For Sunday, May 29, 2022
Reset Sunday
Opening Breath Prayer
As you begin your time of worship, take some a few quiet moments of breath prayer to re-center yourself in Christ. While you take nice, slow, deep breaths in an out, you can either say the words out loud or silently.
Breathe in: Creator God
Breathe out: You know and love me
Breathe in: Lord Jesus
Breathe out: You are with me
Breathe in: Holy Spirit
Breathe out: Come, fill me
Worship Song
Jesus I Remember You
Jesus, I remember you
Tell me again of your mercies
Tell me again of all the things you do
You seal my pardon
You heal my heart and
You lift me out of darkness
You give me life
You satisfy
You crown me in your goodness
I adore You
Adore You
Jesus, I remember You
Celebrating all You do
Kids’ Song
Feel free to lift your voices and make big motions to praise our big, big God! This is for kids of all ages, so parents/adults, feel free to join in the fun and praise!
Kids’ Bible Story
Click here to watch the Creation Bible story together
After watching the video, please share a few of these “I wonder” questions together:
- I wonder which of these days you liked best?
- I wonder which day is the most important?
- I wonder which day you are in or which one is especially about you?
- I wonder what you are most thankful for from creation?
Scripture Reading
Hebrews 4:1, 9-11
1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it…
9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Devotional
Please take a couple of moments to read the following devotional. You can read it out loud one at a time, or silently to yourselves. There will also be a moment for active response. If you’re with others, please share out loud with one another at the end.
In the hustle and busyness of life, the never-ending “to do” lists, the endless email notifications from the office, the homework assignments, the appointments, practices, and, and meetings, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and fractured. Part of us is here, part of us is there; even when we make time to pray, we can be distracted and frustrated.
Friends, our prayer is that you hear the voice of Jesus inviting you into wholeness — and that the path toward wholeness, peace of mind, and a calmness of spirit comes, in part, through our commitment to Sabbath.
It sounds a little funny, but our Scripture today reminds us of our calling to actively seek rest. We are called to “make every effort to enter that rest” — as Dallas Willard reminds us, “Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning. Earning is an attitude. Effort is an action.” But this effort so we can rest is different from the kind of working that grinds us down; we purposefully direct our love and trust to God in Sabbath (which brings peace) instead of striving to keep control of all the outcomes (which brings stress).
While the Memorial Day holiday is a different kind of remembrance, this is a great time for us to remember who God is and who we are in God. Re-membering means to “put back together,” and it is the faithfulness of God which puts us back together. In 1 Samuel 7, during a critical moment in the history of the Israelites, the people of God experience the power and protection of God. Verse 12 says, “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jeshanah, and named it Ebenezer (‘stone of help’); for he said, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.'”
Active Response:
Take about 10-15 minutes (or longer or shorter — it’s up to you!) for each of you to find a “stone of help.” Depending on your location today, if it’s appropriate, pick up the stone and bring it back; otherwise, take a picture or simply create a mental image of the rock for yourself. Come back to the group and share your responses to the following:
- Why did you like this rock in particular? The color, the location, the weight of it, the shape, etc.
- How do you remember that God is faithful in your life? How do you need God’s help to put things back together?
- What are some practical ways that you can actively seek Sabbath rest, the kind that helps you remember God’s love and makes you feel whole?
As you wrap up this portion of your Reset Sunday, close with the Prayer of Recollection at the end. Allow God to re-collect your scattered thoughts, attention, and time. Place your hope and trust in Jesus, who holds all things together.
Closing Prayer of Recollection
Adapted from Rodrigo de la Sotta
Directions:
- Read each line of the prayer out loud. If there are multiple people worshiping together, take turns reading a sentence each until the end of the prayer.
- Take a moment to meditate on the prayer, and see what line in the prayer is speaking to you. Again, if there are multiple people together, share the line and why it is speaking to you today.
- End in silence and thanksgiving for this day of rest with an Amen.
I am not God, but a finite creation of God.
Lord, I know that I have a body that has limits.
I am here right now and cannot be other places.
I cannot grant everybody’s wishes.
I am grateful for the truth that I am not You, God.
Only You can meet all the needs around me.
In my deepest place, I am not my names, roles and qualities, and these are not my righteousness (my salvation, my rest).
At my deepest place I am not a daughter or son, a husband or wife, a father or mother, a boyfriend or girlfriend.
I am not what I do. I am not how much money I make.
At my deepest place, I am not what others have named me.
I am not my failures. I am not my successes. I am not my strengths. I am not my weaknesses.
I confess any image of myself I cling to as a means to find my own salvation, my own righteousness apart from You.
I affirm the truth of my soul’s identity in Christ.
In my deepest place, I am a spirit now clothed with the righteousness of Christ.
I am precious in God’s eyes.
From all eternity, God calls me beloved and holds me with an everlasting embrace.
Anchor & Hope Church 