"When the Lord returned the captives of Zion we were like those who dream" Psalm 126:1
16th Sunday after Pentecost
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Opening of Worship
[Leader:] The Lord be with you
[ALL:] And also with you
Hear the word of the Lord...
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
—Isaiah 43:1-3, NIV
[Leader:] Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;
[ALL:] for he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.
—Psalm 95:6-7, NIV
Pause. Listen. Breathe. Taste. See.
The Lord is our Redeemer.
He knows you by name.
He knows how high the waters are around you.
God is near to you in the thick of the fire.
He is your Protector. He is Steadfast Love towards you.
Today, may we receive God’s love and be lovers of God.
May this worship time together be filled with moments of connecting our lives with the life of God.
Pause. Listen. Breathe. Taste. See.
Speak. Sing. Shout. Praise the Lord our God, the Holy One, our Savior.
Everlasting God,
in whom we live and move and have our being:
You have made us for yourself,
so that our hearts are restless until they rest in you.
Give us purity of heart and strength of purpose,
that no selfish passion may hinder us from knowing your will,
no weakness keep us from doing it;
that in your light we may see light clearly,
and in your service find perfect freedom
through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
The Psalms // Sacred Songs
Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 (NLT)
1-2
Choose a good reputation over great riches;
being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.
The rich and poor have this in common:
The LORD made them both.
8-9
Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster,
and their reign of terror will come to an end.
Blessed are those who are generous,
because they feed the poor.
22-23
Don’t rob the poor just because you can,
or exploit the needy in court.
For the LORD is their defender.
He will ruin anyone who ruins them.
The First Testament // The Law & The Prophets
Psalm 45:1–2, 6–9 (NLT)
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.
Those who trust in the LORD are as secure as Mount Zion;
they will not be defeated but will endure forever.
Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the LORD surrounds his people, both now and forever.
The wicked will not rule the land of the godly,
for then the godly might be tempted to do wrong.
O LORD, do good to those who are good,
whose hearts are in tune with you.
But banish those who turn to crooked ways, O LORD.
Take them away with those who do evil.
May Israel have peace!
Generosity & Giving
The tithes and donations you make to DreamHouse Church make a difference to our church, our community, the people of Newport News, and world missions. There are various ways you can donate. We pass a collection plate during services and electronic giving is available for 24/7 donations. “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops” (Proverbs 3:9).
The Second Testament // The Epistles
James 2:1-17 (NLT)
My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?
For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?
Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear?
Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.
For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws.
For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.” So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law.
So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free.
There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.
What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
Prayer of Illumination // For reading and preaching of the Word of God
Read and pray from Ephesians 6:10-20 where Paul speaks to the Church in Ephesus about putting on the whole armor of God
The Second Testament // The Gospel
Mark 7:24–37 (NLT)
Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre. He didn’t want anyone to know which house he was staying in, but he couldn’t keep it a secret. Right away a woman who had heard about him came and fell at his feet. Her little girl was possessed by an evil spirit, and she begged him to cast out the demon from her daughter.
Since she was a Gentile, born in Syrian Phoenicia, Jesus told her, “First I should feed the children—my own family, the Jews. It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”
She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children’s plates.”
“Good answer!” he said. “Now go home, for the demon has left your daughter.” And when she arrived home, she found her little girl lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone.
Jesus left Tyre and went up to Sidon before going back to the Sea of Galilee and the region of the Ten Towns.
A deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to him, and the people begged Jesus to lay his hands on the man to heal him.
Jesus led him away from the crowd so they could be alone. He put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then, spitting on his own fingers, he touched the man’s tongue. Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said, “Ephphatha,” which means, “Be opened!” Instantly the man could hear perfectly, and his tongue was freed so he could speak plainly!
Jesus told the crowd not to tell anyone, but the more he told them not to, the more they spread the news. They were completely amazed and said again and again, “Everything he does is wonderful. He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who cannot speak.”
The Lord's Supper // Communion
Hear the words of the institution
of the Holy Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Jesus said to his disciples,
“I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment
in the kingdom of God.”
After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said,
“Take this and divide it among you.
For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine
until the kingdom of God comes.”
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it,
and gave it to them, saying,
“This is my body given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying,
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
which is poured out for you.”
—based on Luke 22:15-20, NIV
O taste and see that the LORD is good;
happy are those who take refuge in him.
—Psalm 34:8, NRSV
We, your people, Lord,
are scattered around the world today.
Yet when we gather at your table, we become one.
Like grain from many fields becomes one loaf,
and grapes from many vines become one cup,
so we become one body here today.
For as we partake of one bread
and drink from one cup,
we are united together.
Remove the divisions that separate us,
heal the brokenness that too often marks us.
Make this time of sacrament
a celebration of our oneness with Christ
and with one another,
that the world may believe. Amen.
Doxology and Benediction // The Sending & the Blessing
As you leave this place this day,
may God’s love sustain you,
and may you love those who surround you.
May God’s Spirit empower you,
and may you empower all those you meet.
May God’s joy fill your hearts,
and may this joy overflow
to the ends of the earth for God’s glory, now and forever. Amen.