PRAYER OF THE DAY God, You tell us to multiply when we are paralyzed by fear. When we are far from feeling secure, civilized, and sane, you want more from us. We remember how you call unlikely people: Mary, unwed and traveling on a camel, to give birth to your Son. Moses, with a stutter and a felony, to lead your people to freedom. You call us to live, O God, and in our living to praise you. We confess that we have pressed pause and hidden from you. We look for you now. We lift our heads. We move our thoughts and feet to meet you. Amen.
WORDS OF FORGIVENESS Jesus doesn’t keep a record of our sins. He came to forgive us — every sin. Humbling ourselves before God, we receive these words: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. We can be at peace.
SONGS OF WORSHIP Gloria Patri Softly and Tenderly
HOLY INTERRUPTION
SCRIPTURE READING | Jeremiah 29:1-14 These are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. This was after King Jeconiah, and the queen mother, the court officials, the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the artisans, and the smiths had departed from Jerusalem. The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom King Zedekiah of Judah sent to Babylon to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. It said: Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let the prophets and the diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, says the Lord.For thus says the Lord: Only when Babylon’s seventy years are completed will I visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. The word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.
SERMON + RESPONSE | Night’s Falling
PRAYERS FOR ALL PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come,thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH | The Apostle’s Creed I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
