Opening Prayer

At times it can be difficult
to look forward in hope,
to face the future,
to trust that God is working for us.

But in this space,
God is with us.
Offering us a glimpse of heaven, a teaser of what is to come.

So, however difficult, however challenging, however uncomfortable, put your trust in God and worship him.

Children’s Time

Room for everyone

Confession & Words of Assurance

Creator God,

maker of all that is seen and all that is hidden;
we gather here in our homes to worship and adore You.

As we seek to follow in the way of Jesus, may others see You in us as the disciples saw You in Jesus. Merciful God, we are sorry for the times when we fail You, for the times when we turn from Your way to follow our own path.

We are sorry for the times that we misunderstand or disregard Your will for us.

We come humbly before You today and ask for your forgiveness.
Help us to accept your free offer of forgiveness and put us back on the right pathway.

There is a place for us, always. God forgives before we even ask, and shows us greater love than we can imagine. Trust in that love and follow God’s path.

Scripture

Jesus is the Way to the Father

14 Jesus said to his disciples, “Don’t be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me. ² There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I wouldn’t tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. ³ After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together. ⁴ You know the way to where I am going.”

⁵ Thomas said, “Lord, we don’t even know where you are going! How can we know the way?”

⁶ “I am the way, the truth, and the life!” Jesus answered. “Without me, no one can go to the Father. ⁷ If you had known me, you would have known the Father. But from now on, you do know him, and you have seen him.”

⁸ Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father. That is all we need.”

⁹ Jesus replied:

Philip, I have been with you for a long time. Don’t you know who I am? If you have seen me, you have seen the Father. How can you ask me to show you the Father? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am one with the Father and that the Father is one with me? What I say isn’t said on my own. The Father who lives in me does these things.

¹¹ Have faith in me when I say that the Father is one with me and that I am one with the Father. Or else have faith in me simply because of the things I do. ¹² I tell you for certain that if you have faith in me, you will do the same things that I am doing. You will do even greater things, now that I am going back to the Father. ¹³ Ask me, and I will do whatever you ask. This way the Son will bring honor to the Father. ¹⁴ I will do whatever you ask me to do.

Sermon

Performed by Margaret Whisselle

Prayers of the People

(Please add your prayers aloud and in the comment Our faith in humanity mirrors our faith in You.section below)

God of community,

We gather together once more, each in our own space wishing we could be with our church friends and family. We pray for those we no longer see in person, hoping they know how much they are missed.

We pray for those who have lost loved ones. So many families around the world are crying out to You for comfort in their loss. Help us show Your love and comfort to all of your world. Give us the words to speak that bring a sense of Your peace.

We pray for those who continue to keep our country going, even though they risk their own health. Strengthen their commitment to their jobs and our service. Help them know so many are grateful, even if we can’t tell them in person. Let them feel our love and support.

We pray for farmers, truckers, bank tellers, clerks, postal workers, medical staff, first responders, government leaders, scientists, and so many others.

Gathering all these prayers into one, we offer the prayer tradition has taught us:

Our Father, who art in heave, hallowed be Thy name. Your kingdom come, Your 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Benediction & Commission

As you stay in your space

While we leave this time of worship
we go with the blessing of God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
guiding, loving and inspiring us.