Welcome!
Thank you so much for joining us at Grace and Peace Church! Below you’ll find song lyrics, scriptures, sermon notes, and information relating to this week’s service! Also take a minute to fill out our connect form. If you are new we have a FREE MUG for you at the welcome table.
We’re so glad you’re here with us!
Grace & Peace to you!
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Announcements;
BEACH BBQ at BEECH Ave. Carlsbad
A collaboration with our friends at Las Flores Church in Carlsbad — August 13th from 6-8pm. Bring snacks and a chair. Great time to slow down and enjoy the beach and some fellowship between churches!
Thanks for giving towards our mission to serve our brothers and sisters in Haiti! We have heard some of the progress of the work on the school that is being expanded and teachers are getting paid monthly to continue teaching. God is at work in beautiful ways!
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Liturgical Worship Readings
Daily Prayer
Help me pay attention today.
I want to be so acutely aware of Your presence in every space.
Help me notice beauty that doesn't beg for applause, conversations that carry Your kindness, and the still, small ways You're working beneath the surface.
Let my feet be rooted, not rushed.
Let my heart be soft, not guarded.
And let my soul remember that You waste nothing—not even times of slowing down.
Sunday Gathering Liturgy
Psalm 138
Of David.
1
I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
before the “gods” I will sing your praise.2
I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,
for you have so exalted your solemn decree
that it surpasses your fame.3
When I called, you answered me;
you greatly emboldened me.4
May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord,
when they hear what you have decreed.5
May they sing of the ways of the Lord,
for the glory of the Lord is great.6
Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;
though lofty, he sees them from afar.7
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life.
You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;
with your right hand you save me.8
The Lord will vindicate me;
your love, Lord, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.Instrument of Your Peace – St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith,
Where there is despair, hope,
Where there is darkness, light,
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much
seek to be consoled as to console,
not so much to be understood as to understand,
not so much to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
it is in dying that we awake to eternal life.The Apostles Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.Offering Prayer
Compassionate Father, thank you that you are our strength and our song, you fill our hearts with joy. May we give our offerings to you with gladness and joy. Everything we have belongs to you and we rejoice to give some of your abundant gifts back to you. Bless the tithes and offerings we give today. Let the majesty of the Father be the light that guides us, the compassion of the Son be the love that inspires us and the presence of the Spirit be the power that empowers us. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.
THE LORDS PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Offer Prayers of Intercessions, Petitions, or Thanksgivings to the Lord either silently or aloud. After each person shares we simply acknowledge by saying “Lord hear our prayer.”
Prayer of Gratitude
Heavenly Father, We come before you today with hearts full of gratitude. Thank you for your countless blessings and your unwavering love. Thank you for the gift of life, for the air we breathe, and for the strength you give us each day. Your grace and mercy sustain us, and we are deeply grateful for your presence in our lifes.
Thank you for our family, friends, and the community you have surrounded us with. Thank you for providing for our needs and for guiding us with your wisdom. Even in times of trial, we thank you for the lessons and the growth that come from trusting in you.
Lord, may we never take your blessings for granted. Help us to remain mindful of your goodness and to share your love and kindness with others. We praise your name and give thanks for all that you are and all that you do.
In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
SERMON NOTES & RESOURCES
We typically preach through the LECTIONARY READINGS — For further reading of all the passages click here https://wordtoworship.com/lectionary/acna
GP Mission; We are a community established on experiencing the life-giving grace and peace found in knowing Christ.
"We participate in God's mission as a people. There's individual actions, there's individual moments, but ultimately, this is a symphony." -- MARK SAYERS
“Rich Towards God”
Sermon by Nate Wells
Lasting Change Newsletter click below
Luke 12:13-21
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
What if you had one more day to live?
What would you do?
What would you say to people?
VS 14 “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed.
"Possessions make you rich? I don't have that type of richness. My richness is life, forever" — Guess the author
19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool!
Colossians 3:15-17
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:11
12 I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind! 14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
15 What is crooked cannot be straightened;
what is lacking cannot be counted.
16 I said to myself, “Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.” 17 Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.
18 For with much wisdom comes much sorrow;
the more knowledge, the more grief.
2 I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. 2 “Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” 3 I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.
4 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. 8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart. 9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my labor,
and this was the reward for all my toil.
11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 1:2 — “Nothing but vapor,” Ecclesiastes said. “Totally vapor. Everything is just vapor that vanishes.”
hebrew word used is Hevel - vapor, mist, temporary
Rich toward God is in contrast to “storing up for self”
ACTION STEP
How do we live in prayer?
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
How do you respond when God interrupts your plans?
What would it look like to be “rich towards God” today?
Daily Prayer Challenge. continued… (*copy and paste into your notes or make a screen shot of this prayer for reference)
Help me pay attention today. I want to be so acutely aware of Your presence in every space. Help me notice beauty that doesn't beg for applause, conversations that carry Your kindness, and the still, small ways You're working beneath the surface. Let my feet be rooted, not rushed. Let my heart be soft, not guarded. And let my soul remember that You waste nothing—not even times of slowing down.
Blessing…
Rejoice in knowing that we never walk alone.
Know the grace and peace of Christ walking beside us, guiding and protecting us.
Share this comfort with one another and feel his presence each moment of each day.
Amen
The option to give toward the ministry we partner with in Haiti is always available…
God is at work in Haiti, and we’re grateful to share just a few of the wonderful things He allowed our team to accomplish this past week through your support and generosity.
New Savings Group Started (last photo of all women)
The Outreach Mission – A Week of Transformation
Care Packs for families fleeing from violent gangs who currently pushing to gain more control over cities.
Thanks to the funds you sent, the outreach was a huge blessing. We were able to purchase gas, water, and supplies—and most meaningfully, we bought Bibles. With support from LCH and the local church, they are now walking in new obedience and joy.
Number one task of a Christ follower; Stay in that rhythm of receiving nourishment. A tree doesn’t work to receive but we choose what soil and if it’s near water source or in the care of a constant gardener. Here are a few more resources to study further.
We use Lectio Divina Journals as a guide for our daily spiritual formation. If you would like to journey with us you can order a journal here (link below) or pick one up at the welcome table at church.
https://www.lectiodivinajournal.com/buy/lectiojournal-nodates
If you’re looking for a great simple way to study the Bible check out this resource; https://throughtheword.org
Connect
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