Centering Practice
We invite you to slow down, breathe, and connect with God, each other, and yourself:
- Begin by closing our eyes and taking several slow, deep breaths
- For our centering practice today, as we envision the New Creation of God, we want to speak better words to ourselves
Call to Worship
Create in us, O Lord, a new heart and a right spirit;
Through Your Spirit, reveal to us
a new vision for Your world.
Jesus said blessed are the pure in heart
for they will see God.
One thing we ask, one thing we seek:
To see You, O God. Amen.
Worship Songs
Be Thou My Vision w/ Open The Eyes
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
Be thou my Vision
O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me
Save that Thou art
Thou my best thought
By day or by night
Waking or sleeping
Thy Presence, my Light
Riches I heed not
Nor vain empty praise
Thou mine inheritance
Now and always
Thou and Thou only
Be first in my heart
High King of Heaven
My treasure, Thou art
O God, be my everything
Be my delight
Be Jesus, my glory
My soul satisfied
High King of Heaven
When victory is won
May I reach Heaven’s joys
O bright Heaven’s sun
Heart of my own heart
Whatever befall
Still be my vision
O Ruler of all
Called Me Higher
I could just sit
I could just sit and wait for all Your goodness
Hope to feel Your presence
And I could just stay
I could just stay right where I am
and hope to feel You
Hope to feel something again
But You have called me higher
You have called me deeper
And I’ll go where You will lead me Lord
And I could hold on
I could hold on to who I am and never let You
Change me from the inside
And I could be safe
I could be safe here in Your arms
and never leave home
Never let these walls down
And I will be Yours
I will be Yours for all my life
Prayer of Confession
Creator God,
With just a word and a heart full of love,
You spoke the world and our lives into being.
We join our hearts to Yours,
longing to co-create with You
a new way of life all around us.
Hear us, O God, we pray:
— Moment of silent prayer —
Loving God,
Open our eyes to see You all around us;
open our hearts to receive and extend mercy;
and open our hands to share Your abundance.
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 who suffer from illness and for those who strive to heal them…
For leaders and policymakers, whose decisions impact so many lives…
For those threatened by violence, discrimination, injustice, and hatred…
For those who grieve and mourn, bearing sorrow and pain…
For our Anchor & Hope community to share Your love with neighbors near and far…
Amen.
Communion
Offering Prayer
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!
- Sandburg Beautification Day: This Saturday, August 10th, Sandburg will host volunteers to clean up the school. Please talk to Grace today to sign up!
- Blessing of the Backpacks: Next Sunday, August 11th, we invite all students, teachers, and administrators to bring their backpacks to receive a blessing that day as we start a new school year!
Passing of the Peace
Let’s greet each other at this time!
Family Praise
Light of the World
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
Kingdom Come
God, let Your kingdom come
May Your will be done
God, let Your kingdom come
Earth is groaning and we are longing
For Your kingdom to come
All creation and all of heaven
Join their voices as one
Hope is stirring, joy arising
As we look to the day
When all injustice will bow
And every voice will cry out
Holy is Your name
Lift up your heads, all the weak and the poor
The Lord is at hand and His kingdom is yours
Lift up your hearts, all who suffer and mourn
The Lord is at hand and His kingdom is yours
Lift up your eyes, all who hunger for more
The Lord is at hand and His kingdom is yours
Lift up a shout, let the earth hear your voice
The Lord is at hand and His kingdom is yours
I will build my life upon Your love
It is a firm foundation
I will put my trust in You alone
And I will not be shaken
Scripture Reading
Acts 16:6-15
6 They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 When they had come opposite Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them; 8 so, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.
11 We therefore set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. 13 On the Sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. 14 A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. 15 When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.” And she prevailed upon us.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
Together: Thanks be to God.
Sermon
Creativity: Joining the Mission of God Around Us
Pastor Dan
Reflection Questions
- Is there a “block of stone” you need to behold in San Diego in order to discover what’s inside of it?
- What will help you listen to the Spirit?
- How have you been surprised by God as you’ve served others?
Worship Song
Build My Life
Worthy of every song we could ever sing
Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe
We live for You
Jesus, the Name above every other name
Jesus, the only One who could ever save
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe
We live for You, we live for You
Holy, there is no one like You
There is none beside You
Open up my eyes in wonder
And show me who You are
And fill me with Your heart
And lead me in Your love
To those around me
I will build my life upon Your love
It is a firm foundation
I will put my trust in You alone
And I will not be shaken
Anchor & Hope Church 