UJCC Sunday House Worship Service
August 22, 2021 * 13th Sunday After Pentecost
The Peace of Christ be with you! You are invited to use the following prayers & order of worship as we lift our hearts to God together!
“The joy of meeting and the sorrow of separation[:] we should welcome these gifts … with our whole soul, and experience to the full, and with the same gratitude, all the sweetness or bitterness as the case may be.” -Simone Weil
Opening Prayer
Loving God, you watch over us and take care of us.
When the world seems frightening,
you calm us, and assure us that you will never abandon us.
And in doing that, you empower us
to speak out for justice,
to act on behalf of others,
and to help make our world a better place.
Be with us this day and always, we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.(twc)
Call To Worship
Return to the Lord your God,
for God is gracious.
Confess to the Lord your God,
for God is merciful.
Repent to the Lord your God,
for God is slow to anger.
Praise the Lord your God,
for God abounds in steadfast love.
Worship the Lord your God.
Together, let us worship God! (dc)
Songs of Centering “How Great Is Our God" & "How Great Thou Art" Becky Messer
We Humbly Adore and Receive
Children's Time Loette Zablackis-Nakamura
Sermon “Once Upon A Time…We Need Not Walk Alone” Rev. Akiko Miyake-Stoner
Choral Anthem UJCC Choir
Song of Sending Forth "God Our Help In Ages Past" Becky Messer
You are invited to continue your spiritual practice of giving to the church. Please either mail your offering to the church (136 N. Villa Ave., Clovis, CA 93612) or try our online giving option (LINK HERE). Thank you!
Doxology Youth Band
Joys and Concerns & Time of Prayer
You are invited to share your joys and concerns with one another using our usual format:
Person lifting the prayer: “O God of Mercy;” everyone’s response: “This is our prayer.”
After you share your joys and concerns, go around the circle and offer prayer, praying freely or using this format:
“God, I thank you for…” and “God, I ask for…”
You are invited to close together with The Lord’s Prayer.
* If you or your kids would like to contribute to our virtual worship by music, painting, photos, recipes, or anything, please contact Nathan: worship@ujcclife.com
Go Now In Peace Becky Messer
Worship Resource: (twc) The Wondering Church “Opening Prayer,” from Worship Resources: September 30, 2018 https://www.wholepeopleofgod.com/files/sep30-18_worship_resources.pdf
Esther 4:12-17
When they told Mordecai what Esther had said, 13Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, ‘Do not think that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.’ 15Then Esther said in reply to Mordecai, 16‘Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will also fast as you do. After that I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.’ 17Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.
After Worship…
Take some time to reflect as a family on what you learned and experienced during worship.
Family Reflection Questions
1. Who is your best friend and why? How do they make your life better? How do you make their lives better?
2. Share about a time you felt lonely. What made you feel better?
3. God is always with us, even when we are lonely. How can we look for God when we are lonely?