August 22, 2021
Below, you’ll find the song lyrics and scripture readings for the live stream on August 22nd (in the order they are needed).
Just A Closer Walk With Thee
I am weak, but thou art strong
Jesus, keep me from all wrong
i’ll be satisfied as long
as I walk, dear lord, close to thee
just a closer walk with thee
grant it, Jesus, this my plea
daily walking close to thee
let it be, dear lord, let it be
in this world of toil and snare
if I falter, lord who cares?
who with me my burden shares
none but thee, dear lord, none but thee
just a closer walk with thee
grant it, Jesus, this my plea
daily walking close to thee
let it be, dear lord, let it be
when this feeble life is o’er
time for me will be no more
guide me gently safely o’er
to thy kingdom shore, to thy shore
just a closer walk with thee
grant it, Jesus, this my plea
daily walking close to thee
let it be, dear lord, let it be
Call to Worship
we have gathered to worship
the Living God
the One who is near to the brokenhearted
who will save those whose spirits are crushed
to enter the story of God
and find our own stories reimagined
that the Spirit might form us more fully in the way of Christ
drawing our ordinary lives
into the work of God in the world
Amen
Wild One
overwhelming, you cannot be contained
in leather bindings, the turn of a word or phrase
overwhelming, these idols that you break
crumbling to the ground in place
you were running with iconoclast strides
god, you’re wilder than we ever thought you would be
though we try, we can’t pin you down
you’re a wild one
and you’re greater
disconcerting, these figures that we form
we want more money, we want a higher bar
disconcerting, these idols that we carve
controlling like the wind to a sail
you were running with iconoclast strides
god, you’re wilder than we ever thought you would be
though we try, we can’t pin you down
you’re a wild one
and you’re greater
unbound, you’re overwhelming
we built you a house but you keep moving
maker, you’re not done making
we gave you seven days, but you’re still forming
so form these broken bodies into gold
a greater love with a lighter load
tear these temples down, stone from stone
crashing to the ground like broken chains
you were running with iconoclast strides
god, you’re wilder than we ever thought you would be
though we try, we can’t pin you down
you’re a wild one
and you’re greater
There
before there were mountains to crumble
before there were seas to rise
before there was pain, the loss and the weight
you were there, you were there, you were there
although our fear is rising
although our fire has gone out
although our hearts are worried and fraught
you are there, you are there, you are there
i’ve got a problem, i’ve made a drug
of worrying over what is yet to come
it’s clouding my vision, strangling my love
away
after the sun stops burning
after the stars have gone out
after the world ceases to turn
you’ll be there, you’ll be there, you’ll be there
Look to the Hills
I lift my eyes to the hills
to remind myself this isn’t all there is
I lift my eyes to the hills
and wait for help to appear
my help is from the lord
who breaks past walls and fortress doors
my shade in sun and shield from sword
yes, my help is from the lord
so I look to the hills
and I know the score:
the mountains fall and shadows, they soar
and every rough line is impeccably placed
as valleys rise, forgetting their place
I look to the hills
and I know what i’m for
and know my help is going before
going before
Old Testament Reading
Today’s Old Testament reading, and Josh’s sermon text, is 1 Kings 8:22-30, 41-43:
Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands to heaven. He said, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love for your servants who walk before you with all their heart, the covenant that you kept for your servant my father David as you declared to him; you promised with your mouth and have this day fulfilled with your hand. Therefore, O Lord, God of Israel, keep for your servant my father David that which you promised him, saying, ‘There shall never fail you a successor before me to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children look to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.’ Therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you promised to your servant my father David.
“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I have built! Regard your servant’s prayer and his plea, O Lord my God, heeding the cry and the prayer that your servant prays to you today; that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that you may heed the prayer that your servant prays toward this place. Hear the plea of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place; O hear in heaven your dwelling place; heed and forgive.
“Likewise when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a distant land because of your name —for they shall hear of your great name, your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm—when a foreigner comes and prays toward this house, then hear in heaven your dwelling place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and so that they may know that your name has been invoked on this house that I have built.
New Testament Reading
Today’s New Testament reading is John 6:56-69:
Jesus said, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.
When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.”
Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
Giving
UBC relies on the generosity of the community. If you are a in place that you are able to give of your time, talent, and resources to UBC we would be grateful. If you want to make a financial contribution, the easiest way to do so is through our church center app.
Come Alive
draw us in to the dance
older than time and space
that constellations, made
in the bend and the shake
cycle back from the end
full-reverse pirouette
like choreography
infinite, infinite
but if the music stops
play it again
but pick up where we left off
that brilliant harmony
with 13.8 billion parts
until we come alive
o, come alive
draw us in to the dance
’til every piece finds its fit
and every step is improvised
and carried out in perfect time
like the shape of breathing
is the shape of all
spinning into one
as the empty tomb cloud
is spreading out, spreading out
but if the music stops
play it again, but pick up where we left off
that brilliant harmony with 13.8 billion parts
until we come alive
o, come alive
we’ve not become what we will be
but the rhythm of our feet is growing
though we’re fraying at the seams
your gravity is holding
just keep on holding
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise God, all creatures here below
Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts
Praise Timeless, Son, and Holy Ghost
Amen.
Benediction
As we approach this week
May we love God
Embrace Beauty
and Live Life to the fullest
Amen