This is the day that the Lord has made.
This is the day when he can be found.
God of all, breath of life,
Living water, Saviour, friend.
Come as the hungry, feed on his Word
Come as the thirsty, drink of his Love
Come as the faithful, worship the Lord.
At the Branch — children matter. More than that — we believe that kids have something to contribute — their voice and gifts are a valued part of our community. That’s why we’re looking for a BranchKids director that is passionate about the next generation and ready to invest themselves in the lives of the kids, volunteers and parents of the Branch.
All resumes can be submitted to Chris at chris@thebranchonline.org by April 15. Please include with your resume three references that can speak to your skills and abilities that are relevant to this position.
When pride and selfishness obscure my vision, and voices of this world confuse my mission, let it be
your will not mine, be done.
When faith and thankfulness lack direction, and every day is opposition, let it be your will not mine, be
done.
Be the centre,the focus of all I am.
Be the One I depend upon.
Amen
To know you, Lord
what more could we desire?
To know your love
Hear your call
Feel your touch
Understand your suffering
Follow where you have walked
Into resurrection life.
To know you, Lord
what more could we desire?
To run the race
Eyes focused
Spirit filled
Stumbling but rising up
Heading toward the glorious light
of resurrection life.
Forgive us, Lord
when we are struggling with life,
searching for answers in vain,
relying on our own strength
and failing again.
Remind us, Lord
that you are the strength
upon whom we can call,
the power to endure,
the answer that we seek,
the one in whose arms
we can safely fall.
Forgive us, Lord
when we forget.
The path we walk
is often strewn
with distractions
causing us to stumble.
Teach us your way, O Lord,
Help us follow your footsteps.
The path we walk
is often chosen
with little regard
of the final destination.
Teach us your way, O God,
Help us follow your footsteps.
The path we walk
is often clouded
with lack of faith
and indecision.
Teach us your way, O God,
Help us follow your footsteps.
What more could we ask than to gaze upon your beauty with eyes and heart of faith in our journeying
with you. In times of plenty and in times of want, in lofty places and low you keep us safe, secure
from harm. What more could we ask than to gaze upon your beauty with eyes of vision and hope in
our journeying with you. In suffering and pain, in times of doubt you hold us tight; what can we fear?
Forgive us, gracious God, when we tire of the journey
and wander from the path; when our heart is set not on the goal
toward which you point but toward a distant shore that offers a temporary comfort.
Forgive us when the light that once shone
within our soul is dimmed; when first love is not focused on Saviour,
but on the satisfaction of self, which leads to a different destination.
Forgive
Restore
Re-focus
Revive
Re-ignite the flame within.
That we might illuminate the way toward which so many seek to travel.
Through Jesus Christ we ask this. Amen.
Your love does not fade
as we choose to walk
a different path,
or listen to voices
persuading us
to put faith aside
and pick up instead
a forbidden fruit.
Your love is constant
and accepting.
Your love is merciful
and forgiving.
Your love is grace-full
and inspiring.
Your love is…
Your love is…
all we are not
and everything you are,
our loving God and King
My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the
humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One
has done great things for me – holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from
generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who
are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up
the humble. He has filled th hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped
his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he
said to our fathers.
Luke 1:46-55
Have mercy upon us, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercies,
blot out our transgressions. Wash us thoroughly from our iniquity, and cleanse us from our sin. For
we know our transgressions, and our sin is ever before us. Create in us a clean heart, O God, and put
a new and right spirit within us. Cast us not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit
from us. Restore to us the joy of your salvation, and uphold us with a willing spirit. Through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
Come, all who are thirsty says Jesus, our Lord,
come, all who are weak,
taste the living water that I shall give.
Dip your hands in the stream,
refresh body and soul,
drink from it, depend on it,
for this water will never run dry.
Come, all who are thirsty
says Jesus, our Lord.
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my thoughts.
See if there is any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23, 24
Join the Refugee Mission Circle this Sunday, March 3, at 6:30 for dinner and conversation about this mission circle’s purpose and work. It’s a great chance to connect with others — hear about what this MC will be doing — and discover how you could join in. Kids are welcome — no need to bring anything. RSVP by emailing MatthewZomerlei@gmail.com or MatthewZomerlei@gmail.com
This Friday, March 1st, from 7pm to 9pm at the building our third mission circle invites everyone to an evening of great food and conversation. Come and learn more about this mission circle, which is interested in helping the arts community — specifically artists — here in Grand Rapids.
At this meal we’ll share more about our first effort as a mission circle: curating a venue for Art Downtown Saturday, April 13. http://www.artdowntowngr.com If you love art — want to support artists — or are just looking for a community to connect with, you are invited. Come…join us in mission! Please RSVP by signing up at the back table or email Nate at nate@thebranchonline.org or Heather Ibrahim at heatheraldridge@msn.com.
Loving Father,
all the fancy words
in the world,
expressed in eloquent prose,
decorated with emotion,
spoken with conviction,
cannot compete with a heartfelt
‘sorry’
when all other words fail.
There are times
when we are all too aware
of our limitations,
conscious of sin,
and the distance it creates between us.
Sometimes ‘sorry’
is all the heart can bear to say aloud.
It is only you
who can read and understand
the language of our hearts,
only you who can translate our ‘sorry’
into the prayer we would have prayed,
if we had the words within us.
Then you forgive,
and having forgiven
surround us in an embrace of love,
drawing us close to your heart,
as it was always meant to be.
Thank you, Loving Father,
that you listen to hearts,
as well as voices
Thank you.
O Lord, who hast mercy upon all,
take away from me my sins,
and mercifully kindle in me
the fire of thy Holy Spirit.
Take away from me the heart of stone,
and give me a heart of flesh,
a heart to love and adore Thee,
a heart to delight in Thee,
to follow and enjoy Thee, for Christ’s sake, Amen
St. Ambrose of Milan (AD 339-397)
Forgive those things we have done
which have caused you sadness,
and those things we should have done
that would have brought you joy.
In both we have failed
ourselves,
and you.
Bring us back to that place
where our journey began,
when we said that we would follow
the way that you first trod.
Lead us to the Cross
and meet
us there.
Lord, grant us simplicity of faith
and a generosity of service
that gives without counting cost.
A life overflowing with Grace
poured out from the One
who gave everything,
that we might show
the power of love
to a broken world,
and share the truth
from a living Word.
Lord, grant us simplicity of faith,
and a yearning to share it
Lord, we would grow with you
New shoots reaching out
Hands stretched upward
Like leaves newly formed
Soaking up your light and warmth
Lord, we would grow with you
Lord, we would grow with you
In sunshine and rain
In darkness and light
In cold days and summer days
From Springtime to Winter
Lord, we would grow with you
Lord, we would grow with you
And bring forth fruit
That is pleasing to you
Fed by your living water
Giving sustenance to others
Lord, we would grow with you
