This blog is a record of the call to worship, Scripture readings, and prayers from our Sunday liturgies. If you are interested in writing something for the liturgy, or if you have a concern about any aspect of our liturgy, please email jamie@ubcwaco.org.
Call to Worship
we have gathered to worship the One who is near to the brokenhearted,
the One who saves those whose spirits are crushed
to enter into the story of God
and find our own stories changed
to be formed more fully by the Spirit of God into the way of Christ
that we might carry the love of God within us
and learn to live as citizens of the Kingdom of God
Amen
Scripture
Jeremiah 29:1-8
These are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.
This was after King Jeconiah, and the queen mother, the court officials, the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the artisans, and the smiths had departed from Jerusalem. The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom King Zedekiah of Judah sent to Babylon to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
It said: Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease.
But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let the prophets and the diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream
Ephesians 6:10-20
Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.
With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.
Prayer
This week's prayer was written by Brianna Childs:
A Prayer for Transition
Our good and gracious God,
In times when the future is so unsure, please be our sureness.
In times when we feel like we cannot go on, please be the solid rock on which we stand.
In times when the lies from fear make us doubt, please be our truth.
In times when our feelings are a roller coaster or we don't even know how to feel, please be our unwavering constant.
In times when we fail, please give us mercy.
In times when we compare those failures to the successes of those around us, please be our identity.
In times when we begin to rely on our own plans and successes, please be our humility.
In times when the heartbreak makes it hard to go on living, please be our comfort.
In times when a new birth brings infinite possibilities, please be our deepest joy.
In times of separation from loved ones, please be our connector.
In times when we have to say goodbye, please be our peace.
In times when we Your plans come together perfectly, please receive every ounce of glory.
In times when we experience rejection and have nowhere to turn, please be our refuge.
In times when we follow You blindly, please be the lamp to our feet and the light to our path.
In times when we wait for direction, please grant us patience.
In times when we do become impatient, please be our contentment.
In times when we yearn for more, whether in this life or in eternity with You, please be our all-consuming satisfaction.
In times of transition, thank you for being the God of it all.
Amen.