Mill Plain UMC Sunday July 17, 2022
The Jordan, Crossing the Water
Scripture: Joshua 3:7-17
Songs
How Firm a foundation #529
On Jordans stormy Banks I stand #724
Thy Holy Wings Oh Savior #502
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Sunday July 17, 2022
Prelude
Greeting
Call to Worship
Worship Leader: Look to the land of promise that waits for you across the river.
People: The water is wide, we cannot cross over.
Worship Leader: God will open a way for you, just step in.
People: The water is wide, we cannot cross over.
Worship Leader: Trust in God who will be with you.
People: Give us courage and faith, God, for the journey ahead.
Opening Prayer
Gracious God, as Moses stretched his arm over the Sea and it parted so the people could cross on dry ground, as the waters of the Jordan parted when the Holy Ark entered it so the people could once again cross, we come now to the waters. We look across the waters of baptism to your land of new life and confess that we tremble in fear at crossing. We hesitate to get our feet wet. We do not want to risk the strong currents which flow past us. Grant us the courage to follow you through the waters to discover the promise on the other side. Fill us with faith that your promise will bless us. Amen.
SONG How Firm a Foundation #529 verses 1,2,3
Special Music Deep River
Young Disciple’s Moment
Silent Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
Lord’s Prayer
Presentation of Offerings
Doxology
Joshua 3:7-17
The Lord said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so that they may know that I will be with you as I was with Moses. You are the one who shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, ‘When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’” Joshua then said to the Israelites, “Draw near and hear the words of the Lord your God.” Joshua said, “By this you shall know that among you is the living God who without fail will drive out from before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites: the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is going to pass before you into the Jordan. So now select twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. When the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan flowing from above shall be cut off; they shall stand in a single heap.”
When the people set out from their tents to cross over the Jordan, the priests bearing the ark of the covenant were in front of the people. Now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest. So when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the edge of the water, the waters flowing from above stood still, rising up in a single heap far off at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, while those flowing toward the sea of the Arabah, the Dead Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people crossed over opposite Jericho. While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan.
Song On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand #724
Message: The Jordan: Crossing the Water
Prayer O God, that we may receive your blessing,
touch our brows, touch our heads, and do not look upon us in anger.
In a hard year, offer us mercy; in a year of affliction, offer us kindness; dark spirits banish from us, bright spirits bring close to us.
Gray spirits put away from us, good spirits draw near to us.
When we are afraid, offer us courage; when we are ashamed, be our true face.
Be over us like a blanket, be under us like a bed of furs. Amen.
Traditional Prayer, Mongolia. Reprinted from the United Methodist Book of Worship, copyright 1992, by permission of The United Methodist Publishing House
Song Thy Holy Wings O Savior #502
Benediction
Take courage, be strong, be compassionate and kind, for God is with you in the way ahead.
The love of God, the grace of Jesus Christ, and the presence of the Holy Spirit be with you. Amen.
Postlude
Walk out slides