"If We Could Know About Tomorrow, What Would We Do About It Today?

Call to Worship (Psalm 132:14-16)

“This is my resting place,” says our God, “for I have desired it. “I will . . . bless its provisions; “I will satisfy its poor with bread. “Its priests I will clothe with salvation, “and its faithful will shout for joy.” Come then, with joy, and let us worship God.

Opening Prayer (Revelation 1)

With thankful hearts we pause this day to be reminded of our grandest hope: that the calamities, the demands, even the blessings of this world do not have the last word. You are the one who was and is, and who is yet to come— a ruler of a different kind. Open our hearts to the comfort, the challenge and the mystery of this good news. In the name of Jesus Christ, your faithful witness, we pray. Amen.

Offering (Revelation 1)

Abundant God, prophecy says you are coming with the clouds for every eye to see. Until that day, may the tithes and offerings we bring each week do the holy work of making your reign real in this community and in this world in need.

Prayer

This day, as we have come bringing our prayers for those near and dear to us, let us remember that God has already heard our prayers and the cries of our hearts. God will respond in love. As we feel we are being overcome by the darkness, God brings us the absolute light of Love, to pierce our gloom. Arise, shine! People of God. The Lord has not abandoned us. God's mercy and love are coming to us in many wondrous and surprising ways. Behold, the love of God, that is around you all the time. Rejoice, Hope is given for you this day. AMEN.

Revelation 1:4-8 New International Version Greetings and Doxology 4 John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. 7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Benediction

Go now in peace. Bring the good news of God's eternal love, the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit to all you meet. Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Go in peace. AMEN.