Worship service Jan. 17, 2021 – First Mennonite Church

Spirituality and the Arts 2: Musical Preferences

Prayer for Peace & Lighting of Peace Candle

Blessing In The Chaos

To all that is chaotic in you,

let there come silence.

Let there be a calming of the clamoring, a stilling of the voices that have laid their claim on you,

that have made their home in you, that go with you even to the holy places but will not let you rest,

will not let you hear your life with wholeness or feel the grace that fashioned you.

Let what distracts you cease.

Let what divides you cease.

Let there come an end to what diminishes and demeans, and let depart all that keeps you in its cage.

Let there be an opening into the quiet that lies beneath the chaos,

where you find the peace you did not think possible

and see what shimmers within the storm.

—Jan Richardson from The Cure for Sorrow: A Book of Blessings for Times of Grief

-moment of silence-

Call to Worship STS 138

Almighty God, clothe us in the mantle of praise

that we may always rejoice

in proclaiming your glory

and in receiving your blessings,

through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Opening Hymn Great is the Lord HWB 87

Sharing and Prayer (at the beginning of the sermon) attached to the email)

Scripture Psalm 150

Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty firmament!^[a]
²Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his surpassing greatness!

³Praise him with trumpet sound;
    praise him with lute and harp!
⁴Praise him with tambourine and dance;
    praise him with strings and pipe!
⁵Praise him with clanging cymbals;
    praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
⁶Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!