Our Guest Speaker, Rev. Jeanell Cox will bring the message, “The Shortcomings of Striving”. Our Scripture passage comes from Genesis 28:10-19 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 136. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship. Thank you to Rev. Cox for bringing our message today and to Brenda Doyle for leading us in music!

Jeanell Cox is a Board-Certified Chaplain who is an ordained minister of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. A graduate of Duke Divinity School, she is passionate about the spiritual care of older adults and supporting individuals who are facing grief and loss. She is married to Christopher Ingram, and together they have three sons ages 19, 17, and 14. She currently serves as a Chaplain at Glenaire Retirement Community and in her free time loves to cross stitch, listen to music from the 90s, play with her dog, and do cardio dance classes.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 136)
One: Hints and whispers abound. God seeks us where we are.
All: A voice calls our name in the twilight of sleep.
One: A call seen in the outstretched hands of the poor.
All: A new dawning of insight while at prayer.
One: An internal shift of perceptions that is felt in the heart.
All: A joyous peace in the midst of adversity.
One: A lifting of a burden, a flood of tears, a bushel of laughter.
All: God is so near: guardian and friend who speaks to us.

Today is the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost. Pastor Ben will bring the message, “Prayer”. Our Scripture passage comes from James 5:13-20 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 19. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 19)
Leader: The law of the Lord is perfect,
People: Reviving the soul;
Leader: The decrees of the Lord are sure,
People: Making wise the simple;
Leader: The precepts of the Lord are right,
People: Rejoicing the heart;
Leader: The commandment of the Lord is clear,
People: Enlightening the eyes;
Leader: The fear of the Lord is pure,
People: Enduring forever;
Leader: The ordinances of the Lord are true
People: And righteous altogether.
Leader: More to be desired are they than gold,
People: Even much fine gold;
Leader: Sweeter also than honey,
People: And drippings of the honeycomb.
Leader: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
People: Be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Questions for Further Reading:
In this passage, James encourages the community to pray together.
How does prayer affect your individual relationship with God?
How does prayer shape a community’s relationship with God?

Today is the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost. Pastor Ben will bring the message, “Bible Study”. Our Scripture passage comes from 2 Timothy 3:10-17 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 119. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 119)
Leader: How can young people keep their way pure?
People: By guarding it according to your word.
Leader: With my whole heart I seek you;
People: Do not let me stray from your commandments.
Leader: I treasure your word in my heart,
People: So that I may not sin against you.
Leader: Blessed are you, O Lord;
People: Teach me your statutes.
Leader: With my lips I declare
People: All the ordinances of your mouth.
Leader: I delight in the way of your decrees
People: As much as in all riches.
Leader: I will meditate on your precepts
People: And fix my eyes on your ways.
Leader: I will delight in your statutes;
People: I will not forget your word.

Questions for Further Reading:
In this passage, Paul encourages Timothy to remain faithful to the things he’s been taught.
How can reading the Bible help you deal with difficult times?
How can treating it as a discipline help anchor you?

Today is World Communion Sunday. Our guest speaker, Dr. Curtis Freeman, will bring the message, “Knowing Christ”. Our Scripture passage comes from Philippians 3:4-14 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 100. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 100)
Leader: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
People: Worship the Lord with gladness;
Leader: Come into his presence with singing.
People: Know that the Lord is God.
Leader: It is he that made us, and we are his;
People: We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Leader: Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
People: And his courts with praise.
Leader: Give thanks to him, bless his name.
People: For the Lord is good;
Leader: His steadfast love endures forever,
People: And his faithfulness to all generations.

Today is the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Define ‘Unfair’”. Our Scripture passage comes from Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 25. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 25)
Leader: To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
People: O my God, in you I trust;
Leader: Do not let me be put to shame;
People: Do not let my enemies exult over me.
Leader: Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
People: Let them be ashamed who are treacherous.
Leader: Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.
People: Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
Leader: For you are the God of my salvation;
People: For you I wait all day long.
Leader: Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love.
People: Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions.
Leader: Good and upright is the Lord;
People: Therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
Leader: All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
People: For those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

Questions for Further Reflection:
In this passage, the people accuse God of being unfair.
First of all, are they correct?
Second, how does God respond to their claim?
Third, how does the gospel depend on unfairness?

Today is the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Worthy of the Gospel”. Our Scripture passage comes from Philippians 1:21-30 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 145. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 145)
Leader: I will extol you, my God and King,
People: And bless your name forever and ever.
Leader: Every day I will bless you,
People: And praise your name forever and ever.
Leader: Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
People: His greatness is unsearchable.
Leader: One generation shall laud your works to another,
People: And shall declare your mighty acts.
Leader: On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
People: And on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
Leader: The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed,
People: And I will declare your greatness.
Leader: They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness,
People: And shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
Leader: The Lord is gracious and merciful,
People: Slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Questions for Further Reflection:
In this passage, Paul talks about being “worthy of the Gospel of Christ”.
What do you think he means by that?
Are any of us “worthy” of the gospel?

Today is the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Seriously?!”. Our Scripture passage comes from Matthew 18:21-35 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 103. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 103)
Leader: Bless the Lord, O my soul,
People: And all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Leader: The Lord is merciful and gracious,
People: Slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Leader: He will not always accuse,
People: Nor will he keep his anger forever.
Leader: He does not deal with us according to our sins,
People: Nor repay us according to our iniquities.
Leader: For as the heavens are high above the earth,
People: So great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
Leader: As far as the east is from the west,
People: So far he removes our transgressions from us.
Leader: As a father has compassion for his children,
People: So the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
Leader: Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion.
People: Bless the Lord, O my soul.

Questions for Further Reflection:
In this passage, Jesus reminds us of the radical nature of God’s grace.
What is Jesus’ point about God’s willingness to forgive?
What barriers do we think prevent us from forgiving others?

Today is the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “Waiting on God. Our Scripture passage comes from Isaiah 40:21-31 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 147. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 147)
Leader: Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God;
People: For he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.
Leader: Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
People: Make melody to our God on the lyre.
Leader: He covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth,
People: Makes grass grow on the hills.
Leader: He gives to the animals their food
People: And to the young ravens when they cry.
Leader: His delight is not in the strength of the horse
People: Nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner,
Leader: But the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
People: In those who hope in his steadfast love.
All: Praise the Lord!

Questions for Further Reflection:
In this passage, the prophet sings of a God who is steadfast.
How does God’s strength allow us to rest?
What can you change in your own life to rest more fully in God?

Today is the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “A Place to Lay Your Head”. Our Scripture passage comes from Matthew 8:18-27 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 4. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 4)
Leader: Answer me when I call, O God of my right!
People: Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.
Leader: How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame?
People: How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies?
Leader: But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself;
People: The Lord hears when I call to him.
Leader: When you are disturbed, do not sin;
People: Ponder it on your beds, and be silent.
Leader: Offer right sacrifices,
People: And put your trust in the Lord.
Leader: There are many who say, “O that we might see some good!
People: “Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!”
Leader: You have put gladness in my heart
People: More than when their grain and wine abound.
Leader: I will both lie down and sleep in peace;
People: For you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.

Questions for Further Reflection:
In this passage, Jesus tries to find some rest.
Where does he ultimately find his resting place?
How can his resting place help us live more faithfully?

Today is the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Rev. Benjamin Wines will bring the message, “For All Creation”. Our Scripture passage comes from Leviticus 25:1-7 and our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 116. We look forward to joining you in this time of Worship.

Call to Worship (from Psalm 116)
Leader: What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me?
People: I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord,
Leader: I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.
People: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones.
Leader: O Lord, I am your servant;
People: I am your servant, the child of your serving girl.
Leader: You have loosed my bonds.
People: I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice
Leader: And call on the name of the Lord.
People: I will pay my vows to the Lord
Leader: In the presence of all his people,
People: In the courts of the house of the Lord,
Leader: In your midst, O Jerusalem.
People: Praise the Lord!

Questions for Further Reflection:
In this passage, God establishes a sabbath year for the Earth.
Why does God do this?
How could this sabbath year pose a challenge to humans?