Don't Give Up

Good Morning and Welcome to Worship! Worship is often the first place that new people come into contact with this growing community of faith. And so, if you are joining us for the first time, I say to you what is said every Sunday: You are welcome here. Here is a place where all are welcome. For such is the love of God for God’s Very Good Creation.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below; praise God above, ye Heav'nly host: praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Holy One, the earth and the heavens reverberate with your glory, and humans and creation alike sing your praises. Open our minds again to your breathtaking work in the world, even as you call us to spread the good news of Jesus, our mentor and exemplar, and in whose name we pray. Amen.

Loving God, you meet us where we live and invite us to be part of your purpose.

We pray for the church and for all who work to bring others a word of compassion.

We pray for peace among nations and peace among people.

We pray for those suffering from war or calamities of nature.

We pray for those who are oppressed and need courage to resist. We pray for those who because of illness or hardship are paralyzed by fear.

God of love and compassion, through the teachings of Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit you summon us into your compassion for all creation. Renew in us your call and release us from all fear, that we may testify in words and deeds to your steadfast love for all. For the sake of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

The LWCC Vocal Quartet joins us today in memory of Joanna Matos, courtesy of The Matos Family.

God of Exodus and Paradise, We are grateful for the gift of Scripture. By the power of your Holy Spirit, help us to hear your word with understanding, that in our speech and actions, we may bring the presence of your love into the moments of daily life tearing down the darkness and revealing Paradise. Amen.

¹Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, ²he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. ³He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. ⁴When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” ⁵Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” ⁶When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. ⁷So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. ⁸But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!”⁹ For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; ¹⁰and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” ¹¹When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

Sometimes we are afraid to tell others about our experience of the Holy Spirit and about God’s call upon our lives, because we don’t want to annoy or oppress others. There is a difference between witnessing through indoctrination and witnessing through acts of compassion. How do you witness to others about your faith? The disciples had already fished all night without catching anything; what quality or characteristic in Peter might have helped him “give it another try” when Jesus invited him to cast his net again? What quality or characteristic within you helps you to keep trying, to start again, after disappointment or even failure?

We are invited to cast our nets into God’s abundance, and to share what we we have received with others. As we give our tithes and offerings today, we put our trust in the one who has called us to follow him: Jesus, the great fisher of people. Amen.

Holy One, we give thanks for your generosity to us. Bless these gifts and multiply them, for the sake of those in need around us; in Jesus name. Amen.

My siblings, Do not be afraid to put out into the deep water; we are not alone. We have partners in other boats beside us, and Christ has gone before us. Let down your nets that they may be filled with the love of God, giving thanks for the call of Love upon our lives and the community of the Holy Spirit. Amen.