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
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