Introduction from Pastor David

God has equipped the Church with talents and gifts for the purposes of his Kingdom. I am so grateful to serve this congregation, and humbled by God’s gifting as I consider the people God has called to Emmanuel. After session meetings I am consistently thankful for leaders who think differently, bring skills to the table that I do not have, and for the amount of integrity and compassion exhibited. Recently, an off-going elder confided in me that he was going to miss coming to session meetings, because our time spent together “was like a graduate program in leadership as I learned from all the great leaders in the room.” I agree. Praise God.

Today, for our worship, Steve Bagdanov will be preaching from the scriptures. He is one of our current elders, and in the coming months, you’ll be hearing from several in our congregation. What a blessing for us to hear God’s word through a multitude of voices; let us begin our worship!

You Shine Through

Call to Worship

We gather as people on a journey.
We believe & we have doubts,
we do good & we sin.

We are imperfect humans,
yet still beloved by God.
Love and grace. Hope and faith.
These are at the core of the one we call God.

We seek forgiveness & grace from
the One and from those we’ve harmed.
Assured of that grace,
we are ready to grow again.

We yearn for a new way,
a new perspective,
and a clear path.
Though we are full of trust
and full of doubt, we are here.

Speak to us, God!
Continue creating us!
Inspire our hearts.
Enlighten our minds.
Guide our actions. Amen.

Nothing to Fear (feat. Audrey Assad)

Scripture Reading: John 20:24-25 (ESV)

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Prayer for Belief and Acknowledgment of Doubt

Jesus,
We dare to believe in the things we cannot see:
In your love for us
In your love for those around us
In the hope of eternity.
We dare to believe that another world is possible
That suffering can end
That we can play a part
In the kingdom to come.
We dare to believe in heaven on earth
In the light breaking through
In justice made new
In your love for us.

(Spend a moment in silence as you offer Jesus praise for all the things you are assured of and thankful for)

Jesus, you take us exactly as we are. You encourage our honest conversations with you. You already know what bothers us, where our faith is fickle, and where our hearts need reassurance. Thank you that you are big enough to handle our doubts. Thank you that you are not afford of what we wrestle with. Thank you that in your great power, we can simply be weak before you. We trust you.

(Spend a moment in silence expressing all your doubts to God. Be completely honest. Struggling with the relevance of Scripture? Tell God. Having a hard time believing forgiveness is possible? Tell God. Not sure what to believe about God’s faithfulness, the abundant life, or literally anything regarding your faith? Tell God. He can handle it. He longs to hear from you. Nothing is a surprise to God)

Lord’s Prayer

Let us pray together, the prayer Jesus taught us saying:

Scripture Reading: John 20:26-29(ESV)

26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas,

28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Sermon

Restless-Audrey Assad

Prayer of Reflection

How strangely comforting, Lord,
That so many of your servants
Have doubted you.

So,
If I cannot always see the sense
Of your Word;
If I do not always feel confident
About my faith;
If I wonder where your love is
In the face of pain and death;
I am not the first.

A great company of saints and martyrs
Has felt this way before me.
Now, in your presence,
They see face to face
And know as they are known.

Teach me, like them,
Not so much to fear doubt
As to see it
As a sign of the mystery of life
And a door to deeper connection with you.

Doubting Thomas