Worship from Home

June 20, 2020 Blake Daniel

A Service for the Lord’s Day
June 21, 2020
Third Sunday after Pentecost

Prelude

“Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” - performed by Michael Collings

Call to Worship – Psalm 116:13-19

I will lift up the cup of salvation
    and call on the name of the Lord.
I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
    in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the sight of the Lord
    is the death of his faithful servants.
Truly I am your servant, Lord;
    I serve you just as my mother did;
    you have freed me from my chains.
I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
    and call on the name of the Lord.
I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
    in the presence of all his people,
in the courts of the house of the Lord—
    in your midst, Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord!

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father, you have given us minds to know you, hearts to love you, and voices to sing your praise. Fill us with your Spirit, that we may celebrate your glory and worship you in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Opening Song

“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”

Prayer of Confession

Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart and soul and mind and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. In your mercy, forgive what we have been, help us amend what we are, and direct what we shall be, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. (Silent confession)

Assurance of Pardon

Hear the good news! Christ died for us, Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us. Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old life has gone; a new life has begun. Believe the good news of the gospel: In Jesus Christ you are forgiven. Thanks be to God!

Children’s Message

Scripture Reading

Philippians 1:12-30

Sermon – The Gospel in Chains

Affirmation of Faith – from The Theological Declaration of Barmen

As Jesus Christ is God’s assurance of the forgiveness of all our sins, so in the same way and with the same seriousness is he also God’s mighty claim upon our whole life. Through him befalls us a joyful deliverance from the godless fetters of this world for a free, grateful service to his creatures. We reject the false doctrine, as though there were areas of our life in which we would not belong to Jesus Christ, but to other lords... Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body is joined and knit together.

Prayers of the People

Heavenly Father, we praise you for your goodness to us and your presence with us always. You love us with a never stopping, never giving up, unbreaking, always and forever love. Help us to abide in that love in all that we do. When we get too comfortable with our own agendas and the status quo, please challenge us and convict us. When we feel overcome with guilt, grief, and despair, please comfort us and care for us. In this difficult season, teach us what it means to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with you through your Son Jesus and by your Holy Spirit.
As we celebrate this Father’s Day, we thank you for the fathers in our lives. Whatever our experiences are with our own fathers – good and bad – we remember those men whom we call “dad.” We pray for those men who have been dads for a long time, and for those who are new fathers. We pray for those who might wish to be fathers, yet for whatever reason can’t be. Grant your blessing to all these men, and to us as recipients of their care, so that through these relationships or these memories we all would learn more about the unconditional love you show all of us.
In humility and in hope, we offer our prayers for:

Creation and its care… Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
The nations of the world… Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Our nation, its leaders, and its people… Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Our community, its leaders, and our neighbors… Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
The church universal as it works on your behalf… Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Our local church in its ministry… Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Friends and family with particular needs… Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.

And we pray now as Jesus taught us:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Tithes and Offerings

With gratitude for the gospel, we share our time, talents, and resources with the Lord. (You may give financially by visiting www.sylvapres.org/giving, or by dropping a check off at the church or sending one to FPC at P.O. Box 2152, Sylva, NC 28779. Thank you!)

Online Giving

Offertory

“The Lord’s Prayer” - performed by Margaret Hale

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him all creatures here below!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts!
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.

Closing Song

“Take My Life and Let It Be”

Benediction

May the peace of the risen Lord Christ go with you, wherever he may send you.
May he guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm.
May he bring you home rejoicing at the wonders he has shown you.
May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Worship from Home

June 13, 2020 Blake Daniel

A Service for the Lord’s Day
June 14, 2020
Second Sunday after Pentecost

Prelude

“El Mestre” - performed by Michael Collings

Call to Worship – Psalm 116:1-9

I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;
    he heard my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me,
    I will call on him as long as I live.
The cords of death entangled me,
    the anguish of the grave came over me;
    I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
Then I called on the name of the Lord:
    “Lord, save me!”
The Lord is gracious and righteous;
    our God is full of compassion.
The Lord protects the unwary;
    when I was brought low, he saved me.
Return to your rest, my soul,
    for the Lord has been good to you.
For you, Lord, have delivered me from death,
    my eyes from tears,
    my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before the Lord
    in the land of the living.

Opening Prayer

Opening Song

“How Great Thou Art”

Prayer of Confession

God of grace, we have strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have broken your laws. We have followed too much the desires of our own hearts. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare those who confess their faults. Restore those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to the world in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O merciful God, for his sake, that we may live a holy, just, and humble life to the glory of your holy name. (Silent confession)

Assurance of Pardon

Hear the good news and rejoice: as far as the east is from the west, so far has God removed our transgressions from us. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and set free. Thanks be to God! Amen.

Children’s Message

Scripture Reading

Philippians 1:3-11

Sermon – The Apostle’s Prayer

Affirmation of Faith – The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayers of the People

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we praise you for your goodness to us and your presence with us. Father, you created all things and made us all in your image, according to your likeness. Lord Jesus, you walked among us, died for us, and rose again in victory to show us a different way to be in the world: a way of love, discernment, and righteousness that bears witness to you. Holy Spirit, you move in us even now to challenge, comfort, and care for us and to build up your church.
Triune God of grace, teach us to lean in during this difficult time of division and separation, so that we might truly listen to others, learn from them, and live a life of love, always to your glory, for our benefit and for the life of the world.
In humility and in hope, we offer our prayers to you today for:

Creation and its care… Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
The nations of the world… Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Our nation, its leaders, and its people… Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Our community, its leaders, and our neighbors… Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
The church universal as it works on your behalf… Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Our local church in its ministry… Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Friends and family with particular needs… Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.

We lift up these prayers, trusting that you hear us. And we pray now as Jesus taught us:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Tithes and Offerings

Online Giving

Offertory

“I Will Sing of My Redeemer” - performed by Steve Baxley

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him all creatures here below!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts!
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.

Closing Song

“O Love that Wilt Not Let Me Go”

Benediction

Worship from Home

June 7, 2020 Blake Daniel

A Service for the Lord’s Day
June 7, 2020
Trinity Sunday

Prelude

“The Potter’s Hand” - performed by Courtney Umphlett

Call to Worship – Psalm 8 (The Message)

God, brilliant Lord,
    yours is a household name.
Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you;
    toddlers shout the songs
That drown out enemy talk,
    and silence atheist babble.
I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous,
    your handmade sky-jewelry,
Moon and stars mounted in their settings.
    Then I look at my micro-self and wonder,
Why do you bother with us?
    Why take a second look our way?
Yet we’ve so narrowly missed being gods,
    bright with Eden’s dawn light.
You put us in charge of your handcrafted world,
    repeated to us your Genesis-charge,
Made us lords of sheep and cattle,
    even animals out in the wild,
Birds flying and fish swimming,
    whales singing in the ocean deeps.
God, brilliant Lord,
    your name echoes around the world.

Opening Prayer

Holy, holy, holy God, we worship and adore you—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Today in our worship we long for a glimpse of your glory, seen perfectly in Christ, our Lord. As we worship, may we gain new insight about the mystery and wonder of your love. And may we find new ways to mirror that love in our world, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Opening Song

“Holy, Holy, Holy”

Prayer of Confession

Father, you have come to meet us as we return to you.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, you died on the cross for our sins.
Christ, have mercy.
Spirit, you give us life and peace.
Lord, have mercy.
Please hear us as we confess our sins and shortcomings, confident of your grace.
(Silent confession)

Assurance of Pardon

Friends, hear the good news and rejoice: We did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but we have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!”, it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. In him, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God! Amen.

Children’s Message

Scripture Reading

Philippians 1:1-2

Sermon – A Letter of Friendship

Song of Response

“Who Is Like The Lord Our God”

Affirmation of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayers of the People

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: we adore you for your threeness and oneness, a holy mystery. We are in awe of that same unfathomable mystery reflected in the world around us: your beautiful creation; the complexity of an atom; the birth of a child; relationships of mutuality, reciprocity, trust, and love. We praise you for who you are, and for who you have created us to be as your image-bearers and partakers of the divine nature.

We come to you today with heavy hearts, for though you have created us for love, we have turned away and created such hate instead. Our world, our nation, our community, and our hearts bear witness to this. These days are filled with the cries of the lonely, the angry, the marginalized, and the oppressed. Help us to hear them. Help us to respond with grace. Most of all, help us to trust in you as the one who promises to send justice down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Break our hearts for what breaks yours, that we might truly be the church you are calling us to be and learn to live in love.

In humility and in hope, we offer our prayers to you today for:

Creation and its care… Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
The nations of the world… Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Our nation, its leaders, and its people… Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Our community and those in authority… Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
The church universal as it works on your behalf… Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Our local church in its ministry… Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Friends and family with particular needs… Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.

We lift up these prayers, trusting that you hear us. And we pray now as Jesus taught us:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Tithes and Offerings

Online Giving

Offertory

“Let Us Break Bread Together”

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him all creatures here below!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts!
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.

A Prayer in the Absence of the Lord’s Supper

Lord Jesus, we believe that you are present in the Sacrament. We love you above all things and we long to receive you. Since we cannot at this time receive you sacramentally, we ask that you come spiritually into our hearts and unite yourself to us. Never let us be separated from you. We pray this in your name, amen.

Closing Song

“Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”

Benediction

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God our Father,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with you now and forever.
Amen.

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