Centering Practice
- We invite you to slow down, breathe, and connect with God, each other, and yourself
- We invite you to slow down, breathe, and connect with God, each other, and yourself. As we begin to center ourselves, I invite you to listen to this quote from the Talmud: Do not be daunted by the world’s grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work but neither are you free to abandon it.
- This month, we will celebrate Black History month together. Much of our liturgy will be shaped by Black theologians, pastors, and leaders. Today’s centering practice comes from Cole Arthur Riley, creator of Black Liturgies
- Inhale: I breathe — Exhale: I move
- Inhale: I recall my power — Exhale: I do what I can
Call to Worship
During February, we will celebrate Black History Month together as a church. In a world that often dehumanizes and stereotypes, we honor, affirm, and uphold the God-given dignity & worth of our Black siblings. We celebrate the indelible contributions of the Black community to our faith, our culture, and our world. We honor God’s call to celebrate our diversity and our unity in Christ.
Our Call to Worship comes from Howard Thurman’s work, “Meditations of the Heart.” Thurman was born in 1899 and raised in the segregated South. He is recognized as one of the great spiritual leaders of the 20th century renowned for his reflections on humanity and our relationship with God. Thurman was a prolific author (writing at least 20 books); perhaps the most famous is Jesus and the Disinherited (1949), which deeply influenced Martin Luther King, Jr. and other leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. Thurman was the first black person to be a tenured Dean at a PWI (Boston U). He also cofounded the first interracially pastored, intercultural church in the US.
Open unto me, light for my darkness
Open unto me, courage for my fear
Open unto me, hope for my despair
Open unto me, peace for my turmoil
Open unto me, joy for my sorrow
Open unto me, strength for my weakness
Open unto me, wisdom for my confusion
Open unto me, forgiveness for my sins
Open unto me, tenderness for my toughness
Open unto me, love for my hates
Open unto me, Thy Self for myself
Lord, Lord, open unto me!
Worship Song
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
Great Are You Lord
You give life
You are love
You bring light to the darkness
You give hope
You restore
every heart that is broken
And great are You, Lord
It’s Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
We pour out our praise
It’s Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
To You only
All the earth will shout Your praise
Our hearts will cry, these bones will sing
Great are You, Lord
Community Prayer
As Dr. King taught us, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” As we pray together, let’s be a force for goodness & light in our world today. Today, our prayers will be shaped by Dr. King’s own prayers as we think about what it means to join Jesus’ work of healing, justice, and redemption today.
God of love and justice,
help us as individuals and as a world
to hear it now before it is too late:
“Seek first the Kingdom of God
and God’s justice
and all these other things will be added unto you.”
We have all too often lived by our own selfish impulses
rather than by the sacrificial love revealed by Christ.
We often give in order to receive.
We love our friends and hate our enemies.
We go the first mile but dare not travel the second.
— Moment of silent prayer —
O God, have mercy upon us.
If we cannot fly, help us to run;
if we cannot run, help us to walk;
if we cannot walk, help us to crawl.
Spirit, in all we do and all we are,
help us to keep moving forward;
Seeing that the time is always right
to do the right thing.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Assurance of God’s Love
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!
- PTA Meeting & Volunteers: Our new Director of Children’s Ministry, Ann Leong, will lead a meeting for all of our Sunday School parents right after service today! Also, if you’re interested in volunteering to teach Sunday School, please talk to Ann today
- Super Bowl Party: The Ahn Family has graciously invited all of us over to their place to watch the big game! Please pitch in to help cover the cost of food
- Coffee with PJ & PD: We’d love to meet you for a cup of coffee soon! Please reach out to connect!
- Home Groups: We’re launching our next season of Home Groups soon. Let’s invest in relationships and build community together!
- EcoVivarium: Thanks to everyone who was able to join us last Sunday in Escondido! If you still need to chip in, the cost was $15/person
- Run Club: This Saturday — keep an eye out for more information this week!
Passing of the Peace
Let’s greet each other at this time!
Family Praise
Your Love is Deep
Worship Song
Lord, I Need You
Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You’re the One that guides my heart
Lord, I need You, Oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
Where sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are, Lord, I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
Teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I’ll fall on You
Jesus, You’re my hope and stay
Scripture Reading
John 9:1-12
1 As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, 7 saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. 8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am he.” 10 But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” 12 They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
Together: Thanks be to God.
Sermon
Healing Through the Eyes of Jesus
Pastor David
Reflection Questions:
- Think about your life and our world at the moment. What are things that you are hopeful for and what are things that you are saddened by? Write out areas that you hope to see healing in for our world.
- We will collect these and share among one another anonymously. The hope is we see the world a bit through the lens of others in our church community.
- Spend this week trying to see the world through the lens of the person writing the note and pray for continual healing of our world and others!
Worship Song
Open Space with Hosanna
Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes
to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You
have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks Your
Everything I am
for Your Kingdom’s cause
As I walk from earth into eternity
Pull me in closer
Close to Your heart
May I be a pure reflection of all You are
Love that is patient
Love that is kind
And love that keeps no offences
or wrongs in my mind
Make me like Jesus
Make me like Jesus
You’re faithful to find me
Right where I am
Though even in my wandering You call me friend
And mercy receives me
and lifts me to my feet
And I’m caught up in the wonder and mystery
Of knowing Jesus
Of knowing Jesus
My heart is an open space
for You to come and have Your way
I’m open, I’m open
Anchor & Hope Church 