Bulletin – Sunday, June 16, 2024 – Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday, June 16, 2024
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
We Gather as People of Faith
Welcome
Announcements
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that we are gathered on ancestral lands, Treaty 1 territory, traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene Peoples and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. Acknowledging this truth is important yet only a small part in cultivating strong relationships with Indigenous communities.
Lighting the Christ Candle
Call to Worship
One: Our relationships with our fathers are complicated.
All: For some of us, our father’s love is like God’s love—to deep, too long, too wide, too strong to measure.
One: Some of our dads are here; some were never here.
All: For some of us, God’s love fills in the empty spaces our fathers left behind.
One: All of us are shaped by the relationship or lack of relationship with our fathers.
All: On this day when we remember that it means to have a father or be a father, we recognize the importance of fathers in our communities. We pledge as a congregation to love and nurture the fathers among us so that they will manifest the love of God in all that they do.
Hymn – “All Creatures of Our God and King” (VU #217)
All creatures of our God and King,
Lift up your voice and with us sing:
Hallelujah, hallelujah!
Bright burning sun with golden beam,
Soft shining moon with silver beam,
Sing praises, sing praises,
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
O rushing winds and breezes soft,
O clouds that ride the winds aloft,
Sing praises, hallelujah!
O rising morn, in praise rejoice;
O lights of evening, find a voice:
Sing praises, sing praises,
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
And everyone of tender heart,
Forgiving others, take your part:
Sing praises, hallelujah!
All who long pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and yield up all your care:
Sing praises, sing praises,
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
Let all things their Creator bless,
And worship God in humbleness:
Sing praises, hallelujah!
Praise God eternal, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, three in one:
Sing praises, sing praises,
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
Prayer of Approach
Great and loving God, we ask that your Holy Spirit bless our time together and to refresh us with your presence. In the midst of a world full of trouble and strife, we thank you for watching over us, guiding us, and especially forgiving us. Enable us to enter your presence joyfully and reverently, and let us depart today with the assurance that our sins are forgiven. Fill us, O God, with the peace which passes understanding. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
O God, you know what is right for us, but far too often we only want our way or no way, instead of your way. Have mercy upon us when we turn from you. Forgive us, when we do not realize your fatherly love and direction for us. Have mercy upon us, and teach us how to follow you, Father. We pray this through your Son, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus the Christ, Amen.
Words of Assurance
Sung Response – “Spirit of Life” (VU #381)
Spirit of Life, come unto me.
Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion.
Blow in the wind, rise in the sea; move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice.
Roots hold me close; wings set me free;
Spirit of Life, come to me, come to me.
We Hear God’s Word
Scripture Reading: Psalm 1:1-3
1 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path that sinners tread or sit in the seat of scoffers,
2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. 3 They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.
Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 22:30
30 And I sought for anyone among them who would repair the wall and stand in the breach before me on behalf of the land, so that I would not destroy it, but I found no one.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God!
Hymn – “Like a Tree Beside the Waters”
Like a tree beside the waters, nurtured by your loving care,
We, O God, your sons and daughters, your enduring witness bear.
In each passing generation may your voice of love be heard.
Bless, we pray, this congregation with your holy, living Word.
Like a tree beside the river, drawing life from holy streams,
Fill us with your love forever, recreate our hopes and dreams.
Through the storms of life sustain us by the wisdom of your grace.
May the changing of the seasons find us in your warm embrace.
We, beside the living waters, drink from your eternal life.
Giving to all, your sons and daughters, faith that rises over strife.
O Living God, most glorious, strengthen us for life today.
By the hope of timeless promise guide your church upon the Way.
Meditation – “Men Behaving Godly”
Anthem – “Good Soil”
Lord, let my heart be good soil, open to the seed of your Word.
Lord, let my heart be good soil, where love can grow and peace is understood.
When my heart is hard, break the stone away.
When my heart is cold, warm it with the day.
When my heart is lost, lead me on your way.
Lord, let my heart be good soil.
We Respond to God’s Word
Invitation to Share
Offering Response – “We Give You but Your Own (VU #542)
We give you but your own, whate’er the gift may be;
All that we have is yours alone, we give it gratefully.
Offering Prayer
God of Great gifts, we give you these gifts today knowing that you are the Father of gifts. You are constantly providing for us, caring for us. As we have been abundantly provided for, so we give to the work that you give us to do, the work of the church, the care of those who are in need. Accept these gifts in Jesus the Christ’s name. Amen.
Prayers of the People
We Go Into God’s World
Hymn – “Soil of God, You and I” (MV #174)
Soil of God, you and I, stand ready to bear
Seeds of faith nourished by God’s tender care.
Growing in everyone for here God is found.
All stand together, we are…
Holy ground.
Soil of God, you and I, now ready to be
Part of God’s promise, for others to see.
Open to everyone for here God is found.
All stand together, we are…
Holy ground.
Soil of God, you and I, now called to rebirth,
Joining as partners with all of the earth.
Living in harmony for here God is found.
All stand together, this is…
Holy ground.
Benediction
Response – “One More Step Along the World We Go” (VU #639)
One more step along the world we go,
One more step along the world we go,
From the old things to the new,
Keep us travelling along with you:
And it’s from the old we travel to the new;
Keep us travelling along with you.
