THE BLESSING OF PRAYER SHAWLS SERVICE OF HEALING

Transcription

1 THE BLESSING OF PRAYER SHAWLS SERVICE OF HEALING November 15, 2009 Prayer and reverent silence is an appropriate way to prepare for worship. 8:30 and 11:00 o'clock THE GATHERING PRELUDE Sonata I Adagio Felix Mendelssohn CHORAL INTROIT I Love the Lord, Who Heard My Cry Spiritual CALL TO WORSHIP L: Our help is in the name of the Lord P: Who made heaven and earth. L: Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, P: They shall run and not be weary, L: They shall walk and not faint. PRAYER OF THE DAY Mighty and merciful God, you sent Jesus Christ to heal broken lives. We praise you that today you send healing in doctors and nurses, and bless us with technology in medicine. We claim your promises of wholeness as we pray for those who are ill in body or mind, who long for your healing touch. Make the weak strong, the sick healthy, the broken whole, and confirm those who serve them as agents of your love. Then all shall be renewed in vigor to point to the risen Christ, who conquered death that we might live eternally. Amen. * HYMN No. 380 (tune: O Waly Waly) O Christ, the Healer CALL TO CONFESSION AND SILENT CONFESSION PRAYER OF CONFESSION Merciful God, you made us in your image, with a mind to know you, a heart to love you, and a will to serve you. But our knowledge is imperfect, our love inconstant, our obedience incomplete. Day by day we fail to grow into your likeness; yet you are slow to be angry with your children. For the sake of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Savior, do not hold our sins against us, but in your tender love, forgive. Amen. KYRIE Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. ASSURANCE OF PARDON *CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE No. 404 Precious Lord Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, help me stand; I am tired, I am weak, I am worn; through the storm, throught the night, Lead me on to the light; take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home. When my way grows drear, precious Lord, linger near; When my life is almost gone, hear my cry, hear my call, hold my hand lest I fall; take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home. RITUAL OF FELLOWSHIP AND CONCERNS OF THE CHURCH MOMENT FOR MISSION Lindy & Skyler Pokorny (11:00) PROCLAIM GOD'S WORD PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION NEW TESTAMENT LESSON Mark 2:1-12 CHILDRENS CONVERSATION Children 2 yrs-5 th grade may leave for extended session after the conversation. (11:00) ANTHEM (11:00) As Pants the Hart for Cooling Streams K. Lee Scott NEW TESTAMENT LESSONS Luke 10:30-37, John 12:1-8 L: The Word of the Lord. P: Thanks be to God! PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD Caring for those who care Dr. Grant Bear one another s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. --Galatians 6:2 *AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (see insert) Heidelberg Catechism Question 1 *HYMN (see insert) Come, God, and hear my cry PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE THE LORD'S PRAYER (Use debts and debtors ) (Traditional, pg. 16) DEDICATION OF PRAYER SHAWLS May these shawls be signs of your loving, healing presence. May they warm those who are weary; may they surround with encouragement those who are discouraged. May they assure their recipients of your care and comfort when they and their loved ones are in pain. May they be reminders that you love us. And that their recipients are surrounded by the prayers of others. (adopted from "Praying with a Prayer Shawl", used by Brooklyn United Methodist Church) After the offering plate has passed your row, you are invited to come to the table and extend your blessing and touch on the shawls. Those desiring a prayer for healing are invited to come forward to receive this prayer: Spirit of the living God, present with us now, enter you body, mind and spirit, and heal you of all that harms you, in Jesus name. Amen.

2 OFFERING OFFERTORY Sonata III Andante Tranquillo Felix Mendelssohn GO IN GOD'S NAME *HYMN No. (see insert) See My Hands and Feet *CHARGE AND BENEDICTION *CHORAL RESPONSE (11:00) Choral Amen POSTLUDE Sonata III Con moto maestoso Felix Mendelssohn *Those who are able may stand Please confine movement in or out of the Sanctuary to the time of the singing of hymns and other designated moments of the service. We welcome our visitors who are worshipping with us today. Please make your presence known on the fellowship pads with your name and address so we may let you know more about the life and ministry of our church. The liturgists today are Rhonda Dunbar (8:30) Rev. Smith (11:00). The flowers in the Sanctuary today are given by Fred Merritt to the glory of God and in memory of Laura Merritt. The roses on the communion table today are in honor of Caroline Williams Kelley, daughter of Jeffrey and Kate Kelley of Richmond and granddaughter of Steve and Kathy Kelley. Caroline was born September 22, And in honor of Leah Brooke Harris, daughter of Brian and Lauren Gallaher Harris, granddaughter of Mark and Lesley Gallaher and great-granddaughter of Warren and Anna Mae Vaughan. Leah was born on November 9, Today is the absolute deadline to submit articles for the December Outreach. Please send articles to or give a hard copy to the church office. Mature Moderns, Friday, November 20. Join us for coffee and conversation at 10:00 a.m. The program begins at 10:30: Virginia Indians An Introduction to an Untold History. Deanna Beacham, a program specialist for the Virginia Council of Indians, will provide a history of the trials and tribulations of Virginia Indians in the history of our commonwealth. If you ordered Zuni peanuts they will be available for picked up starting next Sunday, November 22. Thank you for your order. Bon Air Presbyterian Church 9201 W. Huguenot Rd. Richmond, VA (804) Fax (804) office@bonairpc.org Visit our website: LARGE PRINT BULLETINS AND HYMNALS, AND SPECIAL HEARING AIDS ARE AVAILABLE FROM OUR USHERS 33 rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME The Rev. R. Charles Grant, D.Min, Pastor The Rev. Shawn Thomas Smith, Associate Pastor The Rev. Douglas A. Hicks, Ph.D., Parish Associate Stephen E. Henley, Director of Music Brenda M. Norton, Office Manager Jean M. Oswald, Preschool Director Rhonda Dunbar, Specialist in Education and Youth The Rev. Tae Hee Kwak, Pastoral Assistant Richard E. Brice, Sexton Sunday Worship Services at 8:30 and 11:00 AM (Nursery provided) Evening Worship at 6:00 PM ~1st Sunday of the Month Sept-June Church School for all ages from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM Extended Session for Children below 1 st grade during 11:00 Service

3 Christmas Dinner sign-up. Plan to join us on December 9 for our annual Christmas Dinner. Reservations are required by Sunday, November 22. Please sign-up on the sheet located on the Fellowship board near the church office. You need to sign up even if you are on the permanent list. Cost is $6 per adult and $4 per child. November is Yarn Month. In November we are again asking the congregation for donations of yarn. A basket is outside the office and any monetary donations may be left at the office. BAPC is taking the flu season seriously. For everyone s benefit we have hand sanitizer available to use in the church office lobby and Fellowship Hall lobby for our Sunday morning worship, Wednesday night dinner and other fellowship times. We are also taking a proactive measure in regularly wiping down doors and surfaces with sanitzer. A meeting with parents of youth of confirmation age will take place next Sunday, November 22 beginning at Noon. Please plan to attend this important meeting as we will go over our details and expectations for our confirmation class. If you have any questions please contact Shawn Thomas Smith at stsmith@bonairpc.org or call him at church. Film Series - join us next Sunday, November 22 as we watch and discuss this month s film Slumdog Millionaire from 5:00-7:30. Bring a bag supper to eat as we watch. Snacks and drinks will be provided. Come this month and enjoy good company, a great film, and thought provoking discussion. Friends are always welcome! Resources for caregivers: (You will find it easier to go to and choose the bulletin or sermon for today and use the hyperlinks there to direct you to these sites) The Family Caregivers Alliance. Caring for Caregivers. A practical guide to caring for caregivers. ANTHEM TEXT As pants the hart for cooling streams when heated in the chase, So longs my soul for Thee, O God, and Thy refreshing grace. For Thee, O God, the living God, My thirsty soul doth pine. O when shall I behold Thy face, Thou Majesty divine? Why restless, why cast down, my soul? Trust God and He will employ His aid for thee, and change these sighs to thankful hymns of joy Why restless, why cast down? Thou shalt sing the praise Of Him who is thy God, Thy health s eternal spring. THIS WEEK AT BAPC Sun 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. Worship Services 10:30 a.m. Cherub Choir 4:30 p.m. PYC Middle & High School Mon 9:00 a.m. Friendship Café 9:30 a.m. Yoga 7:00 p.m. Walk Away Pounds Tue 9:00 a.m. Friendship Café 1:30 p.m. Book Club 6:30 p.m. Chancel Ringers 7:00 p.m. Stewardship Division 7:30 p.m. Property Division Wed 5:00 p.m. Evangelism Division 5:00 p.m. Handchime Choir 5:30 p.m. Cantus Choir 5:30 p.m. Youth Bells 6:15 p.m. Wednesday Night Dinner 7:00 p.m. Youth Bible Study Thu 9:00 a.m. Friendship Café 5:45 p.m. POJ Youth Leadership Workshop 6:00 p.m. Yoga 7:00 p.m. Walk Away Pounds Fri 10:00 a.m. Mature Moderns Affirmation of Faith Heidelberg Catechism Question 1 Q. 1. What is your only comfort, in life and in death? A. That I belong-body and soul, in life and in death- not to myself but to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, who at the cost of his own blood has fully paid for all my sins and has completely freed me from the dominion of the devil; that he protects me so well that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, that everything must fit his purpose for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.

4 Scripture Lessons Mark 2: When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. 3 Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, Son, your sins are forgiven. 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone? 8 At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Stand up and take your mat and walk? 10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins he said to the paralytic 11 I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home. 12 And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, We have never seen anything like this! John 12:1-8 1 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5 Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor? 6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 7 Jesus said, Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me. Luke 10: Jesus replied, A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend. 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers? 37 He said, The one who showed him mercy. Jesus said to him, Go and do likewise. PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY In the last few years, a renewed interest in the ancient art of knitting has occurred and as a result of this, women across the country are meeting at homes and churches to knit prayer shawls. These women are knitting for those who are sick and grieving, as well as for those who are celebrating accomplishments and life s passages. Over two years ago about 12 women at BAPC began knitting and sewing prayer shawls for a new ministry here at BAPC. To date over 117 shawls have been knitted and about 70 distributed. The main purpose of this ministry is to bring comfort to members of our congregation who are sick or grieving. We have prayed as we ve knitted and we will all participate today in praying for the recipients of these shawls. It is our hope that our members who are in crisis will feel wrapped in prayer as they wear their shawls and that they will bring them comfort and peace as they face life s trials. BAPC is participating in a nationwide program of providing prayer shawls for the families of military personnel killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. The goal of this program is to offer a prayer shawl to the families of all killed in service in these areas. To date four prayer shawls have been given to Virginia families of fallen soldiers. The Congregational Care Division offers shawls to those closest to the Richmond area. Today we will bless shawls for future presentation to Virginia families.

5 Come, God, and Hear My Cry Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A