Centering Practice
- We invite you to slow down, breathe, and connect with God, each other, and yourself
- In 2 Chronicles 7:14 the Lord speaks to the people of God, saying, “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
- We invite you to hold a posture of humility for a few moments as we remember our calling on behalf of our communities, nation, and world
Call to Worship
God is doing a new thing,
making a way in the wilderness
and creating streams of Living Water
in the wasteland.
God has created and formed us,
calling us precious, honored, and loved.
We receive the love of Christ
and share it with our neighbors near and far.
Amen.
Worship Song
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
How precious is Your steadfast love, O God.
We take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
In Your light, we see light.
Though the new year has just begun,
many of us are weary in heart, soul, mind, and body.
We need Your love to strengthen and transform us.
Hear us, O God, we pray:
— Moment of silent prayer —
God of light and life,
Shine through us, we pray,
that we would bear Your light
throughout the world You love.
Amen.
Assurance of God’s Love
Prayers of the People
Every generation faces challenges unique to their own times. In many ways, even as a new administration is inaugurated tomorrow, our nation is deeply divided. Stories of violence, war, and natural disasters happen far too often around our world.
We are reminded of Dr. King’s timeless words, “True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.” As the people of God, we are not without hope; we are called to face the darkness and hold up light — to join Jesus in creating a world where all can experience the fullness of God’s love. So today, after each phrase, we invite you to pray aloud and from your hearts, Lord, have mercy:
For those suffering from violence, war, and natural disasters…
For our country and its leaders, to govern with wisdom and integrity…
For the Church worldwide, to act justly, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with You…
For ourselves and our loved ones,
to be strengthened, healed, and renewed…
For our friends who need to know Your love
and the friendship of our Anchor & Hope community…
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!
- Prayer Meeting: In remembrance of MLK Day, we will have a special prayer meeting tomorrow via Zoom at 5:30 pm. Please check your email tomorrow for the link.
- Monthly Prayer Walk: We will meet in the parking lot of Sandburg Elementary on Saturday, February 1st at 9:00 am for our first prayer walk of 2025!
- Church Without Walls: On Sunday, February 2nd, we will not gather at Sandburg but will have a Church Without Walls gathering at the EcoVivarium in Escondido at 10:30 am! Suggested donation of $20/person to cover the costs of admission
- Run Club: Please give a follow to @anchorandhoperunclub — we’ll be launching a page on our site, a Strava group, and regular gatherings soon.
- Sunday School Volunteers: We’re still looking for volunteers, so please talk to Tae today if you’re interested
- Coffee with PJ & PD: We’d love to meet you for a cup of coffee soon! Please reach out to connect!
- Special thanks to the Kim family: The Vista Kim’s are celebrating Noah’s birthday by providing lunch today!
Passing of the Peace
Let’s greet each other at this time!
Family Praise
Jump, Jump, Jump
Worship Song
Teach Us Your Ways
Teach us Your ways… teach us Your ways
As we learn from one another
Learn to love each other
Teach us Your ways
Teach us to give… teach us to give
Give ourselves for one another
Learn to love each other
Teach us to give
Teach us to weep… teach us to weep
Let us weep with one another
Learn to love each other
Teach us to weep
Hallelujah… hallelujah…
Let us learn from one another
Learn to love each other
Teach us Your ways
Scripture Reading
Psalm 65:1-8
1 Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion;
to you our vows will be fulfilled.
2 You who answer prayer,
to you all people will come.
3 When we were overwhelmed by sins,
you forgave our transgressions.
4 Blessed are those you choose
and bring near to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house,
of your holy temple.
5 You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds,
God our Savior,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas,
6 who formed the mountains by your power,
having armed yourself with strength,
7 who stilled the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
and the turmoil of the nations.
8 The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;
where morning dawns, where evening fades,
you call forth songs of joy.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
Together: Thanks be to God.
Sermon
A New Way
Pastor Dan
Reflection Question:
- When have you found beauty or joy in a thin space? Or in an unexpected way? Or in navigating a threshold?
Worship Song
Open Up
You heard the cry of our hearts
And You came down
Freely You gave us Your love
Showing us how
Make me an instrument of Your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is darkness
Let me shine light and…
May Your love
Cause us to open up
Cause us to open up our hearts
May Your light
Cause us to shine so bright
That we bring hope into the dark
All that we do without love
It means nothing
Grant us the courage to give
As You’re calling
Hope for the hopeless
Your love is
Strength in our weakness
Your love is
May we love
As You love
Anchor & Hope Church 