Call to Worship – by Christine Longhurst

 

We’ve come to worship God,
who makes streams flow from rock,
who turns the parched earth into springs of water,
who sends the rain from heaven
and makes the wilderness blossom and flourish.
As the deer thirsts for flowing streams,
so we thirst for You, O God.
Come, let’s worship our life-giving God,
who pours out living water on all who thirst.

 

Scripture Reading – John 4:13-14

 

 

Song – Is He Worthy?

 

Prayer of Confession – by Renee C. Jackson

 

God of mercy, hear the prayers of your thirsting people.
For every time we have attributed your miracles in our lives
to our own hands alone,
Forgive us, we pray.

 

For every time we promised to trust you but turned to our own way
when your response did not come soon enough
or in the way we expected,
Grant us mercy, O God.

 

For the many opportunities to extend forgiveness
that we have refused,
Show us what it means to love, again, dear Lord.

 

For each way we put our own understandings above your wisdom,
For each time we resist your command to be reconciled with those
who believe differently from us,
Direct us in the way of peace, we pray.

 

For our silent sins, our quiet acts of violence,
and our indifference to the suffering round us,
Forgive us, Loving One, and quench our thirst with your grace;
Remake us into vessels of tenderness and compassion.
For Christ’s sake we pray. Amen.

 

Assurance of Forgiveness – by Renee C. Jackson

 

 

Because of God’s great love for us,
we have peace with God and access to God’s grace
all through Jesus Christ
who, while we were still sinners,
died to free us from the bondage of sin.
Therefore, we may ask of Christ
to give us the living water that quenches the dryness of our souls.
In this we know we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God!

 

 

 

 

Video sermon w/ Scripture Reading

 

Prayer for Others – by Christine Longhurst

 

Holy God,
whose Spirit moved over the waters at the dawn of creation,
hear our prayers for all who thirst today.

 

We pray for those who are spiritually thirsty,
who long to know Your presence, but don’t know where to find You.
We pray for those who are alone and without hope,
those who long to feel needed and loved,
those who are searching for meaning and purpose.

 

O healing river,
pour down Your waters, and heal Your people.

 

We pray for all who are physically thirsty,
who don’t have enough water to drink, or feed their animals,
whose fields are parched, whose crops have withered;
those who have to walk long distances to find enough water to survive,
or who have to be content with water that is unclean.
We pray for those whose homes and villages are torn apart
because of drought or famine.

 

O healing river,
pour down Your waters, and heal Your people.

 

We pray for those who are thirsty for justice,
who long for an equal sharing of resources among peoples and nations;
those who put their lives at risk to protect streams and rivers and oceans;
those who are working to find clean water,
and make it available to those who need it.

 

O healing river,
pour down Your waters, and heal Your people.

 

God, we ask that you would open our hearts to the needs of all who thirst.
Give us courage to work together for justice,
to stand alongside those who are thirsty,
so that all people, everywhere, may live without want or fear,
and may discover the abundant life You promise to each one.
In the name of Jesus Christ—the source of living water—we pray. Amen.

 

 

Each time we come together to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we participate in an incredible mystery. The passage from this week tells us that Jesus and his disciples stayed for 2 days with the people of Samaria. Imagine the meals they had together. Imagine the conversation. Imagine the images they had created in their own hearts of the other and how being in the very presence of Jesus, the images were likely deconstructed. When we participate in this meal, we do it with the whole multitude of Christ’s Church. Despite our differences, our sins, our histories, and our brokenness, Jesus invites us into his marvelous light. Barriers are broken down, Christ’s life and light are made available to us, and for this unique moment, we are all unified God’s grace. What a gift.

 

Whether you are alone in your home or with others, Jesus if with you. As you take the elements in your home, know that you are tethered to the Messiah, his Spirit, and beloved by God.

 

When you take the bread, say, “This is the body of Christ”
When you drink from the cup, say, “This is God’s covenant commitment, his very life poured out for me.”

 

Spend a moment in prayer offering Jesus the totality of your praises.

 

Song – Almighty God

 

Benediction – by John Birch