Welcome to a Gathering of EChurch@Wartburg

City Silhouette at Sunset

Here is our Order of Worship

Morning Prayer link

Gracious God,
Thank you for the gift of today.
Refresh me. Invite me to discover your presence
In each person that I meet
And every event that I encounter.
Teach me when to speak and when to listen
When to ponder and when to share.
In moments of challenge and decision
Attune my heart to the whisperings of your Wisdom.
As I undertake ordinary and unnoticed tasks,
Gift me with simple joy.
When my day goes well, may I rejoice.
When it grows difficult, surprise me with
New possibilities.
When life is overwhelming, call me to
Sabbath moments
To restore your Peace and Harmony.
May my living today reveal your Goodness.
Amen.

The Nicene Creed: An Affirmation of Our Faith link (History)

I BELIEVE in one God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things visible and invisible:
  
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God;
Begotten of his Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light, Very God of very God; Begotten, not made;
Being of one substance with the Father; By whom all things were made:
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven,
And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And was made man:
And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried:
And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures: And ascended into heaven,
And sitteth on the right hand of the Father:
And he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead;
Whose kingdom shall have no end.
  
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, The Lord, and Giver of Life,
Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son;
Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified;
Who spake by the Prophets:
And I believe one Catholic and Apostolic Church:
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins:
And I look for the Resurrection of the dead: And the Life of the world to come.
Amen.

Wade and Rachelle Burleson are returning from a trip to Africa. Today we are featuring a sermon delivered by a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church — Don Ellsworth.   He is the Chaplain for Integris Baptist Hospital. He has also served many years as a chaplain for the United States Air Force (now retired) and as an interim pastor.

Luke 18:18-27 (NASB Bible Gateway)

The Rich Young Ruler

 A ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.
You know the commandments, ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder,
Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’”
And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”
When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack;
sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor,
and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich
 And Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!
For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
They who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?”
But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”

Saint Francis of Assisi's Prayer in Praise of God link
@1181-1286 AD

You are holy, Lord, the only God, and Your deeds are wonderful.
You are strong.
You are great.
You are the Most High.
You are Almighty.
You, Holy Father are King of heaven and earth.
You are Three and One, Lord God, all Good.
You are Good, all Good, supreme Good, Lord God, living and true.
You are love.
You are wisdom.
You are humility.
You are endurance.
You are rest.
You are peace.
You are joy and gladness.
You are justice and moderation.
You are all our riches, and You suffice for us.
You are beauty.
You are gentleness.
You are our protector.
You are our guardian and defender.
You are our courage.
You are our haven and our hope.
You are our faith, our great consolation.
You are our eternal life, Great and Wonderful Lord, God Almighty, Merciful Saviour.
Amen.

Benediction link
Go, and know the Lord goes with you.
Let him lead you each day into the quiet place of your heart,
where he will speak to you.
Know that he blesses and watches over you
– that he listens to you in gentle understanding –
that he is with you always, wherever you are and however you may feel.
Amen.