Centering Practice
We invite you to slow down, breathe, and connect with God, each other, and yourself. Begin by taking a couple of slow, deep breaths.
- Today we will take some time to explore letting go to transform our hearts and minds. Take a moment to think about something that was giving you stress or grief this week.
- Make two fists and clench them as hard as you can, tensing up your shoulders and stomach and chest too. Stay in this tense position for just one breath.
- Now breathe out and release the tension you were holding. Take a moment to feel the lightness in your body and give thanks to God for being our peace.
Call to Worship
Adapted from Richard Bott
God draws near, and we are transformed.
In the brightest of day, in the deepest of night;
On mountains high and in valleys deep,
in every time and every place.
In this time, together, we open ourselves to God;
and in our transformation — we worship God.
Worship Songs
Mercies (New Every Morning)
In brokenness and wandering
Through all my fear and unbelief
Your faithfulness appears to me again
Through mountain top and valley low
In every season, this I know
Your goodness, like the dawn, will break again
All Your mercies rising
In this heart again
And my soul begins to sing
They are new every morning
New every morning
Great is Your faithfulness
Your mercies are new every morning
New every morning
Great is Your faithfulness
Every good and perfect gift
In Your endless grace You give
Flowing from the Father’s heart to mine
Beams of heaven as I go
Through this wilderness below
The fullness of Your love for all of time
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
Gracious God, source of all life,
Lord of mercy and grace,
Hear our prayer.
We come before You in need of healing:
The healing of our bodies and souls,
The healing of our relationships,
The healing of our pride and fear and apathy.
We come to you to confess our shortcomings,
Our weakness, our need for You,
Knowing that You love, heal, and forgive us
Hear us, O Lord, we pray:
— Moment of silent prayer —
We know that with You, nothing is impossible,
Not even our healing,
Not even the restoration of the whole world.
We pray that You will heal us,
That You will heal our world,
So that we will be freed
To serve and love and dream and be,
As Christ calls us. Amen.
Assurance of God’s Love
Prayers of the People
Adapted from Christian Aid
God of mercy,
You are more than we can imagine.
Give us a deeper love for Your world.
Give us dreams of justice & peace
not defined by boundaries of geography
or worldly structures & systems.
Moment of silent prayer for people & places
where God’s transformation is needed
God of hope,
You call us by name;
calling us to serve, to share, to praise;
Help us to persevere with love,
joining You in the transformation of Your world.
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!
- Women’s Gathering: Saturday, August 29th at Ian’s place. Talk to PJ today for details!
- Reset Sunday: Our next Reset Sunday is coming up in two weeks (August 30th) — please plan accordingly!
- Church Retreat: We need to get finalized registration information as soon as possible. Please let Howard know if you’ll be joining us this year (Sept 18-20 at Palomar Christian Conference Center).
Passing of the Peace
Let’s greet each other at this time!
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
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
Scripture Reading
Matthew 9:9-13
9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax-collection station, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.
10 And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with Jesus and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Together: Thanks be to God.
Sermon
Healing: Repentance
Pastor Jeya
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 