Reading: Mark 9:30-32

Offering
Prayer

Praise: 599 Holy Spirit, hear us                Glenfinlas
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        1.    Holy Spirit, hear us;
             help us while we sing;
            breathe into the music
           of the praise we bring

              2.  Holy Spirit, prompt us
           when we try to pray;
            nearer come, and teach us
           what we ought to say.

            3.  Holy Spirit, teach us
               through the words we read;
            bring to life the Bible
            with the light we need.

           4.  Holy Spirit, give us
        each a lively mind;
             make us more like Jesus,
           gracious, pure, and kind.

              5.   Holy Spirit, help us
                 daily, by Your might,
             what is wrong to conquer,
              and to choose the right.

Afraid to ask

 “Always the beautiful answer who asks a more beautiful question.”                     ~ e e cummings

  “To spell out the obvious is often to call it in question.”                  ~ Eric Hoffer
                 
“In all affairs it is a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.”
                   ~ Bertrand Russell
      
* * *
 

Questions for discussion and reflection

 When should we ask questions?

 Where should we look for answers?

 How do we discern truth?

* * *

 “Being religious means asking the question passionately of the meaning of our existence and being willing to receive answers, even if the answers hurt.”                                                                                      ~ Paul Tillich
                      
“You know what charm is: a way of getting the answer ‘yes’ without asking any clear question.”               ~ Albert Camus
 
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘what are you doing for others’?”                              ~ Martin Luther King

Intimations

We bring to God our Prayers
and
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father,
Which art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in 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, the power and the glory, forever.
       Amen

Praise: 392 When I survey the wondrous cross                        Rockingham
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1. When I survey the wondrous cross
 On which the Prince of Glory died,
 My richest gain I count but loss,
 and pour contempt on all my pride.

2.  Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
 Save in the death of Christ, my God;
 all the vain things that charm me most,
 I sacrifice them to His blood

3.  See! From His head, His hands, His feet,
 Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
 did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
 or thorns compose so rich a crown?

       4.  Were the whole realm of nature mine,
  that were an offering far too small;
  love so amazing, so divine,
  demands my soul, my life, my all.

Closing Responses

Minister: We place our trust in Your hands, Lord Jesus.

All:  For You have risen in faith.
 
Minister: We place our future in Your hands, Lord Jesus.

All:  For You have risen in hope.
 
Minister: We place our lives in Your hands, Lord Jesus.

All:  For You have risen in love.

Benediction