Bulletin for Sunday, August 1, 2021

Still Rolling Stones

Out of the shadows
Bound for the gallows
A dead man walking
Till love came calling
Rise up — Rise up

Six feet under
I thought it was over
An answer to prayer
The voice of a Savior
Rise up — Rise up

All at once I came alive
This beating heart, these open eyes
The grave let go
The darkness should have known
You’re still rolling stones
You’re still rolling stones

Now that You saved me
I sing ’cause You gave me
A song of revival
I put it on vinyl
Rise up — Rise up

I once was blinded
But now I see it
I heard about the power
And now I believe it
Rise up — Rise up

All at once I came alive
This beating heart, these open eyes
The grave let go
The darkness should have known
You’re still rolling stones
You’re still rolling stones

I thought that I was too far gone
For everything I’ve done wrong
Yeah, I’m the one who dug this grave
But You called my name
You called my name

I thought that I was too far gone
For everything I’ve done wrong
Yeah, I’m the one who dug this grave
But You called my name
You called my name

All at once I came alive
This beating heart, these open eyes
The grave let go
The darkness should have known
You’re still rolling stones
You’re still rolling stones

You’re still rolling stones
You’re still rolling stones

by Jason Ingram, Lauren Daigle, Paul Duncan & Paul Mabury
Copyrights2018 Centricity Music Publishing / CentricSongs

The Kingdom is Yours

Blessed are the ones who do not bury
All the broken pieces of their heart
Blessed are the tears of all the weary
Pouring like a sky of falling stars

Blessed are the wounded ones in mourning
Brave enough to show the Lord their scars
Blessed are the hurts that are not hidden
Open to the healing touch of God

The Kingdom is yours
The Kingdom is yours
Hold on a little more, this is not the end
Hope is in the Lord
Keep your eyes on Him

Blessed are the ones who walk in kindness
Even in the face of great abuse
Blessed are the deeds that go unnoticed
Serving with unguarded gratitude

Blessed are the ones who fight for justice
Longing for the coming day of peace
Blessed is the soul
that thirsts for righteousness
Welcoming the last, the lost, the least

The Kingdom is yours
The Kingdom is yours
Hold on a little more, this is not the end
Hope is in the Lord
Keep your eyes on Him

The Kingdom is yours
The Kingdom is yours
Hold on a little more, this is not the end
Hope is in the Lord
Keep your eyes on Him

Blessed are the ones who suffer violence
And still have strength to love their enemies
Blessed is the faith of those who persevere
Though they fall, they’ll never know defeat

The Kingdom is yours
The Kingdom is yours
Hold on a little more, this is not the end
Hope is in the Lord
Keep your eyes on Him

The Kingdom is yours
The Kingdom is yours
Hold on a little more, this is not the end
Hope is in the Lord
Keep your eyes on Him

Walk With Me, Lord

Walk with me, Lord
Walk with me
Walk with me, Lord
Walk with me

While I’m on this tedious journey
I want Jesus
to walk with me

Hold my hand, Lord
Hold my hand
Hold my hand, Lord
Hold my hand

While I’m on this tedious journey
I want Jesus
to hold my hand

Walk with me, Lord
Walk with me
Walk with me, Lord
Walk with me

While I’m on this tedious journey
I want Jesus
to walk with me

God Will Heal Our Wounds

We want to seek you in our own ways
We’ll fast and we’ll sing
we’ll give for our gain
You’re telling us that it’s not ok
You don’t need another song
You don’t want our empty praise

If we stop loving on our own terms
God will heal our wounds
God will heal our wounds
(repeat)

We want the blessing of the God we made
To live in the privilege
he’ll do what we say
You’re telling us there’s a different way
To seek less for ourselves
to pour out every day

If we stop loving on our own terms
God will heal our wounds
God will heal our wounds
(repeat)

Home, home, home
home where the fasting that you seek
Is breaking chains, breaking free
Home, home, home
home where the songs that we sing
Move the ground underneath

Home, home, home
home where the worship that you seek
Feeds the hungry, the ones in need
Home, home, home
home where love that we seek
Is growing gardens, fixing streets

Is growing bridges, planting trees
Is digging wells for all to drink
Is finding light for us to see
Is building trust between you and me
Is building strength and family

If we stop loving on our own terms
God will heal our wounds
God will heal our wounds
(repeat)

TaNaKH – Hebrew Scriptures

(1) Torah – Law.
(2) Navi’im – Prophets.
(3) Khetuvim – Wisdom. (the “writings”)

(1) LAW
– Rules, Boundaries, Rituals, External Authority
(2) PROPHETS
– Questions, Critique, Deconstruction, Internal Authority
(3) WISDOM
– Transcend and Include, Paradox, Grace, Humility

Matthew 14:1-21:
1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2 and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.

6 On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much 7 that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10 and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
——
13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Two Different Banquets

Announcements:
(1) Lectionary
(2) Sunday School
(3) New(ish) Start Time
-10:30 a.m. – Coffee & Community
-10:45 a.m. – Worship Service (1 hr.)

TaNaKH – Hebrew Scriptures

(1) Torah – Law.
(2) Navi’im – Prophets.
(3) Khetuvim – Wisdom. (the “writings”)

(1) LAW
– Rules, Boundaries, Rituals, External Authority
(2) PROPHETS
– Questions, Critique, Deconstruction, Internal Authority
(3) WISDOM
– Transcend and Include, Paradox, Grace, Humility

———–

Part A – Community

Refresh Verse(s):

1 Corinthians 12:
Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed… 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good…12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many…

18 …God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body… 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Asklepius – god of healing / medicine

Least Favorite Verse(s):

Hebrews 10:23-25:
23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

“NEED”

Consumerism vs. Community (Tap/Click here for the FULL POST)

There are two problems with [consumerism]; one theological and one practical. First, theologically speaking, consumerism is antithetical to the Gospel. Jesus (who “came to serve rather than be served”) said, “Take up your cross and follow me.” It is difficult to reconcile that with a consumerist worldview. Second, on a practical level, the problem with the consumer mentality is, nothing ever improves. How do you make a collective enterprise (like a team, church, or community) better when people assume it has to be better before they participate?

To put this another way, one of the central choices we have to make in life and in church – and it is a subtle choice that you often don’t realize you are making – is between Consumption and Community. Consumerism says, “Make things the way I want them to be, and I will show up.” Community says, “I’m going to show up and make things the way they need to be.”
Consumerism dooms all imperfect organizations to negative feedback loops. (Like the girls basketball team at my daughter’s school. A bad season caused some girls to opt out, which made the next season worse, which made more kids opt out. And so on and so forth until the whole program feels beyond redemption.) Community, on the other hand, creates the constant opportunity for renovation and revitalization. Consumerism exhausts and isolates leadership. Community creates an ever-growing sense of shared leadership.

And, if I might be so bold, Consumerism destroys Community… and vice versa.

Like Grace vs. Earning and Gratitude vs. Scarcity, Consumption vs. Community seems to be a definitive decision for all organizations, one that will impact all that follows. This is especially the case for churches. The quality of the music, the cogency of the sermons, the energy of the social events, only matter to the extent that they are layered on top of a commitment to be a Community church and not a Consumer church. When we make decisions about attending on Sunday mornings, about giving, about investing in community, about our young people’s investment and participation, this is the decision before us. Will we be (and teach them to be) Consumers or Community builders.

We hope we will choose the latter, because that is what has and always will change the world!

Challenges:

(1) Come to church (at least) 3 times a month.
1–>2; 2–>3; 3–>4.
(2) Come up with family rules for what reasons are valid to miss church.
(3) Attend one community gathering a quarter.
(4) Serve monthly on a Ministry Team (repeat from “discipleship” last week)

———–

Part B – Resources

Refresh Verse:

Matthew 6:19-24
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Leader: The word of the Lord.
Everyone: Thanks be to God.

Proverbs 23:6
“Eat not the bread of an evil eye, And have no desire to his dainties.”

Proverbs 22:9
“He that has a good eye shall have God’s blessing; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.”

Proverbs 28:22
“Troubled for wealth is the man with an evil eye, and he knoweth not that a worse poverty waits for him.”

Least Favorite Verse
Mark 10:21
“One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

Luke 19:8-9
“’Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’ … Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house.”

There is something in the act of giving that saves us. Or at the very least, there is something in us that remains unsaved until we figure out this generosity piece.

Challenges:

(1) For those already giving generously: Connect your giving with your faith/spiritual-formation. Don’t let giving be an autodraft/out-of-sight/out-of-mind-only event. Set a calendar reminder to coincide with automated giving. Say a prayer. Read a liturgy. Intentionally connect your giving to your faith.

(2) For those new to giving or jaded from past experiences: What small, conscious step can you take toward developing a “good eye”? Step up from 0 to 2 percent. Step up from 4 to 5 percent. Everyone’s step will be different. Whatever the step, make it a discipline. Make it habitual.

(3) For those facing deep financial hardship: There are seasons when giving (financially) isn’t an option. That season will almost certainly come to an end. When it does, the inertia of not giving will be hard to break.

---

TaNaKH – Hebrew Scriptures

(1) Torah – Law.
(2) Navi’im – Prophets.
(3) Khetuvim – Wisdom. (the “writings”)

(1) LAW
– Rules, Boundaries, Rituals, External Authority
(2) PROPHETS
– Questions, Critique, Deconstruction, Internal Authority
(3) WISDOM
– Transcend and Include, Paradox, Grace, Humility

---

Part A – Kingdom

Refresh Verse(s):

Mark 1:15
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Mark 4:16-32
26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”
30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

Least Favorite Verse
Matthew 28:16-20
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Practical Challenge:
(1) Pray – Pray for the church to grow.
(2) Investigate – If you’re resistant to the idea of change and growth, look inward and ask why that is.
(If this place has offered you healing, you need to offer that to others.)
(3) Invite – Invite 1 new person/family a quarter.

---

Part B – Discipleship

Refresh Verse:
Luke 14:25-30
25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.
27And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
28“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.

Leader: The word of the Lord.
Everyone: Thanks be to God.

“The greatest issue facing the world today, with all its heartbreaking needs, is whether those who, by profession or culture, are identified as “Christians” will become disciples—students, apprentices, practitioners—of Jesus Christ, steadily learning from him how to live the life of the Kingdom of the Heavens into every corner of human existence.” — Dallas Willard

Least Favorite Verse
1 Timothy 4:7-10 — “Train yourself to be godly. 8 “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” 9 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. 10 This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people.”

“Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning. Earning is an attitude. Effort is an action.” — Dallas Willard

 

Practical Challenge:

(1) Inward Discipleship
– Engage in one “personal” discipline daily.
– Engage in one “communal” discipline weekly or biweekly.

(2) Outward Discipleship
– Serve at 2 outreach/missions events a year.
– Serve once a month on a ministry team.
(Children’s Ministry, Hospitality, Set-up, Music/Tech. – opportunity to sign up next week!)

Called Me Higher

I could just sit
I could just sit and
wait for all Your goodness
hope to feel your presence

And I could just stay
I could just stay right where I am
and hope to feel You
hope to feel something again

And I could hold on
I could hold on to who I am
and never let You
change me from the inside

And I could be safe oh
I could be safe here in Your arms
and never leave home
Never let these walls down

But You have called me higher
You have called me deeper
And I’ll go where You will lead me Lord

You have called me higher
You have called me deeper
And I’ll go where You will lead me Lord
Where You lead me
Where You lead me Lord

And I could hold on
I could hold on to who I am
and never let You
change me from the inside

And I could be safe oh
I could be safe here in Your arms
and never leave home
Never let these walls down

But You have called me higher
You have called me deeper
And I’ll go where You will lead me Lord

You have called me higher
You have called me deeper
And I’ll go where You will lead me Lord
Where You lead me
Where You lead me Lord

And I will be Yours oh
I will be Yours for all my life
And I will be Yours oh
I will be Yours for all my life

And I will be Yours oh
I will be Yours for all my life
so let Your mercy

Oh and I will be Yours Lord
I will be Yours for all my life
so let Your mercy
light the path before me ‘cause

But You have called me higher
You have called me deeper
And I’ll go where You will lead me Lord

You have called me higher
You have called me deeper
And I’ll go where You will lead me Lord
Where You lead me
Where You lead me Lord

How Great Thou Art

O Lord my God when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout
the universe displayed

Then sings my soul
my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art
How great Thou art
(repeat)

And when I think of God His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die I scarce can take it in
That on the Cross
my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin

Then sings my soul
my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art
How great Thou art
(repeat)

When Christ shall come
with shout of acclamation
And lead me home
what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow with humble adoration
And then proclaim
“My God, how great Thou art!”

Then sings my soul
my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art
How great Thou art
(repeat)

How great Thou art
How great Thou art