McPhail Weblog Sept 12, 2021

McPhail Baptist Church

Study of a Flying Sparrow (ca. 1515-1520) by Giovanni da Udine

Prelude: “Choral and Variations”

(Rachel Laurin)

Hymn: “Praise To The Lord, The Almighty”

Prayer

Gracious God, we hear You calling. You have shown us hope and You offer us courage. We want to walk in your way of grace and love. But sometimes we are afraid. We get discouraged and weary.

Sometimes our best and good intentions come to naught. We let hopelessness get the better of us. Care for us in our journeying, O God. Help us to know that your love is always there surrounding us with care. Take our weariness and through your Son, Jesus Christ, transform us to be your new people, shining in the world's darkness. For it is in His name, we pray. Amen.

Special Music: “In Times Like These”

Lynda and Ernie Cox

Scripture Readings

Psalm 42

1 As a deer longs for flowing streams,

so my soul longs for you, O God.

2 My soul thirsts for God,

for the living God.

When shall I come and behold

the face of God?

3 My tears have been my food

day and night,

while people say to me continually,

“Where is your God?”

4 These things I remember,

as I pour out my soul:

how I went with the throng,[a]

and led them in procession to the house of God,

with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving,

a multitude keeping festival.

5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,

and why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

my help 6 and my God.

My soul is cast down within me;

therefore I remember you

from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,

from Mount Mizar.

7 Deep calls to deep

at the thunder of your cataracts;

all your waves and your billows

have gone over me.

8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,

and at night his song is with me,

a prayer to the God of my life.

9 I say to God, my rock,

“Why have you forgotten me?

Why must I walk about mournfully

because the enemy oppresses me?”

10 As with a deadly wound in my body,

my adversaries taunt me,

while they say to me continually,

“Where is your God?”

11 Why are you cast down, O my soul,

and why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

my help and my God.

Luke 12:6-7

6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. 7 But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Hymn: “Great Is Thy Faithfulness