Beacon Worship — 7.25.21

We hope you join us for worship, either live-streaming on our Youtube Channel or via Zoom. Email info@thewordatbeacon.org for zoom info.

Gathering Time (unmuted)

Feel free to say hi and check in with others before the service begins!

Welcome/Announcements

• Our virtual midweek prayer gathering will be this Wednesday at 6pm on Zoom

• We are looking for folks to help water the plants in the garden. You can sign up here: https://signup.com/go/hWWYJWR

• Our next in-person, outdoor worship service will be on Sunday, August 1 at 5pm. Everyone is invited to bring their own communion elements.

Facing God: adapted from Psalm 14

(Remain muted and read liturgy aloud at home)

Leader: The Lord looks down from heaven on humankind

All: to see if there are any who are wise, who seek after God.

Leader: The evildoers have no knowledge.

All: They eat up people as they eat up bread.

Leader: They would confound the plans of the poor.

All: but the Lord is their refuge.

Leader: God is with the company of the righteous. Let us worship God.

Oh How I Need You

Lord I find You in the seeking

Lord I find You in the doubt

And to know You is to love you

And to know so little else

I need You

Oh how I need You (x3)

Lord I find You in the morning

Lord I seek You everyday

Let my life be for Your glory

Woven in Your threads of grace

I need You

Oh how I need You (x3)

Light, glorious light

I will go where You shine

Break the dawn, crack the skies

Make the way bright before me

In Your light I will find

All I need, all I need is You

Oh how I need You (x3)

Laying Down Our Burdens & Assurance

(Remain muted and read liturgy aloud at home)

All: Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you by what we have done and what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart, mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. 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 name. Amen.

Leader: The Good News is that Christ has come and Christ will come again.

All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God.

Refrain: Standing on the Promises

Standing, standing

Standing on the promises of God my Savior

Standing, standing

I’m standing on the promises of God

Children's Bible Story

Lectio Conversation (John 6:1-21)

(Hold onto these questions while we read our scripture.)

What stands out to you about this text? What do you notice? What makes you wonder?

After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?" He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, "Six months' wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little." One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?" Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, "Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost." So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, "This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world."

When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, got into a boat, and started across the lake to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The lake became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the lake and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid." Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land towards which they were going.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Discussion

Homily

For Everyone Born

For everyone born, a place at the table,

for everyone born, clean water and bread,

a shelter, a space, a safe place for growing,

for everyone born, a star overhead,

and God will delight when we are creators of justice

and joy, compassion and peace:

yes, God will delight when we are creators

of justice, justice and joy!

For young and for old, a place at the table,

a voice to be heard, a part in the song,

the hands of a child in hands that are wrinkled

for young and for old, the right to belong.

and God will delight when we are creators of justice

and joy, compassion and peace:

yes, God will delight when we are creators

of justice, justice and joy!

For broken and bruised, a place at the table,

for all who’ve been hurt, a place to be healed,

for all who’ve been shamed, a place of acceptance,

for broken and bruised, a love that is real,

and God will delight when we are creators of justice

and joy, compassion and peace:

yes, God will delight when we are creators

of justice, justice and joy!

For everyone born, a place at the table,

to live without fear, and simply to be,

to work, to speak out, to witness and worship,

for everyone born, the right to be free

and God will delight when we are creators of justice

and joy, compassion and peace:

yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice,

justice and joy!

Prayers of the People

Now is the time when we share the prayers on our hearts and minds. If you have a private prayer, you can email them to us throughout the week and the pastoral team will pray over them.

If you have a prayer, please unmute your mic to share.

After each prayer, I will lead our response on mute:

Lord in your mercy // hear our prayers

***

Now I will offer a prayer for the greater community and world. We will end by saying the Lord’s Prayer together in whatever language you prefer. Let us pray.

(muted)

Leader: Just as God/Christ taught us to pray...

All: 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever, Amen.

Offering

To give online, click here: https://www.thewordatbeacon.org/donate

To give your prayers, email us at info@thewordatbeacon.org

I’ll Fly Away

Some bright morning when this life is over

I'll fly away

To that home on God’s celestial shore

I'll fly away

Chorus:

I'll fly away, oh glory

I'll fly away in the morning

When I die hallelujah by and by

I'll fly away

When the shadows of this life have gone

I'll fly away

Like a bird from these prison walls I'll fly

I'll fly away

Chorus

Just a few more weary days and then

I'll fly away

To a land where joys will never end

I'll fly away

Chorus

Sending/Blessing (from Ephesians 2)

(Remain muted and read liturgy aloud at home)

As we close this time together, let us read this word from the letter to the Ephesians:

All: For Christ Jesus is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God.

Leader: The steadfast love of God goes with you, the deep and abiding peace of Christ goes with you, and the comfort and guidance of the Holy Spirit goes with you, now and always. Amen.

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Feel free to hang out a little longer and catch up with others! Please also leave us feedback in the chat so we know what's working well and what to tweak for the future.