WELCOME Rev. Nathan Lonsdale Bledsoe, Senior Pastor PASSING OF THE PEACE PRELUDE Dr. Andreea Muț Accompanist CALL TO WORSHIP (from Psalm 86) Juan, Kourtnei, Everett and Langston Ramirez, Liturgists

One: My Lord! There is no one like you among the gods! All: Have mercy on me, Lord, because I cry out to you all day long. One: There is nothing that can compare to your works! All: Have mercy on me, Lord, because I cry out to you all day long. One: All the nations that you’ve made will come and bow down before you, Lord; All: Have mercy on me, Lord, because I cry out to you all day long. One: They will glorify your name because you are awesome and a wonder worker. All: Have mercy on me, Lord, because I cry out to you all day long. You are God. Just you.

*HYMN Good, Good Father Rev. Suzi Byrd, Pastor of Music and Worship

I've heard a thousand stories of what they think You’re like But I've heard the tender whisper Of love in the dead of night You tell me that You’re pleased and that I'm never alone

Chorus You're a Good Good Father It's who You are, it's who You are, it's who You are And I'm loved by You It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am

Verse 2 I've seen many searching for answers far and wide But I know we're all searching for answers only You provide Because You know just what we need before we say a word

Chorus You're a Good Good Father It's who You are, it's who You are, it's who You are And I'm loved by You It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am

Bridge You are perfect in all of Your ways You are perfect in all of Your ways You are perfect in all of Your ways to us You are perfect in all of Your ways You are perfect in all of Your ways You are perfect in all of Your ways to us

Verse 3 Love so undeniable I can hardly speak, peace so unexplainable I can hardly think As You call me deeper still, as You call me deeper still, as You call me deeper still Into love love love

Chorus You're a Good Good Father It's who You are, it's who You are, it's who You are And I'm loved by You It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am

CCLI Song # 7036612 Anthony Brown | Pat Barrett

*AFFIRMATION St. Stephen’s Affirmation of Faith

We believe in God who claims us as beloved children whose love unites us when the world would divide us. We believe in Jesús Christ our living Savior and example whose love knows no bounds. We believe in the Holy Spirit who empowers and enables us to transform the world, who speaks through the stories of scripture to transform our own stories. We believe in the Church who is the body of Christ, and does not belong to us, whose work cannot be contained by a building. We worship God together proclaiming God’s love for us and our love for God and each other. We act in God’s name, knowing God is at work all around us, calling us to join in, claiming us all as beloved.

*GLORIA PATRI Suzi CHILDREN’S MOMENT Steven Fisher, Director of Family Ministries PRAYER Nathan THE LORD’S 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 forever. Amen

*SCRIPTURE READING Genesis 21:8-21 Justin St. Lawrence, Reader

The boy grew and stopped nursing. On the day he stopped nursing, Abraham prepared a huge banquet. 9 Sarah saw Hagar’s son laughing, the one Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham. 10 So she said to Abraham, “Send this servant away with her son! This servant’s son won’t share the inheritance with my son Isaac.”11 This upset Abraham terribly because the boy was his son. 12 God said to Abraham, “Don’t be upset about the boy and your servant. Do everything Sarah tells you to do because your descendants will be traced through Isaac. 13 But I will make of your servant’s son a great nation too, because he is also your descendant.” 14 Abraham got up early in the morning, took some bread and a flask of water, and gave it to Hagar. He put the boy in her shoulder sling and sent her away. She left and wandered through the desert near Beer-sheba. 15 Finally the water in the flask ran out, and she put the boy down under one of the desert shrubs. 16 She walked away from him about as far as a bow shot and sat down, telling herself, I can’t bear to see the boy die. She sat at a distance, cried out in grief, and wept. 17 God heard the boy’s cries, and God’s messenger called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “Hagar! What’s wrong? Don’t be afraid. God has heard the boy’s cries over there. 18 Get up, pick up the boy, and take him by the hand because I will make of him a great nation.” 19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well. She went over, filled the water flask, and gave the boy a drink. 20 God remained with the boy; he grew up, lived in the desert, and became an expert archer. 21 He lived in the Paran desert, and his mother found him an Egyptian wife.

*SCRIPTURE RESPONSE

One: Inspired words for beloved people. All: Lord, transform us through its hearing.

SERMON “Creating Promise Out of Pain” Nathan OFFERING PRAYER AND INVITATION Nathan

You can give using your smartphone! Text a dollar amount to 84321 and select St. Stephen’s. Those wishing to commit their lives to Christ are invited to contact Pastor Nathan at 512-771-2741.

OFFERTORY Andreea

*BENEDICTION Nathan

*CLOSING HYMN The God of Sarah Praise Suzi (by David Bjorlin)

The God of Sarah praise, the God of dreams long dead, who brings forth unexpected life, disarming dread Though grief lasts through the night, joy rises with the sun; God leaves us laughing in surprise at death undone.

The God of Abr’ham praise, the God of all who roam, who guides us into foreign lands and makes our home. When darkness shrouds our path, the stars, as pledges shine; God’s covenant will be fulfilled by love’s design.

The God of Hagar praise, the God of those oppressed, who sees the lost and overlooked and calls them blessed. Though wandering alone through deserts of despair, God leads us to a well of hope and meets us there.

*Please stand in body or in spirit.

St. Stephen’s is a church with an exciting vision for loving God and our neighbors. If you want to learn more about our church, more about who Jesus is and why that matters, or just about anything else, Nathan would love to meet with you! Call or text him at 512.771.2741 to make an appointment.

2003 W.43rd Street, Houston, TX, 77018 (713) 686-8241 | stshtx.org

Text a dollar amount to 84321 and select St. Stephen’s, or go to stshtx.org/give.

Book Study: White Fragility by Dr. Robin Diangelo

16 June - 22 July 2020

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