God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
— From Psalm 46
Call to Worship
Adapted from Psalm 23
Lord, shepherd me today.
In You, I lack nothing.
Bring me to a place of deep rest and peace.
Restore my soul.
Meet me here at Your table
of goodness and mercy.
Amen.
Worship Songs
Open Space
Light of the World
Time of Prayer
This hurricane/tropical storm has already impacted many people across our region and throughout Mexico. Take a moment to lift up a prayer for those who are in need — especially people in areas with infrastructure needs, people living on the streets, emergency responders, leaders, and anyone else God puts on your heart (including our Anchor & Hope family)!
Close by praying out loud this prayer from the PC(USA) “Prayers in Times of Trouble and Disaster” (based on Isaiah 58, 61):
God our help and hope when waters rise,
You brought Israel safely through the sea.
Sustain all those who seek to save others,
so that they may repair the ruined cities,
raise up the former devastations,
and be the restorers of streets to live in;
through Jesus Christ, our eternal Savior.
Amen.
Passing of the Peace
Send a text message to someone either from our Anchor & Hope community or someone who needs God’s peace this day (Your pastors would love to hear from you, so please feel free to drop them a text as well!)
Scripture Engagement
Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 out loud:
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
“God made an eye to be an eye — a foot to be a foot. And He made you to be you. Be true to the self He made you to be: you have an important role to play as a part of the body of Jesus — the Church.”
Have a conversation with your household using the following questions:
- What’s something unique about you?
- What would it be like if everyone in Jesus’ Church was the same? What would we miss out on?
- How are you good at showing God’s love to others?
- What do you think it takes to be a good neighbor?
- In the big picture of the worldwide body of Christ, what part of the body do you think Anchor & Hope would be? Why?
Worship Song
You Don’t Have to Lose Heart
Closing Prayer
The Suscipe of Saint Ignatius
Take, O Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding, and my entire will.
All I have and hold, You have bestowed upon me as untold gift.
To You, O Lord, I return it.
I surrender all to be governed wholly according to Your will.
Give me Your love and grace.
With these alone I shall be rich enough
and desire nothing more.
Amen.
Anchor & Hope Church 