THE FIRST LESSON Mathew 13:31-33,44-52
THE SECOND LESSON Romans 8:26-39
MEDITATION "The Eccentric Love of God"
Worship Notes
We continue our Summer of Spirit by integrating the practice of lectio divina into our worship. Lectio Divina is Latin for divine reading, spiritual reading, or "holy reading," and represents a traditional Christian practice of prayer and scriptural reading. It is a way of praying with Scripture that calls one to read (Lectio), study (Meditatio), pray (Oratio) and listen (Contemplatio) to a bible text. The systematization of spiritual reading into four steps dates back to the 12th century. Around 1150, Guigo II, a Carthusian monk, wrote a book titled "The Monk's Ladder" wherein he set out the theory of the four rungs: reading, meditation, prayer and contemplation.
The central text for worship today is taken from Romans:26-39 and is considered one of the most famous passages Paul ever wrote.
Our Call to Worship reminds us of the extent in which God is for us and gives us everything we need. The Psalm of the day celebrates the wonders and marvels God has done in the world and within our lives. The sermon focuses on the eccentric nature of God's love and we celebrate this love in our Affirmation of Faith. We end singing the words from the hymn "Guide Me, O thou Great Jehovah" which include the lines "Be Thou still my strength and shield, Be Thou still my strength and shield."
