Centering Practice
We invite you to slow down, breathe, and connect with God, each other, and yourself. Close your eyes and slow down your breathing. Listen to “Praying” by Mary Oliver:
It doesn’t have to be
the blue iris, it could be weeds in a vacant lot, or a few small stones; just
pay attention, then patch
a few words together and don’t try to make them elaborate, this isn’t a contest but the doorway
into thanks, and a silence in which another voice may speak.
Call to Worship
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Sing God’s glorious name;
Shout out glorious praise!
God has turned our mourning into dancing;
Let all the earth praise God’s holy name.
Tell of God’s awesome deeds among all people!
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
God of all beginnings,
We stand in awe of Your beautiful creation;
we are humbled by Your steadfast love.
For the ways we fail to act in love;
When we’re distracted by seeking comfort;
For the ways we ignore the needs of others;
Forgive us, O God, we pray.
— Moment of silent prayer —
God of lovingkindness,
All day long, we put our trust in You.
Illuminate the path of love and justice,
and teach us to follow Your ways.
Amen.
Assurance of God’s Love
Prayers of the People
After each phrase, let’s pray out loud: “Lord, have mercy”
For those suffering from violence, hatred, and war…
For all of creation, groaning under the weight of sin and waste…
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…
For the Church worldwide to act justly, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with You…
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!
- Church Retreat: We will have our church retreat on September 20th and 21st (Saturday and Sunday). We’ll be in town at Marina Village. More details to come, but please block off those dates on your calendars!
- Young Adult Ministry: Thanks to everyone who was able to join the first meeting this past Thursday at 5:30 pm via Zoom. Please reach out to Pastor David with any questions and hope to connect with you all at the next gathering!
- Thank you! Special thanks to Arya & Esme for leading Family Praise for awhile now. We appreciate the love & dedication! Starting today, we’re going to change up how we do our Family Praise song — so after we pass the peace, we will bless the kids to go directly to Sunday School!
Passing of the Peace
Let’s greet each other at this time!
Blessing of the Children
Worship Song
You Hold It All Together
Our hope is in You God
We are steadfast
We will not be moved
We’re anchored, never shaken
All our hope is You
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
In valleys 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 our present
God of our future
You write our story
You hold it all together
And we believe that we will see
The goodness of the Lord
We’re confident as seasons change
Your faithfulness remains
Scripture Reading
Micah 4:1-5
1 In days to come
the mountain of the Lord’s temple
shall be established as the highest of the mountains
and shall be raised up above the hills.
Peoples shall stream to it,
2 and many nations shall come and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
3 He shall judge between many peoples
and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation;
neither shall they learn war any more;
4 but they shall all sit under their own vines
and under their own fig trees,
and no one shall make them afraid,
for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.
5 For all the peoples walk,
each in the name of its god,
but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God
forever and ever.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
Together: Thanks be to God.
Sermon
A World of Flourishing
Pastor Dan
Conversation Questions
- What if we were experts in the flourishing of others?
- What’s one way you love to see others thrive?
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
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
Anchor & Hope Church 