9:30am Prelude - “Amazing Grace” - Jeff Perks Welcome - Rev. David Bonnema Opening Song - “Raise a Hallelujah” - Vanessa Graham Time of Greeting Children’s Message Songs - “Battle Belongs/Living Hope’” Sermon - “Hope or Pessimism” What’s something you’ve hoped for recently? Elisha tells the woman that she will have a son. Instead of celebrating, she responds in a surprising way. “No, my lord!” she objected. “Please, man of God, don’t deceive me and get my up like that.” —2 Kings 4:16b The woman is afraid to hope after being disappointed for so many years. She does have a son— her hope is fulfilled— before tragedy strikes. What does she do after he son dies? “No one ever told me that grief felt so like . I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid. The same fluttering in the stomach, the same restlessness, the yawning. I keep swallowing.” —C.S. Lewis When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch. He went in, shut the door on the two of them and to the Lord… —2 Kings 4:32 For the Christian, hopelessness, grief and pain are stops along the journey of life, but not the final resting place. Offering Rev. Dana Seiler Prayer of Thanksgiving and the Lord’s Prayer Closing Song “In Christ Alone” Benediction 11:00am Prelude - “Amazing Grace” - Jeff Perks, piano Welcome - Rev. David Bonnema Call to Worship - Rev. Dana Seiler Leader: In a world where good and evil exist together. People: My hope is built on the love of God. Leader: In a place where it is easy to feel alone and excluded, People: My hope is built on the friendship of Jesus Christ. Leader: In this holy place on this holy day, People: My hope is built on the gift of the Holy Spirit. Leader: Let us worship the God of Hope. People: Amen. Hymn - ”My Hope is Built” - #379 v 1, 2, 4 Prayer of Confession Lord of All Good Things, we want to be people who believe in Your promises. We want to lead lives filled with hope, believing that there are good things in store for us. But we also want to guard our hearts, knowing that if we believe too much, we might be disappointed. Help us trust in You, O God, with all our hearts, so that instead of having timid lives of meager joy, our hearts may overflow with blessings unimaginable to us, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Declaration of Forgiveness Passing of the Peace Anthem - “Hope Remains” Rouse - Unity Choir Sermon - “Hope or Pessimism” - Rev. David Bonnema What’s something you’ve hoped for recently? Elisha tells the woman that she will have a son. Instead of celebrating, she responds in a surprising way. “No, my lord!” she objected. “Please, man of God, don’t deceive me and get my up like that.” —2 Kings 4:16b The woman is afraid to hope after being disappointed for so many years. She does have a son— her hope is fulfilled— before tragedy strikes. What does she do after he son dies? “No one ever told me that grief felt so like . I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid. The same fluttering in the stomach, the same restlessness, the yawning. I keep swallowing.” —C.S. Lewis When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch. He went in, shut the door on the two of them and to the Lord… —2 Kings 4:32 For the Christian, hopelessness, grief and pain are stops along the journey of life, but not the final resting place. Anthem - “Our Only Hope” Parks - Unity Choir Offering Prayer of Thanksgiving and the Lord’s Prayer Doxology Affirmation of Faith I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. Hymn - “In Christ Alone” Benediction Postlude - “Immortal, Invisible” arr. Wagner