Call to Worship based on Psalm 63

 

Your steadfast love, O Lord, is better than life.
Therefore our lips will praise you.
We will bless you as long as we live.
We will lift up our hands and call on your name.
For you have been our help
and in your presence we sing for joy.

 

Song – Let Me Hide Myself in Thee

 

Scripture Reading – Phil 3:8-9a

 

 

Prayer of Reflection by Roddy Hamilton

 

Life-maker –
You hold my life
and I long for you to hold it.
You hold all of Life
and I am held within it.

 

My very soul cries out for you:
In the morning I linger at the sunrise
eager for the light to embrace my soul;
At dusk I crumple in the shadows
restless for your dawn-light
to replenish my thirst for you.

 

May my eyes be open to your creation-sanctuary,
alive to the wonders that speak of you
for this evidence is your constant-promise
and my soul dances in praise of you.

 

I will speak words of thanks
and live a life of thankfulness
all the days of my life.
This is my prayer,
in word,
in deed,
through all of life.

 

On this blessing I shall feast and be satisfied
and my every breath will be a canticle of praise.
May I waken in the morning singing it
and let it lull me to sleep as I lie down at night,
your constant-promise,
your forever-love,
your always-presence.

 

And I will cling to you,
and trust your love
that clings to me,
forever.

 

Scripture Reading – Psalm 63

 

2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
3 Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
4 So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
6 when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
7 for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
8 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
9 But those who seek to destroy my life
shall go down into the depths of the earth;
10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword;
they shall be a portion for jackals.
11 But the king shall rejoice in God;
all who swear by him shall exult,
for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

 

Video Sermon

 

 

Song of Reflection – Satisfy by Rivers and Robots

 

 

Prayer of Conviction by Thom M. Shuman

 

On those days
when I hunger
for some people to be hurt
the way they’ve hurt me,
I feed eagerly at the banquet
of judgment and retribution
proclaimed by some;
yet you offer me
an abundant feast of what is good:
loading my plate with a mound of mercy,
pouring grace over it
and asking me to pass it on
to my worst enemy.

 

In those moments
when I am so dehydrated
by not having my desires met
that I drink deeply from the fountains
of self-pity and pettiness,
you turn the handle of hope,
filling that dented cup of compassion
you have had since the beginning of time,
and hand it to me, saying,
‘Drink up! It’s good for you!”

 

In this life
where it seems
I never get enough of me,
help me to seek
to get enough of you, O God;

 

help me. Amen.

 

The Lord’s Prayer by Charlie and Marcus McClamma

 

 

Benediction

 

May your soul cling tightly to God, and may God’s right hand hold and sustain you. Amen

 

Questions for Reflection

 

What other passages in scripture do you rely on to center you in God’s goodness and reassurance?

 

If our posture is a choice, what practices do you implement when you feel yourself losing sight of God’s provision or goodness in your life? How do you intentionally “raise your hands” and “praise with your lips” even when you don’t feel like it?

 

Is Psalm 63 advocating for ignoring your negative emotions? Explain your answer.

 

Describe one of the richest meals of your life. What made it satisfying? How is God similar to a rich meal?