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image: Two Peasants Digging After Millet, Vincent van Gogh (1889)
Preparation for Worship
“To be chosen, to be elect, therefore does not mean that the elect are the saved and the rest are the lost. To be elect in Christ Jesus, and there is no other election, means to be incorporated into his mission to the world, to be the bearer of God’s saving purpose for his whole world, to be the sign and the agent and the first fruit of his blessed kingdom, which is for all.”
Lesslie Newbigin, The Gospel in a Pluralist Society
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Charles Wesley, 1739) [bandcamp track=1506712799 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=venti]
Hast Thou Heard Him Seen Him Known Him (Rowan, 1834-79) [bandcamp track=1013451494 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=venti]
Amen, Amen (Neil & Kate Robins, 2008) [bandcamp track=3980195636 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=venti]
O Come All Ye Faithful (Francis Wade, 1751) [bandcamp track=3313884876 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=venti]
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing (Robert Robinson, 1758) [bandcamp track=4015998502 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=venti]
Joy to the World (Isaac Watts, 1719) [bandcamp track=2515332085 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=venti]
Call to WorshipIsaiah 25:8-9
He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of His people He will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, that He might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for Him; let us be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”
Commissioning WEPC Peru Mission Team
Ministry of Prayer
Let us pray for the Church and for the world. With all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the Lord, saying “Lord, have mercy.”
For the peace of the world, for the welfare of the Church of God, and for the unity of all peoples, we pray to You, Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those in positions of public trust that they may serve in wisdom, and promote the dignity and freedom of every person. For President Obama, for the leaders of the nations, and all others in authority, that they may do justice, love mercy, and walk in the ways of truth, we pray to You, Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For Richmond, the Commonwealth of Virginia, for every city and community, and for those who live in them, we pray to You, Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the aged and infirm, for the widowed and orphans, all homes which are broken or torn by strife, and for the sick, the wounded, and the suffering. Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit; give them courage and hope in the midst of their troubles, and bring them the joy of Your salvation. We pray to You, Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those that have lost, in death, the ones they love. For all who continue in the hope of the resurrection of the dead, we pray to You, Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the poor and the oppressed, for the unemployed and the destitute, for prisoners and captives, and for all who remember and care for them, we pray to You, Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For You to raise up those who fall; and finally to beat down Satan under our feet, we pray to You, Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For those who do not yet believe, and for those who have struggled in the faith, that they may rest in the truth of the Gospel, we pray to You, Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For deliverance from all danger, violence, oppression, and degradation, we pray to You, Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For our enemies and those who endeavor to do us harm, we pray to You, Lord. Lord, have mercy.
That it may please You to forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and to turn their hearts to You in repentance, we pray to You, Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For all whom we have injured or offended. For the forgiveness and remission of our sins, we pray to You, Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the mission of the Church, that in faithful witness she may preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth, we pray to You, Lord. Lord, have mercy.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23)
We Confess Our Sin Together
Holy Lord, You have prepared Your salvation in the presence of all peoples. Yet, we confess that we have not followed the light of Your Word. We have not been consoled by Your presence, and have sought comforts of our own design. We have not sought Your will, or trusted Your Good News to be good. We have failed to rejoice at Your Son’s coming and refused His peace on earth. We have hoped for little from You, and the very thoughts of our hearts are revealed in the light of the glory of Your great mercy toward us. Forgive our unbelief, and renew us by Your Holy Spirit that we might eagerly worship You, that we may watch and wait and once more find the Gospel of our Savior, Jesus Christ, to be our greatest joy. Amen.
God Declares Our Forgiveness — Galatians 4:4-7
When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Children’s Sermon
Sermon — Mark 6:7-13
7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
Songs of Praise
Benediction
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Sermon Audio
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