Mother's Day Worship and Sermon

Sunday Worship at the Fellowship of Joy -  May 14, 2016

 
Stoning of Saint Stephen from Sant Joan de Boí

 

 Invocation

God of Life and Love, we join our hearts and minds to focus on You, Your praise, Your presence, and the truth that You desire to convey to our hearts. Teach us to sit and listen and to rise and serve. Forgive us of our sins and failures. Grant us Your peace. Be honored in these moments. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Scripture - Acts 7:55-60 B

But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died.

 Hymn – Be Not Afraid

 

Responsive Reading  - Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 

In you, O LORD, I seek refuge;

do not let me ever be put to shame;

in your righteousness deliver me. 

Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily.

Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me. 

You are indeed my rock and my fortress;

for your name's sake lead me and guide me, 

take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for you are my refuge. 

Into your hand I commit my spirit;

you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. 

My times are in your hand;

deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.

Let your face shine upon your servant;

save me in your steadfast love.

Songs of Praise and Prayer

 Scripture from Epistles - 1 Peter 2:2-10

Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation- if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture "See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner,” and "A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Honoring of Mothers

Prayer Time for Mothers, Families, and Others

    Join us by praying in your own way

Gospel Reading - John 14:1-14

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

Offertory Hymn – The Call 

 

Sermon – The Way, The Truth, The Life (at the Fellowship of Joy )

Sermon Online:
A Mother’s Day Tribute:  A Mother of Israel

The Love of God

“The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.” (Judges 5:7) 

Deborah was no stereotypical mother. But a mother, she was. 

She was a leader in Israel. She was a wife. She was as tough as nails and yet, sensitive to the things of God. Her prayer and song of praise tell her story and God’s story. 

God raised her up for His purposes and used her mightily. She did what Barak would not do and received honor that he might have received. 

She was a woman of courage, a woman of faith, a woman of praise, and a woman of wisdom – a lot like many of our mothers. 

We need mothers with courage today because times are hard and the attacks on our families are profound. Sometimes, it is only the mother who will stand up for her families. Some fathers have defaulted in their responsibility. All fathers need her by their sides. 

We need mothers of faith today because our children need to learn it. What better place to be introduced to faith than at a mother’s knee? 

We need mothers of praise today who fill our homes with songs of praise, objects of praise, and occasions to praise the Lord. We need mothers who will turn off the televisions and radios and turn on the gospel. 

We need mothers of wisdom today who will take the time to teach their children. Parents are the best wisdom teachers that God made. That is why we are told throughout the book of Proverbs to listen to them so carefully. 

Buried in the sometimes dark stories of Judges is an example of a mother who can point us to some qualities of motherhood that we need to encourage in our young women today. Our pews are full today of exemplary models of motherhood. Let us honor them today. 

Happy Mother’s Day!

Decision and Benediction

Scriptures from NRSV