WELCOME TO FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

YOU WILL FIND THE RED BOOK OF FRIENDSHIP.

PLEASE PUT YOUR NAME IN THERE.

I WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND I LOOKED UP AT THE CEILING AND IT WAS A GOOD DAY.

I OPENED THE CURTAIN AND SAW THE SUNSHINES AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A BETTER DAY IT IF WOULD RAIN.

DON'T FORGET TO, WHEN YOU SAY YOUR PRAYERS FOR OTHER  PEOPLE, WHEN YOU SAY YOUR PRAYERS FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR LOVED ONE, READ OUR PRAYER LIST.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT DINNER WAS A GREAT SUCCESS.

THERE WAS 60 OR MORE PEOPLE THERE, THE MUSIC WAS GOOD, THE FOOD WAS GOOD AND THE FRIENDSHIP WAS GOOD AND WE OUGHT TO HAVE IT MORE OFTEN.

HERE IS A NOTE FROM BEA LYONS ‑‑ THE SUNDAY CIRCLE WILL MEET IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING MORNING WORSHIP.

THE GROUP WILL MEET AT THE FELLOWSHIP HALL AFTER WORSHIP AND THEN WILL PROCEED TO THE BLUFF VIEW FOR LUNCH AND A MEETING.

I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH A THOUGHT.

GOOD MORNING.

THIS MORNING I HAVE OUR MINISTRY FOR STEWARDSHIP.

I WOULD LIKE TO THINK WE ARE ON A STEWARDSHIP JOURNEY.

REALLY IT IS EVERY DAY THAT WE ARE ON THIS JOURNEY.

THIS WEEK I WAS DOING SOME READING IN NEHEMIAH  AND PEOPLE WERE TOLD  TO REBUILD THE WALL AROUND JERUSALEM AND NEHEMIAH FACED OPPOSITION.

FIRST NEHEMIAH FOUGHT OPPOSITION IN PRAYER.

HE PRAYED AND PRAYED, PEOPLE PRAYING.

THE SECOND THING THEY DID WAS THEY PERSEVERED.

THEY HAD PERSEVERANCE.

THEY PERSISTED IN DOING GOD'S WILL TO REBUILD THAT WALL.

AND AS I REFLECT ON OUR STEWARDSHIP JOURNEY.

IT SAYS FOUR THINGS TO ME.

WE SHOULD STAY AT THE TASK AND WORK WITH ALL OF OUR HEARTS TOGETHER.

2 ‑‑ ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER IN OUR STEWARDSHIP JOURNEY BECAUSE WE ARE NOT IN IT ALONE.

3 ‑‑ EXPECT DIFFICULTIES.

I DON'T THINK IT IS MEANT TO BE EASY.

I LIKE TO THINK THAT WAY.

4 ‑‑ PERSIST IN PRAYER.

WE ARE TO BE A PEOPLE IN PRAYER SO THAT WHEN WE RISE UP IN DEFERENCE TO GOD'S WILL.

GOD EMBOLDENS US AND EMPOWERS US BECAUSE WE ARE ON A STEWARDSHIP JOURNEY SO CONSIDER THESE THINGS AS YOU PRAY ABOUT YOUR STEWARDSHIP GIFT THIS SEASON.

WILL YOU JOIN ME IN THE RESPONSIVE CALL TO WORSHIP?

LET US STAND AND WORSHIP GOD IN SONG.

IF THE CHILDREN WILL COME FORWARD FOR WIGGLE TIME.

CHRISTINE HAS WIGGLE TIME.

GOOD MORNING.

HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

HAS ANYONE PLAYED WITH ONE OF THESE?

I HAD ONE OF THESE WHEN I WAS A KID.

I HAD A BIG RED ONE.

YOU CAN DRAW ON THIS THING.

SOME PEOPLE CAN WRITE THEIR NAME AND DRAW BUILDINGS.

THIS IS CALLED ETCH A SKETCH.

IF I DON'T LIKE WHAT I DREW I JUST SHAKE IT REALLY GOOD AND IT IS GONE.

WE ARE WALKING THROUGH LIFE AND GOING ALONG AND DOING GOOD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE MIGHT MESS UP AND YOU MIGHT DO SOMETHING THAT GOD MIGHT NOT BE HAPPY ABOUT, JUST LIKE IF I DO THE ETCH A SKETCH WRONG AND THEN I JUST SHAKE IT REALLY GOOD AND MY DRAWING GOES AWAY.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO GOD IF YOU MESS UP?

YOU PRAY, TALK TO GOD AND SAY DEAR GOD I MESSED UP TODAY.

I DID SOMETHING YOU WOULD NOT BE VERY HAPPY ABOUT WILL YOU HELP ME NOT DO IT AGAIN? 

AND WE SAY PLEASE FORGIVE ME GOD AND THEN GOD FORGIVES YOU AND THEN HE IS LIKE THE ETCH A SKETCH AND WIPES YOUR SLATE CLEAN.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS TALK TO GOD.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE 3, 6, 7, 9, 10.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE GRANDMA'S AGE OUT THERE.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE A HUNDRED YEARS OLD ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SAY GOD I MESSED UP, PLEASE FORGIVE ME.

DEAR GOD, HELP US IN OUR WALK WITH YOU, IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.

ARE THERE ANY JOYS OUT  THERE.

I HAVE A JOY THAT WE WILL HAVE THAT MICROPHONE FIXED.

WE ARE VERY JOYFUL TODAY BECAUSE WE HAVE ANDREW WHO IS 2 AND A HALF AND OUR GRANDDAUGHTER WHO IS 1 VISITING WITH US.

OTHER JOYS?

I AM THANKFUL THAT ALL THE CHOIR MEMBERS ARE STARTING TO GET BACK INTO GOOD HEALTH.

IT IS GREAT TO HAVE  CB BACK WITH US AS WELL AS BARBARA AND ALSO CONNIE SMITHSON IS BACK WITH US.

OTHER JOYS?

I HAVE A JOY THAT I WANT TO THANK ALL MY FRIENDS AND GOD TO GIVE ME SUCH A LIFE.

WE CELEBRATED A CLASS OF 62 REUNION THAT I SPONSORED BECAUSE I HAD SOME OF THOSE STUDENTS AS ENGLISH STUDENTS.

CONCERNS?

I AM CONCERNED WHY I CALLED A DEACON'S MEETING AFTER CHURCH TODAY SO IF YOU WITH REMIND ME, THEN THERE IS NO DEACON'S MEETING AFTER CHURCH AND THAT IS A JOY.

MY BROTHER HANK, HE IS IN THE HOSPICE AT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.

PROBABLY IN HIS LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.

I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THE PRAYERS.

SHARON IN THE BACK.

I CANNOT LET THIS OPPORTUNITY GO BY TO REQUEST PRAYER FOR ERIC.

AS YOU MAY KNOW ERIC IS AT ERLANGER AND HAS A NEW DIAGNOSIS.

ERIC'S MOTHER HAS HOSPICE IN THE NURSING HOME, SO THEY HAVE THEIR HANDS FULL SO WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR PRAYERS.

MY UNCLE IS HAVING KNEE SURGERY SO A PRAYER FOR HIM THAT HE WILL BE UP AND ABOUT SOON.

BOW OUR HEADS FOR A MOMENT WITH SILENT REFLECTION AS WE GO TO THE LORD IN PRAYER.

LET US PRAY.

WE COME IN THIS SILENCE, GRACIOUS GOD, SEEKING YOU, SEEKING YOUR PEACE, YOUR LOVE, YOUR COMPASSION, AND YOUR HEALING.

WE COME BECAUSE YOU ARE THE SOURCE OF ALL GOODNESS,  OF ALL POWER, OF ALL LIFE, SO WE COME TO BE FILLED BY YOUR SPIRIT.

TO BE ENERGIZED, TRANSFORMED.

WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR THE JOY IN OUR LIVES, PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE SENT OUR WAY, OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

AND NEW ACQUAINTANCES.

HELP US TO NEVER TAKE EACH OTHER FOR GRANTED.

WE THANK YOU FOR THOSE THAT ARE RECOVERING WELL, FOR THOSE WHO ARE BACK WITH US WORSHIPING, AFTER ILLNESS, WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR YOUR STRENGTH IN THEM AND YOUR HEALING POWER.

WE LIFT UP CONCERNS MENTIONED, THOSE WHO STILL NEED YOUR PRESENCE AND YOUR HEALING, AND YOUR COMPASSION.

WORK THROUGH FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND DOCTOR  AND NURSES AND ALL CAREGIVERS TO BE THOSE THINGS FOR THOSE PERSONS FACING PHYSICAL NEEDS.

WE ALL PRAY FUR OUR WORLD FILLED WITH NEEDS.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE HUNGRY AND THIRSTY.

FOR THOSE WHO NEED TO BE CLOTHED.

FOR THOSE WHO NEED A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE ALONE AND NEED TO BE IN COMMUNITY.

HELP US TO RISE UP IN A COMMUNITY OF FAITH FOR US ALL TO PARTICIPATE AND GOD INVITES AND WELCOMES ALL TO BE A PART OF THIS FAITH COMMUNITY FOR TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER THAN WE ARE BY OURSELVES.

BE WITH US NOW AS WE CONTINUE TO WORSHIP.

FILL OUR HEARTS WITH LOVE AND KINDNESS.

THAT WE MIGHT TREAT ALL AS YOU TREAT US.

AND WE ARE REMINDED OF OUR CALLING AND THE PRAYER THAT JESUS TEACHES HIS DISCIPLES AND TEACHES US SO WE SAY WITH BOLDNESS.

(LORD'S PRAYER PRAYED)

LET US SHARE OUR LIVES.

NOT FOR OURSELVES BUT TO FURTHER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

THE NEW TESTAMENT READING IS FROM MATTHEW 5 VERSES 1 THROUGH 4 IN YOUR BIBLE IT IS ON PAGE .

WHEN JESUS SAW THE CROWDS HE WENT UP THE MOUNTAIN AND AFTER HE SAT DOWN HIS DISCIPLES CAME TO HIM THEN HE BEGAN TO SPEAK AND TAUGHT THEM STAYING, BLESSED IS THE POOR IN SPIRIT FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM IN HEAVEN.

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED.

LET US PRAY:

WE COME O GOD TO HEAR THESE WORDS, NOT ONLY TO HEAR THEM BUT TO BE TRANSFORMED BY THEM.

TO BE MADE LIKE CHRIST IN EVERY WAY.

OPEN OUR HEARTS SO THAT THIS MIGHT BECOME A REALITY.

IN CHRIST'S NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN.

LAST WEEK WE TALKED ABOUT POVERTY, POOR IN SPIRIT, AND HOW WE ARE BLESSED WHEN WE RECOGNIZE OUR NEED, WHEN WE EMPTY OURSELVES OF EVERYTHING AND RECOGNIZE OUR NEED FOR GOD.

THIS WEEK JESUS SAYS, BLESSED ARE THOSE  WHO MOURN, FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED.

I HAVE BEEN THINKING A LOT THIS WEEK, THINKING HOW CAN MOURNING BE A BLESSED CONDITION.

IT SEEMS THAT THE WHOLE WORLD SYSTEM IS TO AVOID SADNESS AT ALL COSTS.

THE WHOLE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY IS ABOUT BEING HAPPY, EVERY ADVERTISEMENT IS ABOUT YOU, ME, BEING HAPPY.

WE DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT SADNESS OR DEAL WITH ANY SADNESS, SO WHY SHOULD WE MOURN.

OF COURSE AS ONE TRANSLATION PUTS IT BY BEING UNHAPPY.

I DON'T THINK JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT MOURNING THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE.

I THINK HE IS REACHING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND DEEPER.

SOMETHING MORE UNIVERSAL.

WHY SHOULD WE MOURN?

I THINK THE FIRST REASON THAT JESUS IS GETTING AT IS BECAUSE OF THE EVIL PRESENT IN THE WORLD.

THE SINFULNESS, WE SEE HUMAN MISERY BECAUSE OF WAR, BECAUSE OF GREED BECAUSE OF SELFISHNESS.

IN THE SCRIPTURE IT SAYS JESUS WEEPED OVER THE CITY OF JERUSALEM.

BECAUSE OF THIS JESUS WEPT.

DO WE WEEP, DO WE CRY OVER THE THINGS THAT CAUSES JESUS TO WEEP?

DO WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS EVIL PRESENT IN THIS WORLD AND DO WE MOURN THAT EVIL?

I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS ABOUT 9 OR 10, I HAD AN EYE OPERATION, I WAS PLAYING SWORDS AND GOT HIT IN THE EYE AND DON'T PLAY WITH STICKS, YOU WILL POKE YOUR EYE OUT.

OF COURSE I DIDN'T LISTEN, SO I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND HAD EYE SURGERY AND ACROSS THE WAY FROM ME WAS A YOUNG MAN ABOUT 16 IN A BODY CAST AND HE HAD BEEN OUT ONE NIGHT HAVING TOO GOOD A TIME AND HE WAS IN SOME SORT OF CAR WRECK AND HE WAS IN A BODY CAST.

AT LUNCHTIME THE NURSES WOULD BRING HIS LUNCH BUT HE COULD NOT FEED HIMSELF AND I GUESS THEY THOUGHT THE NURSES WOULD FEED HIM AND THE MOM THOUGHT THE NURSES WOULD FEED HIM, AND THEY WOULD LEAVE THE TRAY AND THERE WOULD BE THIS MAN WHO COULD NOT FEED HIMSELF AND I REMEMBER MY MOTHER WOULD WALK ACROSS THE AISLE AND FEED THIS YOUNG MAN HIS LUNCH.

SHE FELT FOR HIM, SHE MOURNED FOR HIM, SHE WANTED TO COMFORT HIM.

IT IS THE FIRST TIME I REMEMBER MY MOTHER OR ANYONE GRIEVING FOR SOMEONE IN THAT WAY.

THE BIBLE SAYS JESUS WAS MOVED BY THE PLIGHT OF THE MULTITUDES, THE MANY, THE PEOPLE THAT WHEN HE SAW THEM HE WAS MOVED TO COMPASSION FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE WEARY AND SCATTERED.

ARE WE MOVED BY THE THINGS THAT MOVED JESUS.

WE FEEL THAT MOURNING AND GRIEF, THAT CAUSES US TO WORK THAT OUT IN COMFORTING OTHER PEOPLE ‑‑ DO WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE OTHERS WHO NEED THAT COMFORT?

SO JESUS RECOGNIZES THIS EVIL IN THE WORLD,  AND THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE COMFORT.

AND THE SECOND IS OUR OWN SIN. 

I WAS THINKING OF SIN THIS WEEK AND THE KING DAVID AND WHERE HE IS CONFRONTED BY THE PROPHET AND DAVID SAYS  AFTER HE HAS HAD AN AFFAIR WITH BATHSHEBA, HAVE MERCY ON ME O GOD ACCORDING  TO YOUR STEADFAST LOVE BLOT OUR MY TRANSGRESSIONS, WASH OUT MY SINS.

AND BLAMELESS IN YOUR JUDGMENT.

BEHOLD I WAS BROUGHT FORTH IN INIQUITY AND IN SIN MY MOTHER  CONCEIVED ME AND YOU TEACH ME WISDOM IN THE SECRET HEART.

WASH ME AND I WILL BE WHITER THAN SNOW.

LET ME HEAR JOY AND GLADNESS, LET THE BONES YOU HAVE BROKEN REJOICE, HIDE YOUR FACE FROM MY SINS AND BLOT OUT ALL MY INIQUITIES.

DAVID IS GRIEVING, FOR ALL THE HEARTBREAK THAT HIS SINFULNESS HAS CAUSED.

I KNOW SIN IS NOT A POPULAR WORD THESE DAYS.

SO SINFULNESS, BROKENNESS, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.

BUT DAVID KNOWS HE HAS DONE WRONG AND HAS REALLY FELT THE GRIEVING AND THE ONLY WAY HE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT PROCESS OF TRANSFORMATION LEADING TO WHOLENESS, TO REDEMPTION IS TO HAVE TRUE MOURNING, IS TO BE SINCERE.

IF I SAY SOMETHING AT HOME THAT IS WRONG I SAY I AM SORRY AND TRY TO MOVE ON, IF YOU TRY A FLIPPANT APOLOGY, IT DOESN'T MEAN VERY MUCH.

MOURNING LEADS TO WHOLENESS WHEN IT LEADS TO TRUE REPENTANCE AND WE FEEL REAL GRIEF FOR OUR SINS.

THAT IS WHEN GOD CAN START TO WORK WITH US.

ALSO MOURNING LEADS TO HOPE.

THERE IS THIS ELEMENT OF ETERNITY IN THIS BEATITUDE.

WE WANT COMFORT NOW, WE WANT ALL COMFORT IN THIS WORLD.

WE WANT SATISFACTION NOW, THAT IS OUR SOCIETY, ISN'T IT?

WE WANT IT TODAY, WE DON'T WANT ANY DELAYED REWARDS.

WE DON'T WANT TO WAIT 30 DAYS TO PICK UP OUR CHECK WE WANT IT NOW.

BUT THIS BEATITUDE POINTS TO THE FUTURE.

WE HAVE A TASTE OF THAT FULLNESS OF JOY THAT AWAITS.

IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION THE LAST BOOK OF THE BIBLE GOD WILL WIPE EVERY TEAR FROM OUR EYES, NO MORE DEATH OR CRYING OR PAIN FOR THE OLDER ORDER OF THINGS PASS AWAY.

THE REALITY IS THAT NOT EVERYONE WILL BE COMFORTED IN THE WORLD.

THERE WILL BE THOSE WHO WILL DIE HUNGRY, WHO WILL DIE ALONE, WHO WILL DIE OF NEED.

THOUGH WE ARE TRYING TO DO ALL THE THINGS WE CAN DO TO PREVENT THAT, TO STOP THAT, THAT IS THE REALITY.

AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED, THIS BEATITUDE HAS HOPE.

THAT THERE WILL BE NO MORE PAIN, NO MORE CRIME, THAT THERE WILL BE TOTAL COMFORT.

I FIND IT AMAZING WHEN YOU READ ABOUT THE APOSTLE PAUL IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.

THERE HE IS IN JAIL, NOT KNOWING WHETHER HE WILL COME OUT OR SURVIVE, WHAT IS HE DOING?

HE IS SINGING.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I WOULD NOT BE SINGING.

THE APOSTLE PAUL IS SINGING BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT THERE IS COMFORT, NO MATTER WHAT.

HE HAS EXPERIENCED A TASTE OF IT IN THIS LIFE AND HE KNOWS HE WILL RECEIVE IT IN THE NEXT LIFE.

SO MOURNING LEADS TO HOPE.

THERE ARE FOUR THINGS THAT I HOPE WE GET OUT OF THIS THIS MORNING‑‑ ONE GOD DRAWS NEAR TO THOSE WHO CRY.

THAT IS WHY DAVID CRIES OUT TO GOD.

HE CRIES OUT SO THAT GOD WILL DRAW NEAR TO HIM.

THAT WHOLE PSALM IS ABOUT GOD DRAWING NEAR AND IF HE JUST CRIES OUT AND SHOWS HIS SINCERITY, GOD WILL DRAW NEAR.

THE SECOND THING IS GOD USES SUFFERING AND SORROW TO DRAW US TO HIMSELF.

I DON'T BELIEVE HE CAUSES THE  SUFFERING BUT HE CAN USE IT.

DAVID'S FEAR CAUSES HIM TO SEEK THE LORD.

SOME OF US PUT IT THIS WAY ‑‑

YOU WILL NEVER NOW IF JESUS IS ALL YOU NEED UNLESS JESUS IS ALL YOU HAVE.

WHEN WE ARE IN UTTER BROKENNESS, AND ALL HAVE LEFT US, IT IS GOD THAT COMES TO OUR COMFORT.

THIRD, I THINK WE GROW FASTER IN HARD TIMES THAN WE DO IN GOOD TIMES.

PAUL REMINDS US THAT SUFFERING LEADS TO CHARACTER GROWTH.

FOURTH, OUR PAIN HELPS US TO MINISTER TO OTHERS.

WHEN WE CRY OVER THE CONDITIONS OF OTHERS, WHEN OUR OWN SIN GRIEVES US, AND WHEN WE WEEP OVER THE CONDITION OF OUR WORLD, THE BIBLE SAYS GOD WILL COMFORT US SO THAT WE CAN COMFORT THOSE IN ANY TROUBLE, WITH THE COMFORT WE OURSELVES HAVE RECEIVED FROM GOD.

ULTIMATELY AND ALWAYS IT IS NEVER JUST ABOUT US.

THOSE WHO MOURN SHALL BE COMFORTED SO THAT THEY THEN CAN GIVE COMFORT.

I LOVE CHURCH HISTORY.

THERE ARE SOME FASCINATING PEOPLE.

MARTIN LUTHER WAS SCARED OF STORMS, HE HATED THE STORMS AND ONE NIGHT THERE WAS A TERRIBLE THUNDERSTORM AND HE CRIED OUT TO GOD AND SAID IF YOU LET ME SURVIVE THIS STORM I WILL GIVE MY LIFE TO YOU.

MARTIN LUTHER SURVIVED THE STORM AND SO HE BEGAN TO TRY TO GIVE HIS LIFE OVER TO GOD.

HE THOUGHT THE BEST WAY TO GO ABOUT THIS WOULD BE A MONK AND HE PICKED ONE OF THE MOST STERN MONASTERIES, HE SLEPT ON THE FLOOR, HE PRAYED  ON THE COLD STONE FLOOR BECAUSE HE THOUGHT THAT IS HOW HE WOULD GET GOD TO LOVE HIM, THAT GOD WOULD LOVE HIM MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

WHAT IT DID WAS IT ALMOST KILLED HIM.

THERE HE WAS ONE NIGHT, NEARING HIS TABLE WITH THE BIBLE NEXT TO HIM WONDERING WHAT CAN I DO?

WHAT CAN I DO?

AND AT ONCE IN THIS LIGHTBULB MOMENT, HE UNCLENCHED HIS FISTS, HE RELAXED HIS SHOULDERS, HE TOOK A DEEP BREATH FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THREE YEARS.

HE EXPLAINED LATER ON AND SAYS IF THE GATES OF HEAVEN OPENED BEFORE HIM AND GOD WELCOMED HIM INTO THE KINGDOM ‑‑ WHAT HAPPENED?

WHAT HE REALIZED IS THAT YOU CAN BE RIGHT WITH GOD BY TRUSTING GOD.

NOT BY WORKING TO MAKE GOD LOVE YOU.

HE HAD THE MOURNING PART RIGHT.

HE WAS GRIEVING OVER HIS SINS.

WAS GRIEVING OVER THE STATE OF THE WORLD BUT HE TRIED TO DO IT ON HIS OWN.

HE TRIED TO FIX IT, BY HIMSELF, BUT HE DISCOVERED THAT ALONG WITH THE MOURNING COMES THE COMFORT.

YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS THINK THE BEATITUDES WE SHOULD TEACH THEM BACKWARDS.

I NEED EVERYTHING FROM YOU.

I HAVE NOTHING.

IT IS TRUE REPENTANCE, IT IS TRUE MOURNING, HIS TRUE MOURNING FINALLY LED HIM TO BE COMFORTED BY THE SPIRIT.

JESUS SAID, BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN, FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED.

THE REASON THOSE WHO MOURN ARE BLESSED IS BECAUSE OF THE COMFORT AVAILABLE.

OUR GRIEF AND OUR SORROW  DRIVES US TO THE SOURCE OF ALL COMFORT.

OUR LORD HIMSELF WHO GIVES US THE COMFORTING PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

THIS IDEA OF REPENTANCE AND BROKENNESS AND GRIEVING ISN'T JUST ABOUT FEELING BAD ABOUT YOURSELF.

AND BEATING YOURSELF UP.

IT IS ABOUT RECOGNIZING THAT ONCE I DISCOVER THAT I NEED GOD, ONCE I DISCOVER WHO I AM WITHOUT HIM, I CAN LET ALL OF THAT GO AND I CAN TRULY BE COMFORTED.

I CAN TRULY BE FILLED WITH GOD'S SPIRIT AND I CAN TRULY BE USED BY GOD.

THAT IS WHAT DAVID DISCOVERED.

THAT IS WHAT THE APOSTLE PAUL DISCOVERED, THAT IS WHAT MARTIN LUTHER DISCOVERED.

THAT IS WHAT JESUS KNEW.

BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED.

I HOPE THAT IS OUR PRAYER.

AND ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN SAID.

AMEN.

OUR HYMN OF REFLECTION IS MORE ABOUT JESUS WHAT I KNOW.

AND I INVITE YOU TO REFLECT.

WHO JESUS IS TO YOU, AND WHO YOU NEED HIM TO BE.

AS WE SING HYMN NUMBER 348.

LET US STANDS AND SING.

NOW WE COME TO OUR TIME OF CELEBRATION AND COMMUNION.

CHRIST INVITES ALL THOSE WHO CONFESS THEIR SIN AND SEEK TO BE IN UNION WITH HIM AND IN CHARITY WITH ALL OTHERS.

THIS IS THE LORD'S TABLE AND HE INVITES ALL WHO SEEK.

LET US NOW SHARE IN OUR PRAYER OF CONFESSION.

LET US PRAY.

IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, WE ARE FORGIVEN.

LET US REMAIN SEATED AS WE SING OUR COMMUNION HYMN.

IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.

FOR I SEVER FROM THE LORD WHAT I ALSO HAND ON TO YOU THAT THE LORD JESUS ON THE NIGHT HE WAS BETRAYED TOOK A LOAF OF BREAD AND WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS HE BROKE IT AND SAID THIS IS MY BODY THAT IS FOR YOU, DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.

IN THE SAME WAY HE TOOK THE CUP ALSO AFTER SUPPER SAYING THIS CUP IS THE COVENANT IN MY BLOOD.

DO THIS AS OFTEN AS YOU DRINK IT IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.

OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, AS WE TAKE THIS BREAD WE REMEMBER ONCE AGAIN THAT YOU ARE THE SOURCE OF EVERY MERCY AND THE ONE THAT COMFORTS US.

OUR FATHER, AS WE PREPARE OURSELVES TO TAKE THIS CUP IN REMEMBRANCE OF YOUR GREAT LOVE.

BE OUR SPECIAL, FIG US WITH YOUR LOVE, YOU JOY, YOUR PEACE, YOUR COMPASSION SO AS WE LIVE OUR LIVES, IN OUR JOYS AND OUR SORROWS, AS WE GRIEVE AND AS WE MOURN WE WILL FEEL YOUR COMFORT AND AS WE FEEL YOUR COMFORT WE CAN THEN SHARE YOUR COMFORT TO OTHERS WHO KNOWS YOU NOT.

THIS IS OUR PRAYER IN CHRIST'S NAME, AMEN.

OUR FINAL HYMN IS NUMBER 558.

WILL YOU RECEIVE THE BENEDICTION?

LET US GO FORTH REMEMBERING THAT THE GOSPEL IS OUR STORY AND JESUS IS OUR SONG.

REMEMBERING THE GRACIOUS WORDS OF OUR LORD JESUS BE NOT AFRAID.

FOR I AM WITH YOU EVEN UNTO THE END.

AMEN.