Sunday Worship Service for July 5, 2020

BULLETIN TEXT FOLLOWS:

Worship Sunday July 5, 2020
SUMMER SERMON SERIES – THE BOOK OF ACTS
COMMUNION SUNDAY

Good Morning!

Even when we’re physically apart, the Holy Spirit unites us as one community! Even when we can’t go to church, we are the church!

Let us know you worshiped with us today by filling out the Friendship Form located below on this page.

If you are joining in via Facebook, please check in or leave us a comment so we know you are worshiping with us today.

Don’t forget to keep checking our various social media outlets, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, for up-to-date information.

GATHERING

OPENING HYMN

• • Hymn 339: “Lift Every Voice and Sing”

CHIMING OF THE HOUR & WELCOMING THE LIGHT

WELCOME Rev. Martha M. Shiverick

CALL TO WORSHIP Bryan Page

One: In this land of freedom and beauty, let us give thanks to God.

All: Let us praise the Holy One who created the blue lakes and the grassy prairies, the vast desert lands, the breathtaking mountains, and the ocean shores of our homeland.

One: Let us unite in worship of the Creator who formed all lands and all people.

All: And who declared, without hesitation, “It is good.”

One: Come, Let us worship God!

CALL TO CONFESSION Vivian and John German

Too often our hearts are cold and without gratitude.

Too often our hands are passive and unwilling to carry out acts of mercy. Too often our lips are pursed tightly, unwilling to speak words of love. Too often we are separated and alienated from our better self, separated and alienated from God. Let us confess our separation and alienation. Let us join together in the prayer of confession:

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Spirit of the Living God, we confess that we have not accepted the challenge of your peace in the world. We define peace as ways that preserve our own self-interests, forgetting that your peace may call us to great sacrifice. We are content to believe that speaking of peace is sufficient, forgetting that your peace calls us to action and transformation. Merciful God, forgive our lack of imagination and courage, and empower us to strive anew to make our world a place in which your loving peace abounds. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

God says to us, ‘You are my chosen ones. I love you. I am proud of you. Stand firm in your renewed commitment.

Know that I have forgiven you; I call you by name; you are mine.

I have entered into covenant with you and will stand by you in all times and all places.

Dare to live fully the life to which I have called you.”

Friends: believe the Good News of the Gospel.

In Jesus Christ you are forgiven and restored to new life.

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Anna Rosas

WE ARE MARCHING IN THE LIGHT OF GOD

THE WORD

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION Bryan Page

Merciful God, in this moment of stillness, wash us clean of presumptions. Receive us as your weary children. Then by the power of your Spirit, bless us with a Word that revives. Amen.

CHORAL ANTHEM

• • “This Is My Song”

SCRIPTURE

• • Acts 9

SERMON Rev. Martha M. Shiverick

• • ‘Conversions’

THE RESPONSE

LITANY FOR THE NATION AND THE LORD’S PRAYER – Michele Ready and Robertson Adams and Morgan

One: Eternal God, before you nations rise and fall; they grow strong or wither by your design. Help us to repent our country’s wrong, and choose your right in reunion and renewal.

All: Amen.

One: Give us a glimpse of the Holy City you are bringing to earth, where death and pain and crying will be gone away; and nations gather in the light of your presence.

All: Great God, renew this nation.

One: Teach us peace, so that we may plow up the battle fields and pound weapons into building tools, and learn to see all people, regardless of nationality, race, or religion and children in your love.

All: Great God, renew this nation.

One: Talk sense to us, so that we may wisely end all prejudice, and may put a stop to cruelty, which divides or wounds the human family.

All: Great God, renew this nation.

One: Deliver us from divisions among class or race; from wealth that will not share and from a lack of concern for other lands and peoples.

All: Great God, renew this nation

One: We pray all this in Christ’s name who taught us when we prayed to pray in this manner:

For the Lord’s Prayer we appreciate the diverse traditions and backgrounds that make up the Riviera family of faith, and encourage you to use whatever words for this prayer are meaningful for you.

Our Creator, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever.
Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev. Martha M. Shiverick

CALL TO OFFERING Rev. Martha M. Shiverick

Gracious Creator, you have laced our lives with blessings. So we present to you not just our offerings but ourselves. Make us your bold and faithful people, willing to go forward in faith wherever you would lead us, that we might be a comfort to the world. Amen.

INVITATION TO GIVE TITHES AND OFFERINGS

The Act of Gratitude

1. 1. You may donate today via credit/debit card by visiting our website at www.rivierachurch.org and clicking on the GIVE button
   2. You may download the free Give+ app (iOS & Android)
   3. You may consider setting up online payment via your bank bill pay program.
   4. You may also mail in your check to the church at Riviera Presbyterian Church at 5275 Sunset Drive, Miami FL 33143

If you are a member of another church, please donate to them during this time

DOXOLOGY

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God, ye hosts in heaven above;
Praise God, the Trinity of Love. Amen

INVITATION TO COMMUNION FOLLOWING HYMN ON ZOOM

HYMN 

• • • “We Shall Overcome”

COMMUNION

PLEASE JOIN US NOW ON ZOOM
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CELEBRATION
OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/931409506?pwd=YUxLempUNGxadUVxaU4yMnRrOElTUT09

Meeting ID: 931-409-506
Password: 5275

INSTRUCTIONS PRIOR TO COMMUNION

Prepare a space for communion.
Light a candle and place it on your table
With bread and a cup filled with wine or grape juice
add any other items (bible or cross) that will make
your table a spiritual and holy place.

THE CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

PRAYER OF PREPARATION

Let us pray.

God, we ask you to be present with us as we meet knowing that you transcend our physical distance from one another. You are not tied to time or space and you part the veil between us as we come together to share your holy meal. We know that we are only a computer or phone screen apart and that through this sacrament we are your body whether physically distanced or together. Amen.

INVITATION TO THE TABLE

At Riviera Church we practice open communion. You need not be a member of Riviera or any church to share in this sacramental meal.

Communion is a tactile, sensory experience where we symbolically serve a meal that has been handed down to us from the ancient Hebrews at their Passover Table and adapted by Jesus as he shared his last meal with his disciples. You are invited to participate in this communion in any way that fits your faith journey at this time. Taste the love that we share together even in this time of worshipping online.

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

One: The Lord be with you.

All: And also with you.

One: Lift up your hearts!

All: We lift them up to the Lord.

One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

God, we thank you for this holy time, when even though we are separated by space out of our love and respect for each other, we have the ability to come together in other ways. You have called us to be your church, your body, your hands and heart, and although we dearly miss our community, within this virus we realize that you call us to ministry outside our church building in the world you have created. We thank you for our appreciation of the little things you have given us in the beauty of the blue sky, the majesty of a sunrise or sunset, and the love we have within our families and friends.

Through your son Jesus, we have learned the great power of love and forgiveness. We live using Christ’s life and ministries of caring for others as our model. And because of this we raise up our personal prayers to you at this time. Be with our community, those who are healthy and those who pray for healing. We pray for those who are grieving the death of loved ones in our community and in the greater community as well. Be with us and comfort us in this time of upheaval caused by the COVID virus, the economic downturn, and those who are feeling the pain of the institutional racism which also is a virus in our society. We ask that we be your arms, your hands, doing your work on earth and bringing your creation to shalom.

We thank you, God, for the gift of your Holy Spirit which brings us such comfort and allows us to know that you are always with us and we are held in your love now and always.

Heavenly Creator, we thank you for these gifts of bread and wine which are at my table and also at the tables of our homes. May they be for us a holy and spiritual meal where we feel your presence. Amen.

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

THE COMMUNION

THE PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Because the broken bread has meant our life, and the outpoured cup has meant our healing by your love, and because our common sharing of this meal has meant the communion of our souls and because we have been graced by your presence, God, we give you thanks and pray that our lives may be renewed in the life and love of Jesus Christ. Amen.

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION Rev. Martha Shiverick

PLEASE STAY FOR OUR VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR

‘HOLY GROUNDS’

NOTES 

• • Don’t forget to fill out the Friendship Form below or leave us a comment on Facebook so we know you worshiped with us today. Please include any prayer requests you have which will be sent to our pastoral care team.

  • Riviera’s Food Pantry Ministry will be distributing food on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00 am – 12:00 noon on the east entrance of the sanctuary.

     Our Current Needs:

    • Peanut Butter – Pasta – Granola Bars – Tuna – Mac and Cheese – Canned soup, fruit and veggies.

    • UNUSED Hotel size shampoo bottles

    • Toothpaste and Toothbrushes

      Donations can be dropped off at the church Fellowship Hall doors on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am – 12:00 noon. If you are ordering the food to be delivered please schedule them for Tuesdays or Thursdays. –Thank you.

–Thank you.

COPYRIGHT NOTICES

Video and audio was recorded by various members of the church’s staff and family for the purpose of providing online worship to the members of Riviera Presbyterian and others who view the link.