At
Home Worship
First
Presbyterian Churches of
Deport,
Texas
10th Sunday
after Pentecost, August 09, 2020
GREETINGS
OPENING SENTENCES
Let us hear what the Lord will speak. Ps.
85:8
God will
speak peace to the faithful.
Trusting
in the word of life given in baptism, we are gathered in the name of the
Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen
CALL TO WORSHIP
(responsive)
Over the wind
and waves, Christ comes to us.
Do not fear to
meet Christ here.
We
have heard the invittion.
Our
hopes have brought us together.
The storms of life do .not have the last word
Our faith keeps us from sinking.
Our doubts lead to greater
faith.
Our losses open us to
greater possibilities.
Let us call upon God’s name and give thanks.
Let the hearts of all who seek God rejoice.
We will sing of God’s
wonderful works.
We will share with others
God’s marvelous deeds.
PRAYER OF THE DAY (in unison)
We seek your presence, holy God Break through all of our pretences that
we might sense the vibrant energy embracing the whole universe yet know
ourselves to be personally loved within the vast expanse of space and time. How
amazing are all the miracles of life that surround us! We praise you. We thank you. We bow in awe
before you. In this hour, we pray that our faith may be enlivened, our trust
deepened, ou commitment expanded to meet the challenges of our times. Amen.
CALL TO CONFESSION
CALL TO CONFESSION
We profess our faith in God, yet we rely
more heavily on our own ingenuity. We say we believe, but our lives seldom show
confident trust. We want to care as Jesus did, but we’re often ready, as were
Joseph’s brothers, to sell off those with whom we disagree. Who can save us
from ourselves?
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (in unison):
God, we confess that we are dreamers more intent on our own importance
than on your vision for us. We like our favored position on this earth, and we
are jealous of those who have even more than we. We want to walk on water before
we have even learned to stand upright on the land. We want to rise above others
rather than reaching out with helping hands, that all might be uplifted by you.
We pray for pardon, greater insight, for another chance to live and serve with
faithfulness. Amen
Silence
Prayer and Confession
ASSURANCE OF GOD’S PARDON
O you of little faith, why do you doubt? Take heart.
Do not be afraid. The harsh winds will abate. The seas will not overwhelm. The
treachery of some will not wipe out the good God intends. Everyone who calls on
God’s name will be saved. Remember God’s wonderful works and share the good
news. Let all humankind praise God. Praise God!
*GLORY BE TO THE FATHER
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the
beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without
end. Amen. Amen.
PRAYER FOR ILLUNIATION (In Unison)
Glorious God, who’s word took on flesh in Jesus, and whose saving grace
can be known by all who believe in Christ, open our hearts and minds to
encounter your word personally, that the church may more fully express our
identity, as the body of Christ, carrying on the mission Jesus began, assuring
a frightened world of the power of love.
Amen
LISTEN FOR THE WORD OF GOD
THE PSALMIST Psalm
105: 1-6, 16-22, 45b
O give thanks to the
LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples.
Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works.
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD
rejoice.
Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually.
Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments
he uttered,
O offspring of his servant Abraham, children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
When he summoned famine against the land, and broke every staff of
bread,
he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
His feet were hurt with fetters, his neck was put in a collar of iron;
until what he had said came to pass, the word of the LORD kept testing
him.
The king sent and released him; the ruler of the peoples set him free.
He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his possessions,
to instruct his officials at his pleasure, and to teach his elders
wisdom.
praise the LORD!
1 Kings 19:9-18
At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night
there. Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "What are you doing
here, Elijah?"
He answered, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of
hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars,
and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking
my life, to take it away."
He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the
LORD is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind, so strong that it
was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the
LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was
not in the earthquake;
and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and
after the fire a sound of sheer silence.
When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and
stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said,
"What are you doing here, Elijah?"
He answered, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of
hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars,
and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking
my life, to take it away."
Then the LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness
of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram.
Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you
shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.
Whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall kill; and whoever
escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall kill.
Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not
bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him."
THE PSALMIST Psalm 85:8-13
Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will
speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their
hearts.
Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may
dwell in our land.
Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will
kiss each other.
Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look
down from the sky.
The LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps.
THE EPISTLE READING Romans
10:5-15
Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes
from the law, that "the person who does these things will live by
them."
But the righteousness that comes from faith says, "Do not say in your
heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down)
"or 'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring
Christ up from the dead).
But what does it say? "The word is near you, on your lips and in your
heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);
because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in
your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses
with the mouth and so is saved.
The scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to
shame."
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord
of all and is generous to all who call on him.
For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be
saved."
But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how
are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to
hear without someone to proclaim him?
And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written,
"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD. THANKS BE TO GOD
+++++++++++++++++
SERMON (s) The Son of His Old Age Jane Els CIM:
Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
Jacob
settled in the land where his father had lived as an alien, the land of
Canaan. This is the story of the family of Jacob.
Joseph, being seventeen years old,
was shepherding the flock with his brothers; he was a helper to the sons of
Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them
to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more
than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he
had made him a long robe with sleeves. But when his brothers saw that
their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could
not speak peaceably to him.
Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near
Shechem. And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not
your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.”
He answered, “Here I am.” So he said to him, “Go
now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock; and bring word
back to me.” So he sent him from the valley of Hebron.
He came to Shechem, and
a man found him wandering in the fields; the man asked him, “What are you
seeking?” “I am seeking my brothers,” he said;
“tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.” The
man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’”
So Joseph went after his brothers, and found them at Dothan. They
saw him from a distance, and before he came near to them, they conspired to
kill him. They said to one another, “Here comes
this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and
throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has
devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.” But
when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not
take his life.” Reuben said to them, “Shed no
blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand on
him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand and restore him to his
father. So when Joseph came to his brothers,
they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves that he wore; and they took
him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw a caravan of
Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying gum, balm, and
resin, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. Then
Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and
conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the
Ishmaelites, and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own
flesh.” And his brothers agreed. When some
Midianite traders passed by, they drew Joseph up, lifting him out of the pit,
and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.
This ends the reading of God’s holy word. Thanks be to God.
This is such a familiar story to us all. It’s a pivotal story in the saga of the
Hebrew people. It moves the story from
Jacob, who has been re-named Israel by now, to his son Joseph. It also moves the location of the story from
Israel to Eqypt. I looked up one day
from a bible study and wondered what on earth the Hebrew people were doing in
Egypt if they started out in Israel? How
did they end up in Egypt? Well, this
scripture explains it all. Because
Joseph got sold to the traveling salesmen.
This story here is how all those Hebrews ended up as slaves in
Egypt. He have Joseph’s brothers to
thank for this.
But this still doesn’t give me something new we
can explore together. Then I found
it. In verse 3… “Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children,
because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with
sleeves.” Of course, we all remember the part of the
story where Joseph got the “coat of many colors.”………..which apparently, wasn’t
really different colors (I’m not sure where that misunderstanding came from)
but a long robe with sleeves, maybe some fancy decorations or embroidery. And
the reason this was special is because a long robe signified a position of
authority. The robe was given to
positions in the household holding authority over the others in the house, kind
of like an overseer or a manager. Israel
was giving his younger son authority over his older sons. Ouch. That had to hurt.
We have probably heard this part
of the story before, also. But have we
thought of the words that precede that explain:
“Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children because he was
the son of his old age.”
Joseph was special to Jacob because “he was
the son of his old age.”
I thought on this phrase a minute and something
came to my mind. I think I know a
comparison. I was the child of my own
father’s old age in some ways. Because I
am a Baby Boomer.
I think if you asked war veterans to divide their
lives into two parts the dividing line would land between Before and After the
war.
My older sister was born in 1940 just before the
war broke out. Then my father’s army
reserve unit was activated and he went to war.
I’m not sure he saw my mother and sister until the war ended five years
later. I do know that my sister didn’t
know who he was when she saw him when he came home. And then I was born in 1947.
If Israel had a “before” and “after” family it
would have been between his children with Leah and his children with Rachel.
Let’s review Jacob’s life before the “son of his
old age” was born. What led up to the
time of Joseph’s arrival that would have made Joseph worth that coat with the
long sleeves?
Jacob was born a twin. He was the second son born a few minutes
after Esau. This entitled Esau to the
birthright blessing, even though it was just a matter of minutes. But Jacob, through his own and his mother’s
ambitions, stole Esau’s blessing by posing as Esau to his blind father. Esau was about to kill him but Jacob escaped.
On the run for his life, he meets the beautiful
Rachel, falls in love and goes to work for her father, Laban, to earn her hand
in marriage. But after working for seven years Laban makes Jacob marry the
eldest daughter, Leah. He has four sons
with Leah. After a second seven years of
work we finally gets to marry Rachel but she is barren so Rachel gives her maid
to him for children and he has four more sons by two maids. Then Leah has two more sons and a daughter. (You
can’t say the guy wasn’t trying to have kids.)
But still no children by the one love of his life, the beautiful
Rachel. In the meantime, he has been
building up his flocks and multiplying the sheep for Laban.
Everything up to now had been focused on
improving things for his father-in-law.
Laban had been running the show and calling the shots. Laban had told him who he could marry and
where they would live. Laban had kept
him in charge of tending to the sheep because he was good at it. And, remember,
Jacob is an ambitious guy—he had stolen his brother’s birthright.
Then, out of the blue, Rachel turns up pregnant
and has the “son of his old age”—Joseph.
Whew! And now life becomes
divided into two parts for him: his
younger life with the 10 children by other women and his life with the woman he
loves and had always wanted and finally has a son by: the life he had always wanted.
I think a lot of things changed for Jacob after
the birth of Joseph. It reminds me a lot
of when the Baby Boomers arrived on the scene after World War 2 ended. We were
born after our parents, particularly our fathers, had been tested, had faced
adversity. Now they were ready to enjoy
their sons and daughters.
I think this is what brought on the long coat of
authority, the coat with long sleeves.
***********
I can relate to Jacob’s situation of his “before”
and “after” life and his “before” and “after” children. I saw that my own father had a different
relationship with my sister than he did with me. I think the five years he was absent for the
war accounts for this. I alsothink that
for some parents the ambitions of early parenthood can set up a different sort
of relationship with children from the years when a father or mother has left
ambition and the distractions of work behind them and are more relaxed at home.
Being the son of Jacob’s old age can be an
entirely different situation from being the sons Jacob had when he was
younger. And it proved to be to Joseph’s
benefit.
The story of Jacob is alsoa pivotal story for
another reason. In an ironic twist of
the plot, by selling Jacob into slavery, the brothers saved their tribes. When Jacob ended up in Pharaoh’s house and in
a position of power he was able to procure food that kept their family from
starving when widespread famine hit the land.
This saved the family line that extended all the way back to Abraham and
into current time.
Also, the Jews by serving time as slaves, have
developed a sensitivity to slavery and bondage that a lot of Christians don’t
fully appreciate. If you go to any Jewish Sabbath, Bar Mitzvah or Passover you
will hear stories today that repeat their ancestors’ stories. I have been to them and there is something
very touching about their stories; they talk about Moses and Joseph like they
were close relatives possibly only two generations in the past. The Jews have
kept these stories alive and fresh. To
today’s Jews, slavery is personal still.
If you mention Black Lives Matter to the average Jew today they would
reaffirm the position that they support the cause because they were once slaves
themselves. The slavery in Egypt is still very fresh to them.
These bible stories have lasted two thousand
years because they are important. The God who was present at the creation of the
universe, who, indeed, birthed the creation of the universe, is the same God
who heard Rachel, who knew of her longings and who gave her a son. And that son kept the Hebrew people alive.
Let us pray.
Creator God, all praise to you for this
word. Stay with us as we ponder it today
and let it’s meaning deepen in our minds and hearts and soul. In Christ’s holy
name we pray. Amen.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SERMON Keep Your Faith’s True Focus Armel Crocker CIM:
THE GOSPEL READING Matthew 14:22-33
Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.
And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them.
And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea.
But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."
Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."
He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.
But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
When they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
What happens if you’re playing baseball or softball and
don’t heed the coach’s advice to keep your eye on the ball? What happens if
you’re dicing vegetables and get distracted? What happens if you’re hammering
in nails and lose focus on the task? In any of those cases you’re likely to
mess up what you’re doing at best, and at worst could actually get pretty hurt.
When you’re dealing with a dangerous task, whether you’re chopping with a knife
or driving a car, you want to stay focused so that you can do the job well and
safely.
Jesus had a powerful lesson to teach his disciples that
night on the Sea of Galilee. Your faith like, like every other component of
your life, needs focus. Without focus, there is no faith. Faith’s most basic
definition is trust, but if you’re trust is scattered all over the place, it
doesn’t actually trust in anyone or anything. Jesus urges us, the Holy Spirit
helps us, keep our faith’s true focus.
Our Gospel this morning picks up right where our Gospel for
last week left off. Jesus had just learned of John the Baptist’s death and went
by himself to pray over this sad event. But, his popularity was rising, and the
crowds were determined. They found him, and despite his emotional state, Jesus
had compassion on the crowd and taught them. But the lesson started to go long
and the people needed food. Rather than sending the people away to find their
own food, Jesus miraculously provided a full meal from just a few portions of
food. He fed 5,000 men that day; including women and children it was probably
more like 15 or 20,000.
Jesus sends his disciples on while he takes care of sending
the crowd home. After the crowd was gone, he finally got the alone time to pray
that he had originally been looking for. He’s able to pour out his heart to his
heavenly Father in prayer for what seems to be a rather lengthy period of time,
as the next time we see Jesus and the disciples together again it is
the fourth watch of the night, that is, just before dawn. In the
meantime, the disciples are following Jesus’s directions to go on ahead of
him to the other side. But on the Sea of Galilee a storm had come up. We’re not
told that this is quite as terrifying a storm as it was when Jesus calmed the
storm earlier in his ministry, but still it was enough to really rock the boat
and impede their progress.
While the disciples are fighting the wind and the waves,
though, they see something out on the water. Not something, but someone. Their
initial reaction is that they’re seeing a ghost, for what else could stand
on top of stormy waters but a spirit? If they weren’t scared by the storm, this
sight rocks their core. Jesus brings words of encouragement. “Take
courage,” he says. And here, perhaps, our translation does us a
disservice. How does Jesus bring them comfort while he looks like a ghost
standing on the water? He doesn’t simply say, “It is I.” In Greek he
uses the odd expression, “Ego eimi,” that is simply, “I am.”
As the disciples are being knocked around by the storm, as
they’re shaking with fear at this thing they see out on the water,
Jesus brings comfort by focusing their faith. It’s Jesus, but it shouldn’t
surprise them to see Jesus out on the water, because he is God. Jesus in the
midst of that storm takes them back to Old Testament, to the Moses and the
Burning Bush. There God promised Moses that he was the one that always had been
with them, was with them now, and would be with them in the future. Because
he’s not the God of the past tense, as if he did his work and now it’s over,
nor is he the God of the future tense so that he’ll get to his work when he’s
good and ready. He’s the God of the present tense, always there to help,
protect, support, and forgive his people. Jesus shows himself to be that
ever-caring and protecting God by doing something no person could ever
do—walking on the stormy sea.
God continues to be the I AM for us as well. We
may well feel like our lives are a stormy sea, and we’re being buffeted by the
waves as the disciples boat was. We may well be in great danger or trouble,
filled with sadness and apprehension. But Jesus comes to us in the middle of
all that torment and says, “Take courage; don’t be afraid, I AM.” And
no matter what disaster has come our way, our faith can focus on Jesus. No
matter what disaster has beset us, he is able to help, with his power, through
his Word, and his powerful reminders of his love and forgiveness that are ours.
Peter, always the adventurous disciple, took the opportunity
to focus on Jesus and showed his trust in a remarkable way. He reasoned that if
Jesus was able to walk on the water himself, surely Jesus could let him walk on
the water too. “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the
water.” Jesus invites him to come.
You can see in your mind’s eye this picture of Peter
crawling out of the boat and walking on water, firm as ground, toward Jesus. He
walked right up to him, focused on Jesus, all is well. He trusts Jesus to make
this happen; his faith is focused on Jesus and on him only. After all, here is
Peter’s God and Savior! Here is the one who can do anything! What does Peter
have to be afraid of when Jesus is with him?
But then we’re told that Peter saw the wind. He took
his eyes of his Savior, let his faith lose focus, and he looked around him. And
what a ridiculous scene he saw! He was standing on the water in the middle of
the Sea of Galilee in the middle of a storm! What was he doing? Why was he
there? He was going to get hurt, or worse, die! These waves were too much; the
wind was too strong! What was going to happen to him?! He began to sink, began
to drown.
I identify with Peter far more than I’m comfortable
admitting. Maybe you do too. I don’t always trust God. I don’t always trust
that his will is being done and that he’s working everything that happens for
my eternal good. I think that my own strength needs to protect me or work
things out for me, and then I don’t know what to do when my own strength is
shown to be weak and my power proved to be lacking. There are storms on this
sea of life that you and I can’t deal with. Those waves are crashing in and
threatening to drown us! Perhaps at those times, you and I, like Peter, lose
the focus of our faith. We’re more likely to focus on the problems, rather than
the solution to the problems who stands right in front of us.
Notice what Jesus did. He didn’t let Peter drown and say,
“Oops, you really should have trusted me. Sorry.” Nor did he even let him
“suffer” a little bit in that water before ultimately rescuing him. No, Matthew
who as one of the disciples was an eyewitness to all of this, says that
Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him. There is a slight
reprimand on Jesus part, “Why did you doubt?” but its tone is one not
of scolding but encouragement: “Why doubt? Remember I can always take care of
you.”
We often lose the focus of our faith, when we’re more
focused on the problems then the solution. At times perhaps we’re more interested
in showing off our faith rather than showing off the one we believe in. Either
way, our attention and focus goes away from Jesus and either focuses on
ourselves and our individual strengths or weaknesses or on the problems that
then seem insurmountable. They seem insurmountable because, on our own, they
are.
But as we sink into our own seas, Jesus grabs us by the
hand. As he pulls us up we’re reminded that while we have lost focus, he has
not. And as he yanks us out of the water we’re reminded that there is
forgiveness. I’ve been forgiven for those times I’ve not trusted him, you’ve
been forgiven for the times you’ve been more focused on your problems than his
solutions. “You of little faith,” he says to each of us, “Why do
you doubt my love for you? Why do you doubt my ability to protect and help you?
Why do you doubt my forgiveness?” And we have no answer because there is
no reason to doubt. Jesus is faithful in his love as the covenant-keeping
God, I AM. Jesus is faithful in his ability to protect as the one who has
all power to work all things for our good. Jesus is faithful in his forgiveness
because he paid for our sins, even our doubts and distractions, so they are no
more than a distant memory.
Are sins plaguing you? Focus on your Savior who destroyed
them. Are problems weighing you down? Focus on your Savior, who takes care of
all things for you. Are you worried about the future? Focus on your Savior, who
will be there to help you, no matter what storms may arise. Find that focus in
his Word, which reminds us of the unending love and forgiveness for us all.
Lord, help us to keep our focus on you today, tomorrow, and forever. Amen.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and
earth. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy
Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified,
dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the
dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father
Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe
in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholic Church; the communion of saints; the
forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Friends in Christ,
God invites us to hold the needs of our sisters and brothers as dear to us as
our own needs. Loving our neighbors as ourselves, we offer our thanksgivings and
our petitions on behalf of the church and the world. Hear our prayers, God of
power, and through the ministry of your Son free us from the grip of the
tomb, that we may desire you as the fullness of life and proclaim your saving
deeds to all the world.
We ask this through Christ our Lord who taught us to pray;
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.
CHARGE AND BLESSINGS
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, 2
Cor. 13:13
the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be
with you all.
Amen.
