EChurch@Wartburg – 7.2.17

Welcome to a Gathering of EChurch@Wartburg

http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=118476&picture=american-eagleEagle

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 18:9-14 (NASB Bible Gateway)

The Pharisee and the Publican

And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Benediction

The LORD bless you, and keep you;

The LORD make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;

The LORD lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace.’

Numbers 6:24-26 (NASB)

Comments

EChurch@Wartburg – 7.2.17 — 27 Comments

  1. Just wanted to give an update on that woman who escaped on foot. It never came up in the news or blotter here, but I saw his mugshot. He was arrested for aggravated assault, assault of a child 3rd degree, and some other theft charge. He also was wanted somewhere else. No bail. So I think he’s off the streets and away from his family for awhile. I hope that woman finds peace.

  2. @ ishy:

    Thanks for the update. Hoping the woman you saw last weekend finds peace, and if she's not a sister in Christ, faith in Him.

  3. I need to bother people but I wanted up in the emergency room actually it’s still there appreciate any prayer thank you I should have this it was some kind of pain and they’re taking care of me and I’m doing better I just would like a little prayer thank you

  4. Brian wrote:

    I need to bother people but I wanted up in the emergency room actually it’s still there appreciate any prayer thank you I should have this it was some kind of pain and they’re taking care of me and I’m doing better I just would like a little prayer thank you

    We will pray for you, Brian. At least you are where you are being helped and they will find the reason for that pain. You deserve every good help. Let us know how you do today.
    I will share with the people in my own faith community of your need, and also of your kindness and compassion for the suffering of less fortunate people. They will surround you with prayers. God Bless!

  5. I'm home now still in very bad pain but I know it is nothing but muscle issues I can deal with that, liver kidneys etc all really good but my weight 🙂 Thanks all I hope you all have a nice day.

  6. brian wrote:

    I’m home now still in very bad pain but I know it is nothing but muscle issues I can deal with that, liver kidneys etc all really good but my weight Thanks all I hope you all have a nice day.

    hope you continue to improve

    God Bless!

  7. For WADE, a story from the wisdom of the rabbis

    “Two Jews came to a Chassidic Rabbi to ask advice about sins they had committed. One had committed a great sin for which he was sure God would never forgive him; the other was less worried, because he had never been guilty of anything so grave, but only of the normal collection of lesser sins. The Rabbi told them to go out to a field and select stones corresponding to the size and number of their sins, and later to return to the field and scatter the stones. This done, they came back to the Rabbi. “Now go to the field once more,” he told them both, “pick up the stones you scattered, and bring them to me.”[15]

    He who had committed the one big sin knew at once which was his stone, and brought it to the Rabbi. The other, however, had scattered so many little stones that he could not be certain of identifying them again. He had a most difficult time in finding his stones and bringing them to the Rabbi. The Rabbi then told them: “Your deeds are like your stones. You who brought one large stone, committed a grave sin. But you were conscious of what you had done, and with a determined effort at repentance you could be forgiven by God. But you, whose sins were many and small, like those of most human beings, have found how hard it is to catch up with one’s minor lapses. And no repentance of yours can possibly be effective until you realise that small things matter.”
    (Rabbi Raymond Apple)

  8. prayers are needed for Steve Scalise who has been readmitted to Intensive Care because of serious concerns over infection

  9. @ Christiane:
    For Brian
    and for all among us who may have need of it:

    “O Christ Jesus,
    when all is darkness
    and we feel our weakness and helplessness,
    give us the sense of Your Presence,
    Your love, and Your strength.
    Help us to have perfect trust
    in Your protecting love
    and strengthening power,
    so that nothing may frighten or worry us,
    for, living close to You,
    we shall see Your hand,
    Your purpose, Your will through all things.
    Amen.”

    (Ignatius Loyola)

  10. Hi DALE,
    Maybe this prayer might seem more appropriate to you for Brian?
    I hope so. (It pre-dates the times you referred to by centuries.)

    ““O Lord, make haste and illumine the night.
    Say to my soul
    that nothing happens without Your permitting it,
    and that nothing of what You permit is without comfort.
    O Jesus, Son of God,
    You Who were silent in the presence of Your accusers,
    restrain my tongue
    until I find what should say and how to say it.
    Show me the way
    and make me ready to follow it.
    It is dangerous to delay, yet perilous to go forward.
    Answer my petition and show me the way.
    I come to You as the wounded go to the physician in search of aid.
    Give peace, O Lord, to my heart. ”

    (Birgitta of Sweden, 1300’s)

  11. A prayer for the evening

    May the voice of the Christ heard in the Holy Gospels resound until it echoes and re-echoes in the hearts of the wounded and the weary. Amen

  12. @ Christiane:

    Christiane, this is the type of comment that “sows strife” (Pr. 16:28, 17:9). I pray that the recent drama and your part in it will cause you to truly examine your motives and your manner of communication.