Prelude
We Are Not Alone by the Oasis Chorale
We are in uncharted territory these days. The sea is so big, and it is stormy and rough, and our boat seems so small. But God is with us. When the disciples were in the midst of that storm on the sea, fearful that they would all perish, Jesus was in the boat with them, and calmed the storm with a word, “Peace. Be still.” Peace be with you all.
Call to Worship
In the midst of life’s storms, God is there.
What have we to fear?
In the darkness and terror, God is with us.
Of whom shall we be afraid?
God is there to calm the storms and speak peace.
We will not fear, for God is with us.
Rise up, people of God, for you are loved and saved.
Thanks be to God who cares deeply for us.
Opening Song - Sanctuary with Erik & Nicole
Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living
Sanctuary for you.
Hymn - God, Who Made Each Great Wide Ocean
God, who made each great wide ocean and who moved o'er restless seas,
By your word you set in motion mighty storm and gentle breeze.
Wind and Spirit show your glory, seas and waves your strength declare;
Wind and Spirit show your glory, seas and waves your strength declare;
Ships and boats point to the story of your wondrous love and care.
Jesus in a boat was preaching on a lake called Galilee;
Later, Christ — with hand out-reaching — called to Peter in the sea.
Frightened by a storm they called him, "Master, will you let us drown?"
In that boat there, Jesus awed them; he said "Peace!" The winds calmed down.
When the storms of life are blowing and your church knows doubt and fear,
Lord, may we find peace in knowing you command a safe ship here.
May we hoist the sails, relying on your Spirit, steady, true.
See! This ship is almost flying! May we place our trust in you.
Prayer of Confession
O God, we confess that we are feeling adrift in a storm. We do not know what will happen next, and sometimes we think we are all perishing. Forgive us. Help us to remember that we are not alone. Not only are we all in this together, but we are all in this together with you. Give us courage and faith for each new day.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
Friends, take heart. Jesus speaks a word of peace, and calms the storm. Hear his word of peace to you know. Know that we are in the same boat, and Jesus is here with us.
Response: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God! Amen.
Sharing the Peace of Christ
Take a moment now, or sometime today, to check on those you love via phone, text, email or messaging. Let them know you care.
Time with Children
Scripture and Sermon
Speed Sketch
Mark 4:35-41 Jesus stops a storm
Later that day, when evening came, Jesus said to them,
“Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.”
They left the crowd and took him in the boat just as he was.
Other boats followed along.
Gale-force winds arose, and waves crashed against the boat
so that the boat was swamped.
But Jesus was in the rear of the boat, sleeping on a pillow.
They woke him up and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re drowning?”
He got up and gave orders to the wind, and he said to the lake, “Silence! Be still!”
Jesus in a boat was preaching on a lake called Galilee;
Later, Christ — with hand out-reaching — called to Peter in the sea.
Frightened by a storm they called him, "Master, will you let us drown?"
In that boat there, Jesus awed them; he said "Peace!" The winds calmed down.
When the storms of life are blowing and your church knows doubt and fear,
Lord, may we find peace in knowing you command a safe ship here.
May we hoist the sails, relying on your Spirit, steady, true.
See! This ship is almost flying! May we place our trust in you.
Prayer of Confession
O God, we confess that we are feeling adrift in a storm. We do not know what will happen next, and sometimes we think we are all perishing. Forgive us. Help us to remember that we are not alone. Not only are we all in this together, but we are all in this together with you. Give us courage and faith for each new day.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
Friends, take heart. Jesus speaks a word of peace, and calms the storm. Hear his word of peace to you know. Know that we are in the same boat, and Jesus is here with us.
Response: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God! Amen.
Sharing the Peace of Christ
Take a moment now, or sometime today, to check on those you love via phone, text, email or messaging. Let them know you care.
Time with Children
Scripture and Sermon
Speed Sketch
Mark 4:35-41 Jesus stops a storm
Later that day, when evening came, Jesus said to them,
“Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.”
They left the crowd and took him in the boat just as he was.
Other boats followed along.
Gale-force winds arose, and waves crashed against the boat
so that the boat was swamped.
But Jesus was in the rear of the boat, sleeping on a pillow.
They woke him up and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re drowning?”
He got up and gave orders to the wind, and he said to the lake, “Silence! Be still!”
The wind settled down and there was a great calm.
Jesus asked them, “Why are you frightened? Don’t you have faith yet?”
Overcome with awe, they said to each other, “Who then is this?
Even the wind and the sea obey him!”
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Sermon and Guided Meditation
Sermon from Pastor Christina
Guided Meditation with Pastor Christina.
Be Still and Know
Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer
Prayer from J. Herbert Nelson, Stated Clerk of the PC(USA)
We pray for healing for those who are infected, in China and in all the places where the virus has spread. We pray for all who already have lost loved ones to the illness and those who will yet suffer such loss. We pray for doctors, nurses and aides providing medical care, for insight in their caring, and for their health and well-being. We pray for wisdom for the medical and scientific experts who are desperately seeking ways to control the spread of the virus. We pray for public officials who must make the hard decisions about the quarantining of those who may have been exposed to the virus; and we pray for all those for whom those decisions feel like unjust imprisonment. We lift up the Christian church in China and our partners throughout the region as they seek to bring Christ’s healing presence and peace. We pray for God to keep us alert to the threats posed by such a worldwide crisis, remembering the millions of God’s children who live in places where the availability of medical care is meager or nonexistent. May God open our hearts, our financial resources, and our political will, so that the vision of a better future can become a reality for all of God’s children. In the Providence of the God who created us, in the Passion of our Savior Jesus Christ who redeems us, and in the Power of the Holy Spirit through whom God’s will is done. AMEN.
Please remember in prayer:
Leaders of all nations
All churches in every place
Those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit
Family of Elissa Quigg
Those on our church prayer list.
Offering
Click to Give Online - bit.ly/FPCsterling
Blessing
Jesus asked them, “Why are you frightened? Don’t you have faith yet?”
Overcome with awe, they said to each other, “Who then is this?
Even the wind and the sea obey him!”
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Sermon and Guided Meditation
Sermon from Pastor Christina
Guided Meditation with Pastor Christina.
Be Still and Know
Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer
Prayer from J. Herbert Nelson, Stated Clerk of the PC(USA)
We pray for healing for those who are infected, in China and in all the places where the virus has spread. We pray for all who already have lost loved ones to the illness and those who will yet suffer such loss. We pray for doctors, nurses and aides providing medical care, for insight in their caring, and for their health and well-being. We pray for wisdom for the medical and scientific experts who are desperately seeking ways to control the spread of the virus. We pray for public officials who must make the hard decisions about the quarantining of those who may have been exposed to the virus; and we pray for all those for whom those decisions feel like unjust imprisonment. We lift up the Christian church in China and our partners throughout the region as they seek to bring Christ’s healing presence and peace. We pray for God to keep us alert to the threats posed by such a worldwide crisis, remembering the millions of God’s children who live in places where the availability of medical care is meager or nonexistent. May God open our hearts, our financial resources, and our political will, so that the vision of a better future can become a reality for all of God’s children. In the Providence of the God who created us, in the Passion of our Savior Jesus Christ who redeems us, and in the Power of the Holy Spirit through whom God’s will is done. AMEN.
Please remember in prayer:
Leaders of all nations
All churches in every place
Those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit
Family of Elissa Quigg
Those on our church prayer list.
Offering
Click to Give Online - bit.ly/FPCsterling
Blessing
Page Break
Thank you to all who put this together, so that we may all be together with each other through the word of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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