Gathering Music
God Will Take Care of You
Words: Civilla D. Martin, Music: W. Stillman Martin
- Be not dismayed whate’er betide,
God will take care of you;
beneath his wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.
Refrain:
God will take care of you,
through every day, o’er all the way;
he will take care of you,
God will take care of you.
- Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you;
when dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you. [Refrain] - All you may need he will provide,
God will take care of you;
nothing you ask will be denied,
God will take care of you. [Refrain] - No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
lean, weary one, upon his breast,
God will take care of you. [Refrain]
Call to Worship
Janice Marie Beauchamp
Adapted from Katherine Hawker, Liturgies Outside
Leader: Look at the birds of the air;
they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns
and yet God provides for the basic sustenance of life.
All: May our hearts be open to trust you, God.
Leader: Look at the birds of the air;
they neither study nor plan nor plot their course
and yet God writes the instinct for migration into their hearts.
All: May our spirits be open to perceive your presence, God.
Leader: Look at the birds of the air;
they neither talk nor vote nor debate their responsibility
yet God weaves them into communities which nurture and defend.
All: May our hands be open to serve you, God.
Opening Song
His Eye is on the Sparrow (TFWS #2146)
Words: Civilla Martin, Music: Charles H. Gabriel
1 Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be lonely
and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion?
My constant friend is he:
His eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me;
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
for his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.
2 “Let not your heart be troubled,”
his tender word I hear,
and resting on his goodness,
I lose my doubts and fears;
though by the path he leadeth
but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me;
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
for his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.
3 Whenever I am tempted,
whenever clouds arise,
when song give place to sighing,
when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to him,
from care he sets me free:
His eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me;
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
for his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.
Opening Prayer
Dohee Woo
Adapted from Joanna Harader, Spacious Faith
Leader: Holy God of Abundance,
As we sow and reap and gather into barns;
As we work and earn and calculate our net worth,
Let us consider the birds of the air;
Let us consider the lilies of the field.
Let us notice and look and give thanks
for the food that feeds us
and the food that feeds the birds;
for the clothes that cover and warm us
and the colors and textures that clothe the flowers and fields.
May we dwell in gratitude–
not gratitude as a denial of today’s problems,
a refusal to admit that tomorrow will bring troubles of its own,
but a gratitude that is deep trust,
a choice to embrace the grace.
Holy God of abundance, ease us away from worry
and point us on the path toward your kindom.
All: Amen.
Scripture Reading
Matthew 6:25-34
Sharon Hoff
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to your span of life? 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For it is the gentiles who seek all these things, and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34 “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Leader: The Word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
Sermon
Fellipe dos Anjos Pereira
Musical Response
The Lord Will Provide
Brett Younker, Jess Cates, and Chris Davenport
Verse 1
Look at the flowers
In all of their beauty
I don’t have to wonder
You know what You’re doing
So why would I worry at all
You’re faithful to supply
Chorus
Everything I need
Everything I need
My creator has it
My creator has it
Every single time
The Lord will provide
My creator has it
(My creator has it)
Verse 2
Look at the sparrow
Lacking for nothing
No fear of tomorrow
And what it will bring
If I have You I have enough
‘Cause Your love will satisfy
Bridge
Seek first the kindom and its treasures
Everything else it will be added
All that I’m needing
I know the Lord will provide
I know my God’s not empty handed
God gives us blessings upon blessings
I’m still believing
I know the Lord will provide
Blessing
Fellipe dos Anjos Pereira
Sending Song
All My Days
Words: Laurie Zelman, Music: Mark A. Miller
You know my words before they’re said
You know my need and I am fed
You give me life. You know my ways,
my strength, my path, for all my days
my strength, my path, for all my days
If I should fly beyond the dawn,
the darkness will not overcome
If I lie down in deepest night,
still you are there, my Lord, my light,
still you are there, my Lord, my light
Our every thought, each word we say,
the whole of time, the present day,
are held within your mighty hand,
too wonderful to comprehend,
too wonderful to comprehend.
O mend my heart and free my voice.
From sin released, I will rejoice.
O search me, Lord, my spirit cries,
and let my song of praise arise,
and let my song of praise arise.
Drew Theo Chapel 