Sermons given at GSBC
LEADER: O God, my heart is not lifted, my eyes are not raised too high;
PEOPLE: I do not occupy myself with things too great and marvelous for me.
LEADER: But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; My soul within me is like a weaned child.
ALL: O Israel, hope in God from this time on and forevermore.
LEADER: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
PEOPLE: According to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
LEADER: Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
PEOPLE: For I know my transgressions, and my sin is very ever before me.
LEADER: Create in me a clean heart, O God
PEOPLE: And put a new and right spirit within me.
LEADER: Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.
PEOPLE: Restore me the joy of your salvation, and sustain me a willing spirit.
LEADER: Then I will teach transgression your ways, and sinners will return to you.
ALL: O Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise.
Mothering God, You Gave Me Birth
Sister, Let Me Be Your Servant
Extinguishing the Candles of Lent
LEADER: Lent is a time to reflect on our spiritual journeys, how we can follow Jesus more closely and how we have wandered from the Way. Today, we remember how often God’s people have engaged in the sin of sexism.
PEOPLE: Our Scriptures teach us that male and female were both created in God’s image.
LEADER: One consequence of our rebellion from God is that men seek to rule over women.
PEOPLE: God commanded Moses to give women the same right to earn a living as men had.
LEADER: But women in our society are still paid less than men for the same work.
PEOPLE: Both Old Testament and New are full of women who are filled with the Holy Spirit and lead God’s people.
LEADER: But many churches still reject the leadership of women. In repentance for how we have fallen into and supported a sinful patriarchy, we extinguish the second candle of Lent.
ALL: We have often done what we should not. We have often not done what we should have done. In God’s great love, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God!
Message from Pastor Stephen (PDF)
