INTROIT:            “Join Our Family”   (Rockburn Choir)

CALL TO WORSHIP:  (adapted from Psalm 95)

One: O come, let us sing to the Lord;

ALL: Let us make a joyful noise to the rock or our salvation!

One: Let us come into God’s presence.

ALL: Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving.

Welcome to this special Rockburn Presbyterian Church musical service which has been lovingly organized by Nancy Campbell and the Chenaniah Band.

     During the past winter our beautiful Church suffered severe smoke damage due to poor chimney draft/furnace problems. We have since had it professionally cleaned by the Paul Davis Systems Southwest, overseen by Jason Blair and have purchased a new propane furnace. Many people from the Rockburn congregation and community have also lent a hand into the clean-up. (our collection today will be directly applied to these expenses) 

    The Rockburn Church would like to say thank you to everyone involved in the cleaning of the Church. Huge thanks to the talented musicians with us today who have volunteered to share their beautiful gifts with us. Sincere thanks for donations received.

Thank you ALL for attending this service. 

    We are so fortunate to be able to freely gather together in a beautiful old building but must always remember…      as this song says…

The church is not a building, 
The church is not a steeple. 
The church is not a resting place, 
The church is a people. 


I am the church, you are the church 

WE ARE THE CHURCH! — together 
All who follow Jesus, 
all around the world, 

WE ARE THE CHURCH! — together

 

THANK YOU & GOD BLESS

Roman & Sarah Fraser:   «Après Un Rêve»”  by Gabriel Favré

                                 «La 13ème»           by Roman Fraser

Let’s Sing :   # 17   “ I’ll Fly Away”   (Mary’s Songbook)

 

Yvonne Langlois & David Whyte:   “World”

Rockburn Caroler’s:    “Wings of a Dove”

                            “Glory, Glory, Glory”

Let’s Sing:   # 19   “You Are My Sunshine”   (Mary’s Songbook)

 

Kevin Harvey & David Whyte:  “Jesus On The Main Line

A tool Box by Nancy Campbell

"Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one shroud carry his own load." Galatians 6:4

Everyone here knows a carpenter. Most of us own a tool box, but maybe our tool box isn't as well equipped as a carpenter's. In his tool box are some hammers, saws, chisels, bars, pliers planes-many specific tools for his trade. But he can only use these tools one at a time. So why does he have so many? When does he use his hammer? When does he use his saw, his chisel? A carpenter needs to spend a lot of money to equip his tool box, because without the right tools, a carpenter can't get his work done.

Lots of people beside carpenters, use tools or instruments: the dentist,, the baker, the butcher,the plumber, the bookmaker, the farmer, and so on. People need tools to get on in the world's work.

Each of us has a tool box, a very special tool box. And it's up to us to put the tools in ourselves. We're allowed to go to the wholesale store and select any tool we want. These heads of ours are our tool boxes.

I've known some people who have taken these five tool chests and made trashcans out of them, full of bad thoughts full of carelessness, ful of spoiled jobs they should have done well, full of rubbish that can never drive a single nail for them, full of cheap stuff that isn't worth saving. All the sorts of things that go in trash cans.

But I've also known other people who looked for the strongest and sharpest tools they could find. They found good hammers-brains trained to think, enabling them to work their way into life. They made sharp saws of their brains so they were able to cut just what they needed in life. They secured powerful lenses of thought which allowed them to discover hidden things in the world. They sharpened some idea chisels in order to cut the rough edges from hard places in life.

What have you been doing with that head of yours? Are you making a trash can of it, or are you making a tool box. God's word says :"As a man think, so is he"We all need a well-filled tool chest if we intend to get very far in this world.

Think of the words of Paul in Philippians 4:8 :" Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praise worthy-think about such things."



Elizabeth Churchill:     “The Lighthouse”

                               “Whispering Hope”

Let’s Sing:   # 46   “Count Your Blessings”     (Mary’s Songbook) 

Elgin Pipers:       “Amazing Grace” 

Opening Prayer

From deep within us we know of a loving presence. 
All around us we see glory, beauty, life and light. 
We have no words for what we experience so we cry out, "God!". 
In this moment of worship may that loving presence grow deeper, 
may our awareness of the divine presence around us grow more intense. 
May we, gathered in this place, learn to pay more attention to God, 
who loves us at all times and in all places.

God, of love and life, in this moment of prayer 
be more and more in us 
that we might live more and more in you. Amen.


Prayer for the Offering

Gracious God,

You call us to let go of the things we cling to

and step out in faith,

trusting in Your love and provision.

Give us courage to step out boldly,

to plant our small seeds generously, and without fear.

Use our gifts to accomplish more than we could possibly imagine,

so that, through us, Your kingdom might come

and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Amen
 

Pastoral Prayer

(inspired by John 11: 1-45)

O Lord, we hear you calling,

but we are bound in the grave-cloths of earthly expectations.

We believe in you,

but we listen to the world’s call and think we cannot follow.

We must study for the right degree,

apply for the right job,

buy the right house and furnish it just so;

we must, we must, we must.

All that seems true until the day something terrible happens.

All that seems true until we lose someone we love.

All that seems true until we love someone we can’t be with.

All that seems true

until the body we relied on

to carry us from one place to another,

fulfilling the expectations,

falls ill or stops working the way we think it always will.

Hear our prayers, O Lord, for we are in pain.

We are ill.

We are dying.

Unbind us from expectations.

Give us strength to live through disappointments.

Grant us courage to overcome obstacles.

Fill us with your presence

and make us living carriers of your love to others who need it.

Hear our prayers, O Lord, for those we have named.

(We speak those names.)

Hear our prayers, O Lord,

for those we have not named,

the stories we cannot tell and the woes we do not even know.

(We pray in silence.)

Hear our prayers, O Lord, for the wider world,

for the people who hunger,

for the people who have live with war and violence on a daily basis,

in ways unthinkable to us in this quiet town.

Hear our prayers, O Lord, for ourselves.

(We pray again in silence.)

Unbind us.

Call us out of the caves in which we dwell.

Help us to roll away the stones for each other.

Bring us to new life,

we pray in the name of Jesus, the Ever Living. Amen.
 

Benediction

God will be with us wherever we go.

At work or play, at home or on vacation, we know

God will be with us wherever we go.

Whether we’re happy or sad,

on our own, or with our friends, we know

God will be with us wherever we go.

So let’s go with joy,

because God goes with us!


 

The story of Tommy, the atheist theology student who was found by God-Truth!

ref :http://www.truthorfiction.com/johnpowell/

John Powell a professor at Loyola University in Chicago writes about a student in his Theology of Faith class named Tommy:

Some twelve years ago, I stood watching my university students file into the classroom for our first session in the Theology of Faith. That was the first day I first saw Tommy. My eyes and my mind both blinked. He was combing his long flaxen hair, which hung six inches below his shoulders.

It was the first time I had ever seen a boy with hair that long. I guess it was just coming into fashion then. I know in my mind that it isn’t what’s on your head but what’s in it that counts; but on that day I was unprepared and my emotions flipped.

I immediately filed Tommy under “S” for strange … very strange. Tommy turned out to be the “atheist in residence” in my Theology of Faith course. He constantly objected to, smirked at, or whined about the possibility of an unconditionally loving Father-God. We lived with each other in relative peace for one semester, although I admit he was for me at times a serious pain in the back pew.

When he came up at the end of the course to turn in his final exam, he asked in a slightly cynical tone: “Do you think I’ll ever find God?”

I decided instantly on a little shock therapy. “No!” I said very emphatically.

“Oh,” he responded, “I thought that was the product you were pushing.”

I let him get five steps from the classroom door and then called out: “Tommy! I don’t think you’ll ever find him, but I am absolutely certain that He will find you!” He shrugged a little and left my class and my life.

I felt slightly disappointed at the thought that he had missed my clever line: “He will find you!” At least I thought it was clever. Later I heard that Tommy had graduated and I was duly grateful.

Then a sad report, I heard that Tommy had terminal cancer. Before I could search him out, he came to see me. When he walked into my office, his body was very badly wasted, and the long hair had all fallen out as a result of chemotherapy. But his eyes were bright and his voice was firm, for the first time, I believe. “Tommy, I’ve thought about you so often. I hear you are sick!” I blurted out.

“Oh, yes, very sick. I have cancer in both lungs. It’s a matter of weeks.”

“Can you talk about it, Tom?”

“Sure, what would you like to know?”

“What’s it like to be only twenty-four and dying?”

“Well, it could be worse.”

“Like what?”

“Well, like being fifty and having no values or ideals, like being fifty and thinking that booze, seducing women, and making money are the real ‘biggies’ in life.”

I began to look through my mental file cabinet under “S” where I had filed Tommy as strange. (It seems as though everybody I try to reject by classification God sends back into my life to educate me.)

But what I really came to see you about,” Tom said, ” is something you said to me on the last day of class.” (He remembered!) He continued, “I asked you if you thought I would ever find God and you said, ‘No!’ which surprised me. Then you said, ‘But he will find you.’ I thought about that a lot, even though my search for God was hardly intense at that time. (My “clever” line. He thought about that a lot!) But when the doctors removed a lump from my groin and told me that it was malignant, then I got serious about locating God. And when the malignancy spread into my vital organs, I really began banging bloody fists against the bronze doors of heaven.

But God did not come out. In fact, nothing happened. Did you ever try anything for a long time with great effort and with no success? You get psychologically glutted, fed up with trying. And then you quit.

Well, one day I woke up, and instead of throwing a few more futile appeals over that high brick wall to a God who may be or may not be there, I just quit. I decided that I didn’t really care … about God, about an afterlife, or anything like that. “I decided to spend what time I had left doing something more profitable. I thought about you and your class and I remembered something else you had said: ‘The essential sadness is to go through life without loving. But it would be almost equally sad to go through life and leave this world without ever telling those you loved that you had loved them.’ “So I began with the hardest one: my Dad. He was reading the newspaper when I approached him.”

“Dad”. . .

“Yes, what?” he asked without lowering the newspaper.

“Dad, I would like to talk with you.”

“Well, talk.”

“I mean. .. It’s really important.”

The newspaper came down three slow inches. “What is it?”

“Dad, I love you. I just wanted you to know that.” Tom smiled at me and said with obvious satisfaction, as though he felt a warm and secret joy flowing inside of him: “The newspaper fluttered to the floor. Then my father did two things I could never remember him ever doing before. He cried and he hugged me.

And we talked all night, even though he had to go to work the next morning. It felt so good to be close to my father, to see his tears, to feel his hug, to hear him say that he loved me. “It was easier with my mother and little brother. They cried with me, too, and we hugged each other, and started saying real nice things to each other. We shared the things we had been keeping secret for so many years. I was only sorry about one thing: that I had waited so long. Here I was just beginning to open up to all the people I had actually been close to.

“Then, one day I turned around and God was there. He didn’t come to me when I pleaded with him. I guess I was like an animal trainer holding out a hoop, ‘C’mon, jump through.’ ‘C’mon, I’ll give you three days .. .three weeks.’ Apparently God does things in his own way and at his own hour. “But the important thing is that he was there. He found me.

You were right. He found me even after I stopped looking for him.”

“Tommy,” I practically gasped, “I think you are saying something very important and much more universal than you realize. To me, at least, you are saying that the surest way to find God is not to make him a private possession, a problem solver, or an instant consolation in time of need, but rather by opening to love. You know, the Apostle John said that. He said God is love, and anyone who lives in love is living with God and God is living in him.’ Tom, could I ask you a favor? You know, when I had you in class you were a real pain. But (laughingly) you can make it all up to me now. Would you come into my present Theology of Faith course and tell them what you have just told me? If I told them the same thing it wouldn’t be half as effective as if you were to tell them.”

“Oooh . . . I was ready for you, but I don’t know if I’m ready for your class.”

“Tom, think about it. If and when you are ready, give me a call.” In a few days Tommy called, said he was ready for the class, that he wanted to do that for God and for me. So we scheduled a date. However, he never made it.

He had another appointment, far more important than the one with me and my class. Of course, his life was not really ended by his death, only changed.

He made the great step from faith into vision. He found a life far more beautiful than the eye of man has ever seen or the ear of man has ever heard or the mind of man has ever imagined.

Before he died, we talked one last time. “I’m not going to make it to your class,” he said.

“I know, Tom.”

“Will you tell them for me? Will you . . . tell the whole world for me?”

“I will, Tom. I’ll tell them. I’ll do my best.”

So, to all of you who have been kind enough to hear this simple statement about love, thank you for listening. And to you, Tommy, somewhere in the sunlit, verdant hills of heaven: “I told them, Tommy . … …as best I could.”

The Lord's Prayer Skit
ref : http://witnessdragon.tripod.com/lordprayerskit.htm


Prayer: Our Father which art in heaven,

God: Yes?

Prayer: Don't interrupt me. I'm praying

God: But you called me

Prayer: Called you? I didn't call you. I'm praying. Our Father which art in heaven,

God: There you did it again

Prayer: Did what?"

God: Called me. You said, "Our Father which art in heaven." Here I am. What's on your mind?

Prayer: But I didn't mean anything by it. I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day. I always say the Lord's Prayer. It makes me feel good, kind of like getting a duty done."

God: All right. Go on.

Prayer: Hallowed be Thy name.

God: Hold it. What do you mean by that?

Prayer: "By what?"

God: By "Hallowed be Thy name?"

Prayer: It means. It means.... Good grief, I don't know what it means. How should I know? It's just a part of the prayer. By the way, what does it mean?"

God: It means honored, holy, wonderful.

Prayer: Hey that makes sense. I never thought about what hallowed' meant before. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

God: Do you really mean that?

Prayer: Sure, why not?

God: What are you doing about it?

Prayer: Doing? Nothing, I guess. I just think it would be kind of neat if you got control of everything down here like you have up there."

God: Have I got control of you?

Prayer: Well, I go to church.

God: That isn't what I asked you. What about your temper? You've really got a problem there, you know. And then there's the way you spend your money - all on yourself. And what about the kinds of books you read and what you watch on TV?

Prayer: Stop picking on me! I'm just as good as the rest of those people at church."

God: Excuse me. I thought you were praying for my will to be done. If that is to happen, it will have to start with the ones who are praying for it. Like you, for example.

Prayer: Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups. Now that you mention it, I could probably name some others."

God: So could I.

Prayer: I haven't thought about it very much until now, but I'd really like to cut out some of those things. I would like to, you know, be really free."

God: Good. Now we're getting somewhere. We'll work together, you and I. Some victories can be truly won. I'm proud of you.

Prayer: Look, Lord, I need to finish this up here. This is taking a lot longer than it usually does ... Give us this day our daily bread."

God: You could cut out the bread. It would help you lose weight.

Prayer: "Hey, wait a minute! What is this, 'Criticize, ME day?' Here I was doing my religious duty, and all of a sudden you break in and remind me of all my hang-ups. Praying is a dangerous thing. You could wind up changed, you know.

God: That's what I'm trying to get across to you. Keep praying. I'm interested in the next part of your prayer.(Pause) Well, go on.

Prayer: I'm scared to."

God: Scared? Of what?

Prayer: I know what you'll say.

God: Try me and see.

Prayer: Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

God: What about Ann?

Prayer: "See? I knew it! I knew you would bring her up! Why Lord she's told lies about me, spread stories about my family. She never paid back the money she owes me. I've sworn to get even with her!"

God: But your prayer? What about your prayer?

Prayer: "I didn't mean it."

God: Well, at least you're honest. But it's not much fun carrying that load of bitterness inside of you, is it?

Prayer: No. But, I'll feel better as soon as I get even. Boy, have I got some plans for that neighbor. She'll wish she had never moved into this neighborhood."

God: You won't feel any better. You'll feel worse. Revenge isn't sweet. Think of how unhappy you already are. But, I can change all that.

Prayer: You can? How?

God: Forgive Ann. Then I'll forgive you. Then the hate and sin will be Ann's problem and not yours. You will have settled your heart.

Prayer: Oh, you're right. You always are. And, more than I want to get revenge against Ann, I want to be right with you. But ... (Pause) ... (Sigh) ... All right. I forgive her. Help her to find the right road in life, Lord. She's bound to be awfully miserable now that I think about it. Anybody who goes around doing the things she does to others has to be out of it. Someway, somehow, show her the right way.

God: There now! Wonderful! How do you feel?

Prayer: "Hmmm. Well, not bad. Not bad at all. I feel pretty great. You know, I don't think I'll have to go to bed uptight tonight for the first time since I can remember. Maybe I won't be so tired from now on because I'm not getting enough rest."

God: You're not through with your prayers. Go on.

Prayer: "Oh, all right. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

God: Good! Good! I'll do that. Just don't put yourself in a place where you can be tempted.

Prayer: "What do you mean by that?"

God: Don't turn the TV on when you know the laundry needs to be done and the house needs to be picked up. Also about the time you spend with your friends, if you can't influence the conversation to positive things, perhaps you should rethink the value of those friendships. Another thing, your neighbors and friends shouldn't be your standard for "keeping up." And please don't use me as an escape hatch.

Prayer: "I don't understand that last part."

God: Sure you do. You've done it a lot of times. You get caught in a bad situation. You get in trouble and then you come running to me: "Lord, help me out of this mess, and I promise you I'll never do it again." You remember some of those bargains you tried to make with me?

Prayer: Yes, and I'm ashamed, Lord, I really am.

God: Which bargain are you remembering?

Prayer: Well, there was the night that my husband was gone and the children and I were home alone. The wind was blowing so hard I thought the roof would go any minute and tornado warnings were out. I remember saying, 'Oh God, if you spare us, I'll never skip my devotions again."

God: I protected you, but you didn't keep your promise, did you?

Prayer: "I'm sorry, Lord I really am. Up until now I thought that if I just prayed the Lord's Prayer every day, then I could do what I liked. I didn't expect anything to happen like this."

God: Go ahead and finish your prayer.

Prayer: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen

God: Do you know what would bring me glory? What would really make me happy?

Prayer: "No, but I'd like to know. I want to please you. I can see what a mess I've made of my life. And I can see how great it would be to really be one of your followers."

God: You just answered the question.

Prayer: I did?"

God: Yes. The thing that would bring me glory is to have people like you truly love me. And I see that happening between us. Now that some of these old sins are exposed and out of the way, there is no telling what we can do together.

Prayer: Lord, let's see what we can make of me, OK?"

God: Yes, let's see.

Prayer: The moral of this skit is when you say the Lords prayer, DON'T REPEAT it, pray it!

CHRISTIANS NEED SELF-DISCIPLINE                  August 2, 2015

 I was thinking about the life of the CHRISTIAN CHURCH and how their teachings were practiced by its members in our daily lives-- I wonder (just what) would be the different in our way of living?


Christianity is not a series of IDEAS to be held in the mind;   


Christianity above all else, is A LIFE TO BE LIVED.

I wondered if in the towns and cities we gathered church congregations alongside all those who never darkened the door of a church and be able to tell the difference in any tangible way. I don’t mean doctrines or beliefs but of a distinctive life of following the teachings of Jesus.

Many JEWISH MEMBERS, at one point in their life, have to decide to live as religiously observant Jews, or engage in secular lives. The religious lifestyle profoundly influences what they eat—where they work and how they make moral and ethical decisions.

Other faiths coming into our community witness their faith very openly, I think of the MUSLIN COMMUNITY. They are committed to pray 5X a day and not just bow their heads but must face a certain direction and touch the earth with their forehead—their hands and bare feet. They celebrate Ramadan each year –a month of fasting during the day.

There have been times in HISTORY when Protestant forms of Christian life were more evident in Canada.

Times were when companies seemed to promote a better society—times when they were concerned about to welfare of their employees-A time when Sunday was a day of rest-parents went to church—children to Sunday school. Most families had little money for luxuries and accumulating material things 

 And it’s more difficult for us today than in Paul’s time.  We live our lives in the midst of powerful influences such as secularism— consumerism—individualism which often demand a style of life quite alien to the tradition of the Christian church.

Now there is the TV—the i pods—cell phones—the internet—Lot-to and casinos all have changed our thinking about family life—the community—and the work force.

We witness many IMMIGRANT CHURCHES as they struggle to become part of Canadian society they find deep conflicts between the ways they practiced their faith in “old country” and how our Canadian culture that challenges their commitment.

 In many ways, some of these immigrant churches act as a window where we can see the many conflicts between our “faithfulness to the gospel” and priority we give to our secular culture.

Paul compares the SELF-DISCIPLINE required to live a Christian life to that of the training required by an ATHLETE; without sacrifice and dedication one cannot live the Christian life.

To illustration his point, Paul takes examples from the world of athletics: every successful athlete competes to win and no athlete wins without proper training and self-discipline.

How many were glued to the TV, watching the  PAM-AM GAMES  seeing athletes compete for the gold

 I did my share of watching swimming, gymnastics—shot-put—volleyball—tennis—you name the sport and you will find someone competing for Gold. Just imagine the amount of “SELF-DISCIPLINE” it takes to reach the top.  

In interviews, athletes told of training for 5 hours a day while going to school, finding time before and after school to head for the pool or the gym.

One Canadian rower told how he gets up at 5:30 AM each day to train. He talked of the pain in his legs and back—but had to keep on going –if he had hopes of winning a medal.

At the Calgary Stampede we witnessed bull riding, the gate opened and out came a twisting mass of muscle doing its best to throw the cowboy off its back. The cowboy was jerked, twisted as the race to hang on for 8 seconds had begun--for 8 seconds the rider used up enormous amounts of energy to stay on the bull’s back

8 seconds—doesn’t seem like much time and it takes a lot of SELF-DISCIPLINE practicing daily to keep in shape—just to stay in the GAME.

While all this is happening, A GAME of greater importance is being played in life-- and you and I are the players. In this game, we have the opportunity to play for a prize that will last a life time. 

PAUL’S analogy is clear: just as winning athletes require proper training and total commitment to compete—so to we Christians must discipline ourselves to live in a manner to measure up to Jesus’ teachings.

Paul says that the self discipline the Christians need to win the Spiritual race is the same as the athlete in the 100 meter race, and tells us the necessity of exercising self discipline because the Spiritual race is far more important than any physical competition. 

Paul says, without sacrifice and dedication one cannot live the Christian life.      It is one thing to talk about Christian ideas, it is quite another to carry out the demands of being and living as a Christian.

 Paul tells us to get into training.  We can reach our desire for wholeness of mind—body and soul, but it involves action like --daily surrender our will to God —thinking about spiritual principles in our daily dealing with others—give some thought what it means to live as a Christian in today’s society.

Often we must fight for what is right-- take a public stand—share what we have with others. And we must not lose sight of our goal-- keep our eyes on the prize. 

** If we judge ourselves honestly, then we must admit that we are undisciplined.  We often talk big and make wonderful promises, but we lack the discipline to put our nose to the grindstone. 

In earthly matters, we may be very industrious and hard working.  But spiritually speaking, we are all couch potatoes; our spirit is willing, but our flesh is weak.

We are able to put out brief spurts of energy in our spiritual lives, but when it comes to the long haul, we lack the commitment to go the distance.

At the end of many a day, we must ask myself now why did we not go and visit our shut-in friend like we planned, instead we went fishing. Or maybe you were going to write a letter to your relative or friend who is having cancer treatment—but we don’t—or maybe that phone call you postponed.    Why?? 

Paul admits it is not easy and in another letter he wrote, “THE GOOD I WANT TO DO, I DO NOT DO AND THE WRONGS I DO NOT WANT TO DO I DO!” And this hold true for us today

Sometimes we think we can do everything by our own power—we don’t need God’s help. We are smart enough to tackle the job on our own and if we just have self-discipline, we’ll reach our goals.

Then there are times when we swing the other way into helplessness. Convinced we have no choice, we make no effort to change.

 Finding a balance between our strength and powerlessness can be tricky and we could use some help.

It seems, the more we try to live under our own power, the more likely we will discover each part of us has growing to do and all parts will benefit as we strive  as Paul tells us, for MORE SELF-DISCIPLINE in our daily training and don’t be afraid to call on God’s help.
 

There’s nothing more precious to God than to be asked to give us a helping hand in maintaining THE ABUNDANT LIFE WE’VE BEEN GIVEN.

 AMEN  



PASTORAL PRAYER:

Hi God, it seems quite awhile since we spoke together.  You know we have many wants and needs that need sorting out so we can concentrate on the ones that matter the most.

We have loved ones we care about and worry about, some are having  trouble with their health, for some relationships have gone sour, others need jobs, some are grieving the loss of a loved one and need your help. Keep them in our hearts and hear our  plead on their behalf.

Lord, we worry about our own meaning in this world. Help us to sustain self-discipline in serving you daily by helping others. Help us find the right words when talking with you and give us discipline to hear your voice in the silence. May your spirit within us build us up face the many problems we face daily.

Dear God, famine, flooding, drought and wars plaque our world, so we pray for those who suffer. We pray for their safety and give them assistance as they struggle to recover and start over. Don’t let us forget them.

We pray for the economy, help those with limited resources  to indure the recession. Give the world leader the will and the insight to bring about an  economy that will benefit everyone in the world not just the wealthy.

Generous God, we pray for the church. We are thankful we have the resources to renew our damaged building and remind us it is our community of people who are your church. Help us to be refreshed and renewed each time we worship in this beautiful building.

Bless us all—protect us and guide us through the balance of the summer as we enjoy vacationing with our family and friends.  AMEN.