Opening Prayer
Beloved Creator, there are times in our lives when we feel cut off from our past and uncertain of our future. There are times when events and circumstances make us feel like there is a sea in front of us and an army behind us. But you are there, a cloud to protect us and a pillar of light to guide us. In these specific needs today, we ask your presence: (Prayer Requests prayed for)
Lord’s Prayer
Call to Worship from Psalm 105
Give thanks to God who spread a cloud for a covering and
gave fire to light the night!
Who opened the rock and water gushed forth and flowed
through the desert sands.
Seek the Lord and the strength only God can give, a presence
that continually abides.
We will remember the wonderful works God has done, the
miracles, and the judgments God made.
* 'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus 257 (Range Line)
* How Firm a Foundation 463 (Longwood)
Confession
Lord of Lords, we confess today that we are as changeable as the Israelites.
When we are afraid, we fail to see your power and goodness and we want to go back.
Give us the courage each day to follow you and the way you have set.
When we see water ahead and an army behind, forgive our fears and help us to turn to you. Amen
Declaration of Forgiveness
Gloria Patri
Children’s Time: Crossing the Red Sea
Prayer for Illumination
Reading of the Word: Exodus 14:19-31
19 The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them. 20 It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night.
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided. 22 The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued, and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and chariot drivers. 24 At the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon the Egyptian army, and threw the Egyptian army into panic. 25 He clogged their chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty. The Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the Israelites, for the Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.”
26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and chariot drivers.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its normal depth. As the Egyptians fled before it, the Lord tossed the Egyptians into the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the chariot drivers, the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea; not one of them remained. 29 But the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.
30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great work that the Lord did against the Egyptians. So the people feared the Lord and believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
All the Way My Savior Leads Me 296 (Range Line)
Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah 65 (Longwood)
Sermon: From Egypt into the Wilderness
We often think of the Israelites as well prepared. We see them as an army marching forward. They eventually would be ready, but that isn’t how it started. It started with an evacuation, much like you have seen on TV with people piling what they own in their cars to escape hurricanes and wildfires.
During Fire Season in California, we were advised to always have an evacutation plan. Back then, in the old days, our photo albums were at the top of our list. Driver’s license and credit cards and cash, and underwear. You always needed to bring clean underwear. After that, every person had their own personal list, valuables, treasures passed down for generations, kids and dogs, of course … we were limited only by the space in our car and the time we had to pile it in. During times of alert, we would have those things by the door or already in the car.
I remember a poignant scene from the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, when the children and Mr and Mrs Beaver realize they have been betrayed and the witch will quickly send her army after them. They begin piling important things like food and necessities into bags to carry with them.
Then, Mrs Beaver looks at her sewing machine and sighs. It was precious, but far to heavy to carry. She leaves with deep regret at leaving this precious item behind.
We all have things that we treasure, and so did the Israelites. They had lived in Goshen since the time of Joseph. They had houses and land and crops and animals. They could only bring what they could carry with them on their backs and the backs of the animals.
Picture them, like every person who has had to evacuate, and the choices they had to make. Take this? Leave that? What could come, what had to be left behind … choices, hard choices.
I had to make just such a choice on Tuesday. A theft ring set me up at the Amtrak station in California, since I was alone. Two distracted me as the train came in, while a third grabbed my backpack. I realized it within seconds, but had to choose between getting on the train, or trying to stay and report it. Recovery would have been impossible, it was too well planned, too well timed.
The things in it had little financial value to them, but I really missed my crochet hooks and yarn, not to mention my warm sweater, during the long journey.
As the Israelites headed out, they too would have been missing things, most of all the security of the known which they had to trade for the unknown. So, when they arrived at the Red Sea with the chariots and army behind them, they panicked. Like a child wanting safety, they wanted home.
In the plagues, God had intervened in ways to set them free and to show His power to Pharaoh. Now, God would intervene in a way that would teach them that God was one they could rely on.
There are three things God did in this story that have application for us.
The first thing is that God came between the Israelites and the Egyptians as a cloud. But it wasn’t just any cloud, it illuminated their camp. They stood protected by God and were able to actually see God’s presence among them.
When we face an uncertain future, it is good to know that in the midst of uncertainty, God WILL do the same thing for us.
At Christmas time we sing the word Emmanuel. The word means God with us. When Jesus came, he came to be God among us. When He left, he did not leave us alone, but sent the Holy Spirit, the Comforter to be with us.
Like the cloud, standing between the Israelites, protecting them, God will always protect. God will be with us when we face troubles. He will illuminate our lives with hope so that we can see in the darkness.
The second thing God did was to open a way across the Red Sea.
Now, when the Israelites arrived, they saw only two options. Fight or die. The sea, to them, existed only as a barrier. They did not know that God would use the very thing they thought of as a barrier to open an escape path.
I have a favorite poem from when I was a teen. It is by Esther Guyot:
God has a thousand ways
Where I can see not one
When all my means have reached their end
Then His have just begun.
When we are faced with troubles, the first thing we usually do is make a plan, and believe me, I am big on planning. Then we ask God to bless that plan and make it work.
I am certain that if the Israelites were praying that evening their prayers would not have been “open the Red Sea so we can pass.” They would have been doing things like sharpening their swords.
Then they would have been asking God to help them somehow to remain alive and defeat this trained army coming against them.
But God had a different plan.
So, when we encounter difficulties, maybe we should do more than ask God to bless the plan we see. Maybe we should be asking for wisdom to see what God’s plan is for us. Because it might be something totally unexpected! The Creator of the entire Universe might have a few ideas of His own on how we should do things.
I am sure that there were a few Israelites ready to ignore the cloud and charge into the Egyptian Army that night while the wind blew behind them. They might have thought that attacking under cover of darkness was an awesome plan. Fortunately, they did not do so.
Which calls to mind another favorite poem (I guess I was on the train a bit too long, remembering favorite poems). It is called Broken Dreams, and is by Loretta P Burns.
As children bring their broken toys
With tears for us to mend.
I brought my broken dreams to God
Because He was my Friend.
But then instead of leaving Him
In peace to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help
With ways that were my own.
At last I snatched the back and cried,
"How could You be so slow"-
"My child," He said,
"What could I do? You never did let go."
So, the second thing we learn from this is not only God’s power to do the unexpected when problems arise, but the importance of our letting go so God can do them.
Finally, after God opened the Red Sea, so they could pass over, God closed it over the Egyptians and behind them.
At the beginning, there must have been some grumbling. Home wasn’t that far away, and after all, slavery was better than dying in the desert.
I always have wondered if God hadn’t sent them across the Red Sea with no safe way back, how many would have eventually turned around and headed home.
But, just as God opens doors for us, God also closes doors so that we cannot go back. That poem earlier, about not letting go? God kind of made sure that wouldn’t happen with the Israelites. Not only were they free now, under God’s protection, but the way back was blocked.
They would whine quite a bit, they would try following an idol, they would disobey God on quite a regular basis, but the way behind was forever closed to them.
This is a moment when the Israelites became a true team. They weren’t who they would become, but they were different than they had been. They had a lot of growing to do, but they had started, you can see the first inkling of it in this event and passages.
The story began with them being AFRAID of the Egyptian Army.
The story ended with them being AFRAID of (having respect for) God.
Many years ago, I was actually afraid to pray out loud. I know, all of you can’t imagine that! Gary had a similar fear, so we were alike.
I can’t remember exactly when it happened, but I became aware of the deep meaning of prayer that helped me understand it better. The question that focused it was this “Who are you speaking to when you pray? Are you speaking to the people who listen? Or are you speaking to the Creator of the entire universe?” I realized that I was afraid of the others who were listening, and that I was praying words that I thought they would approve of.
In that moment two things happened. I began with a fear of and respect for the one I was praying to. And I stopped praying in groups where my prayer would be judged by anyone other than God Himself. Asking me to pray for you will always generate my honest, heartfelt desires, unlimited by what you think you want me to say. Because when I pray, I speak not for your benefit, but draw into the presence of the Living God.
When we fear (have respect) for God, this can happen. We come to God, not stating our expectations of God, but rather asking God for God’s expectations of us. When we are in the presence of the living God we don’t have to ask if God will answer, or if God is powerful enough, or for God to bless our personal plans. We simply can be and can speak with the one God called us to be with.
To summarize:
When we face trouble, God will be with us, just as the cloud was with the Israelites protecting them.
When we face confusion, God will have a plan, usually one we didn’t come up with.
When the trial is over, God will still be there leading us. We will grow through the trial in our trust with God.
Apostles 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.
Dedication of Offerings/Doxology
Presentation and Dedication of Photo
(Family shares why this photo to honor Kathy McDonald)
Prayer of Dedication (From the Book of Occasional Services:
Christ is the icon of the invisible God; all things were created through him and for him. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
Let us pray.(Silence)Almighty God, whose Son our Savior manifested your glory in his flesh, and sanctified the outward and visible to be a means to perceive realities unseen: Accept, we pray, this picture, given by the family of Kathy; and grant that as we look upon it, our hearts may be drawn to things which can be seen only by the eye of faith.
May our hearts be encouraged to remember that just as Kathy loved children, so did Jesus. Let our hearts be reminded; of his love for all of us. Use this picture that the children who see it might feel His love for them, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
* Revive Us Again 485 (Range Line)
* Precious Lord, Take My Hand 834 (Longwood)
* Benediction/Passing the Peace
And now, let us go forth in trust. We are not going into the wilderness alone, God is with us. The Holy Spirit is our companion. As you go, may the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
And also with you
Pastor: Rev. Bobbie Karchner
Ministers: The Congregation
Web Site: http://tricountyministries.weebly.com
Weekly Worship Services uploaded on Sunday
Beloved Creator, there are times in our lives when we feel cut off from our past and uncertain of our future. There are times when events and circumstances make us feel like there is a sea in front of us and an army behind us. But you are there, a cloud to protect us and a pillar of light to guide us. In these specific needs today, we ask your presence: (Prayer Requests prayed for)
Lord’s Prayer
Call to Worship from Psalm 105
Give thanks to God who spread a cloud for a covering and
gave fire to light the night!
Who opened the rock and water gushed forth and flowed
through the desert sands.
Seek the Lord and the strength only God can give, a presence
that continually abides.
We will remember the wonderful works God has done, the
miracles, and the judgments God made.
* 'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus 257 (Range Line)
* How Firm a Foundation 463 (Longwood)
Confession
Lord of Lords, we confess today that we are as changeable as the Israelites.
When we are afraid, we fail to see your power and goodness and we want to go back.
Give us the courage each day to follow you and the way you have set.
When we see water ahead and an army behind, forgive our fears and help us to turn to you. Amen
Declaration of Forgiveness
Gloria Patri
Children’s Time: Crossing the Red Sea
Prayer for Illumination
Reading of the Word: Exodus 14:19-31
19 The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them. 20 It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night.
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided. 22 The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued, and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and chariot drivers. 24 At the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon the Egyptian army, and threw the Egyptian army into panic. 25 He clogged their chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty. The Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the Israelites, for the Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.”
26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and chariot drivers.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its normal depth. As the Egyptians fled before it, the Lord tossed the Egyptians into the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the chariot drivers, the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea; not one of them remained. 29 But the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.
30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great work that the Lord did against the Egyptians. So the people feared the Lord and believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
All the Way My Savior Leads Me 296 (Range Line)
Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah 65 (Longwood)
Sermon: From Egypt into the Wilderness
We often think of the Israelites as well prepared. We see them as an army marching forward. They eventually would be ready, but that isn’t how it started. It started with an evacuation, much like you have seen on TV with people piling what they own in their cars to escape hurricanes and wildfires.
During Fire Season in California, we were advised to always have an evacutation plan. Back then, in the old days, our photo albums were at the top of our list. Driver’s license and credit cards and cash, and underwear. You always needed to bring clean underwear. After that, every person had their own personal list, valuables, treasures passed down for generations, kids and dogs, of course … we were limited only by the space in our car and the time we had to pile it in. During times of alert, we would have those things by the door or already in the car.
I remember a poignant scene from the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, when the children and Mr and Mrs Beaver realize they have been betrayed and the witch will quickly send her army after them. They begin piling important things like food and necessities into bags to carry with them.
Then, Mrs Beaver looks at her sewing machine and sighs. It was precious, but far to heavy to carry. She leaves with deep regret at leaving this precious item behind.
We all have things that we treasure, and so did the Israelites. They had lived in Goshen since the time of Joseph. They had houses and land and crops and animals. They could only bring what they could carry with them on their backs and the backs of the animals.
Picture them, like every person who has had to evacuate, and the choices they had to make. Take this? Leave that? What could come, what had to be left behind … choices, hard choices.
I had to make just such a choice on Tuesday. A theft ring set me up at the Amtrak station in California, since I was alone. Two distracted me as the train came in, while a third grabbed my backpack. I realized it within seconds, but had to choose between getting on the train, or trying to stay and report it. Recovery would have been impossible, it was too well planned, too well timed.
The things in it had little financial value to them, but I really missed my crochet hooks and yarn, not to mention my warm sweater, during the long journey.
As the Israelites headed out, they too would have been missing things, most of all the security of the known which they had to trade for the unknown. So, when they arrived at the Red Sea with the chariots and army behind them, they panicked. Like a child wanting safety, they wanted home.
In the plagues, God had intervened in ways to set them free and to show His power to Pharaoh. Now, God would intervene in a way that would teach them that God was one they could rely on.
There are three things God did in this story that have application for us.
The first thing is that God came between the Israelites and the Egyptians as a cloud. But it wasn’t just any cloud, it illuminated their camp. They stood protected by God and were able to actually see God’s presence among them.
When we face an uncertain future, it is good to know that in the midst of uncertainty, God WILL do the same thing for us.
At Christmas time we sing the word Emmanuel. The word means God with us. When Jesus came, he came to be God among us. When He left, he did not leave us alone, but sent the Holy Spirit, the Comforter to be with us.
Like the cloud, standing between the Israelites, protecting them, God will always protect. God will be with us when we face troubles. He will illuminate our lives with hope so that we can see in the darkness.
The second thing God did was to open a way across the Red Sea.
Now, when the Israelites arrived, they saw only two options. Fight or die. The sea, to them, existed only as a barrier. They did not know that God would use the very thing they thought of as a barrier to open an escape path.
I have a favorite poem from when I was a teen. It is by Esther Guyot:
God has a thousand ways
Where I can see not one
When all my means have reached their end
Then His have just begun.
When we are faced with troubles, the first thing we usually do is make a plan, and believe me, I am big on planning. Then we ask God to bless that plan and make it work.
I am certain that if the Israelites were praying that evening their prayers would not have been “open the Red Sea so we can pass.” They would have been doing things like sharpening their swords.
Then they would have been asking God to help them somehow to remain alive and defeat this trained army coming against them.
But God had a different plan.
So, when we encounter difficulties, maybe we should do more than ask God to bless the plan we see. Maybe we should be asking for wisdom to see what God’s plan is for us. Because it might be something totally unexpected! The Creator of the entire Universe might have a few ideas of His own on how we should do things.
I am sure that there were a few Israelites ready to ignore the cloud and charge into the Egyptian Army that night while the wind blew behind them. They might have thought that attacking under cover of darkness was an awesome plan. Fortunately, they did not do so.
Which calls to mind another favorite poem (I guess I was on the train a bit too long, remembering favorite poems). It is called Broken Dreams, and is by Loretta P Burns.
As children bring their broken toys
With tears for us to mend.
I brought my broken dreams to God
Because He was my Friend.
But then instead of leaving Him
In peace to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help
With ways that were my own.
At last I snatched the back and cried,
"How could You be so slow"-
"My child," He said,
"What could I do? You never did let go."
So, the second thing we learn from this is not only God’s power to do the unexpected when problems arise, but the importance of our letting go so God can do them.
Finally, after God opened the Red Sea, so they could pass over, God closed it over the Egyptians and behind them.
At the beginning, there must have been some grumbling. Home wasn’t that far away, and after all, slavery was better than dying in the desert.
I always have wondered if God hadn’t sent them across the Red Sea with no safe way back, how many would have eventually turned around and headed home.
But, just as God opens doors for us, God also closes doors so that we cannot go back. That poem earlier, about not letting go? God kind of made sure that wouldn’t happen with the Israelites. Not only were they free now, under God’s protection, but the way back was blocked.
They would whine quite a bit, they would try following an idol, they would disobey God on quite a regular basis, but the way behind was forever closed to them.
This is a moment when the Israelites became a true team. They weren’t who they would become, but they were different than they had been. They had a lot of growing to do, but they had started, you can see the first inkling of it in this event and passages.
The story began with them being AFRAID of the Egyptian Army.
The story ended with them being AFRAID of (having respect for) God.
Many years ago, I was actually afraid to pray out loud. I know, all of you can’t imagine that! Gary had a similar fear, so we were alike.
I can’t remember exactly when it happened, but I became aware of the deep meaning of prayer that helped me understand it better. The question that focused it was this “Who are you speaking to when you pray? Are you speaking to the people who listen? Or are you speaking to the Creator of the entire universe?” I realized that I was afraid of the others who were listening, and that I was praying words that I thought they would approve of.
In that moment two things happened. I began with a fear of and respect for the one I was praying to. And I stopped praying in groups where my prayer would be judged by anyone other than God Himself. Asking me to pray for you will always generate my honest, heartfelt desires, unlimited by what you think you want me to say. Because when I pray, I speak not for your benefit, but draw into the presence of the Living God.
When we fear (have respect) for God, this can happen. We come to God, not stating our expectations of God, but rather asking God for God’s expectations of us. When we are in the presence of the living God we don’t have to ask if God will answer, or if God is powerful enough, or for God to bless our personal plans. We simply can be and can speak with the one God called us to be with.
To summarize:
When we face trouble, God will be with us, just as the cloud was with the Israelites protecting them.
When we face confusion, God will have a plan, usually one we didn’t come up with.
When the trial is over, God will still be there leading us. We will grow through the trial in our trust with God.
Apostles 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.
Dedication of Offerings/Doxology
Presentation and Dedication of Photo
(Family shares why this photo to honor Kathy McDonald)
Prayer of Dedication (From the Book of Occasional Services:
Christ is the icon of the invisible God; all things were created through him and for him. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
Let us pray.(Silence)Almighty God, whose Son our Savior manifested your glory in his flesh, and sanctified the outward and visible to be a means to perceive realities unseen: Accept, we pray, this picture, given by the family of Kathy; and grant that as we look upon it, our hearts may be drawn to things which can be seen only by the eye of faith.
May our hearts be encouraged to remember that just as Kathy loved children, so did Jesus. Let our hearts be reminded; of his love for all of us. Use this picture that the children who see it might feel His love for them, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
* Revive Us Again 485 (Range Line)
* Precious Lord, Take My Hand 834 (Longwood)
* Benediction/Passing the Peace
And now, let us go forth in trust. We are not going into the wilderness alone, God is with us. The Holy Spirit is our companion. As you go, may the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
And also with you
Pastor: Rev. Bobbie Karchner
Ministers: The Congregation
Web Site: http://tricountyministries.weebly.com
Weekly Worship Services uploaded on Sunday