January 21, 2024

Prelude                                              
Be Thou My Vision                          
 Jubilee Bells

Welcome and Announcements                                                              
Rev. David Petty

Threshold Moment                                                                                    
Rev. David Petty

We continue into week 3 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                                                                            
Rev. Kelsey Fauser

Leader: Dear and Near God, you never leave our side. Open us this day to feeling and knowing your presence deep in our hearts so that we might show forth love with the same confidence, offering your reign of right relationship on earth as it is in heaven.

People: We praise you for your close attention, holding our lives together in care.
Amen.

*Opening Hymn
I Need Thee Every Hour
v. 1-4 UMH #397
WORDS: Annie S. Hawks, 1872 (Jn. 15:5)
 
1. I need Thee every hour,
most gracious Lord;
no tender voice like thine
can peace afford.
 
Refrain
I need Thee,
O I need Thee;
every hour I need Thee;
O bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.

2. I need Thee every hour;
stay Thou nearby;
temptations lose
their power
when Thou art nigh.
 
Refrain
I need Thee,
O I need Thee;
every hour I need Thee;
O bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.

3. I need Thee every hour,
in joy or pain;
come quickly and abide,
or life is vain.
 
Refrain
I need Thee,
O I need Thee;
every hour I need Thee;
O bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.
 
4. I need Thee every hour;
teach me Thy will;
and Thy rich promises
in me fulfill.
 
Refrain
I need Thee,
O I need Thee;
every hour I need Thee;
O bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.

*The Peace                                                                                                  
Rev. David Petty

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.
 
 
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.

Psalm 139
The Inescapable God
Rev. David Petty
 
O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from far away.
You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
O Lord, you know it completely.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is so high that I cannot attain it.
Where can I go from your spirit?
Or where can I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
If I take the wings of the morning
and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and night wraps itself around me,”
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is as bright as the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
For it was you who formed my inward parts;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
that I know very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.
In your book were written
all the days that were formed for me,
when none of them as yet existed.
How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
I try to count them—they are more than the sand;
I come to the end—I am still with you.

Message                                          
Where Can I Go?                            
Rev. Kelsey Fauser

Testimonies of Being Held                                                                        
Rev. David Petty
 
This is an opportunity to let people share how they have felt the love and support of others and of God.

Sung Reprise after each testimony.
 
God is holding your life
God is holding your life 
God is holding your life, 
we believe
 
“Selah” Moment                                                                                          
Rev. David Petty

The Psalms have a repeated direction throughout–the word “Selah.” Scholars are not sure exactly what it means. Perhaps because the Psalms were to be used in worship, we can surmise that the word indicates a pause, or an invitation for a musical instrument to be played. In this worship series, we will use an instrumental sound to remind us to take a pause, a breath, and remember that the settling of our hearts can offer the feeling that we are held in the hands of the Divine. We will hear the sound and then have some silence. Feel free to close your eyes if you like. Imagine yourself held in safety and love and care. When you hear [the sound] again, open your eyes.
[time of silence bookended with a meditative sound]

Prayer of the People                                                                                  
Rev. Kelsey Fauser
           
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: Lord, 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                                                                            
Rev. David Petty

Offertory                                          
You Do Not Walk Alone                  
Sanctuary Choir

Prayer of Thanksgiving                                                                              
Rev. David Petty

*Closing Hymn                          
Go Now In Peace                        
UMH #665
WORDS: Natalie Sleeth, 1976 (Lk. 2:29)                        
© 1976 Hinshaw Music, Inc.

Section 1 - North Sanctuary          Section 2 - South Sanctuary            Section 3 - Sanctuary Choir
 
Go now in peace,
go now in peace,
may the love of
God surround you,
everywhere, everywhere
you may go.
 
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