Today's Music

You Keep In Getting Better - The Worship Initiative

Have Mercy - Sandra Mccracken

Son Of Suffering - Maverick City Music

The Blood Will Never Lose It’s Power - Andre Crouch

Jesus, What A Friend - Tasha Cobbs Leonard

Jesus Paid It All - Passion

Today's Liturgy

Lament

Father, today on Stand Sunday we stand with your Church around the world and remember the vulnerable people in our midst.

God we see in scripture you have a heart for the vulnerable.
You tell us in Psalm 68 you are “a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows…” that you “set the lonely in families” and “lead out the prisoners with singing.”
Lord, with your help, may we draw closer to the vulnerable, because when we were vulnerable, you drew closer to us.
We love because you first loved us.

Lord, we lament 1,009 children in foster care here in Jefferson Co.
This is the fatherless among us: children in need of a safe and stable home both temporarily or permanently.
We pray for their families, that you would help us show them your love and kindness.
We pray that you provide them with the consistency, nurture and love that they need.

We acknowledge that the widow in our midst may be a single mother or father, the elderly, and the extended family that takes on the responsibility of caring for a child. May you give us a heart for your people, that we would humble ourselves, set aside our comfort, and seek to live out the beauty of the Gospel.
In a world that seeks to oppress, you saw us, moved toward us, and purchased us for a price.
Lord help us to partner with the existing efforts in our city to empower and strengthen families.

Father, may we remember that without your kindness, we would all be without hope.
May our hope transform a watching world, seeing glimpses of Your love through the actions of Your
people. Amen.

Ministry Highlight and Action

Highlight:
Church family, we truly do believe that the Lord is calling each of us to care for the vulnerable in our community. Some of us have and will bring children into our homes through adoption and foster care, and we would love to support you as you continue on that journey or empower you if you are considering adoption or foster care.

Others can serve by wrapping around these families through the Ready Team. The Ready Team is when we train CGs to serve vulnerable families in our community. This includes adoptive and foster families, but also includes the single parents, the elderly, or simply those in a time of need. 
The Ready Team wraps around and supports families by providing meals, helping with moves, cleaning homes, and sometimes simply providing prayer and friendship in a time of need.

Action:
So as we continue in worship, we would like the church to stand, in a posture of commitment,
affirming that we recognize and take up the Lord’s calling to serve the fatherless, the widow,
and the vulnerable in our community.

Celebration and Prayer

“What a picture of the gospel — that those who were once without a home have been
brought into a family. And what a reflection of God’s heart through each of you who have
stepped into the mess and beauty of adoption and foster care.

And church, what a moment this is. You’ve just stood in a posture of commitment — not as
spectators, but as participants in God’s redemptive story. By standing, we’ve said
together: ‘Yes, Lord, we will take up your call to serve the fatherless, the widow, and the
vulnerable in our community.’

So now, as we move into a time of prayer, let’s ask God to make that commitment more
than words — to shape our hearts, our homes, and our church family to reflect His
steadfast love.”

Giving

“As a visual reminder of our call, there is a skyline of our city made of diapers, each
one representing a child in out of home care in Jefferson Co. Please stop by to talk
to one of our outreach servants if you are interested in adoption, foster care, are
already doing this work, or would like to join the Ready team and wrap around those who are.”

Your faithful giving allows ministries like Adoption and Foster Care and the Ready Team to thrive and continue making a difference in our city. As we give, let’s do so as an act of worship — remembering that because God first loved and adopted us, we give ourselves and our resources in love.”

Peace

“The gospel not only reconciles us to God but also to one another — creating a family out of strangers and
orphans. As we celebrate that truth today, let’s extend God’s peace to one another. Take a moment to pass the
peace of Christ to those around you.”