EChurch@Wartburg – 3.4.17

Welcome to a Gathering of EChurch@Wartburg

http://wikitravel.org/en/File:Old_Town_Salzburg_across_the_Salzach_river.jpgOld Town Salzburg across the Salzach River

The name Salzburg [Austria] literally means "Salt Fortress", and derives its name from the barges carrying salt on the Salzach River (link)

Here Is Our Order of Worship

A Call to Worship link

God of Hope,
we come into your presence this morning
with confidence that you will meet us here.
Where there is sadness, bring joy;
Where there is tiredness, bring refreshment;
Where there is despair, bring a renewed sense of hope.
Let this place be a sanctuary,
a safe haven for us,
a home for holy words and songs and prayers
as we devote ourselves to you.
We pray this in Jesus’ name
Amen

A Prayer of Confession link

I confess to You, Lord, what I am: I am not the person I like others to think I am;
I am afraid to admit even to myself what lies in the depths of my soul.

But I do not want to hide my true self from You. 
I believe that You know me as I am, yet You love me.
Help me not to shrink from self-knowledge; teach me to respect myself for your sake;
give me the courage to put my trust in Your guidance and power.

I come with open hands and a receptive mind and heart today,
letting go of my fears, my need for control & my sin.
I trust you to know best. To keep my life in the light and bring it to completion as you see fit.

I trust you to shape me, see me, steer me, stir me, sustain me and sanctify me
as I seek to be available to do your will and be your child.
I pray this in the name of my Perfect Providing Father,
my Forgiving Savior, my Loving Lord and my Sanctifying Spirit, 

Amen.

Scripture Reading:  Luke 14:34-35 (NASB Bible Gateway)

“Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

A Prayer for Being Salt of the Earth link

Father, I want the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart to be pleasing to You this day.  I pray that my conversation is uplifting so that I build others up rather than tear them down. Just as salt is tasty to food making it more pleasant to eat, I pray that my dialogue is wholesome making conversation pleasant and beneficial to those who listen. Because of Your redemptive work in my life I am blessed and highly flavored with the preserving salt of Your holy Word.  I want to spread the message of Your salvation to others so that they are snatched from the evil one and their lives are preserved for this life and the next.  We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Benediction link

Let us go forth into the world in peace and dedicated to Your service, O Lord.
Let us hold fast to that which is good, render to no person evil for evil,
strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the needy and the afflicted, and honor all people.
Let us love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of His Spirit.
And may God’s blessing be upon us and remain with us always.
Amen. 

Comments

EChurch@Wartburg – 3.4.17 — 2 Comments

  1. I love the benediction ….. it is a ‘sending forth’ to love and serve in the very best Christian tradition.