By Faith Chatham
Rev. Erroll Montgomery was in an automobile accident Sunday night in Biloxi, MS. He was transferred to the University of Southern Alabama University Medical Center in Mobile, ALa with for treatment for a "brain bleed." Please add him to your intercessory list.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
God's Messages
By Faith Chatham - Jan. 2, 2011
Different branches of the Christian church allow varying amounts of lee way in what texts, collects, call to Worship, liturgy, Prayers of Confession are used on specific Sundays of the year. In the Anglican or Episcopal traditions, the rites are determined years prior to the Sunday when they are celebrated. It was always amazing how each week the psalms or collect seemed to fit perfectly with where many of those in the congregation were in our spiritual lives and earthly journey,
In the Methodist tradition, clergy has vast lee way in selection of form of worship and collects. They can choose between many or even write their own. For the past two worship services the words have hit me between the eyes. The selection today was from the watch night commitment service. I am sharing them with you below:
Call to Worship
O God, Searcher of all our heart, you have formed us as a people and claimed us for your own.
As we come to acknowledge your sovereginty and grace, and to enter anew into covenant with you, reveal any reluctance or falsehood within us.
Let your Spirit impress your truth on our inmost being, and receive us in mercy, for the sake of our Mediator, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. we have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against our love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Assurance of Pardon
Leader: Hear the good news: Christ died for us while we were yet sinners; That proves God's love toward us.
Celebrating Our Covenant with God
Leader: Commit yourselves to Christ as his servants. Give yourselves to him, that you may belong to him. Christ has many services to be done. Some are more easy and honorable, others are more difficult and disgraceful. Some are suitable to our inclinations and interests, others are contrary to both. In some we may please Christ and please ourselves. But then there are other works where we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves. It is necessary, therefore, that we consider what it means to be a servant of Christ. Let us, therefore, go to Christ, and pray:
People: Let me be your servant, under your command
I will no longer be my own.
I will give up myself to your will in all things.
Leader: Be satisfied that Christ shall give you your place and work.
People: Lord, make me what you will.
I put myself fully into your hands:
Put me to doing, put me to suffering,
let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you,
let me be full, let me be empty,
let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and with a willing heart
give it all to your pleasure and disposal.
Different branches of the Christian church allow varying amounts of lee way in what texts, collects, call to Worship, liturgy, Prayers of Confession are used on specific Sundays of the year. In the Anglican or Episcopal traditions, the rites are determined years prior to the Sunday when they are celebrated. It was always amazing how each week the psalms or collect seemed to fit perfectly with where many of those in the congregation were in our spiritual lives and earthly journey,
In the Methodist tradition, clergy has vast lee way in selection of form of worship and collects. They can choose between many or even write their own. For the past two worship services the words have hit me between the eyes. The selection today was from the watch night commitment service. I am sharing them with you below:
Call to Worship
O God, Searcher of all our heart, you have formed us as a people and claimed us for your own.
As we come to acknowledge your sovereginty and grace, and to enter anew into covenant with you, reveal any reluctance or falsehood within us.
Let your Spirit impress your truth on our inmost being, and receive us in mercy, for the sake of our Mediator, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. we have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against our love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Assurance of Pardon
Leader: Hear the good news: Christ died for us while we were yet sinners; That proves God's love toward us.
Celebrating Our Covenant with God
Leader: Commit yourselves to Christ as his servants. Give yourselves to him, that you may belong to him. Christ has many services to be done. Some are more easy and honorable, others are more difficult and disgraceful. Some are suitable to our inclinations and interests, others are contrary to both. In some we may please Christ and please ourselves. But then there are other works where we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves. It is necessary, therefore, that we consider what it means to be a servant of Christ. Let us, therefore, go to Christ, and pray:
People: Let me be your servant, under your command
I will no longer be my own.
I will give up myself to your will in all things.
Leader: Be satisfied that Christ shall give you your place and work.
People: Lord, make me what you will.
I put myself fully into your hands:
Put me to doing, put me to suffering,
let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you,
let me be full, let me be empty,
let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and with a willing heart
give it all to your pleasure and disposal.
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