Worship

Prelude: Karen Holl, Organist

Welcome

Call to Worship: (Psalm 138:1-5)

One: I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing your praise.

All: I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your unfailing love and your faithfulness, for you have so exalted your solemn decree that it surpasses your fame.

One: When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me.

All: May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord, when they hear what you have decreed. May they sing of the ways of the Lord, for the glory of the Lord is great.

One: Let us worship God.

ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESUS’ NAME (142)

Prayer of Confession & Assurance of Forgiveness:

One: Please join me in a prayer of confession based on Jeremiah 29:

All: Merciful God, we confess that we have hidden our light and failed to share the love of Christ. We have walked away from the people Jesus came to serve, from the cities and towns where he carried out his ministry. We have chosen instead to make our home in the isolated places where Jesus retreated for prayer.

One: And even there, our prayers have been mostly for ourselves. We have deemed our church an escape from Harrisonburg, rather than a sanctuary for it. We have deemed ourselves your chosen people but forsaken the ministry of reconciliation.

All: In your infinite mercy, forgive us our sins and set us on the path of true righteousness, that we may find the joy of our salvation as we seek the welfare of the world around us, especially our city of Harrisonburg. Amen.

One: Be assured of God’s forgiveness by these words from Isaiah 60:1-3:

All: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” Amen

First Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 29:4-14 (p.779)

GLORIA PATRI (579)

PLOTLINE: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Sermon: “How to Live In Exile” – Daniel 3:8-29 (p.879)

Announcements & The Passing of the Peace

IN MY LIFE LORD, BE GLORIFIED           

In my life, Lord, be glorified, be glorified;

In my life, Lord, be glorified today!

In my song, Lord, be glorified, be glorified;

In my song, Lord, be glorified today!

In Your church, Lord, be glorified, be glorified;

In Your church, Lord, be glorified today!

Prayers of the People & THE LORD’S PRAYER (Hymnal p.16)

BE STILL MY SOUL

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the veil of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away. 

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Closing Hymn: GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH (281)

Benediction

Postlude

• Are there any ways in which you feel like you/we are living in exile?
• How can we seek the peace and prosperity of the place the Lord has put us?
• How do we hold onto hope while living in exile?
• How did Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego resist the mesmerizing rhythms of idolatry in their day and how do we resist them in our day?
• Do you believe God is able to save you? Will you serve him even if he doesn’t?
• Who was the fourth man in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego? Do you sense Jesus with you in the fires of this life? What helps you tune into his presence with you?