July 21, 2024

Nineth Sunday after Pentecost

10:00am

 

 

WELCOME

 

OPENING PRAYER

Holy Trinity,
yours is the justice
that calls power to account.
Yours is the love
that calls sinners to repent.
Yours is the mercy
that forgives us and grants us eternal life.
Lead us in the truth about the Beloved,
and set us free to rejoice with all our might
over the great mystery you have revealed:
that you are bringing all things into harmony
through Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

 

PRELUDE

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

Lord, we come to worship you, seeking sabbath rest.

Jesus said, “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.”

Lord, we come to worship you, to listen for your teachings and to seek rest for our souls.

Jesus said, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Lord, we come to worship you, that we might serve you faithfully.

Give thanks to God; bless God’s name!

For the Lord is good; God’s steadfast love endures forever, and God’s faithfulness to all generations.

 

*HYMN No. 32                     “I Sing the Mighty Power of God”

1 I sing the mighty power of God
that made the mountains rise,
that spread the flowing seas abroad
and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained
the sun to rule the day.
The moon shines full at God’s command,
and all the stars obey.

2 I sing the goodness of the Lord
who filled the earth with food.
God formed the creatures through the Word,
and then pronounced them good.
Lord, how thy wonders are displayed,
where’er I turn my eye,
if I survey the ground I tread,
or gaze upon the sky!

3 There’s not a plant or flower below
but makes thy glories known.
And clouds arise, and tempests blow,
by order from thy throne,
while all that borrows life from thee
is ever in thy care,
and everywhere that we can be,
thou, God, art present there.

 

*CALL TO CONFESSION

The scriptures teach that there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The scriptures also teach that we have a high priest who has been tested as we are, yet without sin. As the letter to the Hebrews encourages us, “Let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Let us pray.

 

*PRAYER FOR CONFESSION

Good and gracious God, we confess that we run ourselves ragged. We are busy and preoccupied with so many things. We neglect to be still and know that you are God. Even our sabbath time can be filled with “busy-ness.” Forgive us, Lord, for not accepting your gift and guidance of rest and restoration. Help us to put on the yoke of Jesus and walk in the way he models for us, mindful of our spiritual health and responding with compassion to the needs of our neighbors. Loving God, thank you for Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, who makes us complete in everything good so that we may do his will, working among us that which is pleasing in his sight. We pray through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

 

*SILENT PRAYER FOR CONFESSION

 

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON

God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.

Thanks be to God! For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

 

*RESPONSE No. 582                       “Gloria Patri”

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen, amen.

 

*PASSING OF THE PEACE OF CHRIST

Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another.

May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

And also with you.

 

SPECIAL MUSIC

 

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

 

UNISON PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

Please join me in the unison prayer…

Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God. Open our ears and our hearts to your teachings, Lord, that we may be strengthened in our faith and equipped for ministry in your name. Amen.

 

SCRIPTURE              Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34 As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.

53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat.54 When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him 55 and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

 

Pause…

 

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God!!

 

SERMON                   “Rest Awhile”

Staying Home

Naptime

Going to your room

Going to bed early

Alone time

Eating Vegetables

Cleaning your plate at dinner

Eating your parents’ home-cooked meal

Not using electronics

Getting sock as gifts

Getting cash as a gift

Bathtime

Long car rides

Shopping with your parents

Hanging out with your parents

Running Errands

Going to museums

 

Things that were punishments as a child, that are now rewards.  Actually, many of them are opportunities for rest, renewal or refreshment.  These are ways to recharge our batteries so that we can be better spouses, friends, co-workers or servants in the church.  Jesus Christ even took time to rest, pray away from the crowds and nap.

 

He certainly had some very real concerns about the health and welfare and, of course, the effectiveness of his disciples. They were tired; even Jesus was weary by the constant demands and the need around him. There were successes of course. People were being healed. The good news was being shared, but the disciples were getting a bit ahead of themselves and perhaps a bit ahead of God. They needed to be reminded through solitude, prayer and meditation, where and how they received their gifts to minister to others so, with that in mind, Jesus called them to come to a quiet place and rest. At least, that was the intent.

However, rest and relaxation were not as easy to come by as Jesus might have hoped. The crowds knew where to look for him and they arrived before he and the disciples arrived. The people who had trailed Jesus to this desired place of rest and quiet knew what they wanted; what they needed, and they wouldn’t be put off or sent away. Their need was so great; the hunger they had for healing and for the power of God’s word were so intense that Jesus took pity on them. He simply didn’t have the heart to turn them away. So, while he knew what he and his disciples yearned for and really needed, he accepted the fact that the needs of the hungry and ill people around him were far greater than his need to rest. He responded with help, and he called upon his disciples to do the same.

Well, we know what it feels like, in our harried and frantic world, not to have the time or make the time to just sit down and share a meal with our families. If you are one of the fortunate few that do hold mealtimes sacred, I commend you. With the demands life can impose on us, mealtimes aren’t always easy to schedule, but the rewards are plentiful. I think the best part of helping out at our community dinner, the Advent festival or the Women’s Association annual picnic is the moment when the serving time ends and we, as the cooks and wait staff can sit down and enjoy the meal together. We’re like one big family coming home after a long day at work or school. We’re tired but we’re happy, happy that we can reconnect with one another and do so over good food. It’s an important time, a time when discussion can lead to celebration and interest in a topic can lead to solutions. Rested minds and bodies tend to make for more intentional living and can produce healthier relationship and nurturing growth. Ancient Roman poet Ovid expressed similar words when he said, “Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.”

Truth is truth no matter when it is spoken or by whom.  Though rest was what Christ and the disciples craved, they were also aware that the message of healing and hope was in their sacred trust. It had to be shared and the abiding index was compassion toward those who carried the burdens of life, who were ill, in pain, in need, hungry for hope. Eventually, there would be a time when the need to pull away and reconnect would overshadow the continuing needs around them. They would take the time to be family together.

It’s not surprising how Christ chose to say his final farewell to his disciples who were his family; He did so over a meal, in an upper room, away from the crowds and the demands of his ministry. Christ made this time of coming away and eating, sacred. He blessed the elements they shared and reminded his disciples of their purpose as his followers and those who in his name would bear the message of hope he had placed in their care. It was a sacred experience, rich in emotion and filled with grace.

Well, we don’t need an upper room or a special meal to make those quiet moments with God and one another, sacred. They’re likely to happen just about anywhere if we stay open and aware of the possibility. But it doesn’t hurt to make some time, daily to intentionally build in a space and a place to be present to and with God. We have Sundays and worship here together, of course, but the rest of the week requires our intentional embrace of the sacred too. Let’s make one of those spaces now. Since we are here together this morning, we can take the time we need to connect – first with God and also with one another. To help us, let me invite you to rest in the moment, close your eyes if it helps to shut out the distractions. Listen to these words by Steve Garnaas-Holmes. It’s called “Rest a While”.

 

Breathe in. Breathe out.

Let go of all you have accomplished.

Step out of what you have done,

the who you think you are

that comes from something,

into the who that is I AM.

Be still.

 

Breathe in. Breathe out.

Set everything down.

The great burden of being yourself,

what everyone thinks, even you,

the work of remembering,

what you must and mustn’t,

let them all go.

Be still.

 

Breathe in. Breathe out.

Come to the sabbath place

where nothing, even you,

is fashioned, everything just is.

Come into the rest that is God,

the silence from which your light pours,

the Spirit brooding over the waters.

Here where you are received,

receive yourself.

Be still.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

 

Thank you, Gracious God, for this time with you and with each other. Thank you for calling us to serve and giving us the gifts to do so and the grace to know when we must rest in you. Help us to lean on your strength when ours fails. Equip us to connect with the hurt and the needy doing so with the compassion you have shown to us in your son Jesus. Give us the wisdom to know when to work for your reign and when to rest from our labors. As in all things, call us to come away with you and rest. Amen.

 

Commentary and Liturgy from the Book of Common Worship (PCUSA), “Call to Worship” Website, PCUSA Book of Confession, The New Interpreter’s Commentary, Steve Garnaas-Holmes, Tara Krantz, Robin Zlotnick and Philip K. Gladden.

 

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH          The Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.  Amen.

 

*HYMN NO. 824                  “There Is a Place of Quiet Rest”

1 There is a place of quiet rest,
near to the heart of God,
a place where sin cannot molest,
near to the heart of God.

Refrain:
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
sent from the heart of God,
hold us, who wait before thee,
near to the heart of God.

2 There is a place of comfort sweet,
near to the heart of God,
a place where we our Savior meet,
near to the heart of God. (Refrain)

3 There is a place of full release,
near to the heart of God,
a place where all is joy and peace,
near to the heart of God. (Refrain)

 

THE PASTORAL PRAYER & THE LORD’S PRAYER

Holy God, Three in One, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we praise you for your goodness and your everlasting loving-kindness. With the power of your Word, you created the world and everything in it and fashioned us in your own image. In your Word made flesh, you lived among us, taught us your way, and reconciled us to you. Through your living Word, you continue to call us to obedience and service in the power of your Holy Spirit.

 

Thank you, God, for the claim you put on our lives in baptism and the
call to follow you throughout life. We pray for the wisdom of your Son’s teachings to guide us in our actions. In what we say and do as followers of Jesus, may we always say and do what he has taught and shown us in his own life. Hear our prayers, O Lord …

 

God of all creation, we pray for the world in which we live. You offer us
a better way, but we continue to live in strife. We divide ourselves and look to our own interests. We become discouraged and think we cannot make a difference. Lord, show us how to live as a witness to your power, promise, love and grace. Hear our prayers, O Lord…

 

God of life, as the crowds carried their sick to Jesus with the hope of them being healed, we still carry our sick to you in our prayers. We pray for all for whom life is a struggle today because of illness, both those who are sick and those who give care. Bless those who are undergoing treatments, recovering from surgeries, facing new diagnoses, and living with chronic conditions. May they know the peace of your life-giving Spirit. We also pray for those who are preparing to die, and for their loved ones. Help us always to live as those who are prepared to die so that, when it is time to die, we may go forth as those who are prepared to live in Christ Jesus. Hear our prayers, O Lord …

 

We offer these and all of our prayers in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior, who taught us to pray, “Our Father…”.

 

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father 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. Forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.  For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

OFFERING OF TITHES & OFFERINGS

When the apostle Paul encouraged the Corinthian Christians to participate in the offering for the saints in Jerusalem who were in need, he wrote, “for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. Through the testing of this ministry, you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others.”

 

With grateful hearts, let us bring our tithes and offerings, that we may supply the needs of the saints, overflow with thanksgiving to God, glorify God, and share generously what God has so graciously given to us.

 

OFFERTORY

 

*RESPONSE N0. 607           “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise Christ, all people here below;
praise Holy Spirit evermore;
praise Triune God, whom we adore. Amen.

 

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

God of grace and God of glory, we thank you for your generous blessings which enrich our lives. Help us to be good stewards of all you give. May we freely give with generous hearts, even as we have received what you have so freely given us, Jesus Christ, your indescribable gift. Amen.

 

*HYMN No. 837                   “What a Fellowship, What a Joy Divine”

1 What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
what a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
leaning on the everlasting arms.

Refrain:
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

2 O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
leaning on the everlasting arms. (Refrain)

3 What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
leaning on the everlasting arms. (Refrain)

 

*BENEDICTION

My beloved,
be steadfast, immovable,
always excelling in the work of the Lord,

because you know that in the Lord
your labor is not in vain.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,

the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

Amen.