July 3 Family Worship

**Christ has found us in the Desert of Death, Not the Garden of Improvement; and in the power of Jesus’s resurrection, he has put us on his shoulders rejoicing and brings us home.**
**Robert Farrar Capon**

Agnus Dei (The Lamb of God), by Francisco de Zurbaran, c. 1635-1640

This morning, as we are not meeting together in person, we wanted to offer you the opportunity to connect as a family in worship together.

This guide is designed for you to participate in worship together as a family. Here are a few tips:

Set a time and let your family know when you will begin.
Light a candle. This may help to acknowledge that your family is doing something special. You can use this call and response with children:
”What does this candle represent?”
”The Light of the World.”
”And who is the Light of the World?”
“Jesus.”
Read the Scriptures out loud. For children who aren’t yet reading, break the Apostles Creed into chunks and ask them to repeat after you.
Sing joyfully together!
Give grace to yourself and to one another.

Opening Scripture

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” —Psalm 118:24

Sing Together

Holy Father, Son and Spirit
Holy Communion, Three-in-one
Holy Father, Son and Spirit
Holy Communion, Three-in-one
Come with your peace
With your invitation
Bind us together in Holy love
Come with your peace
With your invitation
Bind us together in Holy love
Holy Father, Son and Spirit
Holy Communion, Three-in-one
Holy Father, Son and Spirit
Holy Communion, Three-in-one
Come with your peace (Holy Father)
With your invitation (Son and Spirit)
Bind us together in Holy love (Holy Communion, Three-in-one)
Come with your peace (Holy Father)
With your invitation (Son and Spirit)
Bind us together in Holy love (Holy Communion, Three-in-one)
Holy Father, Son and Spirit
Holy Father, Son and Spirit
Holy Father, Son and Spirit
Three-in-one
Three-in-one
Three-in-one
Hallelu, hallelujah
Father, let Your kingdom come
Hallelu, hallelujah
Father, let Your kingdom come
Hallelu, hallelujah
Father, let Your kingdom come
Hallelu, hallelujah
Father, let Your kingdom come
May the works of my hands bring You joy
May the works of my hands bring You joy
May the works of my hands bring You joy
May the works of my hands bring You joy
And so we sing...
Hallelu, hallelujah
Father, let Your kingdom come
Hallelu, hallelujah
Father, let Your kingdom come
Hallelu, hallelujah
Father, let Your kingdom come
Hallelu, hallelujah
Father, let Your kingdom come
May the words from my mouth speak Your peace
May the words from my mouth speak Your peace
May the words from my mouth speak Your peace
May the words from my mouth speak Your peace
Hallelu, hallelujah
Father, let Your kingdom come
Hallelu, hallelujah
Father, let Your kingdom come
Hallelu, hallelujah
Father, let Your kingdom come
Hallelu, hallelujah
Father, let Your kingdom come
You make all things new
You make all things new
In places we don't choose
You make all things new
Hallelu, hallelujah
Father, let Your kingdom come
Hallelu, hallelujah
Father, let Your kingdom come
Hallelu, hallelujah
Father, let Your kingdom come
Hallelu, hallelujah
Father, let Your kingdom come
You make all things new
You make all things new
In places we don't choose
You make all things new
Hallelu, hallelujah
Father, let Your kingdom come
Hallelu, hallelujah
Father, let Your kingdom come
Hallelu, hallelujah
Father, let Your kingdom come
Hallelu, hallelujah
Father, let Your kingdom come

Songs On Spotify

Confess Together

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic* church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
*that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places

Pray Together

This is an opportunity for you to pray for the specific things in which you long for Jesus to show up and work. The suggestions are vague, so you may ask each other how you would like to pray in these three categories.

Pray for one or two things that you and your family long to see made new in your community, your neighborhood or the world.
Pray that God would continue to grow our fellowship into an environment of grace that seeks and welcomes all in Christ.
Pray for one another.

Read Together

Acts 12:20-25

20 Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king's country for food. 21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. 22 And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.

24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.

25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark

A Kingdom of Glitter vs The Kingdom of God.

Sending

Verse 1
What love could remember, no wrongs we have done
Omniscient, all-knowing, He counts not their sum
Thrown into a sea without bottom or shore
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
Verse 2
What patience would wait as we constantly roam
What Father so tender is calling us home
He welcomes the weakest, the vilest, the poor
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
Verse 3
What riches of kindness He lavished on us
His blood was the payment His life was the cost
We stood ‘neath a debt we could never afford
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
Chorus
Praise the Lord
His mercy is more
Stronger than darkness
New every morn’
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more

Closing Scripture

The God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make you complete in everything good so that you may do God’s will, working among us that which is pleasing in God’s sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever! —Hebrews 13:20-21

Extension Activity for Children

Barely turn on a faucet so the children can see a slow flow of water, or hold up a glass of water. Ask, “Does this water look pretty miraculous? Does it look super powerful and strong?”
Show children these images of rushing, moving water. Ask, “Does the water pictured here look powerful and strong? Could you stand up in this water or do you think it is so strong it would knock you down? Do you know how God’s kingdom is like this water?”

Like the powerful force of water, God’s kingdom is a mighty power. Just to see water slowly running from a faucet you might not think it is, but when it is moving in full force it is very strong. While Jesus was here on earth and teaching of God’s kingdom, some people were drawn to the kings and rulers on earth who appeared more powerful. In the scripture we just read, the ruler named Herod had a kingdom that looked good and was known as being powerful. Herod’s kingdom was known as having winners and not losers, and people were drawn to it. But this ruler’s kingdom only looked flashy and powerful. Those who put their time and energy into working in this kingdom and following it were not fulfilled and ended up with disappointment. God’s kingdom is different. God will always be triumphant—He will always win. We need to put our energy into working in God’s kingdom and following it because there we will find true joy and fulfillment. God’s kingdom will always prevail, which means it will ultimately win. While God’s kingdom may sound like this slow-running water, it is a powerful force like the water pictured here. We need to make sure, as Christians, that we are not tricked into thinking “glittery” kingdoms have something more and better to offer than the kingdom of God.
1) Using 2 disposable cups or bowls, paint and decorate one on the inside, and fill the other with water. Which one looks glittery or fancy? Which one is actually full on the inside? Which one represents the kingdom of God?
2) Using 2 disposable cups or bowls, spray hairspray inside one cup/bowl and shake glitter around in it to decorate the interior as “glittery.” Fill the other cup/bowl with water. Which one looks glittery or fancy? Which one is actually full on the inside? Which one represents the kingdom of God?

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