Sunday, January 30, 2022 - Who is God?

Theme: Exploring the Seismic Questions - Who is God?

“The Lord is merciful and righteous; our God is compassionate.” (Psalm 116:5)

Hymn       Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah       (In Person Only)

Welcome

 

Awakening to God’s Presence                   (In Person Only)

Hymn       Open Your Ears, O Faithful People     (In Person Only)

Prayer for God’s Guidance

Exodus 3:13-14                           Common English Bible Translation

Moses said to God, “If I now come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they are going to ask me, ‘What’s this God’s name?’ What am I supposed to say to them?” God said to Moses, “I Am Who I Am. So say to the Israelites, ‘I Am has sent me to you.’” (1 Jn 4:12-13) No one has ever seen God. If we love each other, God remains in us and his love is made perfect in us, because he has given us a measure of his Spirit.” (Question: How do you describe God?)

Special Music                (In Person Only)

Exodus 3:15

God continued, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your ancestors, Abraham’s God, Isaac’s God, and Jacob’s God, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever; this is how all generations will remember me. (1 Jn 4:16) We have known and have believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who remain in love remain in God and God remains in them. (Question: How have you noticed other peoples’ lives being connected to God?

Exodus 3:16-17

“Go and get Israel’s elders together and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me. The Lord said, “I’ve been paying close attention to you and to what has been done to you in Egypt. I’ve decided to take you away from the Harassment in Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, and Amorites, the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land full of milk and honey. (Ps 25:16-17) Turn to me, God, and have mercy on me because I’m alone and suffering. My heart’s troubles keep getting bigger – set me free from distress! (Question: When did you know God’s presence in your life?)

Hymn       Great Are You, Lord                (In Person Only)

Exodus 3:18-19

They will accept what you say to them. Then you and Israel’s elders will go to Egypt’s king and say to him, ‘The Lord, the Hebrews’ God, has met with us. So now let us go on a three-day journey into the desert so that we can offer sacrifices to the Lord our God.’ However, I know that Egypt’s king won’t let you go unless he’s forced to do it. (Ps 25:20-21)Please project my life! Deliver me! Don’t let me be put to shame because I take refuge in you. Let integrity and virtue guard me because I hope in you. (Question: What can make it difficult for you to follow God’s guidance?)

Hymn       Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (In Person Only) 

Exodus 3:20-21

So I’ll use my strength and hit Egypt with dramatic displays of my power. After that, he’ll let you go. I’ll make it so that when you leave Egypt, the Egyptians will be kind to you and you won’t go away empty-handed.” (Ps 104:24, 27) Lord, you have done so many things! You made them all so wisely! The earth is full of your creations! All your creations wait for you to give them their food on time. (Question: How would you describe the way lives are changed today by God)? 

Reflection Together     (In Person Only)

Offering Ourselves to God

  During this time let us reflect upon the words from the Brief Statement of Faith

In life and in death we belong to God. We trust in God, whom Jesus called Abba, Father. In sovereign love God created the world good and makes everyone equally in God’s image, male and female, of every race and people, to live as one community. 

Hymn       I, the Lord of Sea and Sky       (In Person Only)

Prayers of the People and The Lord’s Prayer

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

Benediction

Closing Hymn      To God Be the Glory       (In Person Only)

Hymn List

65 Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah

69 I, the Lord of Sea and Sky

366 Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

453 Open Your Ears, O Faithful People

614 Great Are You, Lord

634 To God Be the Glory

Sermon Series: Exploring the Seismic Questions

February 6th – Where is God?

February 13th – Who is Jesus?

February 20th – What is our purpose?

February 27th – What does it mean to follow Jesus?