I took today’s passage personally. I read it as a prayer specifically for me. Throughout my career I have been the one who prays for others. When I am the recipient of the prayers I find my response is always humbling and healing. This prayer for the church in Ephesus is one of an eternal nature. Written almost two thousand years ago it is relevant for me, and us today! It demonstrates that when we minister from our soul mind our words and actions take on an eternal nature. I hope you also find comfort in today’s lesson and it ministers to you eternally.
- The one praying for the congregation was humble enough to kneel
- When I read this prayer it felt like it was for me. It brought comfort to my troubled soul.
- Personally there has been a lot of transition in my life. We are still not settled.
- Professionally, WUC. We are building back.
- When we live in ambiguity we often need power from beyond ourselves.
- This passage reminded me that there is a resource that is working for us that is much greater than anything we can imagine.
- My inner being knew this. My soul always does. It is my conscious mind that needs reminded.
- I have become more hopeful for myself, my family and our church after absorbing this prayer.
- Why? I know where I am rooted. I know (ginoskow) where we are rooted as a faith community.
- We are rooted and established in God’s love.
- I feel that the immediate task ahead of us is to, “have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
- I am challenged once again re-engage that rich power we have within us. God’s immeasurable power.
- We are a force on this earth and universe. We are a force for goodness, kindness and love. We are a catalyst for change in a country where bitterness and ugly behavior are rewarded by going viral.
- We are a people who have immeasurable power to change lives, heal wounded hearts and transform souls.
- This is who we are! This is what we do!
- We were doing it with around 250 people.
- Now we are doing it with 80.
- We will stay true to our calling.
- We will continue to look for those who have not yet returned like the father of the prodigal son.
- We will continue to do our part and fulfill our purpose for God’s plan.
- How can I be so sure of this?
- Regardless of where my brain is I KNOW where we are rooted.
- We are rooted in LOVE (agape)
- We are rooted in God’s Divine Love. Where we go from here and what we accomplish is beyond our wildest imagination.
- We like all the faithful servants of God will wake up, do our part and trust God is working a miracle within us.
Call to Celebration
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Offertory
God, an act of love penetrated the earth’s atmosphere. Love has sustained the earth and humankind. We are a part of God’s symphony. All parts of God’s creation are one. Mother Earth graciously shares her resources with us. As we pour our hearts into maintaining our treasures, may the love we have received from Mother Earth inspire us to pour back into her for all of creation’s evolution. Amen
Full Service Service August 1
Scripture Lesson
Ephesians 4:1–16 NIV
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it[a] says: “When he ascended on high, 9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. |
The sound was markedly improved this week. Thank you. Love you all!