Friends, as we begin this season of Advent — a time of hope and wonder — in anticipation and preparation of our King who makes all things new, we pray that the light of Jesus would shine bright in and through your lives, and that hope would be renewed in your hearts.
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns. 6 The nations are in an uproar; the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice; the earth melts. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord; see what desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10 “Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations; I am exalted in the earth.” 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Reflection Questions:
Why do you think this person wrote this Psalm? What do you think their lives were like at the time they wrote it?
How do you think this person came to the conclusion that they came to?
What kind of pictures or imagery come to mind as you read it?
What verses stand out to you?
What questions come to mind as you read it? What questions do you have for God as you read it? (Try to come up with at least 1 question)
Active Response: The River of Life
There is a river of life whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
Imagine your life as a river. You will draw a river of your life as a prayer: as a way of listening and speaking to God. Draw a river from one edge to the other. This river won’t start at birth, but rather from about 3 years ago. In the middle somewhere, will be the present, and then final part of it will be the future. Draw your life over the last 3 years in the river.
What were significant events (and yes, covid will be one of them)?
What were tributaries – that is things that had influence that flowed into your life over the last 3 years: people, events, etc. that had impact in your life? (Some may be bigger, some may be smaller).
You can make landmarks – islands in the river, objects along the river banks, obstructions to the flow, twists, etc. to represent the different people, places, events, in these past three years
Ask God to reveal to you how God was with you during these times, how and what God spoke to you, where God blessed you, and even those moments where you might have felt far from God.
When you come to the future part of your river, draw what your river might need for you to live into the fullness of life that God has created us for. Is it presence? rest? space? adventure? resources? relationships? Is there anything growing on the banks of the river? Does the river flow into bigger of body of water which is the future?
Pray to God for these things as you look to the future.
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!
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.
For Sunday, May 22, 2022 In-Person • 1:00 pm Mount Soledad Presbyterian Church • Worship Center The Sixth Sunday of Easter
Presider: Peter Yoon Guest Preacher: Yang Liu
Call to Worship
From the Presbyterian Church in Canada
In life, in death, and in life beyond death, The Risen Christ is Lord. In success and discouragement, in fear and in hope, The Risen Christ is Lord. Of the poor and broken, of the sinner and the sinned against, The Risen Christ is Lord.
In Church and community, in our hearts and our homes, The Risen Christ is Lord, and so we gather to worship in Jesus’ name.
Worship Song
Relentless
Salvation sounds a new beginning As distant hearts begin believing Redemption’s bid is unrelenting… Your love goes on Your love goes on
You carry us, carry us when the world gives way You cover us, cover us with Your endless grace
Your love is relentless Your love is relentless Your love is relentless Your love is relentless
The time is up for chasing shadows You gave the world a light to follow A hope that shines beyond tomorrow Your love goes on Your love goes on
Tearing through the veil of darkness Breaking every chain You set us free Fighting for the furthest heart You gave Your life for all to see
Prayer of Confession
Adapted from re:worship
God of justice, we confess that in the pursuit of our own dreams and desires, we have not always been civil, not always humane, not always right, sometimes in thought, sometimes in actions.
Guided by Your Spirit, what we would like to do is change the world – make it a little simpler for people to feed, clothe, and shelter themselves as You intended them to do. Help us to be Your witnesses, to join You in Your good work so that we can, with Your help, change the world.
— Moment of silent prayer & confession —
God of love, enlarge our hearts to love each other, to love our neighbor, and to love our enemy as our friend. Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness
Led by Presider
For nothing is impossible with God. There is no place we can go, no end of the earth we can run, where God cannot find us. There is nothing on earth or beyond death that can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We are forgiven. We are loved. We are reconciled to God. Let us go and live with the love of God. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Prayers of the People
Adapted from Acts of Faith
Holy Lord, Maker of us all, You call us to love our neighbors as ourselves and teach us that faith without works is dead. Open us to the opportunities for ministry that exist before us, where faith and words and the need of our neighbor come together in name of Jesus Christ, our Savior.
— Moment of silent prayer & intercession —
God with us, help us to see You in the faces of all we encounter; to show them love through the empowering of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Passing of the Peace
Together
Greet one another and/or send a text message to someone either from our Anchor City Community or someone who needs God’s peace this day!
Family Praise
Led by Arya & Esme Kim
Blessing of the Children
Led by Presider
Children hold out their hands to receive the blessing
Go in peace and go in joy Filled with wonder for this day Go in faith and go in love God will guide you on your way!
Scripture Reading
Led by Presider
Presider: This is the Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God!
Worship Song
You Don’t Have to Lose Heart
Hey now, you don’t have to lose heart Hey now, we’re only at the start of what God’s doing here
Hey now, you don’t have to lose heart Hey now, we’re only at the start of what God’s doing here… God is here…
Let us put our trust in the One who carries us So we can let go of every disappointment
Let us cling to love, to the hope ahead of us So we can hold on to every single promise
Brother, when your troubles weigh you down Sister, fix your eyes on higher ground On the peace that’s yet to come… to come…
Let us rest here in the hands of the One who made all things Let us rest here in the plans of the One who knows all things
Sermon
Guest Speaker: Yang Liu
Announcements
Reset Sunday
Next Sunday will be a Reset Sunday. Instead of gathering together at the Mount Soledad Presbyterian campus, we will provide a worship guide for you and encourage you to experience connection with God and others outside of the walls of the church building!
Pastors’ Sabbatical
Thanks to everyone who is helping out each Sunday while the pastors are on sabbatical!
Worship Song
Oh You Bring
Oh You bring hope to the hopeless And light to those in darkness And death to life… now I’m alive
Oh You give peace to the restless And joy to homes that are broken I see You now… in You I’m found
And You opened the door for me And You laid down Your life to set me free All that I am will serve You, Lord
Oh You fill those who are empty And rescue those in the valley And through it all… You calm my soul
Oh You find me in my weakness And heal the wounds of my heartache I worship You… in spirit and truth
And You opened my eyes to see All the wonder and awe of Christ in me Jesus, You’re everything I need
All honor… all glory… all praise to You
Benediction
Led by Yang Liu
Being sent with God’s blessing into the world to join Jesus’ mission of redemption
For Sunday, May 15, 2022 In-Person • 1:00 pm Mount Soledad Presbyterian Church • Worship Center The Fifth Sunday of Easter
Presider: Chris Kwok Guest Preacher: Pastor Jennifer Guerra Aldana
Call to Worship
From the Presbyterian Church in Canada
In life, in death, and in life beyond death, The Risen Christ is Lord. In success and discouragement, in fear and in hope, The Risen Christ is Lord. Of the poor and broken, of the sinner and the sinned against, The Risen Christ is Lord.
In Church and community, in our hearts and our homes, The Risen Christ is Lord, and so we gather to worship in Jesus’ name.
Worship Song
Everything New
I can feel Your power, Love Even in the hours of The beckoning day or the darkening night
Cause You are making all things new You are making everything new You are making all things new You are making everything, everything
Like sounds of a baby crying Light breaks over Your horizon I’m caught in the fall and the rise of Your tide
Like mountains born in fire Born again by Your desire I’m caught in the heart of the world You conspire
I’m caught in Your heart… Your country of love I’m caught in Your heart… let Your country come
Prayer of Confession
Adapted from re:worship
Holy God, we struggle to manifest the fruits of the Spirit, but often find ourselves bound by the things of this world. We know the whole law is summed up in the single commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Yet we create fences around ourselves to keep neighbors outside and tell ourselves we have no responsibility. Even in our own backyard we “bite and devour” one another. We wish it were different.
— Moment of silent prayer & confession —
When Jesus calls us to follow Him, we find every excuse instead to go home or to the workplace to finish something more important first. Yet we yearn to be more centered on You. Help us to come and give our whole selves to You, To be led into a life of love by You, Jesus, our most loving Neighbor. In whose name we pray, Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness
Led by Presider
Despite our resistance, we can be assured that God’s loving arm redeems the people. God calls us back to God’s realm, and encourages us with a love we can never lose no matter how hard we push back, no matter how often we forget, no matter how far we stray. We need but ask and we are forgiven. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Prayers of the People
Adapted from re:worship
God of grace, in these continued days of knowing and not knowing, we, like the buds on the trees, are eager to burst forth into the world. Hold us gently in place as we continue to find ways to love our neighbor and to be sent by You to do so.
And we seek blessing upon those who have answered a call to care for us Thank You for sending them to love us as neighbor. These, we hold in our care as neighbors.
Help us to hear that caring for one another is Your command on our lives. Let us think on how we will make the world a better place. Let us think on what kindness, however small, we might offer someone. Let us remember that our life is not our own, but belongs to You.
— Moment of silent prayer & intercession —
Holy Spirit, help us dream how we might enter our communities to be a beacon of hope for those living in disorder to come alongside them while they find order; alongside them while they reorder their lives. Help us always, Lord, to remember our promise to You that we will care for our neighbor as ourselves. Amen.
Passing of the Peace
Together
Greet one another and/or send a text message to someone either from our Anchor City Community or someone who needs God’s peace this day!
Family Praise
Led by Arya & Esme Kim
Blessing of the Children
Led by Presider
Children hold out their hands to receive the blessing
Go in peace and go in joy Filled with wonder for this day Go in faith and go in love God will guide you on your way!
Scripture Reading
Led by Presider
Presider: This is the Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God!
Worship Song
Expectation
You redeem our past… You take what’s old and broken You’re breathing in new life
Rhythms of Your grace… moving us to freedom From darkness in……to light
You will make all things new You’ll bring Your Kingdom here We wait in expectation
We lift our eyes to You Salvation’s drawing near We wait in expectation
You have overcome… the troubles we are facing You’re standing here… with us
Oppression cannot win… and anxious thoughts are broken By the pow’r of Je…sus’ name
Oh… Oh… (x3) Oh… Salvation’s drawing near
Sermon
Guest Speaker: Pastor Jennifer Guerra Aldana
Announcements
Reset Sunday
The month of May has 5 Sundays — the final Sunday of the month (May 29th) will be a Reset Sunday. Instead of gathering together at the Mount Soledad Presbyterian campus, we will provide a worship guide for you and encourage you to experience connection with God and others outside of the walls of the church building!
Pastors’ Sabbatical
PJ & PD will be gone on sabbatical for the entire month of May. Please keep Pastors Jeya & Dan in your prayers. Thanks to everyone who is helping out each Sunday while the pastors are on sabbatical!
Worship Song
Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly
It all comes down to this What You require of me Love my neighbor as myself and You above all things
Act justly, love mercy Walk humbly, with You God In all things, in all ways Walk humbly, with You God
It all comes down to this To be Your hands and feet Good News to all the world The truth will set us free
It’s beauty for ashes It’s mourning to dancing It’s closer and closer The Kingdom of heaven
Years from now we’ll see the fruit our hands have sown Faith just like a seed The only way it grows
Benediction
Led by Pastor Jennifer Guerra Aldana
Being sent with God’s blessing into the world to join Jesus’ mission of redemption
Anchor & Hope Church 