Better than Chocolate: Call to Justice - Micah 6:1-8

Speaker: Ken Boonstra

Today we begin a new series for Lent. For five Sundays in Lent, we will consider God’s call to justice. Micah 6 extends to us God’s basic invitation: act justly, love kindness, walk humbly with God.

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Welcome
Gathering Song: Here I Am to Worship
Call to Worship: Psalm 146
Songs of Praise: Famous One; Be Unto Your Name
Call to Confession: James 2:1-17 & 24
Prayer of Confession
Songs of Dedication: Take My Life and Let it Be; Lord I Want to Be A Sacrifice
Offering/Offertory: When I Survey
Prayers of the People
Scripture: John 4:1-26
Message: Better than Chocolate: Justice and the Stranger
Song of Response: Enough
Blessing
Song of Praise: Doxology

This week we’ll be challenged to see the people around us as Jesus sees them and to treat them as he would. We open with a song that remembers Jesus’ example (”…light of the world you stepped down into darkness; opened my eyes, let me see… humbly you came to the world you created; all for love’s sake become poor”). Psalm 146 reminds us that God remains faithful forever “…He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry… He sets the prisoners free, gives sight to the blind, lifts up those who are bowed down, loves the righteous, watches over the foreigner, sustains the fatherless and the widow”. Our sung response? Praise! “…for all you’ve done and yet to do, with every breath I’m praising you… highest praises, honour and glory be unto your name”. With words from James 2 we remember that faith requires action and we confess that we have failed both in “what we have done and what we have left undone”. Our prayer continues with sung words of dedication: “…take my hands and let them move at the impulse of your love… Lord I want your love to rule my life and be the one that you shine through”. As we give our money gifts we remember Christ’s sacrifice with words from “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” and declare “…love so amazing, so divine demands my soul, my life, my all”.

As we close reflecting that all we have in Jesus is “…more than enough” – we remember the challenge to BE Jesus to the people around us for that is one way we can “…praise God, from whom ALL blessings flow” – our LIVES are the doxology! Amen.

The Prodigal God: The Feast of the Father - Luke 15

Speaker: Ken Boonstra

We could say that Luke 15 is the Bible in microcosm. We catch sight of human condition, of God’s solution, and the invitation to the new communion celebration God has in store for us.

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Enjoy a night out with your family and friends this Tuesday, February 23rd. Dine and Discover is hosting a Mexican Fiesta Fun Night. Dinner at 6:00, celebrations following. EVERYONE’S invited - regulars, guests and first-time attenders - we’d love to see you there! Contact dineanddiscover@willoughbychurch.com for more info or to RSVP.

Gathering Song: Holy, Holy
Call to Worship: based on Romans 12:1
Songs of Response: Once Again; Lord I Want to Be A Sacrifice
Call to Confession: Psalm 14 (Video)
Assurance: Matthew 5:3-12
Song of Response: I Lift My Eyes Up
Prayers of the People
Offering/Offertory: Beauty of the Lord
Scripture: Micah 6:1-8
Message: Better than Chocolate: Justice and the Christian Life
Song of Response: O Breath of Life
Blessing
Song of Praise: Beauty of the Lord (Reprise)

As we enter the season of Lent, we remember what God has called us to in a new series on justice.

We begin our service with the declaration “…holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come”. Words from Romans 12:1 remind us to offer ourselves in worship to our God and we respond with songs of dedication: “…once again I look upon the cross where you died; I’m humbled by your mercy and I’m broken inside; once again I thank you; once again I pour out my life” and “…Lord, I want to be a sacrifice… living and holy for you”.

Brian Moss in his interpretation of Psalm 14 says:

“God is dead”, the fool said, and we all bought the lie
To know the truth requires proof and still we would deny

Deliverer, come set us free
send your love and we’ll believe

We’re humbled and encouraged by Jesus’ words in Matthew 5: Blessed are… and respond “…o how I need you Lord; you are my only hope”. As we worship by giving, we praise Jesus for his great love and declare “…I’m living everyday for the beauty of the Lord”.

We close our worship with a sung prayer which asks God to “…cleanse, renew, bend, break, remake, revive and restore us… to fit his church to meet this hour” – to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly. “…We will declare the beauty of the Lord”, in our words and actions! Amen.