January 14, 2024

Prelude
Stephanie Shorden

Welcome & Announcements
Rev. David Petty


Threshold Moment
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

We continue into week 2 of our worship series today. We pray that this will bring a “breather” and a sense of assurance to us all. The Book of Psalms knows all about the ups and downs of life, written over a span of time from exile and isolation to the rebuilding of the community, we hope that you will see how the poetry of the Psalms can accompany us in this series. We will be reminded that through it all, we can trust that God is, indeed, holding our lives.

Strength and peace is the prayer of the Psalm this week. The Psalmist says “let me count the ways” that we can know the strength of the Holy One. With awe and wonder we behold the presence of God in all the elements of creation–water, fire, air, earth. And it is this glory that assures us that God, indeed, is holding our lives.

Threshold Song                                 Stephanie Shorden

Lift up your eyes, behold the hills. From where will help and rescue come? We call the One who made the earth, Who bless’d the stars, the moon and sun.

God is holding your life God is holding your life God is holding your life, we believe [repeat refrain]

Opening Collect Prayer
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

Leader: Holy and Awesome God, You who created everything in a spectacular show of light and matter. Open us this day to the wonder of your power so that we might know the everlasting strength of your reign on earth as it is in heaven.

People: We praise you for your mighty works, holding our lives in the fabric of the cosmos. Amen.

*Opening Hymn                                    How Great Thou Art                         v. 1, 2, 4 UMH #77
WORDS: Stuart K. Hine, 1953; © 1953, renewed 1981 Manna Music, Inc.

1. O Lord my God! when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds thy hands have made,   I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, thy power throughout the universe displayed.   Refrain Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee; how great thou art, how great thou art! Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee; how great thou art, how great thou art!

2. When through the woods and forest glades I wander, and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;   when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur and hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze;   Refrain Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee; how great thou art, how great thou art! Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee; how great thou art, how great thou art!

4. When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.         Then I shall bow in humble adoration, and there proclaim, my God, how great thou art!   Refrain Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee; how great thou art, how great thou art! Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee; how great thou art, how great thou art!

 
 
The Peace 
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

Leader: The Peace of Christ be with you.

People: And also with you.

Leader: Will you make a gesture of extending your cupped hands toward others who may be with or near you as a sign of offering the peace that Christ gives us. If you are alone, place your cupped hands over your heart, as a sign that you send your heartfelt peace out to the world.
People: Give thanks for strong yet tender hands held out in trust and blessing. Where words fall short let hands speak out; the heights of love expressing.
 

[sung] Put peace into each other’s hands and like a treasure hold it, protect it like a candle flame, with tenderness enfold it.

Put peace into each other’s hands with loving expectation; be gentle in your words and ways,  in touch with God’s creation.

Mystery Box

Psalm Reading
Psalm 29
Lu Petersen
 
Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name; worship the Lord in holy splendor. The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon skip like a calf and Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl and strips the forest bare, and in his temple all say, “Glory!” The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!

Message
Awe & Wonder
Rev. David Petty

Testimonies of Being Held

Sung Reprise after each testimony

God is holding your life
God is holding your life
God is holding your life, we believe
[repeat refrain]

“Selah” Moment
Rev. David Petty

Prayer of the People
Lu Petersen

Leader: Let the people say, “Selah”

People: Selah!
 
Leader: Let us continue our prayers. I will offer a category of concern and we will allow a brief pause, then we will respond as indicated. As a prayer posture for this worship series, I invite you to cup your hands, ready to receive God’s love and peace, and in preparation to be God’s love and peace in the world. Let us pray for the leaders of this world and this church community…
 (silent prayer)

People: God of Justice, hear our prayer.

Leader: Let us pray for those who live in conflict around the world…
  (silent prayer)

People: Prince of Peace, hear our prayer.

Leader: Let us pray for all who are experiencing loss of any kind in this season…
  (silent prayer)

People: Comforting Healer, hear our prayer.

Leader: Let us pray for those who are homeless, hungry and alone…
  (silent prayer)

People: Emmanuel, God-With-Us, hear our prayer.

Leader: Let us pray for those who live in comfort, for Christ-like hospitality and generosity…
 (silent prayer)

People: Transforming Spirit, hear our prayer.

Leader: Holy and Living One, for those we have named and the ones whose names we do not know,
 (silent prayer)

People: hear our prayer.

All: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name; Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power and the Glory forever. Amen

Introduction to Offering
Lu Petersen

Offertory
Sanctuary Choir

Prayer of Thanksgiving
Rev. David Petty

Closing Hymn                         For the Beauty of the Earth              v. 1, 2, 4 UMH #92
WORDS: Folliot S. Pierpoint, 1864

1. For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies;   Refrain Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.

2. For the beauty of each hour of the day and of the night, hill and vale, and tree and flower, sun and moon, and stars of light;   Refrain Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.

4. For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child, friends on earth and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild;   Refrain Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.

Benediction
Rev. David Petty

Now go in the knowledge that God is holding your life even as we hold each other. You are not alone. You are loved. Amen.

Postlude
Stephanie Shorden