Kids’ Gratitude Journal Drawings

Kids – don’t forget to send your drawings in to your church! Have your parents snap a picture of your work and email it to your church so we can include it next week.

Kids Activity

Hey parents and kids. 2 Thessalonians has some advice for how we are to live for Jesus even in difficult times. Paul tells us to “take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught.” (2 Thessalonians 2:15)

Discuss: What does it mean to take a firm stand for Jesus? What is the teaching we are to keep a firm grip on? This is a great opportunity to talk to kids about having hope in Jesus and about living lives of obedience. We find out more about that through the teaching of Scripture. 

Now for some fun! Find something you can stand on that is flat and only a few square feet. Maybe fold a towel in half and put it on the floor. Now have one person stand on the towel while others work to pull them off. This will probably work best with an adult on the towel while a kid tries to shake their stance. Try it standing on one foot. Try it with your arms in the air. Try it on a chair (be safe!). When we stand firm, it’s harder to be moved than if we are off-balance with our feet not planted. Plant your feet and stand firm for Jesus. 

Beginning in Stillness

As you begin this morning of worship, take a few moments to sit quietly and allow yourself to focus attention on God’s presence with you. Play the song below and give yourself to noticing God among you.

Call to Worship, Songs, and Prayer

Responsive Reading – Isaiah 12:2-6

If you are meeting with others, have people take turns reading this passage, switching readers each time the text alternates between plain and bold print.

God, you are the one who saves us.
    We will trust in you.
    Then we won’t be afraid.
Lord, you are the one who gives us strength.
    You are the one who keeps us safe.
    Lord, you have saved us.”
People of Israel, he will save you.
    That will bring you joy like water brought up from wells.
In days to come, the people of Israel will sing,
“Give praise to the Lord. Make his name known.
    Tell the nations what he has done.
    Announce how honored he is.
Sing to the Lord. He has done glorious things.
    Let it be known all over the world.
People of Zion, give a loud shout!
    Sing for joy!
The Holy One of Israel is among you.
    And he is great.”

Thanksgiving and Offering

In 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4, Paul writes:

Brothers and sisters, we should always thank God for you. That is only right, because your faith is growing more and more. We also thank God that the love you all have for one another is increasing. So among God’s churches we brag about the fact that you don’t give up easily. We brag about your faith in all the suffering and testing you are going through.

The last months have been a time of plenty of testing – maybe not identical to that which was suffered by the church in Thessalonica, but still a time of trial. We are so grateful for the many ways this faith community – FCC and HCCC – have continued to show care for one another and expressed generosity and a sharing in our ongoing ministry even in difficult times. In keeping with Paul’s prayer at the end of 2 Thessalonians 1, we pray:

…that he will make perfect all that you have done by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus will receive glory through what you have done. We also pray that you will receive glory through what he has done. We pray all these things in keeping with the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The buttons below will take you to more info on giving to your church.

Kids, during this time of giving and thanksgiving fill up another page in your gratitude journal: what are you grateful for today?

Sermon – 2 Thessalonians

HERE and HERE are the links to the videos Julia mentions in the sermon.

Prayer Based on 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Eternally righteous God,
merciful judge of all the living,
in your love you called us to share the glory of Christ.
Strengthen our hearts in every good work and word,
that we may be steadfast in your ways
and always believe your truth.
Amen.

Song of Worship – “Christ Whose Glory Fills the Skies”

Christ Whose Glory
Christ, whose glory fills the skies
Christ, the true, the only Light
Sun of Righteousness arise
Triumph o’er the shades of night
Triumph o’er the shades of night

Hallelujah! O praise Him whose glory fills the skies
Hallelujah! O praise the true Light
Hallelujah! O praise Him who triumphs over night
Hallelujah! O praise Jesus Christ

Christ, O radiance divine
Scatter all my unbelief
Break into this soul of mine
Pierce the gloom of sin and grief
Pierce the gloom of sin and grief

Christ be ever on display
Bring the dark unto its end
More and more ’til glorious day
And the Light himself descends
And the Light himself descends

Benediction – 1 Timothy 1:17

The eternal King will never die. He can’t be seen. He is the only God. Give him honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Doxology

Sing it aloud!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Amen.