![[Do Justice Love Kindness Walk Humbly.svg]]
## **Order of Service and Sermon Analysis Outline**
### **🔄 Replay**
https://www.youtube.com/live/BTpCG0UzVRs?si=yA7mQCzXUp6bXoTu
### **🎙 Speaker**
- **Speaker**: Rev. Caroline E. Saxton, Rev. Stephen M. Fearing
### **📅 Date**
- **Date**: November 19, 2023
- This service occurs after the election season, a significant time as it reflects on the community's unity and the biblical call to justice and peace amidst societal transitions.
### **📍 Location**
- **Location**: St. John's Church
- This setting may influence the delivery and reception of the service's messages, catering to the community's specific cultural and spiritual needs.
### **📜 We Remember Our Calling**
- **Title**: "We Remember Our Calling"
- This title sets a reflective tone, focusing on the congregational identity and spiritual mission post-election.
---
## **Service Flow and Engagement**
### **🗒 Summary of the Service**
- Today's service theme revolves around remembrance and calling, aligning Christian values with social action and personal reflection in a post-election context.
### **👋 Opening Remarks / Welcome**
- Delivered by the service leaders, the welcome aimed to be inclusive and affirming, setting a tone of unity and acceptance.
### **📖 Call to Worship**
- **Scripture**: Psalm 146:3-5, 7-10
"Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish. Happy are those whose help is in the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord!"
- This passage calls for trust in divine justice and compassion, fitting for the theme of remembrance and responsibility.
### **🎵 Hymns / Worship Songs**
1. **Hymn #281: "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling"** by Charles Wesley
Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love thou art;
Visit us with thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in thee inherit;
Let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all thy life receive;
Suddenly return and never,
Nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve thee as thy hosts above,
Pray and praise thee without ceasing,
Glory in thy perfect love.
Finish, then, thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.
1. **Hymn #671: "God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending"** adapted by Rev. Stephen M. Fearing
God, whose giving knows no ending,
From Your rich and endless store:
Nature’s wonder, Jesus’ wisdom,
Costly cross, grave’s shattered door.
Gifted by You, we turn to You,
Offering up ourselves in praise;
Thankful song shall rise forever,
Gracious donor of our days.
Skills and time are ours for pressing
Toward the goals of Christ, Your Son:
All at peace in health and freedom,
Races joined, the church made one.
Now direct our daily labor,
Lest we strive for self alone.
Born with talents, make us servants
Fit to answer at Your throne.
Treasure, too, You have entrusted,
Gain through powers Your grace conferred;
Ours to use for home and kindkind,
And to spread the gospel word.
Open wide our hands in sharing,
As we heed Christ’s ageless call.
Healing, teaching, and reclaiming,
Serving You by loving all.
### **🙏 Prayer and Meditation**
- The prayers addressed post-election healing, community unity, and a recommitment to Christian values of peace and justice.
### **🙋 Congregational Prayer Requests**
- Requests were focused on community concerns, health issues, and global peace, reflecting a collective spirit of care and concern.
### **📖 Scripture Readings**
1. **Micah 6:8**
He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
2. **1 Corinthians 13:1-13**
1 If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3 If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant
5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.
7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.
9 For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part;
10 but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end.
11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways.
12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.
13 And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
### **🎶 Special Music / Performances**
- "Rejoice, the Lord is King" arranged by Don Neufeld was performed, reinforcing themes of joy and divine kingship.
Rejoice, the Lord is King!
Your Lord and King adore;
Mortals, give thanks and sing,
And triumph evermore:
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
Jesus, the Savior, reigns,
The God of truth and love;
When He had purged our stains,
He took His seat above:
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
His kingdom cannot fail;
He rules o’er earth and heaven;
The keys of death and hell
Are to our Jesus given:
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
He sits at God’s right hand
Till all His foes submit,
And bow to His command,
And fall beneath His feet:
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
Rejoice in glorious hope!
Our Lord, the Judge, shall come
And take His servants up
To their eternal home:
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
---
## **Sermon Analysis**
### **🗒 Sermon Summary**
# Detailed Outline of Church Service
## Children's Sermon Outline
### Introduction
- Interactive discussion on finding love in various holidays, focusing on Halloween and New Year's.
- Engages children with questions about their personal experiences of joy and love during these times.
### Exploration of Themes
- **Love in Halloween**: Explained through the joy of seeing children happy, highlighting Christian love's expansiveness beyond material or superficial elements.
- **Love in New Year's**: Discussed in terms of new beginnings and potentials, reflecting Christian values of renewal and hope.
### Connection to Scripture
- Introduction to **1 Corinthians 13**, setting the stage for the main sermon.
- Explanation of the scripture's typical use in weddings, but its broader application to Christian communal love.
### Educational Moment
- Teaches the broader implications of 1 Corinthians 13 on daily interactions and Christian fellowship.
- Clarifies the original intent of the scripture to guide communal and social responsibilities among Christians.
## Main Sermon Outline
### Opening
- Recitation of **1 Corinthians 13:1-13** to frame the sermon around Christian love.
- Personal reflections on family and singing to metaphorically discuss community and harmony.
### In-depth Scriptural Analysis
1. **Expounding on Christian Love**:
- Detailed analysis of each verse, emphasizing love's characteristics: patience, kindness, humility.
2. **Christian Love in Action**:
- Examples of manifesting Christian love in daily life.
- Discussion on love as an active societal force.
3. **Theological Implications**:
- Connection of love to core Christian theological and ethical teachings.
- Discussion on justice as public love, referencing Dr. Cornel West.
4. **Contemporary Application**:
- Reflections on societal challenges and Christian love's role in addressing them.
- Encouragement to remain rooted in compassion, forgiveness, and grace despite societal fears.
5. **Reaffirmation of Christian Mission**:
- Constant nature of Christian calling to justice, mercy, and humility.
- Urges continued growth in love for God and neighbor.
### Conclusion
- Reflection on how personal and familial values align with the sermon’s message.
- Summation of faith, hope, and love as enduring principles guiding the congregation.
## Prayer Requests Segment Outline
### Introduction to Prayer Requests
- Invites the congregation to share their prayer needs and thanksgivings.
- Opens with a prayer for receptiveness and community sharing.
### Catalog of Requests and Thanksgivings
1. **Erin**:
- Thanks for successful surgery and recovery.
- Celebrates community support via a book sale benefiting Habitat for Humanity.
2. **Jim**:
- Prayers for global leaders and universal love.
- Emphasizes Christian duty to love all, including challenging personalities.
3. **Lisa**:
- Requests for general well-being and community upliftment.
4. **Gary**:
- Updates on Judy’s health and progress, reflecting on community support.
5. **John Widman**:
- Recovery news, highlighting his positive influence and encouragement.
6. **Joanne Brechtel**:
- Memoriam and prayers for family during mourning.
- Details on memorial service arrangements, fostering community attendance.
### Collective Prayer
- Community prayer incorporating all shared requests, focusing on themes of support, healing, and communal strength.
- Prays for wisdom, guidance, and the perseverance of faith, hope, and love within the congregation.
### Conclusion
- Blesses congregation's commitment to mutual support.
- Encourages continued engagement in prayer, support, and love as key expressions of faith.
### **🎙 Preaching Style**
- Narrative style likely used, weaving scriptural interpretations with contemporary issues, aiming for a deep emotional and spiritual connection with the congregation.
### **🗣 Intonation and Delivery**
- The delivery was probably dynamic and empathetic, aiming to resonate deeply with the congregation's post-election feelings and call to Christian duty.
### **📝 Content Structure**
- The sermon likely followed a clear structure, with a strong introduction setting the scene, followed by a detailed exploration of biblical texts, and concluding with practical applications for daily living.
### **👥 Engagement and Application**
- Calls to action may have included community service, political engagement from a faith perspective, and personal reflection on one's role in fostering societal peace and justice.
---
## **Additional Service Elements**
### **📢 Announcements / Church News**
- Announcements included community events and opportunities for congregation involvement in social justice and community service projects.
### **💰 Offering / Tithes**
- The offering was likely framed as a communal act of worship and solidarity, supporting both the church and its social outreach programs.
### **🙏 Benediction / Closing Prayer**
- Led by Rev. Stephen M. Fearing, focusing on empowerment, peace, and commitment to living out the gospel in everyday actions.
### **🤝 Post-Service Fellowship**
- Post-service activities included a coffee hour and a special ceremony, providing opportunities for community bonding and engagement.
### **🎉 Special Events**
- A notable event was the Eagle Scout Ceremony for Jake Goshorn, reflecting the community's support for youth development and achievement.
---
## **Personal Reflections and Critical Evaluation**
### **💭 Personal Reflection**
- Reflect on how the service's themes of remembrance, calling, and community action resonate personally and within the broader societal context.
### **🧠 Critical Evaluation of the Sermon**
- Biblical Accuracy: The sermon likely aligned closely with the scriptural texts of justice, mercy, and humility.
- Theological Soundness: Emphasized mainstream Christian doctrines of love and service.
- Practical Application: Offered tangible steps for living out faith in personal and community spheres.
- Cultural and Historical Context: Considered contemporary societal challenges in interpreting scripture.
- Speaker’s Delivery: Inclusive, engaging,
# Text Elements
Text ^rGR4VqSM
%%
# Drawing
```json
{
"type": "excalidraw",
"version": 2,
"source": "https://github.com/zsviczian/obsidian-excalidraw-plugin/releases/tag/2.1.4",
"elements": [
{
"id": "rGR4VqSM",
"type": "text",
"x": -149.9439697265625,
"y": -231.19235229492188,
"width": 49.55995178222656,
"height": 25,
"angle": 0,
"strokeColor": "#1e1e1e",
"backgroundColor": "transparent",
"fillStyle": "solid",
"strokeWidth": 2,
"strokeStyle": "solid",
"roughness": 1,
"opacity": 100,
"groupIds": [],
"frameId": null,
"roundness": null,
"seed": 568898042,
"version": 5,
"versionNonce": 196968358,
"isDeleted": false,
"boundElements": null,
"updated": 1713808738313,
"link": null,
"locked": false,
"text": "Text",
"rawText": "Text",
"fontSize": 20,
"fontFamily": 1,
"textAlign": "left",
"verticalAlign": "top",
"containerId": null,
"originalText": "Text",
"lineHeight": 1.25
}
],
"appState": {
"theme": "light",
"viewBackgroundColor": "#ffffff",
"currentItemStrokeColor": "#1e1e1e",
"currentItemBackgroundColor": "transparent",
"currentItemFillStyle": "solid",
"currentItemStrokeWidth": 2,
"currentItemStrokeStyle": "solid",
"currentItemRoughness": 1,
"currentItemOpacity": 100,
"currentItemFontFamily": 1,
"currentItemFontSize": 20,
"currentItemTextAlign": "left",
"currentItemStartArrowhead": null,
"currentItemEndArrowhead": "arrow",
"scrollX": 504,
"scrollY": 428.3359375,
"zoom": {
"value": 1
},
"currentItemRoundness": "round",
"gridSize": null,
"gridColor": {
"Bold": "#C9C9C9FF",
"Regular": "#EDEDEDFF"
},
"currentStrokeOptions": null,
"previousGridSize": null,
"frameRendering": {
"enabled": true,
"clip": true,
"name": true,
"outline": true
}
},
"files": {}
}
```
%%