Peace Mennonite Home-Based Worship: May 9, 2021

Welcome to worship with Peace Mennonite Church. If this is your first time worshiping with us, please watch this welcome video from our pastor. You can find our church announcements here.

Contact Pastor Joanna

Whether you are new to Peace or a regular participant, we are glad you are with us in worship and invite you to join us for our Zoom discussion and prayer time at 11:00 each Sunday morning. Simply click this link. We also invite you to our Wednesday night gatherings at 7:30.

Worship Images from the Peace Mennonite garden.
Photo credits: Matt Schwabauer

Cherries
Aronia berries
Quinces
First meadow flowers
Currants
Autumn olive
Blueberries
Strawberries

Prelude: Amazing Grace

Call to Worship: In honor of Mothers’ Day, I invite you to share in a prayer practice from one of the great saints of the church, Julian of Norwich, who celebrated “Mother Jesus” and whose feast day was yesterday (May 8).

Opening Scripture: Psalm 143:1-2

Gathering Hymn: Your Grace Finds Me, Voices Together #521

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.

Christian Peacemaker Teams invites prayers for the people of Columbia as they face violence from government forces. You can read more about the situation on CPT’s web site.

And on this Mothers’ Day, let us offer prayers of gratitude for those who have nurtured us, and for those we have had the privilege to nurture. Let us hold tenderly in prayer those who experience grief on this day: those who have difficult relationships with their mothers and mothers who have difficult relationships with their children; those who have struggled with infertility; those who mourn the death of mothers, of children, and of other beloveds. And let us give praise to God, our Mother, who has created us, who nurtures us, who guides us, and who loves us beyond measure. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer: from the Dominican Sisters Retreat; read by Piper and Perry

Prayer Hymn: I Bind My Heart This Tide, Voices Together #556

Introduction to Galatians:

Scripture Reading: Galatians 1:13-17; 2:11-21; read by Jill Allen

Sermon: “Do not nullify the grace of God.”

Reflection Activity:

Take some time to write out a list of shoulds. What should you have done already that’s not done? What should you do in the coming week? And especially, what should you do that you really don’t want to do or know you won’t actually do?

Look over your list of things you should have done. Remind yourself–and say it out loud if that helps–that God is in loving relationship with you even though you didn’t do those things. Look over the list of things you should do in the coming week. It’s true there might be negative consequences if you don’t get some of those things done, but those consequences will NOT include God abandoning you. Remind yourself that God is in loving relationship with you even if you don’t do the things on your should list.

Tear up the paper(s) you wrote on as you give thanks to God for divine grace.

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: There’s a Wild Hope in the Wind, Voices Together #828