One of our regular rhythms for our Sunday Gatherings is to Scatter on the last Sunday of the month. Even though we haven’t been able to gather at the community center, together, we still want to keep this rhythm. This month our Scattered Sunday is focusing on praying for renewal and revival in our country, especially in the wake of the political divisiveness and the systemic racism that is surfacing again.

This is also Pentecost Sunday - where the church remembers the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that began the age of the church and empowers us to love our world today.

Here is our Scattered Sunday Liturgy

Call to Worship

Read Acts 2. ( yeah the whole chapter )

How do you see the Holy Spirit at work in the lives of the followers of Jesus?

MOURN [ Jesus Wept | John 11:35 ]

• Has your heart been broken, and tears poured out over the horrendous and horrific deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd and the thousands of our other brown and black brothers and sisters?

• Do you feel the weight of the sin of racism and hatred?

Pour your heart out before God.

Blessed are those who mourn, For they will be comforted - Jesus Matthew 6:4

• Pray for our African American neighbors, family, and friends who are grieving and hurting. Grieve with those who are grieving, mourn with those who mourn.

• Have you played any part in the systemic racism and injustice of our African American neighbors, friends, and family?

Confession

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

• Are there any ways that you need to repent of racism, injustice, silence?

Psalm 139:23 Search me, oh God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.”

• Pray for the Spirit to reveal any sin in your life and confess that to Christ.

• Remind one another that in Jesus, we have received grace and mercy. He has made payment for our sins!

• Is the Spirit leading you to call, grieve with, repent too, or comfort in this season?

• Ask God to bring about change in your life? Ask Him to grow you in kingdom justice and the imago Dei [every person is an image-bearer of God].

Pray for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4

READ ALOUD THIS CONFESSION

Most merciful God, I confess that I have sinned against you,

in thought, word, and deed, by what I have done, and by what I have left undone.

I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved my neighbors as myself,

I am truly sorry and humbly repent.

For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and forgive me,

that I may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name.

AMEN

Promise/ Assurance

God Hears us. Psalm 55:16-17

16 As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me.
17 Evening, morning and noon, cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.

SING

What a Friend we have in Jesus

Build My Life

REFLECTION:

Over the last few months, we have been looking at our call to be the Church through our We Are Soma series.

What has stood out to you from this series?

How do you view church membership( or what we call Covenant Family )?

Where do you struggle with committing to a church body?

What encourages you to commit to being connected to a church?