Bulletin – Sunday, August 4, 2024 – Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday, August 4, 2024
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

We Gather as People of Faith

Welcome

Announcements

Lighting the Christ Candle

One:   There are times when all we see is confusion and mystery.
All:      We long for clarity in this world we live in.

One:   There is a light that can be lit to remind us of our hope.
All:      What is this source of hope?

One:   It is around and within as we draw close to the warmth of its glow.
All:      We feel the shadows lifting as we welcome our Christ.

One:   As this candle is lit we acknowledge is presence.
All:      He is with us now and always.

Call to Worship

One:   As all of nature praises our Creator, we too say Glory!
All:      Glory to the One who made all the heavens and earth!

One:   Give thanks and adoration to the God of the ages.
All:      We thank God for a life that sustains us and gives us strength.

One:   Sing an Old son anew; sing with gladness and joy.
All:      We sing and offer our voices in worship and song.

One:   Let us offer ourselves as willing disciples of God.
All:      We are empty vessels ready for the direction of the Spirit.

One:   Let us sit with the Divine and know that we are one.
All:      We join with god’s Spirit in union and solidarity.

Hymn – “How Great Thou Art” (VU #238)

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the works Thy hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
I hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

But when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, “My God, how great thou art!”

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Introduction to Prayer

Prayer of Approach and Confession

One:   As we spend time with you, O God, the light that shines reveals our less than perfect selves. We come before you as works in progress. Forgive us our sins of omission and commission. Help us to understand our part in the issues that trouble the world. May we look to you as our Creator and know that all is not lost.
All:      With faithful hearts we seek renewal and ask that our discipleship be more than lip service. Give us your Spirit to strengthen our resolve to make changes in our church, our community, and our world. Let our hearts remain open and ready for your call. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Sung Response – “Alleluia” (MV #50)

Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia.

We Hear God’s Word

Prayer of Illumination

Scripture Reading: Psalm 51:1-12

One:   Have mercy on me, O god, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy, blot out my transgressions.
All:      Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

One:   Against you, you alone, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment.
All:      Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me. You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.

One:   Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
All:      Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O god, and put a new and right spirit within me.

One:   Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.
All:      Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.

Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a

²⁶ When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was dead, she made lamentation for him. ²⁷ When the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son.

But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord,

12 ¹ and the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. ² The rich man had very many flocks and herds, ³ but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb that he had bought. He brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meager fare and drink from his cup and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. ⁴ Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was loath to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared that for the guest who had come to him.” ⁵ Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; ⁶ he shall restore the lamb fourfold because he did this thing and because he had no pity.”

⁷ Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul; ⁸ I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your bosom and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah, and if that had been too little, I would have added as much more. ⁹ Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. ¹⁰ Now, therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, for you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. ¹¹ Thus says the Lord: I will raise up trouble against you from within your own house, and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in broad daylight. ¹² For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and in broad daylight.” ¹³ David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:1-16

¹ I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³ making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace: ⁴ there is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

⁷ But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ Therefore it is said, “When he ascended on high, he made captivity itself a captive;    he gave gifts to his people.”

⁹ (When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) ¹¹ He himself granted that some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers ¹² to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, ¹³ until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. ¹⁴ We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming; ¹⁵ but speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God!

Hymn – “Come to My Heart” (VU #661)

Come to my heart, Lord Jesus; teach me to walk in your way.
Come to my heart, Lord Jesus; come to my heart today.
Give me the peace and joy that only you can bring.
Come to my heart, Lord Jesus; give me a song to sing.

Fill me with love, Lord Jesus; teach me to walk in your way.
Fill me with love, Lord Jesus; fill me with love today.
Give me the peace and joy that only you can bring.
Fill me with love, Lord Jesus; give me a song to sing.

Answer my prayer, Lord Jesus; teach me to walk in your way.
Answer my prayer, Lord Jesus; answer my prayer today.
Give me the peace and joy that only you can bring.
Answer my prayer, Lord Jesus; give me a song to sing.

Meditation – “The Truth Sometimes Hurts”

Anthem – “Refresh My Heart”

Refresh my heart, Lord,
Renew my love;
Pour Your Spirit into my soul –
Refresh my heart.

You set me apart, Lord,
To make me new;
By Your Spirit lift me up, Lord,
Refresh my heart.

And I will worship You, Lord,
With all of my heart;
And I will follow You, Lord,
Refresh my heart.

We Respond to God’s Word

Invitation to Share

Offering Response – “What Can I Do?” (MV #191)

What can I do? What can I bring?
What can I say? What can I sing?
I’ll sing with joy. I’ll say a prayer.
I’ll bring my love. I’ll do my share.

Offering Prayer

Prayers of the People

One:   When you hear “Lord, in your Mercy” please reply with “Hear our prayer”

One:   As we pray to you, loving god, we realize that our lives are precious. We thank you for this gift of being in this world with all its contradictions, with all its joy, sorrow, and everything in between. Help us to appreciate all that we have including the lessons of life that sometime hurt. Lord in your Mercy.
All:      Hear our prayer.

One:   The forest fires continue to rage, dear God, and our planet is burning. Give us wisdom as we face a world that is changing due to the climate. May those in leadership be willing to take steps to alter the destruction that is happening. Lord in your Mercy.
All:      Hear our prayer.

One:   We pray for our city that we will find ways to help those who are vulnerable in anyway. May we not look the other way or throw our hands up in despair. As Christ’s body help us to show love and provide the hope that is available to all. Lord in your Mercy.

One:   As the world has come together for the Olympics in Paris, we ask that this act of unity not stop with sporting events. No matter that religion or race, no matter the financial status, no matter our physical or mental ability, help us as a world in conflict to find ways to live in peace. Lord in your Mercy.
All:      Hear our prayer.

One:   We lift friends and family before you today. These names we hold in our hearts, dear God…Marlene, Rob, Heather, Barb, Angela, Jay, Paul, Joe, Nick, Brenda, Helen, Laila, Bert. Lord in your Mercy.
All:      Hear our prayer.

One:   As Jesus taught his disciples to pray, let us pray these words today…
All:      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 them that 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 and ever. Amen.

We Go Into God’s World

Hymn – “Open My Eyes” (VU #371)

Open my eyes, that I may see glimpses of truth thou hast for me;
Place in my hand the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit Divine!

Open my ears, that I may hear voices of truth thou sendest clear;
And while the wave-notes fall on my ear, everything false will disappear.
Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit Divine!

Open my mouth, and let me bear gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare love with thy children thus to share.
Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my heart, illumine me, Spirit divine!

Benediction

One:   All of us have made mistakes and will continue to make mistakes as we move forward in life. Don’t be discouraged, don’t hang your head in shame. Strive, strive to be all that God intended us to be as we humbly pray that our faith will continue to grow and that our relationship to the Divine will mature.
All:      There are times when it feels as though we are alone, but we leave this sanctuary knowing that God is with us. God will see us through all the temptations we face. God will lift us up and make us whole. The Holy Spirit will bring us joy as we bid the call to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. May it be so. Amen.

Response – “I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me” (VU #575)

I’m gonna live so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.
I’m gonna live so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.

I’m gonna work so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.
I’m gonna work so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.

I’m gonna pray so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.
I’m gonna pray so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.

I’m gonna sing so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.
I’m gonna sing so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.