REFLECTION

It is the root of all religion that a man knows that he is nothing in order to thank God that he is something.

- G.K. Chesterton

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CALL TO WORSHIP & PRAYER (Psalm 36:5–7)

Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O LORD. How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

SONG "O How Good it Is"

Oh how good it is when the family of God

Dwells together in spirit in faith and unity.

Where the bonds of peace, of acceptance and love

Are the fruit of His presence here among us.

          (Chorus)

          So with one voice we'll sing to the Lord

          And with one heart we'll live out His word

          Till the whole earth sees the Redeemer has come

          For He dwells in the presence of His people.

Oh how good it is on this journey we share

To rejoice with the happy and weep with those who mourn.

For the weak find strength the afflicted find grace

When we offer the blessing of belonging.

          (Chorus)

          So with one voice we'll sing to the Lord

          And with one heart we'll live out His word

          Till the whole earth sees the Redeemer has come

          For He dwells in the presence of His people.

Oh how good it is to embrace His command

To prefer one another forgive as He forgives.

When we live as one we all share in the love

Of the Son with the Father and the Spirit.

          (Chorus)

          So with one voice we'll sing to the Lord

          And with one heart we'll live out His word

          Till the whole earth sees the Redeemer has come

          For He dwells in the presence of His people.

PASTORAL PRAYER (The Lord's Prayer)

Our Father which art in heaven, 

Hallowed be thy name. 

Thy kingdom come,

thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 

Give us this day our daily bread. 

And forgive us our debts, 

as we forgive our debtors. 

And lead us not into temptation, 

but deliver us from evil: 

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, 

and the glory, forever Amen.

SONG "Good Good Father"

Oh, I've heard a thousand stories of what they think You're like

But I've heard the tender whisper of love in the dead of night

And You tell me that You're pleased and that I'm never alone

          (Chorus)

          You're a good, good Father

          It's who You are, it's who You are, it's who You are

          And I'm loved by You

          It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am

Oh, and I've seen many searching for answers far and wide

But I know we're all searching for answers only You provide

'Cause You know just what we need before we say a word

          (Chorus)

          You're a good, good Father

          It's who You are, it's who You are, it's who You are

          And I'm loved by You

          It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am

          (Bridge)

          Because You are perfect in all of Your ways

          You are perfect in all of Your ways

          You are perfect in all of Your ways to us

          You are perfect in all of Your ways

          Oh, You're perfect in all of Your ways

          You are perfect in all of Your ways to us

Oh, it's love so undeniable I can hardly speak

Peace so unexplainable I can hardly think

As You call me deeper still as You call me deeper still

As You call me deeper still into love, love, love

          (Chorus)

          You're a good, good Father

          It's who You are, it's who You are, it's who You are

          And I'm loved by You

          It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am

          You're a good, good Father

          It's who You are, it's who You are, it's who You are

          And I'm loved by You

          It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am

SERMON  "God is in Control"  (Ruth 1)

[1] In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. [2] The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. [3] But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. [4] These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, [5] and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.

[6] Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the LORD had visited his people and given them food. [7] So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. [8] But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. [9] The LORD grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. [10] And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” [11] But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? [12] Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, [13] would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.” [14] Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

[15] And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” [16] But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. [17] Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” [18] And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.

[19] So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” [20] She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. [21] I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”

[22] So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

CLOSING SONG "Our God"

Water You turned into wine opened the eyes of the blind

There's no one like You none like You

Into the darkness You shine out of the ashes we rise

There's no one like You none like You

          (Chorus)

          Our God is greater our God is stronger

          God, You are higher than any other

          Our God is healer awesome in power

          Our God our God

Into the darkness You shine out of the ashes we rise

There's no one like You none like You

          (Chorus)

          Our God is greater our God is stronger

          God, You are higher than any other

          Our God is healer awesome in power

          Our God our God

          Our God is greater our God is stronger

          God, You are higher than any other

          Our God is healer awesome in power

          Our God our God

          (Bridge)

          And if our God is for us then who could ever stop us

          And if our God is with us then what could stand against

          And if our God is for us then who could ever stop us

          And if our God is with us then what could stand against

          (Chorus)

          Our God is greater our God is stronger

          God, You are higher than any other

          Our God is healer awesome in power

          Our God our God

BENEDICTION (Numbers 6:24–26)

The LORD bless you and keep you;

the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;

the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.