Watch the service sometime during the day. Then we’ll gather on Zoom at 7:30 pm to share thoughts.
HELPFUL LINKS FOR THIS WEEK:
- Visit “Lent @ Riviera: A Season of Confession” for information on all our Lenten activities.
- Download today’s Bulletin: Riviera Presbyterian Church Bulletin Script February 17, 2021 (PDF)
- Watch the video on Youtube or above. Premiere is at 7:00 AM Wednesday. The video duration is 22.5 minutes.
- At 7:30 PM join the congregation Zoom : (Zoom ID 829 1129 7119 pw 056833)
BULLETIN
Worship Wednesday February 17, 2021
ASH WEDNESDAY
Welcome to Riviera’s Ash Wednesday Taize Prayer Service. We’re delighted that you are connecting with us today in our digital sacred space; even when we’re physically apart, the Holy Spirit unites us as one community!
Let us know you worshiped with us today by filling out the Friendship Form located on our website’s home page, www.rivierachurch.org. If you are joining us on YouTube, please leave us a comment so we know you worshipped with us. Don’t forget to keep checking our main social media outlets, Facebook and Instagram, for up-to-date information, find us @RivieraChurch
TAIZE HYMN In God Alone (#814 Glory to God Hymnal)
In God alone my soul can find rest and peace,
in God my peace_ and joy.
Only in God my soul can find its rest,
find its rest_ and peace.
WELCOME — Rev. Martha Shiverick
INVITATION TO OBSERVE A HOLY LENT — Rev. Dr. David Welton
Beloved people of God:
every year at the time of the Christian passover we celebrate our redemption through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Lent is a time to prepare for this celebration and renew our life in the paschal mystery. We begin this holy season by acknowledging our need for repentance, and for the mercy and forgiveness proclaimed in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I invite you, therefore, in the name of Christ, to observe a holy Lent by self-examination and penitence, by prayer and fasting, by works of love, and by meditating on God’s word. Now let us bow before God, our creator and redeemer, and confess our sin.
PSALM 51: 1-17 — Rev. Dr. David Welton
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
in your great compassion blot out my offenses.
Wash me through and through from my wickedness,
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my offenses,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you only have I sinned and done evil in your sight;
so you are justified when you speak and right in your judgement.
Indeed, I was born steeped in wickedness,
a sinner from my mother’s womb.
Indeed, you delight in truth deep within me,
and would have me know wisdom deep within.
Remove my sins with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me and I shall be purer than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
that the body you have broken may rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my wickedness.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.
Let me teach your ways to offenders,
and sinners shall be restored to you.
Rescue me from bloodshed, O God of my salvation,
and my tongue shall sing of your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall declare your praise.
For you take no delight in sacrifice, or I would give it.
you are not pleased with burnt offering.
The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit;
a troubled and broken heart, O God, you will not despise
TAIZE HYMN –
-
- Hymn #654 in Glory to God Hymnal:
“In the Lord I’ll be Ever Thankful”In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful,
in the Lord I will rejoice!
Look to God, do not be afraid:
lift up your voices, the Lord is near;
lift up your voices, the Lord is near.
- Hymn #654 in Glory to God Hymnal:
MEDITATION AND PRAYER ON HOPE AND LOVE IN A TIME OF STRUGGLE — Rev. Rosemary Noga Welton
By Alice Anacheka-Nasemann
In a world so filled with brokenness and sorrow
It would be easy to lose ourselves in never ending grief,
To be choked by our outrage
To be paralyzed by the enormity of suffering,
To feel our hearts squeeze tight with hopelessness.
Instead, this evening, let us simply breathe together as we hold our heats open.
Breathing in as our hearts fill with compassion
Breathing out as we pray for healing in our world and in our lives.
Breathing in, opening ourselves to the transforming power of love
Breathing out as we pray for peace in our world and in our lives.
Breathing in as we hold hope in our hearts
Breathing out as we pray for justice in our world and in our lives.
May we know our strength
May we be filled with courage
May our love flow from us into this world.
Breathing in, we are the prayer
Breathing out, we are the healing
Breathing in, we are the love
Breathing out, we are the peace
Breathing in, we are the hope
Breathing out, we are the justice
May we know our strength
May we be filled with courage
May our love flow from us into this world.
Amen, blessed be, may it ever be so.
TAIZE HYMN – Nothing Can Trouble (#820 from Glory to God Hymnal)
Nothing can trouble,
nothing can frighten.
Those who seek God shall never go wanting.
Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten.
God alone fills us.
THE INVITATION TO THE GRATITUDE JOURNALS AS A LENTEN DISCIPLINE
ON THIS DAY, I WILL STRIVE — Rev. Martha Shiverick
A Meditation on Kindness by Julie Henderson
On this day, I will strive to see peace
that is everywhere and access the abundance of
beauty and joy that lie in every moment.
It is the Eternal Now that I am after.
I will strive to set aside everything that I have learned
and presume to know
in order to allow new knowledge and new
experiences to flood my being.
I will strive to be a magnet for powerful,
positive, and miraculous truths, images, words, and music.
I will do everything in my power to clear my mind of
the negative energies that have obstructed my view
and distorted my words and actions.
I will create a new paradigm that helps me
to recognize only good qualities in every
person, place, and thing that composes my environment.
I will raise my energy and my light to the highest frequencies of
love, generosity, charity, compassion, forgiveness, and truth.
I will fill my head with constructive thoughts and images
that will help me to further my individual growth
so I can illuminate and inspire the lives of others.
I will surround myself with beautiful nature
and touch the earth to show her my love and gratitude
for holding mine and everyone else’s weight.
I will extend my love to the entire world and cosmos along with
my respect and humbled love
for the Divine Creative Force that composes us all.
I will love because I can, give because I can, be gracious because I can,
be humble because I have every reason to be,
and speak my truth because that is my duty and my joy.
I will practice random acts of kindness and go out of my way
to establish order within the chaos of our world.
I will write a letter to someone I have not spoken to for a while.
I will send a message to someone I love dearly.
I will write a poem. I will make art.
I will play my guitar and sing.
I will volunteer myself to help loved ones.
I will eat and drink healthy to show my body
my deep gratitude for its existence and the role
it plays in protecting my soul and spirit.
I will pray and recite my mantras anytime I feel
overwhelmed by thoughts that cause anxiety.
I will listen to someone who rarely has the opportunity to be heard.
I will be aware of my breathe and the rhythm of my heartbeat.
I will laugh and forgive myself when I forget
that I made these promises at the beginning of each day,
and at the end of my day I will celebrate and congratulate
myself for what I was able to accomplish.
THE LORD’S PRAYER — Rev. Martha Shiverick
Our Creator, who art in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours now and forever.
Amen.
TAIZE HYMN–
-
- Jesus Remember Me (#227 in Glory to God Hymnal)
Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
BENEDICTION — Rev. Martha Shiverick
ZOOM Fellowship gathering tonight
You are invited to a Zoom Fellowship Gathering tonight at 7:30pm.
Zoom Meeting ID: 829-1129-7119 | Passcode: 056833
This is a time to reconnect with one another and if you are new to our worship service we extend an invitation to join us and introduce yourself. We would love to meet you!
Thank you for worshipping online today. Please take a moment fill out the Friendship Form at the bottom of this web page, and share any prayer requests or joys which will be sent to our pastoral care team.
If you would like to be added to our mailing list, please send us an email at rivierachurch@gmail.com
Thank you for worshipping at Riviera today. Please take a moment fill out the Friendship Form on our website and share any prayer requests or joys which will be sent to our pastoral care team.
Lent @ Riviera: A Season of Confession
“This year, when we have had to go without so many things that are enjoyable and meaningful to us, I challenge you not to give up something for Lent, but to take on something instead.” —Pastor Missy
I invite you to join me in observing this season of Holy Lent starting today.
Lenten Sermon Series: A Season of Confession
During Lent we will focus on the Book of Confessions, containing historical statements of what we as a church believe; how these confessions have helped form Riviera’s social justice ministries for the past 75 years; and how they are leading us in the present. Come and be a part of this journey through our history and rejoice in the light of God’s presence and new possibilities in your life.
| February 21 | Lent #1 – We Believe – The Nicene Creed |
| February 28 | Lent #2 – We Believe – The Apostles’ Creed |
| March 7 | Lent#3 – We Believe – The Reformation Confessions |
| March 14 | Lent #4 – We Believe – The Declaration of Barmen |
| March 21 | Lent #5 – We Believe – The Confession of 1967 |
| March 28 | Lent #6 – We Believe – The Confession of Belhar |
LENTEN DEVOTIONALS
The practice of daily devotion during Lent emphasizes on deepening one’s faith through study and prayer. I hope you find these devotionals helpful in your faith journey.
Lenten Devotional Links:
- Lenten Prayers from Bread for the World 2021:
www.bread.org/Lent - PCUSA The Presbyterian Hunger Program:
https://www.presbyterianmission.org/resource/tread-lightly-for-lent/ - Presbyterian Today – Shalom: The Way to Justice:
https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/today/lent2021/lent- week-1/ - Presbyterians for Earth Care:
https://presbyearthcare.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2021-Lenten- Devotional-web.pdf
I look forward to seeing what happens to each of us and our community as a whole as we practice our Lenten Disciplines and hear the Confessions that have shaped our faith. I think it will be transformational!! — Missy
INTERGENERATIONAL SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
As we enter into Lent, Riviera invites you to join us for six classes on different spiritual practices. Each spiritual practice explores a different way to reflect with God and to pray. Some practices will be more contemplative, and others will use your creative side.
In the first half of the class, we will define the practice and learn more about it. For the second half, we will do the practice together, as a community. For one of the practices, we will be making individual maps of this social-distanced season. We will start by praying and considering the season. Then from there we will have a craft time where we each will create our map.
Our goal is that these spiritual practices will help you reflect on this season and will help you on your journey with God. You don’t need to come to every class each spiritual practice is self- contained! These practices are also suited for kids and adults with different modifications.
We will be meeting over Zoom every Thursday at 7:30 pm starting on February 18th and we will conclude on March 25th. If you have any questions or want to RSVP please email Anna at rivierapreschristianed@gmail.com
COPYRIGHT NOTICES
Video and audio was performed and recorded by various members of the church’s staff and family for the purpose of providing online worship to the members of Riviera Presbyterian and others who view the link. Reprinted/streamed with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-713957. All rights reserved.
COPYRIGHT © 2021 RIVIERA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. All rights reserved.
- In God Alone
#87508 © 1998, Les Presses de Taizé, GIA Publications, Inc., agent Contributors: Taizé - In the Lord I’ll Be Ever Thankful
#00118 Contributors: Jacques Berthier, Taizé - Nada Te Turbe / Nothing Can Trouble
#00128 Contributors: Jacques Berthier, Taizé. Tune: © 1986, Les Presses de Taizé, GIA Publications, Inc., agent Text: St Teresa of Avila - Jesus, Remember Me
#00122 Contributors: Jacques Berthier, Taizé Tune: Jaques Berthier, © 1981, Les Presses de Taizé, GIA Publications, Inc., agent Text: © 1981, Les Presses de Taizé, GIA Publications, Inc., agent
