Bulletin – June 20, 2021

Sunday, June 20, 2021

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost / Communion

Approach

Lighting the Candle

As we gather together in worship this day, we do so always remembering that we are also gathering in God’s presence. God’s presence who is with us in the midst of the storms of life. This candle reminds us of the sheltering love of God, keeping us, lifting us up, throughout all of the trials and tribulations of life.

Call to Worship

One: In the midst of life’s storms, God is there.

All: What have we to fear?

One: In the darkness, God is with us.

All: Of whom shall we be afraid?

One: Rise up, people of God, for you are loved and saved.

All: Thanks be to God who cares deeply for us.

One: Let us raise our voices in praise to God

All: Let us worship God this day.

(adapted from Nancy Townley)

Opening Hymn – VU #374 – “Come and Find the Quiet Centre”

Come and find the quiet centre in the crowded life we lead,
Find the room for hope to enter, find the frame where we are freed:
Clear the chaos and the clutter, clear our eyes, that we can see
All the things that really matter, be at peace, and simply be.

Silence is a friend who claims us, cools the heat and slows the pace,
God it is who speaks and names us, knows our being, face to face,
Making space within our thinking, lifting shades to show the sun,
Raising courage when we’re shrinking, finding scope for faith begun.

In the Spirit let us travel, open to each other’s pain,
Let our loves and fears unravel, celebrate the space we gain:
There’s a place for deepest dreaming, there’s a time for heart to care,
In the Spirit’s lively scheming there is always room to spare!

Prayer of Approach

Mighty God, who speaks a word of peace to calm our troubled sea; Caring God, who nudges us away from fear and toward faith; ever-present God, who fills us with awe but also raises many questions without easy answers; open our eyes to see you in our boat—today, strengthen our hearts for the challenges that lie ahead, open our ears during this time to hear the word you speak. Yet we know, Merciful God, that when we find that our lives are lashed by life’s windstorms we often lash out in return. When we feel lost in the midst of life’s storms we forget that there are others who also struggle. Many times we think that we are the only ones. Forgive us when we blame you or others for our troubles. Teach us to find you in the eye of the storm. Show us the calm center that comes from a word of peace. Help us to remember that you are with us. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Time for All Ages

Hymn – “We Do Not Know What Lies Ahead”

We do not know what lies ahead.
Will we meet storms, or sun instead?
Do we hope Christ will calm the waves,
Or is our faith enough to save?

There will be times when we maintain
That all our efforts are in vain.
If we give up, what can we give?
For what we leave is how we’ve lived.

But Christ gives hope which makes us bold;
To take a risk, though trials unfold;
For love is patient, and sustains,
When we are lost, love still remains.

In welcome shared and kindness shown,
The love of God is truly known.
When we attempt to live shalom,
We find the road that leads us home.

The Word

Scripture Reading:            1Samuel 17: 32 – 49

³²David said to Saul, “Let no one’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” ³³Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth.” ³⁴But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father; and whenever a lion or a bear came, and took a lamb from the flock, ³⁵I went after it and struck it down, rescuing the lamb from its mouth; and if it turned against me, I would catch it by the jaw, strike it down, and kill it. ³⁶Your servant has killed both lions and bears; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.” ³⁷David said, “The LORD, who saved me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will save me from the hand of this Philistine.” So Saul said to David, “Go, and may the LORD be with you!”

³⁸Saul clothed David with his armor; he put a bronze helmet on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail. ³⁹David strapped Saul’s sword over the armor, and he tried in vain to walk, for he was not used to them. Then David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these; for I am not used to them.” So David removed them. ⁴⁰Then he took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones from the wadi, and put them in his shepherd’s bag, in the pouch; his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine.

⁴¹The Philistine came on and drew near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. ⁴²When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was only a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. ⁴³The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. ⁴⁴The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the field.” ⁴⁵But David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ⁴⁶This very day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the Philistine army this very day to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, ⁴⁷and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not save by sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’S and he will give you into our hand.”

⁴⁸When the Philistine drew nearer to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. ⁴⁹David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.

Scripture Reading:            Mark 4: 35 – 41

³⁵On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” ³⁶And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. ³⁷A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. ³⁸But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” ³⁹He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. ⁴⁰He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” ⁴¹And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Thanks be to God!

Anthem – “Calm me, Lord”

Meditation – “The Storm!”

Anthem – “Be the Centre”

The Response

Prayer

Be gracious, O God,

and look upon your church throughout the world,

guiding its search for the unity

or which Jesus prayed.

Rise up, O God,

and hear our prayer.

Be gracious, O LORD,

and look upon the distress of those

who are persecuted for their faith;

those whose path ahead seems dim;

those who are victims of oppressive relationships.

Rise up, O God

and hear our prayer.

Be gracious, O God

Look upon the needy,

that they may know the warmth of your faithfulness,

that their hope may not be snuffed out

like a fitful candle flame

Rise up, O God,

and hear our prayer.

Be gracious, O God,

and look upon those whom we name today ……(prayer list)

and those named in our hearts,

that in the darkness of their circumstance,

they may feel the gentle light of your presence.

Rise up, O God,

and hear our prayer.

Gracious God, let your glory appear among us and make us sharers of your eternity,

with all your people as we continue to pray with the words that Jesus taught us;

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.

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory for ever.

Amen.

Closing Hymn VU #675 – “Will Your Anchor Hold”

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift or firm remain?

We have an anchor that keeps the soul steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
Fastened to the rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.

Will your anchor hold in the straits of fear,
When the breakers roar and the reef is near?
While the surges rave and the wild winds blow,
Shall the angry waves then your bark o’erflow?

We have an anchor that keeps the soul steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
Fastened to the rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.

Will your eyes behold through the morning light,
The city of gold and the harbour bright?
Will you anchor safe by the heavenly shore
When life’s storms are past for evermore?

We have an anchor that keeps the soul steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
Fastened to the rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.

Benediction

As we move forward from this time together to face the storms of life, go with the love of God in your hearts, with the peace of Christ in your soul, and in the presence of the Holy Spirit. For you go with God, the God who will not abandon you today, tomorrow, or ever. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Response

Send us out in the power of your Spirit, Lord.

May our lives bring Jesus to the world.

May each thought and word bring glory to your name,

Send us out in the Spirit, Lord, we pray.

Closing music video – “In the Eye of the Storm”