Liturgy
God in heaven, you number the stars.
You hold the pillars of the earth firm.
You have searched each of us and known us.
The inmost being of every person
Has been created and gently held by you.
We look to you and your strength,
Seeking your face always.
We see only from where we are,
Guessing whether the other is friend or foe.
Sometimes looking only with our lizard brains
Nervous about what we cannot see.
Unsure of heavens above, earth below, all within.
We look to you and your strength,
Seeking your face always.
We bring you all the uncertainties we hold
About what is true and trustworthy.
We don’t want to cover it up with judgment calls
That may look different down the road.
We want to make space for what is and what might be.
We look to you and your strength,
Seeking your face always.
We lean into what we do know:
That you got us up this morning, gave us a new day.
You have cared for us and walked with us.
We search the stories of your people and find miracles;
We remember the personal wonders you have given us.
We look to you and your strength,
Seeking your face always.
In the name of God who created us,
Christ who walks with us,
And the Spirit who knows us.
Amen.
Scripture
We invite you to hear from Psalm 105.
1 Thank GOD! Pray to him by name!
Tell everyone you meet what he has done!
2 Sing him songs, belt out hymns,
translate his wonders into music!
3 Honor his holy name with Hallelujahs,
you who seek GOD. Live a happy life!
4 Keep your eyes open for GOD, watch for his works;
be alert for signs of his presence.
5 Remember the world of wonders he has made,
his miracles, and the verdicts he’s rendered.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
The grass withers and the flower fades,
but the Word of the Lord endures forever. Amen.
Homily and Reflection
Homily Podcast – Promise Keeper 8.13.2023
What would it look like to create space to reflect on the promises God has kept?
How can the uncertainty or mystery of our human condition embolden us in our faith and purpose?
What promises have you dismissed or declared obsolete that God might be calling you to resurrect and reclaim?
Benediction
May God who makes the seasons change
Have mercy on your baked, hard ground.
May cooling rain fall on your soul,
Soaking you and bringing growth.
May a refreshing breeze blow through,
Enlivening and restoring you.
May the cracked places in you be filled,
And unlikely sprouts come up from there.
May you be cared for, shaded, and gently tended
By those around you and the One above.
In the name of the God who makes all things new,
Christ who redeems both people and planets,
And Spirit who enables us to bear the heat.
Amen.
[Photo by Radoslav Bali ]