The foundation stones for a balanced success are honesty, character, integrity, faith, love and loyalty. Zig Ziglar

Transcription

1 (Guercino s King Saul Tries to Kill David used with permission of Wikipedia Commons.) The foundation stones for a balanced success are honesty, character, integrity, faith, love and loyalty. Zig Ziglar August 23, :15 a.m.

2 The Colonial Church in Prairie Village United Church of Christ Commit to Relationships Sunday Worship Service in the series Ethics for Life 1 Please silence your electronic devices in preparation for worship. * Please rise in body or spirit We Gather as God s People Gathering Music Dove of Peace Cherwien Welcome and Announcements (Please sign and pass pew pads and fill out Prayer Request cards you may have. You can place the Prayer Request cards in the offering plates later in the service.) A Moment to Lay Your Burdens Down Sacrament of Baptism for Henry and Brayden Moore Pastor: Friends in Christ, we are here to celebrate the gift of grace in the sacrament of baptism. People: There is one body and one Spirit. There is one hope in God s call to us. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Creator of us all. Pastor: Jesus came to John to be baptized by him. John tried to stop him and said, "I need to be baptized by you, yet you come to me?" People: Jesus answered, "Allow me to be baptized now. This is necessary to fulfill all righteousness." So John agreed to baptize Jesus. Pastor: When Jesus was baptized, he immediately came up out of the water. Heaven was opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and resting on him. People: A voice from heaven said, "This is my Son whom I dearly love; I find happiness in him."

3 Pastor: At another time Jesus said: Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I've commanded you. 2 Baptismal Hymn #327 Jesus Loves Me * Sharing God s Welcome (Greet everyone in the hope of peace and friendship.) Children s Conversation (Children of all ages are welcome to come forward to the chancel steps. Following the Conversation, children are welcome to remain to worship or to participate in our Sunday School.) This little light of mine, I m gonna let it shine, this little light of mine, I m gonna let it shine, this little light of mine, I m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

4 We Hear a Word from God 3 A Word Proclaimed Commit to Relationships Principle Exodus 20:14 Do not commit adultery. It Starts with Hope for Mutual Benefit 1 Samuel 16:21 23 Saul liked David very much, and David became his armor bearer. Saul sent a message to Jesse: "Please allow David to remain in my service because I am pleased with him." Whenever the evil spirit from God affected Saul, David would take the lyre and play it. Then Saul would relax and feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him alone. Jealousy Leads to Betrayal 1 Samuel 19:8 12 War broke out again. When David went out to fight the Philistines, he struck them with such force that they ran from him. Then an evil spirit from the LORD came over Saul. He was sitting in his house with his spear in hand while David was playing music. Saul tried to pin David to the wall with his spear, but David escaped Saul. Saul drove the spear into the wall, but David fled and got away safely. That night Saul sent messengers to David's house to keep watch on it and kill him in the morning. David's wife Michal warned him, "If you don't escape with your life tonight, you are a dead man tomorrow." So Michal lowered David through a window. He took off and ran, and he got away. Misplaced Loyalty? 1 Samuel 24:3 13 [Saul] came to the sheep pens beside the road where there was a cave. Saul went into the cave to use the restroom. Meanwhile, David and his soldiers were sitting in the very back of the cave. David's soldiers said to him, "This is the day the LORD spoke of when he promised you, 'I will hand your enemy over to you, and you can do to him whatever you think best.'" So David snuck up and cut off a corner of Saul's robe. But immediately David felt horrible that he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe. "The LORD forbid," he told his men, "that I should do something like that to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lift my hand against him, because he's the LORD's anointed!" So David held his soldiers in check by what he said, and he

5 wouldn't allow them to attack Saul. Saul then left the cave and went on his way. Then David also went out of the cave and yelled after Saul, "My master the king!" Saul looked back, and David bowed low out of respect, nose to the ground. David said to Saul, "Why do you listen when people say, 'David wants to ruin you'? Look! Today your own eyes have seen that the LORD handed you over to me in the cave. But I refused to kill you. I spared you, saying, 'I won't lift a hand against my master because he is the LORD's anointed.' Look here, my protector! See the corner of your robe in my hand? I cut off the corner of your robe but didn't kill you. So know now that I am not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I haven't wronged you, but you are hunting me down, trying to kill me. May the LORD judge between me and you! May the LORD take vengeance on you for me, but I won't lift a hand against you. As the old proverb goes, 'Evil deeds come from evildoers!' but I won't lift a hand against you. 4 Luman International s 5 Best Ways to Ruin a Relationship FAILED Refuse to share power or credit Approach with arrogance, condescension Work everything from top down, demand Seek compliance to orders or policies Use coercion and manipulation WORKED WELL Share power and credit generously Make people feel valued, appreciated Involve rather than inform Seek mutual commitment Use influence and persuasion

6 We Respond with Thanksgiving and Prayer 5 * Hymn #407 How Firm a Foundation Call to Offering and Offertory Roc offered by Chucho Marquez on piano * Doxology (#780 adapted; tune Old Hundredth) Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, you heavenly host: Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One. Amen. * Prayer of Dedication Accept our offerings of praise in grateful thanksgiving for your presence in our lives and the many blessings you bestow upon us. Consecrate our offering, O God, that it may fill the emptiness and heal the brokenness of the lives in this community and beyond. And may we be reminded that our real life begins when we give with generous hearts to proclaim the gospel in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen. Time of Prayer Prayers of the People Believing that each joy and/or concern expressed is indeed a prayer, after each expression, the Pastor will say: Lord, in your mercy. And the people may respond: Hear our prayer. Praying in Silence

7 Our Lord s Prayer ( Our Father is the traditional way this prayer begins. You are invited to use whatever name for God you find most meaningful (Father, Mother, Creator, God, etc.). These names for God create a beautiful chorus.) 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. 6 We Depart to Serve * Blessing Our Worship Graphics System (This week a new worship graphics system was installed. This is a new way in which a Word from God may be shared, and today we ask for God s blessing.) Leader: Throughout time, God s people have found new ways to proclaim God s message of grace and compassion. People: LORD, bless these new tools for your purposes in worship and sharing a Word from you. Leader: As with all things, the wisdom and gifts for their use must be learned. People: Bless our pastors and leaders to grow in wisdom when feeling perplexed. Leader: Consecrate these tools for the life and service of this church community for our continuing mission in Christ s name. People: God, we pray for your continued blessing and guidance. Amen. * Hymn of Dedication #372 God, You Have Set Us

8 * Renew Our Covenant (Turn towards the center aisle as we bless one another with the promise of our covenant.) We covenant with the Lord and with one another and do bind ourselves in the presence of God to walk together in Christian Love. We seek to worship God in spirit and in truth and to love our neighbors as ourselves. With God s help we will honor Colonial Church in our conduct, support its program, and extend the influence of Christ throughout the world. * Congregational Song of Blessing #809 God Be With You God be with you, God be with you, God be with you till we meet again. O God be with you, God be with you, God be with you till we meet again. * Benediction and Postlude Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr Vetter 7 Liturgist: Linda Moses Children s Conversation: Marylee Battaglia Greeter: Sharon Yohn Head Usher: Tim Taylor Ushers: Marylee Battaglia, Tim and Marion Taylor, Bill Yohn

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