THE CELEBRATION OF THE GOSPEL
Live streamed worship, March 15,2020
GREETING
PRAYER
POEM –
The peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry
When despair grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting for their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.
The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;
God utters a voice, the earth melts.
The God of the Universe is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Come, behold the works of the Holy One;
see what desolations God has brought on the earth.
God makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
God breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; and burns the shields with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I am powerful over the nations, I am exalted in the earth.
The Holy One is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Amen.
HEBREW BIBLE – Exodus 17.1-7
From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as God commanded. They camped at Reff-i-dim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test your God?” But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried out to God, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” God said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.”
Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.
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REFLECTION
GOSPEL – John 4.5-42
REFLECTION
SONG: Water Jug
PRAYERS
We pray for those on our prayer calendar this week:
Annie Polk
Karen Quist and Sebastian
Josephine & Nathan Ramos and Roberto Pizarro
Carolyn Raposo
Westford UMC; and Rev. Seok Kwan Hong
May your will be done in their lives.
We pray for all whose health is affected by the coronavirus, and those who are at risk. We pray for those whose lives or income is disrupted. May your grace sustain them.
We pray for health care workers, especially those who endure extraordinary risk or sacrifice to serve others. May your Spirit guide them.
We pray for those who will be especially isolated in these weeks. May your love move us to reach out tour neighbors, to stay connected with each other, and to be a source of hope and help for those who are afraid. May your love enfold them.
We pray for a spirit of sharing and cooperation among neighbors, communities and nations as we face the pandemic together. May your wisdom guide us.
We pray for all those who are rejected, shamed or looked down upon. May you grace lift them up. May we see your glory in even those who are judged as “lowly.” May your gifts shine in them.
We pray for each person watching this service. We ask your blessing for all the people of St. Matthew’s. We pray for your church around the world, that we may overcome all judgments and divisions, and be the body of your love. Strike the rock of your church, God, that the water of justice may flow from us. May your love move us.
We pray for the healing of the world: for the healing of the Coronavirus, and the virus of greed and selfishness, the virus of violence and fear. We pray for peace among all people. We pray for our care of Creation. We long for the coming of your Empire of Grace. May your will be done among us.
As a trusting child turns to her mother, we turn to you,
and pray as Jesus taught us to pray, asking you always to teach us to pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
SONG – Come and Fill Our Hearts
BLESSING AND SENDING
BLESSING SONG