HYMN Shout to the Lord
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gn5CMSSAx_c
SCRIPTURE Psalm 123 NRSV
To you I lift up my eyes,
O you who are enthroned in the heavens!
As the eyes of servants
look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a maid
to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the Lord our God,
until he has mercy upon us.
Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us,
for we have had more than enough of contempt.
Our soul has had more than its fill
of the scorn of those who are at ease,
of the contempt of the proud.
HYMN I Will Lift My Eyes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te0hy2YcLgg
SCRIPTURE Ezekiel 2:1-5
He said to me: O mortal, stand up on your feet, and I will speak with you.
And when he spoke to me, a spirit entered into me and set me on my feet; and I heard him speaking to me.
He said to me, Mortal, I am sending you to the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have transgressed against me to this very day.
The descendants are impudent and stubborn. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, “Thus says the Lord GOD.”
Whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house), they shall know that there has been a prophet among them.
HYMN People Need the Lord
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uZcGaixMhg
PRAYER
O God, support us in the complexity of our broken lives. We really don’t understand ourselves. Even though we want to do what is right, we don’t. But, we don’t want to do what is wrong, but we do it anyway! Forgive us. Heal and renew us with your Spirit.
Almighty God, we ask your help for both President Trump and Vice President Pence with the heavy burdens they carry in the governing offices you have appointed them. Help protect President Trump, Vice President Pence and their families stand against all evil plots made against them. Guide all within the Trump Administration to serve with clarity of purpose and wisdom to stop and end the powerful self-serving ‘deep state’ within our nation. Give President Trump discernment and courage to appoint your choice for Supreme Court Justice. Grant him your wisdom to form exemplary domestic policies and definitive international policies to protect our nation.
Christ Jesus saves us from our sinful actions that would lead to death. With grateful heats, fill us with your Spirit to love and serve you with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. Help each of us to recognize our opportunities to reach out in love for our neighbors with the Good News of a Savior. We ask all this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
HYMN Find us Faithful https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eERKnxzNzwg
SCRIPTURE Mark 6:1-13
He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.
On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.” And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching.
He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics.
He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place.
If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
HYMN Open the Eyes of My Heart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idQ1n3cdgfo
SCRIPTURE 2 Corinthians 12:2-10
I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows.
And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows—
was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat.
On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses.
But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated.
Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
HYMN You Raise Me Up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oni0tO_HN30
Amen