Welcome to Our Gathering of EChurch@Wartburg

Enhanced Rainbow by Barb Ver Sluis

Here is our order of worship

A Prayer by Martin Luther link

Behold, Lord, an empty vessel that needs to be filled. My Lord, fill it.
I am weak in the faith; strengthen me.
I am cold in love; warm me and make me fervent, that my love may go out to my neighbor.
I do not have a strong and firm faith; at times I doubt and am unable to trust you altogether.
O Lord, help me. Strengthen my faith and trust in you.
In you I have sealed the treasure of all I have.
I am poor; you are rich and came to be merciful to the poor.
I am a sinner; you are upright.
With me, there is an abundance of sin; in you is the fullness of righteousness.
Therefore I will will remain with you, of whom I can receive, but to whom I may not give.
Amen.

A Prayer by Mary Stewart link

Keep us, O God, from pettiness;
let us be large in thought, in word, in deed.
Let us be done with faultfinding
and leave off self-seeking.
May we put away all pretenses
and meet each other, face to face,
without self-pity and without prejudice.
May we never be hasty in judgment
and always generous.
Let us take time for all things;
make us to grow calm, serene, gentle.
Teach us to put in action our better impulses
-straightforward and unafraid.
Grant that we may realize it is
the little things of life that create difficulties;
that in the big things of life we are as one.
Oh, Lord, let us not forget to be kind.
Amen

If you are new to EChurch, please click on this link for an explanation

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 11:7 (NASB Bible Gateway)

By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

A Prayer by Thomas Merton link

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and will never leave me to face my perils alone.
Amen.

Discussion Questions:

(1)  Why is the ability to see the beauty and glory of Christ a greater favor from God than temporal blessings?

(2)  What kind of reactions do you think people had when Noah entered the Ark, and how do those compare to reactions you receive for believing in Christ?

(3)  What characteristics of the Ark give you the clearest picture of the Person and work of Jesus Christ on behalf of sinners?

Benediction by John Newton link

May the grace of Christ our Savior, And the Father's boundless love, 
With the Holy Spirit's favor, Rest upon you from above. Thus may we abide In union,
With each other and the Lord, And possess, in sweet communion, joys which earth cannot afford.
Amen

Thank you for spending your precious time worshipping the Lord.