November 8, 2020 Lamentations 5 Rev. Dr. Twining F. Campbell
Posted on November 8, 2020 @ 1:47 pm
As the election has been initially decided, let’s take a moment to pray for peace and unity in our country:
O Lord, our God, you have been with us through generations and millennia and we give you thanks for all your blessings.
This has been a hard season for our country and every corner of it needs your attention and care. We pray that you will be with our president and vice president-elect, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, and with all those who have been newly elected. We pray for a peaceful transition and for stability in our country and government. Bless all those who have been elected your spirit that they may know your wisdom and act according to your will.
Father, by your grace, help us to refuse the temptation of polarizing thoughts and ideas. We know in our minds that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ and need each other to be complete. But we forget and anger and hate grow quickly. Unite us in the love of your Holy Spirit and make us one, again.
It has been a hard season. Bless us now with rest and peace that we may once again regain our understanding of being one family established in your grace, your love and your fellowship. Amen.
Following our welcome and call to worship, Dr. Imre Szilas is plays our Prelude: “Piece de Concert” by Louis Lefeburé-Wély on the Westminster pipe organ.
Following the Westminster chimes our hymn is the fourth stanza of “Just As I Am.”
Rev. Dr. Martha Campbell shares the announcements and prayer concerns then leads the community in Prayers of the People and The Lord’s Prayer.
Following a brief musical interlude, we all participate in a Responsive Reading before the Anthem: “O God of Love, O God of Peace,” written and played by Dr. Szilas. Imre wrote this back in 2002 at the start of the Iraq war as an anthem for the choir. It is a haunting melody as our country seeks a unified peace among all people.
Rev. Dr. Twining Campbell leads everyone in the Prayer of Illumination; reads the scripture lesson: Selected verses from Lamentations 5; and, offers the Message. Based on Lamentations we may be tempted to think that God has forgotten us or is punishing us. But as we reflect on God and the Covenant of Love, that God made with humanity, we realize we are the ones who forgot God and are enduring the consequences of going it alone in our world. Thankfully, we don’t have to stay in that predicament – God always welcomes us back.
Following the Charge and Benediction, the service closes with Dr. Imre Szilas playing “Sinfonia to Cantata 29” by J.S. Bach.
Our service is filmed by Robert Smith and we are very grateful for his time and talents every week.