Tierra Nueva

Sunday! We gather in worship of our loving, equipping God. Service is held via Zoom and Facebook Live.

Welcome and Blessing: Danielle Riley

Worship: Lucy Capron

Time of Greeting: Kevin Riley

Prayer and Call to Action: Andrew Lewis

Message: Mike Neelley

Ephesians 6:10-13 (ESV): The Whole Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Anti-Racism Resources available on our Seek Justice page.

You sing. We'll provide the music. Danielle and Alvin start the day with worship and prayer, in mourning for those whose breath was taken from them: George Floyd, Manuel Ellis, Javier Ambler, Eric Garner, and too many others.

All the earth will shout your praise

our hearts will cry, these bones will sing

Great are you, Lord

It's your breath in our lungs

so we pour out our praise

pour out our praise

it's your breath in our lungs

so we pour out our praise to you only

You give life, you are love

You bring light to the darkness

You give hope, you restore

every heart that is broken

Great are you, Lord

Great Are You Lord: David Leonard / Jason Ingram / Leslie Jordan

Psalm 13:1-2, 5-6 (ESV)

1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?    

How long will you hide your face from me?

2 How long must I take counsel in my soul    

and have sorrow in my heart all the day?

How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love;    

my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

6 I will sing to the Lord,    

because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Andrew examines the call of the prophet Amos, 700 years before Christ, and still ringing today.

Amos 5:24 (NRSV)

24 But let justice roll down like waters,    

and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Kevin continues exploring the blessedness of mourning in the Beatitudes.

Matthew 5:4 (ESV)

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV): God of All Comfort

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Danielle continues in the Beatitudes, examining our desperation for God’s hand in our lives.

Matthew 5:3 (ESV)

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Bob looks to faith and God’s promises.

Hebrews 11:1 (NASB): The Triumphs of Faith

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Genesis 12:1-4 (NASB): Abram Journeys to Egypt

1 Now the Lord said to Abram,

“Go forth from your country,

And from your relatives

And from your father’s house,

To the land which I will show you;

2 And I will make you a great nation,

And I will bless you,

And make your name great;

And so you shall be a blessing;

3 And I will bless those who bless you,

And the one who curses you I will curse.

And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

4 So Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

Romans 4:16-25 (NASB)

16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 (as it is written, “A father of many nations have I made you”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. 18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. 22 Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness. 23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

Galatians 3:23-27 (NASB)

23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Sunday! Our first week gathering via Zoom and Facebook Live—in real time. It did not go very smoothly, with stable connection, but we did it!

Welcome and Worship: Alvin and Kelsey Shim

Testimony: Lorinda Conley, Danielle and Kevin Riley

Prayer: Bob Ekblad

Message: Gracie Ekblad

Call to Action: Mike Neelley

Blessing: Kevin Riley

Isaiah 59, interpreted by Gracie

3) You have blood on your hands and have committed crimes with your fingers. You have lied with your lips and spoken evil things with your tongue.

4) People are charged in court unfairly, no one accuses based on all the facts. They rely on empty plea agreements, and speak lies, which results in lawlessness and more evil.

7) People eagerly run to do evil and they are quick to shed innocent blood. They think evil thoughts. Everywhere they go they cause ruin and destruction.

8) They do not know the way of peace and there is no justice where they go, They’ve made a crooked road for themselves. Nobody on that road knows peace.

9) Therefore, justice is far behind us, and goodness is nowhere to be found.

10) We hope for light, but there is only darkness…

14) Justice is pushed back and righteousness stands far away. For truth has stumbled in the streets, and honesty cannot enter.

15) Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever goes away from evil becomes a victim themself. The Lord saw it and it displeased him, that there was no justice.

16) He saw that there was no one, He couldn’t believe that there was no one to intervene. So his Own Arm brought Him salvation, and His righteousness upheld Him.

17) He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on garments of vengeance for clothing and wrapped himself in zeal as a coat.

18) So He will repay, according to their deeds, wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies; He will pay back the coastlands.

19) So they shall respect the Name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; For he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the Lord drives.

20) “And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from sin,” declares the Lord.

21) “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord.“My Spirit that is upon you, and my Word that I have put in your mouth, will not leave your mouth, or the mouth of your children, or the mouth of your grandchildren,” says the Lord, “from this time forth and forevermore.”

In collaboration with Bethany Covenant Church of Mount Vernon, Alvin continues the daily exploration of the Psalms.

Psalm 62 (ESV): My Soul Waits for God Alone

1 For God alone my soul waits in silence;    

from him comes my salvation.

2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,    

my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

3 How long will all of you attack a man    

to batter him,    

like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?

4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.    

They take pleasure in falsehood.

They bless with their mouths,   

 but inwardly they curse. Selah

5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,    

for my hope is from him.

6 He only is my rock and my salvation,    

my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

7 On God rests my salvation and my glory;    

my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

8 Trust in him at all times, O people;    

pour out your heart before him;    

God is a refuge for us. 

Selah

9 Those of low estate are but a breath;    

those of high estate are a delusion;

in the balances they go up;    

they are together lighter than a breath.

10 Put no trust in extortion;    

set no vain hopes on robbery;    

if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

11 Once God has spoken;    

twice have I heard this:

that power belongs to God,

12 and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.

For you will render to a man    

according to his work.

Andrew examines the breath in our lungs and how God sends the Holy Spirit.

Joel 2:28-29 (NRSV): God’s Spirit Poured Out

28 Then afterward    

I will pour out my spirit on all flesh;

your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,    

your old men shall dream dreams,    

and your young men shall see visions.

29 Even on the male and female slaves,    

in those days, I will pour out my spirit.

Acts 2:17-18 (NRSV)

17 ‘In the last days it will be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,    

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,    

and your old men shall dream dreams.

18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women,   

in those days I will pour out my Spirit;        

and they shall prophesy.

Mike furthers his message on Pentecost and Unity, from May 31, 2020.

Isaiah 58:6-8 (ESV)

6 “Is not this the fast that I choose:    

to loose the bonds of wickedness,    

to undo the straps of the yoke,

to let the oppressed go free,    

and to break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry    

and bring the homeless poor into your house;

when you see the naked, to cover him,    

and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,    

and your healing shall spring up speedily;

your righteousness shall go before you;    

the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

Psalm 139:19-24 (ESV)

19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!    

O men of blood, depart from me!

20 They speak against you with malicious intent;    

your enemies take your name in vain.

21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?    

And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?

22 I hate them with complete hatred;    

I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!    

Try me and know my thoughts!

24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,    

and lead me in the way everlasting!