RIVIERA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Sunday Worship Service, March 21, 2021
Good Morning! Welcome to Riviera’s worship service. Today we continue with our Lenten Sermon Series on The Confessions and we are delighted that you are connecting with us in our digital sacred space united as one community!
Let us know you worshiped with us this morning by filling out the Friendship Form.
If you are joining us via Facebook or YouTube, please check-in or leave us a comment so we know you are worshiping with us. Don’t forget to keep checking our various social media outlets, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
HELPFUL LINKS FOR THIS WEEK:
- Download today’s Bulletin: Riviera Presbyterian Church Bulletin Script March 21, 2021 (PDF)
- When the video finishes please join the Zoom Holy Grounds gathering.: (Zoom ID 829 1129 7119 PW 056833)
- Let us know you attended worship with us today / submit a prayer of praise or concern
“We Believe – The Confession of 1967”
The Blue, The Red And The Gold: Colors of the official seal of the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America.
The Golden, Down-Reaching Hand (Repeated From The Nicene Banner): God, relating to His world.
The Crown (Repeated From The Westminster Banner) And The Nail-Scarred Hand: The death and victory of Christ as he reconciles the world.
The Four Hands Of Different Colors, The Clasped Hands And The Green Circle: The reconciled world at the foot of the cross – God’s act of reconciliation being the starting point and theme of the Confession of 1967.
The Stars And Planets On The Blue Background: The Space-Age setting of this Confession.
GATHERING
OPENING HYMN –
CHIMING OF THE HOUR
WELCOMING THE LIGHT
GREETINGS –Rev. Martha Shiverick
CALL TO WORSHIP — Susan and Christian Mazzola
[Confession of 1967 9.16, 17]
One: We believe that God has created the world of space and time to be the sphere of God’s dealings with humankind. In its beauty and vastness, sublimity and awfulness, order and disorder, the world reflects to the eye of faith the majesty and mystery of its Creator.
ALL: We believe that God has created us for personal relationships in which we may respond to the love of the Creator. Life is a gift to be received with gratitude and a task to be pursued with courage. Let us worship God!
CALL TO CONFESSION — Rev. Dr. David Welton
[C’67 9.11]
Jesus Christ is the judge of all people. His judgment discloses the ultimate seriousness of life and gives promise of God’s final victory over the power of sin and death. All who put their trust in Christ face divine judgment without fear, for the judge is their redeemer. In that confidence, let us confess our sin.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION — unison
[C’67 9.7, 12]
In Jesus Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself. The reconciling act of God in Christ exposes the evil in us as sin in the sight of God. In sin, we claim mastery of our own lives, turn against God and neighbors, and become exploiters and despoilers of the world.
God of grace, as you come to us in mercy, show us how we have been complicit in the sin of our society. Then, admitting our sin, let us repent, turn to you, and receive forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our redeemer.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
[C’67 9.10]
Hear the good news: God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Godself. The risen Christ is the savior of all. All who are joined to Christ by faith are set right with God and commissioned to serve as Christ’s reconciling community. Amen.
CHILDREN’S SERMON — Rev. Rosemary Noga Welton
CHILDREN’S SONG
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- Hymn 399: God Welcomes All
THE WORD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION — Christian Mazzola
[C’67 9.27]
The one sufficient revelation of God is Jesus Christ, the Word of God incarnate. The Holy Spirit bears unique and authoritative witness to Christ through the Holy Scriptures, which are received and obeyed as the word of God written. The Scriptures are not a witness among others, but the witness without parallel, by which our faith and obedience are nourished and regulated. Guided by the Spirit, let us listen for the Word of God.
Amen.
SCRIPTURE – Rev. Rosemary Noga Welton
2 Corinthians 5.16-20
From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
CHORAL ANTHEM
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- O God, We Bear the Imprint of Your Face
SERMON – Rev. Rosemary Noga Welton
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- Lent #5 – We Believe – The Confession of 1967
THE CONFESSION OF 1967 — unison
[9.44]
God has created the peoples of the earth to be one universal family. In this reconciling love, God overcomes the barriers between sisters and brothers and breaks down every form of discrimination based on racial or ethnic difference, real or imaginary. The church is called to bring all people to receive and uphold one another as persons in all relationships of life: in employment, housing, education, leisure, marriage, family, church, and the exercise of political rights. Therefore, the church labors for the abolition of all racial discrimination and ministers to those injured by it. Congregations, individuals, or groups of Christians who exclude, dominate, or patronize others, however subtly, resist the Spirit of God and bring contempt on the faith which they profess.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & LORD’S PRAYER — Rev. Dr. David Welton
Holy God, who, in Jesus, touched the earth, admiring its beauty and blessing its people, we honor you for the gift of life and all the gifts that life brings us: food, shelter, company, the experiences that make us think, the people that bring out the best in us.
Hear our prayers for the places in this world where beauty has turned to ugliness, food has been replaced by famine, friendship has been forgotten, and fear, hostility and hopelessness have the upper hand.
God in your mercy,
Bring healing, bring peace.
Hear our prayers for people who cannot pray because of pain, loss or worry; especially we pray for and all those we name in our hearts .
God, in your mercy,
Bring healing, bring peace.
Hear our prayers for ourselves and our community – our yearnings, our hopes, any doubt, jealousy or anger to which we hold too tightly.
God, in your mercy,
Bring healing, bring peace.
And hear us as we pray together the prayer Jesus has taught us:
For the Lord’s Prayer we appreciate the diverse traditions and backgrounds that make up the Riviera family of faith and encourage you to use whatever words for this prayer are meaningful for you.
Our Creator, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as 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.
ANNOUNCEMENTS — Rev. Martha Shiverick
Be in the Know – read the bulletin and see what opportunities for ministry you are interested in making a connection with.
INVITATION TO GIVE TITHES AND OFFERINGS – Rev. Martha Shiverick
The Act of Gratitude
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You may donate today via credit/debit card by visiting our website at www.rivierachurch.org/give and clicking on the GIVE button or use the scan me code below with your phone camera.- You may download the free Give+ app (iOS & Android)
- You may consider setting up online payment via your bank bill pay program.
- You may also mail in your check to the church at Riviera Presbyterian Church at 5275 Sunset Drive, Miami FL 33143
If you are a member of another church, please donate to them during this time.
The 2021 Per Capita is $37 per member. Each church is asked to pay this annual apportionment. If you would like to help us defray the cost, we welcome your donation. You may donate online https://www.rivierachurch.org/give under Per Capita.
DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God, ye hosts in heaven above; Praise God, the Trinity of Love. Amen.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION — Rev. Rosemary Noga Welton
CLOSING HYMN
We invite you to connect and virtually gather with us as we celebrate Holy Week and Easter, starting on March 28th with Palm Sunday service. Here is a video to create your own Palm Leaf Cross.
NOTES
Thank you for worshipping online today. If you haven’t already, please take a moment to fill out the Friendship Form on our website to let us know you worshiped with us today and you may also 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
PALM SUNDAY PROCESSIONAL: Don’t forget to fill out the Friendship Form below, or leave us a comment on Facebook so we know you worshiped with us today. Please include any prayer requests you have which will be sent to our pastoral care team. We know that we will not be having the traditional Palm Sunday again this year. In past years, we all enjoyed meeting out on the church steps and getting the largest palm branches we could find. We enjoyed waving them as we marched into the church sanctuary to the organ music playing as we sang our loud hosannas. And… alas, not this year…… But, as we have found, being online does offer new possibilities. So…. we would like to make a video of your palms for Palm Sunday. Write a prayer on the palm of your hand and send in a photo of it or a video of your waving your palm and your palm prayer in the air. Please send in these photos and videos by March 21st.
Palm Sunday is coming, AND we will have a palm processional! A very unique and different one for a very different time in our world. Please send pictures to robertson.adams@gmail.com
ADULT BIBLE STUDY: Join us every Sunday morning for Online Adult Bible Study Class, via ZOOM. 10:00 am – 10:30 am. This is a great opportunity to study Sunday’s sermon passage with Pastor Missy. Meeting 860-148-3445 Password: 2708.
UKULELE REHEARSALS: Ukulele Rehearsals are held on the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of the month at 12:30 pm. If you are interested in participating, please email: rivierapresmusic@gmail.com
ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING:
In a world of disaster, hunger, and oppression…
Millions of people lack access to sustainable food sources,
clean water, sanitation, education, and opportunity.
The three programs supported by One Great Hour of Sharing – Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People – all work in different ways to serve individuals and communities in need. From initial disaster response to ongoing community development, their work fits together to provide people with safety, sustenance, and hope.
The Mission Committee has set a challenge goal of $400 for the 2021 OGHS Offering and in light of the challenges we have witnessed over the past year they encourage you give strong consideration of participating in this offering; if you are able. If all members give $10 we will surpass our goal. Please help if you are able.
https://rivierachurch.org/give/
MISSION: SDG
Learn more about this Zoom event series here. The next night of Mission:SDG is Wednesday, March 24th at 6:30 pm. Register using this link on Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/missionsdg.
RIVIERA FOOD PANTRY MINISTRY: will be distributing food on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00 am – 12:00 noon on the east entrance of the sanctuary. Please see the “One More Thing” email for the latest list of what’s needed. Donations can be dropped off at the church Fellowship Hall doors on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am – 12:00 noon. If you are ordering the food to be delivered please schedule them for Tuesdays or Thursdays. –Thank you.
THIS EASTER, YOU CAN DONATE A PINE TREE
Having Memorial Easter Lilies is a tradition in every church I have ever served. People donate money to the church for an Easter Lily to be placed in the sanctuary on Easter Sunday in memory or tribute to someone they wish to remember that day. The name of the person being remembered and the person who made the donation is included in the bulletin that Sunday.
BUT this year…. since we will once again be worshipping on line, Easter Lilies are not needed. This presents an opportunity to be an earth keeper and donate a tree instead. A Pine Rockland Restoration is taking place in Gould’s park, a high crime/low income neighborhood. The area is undergoing a landscape restoration and trees are being planted. For a $15 contribution, you can donate a tree. Our goal is that Riviera will donate 30 trees for Easter. Please send your donation along with the name of the person you are memorializing in the Easter Bulletin.
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.
COPYRIGHT © 2021 RIVIERA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. All rights reserved.
Reprinted/streamed with permission under ONE LICENSE#A-713957. All rights reserved.
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- God Welcomes All, #72484 Contributors: John Bell Text: © 2008, GIA/Iona Community / WGRG
- O God We Bear the Imprint #118693 Music; First Line: O God we bear the imprint of your face Contributors: Shirley Erena Murray, Bruce Neswick.
- We Are One in the Spirit, #81199 Detail: Peter Scholtes Tune: Text: Peter Scholtes. Text and music © 1966, FEL Publications, assigned to the Lorenz Corporation, Dayton, Ohio. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Type: Words and Music
Public Domain Hymn
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- The Church’s One Foundation
VIDEO COPYRIGHT
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- ANTHEM – “Royalty free video clips provided by Mixkit.co, Videezy.com and Videvo.net”
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