Peace Mennonite Home-Based Worship: August 9, 2020

Welcome to worship with Peace Mennonite Church. We are glad you are with us in worship. This morning we will have a congregational meeting during our regular sharing time. All are invited to join us on Zoom at 11:00.  Simply click this link. 

You are also welcome to join us for our Peace Pursuits Bible study and topic discussions on Wednesday nights. More church announcements are here.

Gathering Hymn: What is this place (Hymnal a Worship Book #1)

This video is from the inclusive worship service at the Mennonite Church USA Assembly in 2013. Joanna was one of the preachers at this service.

Welcome from youth and mentors

Passing the Peace: Please take a moment to share a word of greeting in the comments below. We’d love to know who is sharing in this worship experience.

Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 5:10-17 (Read by Rosie)

Call to Worship: from Pastor Joanna

Congregational Prayer:
You are invited to offer your prayers to God. For what are you thankful this morning? What would you ask of God for yourself? Who do you know who needs God’s loving presence right now? What are your prayers for our community, our country, and our world?

Feel free to share your prayers with people around you, in the comments below, or on our Zoom call at 11 Sunday morning.

This week, you are invited to pray for Austin Mennonite Church:

The Lord’s Prayer: version by Parker Palmer

Children’s Time: Here is a song from Norah and Matt

Hymn: Will you let me be your servant (Hymnal a Worship Book #307)

Scripture Reading: Acts 19:23-41 (read by Rosie)

Sermon from Rob Blum

You have two options to view Rob’s talk. You can watch the full version which is 35 minutes and contains a lot of good historical, geographical, and biblical background and context for today’s scripture, or a shorter edited version (17 minutes) more focused on this morning’s text in particular.

Edited Version:

Full Version:

Reflection Time

This week (August 6 and 9) marks the 75th anniversaries of the US bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I invite you to listen to this music, offered by Jim Krause. It is a Japanese song about grief. You may want to look at the English translation as you listen.

Prayer by Jemma Allen (from RevGalBlogPals)

For the hibakusha,
the survivors of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
we pray:
Peace, peace, peace!

For all those affected by nuclear testing
we pray:
Peace, peace, peace!

For our earth, and the places polluted
by nuclear weapons, nuclear testing,
nuclear waste
we pray:
Peace, peace, peace!

For the leaders of the world,
for military strategists,
for leaders of industries that profit from weapons manufacture
we pray:
Peace, peace, peace!

For our world
riven by conflict,
we pray:
Peace, peace, peace!

That seeds of fear and mistrust might wither
And love and justice flourish,
That swords will be beaten into ploughshares
we pray:
Peace, peace, peace!

Amen.

Offering

You are invited to mail your financial contributions to the church (615 Lincoln St., Lawrence, KS, 66044) or to the home of our treasurer, Roberta Renz (address in the church directory).

See the “How and Where to Give” section of our announcements page for information on giving to other organizations who need funding at this time.

Closing Hymn: My Shepherd will supply my need (Hymnal a Worship Book #589)

Benediction: from Pastor Joanna