Lighting of the Christ Candle
Many loving moments happen for family and friends around firelight: at campfires and bonfires and special dinners by candlelight.We give thanks for the love of our church family and our memories of special times together, as we light our Christ candle. And we invite others to join us in its light.
     Used/adapted with permission from Gathering Pentecost 1 2024; Karen Boivin

SUNG RESPONSE: VU 289 “It Only Takes a Spark” V 1
1. It only takes a spark to get a fire going,
and soon all those around can warm up in its glowing:
that's how it is with God's love, once you've experienced it:
you spread God's love to everyone, you want to pass it on.

1. CALL TO WORSHIP:
Let us come together and bring together what we've experienced outside this worship hour.
Let us come together and bring together all we've been thinking and feeling.
The world outside and inside our worship time
comes together in the stories of our faith ancestors.
It is time to knit this all together.
It is time to worship!
     Used/adapted with permission from Gathering Pentecost 1 2024; Karen Boivin

2. OPENING PRAYER:
Holy One, we thank you for the gifts you have given. For life, both new and old.For love of friend and stranger. For Christ alive in our hearts.We ask that you bless our gathering, that our words, our actions, and our love-our lives themselves-might be living reflections of your love. In Christ's name, we ask these things. Amen.
     Used/adapted with permission from Gathering Pentecost 1 2024; Richard Bott

3. LEARNING TIME:

4. HYMN: “We Are One”  # 402 VU
1. We are one as we come,
as we come, joyful to be here,
in the praise on our lips
there's a sense that God is near.
We are one as we sing,
as we seek, we are found;
and we come needful of God's grace
as we meet, together in this place.

2. We are one as we share,
as we share brokenness and fear,
in the touch of a hand
there's a sense that God is here.
We are one as we care,
as we heal, we are healed;
and we share warmth in God's embrace
as we pray together in this place.

3. We are one as we feast,
as we feast, peace becomes the sign;
in the bread and the wine
there's a sense of love divine.
We are one as we come,
as we feed, we are fed;
and we feel God's refreshing grace
as we meet at table in this place.

4. We are one as we hear,
as we hear, heart and hand unite;
in the word we receive
there's a sense that God is light.
We are one as we leave,
as we love, we are loved;
and we seek justice in God's ways
as we move together from this place.

5.  PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION:
Open us to your Spirit, O God. Help us to truly open to you in this time of receiving scripture. Let us do more than go through the motions of worship. Give us fresh perspectives as we receive your word in this time of worship. Give us fresh voices to share your good news with others. Give us fresh hearts and minds to wrestle with your will for us and to find the commitment to strive with passion toward your glory. Be with us in this time of worship. Be in us as we receive your word. Amen.
     Used/adapted with permission from Gathering Pentecost 1 2024; Elaine BidgoodSveet

6. SCRIPTURE LESSON:
2 Samuel 7:  1 - 14a
The Lord's Message to David
7 King David moved into his new palace, and the Lord let his kingdom be at peace. 2 Then one day, as David was talking with Nathan the prophet, David said, “Look around! I live in a palace made of cedar, but the sacred chest has to stay in a tent.”
3 Nathan replied, “The Lord is with you, so do what you want!” 4 That night, the Lord told Nathan 5 to go to David and give him this message: David, you are my servant, so listen to what I say. Why should you build a temple for me? 6 I didn't live in a temple when I brought my people out of Egypt, and I don't live in one now. A tent has always been my home wherever I have gone with them. 7 I chose leaders and told them to be like shepherds for my people Israel. But did I ever say anything to even one of them about building a cedar temple for me? 8 David, this is what I, the Lord All-Powerful, say to you. I brought you in from the fields where you took care of sheep, and I made you the leader of my people. 9 Wherever you went, I helped you and destroyed your enemies right in front of your eyes. I have made you one of the most famous people in the world. 10 I have given my people Israel a land of their own where they can live in peace, and they won't have to tremble with fear any more. Evil nations won't bother them, as they did 11 when I let judges rule my people. And I have kept your enemies from attacking you. Now I promise that you and your descendants will be kings. 12 I'll choose one of your sons to be king when you reach the end of your life and are buried in the tomb of your ancestors. I'll make him a strong ruler, 13 and no one will be able to take his kingdom away from him. He will be the one to build a temple for me. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son.

 Responsive Reading:  Psalm 89: 20 - 37
David, my servant, is the one I chose to be king, 21 and I will always be there to help and strengthen him.
22 “No enemy will outsmart David, and he won't be defeated by any hateful people.”
23 I will strike down and crush his troublesome enemies.
24 He will always be able to depend on my love, and I will make him strong with my own power. 25 I will let him rule the lands across the rivers and seas.
26 He will say to me, You are my Father and my God, as well as the mighty rock[a] where I am safe.'
27 “I have chosen David as my first-born son, and he will be the ruler of all kings on earth.”
28 My love for him will last, and my agreement with him will never be broken.
29 “One of David's descendants will always be king, and his family will rule until the sky disappears.”
30 Suppose some of his children should reject my Law and refuse my instructions. 31 Or suppose they should disobey all of my teachings. 32 Then I will correct and punish them because of their sins.
33 But I will always love David and faithfully keep all of my promises to him. 34 “I won't break my agreement or go back on my word. 35 I have sworn once and for all by my own holy name, and I won't lie to David”.
36 His family will always rule. “I will let his kingdom last as long as the sun 37 and moon appear in the sky.”

7. REFLECTION:

8. HYMN: “Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness” # 375 VU
Refrain: Spirit, Spirit of gentleness, blow thro' the wilderness calling and free, Spirit, Spirit of restlessness, stir me from placidness, Wind, Wind on the sea.
1.  You moved on the waters, you called to the deep,
then you coaxed up the mountains from the valleys of sleep;
And over the eons you called to thing
wake from your slumbers and rise on your wings.  Refrain

2.  You swept thro' the desert, you stung with the sand,
and you goaded your people with a law and a land;
and when they were blinded with their idols and lies,
then you spoke thro' your prophets to open their eyes.  Refrain

3.  You sang in a stable, you cried from a hill,
then you whispered in silence when the whole world was still;
and down in the city you called once again,
when you blew through your people on the rush of the wind.  Refrain

4.  You call from tomorrow, you break ancient schemes,
from the bondage of sorrow the captives dream dreams,
our women see visions, our men clear their eyes,
with bold new decisions your people arise.  Refrain

9. SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Ephesians 2: 11 - 22
United by Christ
11 Don't forget that you are Gentiles. In fact, you used to be called "uncircumcised" by those who take pride in being circumcised. 12 At that time you did not know about Christ. You were foreigners to the people of Israel, and you had no part in the promises God had made to them. You were living in this world without hope and without God, 13 and you were far from God. But Christ offered his life's blood as a sacrifice and brought you near God. 14 Christ has made peace between Jews and Gentiles, and he has united us by breaking down the wall of hatred that separated us. Christ gave his own body 15 to destroy the Law of Moses with all its rules and commands. He even brought Jews and Gentiles together as though we were only one person, when he united us in peace. 16 On the cross Christ did away with our hatred for each other. He also made peace[a] between us and God by uniting Jews and Gentiles in one body. 17 Christ came and preached peace to you Gentiles, who were far from God, and peace to us Jews, who were near God. 18 And because of Christ, all of us can come to the Father by the same Spirit. 19 You Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens with everyone else who belongs to the family of God. 20 You are like a building with the apostles and prophets as the foundation and with Christ as the most important stone. 21 Christ is the one who holds the building together and makes it grow into a holy temple for the Lord. 22 And you are part of that building Christ has built as a place for God's own Spirit to live.

The Gospel of Mark 6: 30 - 34, 53 - 56
30 After the apostles returned to Jesus,[a] they told him everything they had done and taught. 31 But so many people were coming and going that Jesus and the apostles did not even have a chance to eat. Then Jesus said, “Let's go to a place[b] where we can be alone and get some rest.” 32 They left in a boat for a place where they could be alone. 33 But many people saw them leave and figured out where they were going. So people from every town ran on ahead and got there first. 34 When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw the large crowd that was like sheep without a shepherd. He felt sorry for the people and started teaching them many things.
Jesus Heals Sick People in Gennesaret
53 Jesus and his disciples crossed the lake and brought the boat to shore near the town of Gennesaret. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, the people recognized Jesus. 55 So they ran all over that part of the country to bring their sick people to him on mats. They brought them each time they heard where he was. 56 In every village or farm or marketplace where Jesus went, the people brought their sick to him. They begged him to let them just touch his clothes, and everyone who did was healed.

10. REFLECTION:

11. HYMN: “I Heard the Voice of Jesus” # 626 VU

1.  I heard the voice of Jesus say, 'Come unto me and rest;
lay down, O weary one, lay down your head upon my breast.'
I came to Jesus as I was, weary and worn and sad;
I found in him a resting place, and he has made me glad.

2.  I heard the voice of Jesus say, 'Behold, I freely give
the living water; thirsty one, stoop down, and drink, and live.'
I came to Jesus, and I drank of that life-giving stream;
my thirst was quenched, my soul revived, and now I live in him.

3.  I heard the voice of Jesus say, 'I am this dark world's light;
look unto me, your morn shall rise, and all your day be bright.'
I looked to Jesus, and I found in him my star, my sun;
and in that light of life I'll walk till travelling days are done.

12.  PRAYER OF YEARNING:
Shepherding God, call us away to a deserted place, for we need your loving care. We need your Spirit to guide us. We need your peace to our divisions. We yearn to abandon old grievances and embrace wholeness in our lives. We long to see all people, friends and adversaries alike, as beloved members of your household. In this, we will find peace. Amen.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2024.
     Copyright @2023 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission.

13.  WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
As members of the household of God, Christ calls us to be the dwelling place for the Lord of hosts. In Christ, we become a new humanity, loved and made whole by the Lord of life.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2024.
     Copyright @2023 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission.

14.  SUNG RESPONSE: “In Christ There is No East or West” VU 606
1.  In Christ there is no east or west,
in him no south or north,
but one great family of love
throughout the whole wide earth.

2.  In him shall true hearts everywhere
their high communion find;
his service is the golden cord
close binding humankind.

3.  Join hands, then, people of the faith,
whate'er your race may be;
all children of the living God
are surely kin to me.

4.  In Christ now meet both east and west,
in him meet south and north;
all Christ-like souls are one in him
throughout the whole wide earth.

15.  Passing The Peace Of Christ:
Christ's love breaks down the walls that divide us. In joy and celebration of this great gift, let us share signs of the peace that makes us one.

16. INVITATION TO OFERING:
From many places and ways of life, God knits us together in to a holy community. From strangers, Christ builds us together into a holy temple in the Lord. With thankful hearts, let us be generous as we present todays' offering.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2024.
     Copyright @2023 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission.

17.  OFFERTORY: VU 541 “Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow”
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
praise God, all creatures high and low;
give thanks to God in love made known:
Creator, Word and Spirit, One.

18.  OFFERING PRAYER:
Bringer of peace, you shaped your people and gave them a home. In gratitude for your steadfast love - for calling us to feed in your pastures and rest safely in your fields - we bring our gifts before you this day. May they offer the love of our shepherd to those in your tender care. Amen.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2024.
     Copyright @2023 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission.

19. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND LORD'S PRAYER

20. HYMN:   “May the God of Hope Go with Us” #424 VU
1.  May the God of hope go with us every day,
filling all our lives with love and joy and peace.
May the God of justice speed us on our way,
bringing light and hope to every land and race.
Refrain: Praying, let us work for peace, singing, share our joy with all,
working for a world that's new, faithful when we hear Christ's call.

2.  May the God of healing free the earth from fear,
freeing us for peace, both treasured and pursued.
May the God of love keep our commitment clear
to a world restored, to human life renewed.  Refrain

21.  BLESSING
God calls us away to bless us with rest.
In God, we find peace.
Our shepherd watches over us day and night.
In Christ, we dwell secure.
The Spirit anoints us with holy love.
In the Spirit, we find healing.
Go as the beloved household of God.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2024.
     Copyright @2023 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission.

22. THREE FOLD AMEN

Next Sunday:  Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
        July 28, 2024:
         2 Samuel 11:1-15;  Psalm 14;
         Ephesians 3:14-21;  John 6:1-21.

1. SUNDAY, July 21, 2024  “Ninth Sunday after Pentecost”   10:45 AM   Rev. Jo-Ann Hills  “REFLECTIONS”  EVERYONE WELCOME!


2. SUNDAY, July 28, 2024  “Tenth Sunday after Pentecost”   10:45 AM   Rev. Jo-Ann Hills  “REFLECTIONS”  EVERYONE WELCOME!


3. SUNDAY, September 15, 2024  “SUNDAY BRUNCH”   11:30 AM - 1:00 PM   ALL ARE WELCOME!