WORSHIP ON The Silver Whisper

HYMN: Immortal, Invisible, God only Wise

Send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me, and bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling.

Let us pray. Give us grace us O Lord to love what you command and desire what you promise, that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our heart may surely be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

A reading from the book of Exodus

Then God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.
You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them...
You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.
Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy. For six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and consecrated it.
Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. (20:1-5a, 7-17)

The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.

Psalm 119

Oh, how I love your law! all the day long it is in my mind.
Your commandment has made me wiser than my enemies,
and it is always with me.

I am wiser than the elders, because I observe your commandments.

I restrain my feet from every evil way, that I may keep your word.

I do not shrink from your judgments, because you yourself have taught me.

How sweet are your words to my taste!
they are sweeter than honey to my mouth.

Through your commandments I gain understanding;
Therefore I hate every lying way. (97-104)

A reading from the first letter of John

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. (5:2-4)

The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.

A Reflection The Reverend William J. Eakins

The Prayers

Almighty God, you have brought us out of bondage and commanded us to worship you alone. Keep us from false choices, from worshipping wealth and prestige, comfort and ease. Make us faithful to you and you alone.
Incline our hearts to keep your law.

You have commanded us to keep holy the Lord’s Day. Deepen our gratitude for times of leisure and reflection and use our worship this day to mold and strengthen us for your service.
Incline our hearts to keep your law.

You have commanded us to honor our parents. Lead us to ho or all those who have guided us in your ways. Give courage and integrity to those who hold positions of authority.
Incline our hearts to keep your law.

You have commanded us not to kill. Guide the leaders of the nations into the ways of peace; bless those who would end the violence in Ukraine with skill and command. Keep us from reckless and selfish choices and give us hearts and hands ready to serve those in need.
Incline our hearts to keep your law.

You have commanded us not to steal and not to covet what is not ours. Deliver us from greed and bestow upon us a sure sense that you have given us enough to share.
Incline our hearts to keep your law.

You have commanded us not to bear false witness. Make us honest and trustworthy people with discerning minds and loving hearts.
Incline our hearts to keep your law.

Surround those we love with your care; be with John and Joy Griffin as they return home and strengthen John that they may return swiftly.

Summing up all our petitions and all our thanksgivings, we pray in the words Jesus taught us

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 and ever. Amen.

The Blessing
Life is short and we have little time to gladden the hearts of those who travel the way with us. So, be swift to love and make haste to be kind….and may the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you now and always. Amen.

HYMN: Let all things now living

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Officiants: The Reverend Hope H. Eakins, The Reverend William J. Eakins
Music: Alex Manev
Usher: Andrea Ryan

Expected time of next service: 9:15 am on Sunday, March 27