Bulletin – Sunday, June 25, 2023 – Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday, June 25, 2023
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Approach
Welcome
Good morning to all here and those streaming. I would like to thank you for inviting me into your Sunday service.
Acknowledgement to the Territory
Indigenous peoples, for thousands of years, have walked on this land. We acknowledge the first peoples and their stewardship throughout the ages. The relationship with the land we worship and live on s part of Treaty 1 and is the center of our lives. Our water comes from Treaty 3 and our hydro from Treaty 5 territories. We acknowledge errors made in the past by those arriving from other lands and we pledge to work towards the right relationships with all First Nations people.
Lighting the Christ Candle
We light this candle as a symbol of the light of Christ, which cannot be held back by distance, which shines in each one of us, no matter where we are.
Call to Worship
One: As we gather for worship, we call on you, our Loving God, to turn us away from our own selfish interests.
All: We call on you, O Lord, to help us find our lives and live in your service. May you help us open our hearts and hands to eagerly hear your voice and seek your guidance. May our minds be open to your ever-present Spirit, that is ever moving within and around us. Open our spirits with your nudging and open our lives with your love. For great is your love towards us. Amen.
Hymn – “When We Come Together”
When we come together gladly
Our community grows strong.
When we meet to tell our story,
When we join to sing our song,
We are celebrating friendship,
We are building bonds of peace;
Pass a vision to each other;
Let God’s spirit never cease.
All are welcome at our table
To be nourished by the Word.
Christ extends the invitation,
We respond as we have heard.
He does not demand perfection
When we worship in his name,
For the last shall be the first here;
God forgives us just the same.
In our crowded lives we’re searching
For a meaning we can share.
Will we find some room for patience,
Will we take the time to care?
But when two or more are gathered,
Christ will be there with us too,
Then the Spirit grows among us,
Giving joy to all we do.
Prayer of Approach and Confession
One: Come into God’s present and relinquish all fear. Let go of life as you now it and discover life everlasting. Let us pray together our prayer of confession.
All: O Lord, we confess our sin turns us away from you. We find it too easy to worship other things, other activities, other relationships, other Gods. We are a sinful generation finding our time focusing on energies elsewhere. Forgive us, O Lord, when our hearts go astray. Forgive us when we are too ashamed to show our faith to the world around us. Help to strengthen us to take up our crosses and follow you. We ask for mercy and grace. Amen.
Words of Assurance
(from blogsport: Ministry Matters)
Hymn – “My Love Colours Outside the Lines” (MV 138)
My love colours outside the lines,
Exploring paths that few could ever find;
And takes me into places where I’ve never been before,
And opens doors to worlds outside the lines.
My Lord colours outside the lines,
Turns wounds to blessings, water into wine;
And take me into places where I’ve never been before,
And opens doors to worlds outside the lines.
We’ll never walk on water if we’re not prepared to drown,
Body and soul needs a soaking from time to time.
And we’ll never move the gravestones if we’re not prepared to die,
And realize there are worlds outside the lines.
My soul longs to colour outside the lines,
Tear back the curtains, sun, come in and shine;
I want to walk beyond the boundaries where I’ve never been before,
Throw open doors to worlds outside the lines.
The Word
Scripture Reading: Psalm 86 (VU 803)
One: Turn your ear to me, O God, and answer me, for I am poor and in misery.
All: Preserve my life for I am faithful, save your servant for I trust in you.
One: Be merciful to me, of my lord, for I call you all day long.
All: Gladden the heart of your servant, for to you I lift up my soul.
One: For you, my Lord, are good and forgiving, and great in mercy to all who call on you.
All: Give heed, O God, to my prayer, and listen to my cry of supplication.
One: Among the Gods there is none like you, my lord, nor can the deeds of any be compared to yours.
All: All the nations you have made shall come and bow before you.
One: They shall glorify your name, my lord,
All: for you are great and do marvellous things; you alone are God.
One: Turn to me then, and have mercy; give your strength to your servant.
All: Save your handmaiden’s child; give me a sign of your favour!
One: Then those who hate me will see and be ashamed,
All: for you, God, have helped and comforted me.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 10:24-39
24 “A disciple is not above the teacher nor a slave above the master; 25 it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!
26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered and nothing secret that will not become known. 27 What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. 28 Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, fear the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 And even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31 So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.
32 “Everyone, therefore, who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.
34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace but a sword.
35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law,
36 and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.
37 “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me, 38 and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God!
Meditation
Anthem – “The Power of Your Love”
Lord, I come to You,
Let my heart be changed, renewed,
Flowing from the grace that I’ve found in You.
And Lord, I’ve come to know the weaknesses I see in me
Will be stripped away by the power of Your love.
Hold me close,
Let Your love surround me;
Bring me near,
Draw me to Your side.
And as I wait,
I’ll rise up like the eagle,
And I will soar with You –
Your Spirit leads me on in the power of Your love.
Lord, unveil my eyes,
Let me see You face to face,
The knowledge of Your love as You live in me.
Lord renew my mind as Your will unfolds in my life
In living every day in the power of Your love.
Hold me close,
Let Your love surround me;
Bring me near,
Draw me to Your side.
And as I wait,
I’ll rise up like the eagle,
And I will soar with You –
Your Spirit leads me on in the power of Your love.
Offering
Generous, giving God: the gifts presented to you are not only monetary ones, but our gifts of personality, skills and time. As we offer all these gifts to You, we seek your decision to use as you see fit.
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.
The Response
Prayers of the People
One: When you hear “Lord in your Mercy” please reply with “Hear our prayer.
One: O God, our creator and preserver, we pray for all people, especially those in any kind of need through famine, war or natural disaster. We pray for the Ukraine, Sudan, and other countries stricken with conflict. We ask that you make your ways known and lead us in lightening their burden. May there be justice and peace for all. Lord, in your mercy.
All: Hear our prayer.
One: We pray for guidance and governing for all whom call themselves Christian, to be led into a way of truth, by holding faith in unity of spirit, peace, and holiness of life. Lord, in your mercy.
All: Hear our prayer.
One: We pray for the aged and infirmed, for widows and orphans, for the sick and suffering, the poor and oppressed, unemployed and destitute, for refuges and immigrants, for those suffering from all afflictions, strife and poverty. May their receive your courage and hope. Also bless those who help too for them. Lord, in your mercy.
All: Hear our prayer.
One: Lord, we pray for those who have lost their way; for those who have passed with hope of resurrection and for all departed saints. Grant the a share in your eternal kingdom. Lord, in your mercy.
All: Hear our prayer.
One: Lord of mercy, you have given us grace to pray with one heart and one voice. We ask that you continue to give grace to us, our families and friends, and all our neighbours, so that we serve one another and love as you love us. Lord, in your mercy.
All: Hear our prayer.
One: Rejoicing in the fellowship of all saints, we commend ourselves and all people to the Lord’s unfailing love. We ask our prayers be accepted as we join together saying the prayer Jesus taught us to pray.
All: Our Father/Mother, 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. 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.
Hymn – “Called as Partners in Christ’s Service”
Called as partners in Christ’s service,
Called to ministries of grace,
We respond with deep commitment
Fresh new lines of faith to trace.
May we learn the art of sharing,
Side by side and friend with friend,
Equal partners in our caring
To fulfill God’s chosen end.
Christ’s example, Christ’s inspiring,
Christ’s clear call to work and worth,
Let us follow, never faltering,
Reconciling folk on earth.
Men and women, richer, poorer,
All God’s people, young and old,
Blending human skills together
Gracious gifts from God unfold.
So, God grant us for tomorrow
Ways to order human life
That surround each person’s sorrow
With a calm that conquers strife.
Make us partners in our living,
Our compassion to increase,
Messengers of faith, thus giving
Hope and confidence and peace.
Benediction
As we now go our separate ways, may God bless us on our way. May he renew us and all for whom we pray, in faith and love. And may God bring us at the last to the fullness of joy in this eternal kingdom.
(Robert Llewelyn from England)
Response
May the grace of Christ attend us,
And the love of God surround us,
And the Holy Spirit keep us,
Now and every, always.
Amen, amen, forever and ever,
Amen.
