CCLI license #1913561
Sunday, August 16, 2020
Lakeview P.C. pastors are participating with the Circle of Faith pastors in a joint ‘live-streamed’ service which can be viewed via http://facebook.com/circlestpete at 11:00 a.m. and/or http://circle.faith/youtube at a later time. Circle of Faith also streams a Contemporary service with Communion each week and can be viewed at 10:00 am via http://facebook.com/circlestpete
Opening of Worship
Jesus says: “Come to me, all who are battling on under heavy load, and I will give you rest.” Let any who are feeling at odds with life, come, and find reconciliation. Let any who are sad, come, and find comfort for your aching hearts. Let any who feel worn and weary, come, and find rest for your souls. Let any who are afraid, come, and find faith and renewed courage. Let any who feel ashamed, come, and find unadulterated forgiveness. Let any who are feeling unwanted, come, and find hospitality that is divine. Let all who are feeling happy, come and have your happiness blessed. Let all who wish to renew their vows, come and trust the Spirit of truth and joy. Let all who love the Lord come, and let your love overflow in praise.
Opening Prayer
Holy Friend, bless us as we come, ready or unready, strong in faith or weak. Without you our worship is nothing and we are nothing. With your blessing we are the heirs to the wealth of your love and our worship is larger than words and songs can ever express. Holy Friend, bless us again, that this hour may openly celebrate that glory which, though veiled, will be present throughout all the busyness of this new week. Through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen!
Music Love Divine, All Loves Excelling-Wesley and Prichard
Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit,
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit;
Let us find that promised rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its Beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return and never,
Never more Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.
Reading from the Gospel of Matthew 11:16 -19, 25-30CEV
You people are like children sitting in the market and shouting to each other,
“We played the flute,
but you would not dance!
We sang a funeral song,
but you would not mourn!”
John the Baptist did not go around eating and drinking, and you said, “That man has a demon in him!” But the Son of Man goes around eating and drinking, and you say, “That man eats and drinks too much! He is even a friend of tax collectors[a] and sinners.” Yet Wisdom is shown to be right by what it does.
At that moment Jesus said: My Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I am grateful that you hid all this from wise and educated people and showed it to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that is what pleased you. My Father has given me everything, and he is the only one who knows the Son. The only one who truly knows the Father is the Son. But the Son wants to tell others about the Father, so that they can know him too. If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light.
Romans 7:15-25aCEV
15 In fact, I don’t understand why I act the way I do. I don’t do what I know is right. I do the things I hate. 16 Although I don’t do what I know is right, I agree that the Law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing these evil things. The sin that lives in me is what does them.
18 I know that my selfish desires won’t let me do anything that is good. Even when I want to do right, I cannot. 19 Instead of doing what I know is right, I do wrong. 20 And so, if I don’t do what I know is right, I am no longer the one doing these evil things. The sin that lives in me is what does them.
21 The Law has shown me that something in me keeps me from doing what I know is right. 22 With my whole heart I agree with the Law of God. 23 But in every part of me I discover something fighting against my mind, and it makes me a prisoner of sin that controls everything I do. 24 What a miserable person I am. Who will rescue me from this body that is doomed to die? 25 Thank God! Jesus Christ will rescue me. So with my mind I serve the Law of God, although my selfish desires make me serve the law of sin.
Message “Burdened? His Yoke is Easy” Rev Lois Robinson Lehman
Music YOUR GREAT NAME-William and Krissy
Lost are saved find their way
At the sound of your great name
All condemned feel no shame
At the sound of your great name
Every fear has no place
At the sound of your great name
The enemy: he has to leave
At the sound of your great name
Jesus
Worthy is the Lamb
That was slain for us
Son of God and Man
You are high and lifted up
And all the world will praise your great name
All the weak find their strength
At the sound of your great name
Hungry souls receive grace
At the sound of your great name
The fatherless: they find their rest
At the sound of your great name
The sick are healed and the dead are raised
At the sound of your great name
Jesus
Worthy is the Lamb
That was slain for us
Son of God and Man
You are high and lifted up
And all the world will praise your great name
Your great name
Redeemer, My Healer,Lord Almighty
My Savior, Defender, You are My King
Redeemer, My Healer,Lord Almighty
My Savior, Defender, You are My King
Jesus
The name of Jesus
You are high and lifted up
And all the world will praise your great name
Jesus
Worthy is the Lamb
That was slain for us
Son of God and Man
You are high and lifted up
And all the world will praise your great name
Your great name, your great name
Prayer
Compassionate God, you call us to lay down our burdens and find rest in a relationship with you. Help us to learn from you how to be gentle and humble of heart. We pray for all people, that when the burdens of war, poverty, hunger and disease are too much to bear, we may do our part to offer peace and rest, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
A Statement about Offering our Gifts
Friends, God is faithful and gracious to us, upholds us, and raises us up. Let us show our thanksgiving by giving generously to support ministries that ease burdens and give rest to those in need.
Donations can be mailed to the church address or given online through our website.
Charge
Sisters and brothers, sin distorts even the good gifts of God: the law, the church, our own desires—but this need not lead us to despair, for God’s love has overcome, is overcoming, will overcome sin’s power at work in the world.
Benediction
May the God who brings good from broken desires, the Christ who shares his yoke with us, the Spirit who breathes wisdom into our hearts, sustain and guide us this day and always. AMEN
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
What burdens weigh you down: oppression? guilt? fear? anxiety? feelings of inadequacy? How might sharing these burdens, by being yoked to Jesus, ease your burdens?
When we are facing a great difficulty, do we doubt ourselves? Do we doubt God’s power? How can we regain our focus?