Centering Practice
During this final Sunday of Eastertide, we continue to remember the ways God’s love for us & for the world is alive in Christ!
- Begin by closing our eyes and taking several slow, deep breaths
- Take a quiet moment to locate any stress or worry you might be carrying in your body. Next, show some care to yourself in that place of stress (for example, rub your neck, hold hands over eyes, etc.)
- One more breath, remembering that God is showing love & care for you through your own hands
Call to Worship
Sing to the Lord a new song,
for God has done marvelous things.
We have seen God’s steadfast love and faithfulness.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
let the sea resound and the rivers clap their hands!
Let us sing before the Lord! Amen.
Worship Songs
My Hallelujah
Open up the doors again
Let the King of glory in
His Kingdom will never end
Oh, I know that You are good
Break the darkness with the light
All the earth let praise arise
Every dead place come alive
Oh, I know that You are good
Oh, I know that You are good
You will have my hallelujah
You alone the highest name
All to You I surrender
Every breath I take
Make my life Your praise
Oh, Spirit of the Living God
Fire burning in my heart
I’m wide awake to who You are
Oh, I know that You are good
Oh, I know that You are good
You are my strength when I am weak
You are my sight when I can’t see
As praise goes up, I believe
The walls are coming down
Oh, when I was lost, You rescued me
When I was bound, You set me free
As praise goes up, I believe
The walls are coming down
Sound of Adoration
When we were lost ones
You were the Shepherd that carried us home
When we were prodigals
You ran to meet us with open arms
And we can’t hold back our praise
When we were refugees
You were the One who took us in
When we were enemies
You paid the price for all our sin
And we can’t hold back our praise
This is the sound of adoration
Oh, how we love You
Jesus, we love You
You are the joy of all creation
Oh, how we love You
Jesus, we love You
You are the Risen One
You conquered death and made a way
You sang our freedom song
Now we are dancing on our chains
And we can’t hold back our praise
By the cross, I am free
Your grace changes everything
I was blind, now I see
Your grace changes everything
Prayer of Confession
God of promise and purpose,
You are the Living Water,
the source of flourishing for Your world.
For the ways we distract ourselves from Your voice;
for the ways we disconnect from others;
for the ways we fail to hold forth Your light;
Forgive us, O God, we pray:
— Moment of silent prayer —
Like a mother who will not forsake her nursing child,
like a father who runs to welcome the prodigal home,
God, You are ever-faithful.
Amen.
Assurance of God’s Love
Prayers of the People
After each phrase, the congregation will reply with one voice:
Lord, have mercy.
For those suffering from violence, hatred, and war…
For Your creation, groaning under the weight of waste & sin…
For the Church worldwide, to bear faithful witness
to the love & grace of Christ…
For ourselves and our loved ones who are facing health challenges or illness…
For our friends who need to know Your love
and the friendship of our Anchor & Hope community…
Amen.
Announcements
- Thanks for worshiping with us today! We hope you experience meaningful connection with God and others in our community. If you’re visiting for the first time today, we’d love to get to know you better. Please take home a visitor’s card with QR code so that we can stay in touch & build a relationship!
- Happy Mother’s Day! Many blessings upon the wonderful moms, spiritual moms, and givers of care in our church family — and special grace upon each of us who experience sorrow in relation to motherhood. We walk alongside each of you
- Mira Mesa Prayer Walk: Our next prayer walk will be Saturday, June 1st at 9:00 am here in this neighborhood!
- Sunday School volunteers: We’re looking for volunteers to teach for the 2nd half of this year. A gentle reminder that parents are asked to sign up for at least 2 slots each — and an open invitation to anyone who’s interested!
- Upcoming:
- Next Sunday, May 19th: Guest speaker, David Rucker-Do
- May 26th: Memorial Day weekend
- June 9th: Guest speaker, Jason Tom
Passing of the Peace
Let’s greet each other at this time!
Family Praise
Jump, Jump, Jump
Blessing of the Children
Go in peace and go in joy;
Filled with wonder for this day.
Go in faith and go in love;
God will guide you on your way!
Worship Song
Send the Rain
Lord, we come to You
Now with open hands
Broken lives and dreams
Washed up on the sand
We’ve been beaten down
But still we choose to stand
We choose to stand
Lord, we long for You
For Your hand to move
Heal this barren land
Come and make it new
Jesus, You’re the life
That is breaking through
You’re breaking through
The saints of old in ancient days
They worked the ground
that we reap from today
So use our hands to cultivate
The harvest that
our children’s children taste
We’re ready God, so send the rain
Lord, we’ll follow You
To unbroken earth
On the path not used
Where new hope is birthed
We will work as one
Holding to Your truth
To Your truth
Heal the ruined cities
We destroyed with our own hands
Bring us back together
Let us see the promised land
Pour out Your Spirit
On this dry and thirsty ground
O God of the harvest
Could it be right here and now
Could it be right here and now
Open up the heavens,
let Your rain fall down
We are thirsty, we are thirsty
Scripture Reading
Luke 1:26-38
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
Together: Thanks be to God.
Sermon
Godbearing Lives
Pastor Dan So
Reflection questions:
- Exercise with a partner: Think back to someone who was positively influential on you in your formative years. State their name and influence on your life. Repeat the sentence, this time substituting Jesus for the name of the person.
- Reflect on the statement, “Incarnational theology means that God always comes to us through a person”
- How can you burn bright for God but not be consumed? What resources do you need? Who can walk alongside you?
Worship Song
Let Us Be Known
Let us be known by our love
In every word, in every deed
Honor the Son
Let our light shine
in every eye
Let us be known by our love
For the glory of our Savior
For the glory of our God
For the glory of the Spirit
Let us be known by our love
Let us be known by our joy
In every home, in every heart
Sing to the Lord
Let our lives show
goodness and hope
Let us be known by our joy
For the glory of our Savior
For the glory of our God
For the glory of the Spirit
Let us be known by our joy
Let us be known by our peace
In every town, in every tribe
Jesus is King
Let us go forth
heal and restore
Let us be known by our peace
For the glory of our Savior
For the glory of our God
For the glory of the Spirit
Let us be known by our peace
Anchor & Hope Church 