This Week's Call To Faith
Will we embrace the rhythm of creation this summer?
Thoughts From This Week's Leader
Pastor Joe Muzzi
For the Week of June 1, 2025
Summer is (almost) here. The good creation that we have been given by God moves through seasons and it is good to embrace them. The seasons can truly be a gift to us. In the summers in Michigan , it’s time to relax a little bit more and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. It’s time to embrace community in a different way with cookouts and trips to the beach. It’s a gift. Let’s embrace it this summer and beyond.
Praise
Bible Verse: Psalm 19
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.
I invite you to lift up prayers of praise as you feel led.
Lament
OK, I’m going to simply go with what I wrote last month with a little tweaking because it still fits this month’s theme.
BUT, life isn’t just summertime, there are other seasons we encounter. Sometimes, in those winter seasons, it can feel like God is far off, that summer is nowhere in sight. Fortunately, the scriptures are not silent about such times, the laments of scripture can guide us as we lament the pain we are experiencing right now.
Bible Verse: Psalm 13
How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.
Heavenly Father, we bring our burdens, weariness and pain to you. (I encourage you to lift up any ways you are lamenting now.) Amen
Prayers for Our World
As we pray for the world it is good to remember the truth that Jesus Christ is the way the truth and the life. When we live Jesus’ way, we find our way. It is true for us and it’s true for our world. The Psalmist sings to us to remind us of this certainty:
Bible Verse: Psalm 19:7-11
The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
Heavenly Father, Our hearts break at all the conflicts and brokenness in our world. We pray for your justice to reign so that your peace may rule our hearts, our communities, and our world. (I invite you to add any additional prayers you have for our world now.) Amen
Hope
Our hope lies in Jesus Christ, who is truly the way. Psalm 19 concludes with a recognition that though God is our Hope, we frequently seek our own way and our own convenient “truths.” Let’s renew our hope in God and seek God’s guidance by praying the closing words of Psalm 19:
Bible Verse: Psalm 19:12-14
But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
AMEN!
Crossroads Ministries
Next Sunday's Service
We join together to pray for Pastor Joe as he prepares for and delivers the message this Sunday. May his words be YOUR words, Lord God.
We pray that the heart of everyone who attends, regular attenders and visitors, could feel the love of God in this place.
This Week's Leader and Ministry Highlight
Leader:
Pastor Ben
Ministries:
* Youth Groups & Volunteers
* Renewed Hope Counseling
Continued Prayers for Long Term Illness
Karalyn Lovelady – Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Clare Allen – Dialysis
Ken Kramer – Melanoma
Dave Bonello (Dave Chatel’s friend) – Cancer treatments
Charleigh – 3-year-old with Leukemia
Cindy – Step-sister of Shannon Garber
Amanda Sells’ Parents – Cancer
Erin Tate – Cancer
Julie Martin – Friend of Westphal’s
Rob – Joe & JoAnne’s neighbor
Continued Prayers For Those Grieving
Scott Valentine – Passing of his dad (3/25)The Westphal Family– Passing of Francine’s mom (3/25)
Karen Green – passing of her father (1/25)
The Knakal Family – Passing of Marley’s mom (10/24) Aunt (1/25) Joe’s grandmother (3/25)
Cindy Achatz – Passing of her niece, April (12/24)
The Veltri Family – Passing of Bentley Charles (11/24)
Chatel Family – Passing of Linda’s mom (11/24)
Danielle Dominik – Loss of Chris (11/24)
Jerry Banko – Passing of his sister Bonnie (7/24)
Jerry & Jean Gibbons – Passing of their daughter-in-law, Stacy Thiel (5/24)
Boston Family – Passing of George (5/24)
Prayers For Freedom
Pray for anyone you know and love that is struggling with substance abuse, mental illness & other strongholds.
Prayers For Salvation
Lord, please open a path for [person’s name] to come to know and accept You as their Lord and Savior. Please place people in their lives who are a loving example of what it means to know and follow You. I pray they will receive Your love and grace.
PRAYER WALL
Needs Of Our Church Family
*Add your Prayer Requests and Praise Reports by clicking the button below. Upon approval, your prayer will be visible in this space.
*Please click the "I Prayed" button after praying for an intention. Thank you.
*To keep the wall from becoming cluttered, prayers are removed after two weeks (please note long-term needs so they can be added to the continued prayers list).
And all God's people said
AMEN!