THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT WOODBURY

SERVICE OF WHOLENESS FOR A CONGREGATION
21st Sunday after Pentecost

WELCOME with A Reformed Understanding for the Service for Healing & Wholeness

All healing comes from God. Sometimes miraculous healing occurs. Generally, God works through human skill, knowledge, and training to bring about healing. Highly trained medical professionals, technology, and medicine aid in the healing process. All are direct gifts from God.

Healing was an integral part of the ministry of Jesus. Jesus healed from a distance (Luke 7:1-10), but he more typically used touch in the process of healing (Matt. 9:18; Mark 16:18; Luke 4:40). In Jesus’ day, many who were ill had become social outcasts. He reached out and brought healing and wholeness to those isolated in illness. As Jesus acted, so must his church. The Service for Healing & Wholeness reaches out and touches those who need healing in body, mind, or spirit.

The Service for Healing & Wholeness may include the laying on of hands and the anointing with oil. This is mystical and mysterious, but not magic. No tricks, gimmicks, or magical incantations are used to invoke the Holy Spirit. In this service, the church acknowledges the constant and abiding presence of God. The Service for Healing & Wholeness affirms that even in the midst of bodily illness, pain, and suffering, our relationship with God in Christ sustains us. The service also recognizes that confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation are essential to wholeness.

PRAYER OF PREPARATION

Compassionate God, your Son gives rest to those weary with heavy burdens. Heal the sick in body, mind, and spirit. Lift up the depressed. Befriend those who grieve. Comfort the anxious. Stand with all victims of abuse and violence. Uphold those who live with addiction. Fill us all with your Holy Spirit that we may bear each other’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. God of mercy, hear our prayer. Amen.

PRELUDE                   “Canticle”                   Gilbert Martin         

OPENING SENTENCES

Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
Those who wait for the Lord
shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.

HYMN No. 4              “Holy God, We Praise Your Name”

Holy God, we praise your name;
Lord of all, we bow before you.
All on earth your scepter claim;
all in heaven above adore you.
Infinite your vast domain,
everlasting is your reign.

Hark! The glad celestial hymn
angel choirs above are raising;
cherubim and seraphim,
in unceasing chorus praising,
fill the heavens with sweet accord:
“Holy, holy, holy Lord!”

All apostles join the strain
as your sacred name they hallow;
prophets swell the glad refrain,
and the blessed martyrs follow,
and from morn to set of sun,
through the church the song goes on.

Holy Father, Holy Son,
Holy Spirit: three we name you,
while in essence only one;
undivided God we claim you,
and adoring, bend the knee
while we own the mystery.

CALL TO CONFESSION

Jesus said: Ask and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
For every one who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
Friends in Christ, God knows our needs before we ask, and in our asking prepares us to receive the gift of grace.  Let us open our lives to God’s healing presence, forsaking all that separates us from God and neighbor. Let us be mindful not only of personal evil but also of our communal sins of family, class, race, and nation. Let us confess to God whatever has wounded us or brought injury to others, that we may receive mercy and become for each other ministers of God’s grace.

CONFESSION OF SIN

Let us confess our sin together.
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 you with our whole heart and mind and strength; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.  In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us amend what we are, and direct what we shall be, so that we may delight in your will  and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

SILENT PRAYER

DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS

Hear the good news! Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ, and Christ died for us, Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us.  Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old life has gone; a new life has begun. Know that you are forgiven and be at peace.

RESPONSE     No. 581                       “Glory Be to the Father”    

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

Our peace comes from knowing how much God loves us in Jesus Christ. With God’s help, we try to love and forgive one another as Christ loves and forgives us.
“The peace of Christ be with you,”
“And also with you.”

ANTHEM          “They That Wait Upon the Lord”               Michael Larkin                    

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

(all children will remain in the sanctuary)

READINGS FROM SCRIPTURE

Mark 10:17-31

17As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”¹⁸Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. ¹⁹You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’” ²⁰He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” ²¹Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” ²²When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

²³Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” ²⁴And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁶They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” ²⁷Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.”

²⁸Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” ²⁹Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, ³⁰who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. ³¹But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

Hebrews 4:12-16

12Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account. ¹⁴Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. ¹⁵For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

SILENT PRAYER

HYMN No. 415                      “Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy”

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
full of pity, love, and power.

Refrain:
I will arise and go to Jesus;
he will embrace me in his arms.
In the arms of my dear Savior,
O there are ten thousand charms.

Come, ye thirsty, come, and welcome;
God’s free bounty glorify,
true belief and true repentance,
every grace that brings you nigh. (Refrain)

Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
lost and ruined by the fall;
if you tarry till you’re better,
you will never come at all. (Refrain)

Let not conscience make you linger,
nor of fitness fondly dream;
all the fitness he requireth
is to feel your need of him. (Refrain)

OFFERING OF OUR LIVES TO GOD

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

SILENT PRAYER and ANOINTING WITH OIL

INTERCESSION FOR HEALING

God, our creator, your will for us and for all your people is health and salvation:
have mercy on us.
Jesus Christ, Son of God, you came that we might have life and have it in abundance:
have mercy on us.
Holy Spirit, dwelling within us, you make us temples of your presence: have mercy on us.

To the triune God,
the source of all love and all life, let us offer our prayers.
For all who are in need of healing…
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For all who are disabled by injury or illness…
Lord, in your mercy,  hear our prayer.

For all who are troubled by confusion or pain…
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For all whose increasing years bring weariness…
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For all about to undergo surgery…
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For all who cannot sleep…
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For all who practice the healing arts…
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Here petitions for specific needs may be offered by the people.

Into your hands, O God, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

HYMN No. 11             “Source and Sovereign, Rock and Cloud”

Source and Sovereign, Rock and Cloud,
Fortress, Fountain, Shelter, Light,
Judge, Defender, Mercy, Might,
Life whose life all life endowed:

Refrain: May the church at prayer recall
that no single holy name
but the truth behind them all
is the God whom we proclaim.

Word and Wisdom, Root and Vine,
Shepherd, Savior, Servant, Lamb,
Well and Water, Bread and Wine,
Way who leads us to I am: (Refrain)

Storm and Stillness, Breath and Dove,
Thunder, Tempest, Whirlwind, Fire,
Comfort, Counselor, Presence, Love,
Energies that never tire: (Refrain)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Flowers are given in the glory and honor of God by Don and Ann, Tom and Cheryl and MaryAnn and Peter in loving memory of Tooie on her 97th Birthday; and by The Mixner and Evans Families in loving memory of Marie Evans.

TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY

*RESPONSE

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow, Praise God, all creatures here below.  Alleluia, Alleluia Praise God in Jesus fully know; Creator, Word and Spirit one. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia Alleluia.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

HYMN No. 808                     “When Memory Fades”

When memory fades and recognition falters,
when eyes we love grow dim, and minds, confused,
speak to our souls of love that never alters;
speak to our hearts by pain and fear abused.
O God of life and healing peace, empower us
with patient courage, by your grace infused.

As frailness grows and youthful strengths diminish
in weary arms that worked their earnest fill,
your aging servants labor now to finish
their earthly tasks, as fits your mystery’s will.
We grieve their waning, yet rejoice, believing
your arms, unwearied, shall uphold us still.

Within your Spirit, goodness lives unfading.
The past and future mingle into one.
All joys remain, unshadowed light pervading.
No valued deed will ever be undone.
Your mind enfolds all finite acts and offerings.
Held in your heart, our deathless life is won!

BLESSING

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