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 a breath or two, invite you to place your hands over your eyes (vision for the future)
- Finally, for a breath or two, invite you to place hands over heart (love for each step of the way)
Call to Worship
We gather today in faith, called as the people of God.
We trust in the Holy Spirit,
the One who enables us to take holy risks.
We believe a life of faith is open to God
and to our neighbors around us.
Our hearts are open this day.
Amen.
Worship Songs
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
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
Prayer of Confession
Faithful God,
We gather today as a people
shaped by Your love and faithfulness,
and part of a history of God’s people.
When we lose sight of who You are;
When we forget who we are;
When our hearts grow cold to our neighbors;
Have mercy, O God, we pray:
— Moment of silent prayer —
Jesus, our True Vine,
Feed the roots of our faith,
renew our vision for the Church in our generation,
and help us to bear fruit of mercy & grace.
Amen.
Assurance of God’s Love
Prayers of the People
After each phrase, the congregation will reply with one voice:
Lord, have mercy.
For Mira Mesa, San Diego, and every community
in which we live, work, study, and play…
For those suffering from violence, hatred, and war…
For those experiencing anxiety and stress, grief and loss…
For those given the responsibility to lead…
For the Church to become a living sign
of the Beloved Community You desire…
For our mission partners & collaborators around the world…
For our Anchor & Hope community to grow in and share our faith…
Amen.
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!
- Coffee Gift Cards: Our church is going to bless the teachers & staff of Sandburg with gift cards for the day after Halloween (“you’re saints for handling the post-Halloween candy rush”). If you’d like to sponsor a set of cards, please visit the board today!
Passing of the Peace
Let’s greet each other at this time!
Family Praise
The Fruit of the Spirit
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
You Hold It All Together
You come at the right time
When I least expect it
Never behind
So why would I be surprised
When You deliver every time?
On mountaintops, You stay the same
On valley low, You never change
And I believe that I will see
The goodness of the Lord
I’m confident as seasons change
Your faithfulness remains
You go, You go before me
To prepare a blessing
You madе a way
It’s more than I could imagine
More than I can fathom
Or comprehend
God of my present
God of my future
You write my story
You hold it all together
Scripture Reading
Malachi 1:1-2, 4:1-6
1 A prophecy: The word of the Lord to Israel through Malachi.
2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?”
. . . . . . .
1 See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts.
4 Remember the teaching of my servant Moses, the statutes and ordinances that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.5 See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents, so that I will not come and strike the land with a curse.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
Together: Thanks be to God.
Sermon
Love Builds the Future
Pastor Dan
Discussion questions
- What are unseen things that make life worth living?
- What makes you feel connected to God or God’s people? How can you strengthen those connections?
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 