Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
It is our pleasure to encourage you to meet in a different way during this time of unusual precaution. We do not need to fear; we need to be wise.
We have put together a worship service including prayer, songs, readings, and a message from Pastor Dale. The links are included. We are encouraging our church family to gather as small groups, families, or with a friend, and worship our Lord and Saviour together. Please spread the word to those who may not receive this email so that all may be included.
Just as the early church met, let us meet and encourage one another lifting our prayers and praises to God. Let us show love to one another and with excitement look forward to meeting under one roof again soon with testimonies of what God has done.
As we value giving to be an important part of worship, we encourage you to use the website to give to the ministries of the church.
May God bless you during these precious times.
UBC Leadership Team
WORSHIPING TOGETHER – MARCH 15, 2020
Call to Worship (Read by a Single Voice): Psalm 46: 1-11 (NIV)
1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Worshiping Together
In Christ Alone by Keith and Kristyn Getty
Praying Together:
Loving Father, you tell us that when two or more of us gather in your name, you will be with us. We invite you to be with us today. We seek you first and confess that these are confusing times. It is hard not to be with your greater church today, but we are your church, no matter where we are or how many of us there are, we are your church. And as your church we seek you. We seek your Kingdom, your love, your mercy, your grace, your hope. You are bigger than everything we are facing. You are stronger than the fears and the anxiety that the unknown and these changes bring. So, we place our fears and our anxieties at the cross of Jesus Christ, and we ask your Spirit to bring wisdom and patience and peace. Help us to live out the fullness of our calling even in trying times. We are called to be your disciples, to learn from your Word. We turn to it now. Give us ears to hear and hearts to know. We are your children, teach us father. Amen.
This morning’s Scripture Reading (Read by a Single Voice): Matthew 6:25-33 (NIV)
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
This morning’s Message by Pastor Dale:
Respond Together, Worshiping:
God I Look To You by Francesca Battistelli
Respond Together, Praying:
Lord Almighty, we have heard your Word for us today and we are grateful for the reminder that you are Sovereign and that you are Love. We thank you for the reminder that we do not need to worry, that you hold us firmly in your hand. All we need to do is give ourselves fully to you, to love you and to love others as we love you. We receive your peace, so great that it surpasses all understanding. It is ours to share with our loved ones. We thank you. We praise you. We worship you. We love you. Glory be to God in the highest. Amen.
Benediction (Bless each other, read this together): Psalm 104:27-35 (NIV)
27 All creatures look to you
to give them their food at the proper time.
28 When you give it to them,
they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
they are satisfied with good things.
29 When you hide your face,
they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
they die and return to the dust.
30 When you send your Spirit,
they are created,
and you renew the face of the ground.
31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
may the Lord rejoice in his works—
32 he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,
who touches the mountains, and they smoke.
33 I will sing to the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as I rejoice in the Lord.
35 But may sinners vanish from the earth
and the wicked be no more.
Praise the Lord, my soul.
Praise the Lord.