Communion: Sobering Celebration

Sobering: We focus on the undeserved death of Christ, His burial, and 

Celebration: His resurrection. 

Sobering: We remember we are unworthy, that we fail, but instead of wallowing in our guilt and shame 

Celebration: We celebrate our forgiveness, our unwarranted pardon, God's Grace, our new life in Christ, and our ability to relate w God as our Father in heaven. 

Would you all please take a deep breath and find a comfortable posture. I would like to pray and read some scripture to help direct our thoughts this morning.

“In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”  ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:17-18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”   ‭‭

Ephesians‬ ‭4:2-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.”   ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:22-23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:13-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:12-13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”    ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:35-39‬ ‭NIV‬‬