GATHERING: The Spirit Calls Us Together Welcome and Announcements Call to Worship Listen. I have a story to tell. A story of a God who longed for justice. God’s people were shackled and bound by oppression. A story of a God who heard God’s people were suffering. So God said to Moses, “Speak.” “Let my people Go.” And Moses spoke—Over and over again. Moses stood up for justice. But over and over again, Pharaoh said no. Power said no. God longed for justice. God still longs for justice. Let us worship God. For human injustice will never be strong enough to unravel God’s dream that all might be free. Let us worship holy God. Opening Monolog

Pharaoh Hardens His Heart When Humans Unravel God’s Plan

July 5, 2020—9:30 am PLW

Opening Hymn “Let the Giving of Thanks”

(Refrain) Let the giving of thanks be our sacrifice to God. Let the giving of thanks be our sacrifice to God.

God, the Lord, has spoken, God has summon’d all the earth From the sun at rising to its setting in the west. (Refrain)

God shines out from Zion, the place of perfect beauty. God, our God, is coming and refuses to keep silent. (Refrain)

Fire consumes before him and a storm is raging all around. Heav’n and earth he summons to the judging of his people. (Refrain)

‘Call to me, my people, when the hour of trouble strikes. I shall come to help you that you may ever praise me.’ (Refrain)

‘Those who give me honor, whose sacrifice is thanksgiving, Those who walk behind me shall see my great salvation.’ (Refrain)

Greeting Hymn of Praise “Woven Together”

(Sung to the tune of Earth and All Stars” ELW # 731)

1. Woven together! Joined to each other! Praise to the Lord for new life! We have been claimed, washed in the water! Praise to the Lord for new life!

(Refrain) God will surprise us in wonderful ways. God weaves us together making us whole!

2. Things fall apart. Life can unravel.nPraise to the Lord for new life! God picks us up. Gives us new chances.nPraise to the Lord for new life! (Refrain)

3. Jesus is here! We’re not alone.nPraise to the Lord for new life! All things made new. Healed by the Spirit.bPraise to the Lord for new life! (Refrain)

4. God called Moses: “Go free my people!”bPraise to the Lord for new life! Moses went forth, God gave him power.bPraise to the Lord for new life! (Refrain)

Prayer of Confession

God, you have asked us to be like Moses—Standing up for your people, standing up for justice. But too often we are like Pharaoh—Holding onto power, or holding onto privilege.

God, you ask us to be like Aaron—Who stood by his brother to unravel systems of oppression. But too often we align with Pharaoh—Saying “no” to change and unraveling your vision for justice and peace.

Forgive us for all the ways we stand on the wrong side of history. Forgive us for the harm we do to people who are different from us.

Help us to be like Moses. Forgive us when we’re like Pharaoh. Amen.

Special Music “Broken Vessels” Elizabeth Yearwood

WORD: We Hear God in Scripture & Preaching

Exodus 7:8-23...The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 9 "When Pharaoh says to you, 'Perform a wonder,' then you shall say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh, and it will become a snake.'" 10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did as the LORD had commanded; Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. 11 Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers; and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same by their secret arts. 12 Each one threw down his staff, and they became snakes; but Aaron's staff swallowed up theirs. 13 Still Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said. 14 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh's heart is hardened; he refuses to let the people go. 15 Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he is going out to the water; stand by at the river bank to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that was turned into a snake. 16 Say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you to say, "Let my people go, so that they may worship me in the wilderness." But until now you have not listened. 17

Thus says the LORD, "By this you shall know that I am the LORD." See, with the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water that is in the Nile, and it shall be turned to blood. 18 The fish in the river shall die, the river itself shall stink, and the Egyptians shall be unable to drink water from the Nile.'" 19 The LORD said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt—over its rivers, its canals, and its ponds, and all its pools of water—so that they may become blood; and there shall be blood throughout the whole land of Egypt, even in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.'" 20 Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD commanded. In the sight of Pharaoh and of his officials he lifted up the staff and struck the water in the river, and all the water in the river was turned into blood, 21 and the fish in the river died. The river stank so that the Egyptians could not drink its water, and there was blood throughout the whole land of Egypt. 22 But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts; so Pharaoh's heart remained hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said. 23 Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he did not take even this to heart.

Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God. Message Pastor Jim Killough Weaving Prayers

During these next few minutes, you are invited to write prayers of unraveling on fabric strips which will be woven into your hoop weaving. Ideas for prayers:

• A prayer naming something that has unraveled in your life. • A prayer asking God to help you weave together something that has unraveled. • A prayer asking God to unravel something in you that you wish to release. • A prayer asking God to help you weave something new into your life. • A prayer of thanks for how God was present during times of unraveling.

Hymn of the Day "Pharaoh Was a Brutal Tyrant" (Sung to the tune of “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” ELW 254)

Pharaoh was a brutal tyrant, caught up in his thirsty greed. Long the Israelites had suffered so they cried out to be freed.

Pharaoh worshiped high production, looking for the bottom line. All his subjects did his bidding, kneeling down before his shrine.

Moses joined his brother, Aaron, to deliver God’s demand. They were sent to guide God’s people, bring them to the promised land.

When God called for Pharaoh’s action, he objected from the start. Pharaoh failed to follow justice, callousing his hardened heart.

Pharaoh laughed at God’s commandment, he refused to let them go. When he stood out by the banks he saw the river’s bloody flow.

Though he could have stopped the terror, ending Egypt’s horrid pain, Pharaoh chose to welcome violence, all to save his wretched reign.

We have Pharaohs all around us; maybe we are like him, too. May we heed God’s call to kindness, may we see God’s grace ensue. God will turn God’s sure attention to the place where there’s despair,

Let us join in God’s salvation for all people everywhere. Prayers

As each petition concludes: “Hear us, O God.” please respond: “Your compassion is great.”

Lord’s Prayer Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us. Our Father, who 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen

Sharing God’s Peace

MEAL: God Feeds us with the Presence of Jesus

“Remember Me”

On the night he was betrayed, he took the bread. After giving thanks, he broke it and said,

‘This is my body, broken for you, and as you eat it, remember Me. This is my body, broken for you, And as you eat it, remember Me.’

On the night he was betrayed, he took the cup. After giving thanks, he lifted it up.

‘This is my blood, poured out for you, and as you drink it, remember Me. This is my blood, poured out for you, And as you drink it, remember Me.’

So, we thank you for the wine and for the bread, For we see the life you gave and the blood you shed.

And we remember, your wondrous love. you gave your body, you shed your blood. And we remember, your wondrous love, you gave your body, you shed your blood.

Communion The body of Christ given for you. The blood of Christ shed for you.

Communion Blessing Post-Communion Prayer SENDING: Being Loved, God Sends Us to Love

Blessing

Sending Hymn “You Are Holy” ELW #525

(Verse) You are holy, you are whole. You are always evermore than we ever understand.

You are always at hand. Blessed are you coming near.

Blessed are you coming here to your church in wine and bread, raised from soil, raised from dead.

(Chorus) You are holy, you are wholeness, you are present. Let the cosmos praise you, Lord! Sing hosanna in the highest! Sing hosanna! Sing hosanna to our God!

(Verse), (Chorus), (Chorus) Dismissal Postlude