Introduction

It is a great gift that we can always reach out to God on our own in prayer and worship, but our shared worship times are beautiful and remind us that we are not alone. On a week where a portion of our TGC community is away on a retreat we still wanted to provide a guide for individuals and groups to use in worship.

You can move through this table liturgy at your own pace or with a small group in your home.

Preparation

Take a few moments to prepare and declutter your space. Remove any obvious distractions and locate a Bible. Set aside the space and time to give your attention to God. Take a few deep breaths and begin.

Call to Worship

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.  Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?  Who may stand in his holy place?

The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.  They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior.  Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God.

Read aloud if in a group:

May these words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.

Worship and Prayer

Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read Psalm 66. Read the Psalm through slowly a few times and see if God directs your attention to any section, phrase, or word. Ask God how you might respond to what you have read and heard from the Holy Spirit.

Spend  few moments giving thanks to God for who God is, that God has not withheld his love.

Is there anything you want to confess, lay down, or turn away from that has been a burden to your mind or heart?

Name any top of mind concerns or needs. Unburned your heart to God. Ask for help where you need it.

Is there anyone your feel directed to pray for?

Any situations you want to name before God in prayer?

Spend a few moments in silence.

Re-read Psalm 66 one more time in and let your spirit rise in praise to God.

Sermon

Here is a link to our last message in our Eastertide series on The Parables of Jesus.

Response

Ask the Holy Spirit how God is inviting you to respond to what you have heard today.

Consider these few questions for reflection.

- Can we celebrate God’s grace or are we kind of always keeping score?

- Is there any way we can notice the creep of entitlement in our hearts or minds?

- Are you more likely to wrestle with pride or self-pity in this season of life? Can you offer that to God?

- What would look like to grow as a person of lavish grace?

Benediction

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh  and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Go into your day in the peace of knowing God’s grace is yours in Christ. Pass on what you have received.

Amen.