Welcome

Welcome to worship today, and a special welcome to all of those from College Park Covenant Church in Saskatoon who are joining us.

Take a couple minutes to reach out and greet some friends from church who you may not have seen for a while. A quick text checking in could go a long way!

Kid’s Story

What a great story! Horton shows love and faithfulness. Despite any and all opposition Horton stays with his egg, and in the end – SURPRISE! – it proves true that this really was Horton’s egg all along! An Elephant-Bird! Even though it’s not what anyone expected! /

This story sounds something like what 1 John 3:1-2 tells us about God’s love and how we are his children – despite what others might find hard to believe:

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. ² Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.

Opening Prayer

God, our Father,
As your true children we gather together today, grateful for Your faithfulness to us. Receive our worship as we remember your great love.
Amen.

Call to Worship

If you are with other’s read the following call to worship responsively, with one person reading the bold print and the other(s) reading the plain print.

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. (1 John 3:1)

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever.
O give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever. (Psalm 136:1-2)

We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us–and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. (1 John 3:16)

O give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
who spread out the earth on the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever; (Psalm 136:3-9)

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.  God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him.  In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.  No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:7-12)

O give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever. (Psalm 136:26)

Songs of Worship – “Your Love Defends Me” and “Good News”

Your Love Defends Me
You are my joy, You are my song
You are the well, the one I’m drawing from
You are my refuge, my whole life long
Where else could I go?

Surely my God is the strength of my soul
Your love defends me, Your love defends me
And when I feel like I’m all alone
Your love defends me, Your love defends me

Day after day, night after night
I will remember, You’re with me in this fight
Although the battle, it rages on
The war is already won
I know the war is already won

Surely my God is the strength of my soul
Your love defends me, Your love defends me
And when I feel like I’m all alone
Your love defends me, Your love defends me

We sing alleluia, You’re my portion, my salvation
Alleluia, You’re my portion, my salvation
Alleluia, You’re my portion, my salvation

Surely my God is the strength of my soul
Your love defends me, Your love defends me
And when I feel like I’m all alone
Your love defends me, Your love defends me

Good News
Turn your gaze – the kingdom of God has come near
Believe that the good news is here
A new day has finally come
For our God has entered in power and might
And robed with all goodness and light
A new way has finally come

So we lift our hearts to you, our God, in wonder
As we gaze upon the way of Christ our King
For the cross You bore became your glory’s splendor
And for all You’ve done, for who You are are,
We let this good news ring

You are the joy to the brokenhearted
You gave the world a love incarnate
Lord, You have come to us in truth
We forever hold to You

Look beyond, the Kingdom of God will come near
Believe that good news will appear
When that new day has finally come

So we lift our hearts to you, our God, in wonder
As we gaze upon the way of Christ our King
For the cross You bore became your glory’s splendor
And for all You’ve done, for who You are are,
We let this good news ring

You are the joy to the brokenhearted
You gave the world a love incarnate
Lord, You have come to us in truth
We forever hold to You

Let Your joy, O Lord
Be near this day
Let Your joy, O Lord
Be our strength
Let Your joy, O Lord
Be near this day
Let Your joy, O Lord
Be our strength

You are the joy to the brokenhearted
You gave the world a love incarnate
Lord, You have come to us in truth
We forever hold to You
You are the joy to the brokenhearted
You gave the world a love incarnate
Lord, You have come to us in truth
We forever hold to You

Giving Thanks

Take a moment to give thanks to God for his love in whatever way seems fitting to you.

Confession of Sin and Assurance of Pardon

While God’s love is perfect, ours is not…. 1 John tells us that:

Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. (1 John 3:4-5)

Therefore, let us confess our sin:

God forgives and heals us. We need your healing, merciful God: give us true repentance. Some sins are plain to us; some escape us; some we cannot face. Forgive us; set us free to hear your word to us; set us free to serve you. Amen.

Take the next few moments to name those sins before God and ask for his healing forgiveness.

1 John 1:9 tells us that “If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Trust these words of assurance:
Jesus Christ died for our sins, not to satisfy an angry God but to reach out with unending love to stubborn and selfish people. We are those people. Let the power of those words sink into you, and be comforted. Your sins are forgiven!

Scripture Reading

Sermon

Prayer

Heavenly Father,
Help us to show with our lives that we are your children.
Help us to walk in the truth as we prove that we are your children by the way we love.
Loving one another is not a new instruction from you our Heavenly Father, but like all children we often need a reminder.
Loving one another is not easy. Help us!
Thank you for loving us before we had any inkling of returning love. Thank you for sending Jesus our older brother as the ultimate sign of love.

Amen. (based on 1 John 4:10, 2 John 5-6 and 3 John 11)

Scripture and Reflection

3 John 3 says, “I was overjoyed when some of the friends arrived and testified to your faithfulness to the truth, namely how you have walked in the truth.” (NRSV)

One of the ways we “walk in truth” is by loving one another and caring for those in need. One of the classic stories that instructs us in this is the story of the good Samaritan. Take a minute to view this fresh take on the story.

Is there someone in need in your life who you can help? Don’t think too hard. Is someone right in your path that is beat up (physically, emotionally, financially or spiritually) that you can care for in a tangible way?

Decide one way you will help AND do something!

Offering – 3 John 1-4

Hear these words as written from the pastor/writer of the letter 3 John to you (insert your name as you read)! Be encouraged to continue to be diligent in the way of Truth with your time, talent, and treasure!

The Pastor, to my good friend ______: How truly I love you! We’re the best of friends, and I pray for good fortune in everything you do, and for your good health—that your everyday affairs prosper, as well as your soul! I was most happy when some friends arrived and brought the news that you persist in following the way of Truth. Nothing could make me happier than getting reports that my children continue diligently in the way of Truth!

Benediction – Revelation 3:20-22

Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne. Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

Missional Challenge

3 John verse 2 says this:
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.

The challenge is this. Choose one person and commit to pray for them this week in a 3 John verse 2 kind of way. Pray that they may enjoy good health and physical vitality. Praying that all might go well with them (including their soul) might look like this:
-prayers that this individual might experience peace and not anxiety
-prayers that this individual might embody hope and not despair
-prayers that this individual might be kept from temptation and evil and live righteously
-prayers that this individual might tangibly feel the goodness of community and not the pain of loneliness

At the end of this week check in with that person and be sure to let them know you have been praying for them this week.