Bulletin – Sunday, July 25, 2021

Sunday, July 25, 2021

  Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

We welcome Pinawa Christian Fellowship, who are worshipping with us this morning.

Welcome!

Approach

Lighting the Candle

We light this candle today to remind ourselves that we are gathered together in the light of Christ. The light of Christ that comforts, the light of Christ that sustains, the light of Christ that reminds us that we live in the love of God. We are called to live in the light, but we are called to more, we are called to be the light in the world for others. This candle reminds of the light of Christ found in the love of God, but also reminds us to be light to a world that is dark.

Call to Worship

One: In times of joy and celebration,

All: God calls us into community.

One: In times of grief and sorrow,

All: God calls us into community.

One: In times of quiet contemplation,

All: God calls us into community.

One: In times of song and praise,

All: God calls us into community.

One: In times of worship,

All: God calls us into community.

Opening Hymn – “Come, Just as You Are”

Come just as you are,
Hear the Spirit call.
Come just as you are –
Come and see, come receive, come and live forever.

Life everlasting,
And strength for today,
Taste the Living Water and never thirst again.

Prayer of Approach

God of Infinite Presence, you call us to life and life abundant. You call us to come and ‘be my people.’ You call us to come and live as your people in the world. You call us to be something more than which we are this day. You call us to live in the light of your love, sharing that light with all we meet. Yet, sometimes it is easier to keep that light for ourselves, to hide that light and not share it with the world. We wonder if our light will even make a difference in a world that seems so dark and foreboding. Help us to hear your call once again, your call to be your people in the world, your call to share your light in a world that truly can be dark. Help us to heed your call to share the light of your love so that the whole world will be illuminated in love and grace. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Hymn – “Blessed to Be a Blessing”

Blessed to be a blessing.  Blessed to live your love.
Blessed to share with others every blessing from above.
Blessed to walk in mercy.  Blessed to light the way.
Oh, blessed to be a blessing every day.

Oh my Jesus, You have blessed me.
You died for me to take my sin away.
Now You live Your life in me and the love received is love I give away.

Blessed to be a blessing.  Blessed to live your love.
Blessed to share with others every blessing from above.
Blessed to walk in mercy.  Blessed to light the way.
Oh, blessed to be a blessing every day.

Oh my Jesus, make me a blessing.
In my work and play, in everything I do.
Oh, let Your blessing flow through me,
That in seeing me, may others see You.

Blessed to be a blessing.  Blessed to live your love.
Blessed to share with others every blessing from above.
Blessed to walk in mercy.  Blessed to light the way.
Oh, blessed to be a blessing every day.

Blessed for living this new day, a gift from You to give a way.
Blessed for sharing, blessed for caring,
Blessing for growing, blessed for sowing.
Blessed to be a blessing today.

Blessed to be a blessing.  Blessed to live your love.
Blessed to share with others every blessing from above.
Blessed to walk in mercy.  Blessed to light the way.
Oh, blessed to be a blessing every day.

The Word

Scripture Reading:            Matthew 5: 1 -12

¹When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. ²Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

                         ³“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

                         ⁴“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

                         ⁵“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

                         ⁶“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

                         ⁷“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

                         ⁸“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

                         ⁹“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

¹⁰“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹²Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Thanks be to God!

Meditation – “Impact”

Anthem – “Go Light Your World”

The Response

Prayer

God of the prophets, God of Christ:

we are reminded today that your blessings do not necessarily follow the logic of the world.

The world believes that the rich are blessed,

but Jesus reminds us that it is the poor who are blessed,

the poor in spirit

and the materially poor as well.

We pray for a more just world

in which all have enough and none are left behind.

Though we fear death and avoid its inevitable arrival,

Jesus tells us that those who mourn are blessed.

Help us to experience the truth of this mystery;

bring healing and wholeness to those who are sick;

and comfort those of us who have lost loved ones.

Let us be a living example of your presence in the lives of those whom we now lift up in prayer

to you….(prayer list).

We lift up our prayer to you.

Hear our prayer.

While people covet power,

Jesus blesses the meek;

instruct us, O God, in the ways of humility;

help us to stand in solidarity with the oppressed and marginalized;

show us your presence in the faces of those the world forgets.

We lift up our prayer to you.

Hear our prayer.

Give us a hunger and thirst for righteousness;

fill our hearts with love, overflowing with mercy;

make our hearts pure, and give us a vision of your glory.

We lift up our prayer to you.

Hear our prayer.

In a society divided by race, gender, class, ideology, sexual orientation,

and so many other labels we alone have created,

remind us that we are created in your image,

each of us a beautiful reflection of you,

each of us your beloved child.

Help us then to end our conflicts and wars,

help us to be peacemakers and agents of reconciliation.

We lift up our prayer to you.

Hear our prayer.

Gracious God,

you have so richly blessed us with life,

with love and joy,

with hope in the midst of despair.

Help us to be the salt of the earth.

Help us to be the light of the world,

sharing with others that which we have received,

boldly proclaiming the good news of your love,

finding the seeds of your kingdom within us

and letting your way grow in our lives and throughout the world.

We lift up our prayer to you.

Hear our prayer.

Give us eyes to see the ways you are changing the world in which we live.

Give us ears to hear your call to join with you in the great transformation.

Hear us now, O God,

as we pray for the coming of your kingdom,

following Christ as he taught us to pray:

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 and ever.

Amen.

Closing Hymn “Go, Make a Difference”

Go make a difference.
We can make a difference.
Go make a difference in the world.

We are the salt of the earth, called to let the people see
the love of God for you and me.
We are the light of the world,
not to be hidden but be seen.
Go make a difference in the world.

Go make a difference.
We can make a difference.
Go make a difference in the world.

We are the hands of Christ reaching out to those in need,
the face of God for all to see.
We are the spirit of hope; we are the voice of peace.
Go make a difference in the world.

Go make a difference.
We can make a difference.
Go make a difference in the world.

So let your love shine on, let it shine for all to see.
Go make a difference in the world.
And the spirit of Christ will be with us as we go.
Go make a difference in the world.

Go make a difference.
We can make a difference.
Go make a difference in the world.

Benediction

Remember God calls us to live and to live abundantly

As you go into this week, live, love, and laugh.

Live abundant lives in God and in doing so bring the light of God’s love to all you meet.

Go, live, knowing that God goes with you. Amen.

Response

Oh God, You are my God

And I will ever praise You

Oh God, You are my God

And I will ever praise You

I will seek You in the morning

And I will learn to walk in Your ways

And step by step You’ll lead me

And I will follow You all of my days.