you revealed to the disciples
the everlasting glory of Jesus Christ.
Grant us, who have not seen and yet believe,
the gift of your Holy Spirit,
that we may boldly live the gospel
and shine with your transforming glory,
as people changed and changing
through the redeeming presence of our Savior. Amen.

Good Christian Men Rejoice
John Mason Neale

Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
give ye heed to what we say:
Jesus Christ was born today.
Ox and ass before him bow,
and he is in the manger now.
Christ is born today!
Christ is born today!

We are all stewards spreading the Word of Jesus’ blessings for His people.
Picnic Fellowship Activities for the Entire Family!

Of course lively discussion and activities will be available!
Perhaps you may prefer to sit and visit!
Please Contact Us with Special Requests!

Consecrated Christ Celebration
for the Community.
Modern Song Focus on Contemporary Church Artists
performing hymns of traditional foundation.
Everyone is Welcome!

Consecrated Christ Celebration Introduction:
Jeremiah reminds us that people can do great things with a minimal amount of qualification and resources. This is an example of the Lord working through their compliance to His way on His time.
Our psalm declares that people may accomplish great things through hope and trust in God.
This letter from Paul was written to a community that appeared to be on a path to social breakup. The key to the solution of this crisis is found in exercising genuine brotherly love for your neighbor.
In his Gospel lessons Luke repeatedly informs us that all who hear Jesus respond with amazement and awe. Although the people in Jesus’ hometown community know Him as Joseph’s son, we herald Jesus as the Son of God. The hometown Nazareth folk want Jesus to perform miracles. Angry people can not accept that Jesus greets them in ministry not in the act of proving His godliness with miracles.

One Day!
Wilbur Chapman (1910).
Music by Charles Marsh
http://youtu.be/kCKj8jn_5TU

One day when Heaven Was filled with His praises,
One day when sin was As black as could be,
Jesus came forth To be born of a virgin,
Dwelt among men, my example is He!

Prayer: O Lord God,
you spoke your word
and revealed your good news in Jesus, the Christ.
Fill all creation with that word again,
so that by proclaiming your joyful promises to all nations
and singing of your glorious hope to all peoples,
we may become one living body,
your incarnate presence on the earth. Amen.

Scripture:
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Jer. 1:5.
Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel. Ps. 71:4.
Now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor. 13:13.
He began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. Luke 4:21.

Prayer:
To God who welcomes all in love,
let us pray for the good of the church
and the concerns of those in need.
God of every land and nation,
you have created all people
and you dwell among us in Jesus Christ.
Listen to the cries of those who pray to you,
and grant that, as we proclaim the greatness of your name,
all people will know the power of love at work in the world.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Edmund H Sears (1849).
Performed by Julie Andrews

It came upon the midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth
to touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, good will to men,
from heaven’s all-gracious King.”
The world in solemn stillness lay,
to hear the angels sing.

Prayer:
O God of all the prophets,
you knew us and chose us
before you formed us in the womb.
Fill us with faith that speaks your word,
hope that does not disappoint,
and love that bears all things for your sake,
until that day when we shall know you fully,
even as we are known by you. Amen.

Lord Jesus Comfort Me
In our troubles, God comforts us that we may give comfort to others who experience trials.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.

Lord Jesus Comfort Me Communion Hymn
performed by Matthew Smith

You have canceled my transgression,
Jesus, by Your precious blood
May I find therein salvation,
happiness, and peace with God
And since You for sinner’s suffering
On the cross was made an offering
From all sin deliver me,
That I wholly Yours may be.

Prayer:
God of every land and nation,
you have created all people
and you dwell among us in Jesus Christ.
Listen to the cries of those who pray to you,
and grant that, as we proclaim the greatness of your name,
all people will know the power of love at work in the world.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Rock of Ages
Augustus Toplady (1776). performed by Antrim Mennonite Choir

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.

We are all stewards spreading the Word of Jesus’ blessings for His people.
Picnic Fellowship Activities for the Entire Family!

Of course lively discussion and activities will be available!
Perhaps you may prefer to sit and visit!
Please Contact Us with Special Requests!

Spirit is Upon Us Celebration
for the Community.
Modern Song Focus on Contemporary Church Artists
performing hymns of traditional foundation.
Everyone is Welcome!

Spirit is Upon Us Celebration Introduction:
The water source for the community is a place where all are admitted, no club membership needed to access this sustainer of daily life.
Our psalm is brimming with dyads. As the sun illuminates all, the Creator rules over all. The psalm informs us that we must remain attentive to the Lord’s instruction.
Paul wants us to see something more valuable than perceiving unity as uniformity. It is the Holy Spirit that strengthens our best qualities to be used for the good of all. We are individuals within communities, all with strengths as a part and within the whole. It is no reason to separate and apply boundaries between communities as far as the Holy Spirit seeks to join all of mankind.
Luke describes how Jesus overcomes temptation through strength from the Holy Spirit. The poor are raised up in the Lord’s favor. In the year of the Jubilee the poor are to be treated as hired hands and not slaves. Jesus validates and removes all doubt that He is the person who is the fulfillment of scriptural prophecy. How can we expect the people from all walks of life within the community to respond to this proclamation?

Prayer:
Thy grace, O Father, give,
That I may serve in fear;
Above all boons, I pray,
Grant me Thy voice to hear;
From sin Thy child in mercy free,
And let me dwell in light with Thee.

– Gregory of Nazianzus (Cappadocia, Turkey, BCE 325-390).

How Great Thou Art
Carl Gustav Boberg (1949).

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
consider all the works thy hand hath made,
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
thy power throughout the universe displayed:

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God; to thee,
How great thou art, how great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God; to thee,
How great thou art, how great thou art!

Spirit is Upon Us Celebration Scripture:
The joy of the LORD is your strength. Neh. 8:10.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Ps. 19:14.
For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. 1 Cor. 12:13.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. Luke 4:18. Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. Luke 4:21.

Prayer:
O Lord God,
you spoke your word
and revealed your good news in Jesus, the Christ.
Fill all creation with that word again,
so that by proclaiming your joyful promises to all nations
and singing of your glorious hope to all peoples,
we may become one living body,
your incarnate presence on the earth. Amen.

Let Us Break Bread Together
African American Spiritual – Sing Joyfully!
performed by Wintry Phipps
http://youtu.be/mOocN76fLHo

Let us break bread together on our knees.
Let us break bread together on our knees.

Refrain:
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me.

Prayer:
Sisters and brothers,
let us lift our hearts in faith
to the one who hears all prayers
and holds close all those in need.

Holy God, you gather the whole universe
into your radiant presence
and continually reveal your Son as our Savior.
Bring healing to all wounds,
make whole all that is broken,
speak truth to all illusion,
and shed light in every darkness,
that all creation will see your glory and know your Christ. Amen.

Joy to the World
Isaac Watts (1719).

Joy to the world! the Lord is come: let earth receive her King.
Let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.

We are all stewards spreading the Word of Jesus’ blessings for His people.
Picnic Fellowship Activities for the Entire Family!

Of course lively discussion and activities will be available!
Perhaps you may prefer to sit and visit!
Please Contact Us with Special Requests!