Today's Music
We Lift Your Name - Shana Wilson
Sovereign Over Us - Shane & Shane
Made A Way- Travis Greene
Blessed Assurance - Sovereign Grace
Overcome - Tye Tribbett
Today's Liturgy
Call to Worship
Happy Father's Day!
And thank you to everyone who has been a father figure and loved someone with the love of God our Father.
Today we honor and celebrate you…
…As we draw together in worship, join me in reading the underlined portions:
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!
He forgives iniquity. He heals disease. He redeems us, crowns us, and satisfies us with goodness.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
He works righteousness and justice for the oppressed. He acts on behalf of His people.
He does not deal with us according to our sins nor repay us for iniquities.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
For as high as the heavens are above the Earth, that is how great His love is.
For as far as East is from West, that is how far He removes our transgressions from us.
As a Father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!
–based on Psalm 103
As we continue to worship, let us also open up our souls and hearts before the Lord, allowing him to meet us in our needs.
Lament
…Let’s pray…
Lord, you search us and know us.
Even before a word is on our tongue, You know it altogether.
You have heard us ask in quiet moments:
“How long, Father?” “When will this end, Father?” “Where are you, Father?”
For some of us, this Father’s Day is a bitter reminder of what we’ve never had:
A man we never knew. A man who abandoned us.
A love that’s only been imagined; never enjoyed.
Lord, have Mercy.
For some of us, this Father’s Day is a painful reminder of what we once enjoyed,
but no longer can:
Children who have lost their fathers. Fathers who have lost their children.
Lord, have Mercy.
For some of us, this Father’s Day is a reminder of deep wounds we’ve receive from our fathers:
Why did they never say, “I love you?”
Why did they never come to our concerts or games?
Why can nothing we do ever make them proud?
Lord, have Mercy.
For some of us, this Father’s Day is a reminder to fathers of the wounds they have received:
Guilt over sin that has broken those we love.
Inadequacy as we struggle to provide, to raise and to train.
Pain, anxiety, and shame.
Lord, have Mercy.
We lament that fatherhood, a good gift designed by God, has been deeply broken by Sin.
O Lord our God, draw near and make your presence known in our lament.
Heavenly Father, work all things together for Your glory and for our good.
Holy Spirit, pray for us when our groanings are too deep for words.
Merciful Jesus, lift our burdens and fill us with hope.
For if we say,
“Surely the darkness will cover me and light give way to the night.”
We will find darkness is not dark to you, and night is as bright as the day. Amen.
–inspired by Psalm 139
Assurance
Amen church - read this good news with me!
We have a Heavenly Father who shepherds us, directs us towards goodness,
and walks with us through valleys of darkness and death.
His rod and staff protect us, chasing away all fear.
He prepares tables for us in plain sight of the enemy, and exercises lavish love and mercy upon us.
He has made a home for us and a family of us.
May that love also extend beyond us.
Let us comfort those in any affliction with the peace that we ourselves were given by God.
For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings,
so through Christ we also share abundantly in His peace.