PAUSE FOR REFLECTION
“The reward for playing jazz is playing jazz.”
— John Lewis
CALL TO WORSHIP John Lewis, Preacher and Congressman
As a people of faith, as a people of hope, we need the blessing of God Almighty.
It does not matter what language you speak or the color of your skin.
It does not matter whether you worship one God, many gods, or no gods.
We are one people, one family.
OPENING HYMN “Be Not Afraid” Choristers Guild – Taylor Davis
CHRISTIAN READING Acts 16: 16-24
As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
ANOTHER VOICE John Lewis, Politician and Civil Rights Leader
“The civil rights movement was based on faith. Many of us who were participants in this movement saw our involvement as an extension of our faith. We saw ourselves doing the work of the Almighty. Segregation and racial discrimination were not in keeping with our faith, so we had to do something.”
SERMON
“Reformed and Always Reforming!”
Rev. Don Ludwig
To read the sermon text, click here.
SHARING THE PEACE
- Who is someone you admire as a “reformer”? Why?
- What concerns you about the current calamities in downtown Portland?
- How should we be reformers of racial injustice without distracting from our goals?
NAMING JOYS & CONCERNS
“God is our refuge and strength. We will not fear” (Psalms 46:1-2).
GUIDED MEDITATION & PASTORAL PRAYER
“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
Reflecting on Quotes from John Lewis
CORPORATE PRAYER / AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Great divine spirit of love that is at the core of everything
and from which all life flows, we acknowledge your healing and transforming power.
May the spirit of unconditional love and forgiveness flow through each of us and
enable the realm of love to spread throughout the world.
Like the flowers in the fields, ensure that we have the basics we need to live
and give us the love and commitment to ensure that others have what they need too.
Give us the courage to acknowledge when we have done wrong,
to seek forgiveness from those we have hurt
and to forgive those who have hurt us, so that we may be reconciled.
We acknowledge the power of self-giving love to transform individual hearts and the world.
We recommit ourselves to the unconditional love of others and the work of justice and peace.
Amen.
TIME FOR OFFERING
As we reflect on all of our blessings, individually and as a community, may we consider how we may give of ourselves so that the work of Christ’s love and peace may continue throughout our world.
(Please contact staff@southmin.org, to discover simple ways you may give electronically or via mail. Thank you for supporting the staff and on-going ministries of Southminster Presbyterian Church).
DOXOLOGY
Through all our living, we our fruits must give.
Good works of service are for offering.
When we are giving, or when receiving,
We belong to God.
We belong to God.
We belong to God.
We belong to God.
RESPONSIVE HYMN “Here I am Lord”
FINAL BLESSING & BENEDICTION
Now, as we enter a new week, have hope, good people of Southminster.
Take stock in our heritage as Presbyterians and reformed tradition.
Know that we are not alone.
May you have hope in a world of equity and justice for all.
And may you be reformed and always reforming—this day and forever more. Amen.
You must be logged in to post a comment.