28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Testimony. Of Asaph, a Psalm.
1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.
2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,
stir up your might
and come to save us!
3 Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved!
4 O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people's prayers?
Worship: Lucy Capron - 0:00
Prayers: Danielle Riley - 24:27
Announcements, Message: Mike Neelley - 26:33
Closing Song: Beautiful Things - 49:54
Call to Action: Kevin Riley - 54:55
Blessing: Andrew Lewis - 56:27
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
1 Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint;
preserve my life from dread of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked,
from the throng of evildoers,
3 who whet their tongues like swords,
who aim bitter words like arrows,
4 shooting from ambush at the blameless,
shooting at him suddenly and without fear.
5 They hold fast to their evil purpose;
they talk of laying snares secretly,
thinking, “Who can see them?”
6 They search out injustice,
saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.”
For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep.
7 But God shoots his arrow at them;
they are wounded suddenly.
8 They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them;
all who see them will wag their heads.
9 Then all mankind fears;
they tell what God has brought about
and ponder what he has done.
10 Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord
and take refuge in him!
Let all the upright in heart exult!
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
A Maskil of David.
1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah
5 I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
6 Therefore let everyone who is godly
offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
surely in the rush of great waters,
they shall not reach him.
7 You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
or it will not stay near you.
10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Welcome: Kevin Riley - 0:00
Worship: Andrew Lewis - 0:40
Prayers of the People: Gracie Ekblad - 12:34
Message: Bob Ekblad with Tony Cienfuegos - 22:20
Call to Action: Kevin Riley - 54:06
Closing Song - 55:46
Blessing: Danielle Riley - 57:58
39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” 40 Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.
O God, I will sing to you a new song
I will sing to you on a ten-string lyre
You give victory to kings
and have rescued David your servant
Rescue me from the hurtful sword
and deliver me from the hand of foreign peoples
whose mouths speak deceitfully and
whose right hand is raised in falsehood
Give us holy boldness, Lord,
to struggle for justice until we die
We gather in worship of a powerful God who provides transformative love.
Worship: Andrea and Jean Chaumont
Prayers of the People: Danielle Riley
Message: Mike Neelley
Call to Action: Andrew Lewis
Blessing: Kevin Riley
This passage brings together two important parts of our relationship with Jesus—our identity and our purpose—who we are and what are we to do. You are God’s craftsmanship (identity), created in Christ Jesus for good works (purpose). It is important that they come in that order.
It’s really easy to try to get our sense of identity, who we are and what gives us value, out of what we do. We use our work to seek affirmation and validation to feel good about ourselves. Unfortunately, when the work is gone and we have lost the affirmation, our sense of identity is in the toilet.
If we don’t start with the affirmation of Jesus, that we are deeply loved before we have done anything, we will chase it all our lives in other things and never have peace.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Welcome: Mike Neelley
Worship: Alvin and Kelsey Shim
Prayers of the People: Kevin Riley
Message: Gracie Ekblad
Call to Action: Bob Ekblad
Blessing: Andrew Lewis
15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Worship and Prayers: Mike Neelley
Message: Andrew Lewis
Blessing: Danielle and Kevin Riley
23 Take away from me the noise of your songs;
to the melody of your harps I will not listen.
24 But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
21 “I hate, I despise your feasts,
and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
22 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them;
and the peace offerings of your fattened animals,
I will not look upon them.
23 Take away from me the noise of your songs;
to the melody of your harps I will not listen.
24 But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
21-24 “I can’t stand your religious meetings.
I’m fed up with your conferences and conventions.
I want nothing to do with your religion projects,
your pretentious slogans and goals.
I’m sick of your fund-raising schemes,
your public relations and image making.
I’ve had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.
When was the last time you sang to me?
Do you know what I want?
I want justice—oceans of it.
I want fairness—rivers of it.
That’s what I want. That’s all I want.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Welcome and Blessing: Danielle Riley
Worship: Lucy Capron
Time of Greeting: Kevin Riley
Prayer and Call to Action: Andrew Lewis
Message: Mike Neelley
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
And more resources on our Seek Justice page.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Sunday! Our first week gathering via Zoom and Facebook Live—in real time. It did not go very smoothly, with stable connection, but we did it!
Welcome and Worship: Alvin and Kelsey Shim
Testimony: Lorinda Conley, Danielle and Kevin Riley
Prayer: Bob Ekblad
Message: Gracie Ekblad
Call to Action: Mike Neelley
Blessing: Kevin Riley
3) You have blood on your hands and have committed crimes with your fingers.
You have lied with your lips and spoken evil things with your tongue.
4) People are charged in court unfairly, no one accuses based on all the facts.
They rely on empty plea agreements, and speak lies, which results in
lawlessness and more evil.
7) People eagerly run to do evil and they are quick to shed innocent blood.
They think evil thoughts.
Everywhere they go they cause ruin and destruction.
8) They do not know the way of peace and there is no justice where they go,
They’ve made a crooked road for themselves.
Nobody on that road knows peace.
9) Therefore, justice is far behind us, and goodness is nowhere to be found.
10) We hope for light, but there is only darkness…
14) Justice is pushed back
and righteousness stands far away.
For truth has stumbled in the streets, and honesty cannot enter.
15) Truth is nowhere to be found,
and whoever goes away from evil becomes a victim themself.
The Lord saw it and it displeased him,
that there was no justice.
16) He saw that there was no one,
He couldn’t believe that there was no one to intervene.
So his Own Arm brought Him salvation,
And His righteousness upheld Him.
17) He put on righteousness as a breastplate,
and a helmet of salvation on His head;
He put on garments of vengeance for clothing
and wrapped himself in zeal as a coat.
18) So He will repay, according to their deeds,
wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies;
He will pay back the coastlands.
19) So they shall respect the Name of the Lord from the west,
and his glory from the rising of the sun;
For he will come like a rushing stream,
which the wind of the Lord drives.
20) “And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob
who turn from sin,” declares the Lord.
21) “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord.
“My Spirit that is upon you, and my Word that I have put in your mouth,
will not leave your mouth, or the mouth of your children, or the mouth
of your grandchildren,” says the Lord, “from this time forth and forever
more.”
1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons[a] of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
3 Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.
8 He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
by David Swanson
by Fran Pratt
Wake Up
God, we are gradually waking up
To the knowledge of our deep and hidden sins;
Most particularly, to the sin of racism
Which has affected our culture, psyche, and practice.
We thought we could say, “Ohm those racist generations have passed on.
The civil rights movement already happened.”
We thought we had leveled the playing field.
We thought we could ignore Whiteness.
We thought we didn’t have to see color.
But we know that we have more work to do,
To cleanse, heal and establish justice.
We quit before the work was finished.
We were wrong.
Help us see what we couldn’t see before.
Help us to examine everything.
Every custom and system,
Every group dynamic and assumption,
To leave no stone unturned in our mission
To rout out injustice;
To take every thought captive
To the loving ethic of Christ.
This work is messy.
We feel sensitive about it.
We feel overwhelmed and ashamed.
Help us not to minimize or shirk,
Nor capitulate to our fragile egos,
Nor be blinded by our privilege.
Give us robust hearts,
Willing to take an unflinching look at the racism within us.
And as we sift through our habits, culture and customs,
Examining then with a new sensitivity to injustice,
Help us to embody hope,
Peacemaking,
Restoration,
And above all, love for our neighbors.
Make us aligned to the Community of Heaven,
Diligently working for liberation.
Amen.
/
Work to do
God, forces are at work in our world,
Which are at odds with your goals:
Death and destruction,
Injustice and abuse,
Apathy and self-centeredness,
Violence and hatred,
Status quo and inertia,
Distraction and disregard.
Evil is being revealed,
And hidden sins brought to light.
But ahead we can see,
Your kingdom coming,
Your people awakening,
Your glory shining.
We can see how today’s messy revealing
Is tomorrow’s fertile soil.
So we trust,
And we follow,
And we stay awake,
And we keep watch.
And we don’t shirk our work,
And we don’t deny our complicity,
And we don’t disempower the prophets,
And we don’t silence the marginalized.
And we don’t surround ourselves with so much noise that we can’t hear your voice.
And we don’t allow ourselves to despair.
We beat our swords into ploughshares.
We set our tables and open our doors.
We make way for the Community of God.
We prepare the way for the Lord.
Help us humbly accept all the change that must happen,
In our society and in our own hearts,
To work together for new life and for good,
And to walk the peaceful way of Christ. Amen.
