Welcome to a Gathering of EChurch@Wartburg

The Cape of Good Hope – Photo taken from Cape Point by my daughter who is in South Africa

Here is our Order of Worship

A Prayer by Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) link

Steer the ship of my life, good Lord, to your quiet harbour 
where I can be safe from the storms of sin and conflict. 
Show me the course I should take. 
Renew in me the gift of discernment, so that I can always see the right direction in which I should go. 
And give me the strength and the courage to choose the right course,
even when the sea is rough and the waves are high,
knowing that through enduring hardship and danger
in your name we shall find comfort and peace.
Amen

Prayer on the Beatitudes link

Lord Jesus, You said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Keep us from being preoccupied with money and worldly goods, and with trying to increase them at the expense of justice.
Lord Jesus, You said, "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth." 
Help us not to be ruthless with one another, and to eliminate the discord and violence that exists in the world around us.
Lord Jesus, You said, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."
Let us not be impatient under our own burdens and unconcerned about the burdens of others.
Lord Jesus, You said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be filled." 
Make us thirst for you, the fountain of all holiness, and actively spread your influence in our private lives and in society.
Lord Jesus, You said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."
Grant that we may be quick to forgive and slow to condemn.
Lord Jesus, You said, "Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God."
Free us from our senses and our evil desires, and fix our eyes on you.
Lord Jesus, You said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God." 
Aid us to make peace in our families, in our country, and in the world.
Lord Jesus, You said, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of justice, for the kingdom of heaven in theirs."
Make us willing to suffer for the sake of right rather than to practice injustice; 
and do not let us discriminate against our neighbors and oppress and persecute them.
In Jesus name
Amen

This week's message is by Abraham Wright, who joined the staff of Emmanuel Enid in May 2015 as a Community Evangelist. The message of Grace changed Abraham’s life his senior year in high school (2002) and he then became obsessed with trying to reach his teammates with the same Good News of Christ that changed his life. Abraham has worked for a few churches and recently worked for Fellowship of Christian Athletes before coming to Emmanuel. He was born in Tulsa, OK and raised in Oklahoma City by a single mother.  Abraham grew up playing football and was able to play college football for the University of Colorado, where he got his B.A. in Sociology. Abraham played one year for the Miami Dolphins in 2007 and was released after his rookie season.  You can read more of his bio here.

Scripture Reading: Luke 15:14-18 (NASB Bible Gateway)

Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight

Prayer of Benedict of Nursia (c. 480–547) link

O gracious and holy Father,
give us wisdom to perceive you,
diligence to seek you,
patience to wait for you,
eyes to behold you,
a heart to meditate upon you,
and a life to proclaim you;
through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen

The Aaronic Blessing  

“The LORD bless you
    and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”

Numbers 6:24-26