PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Leader:
MY God, my Father, make me strong
When tasks of life seem hard and long,
To greet them with this triumph song:
Thy will be done.
People:
Draw from my timid eyes the veil,
To show, where earthly forces fail,
Thy power and love must still prevail,
Thy will be done.
Leader:
With confident and humble mind,
Freedom in service I would find,
Praying through every toil assigned,
Thy will be done.
People:
Things deemed impossible I dare,
Thine is the call and Thine the care;
Thy wisdom shall the way prepare,
Thy will be done.
Leader:
All power is here and round me now,
Faithful I stand in rule and vow,
While 'tis not I, but ever Thou:
Thy will be done.
All:
Heaven's music chimes the glad days in,
Hope soars beyond death, pain and sin,
Faith shouts in triumph, love must win,
Thy will be done.
Sripture Jeremiah 29:1-13
A Letter to the Exiles
Leti Reads
This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 (This was after King Jehoiachin[a] and the queen mother, the court officials and the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the skilled workers and the artisans had gone into exile from Jerusalem.) 3 He entrusted the letter to Elasah son of Shaphan and to Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. It said:
Maria Reads
4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 8 Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.
Both Read
10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Special Music
"My Hope is Built on Nothing Less"
Linda Clay
Message - Hope for the world