THE LOG CHURCH BULLETIN - AUGUST 23

THE LOG CHURCH

August 23, 2020

Opening Song

Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place,
I can feel His mighty power and his grace.
I can hear the brush of angel’s wings, I see glory on each face.
Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.

Welcome and announcements

Song of Worship 

Call to Worship

From almost the time before we can even talk, we are taught the importance of money. We are taught that we must “save up” for some item that we want, or we are told that that particular thing costs too much money. We are told that we must not waste our money (which is a good thing), and that we must be careful how we use our money.

But with all this emphasis that is placed upon money, we are almost programmed by the society to think that money is the most important commodity that a person can possess.

As important as money is in the economy of the world, it actually is of no lasting value whatsoever to God, nor is of lasting value to the follower of Jesus Christ. The currencies of this world are not the currencies of the Kingdom of God. The economy of heaven operates in a different fashion.

Today we have come to worship the One who tells us of the eternal way, and who wants to teach us of what is important in the Kingdom of Heaven. We have come to worship Him in whom all things will be fulfilled.

Invocation Prayer

Our Father in heaven, as in so much concerning spiritual matters, before we can learn about what you intend to teach us, we must first “unlearn” what the world has taught us. Give us your leading as we look to your Scriptures, and help us to learn what you intend to teach us this morning. Amen

Selected Reading –  John 12:1-8

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. So they hosted a dinner for Jesus there. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him. Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it.

“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “She has kept this perfume in preparation for the day of My burial. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.”

Message           Broken and Poured Out

Song of Unity 

Prayer of Confession

Sovereign God, we confess that we sometimes form our opinions not so much on what you have taught us, but rather based on what the prevailing culture tells us. But we know the opinions of culture are capricious. They change with the current perspective. We wish rather to be led by your Holy Spirit. Please grant us insight to know how to follow your direction and teach us to live by faith in your word.  Amen

Words of Assurance

As we continue to seek God’s instructions, he will increasingly make his ways known to us. Of greatest value to us when it comes to our relationship with God, is our ability to listen so that we can hear with ears that cannot be seen. God says to us, “Be still and know that I am God.”

The Lord’s Prayer

Scripture Reading:  

OT – Deuteronomy 6:5-9 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.

NT – Romans 12:1-2 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Responsorial Reading (Psalm 40: 4-8)

Blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, who has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.

Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us. None can compare to You.

If I proclaim and declare Your wonders, they are more than I can count.

Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but my ears You have opened.

Burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not require.

Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—it is written about me in the scroll:

I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.”

Song of Faith –

Offering     A basket has been placed on the table to receive your offerings. Thank you for placing your gifts in the basket. God bless you!

Prayer of Intercession

Dear God, we lay our hearts and our lives before you today. So much happens during the week, so many troubles come to us or to those that we love, that we often do not know how to handle them. The truth is, we cannot handle them, and it is for this reason we come to you this morning.

Please send your Comforter, your Holy Spirit to minister to those in need.

Thank you for hearing the prayers of our hearts. For the needs expressed here this morning, and for those needs that we have kept within ourselves but which have just as great an urgency, we place before you this morning.

We pray for those who have health issues, those who have employment or financial troubles, and for those who have family difficulties. Please help them to look to you in their time of need. Help them to realize that in the end, it is only you who can provide solutions that will endure.

We pray for the leaders of our state and of our nation. We pray also for our local leaders. Please give them joy in their service to their people, and the wisdom to make wise and equitable decisions.

We remember also our Log Church of Kenya and the orphans under the care of the church. Please supply them with the needed food and health, and help them in their schooling.

Thank you for your gracious answer to all of our prayers.

Thank you Father, for listening to the voices of all of your servants. Amen

Closing Song   

Benediction