LEVEL GROUND MENNONITE CHURCH WORSHIP GUIDE (SEPTEMBER 20)

LET US PRAY: PRAYING TOGETHER AS A CHURCH FAMILY

CALL TO WORSHIP: THE LORD’S PRAYER

Read aloud together.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.

For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

LISTEN TOGETHER How Great Thou Art (www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKGf06YM7rQ) Jesus Messiah (www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdxSC1tHJn0)

PREPARING TO READ THE BIBLE TOGETHER Pray this together. As a group, read aloud the emphasized phrases.

Open our eyes, O God: that we may behold wondrous things out of your written word. Open our ears, O God: that we may hear what you will speak to those who turn to you in their hearts. Open our minds, O God: that we may understand what it means to trust you and to learn of your ways. Open our hearts, O God: that we may grasp the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden in Christ. Open our mouths, O God: that we may proclaim the goodness of Jesus and speak of him boldly.

Source: adapted from The Worship Source Book 2nd ed. (pg 144)

READING THE BIBLE TOGETHER Take a few minutes to read and receive Scripture together. Pause briefly after each passage to allow for prayerful personal reflection. Give space in between the passages if there is anyone who wants to respond with an observation, an expression of gratitude, a reflection of encourage and hope, etc.

Psalm 19

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.

3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. 4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. 5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,

like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.

7 The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;

they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. 11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

12 But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me.

Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Isaiah 40:3-5, 25-31

3 A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.

5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

25 “To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these?

He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.

27 Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God”?

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

Luke 18:1-14

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Colossians 1:9-20

9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

REFLECTION AND SHARING Take a few minutes to reflect quietly on the texts. In preparing for sharing and responding, consider how you might reply to these questions (don’t feel compelled to answer them all):

How do you experience God? What things in your life point to Him?

When have you noticed God’s strength in you, sustaining you to keep you going?

What mountains have you seen God move in your life?

What is something you’ve prayed for for a long time? Where are you at with that prayer need?

In what way do you need God’s mercy today?

When has God given you the wisdom and understanding you needed for a situation?

How willing are you to pray for patience and perseverance? Why might it be hard to pray for these things?

In what ways are you seeing God at work around you, bringing everything into Jesus?

SHARING TOGETHER Respond to the Scripture focus and the reflection questions, taking turns to express how the passage resonates with you. Perhaps you have a seen a prayer request filled, perhaps the text connected with you or you have observation that you would like to share with the group.

SILENCE In quietness turn what was shared into prayer. Take a moment or two of silence to contemplate, to express gratitude for God’s provisions, to intercede for matters shared, to worship.

PRAYING TOGETHER As prompted, pray aloud with your group. Allow the Scripture read to shape and inform your prayers. Intercede for our church family: our needs, questions, burdens, pains, and obstacles.

CLOSING COMMUNAL PRAYER Pray this together. As a group, read aloud the emphasized phrases.

For the earth and the gift of good land, we give thanks, O Lord. For the anticipation of every coming season, we give thanks, O Lord. For those who cultivate the earth and tend to it, we give thanks, O Lord. For the abundance of food and the opportunities to share, we give thanks, O Lord. For the wonder and witness of your creation, we give thanks, O Lord. O God, our help, we lift up our hearts for the needs of your people: to those who continue to be burdened with financial problems, give strength, O Lord. To those who have lost their loved ones or livelihood, who have experienced the pain of displacement and disorientation, give hope, O Lord. To those serving people who are troubled and discouraged, give wisdom, O Lord. To those who are strong and have prospered, give humility, O Lord. To those seeking to be open to your gifts and direction, give us grace to be patient in suffering and sensitive to the pain of others. Help us to be faithful to that which you have committed to us so that we may realize your kingdom where we are. May this all come to be through Jesus Christ, through whom all things have been made and will be renewed. Amen.

Source: adapted from The Worship Source Book 2nd ed. (pgs 392, 293)

BENEDICTION

Read aloud together in closing.

Hebrews 13:20-21 20 Now may the God of peace,

who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus,

that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will,

and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.

Amen.

SONG LYRICS

HOW GREAT THOU ART

VERSE ONE: O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder Thy power throughout the universe displayed

CHORUS: Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art

VERSE THREE: And when I think of God, His Son not sparing Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing He bled and died to take away my sin

CHORUS

VERSE THREE: When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation And lead me home, what joy shall fill my heart Then I shall bow with humble adoration And then proclaim, my God, how great Thou art

CHORUS

JESUS MESSIAH

He became sin, who knew no sin That we might become His righteousness He humbled himself and carried the cross Love so amazing, love so amazing

Jesus Messiah, name above all names Blessed redeemer, Emmanuel The rescue for sinners, the ransom from Heaven Jesus Messiah, Lord of all

His body the bread, his blood the wine Broken and poured out all for love The whole earth trembled, and the veil was torn Love so amazing, love so amazing, yeah

Jesus Messiah, name above all names Blessed redeemer, Emmanuel The rescue for sinners, the ransom from Heaven Jesus Messiah, Lord of all

All our hope is in You, all our hope is in You All the glory to You, God, the light of the world

Jesus Messiah, name above all names Blessed redeemer, Emmanuel The rescue for sinners, the ransom from Heaven Jesus Messiah, Lord of all

Jesus Messiah, Lord of all You're the Lord of all The Lord of all

LEVEL GROUND MENNONITE CHURCH

SEPTEMBER IN-PERSONAL GATHERINGS: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Each of our four September in-person gatherings will include a guided discussion on how we can go forward as a church family. After a time of welcome, Scripture reading, sharing, and prayer, we will devote a significant amount of time to listening to one another as we go through the following set of questions together. The responses to these questions will provide the Lead Team and staff with valuable feedback as they make plan for sustainable and life-giving gatherings and rhythms for Level Ground going forward.

1. What are your questions related to church gatherings and rhythms, finances, future plans, etc?

2. What are your needs right now? What burdens, concerns, or shortcomings are you right now?

3. Thinking about the way we were a church before the pandemic and the way we are a church now ...

What is one thing about the way we used to “do church” that you have not missed?

What is one thing about the way we have been a church now that you want to take with us forward?

What is one thing that has been lost or limited about being a church that you want to recover?

4. Where do you see God at work, in your life, in your community, in our church family?

5. What should we (staff, Lead Team and church family) prioritize with our time, resources and efforts going forward?

6. What forms of gathering and faith formation practices would you commit to right now? In what ways to you want to participate with and contribute to the life of the church family?

7. How are you willing to serve the church family at this time? What adjustments to our church rhythms or personal expectations are you willing to make?