Sunday Hybrid Worship, Pentecost III, 29June 2025

Pentecost III

Hybrid Worship

 June 29, 2025

Presider: Mona Smart

Music Director: Dorothy Dittrich

Marimba: Lisa Griffith

 

We acknowledge these lands upon which we worship are the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.

Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey,

you are welcome here!

Words For Worship

Words in bold italics, please say together

Prelude: Minuet in G                                                  J.S. Bach (1685-1750)

Call to Worship

May the love of God, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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

And also with you

Opening Prayer

Eternal God, 

in you we live and move and have our being. Guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that we may give ourselves today in love and service to one another and to you, through Jesus Christ. Amen

Opening Hymn: Spirit of the Living God                                 VU #376

Acknowledgement of the Land

We gather on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw peoples. We honour them for their care of this land.

Lighting of Candle

Loving God, 

give us light that we may see where error clouds our vision, where lack of love and faith withers our hopes. Grant us light and wisdom that we may see more clearly and learn to follow you with joy. Amen

Prayer of Confession

Most merciful God,

we confess that we have sinned against you

in thought, word, and deed,

by what we have done,

and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved with you our whole heart;

we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.

We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.

For the sake of your son Jesus Christ,

have mercy on us and forgive us,

that we may delight in your will,

and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen

Affirmation of Faith

Love the Lord your God

with all your heart,

with all your soul,

with all your mind,

and with all your strength. 

This is the first and great commandment. 

The second is to love your neighbour as yourself

There is no commandment greater than these. 

Peace of Christ

Peace of Christ be with you. 

            And also with you.

Let us share the peace with one another. 

First Reading: 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 (NRSV) Reader: Nancy Hetherington Peirce

Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. Fifty men of the company of prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and the two of them crossed on dry ground. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” He responded, “You have asked a hard thing, yet if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.” As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water. He said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah? Where is he?” He struck the water again, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha crossed over.

This is the Word of God

We give thanks for this word today.                                             3      

Gospel Reading                                         Reader: Nancy Hetherington Peirce

As is your custom, please stand or sit for the reading of the gospel. 

God be with you. 

And also with you 

The Good News of Jesus the Christ according to xxx. 

Glory to you, Christ Jesus.

Luke 9:51-62 (NRSV)

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to prepare for his arrival, but they did not receive him because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village. As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” And Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

This is the Gospel of Christ.

            We open our hearts to Good News!

Word: A Reflection on the Readings

Hymn of Response: Long Before the Night                            VU #282

Life & Work Of The Church

The Prayers of the People                                                    Betty Schultze

Loving God,

            Hear Our Prayer.

Lord’s Prayer (sung)

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

With joy, let us present our offerings of commitment and support for the work of Christ’s church.

Doxology:                                                                                   CP #672

Praise God from whom all blessings flow

Praise God, all creatures high and low.

Praise God in Jesus fully known:

Creator, Word, and Spirit one.

Offering Prayer 

Ever present God, 

with this offering, we present also ourselves: 

All that we have been, all that we are, all that we shall become,

and our resolve to walk in your way. Accept us and our offering, 

we pray for Jesus’ sake. Amen

Closing Prayer

May God fill you with all joy and peace and that you abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Closing Hymn: In Christ There is No East or West                 VU# 606

Sending & Blessing

Let us 

go out into the world with joy and peace, steadfast to what is good, to speak and act with kindness and wisdom, as witnesses to the sacred and the power of the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives. Amen

Postlude: Simple Gifts – Shaker Folk Dance          J. Bracket (1797-1882)

Pentecost III Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20

I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, that he may hear me.

In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; 

in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; 

my soul refuses to be comforted.

I will call to mind the deeds of the LORD; 

I will remember your wonders of old.

I will meditate on all your work and muse on your mighty deeds.

Your way, O God, is holy. 

What god is so great as our God?

You are the God who works wonders; 

you have displayed your might among the peoples.

With your strong arm you redeemed your people, 

the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

When the waters saw you, O God, 

when the waters saw you, they were afraid;

the very deep trembled.

The clouds poured out water; the skies thundered; 

your arrows flashed on every side.

The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; 

your lightnings lit up the world; 

the earth trembled and shook.

Your way was through the sea, 

your path through the mighty waters, 

yet your footprints were unseen.

You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.