Home Church 5th Sunday after Pentecost July 5, 2020

Home Church

5th Sunday after Pentecost

July 5, 2020

Rev. Karen Hollis

Preparing the Space Around Us

Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here! Welcome if you are gathering on zoom or if you are worshipping at home with the bulletin. We are one community and all part of the body of Christ. I invite you to prepare the space around you

so that for the next hour you can be fully in this worship experience, not to keep out the realities of the world, rather to focus us in the midst of it all on God. If you need to go and get something or shift something around you, feel free.

Preparing the Space within Us

Let us prepare now the space within us for a time of worship. I invite

you to sit quietly, perhaps with feet on the floor, taking a couple of deep breaths and bring yourself into this moment. Open yourself to the presence of God who is with us and within us . . . as you intentionally open yourself to God, open yourself also to what you need from this time of worship.

Greeting
One:    The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,

            and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

All:      And also with you    

Opening Prayer  Read the prayer slowly.                                           

 Gathering         

Most awesome Friend, in you there is always incomparable rest for the tired and wounded human spirit. Teach us to come to you without reserve, and experience the joy and gratitude you offer. Help us to receive these gifts in th

Hymn: Spirit of the Living God   VU #376

Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.

Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.

Melt me, mould me, fill me, us me.

Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.

Spirit of the Living God, move among us all;

make us one in heart and mind, make us one in love:

humble, caring, selfless, sharing

Spirit of the Living God, fill our lives with love!

 

Prayer of Confession and Emptying

God, we come before you with our worries and anxieties, our feelings

of loneliness and helplessness, our desire to manage and control; we acknowledge how difficult it is to wrap our minds around the state of

the world and continue to surrender to its reality. Help us to distinguish between things can and cannot control and give us grace to let go.

Palms Down Palms Up Pray - from Richard Foster’s book Celebration of Discipline

Release Begin by placing your palms down as a symbolic indication of your desire to turn over any concerns you may have to God. Inwardly you may pray, ‘God, I release my control (anxiety, fear) over _____.’ Whatever it is that weighs on your mind or is a concern to you… release it. You may even feel a certain sense of release in your hands.

Receive After several moments of surrender, turn you palms up as a symbol of your desire to receive from God.  Perhaps you will pray silently, ‘God, I would like to receive your peace (your patience, your joy).’

Commune Having centered down, spend the remaining moments in silence and stillness. Do not ask for anything.  Allow God to commune with you, to love you.

Silent Prayer of Confession

Assurance of Grace

Spirit of the Living God Let these words wash over you again . . .

Peace of Christ Christ is with us and in the space between us. 

Let us share the peace he brings!

              The Peace of Christ be with you!

              And also with you!

Psalm 145:8-21 (NRSV) Charlie Blackburn

The Psalm of the day is number 145. Listen for the word of God to you this morning . . .

The Lord is gracious and merciful,
   slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The Lord is good to all,
   and his compassion is over all that he has made.

All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
   and all your faithful shall bless you.

They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom,
   and tell of your power,
   to make known to all people your mighty deeds,
   and the glorious splendour of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
   and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

The Lord is faithful in all his words,
   and gracious in all his deeds.
The Lord upholds all who are falling,
   and raises up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you,
   and you give them their food in due season.
You open your hand,
   satisfying the desire of every living thing.
The Lord is just in all his ways,
   and kind in all his doings.
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
   to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfils the desire of all who fear him;
   he also hears their cry, and saves them.
The Lord watches over all who love him,
   but all the wicked he will destroy.
My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
   and all flesh will bless his holy name for ever and ever.

Gospel Reading  Christine Blackburn One:    

God be with you.          

All:        And also with you

One:      The Good News of Jesus Christ according to Matthew

All:        Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 "But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.' For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon'; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds." At that time Jesus said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

One: This is the Gospel of Christ;

All:   Praise be to Jesus Christ

Reflection: Rev Karen Hollis    (attached below)      

Silent Reflection

A New Creed:  

Let us affirm our faith . . .

We are not alone,
    we live in God’s world.

 We believe in God:
    who has created and is creating,
    who has come in Jesus,
       the Word made flesh,
       to reconcile and make new,
    who works in us and others
       by the Spirit.

We trust in God. 

We are called to be the Church:
    to celebrate God’s presence,
    to live with respect in Creation,
    to love and serve others,
    to seek justice and resist evil,
    to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
       our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death,
    God is with us.
We are not alone.

    Thanks be to God.

Prayers of the People Angela Nutter (attached below)

One:    God of Love and Healing

All:      Hear Our Prayer

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours

now and for ever. Amen.

Offering

It is good to gather in community today. I so value this weekly reminder that we are still a community that gathers, still a community that worships together, and is committed to being church through this season.

Let us pray: Holy God, we come in gratitude for your presence and Word among us. We thank you for the gift of this community and the steady commitment to serve the needs of the congregation and the community around us. Today we renew our commitment to this service in Christ’s name: may you guide us to where we are most needed and uniquely gifted to serve. In his name we pray, Amen.

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Hymn: Be Still My Soul  VU#652

1 Be still, my soul, for God is on your side;
bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Trust in your God, your Saviour and your guide,
who through all changes faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul, your best, your heavenly friend
through stormy ways leads to a peaceful end.

2 Be still, my soul, for God will undertake
to guide the future surely as the past.
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake,
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul, life's tempests still obey
the voice that once the waves' wild fury strayed.

Blessing

If you are with another person, you’re invited to bless each other, taking every other line.

One:      The Creator’s blessing be yours on your road, on your journey,    guiding you, cherishing you.

First name A-M:

              The Son’s blessing be yours, wine and water, bread and stories, feeding you, challenging you.

First name N-Z:

              The Spirit’s blessing be yours, wind and fire, joy and wisdom, comforting you, disturbing you.

All:       

The Angel’s blessing be yours, on your house, on your living, guarding you, encouraging you. Let us walk together, a community on a journey, sustained in God’s blessing. Amen!

One:      Let us go now in peace to love and serve the Lord.

All:        Thanks be to God! Alleluia!

 

 

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