Opening song: Somewhere over the rainbow/Wonderful world

(Key of C)

1

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high

There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby

Oh, somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue

Clouds high over the rainbow, makes all your dreams come true, 

2

Someday I'll wish upon a star

Wake up where the clouds are far behind me

Where trouble melts like lemon drops

High above the chimney top

That's where you'll find me

3

Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly

Birds fly over the rainbow

Oh why, oh why can't I? I

4

I see trees of green and red roses too

I'll watch them bloom for me and you

And I think to myself

Oh, what a wonderful world

5

I see skies of blue, clouds of white

The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night

And I think to myself

Oh, what a wonderful world

6

The colours of the rainbow so pretty in the sky

Are also on the faces of people passing by

I see friends shakin' hands saying, “How do you do?”

They're really saying, "I love you"

7

I hear babies cry and I'd watch them grow

They'll learn much more than we'll know

And I think to myself

Oh, what a wonderful world

8

Someday I'll wish upon a star

Wake up where the clouds are far behind me

Where trouble melts like lemon drops

High above the chimney top

That's where you'll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow way up high

and the dreams that you dare to o, why

Why can’t I …

Welcome and call to worship

Family of God, from whom does our help come?

Our help comes from the Lord, 

the maker of heaven and earth.                                

Psalm 124:8

Hymn: Softly and tenderly

Key of E (D capo, 2nd fret)

1
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.

Refrain

Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

2
Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not his mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?  R

3
O for the wonderful love he has promised,
Promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, he has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.  R

Opening prayer and Lord's prayer

Sabbath giving God, 

We all claim to be really busy

But the truth is that we really aren’t

We’d just rather do what we want to do.

And not have to deal with aging parents

or nosy neighbours

or the bills that pile up, 

or our shaky marriages

or troubled teens

Silence

God of peace, 

forgive us as we forgive each other 

for all the hurt we have brought into our lives. 

Let your healing love rest upon the wounds 

we have caused by our anger, and apathy. 

Deepen our love in a new understanding for each other and for you. 

In the course of our busy lives 

give us time of refreshment and peace; 

and help us to use our leisure 

to rebuild our bodies and renew our minds, 

to recreate relationships and restore loving-kindness

that our spirits may be open to the goodness of your creation;

through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

The Lord's Prayer

Words: Jim Strathdee Music: Anon; arr. by All Oppenheimer; accomp. by Jim Strathdee. In The faith we sing (2000). A supplement to The United Methodist Hymnal (1989).

A time for all God's children

Hymn: He 's my rock, my sword, my shield

He’s my rock, my sword, my shield

He’s my wheel within the wheel.

He’s the lily of the valley, 

The bright and morning star.

Doesn’t matter what you say

I’ll get on my knees and pray.

I’ll keep singin’ till the day that Jesus comes.

Scripture

Matthew 11: 25-30 (The Message)

25-26 Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: “Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You’ve concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that’s the way you like to work.”

27 Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. “The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I’m not keeping it to myself; I’m ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen.

28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

May God bless to our understanding this reading of his holy word. 

Gospel hymn: Burdens are lifted at Calvary

Key of  E  (D capo on 2nd fret)

1
Days are filled with sorrow and care,

Hearts are lonely and drear;

Burdens are lifted at Calvary,

Jesus is very near.

Refrain

Burdens are lifted at Calvary,

Calvary, Calvary,

Burdens are lifted at Calvary,

Jesus is very near.

2
Cast your care on Jesus today

Leave your worry and fear;

Burdens are lifted at Calvary.

Jesus is very near.  R

3
Troubled soul, the Saviour can see,

Ev'ry heartache and tear;

Burdens are lifted at Calvary

Jesus is very near.  R

Sermon: Sabbath time

Prayers of the people and benediction

Hymn: Three things I promise

(MV 176; Key of Ab; G capo on 1st fret)

1

Three things I promise, Holy God,

in age and youth, in life and death;

to bless your name, and cling to Christ,

and listen for the spirit’s breath.

2 

Your love unfolded time and space,

and life, and all that life became,

and so, with thankful heart and voice, 

through good and ill, I bless your name.

3

I follow, serve, and cling to Christ

amid our culture’s tides and trends,

for here your Name is most revealed;

Majestic love, and best of friends.

4 

Enlivened as the spirit moves 

to cleanse, awaken, and renew,

I pray that justice, peace, and truth,

May seed and grow in all I do.

5

If I should live when vigour fades,

and family and friends are gone,

three acts of loving faith remain,

when days are slow, and work is done.

6

Revive and guide me, Living God,

as day by day, until my death,

I bless your name, and cling to Christ,

And listen for the spirit’s breath.

Opening song: Dance

by Jim Manley (Key of G)

Dance in the moonlight and mance in the sun, 

Dance in your sorrow and dance in your fun 

Dance in your dscos and dance in your briefs, 

Dance in your doubtings and dance your beliefs 

And we'll dance, dance, dance, come dancing with me  A-ha

And we'll dance, dance, dance, come dancing with me. 

Dance with your baby, your dog or your boss, 

Dance to the manger and dance to the cross. 

Dance at the gravesite and dance at the feast, 

Dance with your midwives and other high priests 

Dance with the debs with the sweat on their palms, 

Dance where its hardest, homecomings and proms. 

Did somebody say that you’ll never be queen? 

Send them our way and we’ll paint their nose green! 

Tall people are gorgeous and short ones are neat, 

Skinny or bulgy, each body’s a treat. 

So dance as you are, you are made by the one 

Who calls you to be what you’ve only begun. 

Dance with your elbows and dance with your hands 

Dance with your heart and your endocrine glands. 

Make funny faces, go out of your minds 

Find someone near you and bump your behinds. 

Dance up from childhood and into your teens 

Dance in your screw-ups and dance in your dreams 

Come join the dancing, you make it complete. 

We’ll hug you and kiss you and step on your feet.

Welcome and call to worship

Little birds, we cannot say that we are unknown by God.

For every wild animal of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. 

I know all the birds of the air, and all that moves in the field is mine.

(Psalm 50: 10-11)

Little birds, we cannot say that God has not worked hard for our needs:

By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation; 

they sing among the branches. From your lofty abode you water 

the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.  

(Psalm 104: 11-13)

Little birds, we cannot say that God does not care and protect us.

Like birds hovering overhead, so the LORD of hosts 

will protect Jerusalem; he will protect and deliver it, 

he will spare and rescue it. 
(Isaiah 31: 5)

Little birds, we flutter our wings and fly away because we are not brave.

I am like an owl of the wilderness, like a little owl of the waste places. 

I lie awake; I am like a lonely bird on the housetop. 

(Psalm 102: 6-7)

Little birds, each creature is loved and known by God. 

We are here today to give thanks to the one who, like an eagle, 

stirs up her nest, and hovers over her young; 

who spreads her wings, takes them up, and bears them aloft on her pinions 

(Deut 32: 11)

Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, 

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 

(Matthew 6: 26)

Family of God, from whom does our help come?

Our help comes from the Lord, 

the maker of heaven and earth.                                

(Psalm 124:8)

Hymn: His eye is on the sparrow

(Key of B [G 3rd fret])

1

Why should I feel discouraged,
why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n & home,

When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain

I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

2

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me. R

3

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me. R

Opening prayer and Lord's prayer

The Lord's Prayer

Words: Jim Strathdee Music: Anon; arr. by All Oppenheimer; accomp. by Jim Strathdee. In The faith we sing (2000). A supplement to The United Methodist hymnal (1989).

A time for all of God's children

Hymn: God sees the little sparrow fall

 (Key of C)

1

God sees the little sparrow fall,

It meets his tender view;

If God so loves the little birds,

I know he loves me too.

Refrain

He loves me too, he loves me too,

I know he loves me too;

Because He loves the little things,

I know he loves me too.

2

He paints the lily of the field,

Perfumes each lily bell;

If he so loves the little flowers,

I know he loves me well. R

3

God made the little birds and flow'rs,

And all things large and small;

He'll not forget his little ones,

I know He loves them all. R

Scripture

Matthew 10: 24-31 (The Message)

“A student doesn’t get a better desk than her teacher. A labourer doesn’t make more money than his boss. Be content—pleased, even—when you, my students, my harvest hands, get the same treatment I get. If they call me, the Master, ‘Dungface,’ what can the workers expect?

“Don’t be intimidated. Eventually everything is going to be out in the open, and everyone will know how things really are. So don’t hesitate to go public now.

“Don’t be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands.

“What’s the price of a pet canary? Some loose change, right? And God cares what happens to it even more than you do. He pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! So don’t be intimidated by all this bully talk. You’re worth more than a million canaries.

May God bless to our understanding this reading of his holy word. 

Special Music: Good times gone

by Cory M. Coons

Sermon

Prayers of the people and benediction

Benediction
Canticle for the Summer by Arnold Kenseth (U.S.A.)

All summer the days come to us, various, wide,

From mornings of meadows

Into the green dark and the nightfall of stars

We heard the weather gathering, 

Coming and going;

Small birds were among the berries; the grasses dried,

And we felt our hearts in their swaying

And, then, always the trees,

The great combs of shade in our yards,

And the hundred thousand leaves for our watching.

All was good and gift and grand!

And the days come on;

The gift is still given.

Thy goodness stays.

Thy grandeur stands. Amen.

Hymn: On the wings of a dove

(Key of D)

On the wings of a snow-white dove

He sends His pure sweet love

A sign from above

On the wings of a dove

When troubles surround us

when evils come

The body grows weak

The spirit grows numb

When these things beset us,

He doesn't forget us

He sends down His love

On the wings of a dove

When Noah had drifted

on the flood many days

He searched for land

In various ways

Troubles, he had some

but wasn't forgotten

God sent him His love

On the wings of a dove

When Jesus went down to, 

the river that day

He was baptised 

in the usual way

And when it was done, 

God blessed his son

He sent him his love

On the wings of a dove

Opening song: Times like these

(Foo Fighers; Chords: D, Am, C, Em)

1

I, I'm a one way motorway

I'm the one that drives away

Then follows you back home

I, I'm a street light shining

I'm a wild light blinding bright

Burning off alone

Refrain

It's times like these you learn to live again

It's times like these you give and give again

It's times like these you learn to love again

It's times like these time and time again

2

I, I'm a new day rising

I'm a brand new sky

To hang the stars upon tonight

I am a little divided

Do I stay or run away

And leave it all behind? R x 2 

Welcome and call to worship

Call to worship

In these times, how then shall we live? 

We walk in the everlasting companionship of the Spirit 

who is holy, empowering and connecting. 

We will find ourselves sometimes wondering at the stars, 

sometimes doubting even as we worship, 

sometimes wrestling with the challenge of building community 

and living in peace. 

And always the mark of God is in the essence of our very being. 

We need the perspective. 

We need the permission. 

We need the poetry. 

And we need the presence.

Family of God, from whom does our help come?

Our help comes from the Lord, 

the maker of heaven and earth.                                Psalm 124:8

Hymn: Take my life

 (VU 506; Key of D)

1

Take my life, and let it be

consecrated, all for thee;

take my moments and my days;

let them flow in ceaseless praise.

2

Take my hands, and let them move

at the impulse of thy love;

take my feet, and let them be

swift and purposeful for thee.

3

Take my lips, and let them be

filled with messages from thee;

take my intellect, and use

every power as thou shalt choose.

4

Take my will, and make it thine;

it shall be no longer mine;

take my heart, it is thine own;

it shall be thy royal throne.

5.

Take my love: and I will pour

at thy feet its treasure store;

take myself, and I will be

ever, only, all for thee.

Opening prayer and Lord's prayer

Lord’s Prayer song

The Lord's Prayer

Words: Jim Strathdee Music: Anon; arr. by All Oppenheimer; accomp. by Jim Strathdee. In The faith we sing (2000). A supplement to The United Methodist Hymnal (1989).

A time for all God's children

Hymn: Three choruses

(Key of D)

1

Rejoice in the Lord

Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice (Clap, Clap)

Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice (Clap, Clap)

Rejoice, Rejoice and again I say rejoice (Clap, Clap)

Rejoice, Rejoice and again I say rejoice (Clap, Clap)

2

God’s love is so wonderful

God’s love is so wonderful

God’s love is so wonderful

God’s love is so wonderful

So high you can’t get over it 

So low you can’t get under it

So wide you can’t get around it

You gotta come in at the door!

2

Rocka my soul

Rocka my soul in the bosom of Abraham

Rocka my soul in the bosom of Abraham

Rocka my soul in the bosom of Abraham

O, rocka my soul

Scripture

Genesis 12: 1-9 (English Standard Version)

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonours you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. And Abram took Sarai, his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord. And Abram journeyed on, still going towards the Negeb.

Matthew 9: 9-13 (The Message) 

Passing along, Jesus saw a man at his work collecting taxes. His name was Matthew. Jesus said, “Come along with me.” Matthew stood up and followed him.

Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew’s house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them. When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit, and lit into Jesus’ followers. “What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riffraff?”

Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.”

May God bless to our understanding this reading of his holy word. 

Hymn: Calling you

(Key of D)

1

When you've strayed from the fold 

and there's trouble in your soul

Can't you hear the blessed Saviour calling you?

When your soul is lost in sin 

and you're at your journey's end

Can't you hear the blessed Saviour calling you?

Refrain 

Calling you, calling you

Can't you hear the blessed Saviour calling you?

He will take you by the hand 

lead you to that promised land

Can't you hear the blessed Saviour calling you?

2

As you journey day by day 

and temptation comes your way

Can't you hear the blessed Saviour calling you?

If you'll follow in his light he will always guide you right

Can't you hear the blessed Saviour calling you?  R

3

When your soul is burdened down

And your  friends cannot be found

Can't you hear the Blessed Saviour calling you?

If you'll follow Him each day He will brighten up your way

Can't you hear the Blessed Saviour calling you?  R

Sermon

Prayers of the people and benediction

Hymn: Rainbow connection

(Key of G)

1

Why are there so many

Songs about rainbows

And what's on the other side

Rainbows are visions

They're only illusions

And rainbows have nothing to hide

So we've been told and some chose to Believe it

But I know they're wrong wait and see

Someday we'll find it

The Rainbow Connection

The lovers, the dreamers and me

2

Who said that every wish

Would be heard and answered

When wished on the morning star

Somebody thought of that

And someone believed it

And look what it's done so far

What's so amazing

That keeps us star gazing

What so we think we might see

Someday we'll find it

That rainbow connection

The lovers the dreamers and me

3

Have you been fast asleep

And have you heard voices,

I've heard them calling my name,

Is this the sweet sound that calls

The young sailors,

The voice might be one and the same.

I've heard it too many times to ignore it

It's something that i'm supposed to be,

Someday we'll find it

The rainbow connection...

The lovers, the dreamers and me

La lala la lala la la la lala la la la

Opening song: Ode to Newfoundland

1

When sun rays crown thy pine clad hills,

And summer spreads her hand,

When silvern voices tune thy rills,

We love thee, smiling land.

We love thee, we love thee,

We love thee, smiling land.

2

When spreads thy cloak of shimmering white,

At winter's stern command,

Thro' shortened day, and starlit night,

We love thee, frozen land.

We love thee, we love thee

We love thee, frozen land.

3

When blinding storm gusts fret thy shore,

And wild waves lash thy strand,

Thro' spindrift swirl, and tempest roar,

We love thee windswept land.

We love thee, we love thee

We love thee windswept land.

4

As loved our fathers, so we love,

Where once they stood, we stand;

Their prayer we raise to Heaven above,

God guard thee, Newfoundland

God guard thee, God guard thee,

God guard thee, Newfoundland.

Welcome and call to worship

Call to worship
This is the day the Lord has made!

Let us rejoice and be glad!

Remind us of the blessings we receive as your people:

To come to you in these moments 

To confess our sins and shortcomings,

To receive forgiveness and to give it,

To pray and sing and listen,

To renew our spirits and spread our wings,

To rest in all your promises.

Open our eyes to see you, Lord.

Open our ears to hear your Word.

Family of God, from whom does our help come?

Our help comes from the Lord, 

the maker of heaven and earth.                              

Psalm 124:8

Hymn: Put our hand in the hand

Gene MacLellan (Key of G)

Refrain

Put your hand in the hand
Of the man who stilled the water
Put your hand in the hand
Of the man who calmed the sea
Take a look at yourself and
you can look at others differently
By puttin' your hand in the hand
Of the man from Galilee

1
Every time I look into the Holy Book
I want to tremble
When I read about the part
Where the carpenter cleared the temple
For the buyers and the sellers were
No different fellas than what you and I profess to be
And it causes me shame to know
I'm not the one that I should be  R

2
Mama taught me how to pray before
I reached the age of seven

And when I'm down on my knees that's

When I'm close to heaven

Daddy lived his life with two kids and a wife

You do must you must do

But he showed me

Enough of what it takes to get you through  R

Opening prayer and Lord's prayer

Lord’s Prayer song

The Lord's Prayer

Words: Jim Strathdee Music: Anon; arr. by All Oppenheimer; accomp. by Jim Strathdee. In The faith we sing (2000). A supplement to The United Methodist Hymnal (1989).

A time for all God's children

Hymn: The wise man built his house upon the rock

(Key of C)
 

1

The wise one built their house upon the rock

The wise one built their house upon the rock

The wise man built his house upon the rock

And the rain came tumbling down

Oh, the rain came down

And the floods came up

The rain came down

And the floods came up

The rain came down

And the floods came up

And the wise one’s house stood firm.

2

The foolish one built their house upon the sand

The foolish one built their house upon the sand

The foolish one built their house upon the sand

And the rain came tumbling down

Oh, the rain came down

And the floods came up

The rain came down

And the floods came up

The rain came down

And the floods came up

And the foolish one's house went "splat!" [clap hands once]

3

So, build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ

Build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ

Build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ

And the blessings will come down 

Oh, the blessings come down

As your prayers go up

The blessings come down

As your prayers go up

The blessings come down

As your prayer go up

So build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Scripture: Matthew 7: 24-29 (NRSV)

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell-- and great was its fall!"

Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

May God bless to our understanding this reading of his holy word. 

Hymn: Christ the solid rock

(Key of C)

1 

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly trust in Jesus’ name.

Refrain

On Christ the solid rock I stand,

All other ground is sinking sand;

All other ground is sinking sand.

2

When darkness seems to hide his face,

I rest on his unchanging grace.

In every high and stormy gale,

My anchor holds within the veil.  R

3 

His oath, his covenant, his blood,

Support me in the whelming flood.

When all around my soul gives way,

He then is all my hope and stay.

4 

When he shall come with trumpet sound,

Oh may I then in him be found.

Dressed in His righteousness alone,

Faultless to stand before the throne.

Sermon

Prayers of the people and benediction

Closing prayer

“We are made to rise”
George MacLeod (fouder, Iona Community)

Invisible we see you, Christ above us.

With earthly eyes we see above us, 

clouds or sunshine, grey or bright.

But with the eye of faith, we know you reign:

instinct in the sunray, speaking in the storm, 

warming and moving all creation, Christ above us. 

Invisible we see you, Christ beneath us.

With earthly eyes we see beneath us 

stones and dust and dross. 

But with the eye of faith, we know You uphold. 

In You all things consist and hang together: 

The very atom is light energy, The grass is vibrant, 

The rocks pulsate. All is in flux; 

turn but a stone and an angel moves. 

Amen and amen.

The national anthem

Little mountain church house

(Key of G)

1

There's a little mountain church 

in my thoughts of yesterday

Where friends and family 

gathered for the Lord

Where an ol' fashioned preacher 

taught the straight and narrow way

For what few coins 

the congregation could afford

2

Dressed in all our Sunday best, 

we sat on pews of solid oak

And I remember how 

our voices filled the air

How Mama sounded like an angel 

on those high soprano notes

"When the Roll is Called Up Yonder 

I'll Be There"

3

Looking back now 

that little mountain church house

Has become my life's cornerstone

It was there in 

that little mountain church house

I first heard the words I based my life upon

4

At the all day Sunday singing, 

with dinner on the ground

Many were the souls that were revived

While the brothers and the sisters 

who've gone on to Gloryland

Slept in peace in the maple grove nearby

Opening song: Don't worry be happy

Key of G [ 4th capo = C])

1

Here's a little song I wrote

You might want to sing it note for note

Don't worry, be happy

In every life we have some trouble

But when you worry you make it double

Don't worry, be happy

Don't worry, be happy now.

Ooh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh) be happy

2

Ain't got no place to lay your head

Somebody came and took your bed

Don't worry, be happy

The landlord say your rent is late

He may have to litigate

Don't worry, be happy

Oh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh don't worry, be happy

Here I give you my phone number, when you worry, call me, 

I make you happy, don't worry, be happy)

3

Ain't got no cash, ain't got no style

Ain't got no gal to make you smile

Don't worry, be happy

'Cause when you worry your face will frown

And that will bring everybody down

So don't worry, be happy

Don't worry, be happy now

(Ooh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh) don't worry, be happy

4

Now there, is this song I wrote

I hope you learned note for note

Like good little children, don't worry, be happy

Now listen to what I said, in your life expect some trouble

When you worry you make it double

But don't worry, be happy, be happy now don't worry

(Ooh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh) be happy

put a smile in your face

don't bring everybody down like this

it will soon pass, whatever it is

Welcome and call to worship

Call to Worship For Father’s Day

So deeply do we care for you 

that we are determined to share with you 

not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, 

because you have become very dear to us. 

As you know, we dealt with each one of you 

like a father with his children, urging and encouraging you 

and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, 

who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.              

    1 Thess 2: 8, 11-12

Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water;

but a man of understanding will draw it out. 

The just man walketh in his integrity: 

his children are blessed after him       

Proverbs 20: 5&7 KJV

Family of God, from whom does our help come?

Our help comes from the Lord, 

the maker of heaven and earth.                              

Psalm 124:8

Hymn: Keep on the sunny side of life

 (Key of D)

1

There’s a dark and a troubled side of life;
There’s a bright and a sunny side, too;
Tho’ we meet with the darkness and strife,
The sunny side we also may view.

Refrain

Keep on the sunny side,
Always on the sunny side,
Keep on the sunny side of life;
It will help us every day,
It will brighten all the way,
If we keep on the sunny side of life.

2

Tho’ the storm in its fury break today,
Crushing hopes that we cherished so dear;
Storm and cloud will in time pass away,
The sun again will shine bright and clear. R

3

Let us greet with a song of hope each day,
Tho’ the moments be cloudy or fair;
Let us trust in our Saviour alway,
Who keepeth every one in His care. R

Opening prayer and Lord's prayer

 Opening prayer & Lord’s Prayer Song

Dear God, our Heavenly Father, 

we are all in need of your care. 

We thank you for the love you give to each of us,

and we ask that   

          (your father’s name)

feels your care this day. 

We are grateful for these men, 

who in so many ways help us grow and care for us. 

We thank you for them, and for all the men in our lives. 

Bless our families 

Help us show more patience than impatience; 

more laughter than anger; 

more understanding than disregard; 

more care than indifference. 

In Jesus’ name

who taught us to call you Father,

Amen.

Lord’s Prayer song

The Lord's Prayer

Words: Jim Strathdee Music: Anon; arr. by All Oppenheimer; accomp. by Jim Strathdee. In The faith we sing (2000). A supplement to The United Methodist Hymnal (1989).

A time for God's children

Hymn: This is my fathers world

(VU 296; Key of G [4th capo = C])

1

This is [my Father’s] world,

and to my listening ears

all nature sings, and round me rings

the music of the spheres.

This is [my Father’s] world,

I rest me in the thought

of rocks and trees, of skies and seas,

God's hand the wonders wrought.

2

This is [my Father’s] world,

the birds their carols raise;

the morning light, the lily white,

declare their Maker's praise.

This is [my Father’s] world,

God shines in all that's fair;

in the rustling grass or mountain pass,

God's voice speaks everywhere.

3

This is [my Father’s] world,

O let me ne'er forget

that though the wrong seems oft so strong,

God is the ruler yet.

This is [my Father’s] world,

why should my heart be sad?

Let voices sing, let the heavens ring:

God reigns, let earth be glad!

Scripture

1 Peter 4:12-16 (The Message)

12-13 Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.

14-16 If you’re abused because of Christ, count yourself fortunate. It’s the Spirit of God and his glory in you that brought you to the notice of others. If they’re on you because you broke the law or disturbed the peace, that’s a different matter. But if it’s because you’re a Christian, don’t give it a second thought. Be proud of the distinguished status reflected in that name!

1 Peter 5:6-11 (The Message)

6-7 So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.

8-11 Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.

May God bless to our understanding this reading of his holy word. 

Hymn: Blessed assurance

 (VU 337; key of B-G [capo on 3rd fret])

1

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

O what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

born of the Spirit, washed in Christ's blood.

Refrain 

This is my story, this is my song,

praising my Saviour all the day long;

this is my story, this is my song,

praising my Saviour all the day long.

2

Perfect submission, perfect delight!

Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;

angels descending, bring from above

echoes of mercy, whispers of love. R

3

Perfect submission, all is at rest,

I in my saviour am happy and blessed;

watching and waiting, looking above,

filled with God's goodness, lost in Christ's love. R

Sermon

Prayers of the people and benediction

Hymn: It only takes a spark

(VU 289)  

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.

2

What a wondrous time is spring when all the trees are budding,

the birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming;

that's how it is with God's love,

once you've experienced it:

you want to sing, it's fresh like spring,

you want to pass it on.

3

I wish for you, my friend, this happiness that I've found -

on God you can depend, it matters not where you're bound;

I'll shout it from the mountain top;

I want my world to know:

the Lord of love has come to me,

I want to pass it on.

Opening song: U2's I still haven't found what I'm looking for

1
I have climbed the highest mountains

I have run through the fields

Only to be with you, Only to be with you

2
I have run I have crawled

I have scaled these city walls

These city walls Only to be with you

Refrain

But I still haven't found

What I'm looking for

But I still haven't found

What I'm looking for

3
I have kissed honey lips

Felt the healing in the fingertips

It burned like fire This burning desire

4
I have spoke with the tongue of angels

I have held the hand of a devil

It was warm in the night I was cold as a stone R

5
I believe in the Kingdom come

Then all the colours will bleed into one

Bleed into one But yes, I'm still running

6
You broke the bonds

and you loosened chains

carried the cross of my shame, of my shame

You know I believe it  R

Welcome and Call to worship

Call to worship: Psalm 24 (VU)

The earth is God's, and all that is in it;

the world, and those who live upon it.

For God founded it upon the seas,

planted it firm over the waters beneath. 

Who may ascend the mountain of God?

Who may stand in God's holy place?

Those who have clean hands and a pure heart,

who have not set their minds on deceit,

nor made false promises;

they shall receive God's blessing,

righteousness from the God who will save them.

Such are those who seek God,

who seek the face of the God of Jacob. 

Lift up your heads, you gates!

Lift yourselves up, you everlasting doors,

that the One who rules in glory may enter.

Who rules in glory?

It is God, valiant and strong,

God, who is mighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, you gates!

Lift yourselves up, you everlasting doors,

that the One who rules in glory may enter.

Who rules in glory?

It is God of hosts,

God who rules in glory. 

Family of God, from whom does our help come?

Our help comes from the Lord, 

the maker of heaven and earth.                  

Psalm 124:8

Hymn: Morning has broken

(VU 409) 

1
Morning has broken like the first morning,

blackbird has spoken like the first bird.

Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!

Praise for them, springing fresh from the Word!

2.

Sweet the rain's new fall sunlit from heaven,

like the first dewfall on the first grass.

Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden,

sprung in completeness where God's feet pass.

3 

Ours is the sunlight! Ours is the morning

born of the one light Eden saw play!

Praise with elation, praise every morning,

God's recreation of the new day!

Photo by Solaiman Hossen on Unsplash

Opening prayer and Lord's prayer

Lord’s Prayer song

The Lord's Prayer

Words: Jim Strathdee Music: Anon; arr. by All Oppenheimer; accomp. by Jim Strathdee. In The faith we sing (2000). A supplement to The United Methodist Hymnal (1989).

A time for all God's children

Hymn: All God's critters

(Key of G) 

1
All God's critters gotta place in the choir

Some sing low, some sing higher

Some sing out loud on the telephone wire

And some just clap their hands, 

or paws or anything they got now

2

Listen to the bass, it's the one on the bottom

Where the bullfrog croaks and the hippopotamus

Moans and groans with a big to do

And old cow just goes 'moo'

3

Well the dogs and the cats they take up the middle

Where the honeybee hums and the crickets fiddle

The donkey brays and the pony neighs

The old coyote howls

4

Listen to the top where the little bird sings

On the melody with the high note ringing

The hoot owl hoots over everything

And the blue jay disagrees

5

It's a simple song of livin' that’s sung everywhere 

By the ox and the fox and the grizzly bear 

The grumpy alligator and the hawk above 

The sly raccoon and the turtle dove 

Scripture reading 1 Peter 3:12-22

(English Standard Version)

Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?

But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. 

Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated,

but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. 

Always be ready to make your defense to anyone 

who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you;

yet do it with gentleness and reverence. 

Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, 

those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ

may be put to shame.

For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God's will, 

than to suffer for doing evil.

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. 

He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit,

in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison,

who in former times did not obey,

 when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, 

during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, 

eight persons, were saved through water.

And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—

not as a removal of dirt from the body, 

but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, 

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, 

with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

May God bless to our understanding the reading of his holy word. 

Hymn: Higher ground

1

I’m pressing on the upward way,

New heights I’m gaining every day;

Still praying as I’m onward bound,

“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

Refrain

Lord, lift me up and let me stand,

By faith, on Heaven’s tableland,

A higher plane than I have found;

Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

2

My heart has no desire to stay

Where doubts arise and fears dismay;

Though some may dwell where those abound,

My prayer, my aim, is higher ground. R

3

I want to live above the world,

Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;

For faith has caught the joyful sound,

The song of saints on higher ground.  R

4

I want to scale the utmost height

And catch a gleam of glory bright;

But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found,

“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.” R

Sermon

Prayers of the people and benediction

Prayers of the people  (VU 400)

Refrain

Lord, listen to your children praying,

Lord, send your Spirit in this place;

Lord, listen to your children praying,

send us love, send us power, send us grace!

Benediction 

As the rain hides the stars, 

as the autumn mist hides the hills, 

as the clouds veil the blue of the sky, 

so the dark happenings of our lives hide the shining of thy face from us. 

Yet, if we may hold thy hand in the darkness, it is enough. 

Since we know that, 

though we may stumble in our going, 

thou dost not fall. 

~ Traditional Gaelic

Hymn: How can I keep from singing

(VU716) 

1 

My life flows on in endless song,

above earth's lamentation.

I hear the sweet, though far off hymn

that hails a new creation.

Through all the tumult and the strife,

I hear the music ringing:

It finds an echo in my soul ,
how can I keep from singing?

2

What though my joys and comforts die?

My Saviour still is living.

What though the shadows gather 'round?

A new song Christ is giving.

No storm can shake my inmost calm,

while to that Rock I'm clinging:

since Love commands both heaven and earth,

how can I keep from singing?

3

When tyrants tremble, sick with fear,

and hear their death knells ringing:

when friends rejoice both far and near,

how can I keep from singing?

In prison cell and dungeon vile

our thoughts to them are winging:

when friends by shame are undefiled,

how can I keep from singing?

4

I lift my eyes; the cloud grows thin;

I see the blue above it;

and day by day this pathway smooths,

since first I learned to love it.

The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,

a fountain ever springing:

all things are mine since I am Christ's -

how can I keep from singing?

Opening song: Holy Holy Holy

VU 315 (Key of G) 

1        
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;

holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty,

God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

2        

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,

casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;

cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,

which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

3

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,

though the eye made blind by sin thy glory may not see,

only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,

perfect in power, in love, and purity.

4        

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty!

All thy works shall praise thy name

in earth and sky and sea;

holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty,

God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Welcome & Call to worship for Trinity Sunday

Call to worship
Inspired by the Lorica of St. Patrick (Rev. Bruce Prewer, Uniting Church of Australia)

I bind unto myself this day the strong name of the Trinity.

         The Creator’s gifts of earth and sky,

         the flowing creeks and fertile land,

         the winter sun and summer moon,

         the roaring sea and golden sand.

I bind unto myself this day the Christ who wears our human clay.

         The baby sleeping in a stall,

         the healer touching our disease,

         the man of love upon the cross,

         the risen friend who hears our pleas.

I bind unto myself this day the Spirit who is here to stay.

The breath that makes the broken whole,

the truth that flows like liquid light,

the wind that sweeps my dusty soul,

the fire that warms the darkest night.

From now unto infinity,

         The strong name of the Trinity.

Family of God, from whom does our help come?

Our help comes from the Lord,

the maker of heaven and earth.                                        

Psalm 124:8

Opening prayer & Lord’s Prayer song

Through your word and spirit you created all things.

In Jesus Christ, the word made flesh,

You reveal your salvation in all the world.

Through your Holy Spirit,

You give us a share in your life and love.

Keep us firm in this faith,

And fill us with the vision of your glory,

That we may serve and praise you all our days;

Through Jesus Christ our Lord,

Who is alive and reigns with you

and the Holy Spirit,

One God now and forever. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer song

The Lord's Prayer

Words: Jim Strathdee Music: Anon; arr. by All Oppenheimer; accomp. by Jim Strathdee. In The faith we sing (2000). A supplement to The United Methodist Hymnal (1989).

A time for all God’s children

Hymn: We are a gentle angry people

(Key of C)

We are a gentle angry people       X 2

and we’re singing, singing for our lives.

We are a justice seeking people  X 2

and we’re singing, singing for our lives.

We are young and old together    X 2

and we’re singing, singing for our lives.

We are a land of many colours     X 2

and we’re singing, singing for our lives.

We are a gentle, loving people      X 2

and we’re singing, singing for our lives.

Scripture: Romans 5: 1-5; John 16: 12-15

(English Standard Version)

Romans 5 1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

John 16 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

May God bless to our understanding this reading of his holy word.

Hymn: The Apostle’s creed

(Tune: Arfon Major [Key of D]) 

1  

I believe in God almighty

Author of all things that be

Maker of the earth and heavens
Keeper of the sky and sea

I believe in God’s Son, Jesus

Now for us both Lord and Christ

Of the Spirit and of Mary

Born to bring abundant life

2

I believe that Jesus suffered
Scourged and scorned and crucified
Taken from the cross, was buried
True life there had truly died
I believe that on the third day
Christ was raised up from the grave
Then ascended to God’s right hand
He will come to judge and save

3

I believe in God’s own Spirit
Bonding all the saints within
One church, catholic and holy
Where forgiveness frees from sin
In the body’s resurrection
For the breaking of death’s chain
Gives the life that’s everlasting
This the faith that I have claimed

Note: This version of The Apostle’s creed is written by Sylvia G. Dunstan and set to the tune of Arfon or Tros y Garreg.

Sermon

Prayers of the people & benediction

(Adapted from Harry K. Zeller, Brethren Hymnal)

And now may the courage of early morning's dawning,

And the strength of eternal hills at noontime,
And the peace of open spaces at evening's ending,
And the love of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit abide in our hearts and in our lives;

Now and always.

Amen

Hymn: God of grace and God of glory

VU 686 (Key of G)  

1        

God of grace and God of glory, on your people pour your power;

now fulfil your church's story; bring its bud to glorious flower.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour.

for the facing of this hour.

2

Lo, the hosts of evil round us corn your Christ, assail your ways;

fears and doubts too long have bound us; free our hearts to work and praise.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the living of these days.

for the living of these days.

3        

Cure your children's warring madness, bend our pride to your control;

shame our wanton selfish gladness, rich in goods and poor in soul.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, lest we miss your kingdom's goal.

lest we miss your kingdom's goal.

4        

Set our feet on lofty places, gird our lives that they may be armoured with all

Christlike graces, pledged to set all captives free.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,that we fail not them nor thee.

that we fail not them nor thee.

Hymn: Your love is amazing

MV 26

1

Your love is amazing, steady and unchanging,

your love is a mountain, firm beneath my feet.

Your love is a myst’ry, how you gently lift me.

When I am surrounded your love carries me.

     Refrain (2X)

     Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah

     Your love makes me sing.

2    

Your love is surprising, I can feel it rising,

all the joy that’s growing deep inside of me.

Ev’ry time I see you all your goodness shines through.

I can feel this God song rising up in me.

3    

Repeat verse 1.

Last line of refrain: Your love makes me sing. Hallelujah.

Welcome and Call to worship for Pentecost Sunday

Welcome

Call to worship for Pentecost Sunday

Spirit of God, wind of hope, blow far from us

all dark despair,

all deep distress,

all groundless fears,

all sinful desires,

all Satan’s snares,

all false values,

all selfish wishes,

all wasteful worries.

Spirit of God, wind of joy, blow into us

your holy presence,

your living love,

your healing touch,

your splendid courage,

your mighty strength,

your perfect peace,

your caring concern,

your divine grace,

your boundless joy.

Spirit of God, wind of creation blow strong, blow fresh, blow now.

Family of God, from whom does our help come?

Our help comes from the Lord,

the maker of heaven and earth.                              

Psalm 124:8

Opening prayer and Lord’s Prayer song

Opening prayer

(inspired by Galatians 5: 22-23)

O bounteous spirit,

I ask you to bring forth in my life your fruits:

the fruit of love,

so I may love you above all things and all others for your sake;

the fruit of joy,

that I may find my delight in your service;

the fruit of peace,

that I may be pardoned through your mercy and may rest in your love;

the fruit of long-suffering

so that I may bear, with patience, all afflictions;

the fruit of gentleness,

that I may subdue all anger and take calmly and sweetly

all trials and provocations;

the fruit of meekness,

that I may forgive freely all who have hurt me

and endure with patience all burdens that are laid upon me;

the fruit of temperance

that I may restrain all my desires

and bring them into the subjection of your holy will. Amen.

* posted on Spread Jesus.

Lord’s Prayer song

The Lord's Prayer

Words: Jim Strathdee Music: Anon; arr. by All Oppenheimer; accomp. by Jim Strathdee. In The faith we sing (2000). A supplement to The United Methodist Hymnal (1989).

Hymn: Spirit of gentleness

VU 375

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 each thing:

wake from your slumbers and rise on your wings. R

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. R

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. R

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. R

A Time for all God’s children

Hymn: I am the dream

MV 106

1
I am the dream and you the dreamer.

I am the song and you are the rhyme.

You are the tune sung in ev’ry silence.

You are the now in the endless stream of time.

2

I am the bell and you the silence.

You are the yearning I cannot curtail.

I am the blest and you the blessing.

You are the wilds in which I lose my trail.

3

You are the word and I the echo.

You are the leader and I am the led.

You are the joy and I the laughter.

You are the rock on which I lay my head.

Scripture: Galatians 5: 22-26 (The Message)

22-23 
But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

23-24 
Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.

25-26 
Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.

(But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. [English Standard Version])

May God bless to our understanding this reading of His holy word.

Hymn: Search me O God

(Tune: Now is the hour [Key of G]) 

1        

Search me, O God, and know my heart today;     

Try me, O Saviour, know my thoughts, I pray.

See if there be some wicked way in me;

Cleanse me from every sin and set me free.

2        

I praise thee, Lord, for cleansing me from sin;

Fulfill thy word, and make me pure within.

Fill me with fire where once I burned with shame;

Grant my desire to magnify thy name.

3

Lord, take my life, and make it wholly thine;

Fill my poor heart with thy great love divine.

Take all my will, my passion, self and pride;

I now surrender, Lord In me abide.

4

O Holy Ghost, revival comes from thee;

Send a revival, start the work in me.

Thy word declares thou wilt supply our need;

For blessings now, O Lord, I humbly plead.

Sermon

Prayers of the people and benediction

Prayers of the people

Benediction 

The gifts of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23 &1 Corinthians 12: 4-5)

Minister The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives:

All            love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
                 gentleness, and self-control.

Minister There are different kinds of spiritual gifts,

All            but the same spirit is the source of them all.

Minister There are different kinds of service,

All            but we serve the same Lord.

Minister God works in different ways,

All            but it is the same God

                 who does the work in all of us.

                 In all of us;

                 Everywhere;

                 all the time.

                 Amen.

Hymn: I Feel the winds of God today

VU 625 (Key of Em)

1        

I feel the winds of God today;

today my sail I lift,

though heavy oft with drenching spray

            and torn with many a rift;

if hope but light the water's crest,

            and Christ my bark will use,

I'll seek the seas at his behest,

            and brave another cruise.

2        

It is the wind of God that dries

            my vain regretful tears,

until with braver thoughts shall rise

            the purer, brighter years;

if cast on shores of selfish ease

            or pleasure I should be,

O let me feel your freshening breeze,

            and I'll put back to sea.

3        

If ever I forget your love

            and how that love was shown,

lift high the blood-red flag above;

            it bears your name alone.

Great pilot of my onward way,

            you will not let me drift.

I feel the winds of God today;

            today my sail I lift.

Hymn: We are a rainbow

1
There are many colours in a rainbow
All bound together as one
They are the promise of tomorrow
Our hope for all the days to come

Refrain
We are a rainbow, together we are a sign
We are a rainbow, to live for humankind
We are a rainbow, it's time for us to shine
We are a rainbow

2
We all are children of that promise
Made for the whole world around
Wherever love brings us together
A rainbow can be found R

3
So if you see the world around us
And wonder how it can be
Remember we were given us a promise
A hope for all the world to see R

4
There is one who brings out all our colors
And binds us together as one
Reaching out to our sisters and our brothers
We find our place in the sun

We are a rainbow R

We are a rainbow  (Ed Kilbourne, © Eagle’s Point Music, Brent Holmes)

Welcome and Call to worship

Song: You shall go out with joy
VU 884 Isaiah 55  (Key G)

You shall go out with joy
And be led forth with peace,
The mountains and the hills
Will break forth before you.
There’ll be shouts of joy
And the trees of the fields
Will clap, will clap their hands.

And the trees of the fields will clap their hands,
And the trees of the fields will clap their hands,
And the trees of the fields will clap their hands,
While you go out with joy.

Call to worship: Psalm 96: 8-13

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
   bring an offering, and come into his courts!
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness
   tremble before him, all the earth!
Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!
   Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
   he will judge the peoples with equity.”
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
   let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
   let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
  before the Lord, for he comes,
  for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
  and the peoples in his faithfulness.
Family of God, from whom does our help come?

Psalm 124:8
Our help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.

Song: You shall go out with joy
VU 884 Isaiah 55  (Key G)

You shall go out with joy
And be led forth with peace,
The mountains and the hills
Will break forth before you.
There’ll be shouts of joy
And the trees of the fields
Will clap, will clap their hands.

And the trees of the fields will clap their hands,
And the trees of the fields will clap their hands,
And the trees of the fields will clap their hands,
While you go out with joy.

Opening prayer & Lord’s Prayer song

A prayer from the Iona Community

We have heard about you, God of all power. You made the world out of kindness, creating order out of confusion; you made each one of us in your own image; your fingerprint is on every soul. So, we praise you.

We praise and worship you.
We have heard about you, Jesus Christ; the carpenter who left his tools and trade; the poor man who made others rich; the healer who let himself be wounded; the criminal on whom the soldiers spat not knowing they were fouling the face of God; the savior who died and rose again. So we praise you.

We praise and worship you.
We have heard about you, Holy Spirit, You broke the bonds of every race and nation, to let God speak in every tongue; you made the disciples drunk with grace; you converted souls and emptied pockets; you showed how love made all things new and opened the doors to change and freedom. So we praise you.

We praise and worship you. Amen

The Lord's Prayer song

Our Father

Words: Jim Strathdee Music: Anon; arr. by All Oppenheimer; accomp. by Jim Strathdee. In The faith we sing (2000). A supplement to The United Methodist Hymnal (1989).

Children’s hymn: The farmer song & A time for all God's children

1
If I were a white Charolais, I’d thank you Lord, for giving me hay.
And if I were a Hostein cow, I’d thank you Lord, for showing me how.
If I were a curly haired sheep, I’d jiggle my tail and I’d give you a bleat, but…
I just thank you God for making me “me.”

Refrain
‘Cause you gave me a heart and you gave me a smile
You gave me Jesus, and made me his child
And I just thank you, God, for making me “me”

2
If I were a Case-I.H., I’d thank you Lord, for giving me fuel.
If I were a green John Deere, I’d be thankful for my power-shift gears.
And if I were an old, blue Ford, I’d finish my work and I’d take on more, but…
I just thank you God for making me “me” R

3
If I were a flower bed, I’d thank you Lord, for my blooming stems,
And If I were a garden plot, it’s tough to be thankful for the bugs and whatnot.
And as I mow my lawn I’ll say, “It’s a lot like farming in my own special way,” but
I just thank you God for making me “me.” R

(Same tune, different words)

A time for all God’s children

Hymn: There shall be showers of blessing

1
There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.

Refrain
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy drops 'round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

2
There shall be showers of blessing--
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain. R

3
There shall be showers of blessing:
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing;
Come and now honor thy word. R

4
There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we're confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call! R

Scripture: 1 Peter 2: 11-25

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Submission to authority

Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honour everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the emperor.

Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

May God bless to our understanding this reading of his holy word.

Hymn: Count your blessings

1
When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Refrain
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

2
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, ev'ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by. R

3
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high. R

4
So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey's end. R

Sermon

Prayers of the people & benediction

Prayer refrain: All who are thirsty
MV 4

All who are thirsty, all who are weak,
come to the fountain.
Dip your heart in the stream of life.
Let the pain and the sorrow be washed away
in the waves of his mercy
as deep cries out to deep. We sing

Come, Lord Jesus, come. (4X)
Holy Spirit come. (4X)

Welcome and introduction to the service

by John L. Bellin He was In the world.

© WGRG, c/o Iona Community, Glasgow, Scotland. www.wildgoose.scot. Reproduced by permission.

Hymn: O master let me walk with thee

VU 560 (Tune: The parting glass, traditional Scottish, key: D# )

1. O Master, let me walk with thee

in lowly paths of service free;

teach me thy secret, help me bear

the strain of toil, the fret of care.

2. Help me the slow of heart to move

with some clear, winning word of love;

teach me the wayward feet to stay,

and guide them in the homeward way.

3. Teach me thy patience; still with thee,

in closer, dearer company,

in work that keeps faith sure and strong,

in trust that triumphs over wrong,

4. in hope that sends a shining ray

far down the future's broadening way,

in peace that only thou canst give,

with thee, O Master, let me live.

Opening responses and prayer

Unless God builds the house,

   those who build it labour in vain. 

Unless God protects the city,

   those who guard it watch in vain.

Peace of the Maker, peace of the Son,

    God’s stumbling block and corner stone. 

Prayer

   A shade are you in the heat, protecting God;

      a shelter are you in the cold. 

   Eyes are you to the blind, restoring God;

      a staff are you to the weak. 

   An island are you at sea, providing God;

      a rock are you on land. 

   Our soul’s healer,

      keep us at evening, keep us at morning, 

      keep us at noon. 

   We are tired, astray and stumbling, shield us from sin.

      Our souls’ healer, shield us from sin. 

Silence. During the silence pick up a stone from the table

Hymn: Spirit of God, come dwell within me

(Tune: Leaving of Lismore, traditional Scottish, key: D)

1. Spirit of God, come dwell within me.

Open my heart, O come set me free.

Fill me with love for Jesus, my Lord. 

O fill me with living water.

Refrain 

Jesus is living, Jesus is here.

Jesus, my Lord, come closer to me.

Jesus, our Saviour, dying for me,

and rising to save his people

2. Lord, how I thirst, O Lord, I am weak.

Lord, come to me, you alone do I seek

Lord, you are life, and love and hope.

O fill me with living water. R

3. Lord, I am blind, O Lord, I can’t see.

Stretch out your hand, O Lord comfort me.

Lead me your way in light and in truth

O fill me with Living water. R 

Scripture reading: 1 Peter 2:4-10

Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture:

               “See, I am laying in Zion a stone,   

                a cornerstone chosen and precious; 

                and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe,

              “The stone that the builders rejected 

                has become the very head of the corner,” and

                “A stone that makes them stumble,

                 and a rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

              Once you were not a people,

               but now you are God’s people

              once you had not received mercy,

               but now you have received mercy.

Hymn: Thy word is like a garden Lord

(Tune: Rowan Tree. traditional Scottish, key: A [G 2nd fret]) 

1. Thy Word is like a garden, Lord, 

with flowers bright and fair;

And every one who seeks 

may pluck a lovely cluster there.

Thy Word is like a deep, deep mine; 

and jewels rich and rare

Are hidden in its mighty depths 

for every searcher there.

2. Thy Word is like a starry host: 

a thousand rays of light

Are seen to guide the traveler 

and make the pathway bright.

Thy Word is like an armory, 

where soldiers may repair;

And find, for life’s long battle day, 

all needful weapons there.

3. O may I love Thy precious Word, 

may I explore the mine,

May I its fragrant flowers glean, 

may light upon me shine!

O may I find my armor there! 

Thy Word my trusty sword,

I’ll learn to fight with every foe 

The battle of the Lord.

Word:   Edwin Hodder, The New Sunday School Hymn Book, 1863.

Three stone meditations: The stone God made

Please pick up your first stone and hold onto it. 

What I hold in my hand

is as old as me, and older;

as old as my name,

my language, my culture, and older;

as old as my race,

as old as the human race, and older;   

as old as the soil

as old as the sea, and older;

You … and you … and you …areGod’s own people,

chosen to proclaim the acts of God

who created you out of darkness into God’s marvellous light.

Once you were no people.

Now you are God’s people.

We come as living stones to build the house of God.

We welcome God within to bless us and our guests.

Prayer of intercession and prayer of our own reshaping

Christ of the road of the wounded

   Christ of the tears of the broken, 

In us and with us the needs of the world.

   Grant us our prayers of loving and hoping. 

   Grant us our prayers of yearning and healing. 

Prayer of our own reshaping

Say all together.

Christ, the Master Carpenter,

who, at the last through wood and nails

purchased our whole salvation;

wield well your tools in the workshop of your world,

so that we, who come rough hewn to your bench,

may here be fashioned

to a truer beauty of your hand.

We ask in your own name’s sake.   AMEN.

Three stone meditations: Come as living stones

Please put down your stone and pick up the second stone and hold onto it. 

'Come as living stones. You are the chosen race.'

   But, Lord, you know our trouble – the pace. 

   We are fools who work full time. 

   We are do-ers who are overdone. 

   We are a tired race, a fallen race, a busy race. 

 'Come as living stones. You are the chosen race.'

   We come as living stones to build the house of God. 

   We welcome God within to bless us and our guests. 

‘Come as living stones. You are the King’s priests.’

   But, Lord, you know our trouble –  

   we are not royal or religious. 

   We are commoners who enjoy insignificance. 

   We are the faithless, the faltering, the least. 

 ‘Come as living stones. You are the King’s priests.’

   We come as living stones to build the house of God. 

   We welcome God within to bless us and our guests. 

‘Come as living stones. You are the holy nation.’

   But, Lord, you know our trouble – 

   we are not guiltless. 

   We are the people who pray for peace, 

   yet arm for war. 

   We are the people who bemoan pollution, 

   yet poison the earth. 

   We are the people who disparage poverty, 

   yet bleed the poor. 

   We are a selfish nation, an indulgent nation, 

   a proud nation. 

‘Come as living stones. You are the holy nation.’

   We come as living stones to build the house of God. 

   We welcome God within to bless us and our guests. 

as old as the earth,

as old as the sun, moon and stars …

but younger than God.

For I made this stone,

made and meant it’s colour, its contours,

its journey from below to above.

And had earth never revealed it,

and had you never admired it,

it would still bear witness to my deep intention

to make the world, mean the world,

want the world, wean the world;

and one day, walk the world

and hold in my hand what you now hold in yours.

Silence 

Hymn: Spirit open my heart

More voices 79 (Tune: Wild mountain thyme, traditional Scottish, key: D) 

Refrain

Spirit, open my heart  

to the joy and pain of living. 

As you love my I love,  

in receiving and in giving, 

Spirit, open my heart. 

1.God, replace my stony heart 

with a heart that’s kind and tender. 

All my coldness and fear 

to your grace I now surrender. R

2.Write your love upon my heart 

as my law, my goal, my story. 

In each thought, word, and deed, 

may my living bring you glory. R

3.May I weep with those who weep, 

share the joy of sister, brother. 

In the welcome of Christ, 

may we welcome one another. R

Three stone meditations: The stone the builders rejected

Please put down the stone in your hand and pick up the third stone and hold it. 

This is the stone that the builders rejected:

He walked through the wilderness,

through the dry place.

He was thirsty and hungry and all alone.

As he picked up a stone, a voice said,

‘Turn it to bread,’ and he could have…

but he let the stone be a stone.

   Unsure, when what was bright turns dark 

   And life, it seems, has lost it’s way, 

   We question what we once believed 

   And fear that doubt has come to stay. 

   We sense the worm that gnaws within 

   Has withered willpower, weakened bones, 

   And wonder whether all that’s left 

   Is stumbling blocks or stepping stones. 

Pause

This is the stone that the builders rejected:

He came to his own, but they would not receive him.

They heard him speak, heard him open the scriptures,

but would not listen.

‘Enough, enough!’ They shouted and took him,

stones in hand, to a hill.

   Where minds and bodies reel with pain 

   Which nervous smiles can never mask, 

   And hope is forced the face despair 

   And all the things it dared not ask. 

   Aware of weakness, guilt or shame, 

   The will gives out, the spirit groans, 

   And clutching at each straw we find 

   More stumbling blocks than stepping stones. 

Pause 

This is the stone that the builders rejected:

He called those who had no calling.

He named those who had no name:

‘What you didn’t manage with fish

you’ll do with people - catch them,’ he said.

‘They call you simple Simon,

I name you Peter, the rock…

and on the likes of you…

on the likes of you, I’ll build my church.’

   Where family life has lost its bliss 

   And silences endorse mistrust, 

   Or anger boils and tempers flare 

   As love comes under threat from lust; 

   Where people cannot take the strain 

   Of worklessness and endless loans, 

   What pattern will the future weave - 

   Just stumbling blocks, no stepping stones? 

Pause 

This is the stone that the builders rejected:

He bent down to touch the ground, to cradle children,

to kneel with the one whom all despised.

‘Throw your stones,’ he said, ‘Throw them at her,

and let the flawless fling theirs first.’

They went away, stones in hand,

for another day and for him.

   Where hearts that once held love are bare 

   And faith, in shreds, compounds the mess; 

   Where [thoughts] and prayers no longer speak 

   And former friends no longer bless; 

   And when the church, where some belonged 

   No more their loyalty enthrones, 

   The plea is made, ‘If you are there, 

   Turn stumbling blocks, to stepping stones!’ 

Pause

This is the stone that the builders rejected:

He was edged out of the world,

onto a cross, into a tomb.

And a stone was stationed

to keep the dead away from the living,

but the stone was rolled away

for death was rejected.

Death died and the stone was rolled away.

   Ah God, you, with the Maker’s eye, 

   Can tell if all that’s feared is real, 

   And see if life is more than what 

   We suffer, dread, despise and feel. 

   If some by faith no longer stand 

   Nor hear the truth your voice intones, 

   Stretch out your hand to help your folk 

   From stumbling blocks to stepping stones. 

Silence

Sermon

Hymn: All glory be to Christ our king

 (Tune: Auld Lang Syne, traditional Scottish, key: D) 

1. Should nothing of our efforts stand no legacy survive

Unless the Lord does raise the houseIn vain its builders strive

To you who boast tomorrow’s gainTell me what is your life

A mist that vanishes at dawnAll glory be to Christ!

Refrain

All glory be to Christ our king!

All glory be to Christ!

His rule and reign will ever sing,

All glory be to Christ!

2. His will be doneHis kingdom comeOn earth as is above

Who is Himself our daily breadPraise Him the Lord of love

Let living water satisfyThe thirsty without price

We’ll take a cup of kindness yetAll glory be to Christ! R

3. When on the day the great I AmThe faithful and the true

The Lamb who was for sinners slainIs making all things new.

Behold our God shall live with usAnd be our steadfast light

And we shall ere his people beAll glory be to Christ! R

Benediction & sung blessing

Bless to us God      

   the earth beneath our feet. 

Bless to us God

   the path on which we go.

Bless to us God

   the people whom we meet. 

God of all gods

   bless to us our lives. 

 Sung blessing

(Tune: Danny Boy, traditional Scottish, key: A [G 2nd fret]) 

Now may the road rise gently up to meet you,

And may the wind be always at your back;

Now may the sun shine warm upon your faces

And may the rains fall soft upon your fields.

   Until we meet, until we meet again,

   Until we meet, until we meet again;

   May God now hold you, hold you, hold you gently;

   May God now hold you in the hollow of His hand.

Hymn: When mothers of Salem

(Key of G) 

1

When mothers of Salem 

their children brought to Jesus,

The stern disciples drove them back 

and bade them to depart:

But Jesus saw them ere they fled 

and sweetly smiled and kindly said, 

“Suffer little children to come unto me.”

2

“For I will receive them 

and fold them to my bosom

I’ll be a shepherd to these lambs, 

O drive them not away;

For if their hearts to me they give, 

they shall with me in glory live:

Suffer little children to come unto me.”

3
How kind was our Savior 

to bid these children welcome!

But there are many thousands 

who have never heard his name;

The Bible they have never read, 

they know not that the Savior said,

“Suffer little children to come unto me.”

4
O soon may the people

of every tribe and nation

Fulfill thy blessèd word and 

cast their idols all away!

O shine upon them from above 

and show thyself a God of love,

Teach the little children to come unto thee!

Welcome

Note: This Liberation Tulip is growing in Jennifer's garden.

Opening prayer & the Lord's Prayer song

 ~ submitted by Rev. Dr. Libby Grammer, Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church in Martinsville, VA. 

For all the mothers who are still with us,

and for those who have gone to be with Jesus,

we give thanks today.

For all those who mothered us,

some in addition to our own mothers,

some in place of absent mothers,

we recognize you, and give thanks for you.

For all women who have been figures of grace and love in our lives,

your example has been meaningful to us.

During this time of physical distance,

we wish we could be nearer to our mothers (and our children to us!).

We pray that this day brings phone calls and cards,

love and light, your way,mothers and mothering women.

We love you!

Amen. 

Our Father, which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth,

As it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our sins,

As we forgive them that sin against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, 

The power, and the glory,

For ever and ever.

Amen.

Hymn: Mothers love us & A time for all God's children

(tune: Jesus loves me, key of D) 

1
Mothers love us, this is true,

You just watch them, you’ll know too.

See them wipe away our tears,

Hold our hands to calm our fears.

Refrain
Yes, mothers love us; Yes, mother’s love us

Yes, mothers love us, we know that this is true.

2
Mother’s love us without praise,

They don’t wait for special days.

They just love us ev’ry hour

Teach us faith in God’s great power.

 
A time for all God's children

Hymn: Motherhood, sublime eternal

(Tune: In the bulb, key of G)

1
Motherhood, sublime, eternal, 

lives in God's great heart of Love;

Ever holds us, safe enfolds us, 

underneath, around, above;

Patient, tender, kind, forgiving, 

though in devious paths we roam;

Gently chides us, ever guides us, 

and all-loving, leads us home

2

Ev’ry wrong will sure be righted; 

ev'ry evil swept away;

Truth upspringing, justice bringing, 

ushers in the brighter day

Mother calls her earthly children, 

loves them, lifts them when they fall;

Striving, calling, fainting, falling, 

Motherlove enfolds them all

3

God is love, and love forever 

in the motherheart is blest;

Lives the longest, lifts the strongest, 

far outreaching all the rest;

Not by might, and not by wisdom 

comes our lifting from the sod:

Love's pure glory tells the story 

in the Motherheart of God

This hymn, written by Rev. J. S. Cutler, has its roots in the Mother-God theology of the 14th century English mystic Dame Julian of Norwich. It was included in the 1941 Baptist/Disciples of Christ hymnal "Christian worship." It's listed as "for Mother's Day," and puts an intriguing theological spin on that commercial holiday.

It is interesting to note that folks in some Episcopal (Anglican) churches seem to groove on "mothering father" (taking "mothering" as a better equivalent of "merciful" in Hebrew, which is from the root "womb").

It all means something.

Scripture reading 1 Peter 1: 17-23 New Living Translation

…remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favourites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.” For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake. Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.

May God bless to our understanding this reading of his holy word. Amen.

Hymn: How firm a foundation

Isaiah 43: 1-4 

But now thus says the Lord,

he who created you, O Jacob, 

he who formed you, O Israel: 

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; 

I have called you by name, you are mine. 

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; 

 and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; 

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, 

and the flame shall not consume you. 

For I am the Lord your God, 

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. 

I give Egypt as your ransom, 

Cush and Seba in exchange for you. 

Because you are precious in my eyes, 

and honored, and I love you.

VU 660 (Key of G)

1

How firm a foundation, you servants of God,

Is laid for your faith in God’s excellent word!

What more can be said than to you has been said,

To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

2

“Fear not, I am with you, O be not dismayed,

For I am your God, and will still give you aid;

I’ll strengthen and help you, and cause you to stand,

Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.”

3

“When through the deep waters I call you to go,

The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;

For I will be with you, your troubles to bless,

And sanctify to you your deepest distress.”

4

“When through" fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,

My grace, all sufficient, shall be your supply;

The flame shall not hurt you; I only design

Your dross to consume, and your gold to refine.”

5

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose, 

I will not, I will not desert to his foes, 

That soul, though all hell should endeavour to shake, 

I’ll never no, never no, never forsake.  

Sermon

Community gifts: Highland dancing

Prayers of the people

Mothers come in many different forms, and today we celebrate them all!

Thank God for mothers!

Everyone here is either a son or a daughter.

Thank God for my mother!

For those women who have joined God in Heaven 

and whom we miss dearly here on earth.

Thank God for the mothers of the past.

For every woman who is working day and night to rear her children right now.

Thank God for the mothers of today.

For all the women who are expecting, but aren’t quite mothers yet!

Thank God for soon-to-be-mothers.

For the women who took in others’ children through adoption and foster care.

Thank God for the mothers with hearts so big.

For those women who have lost a child and must carry on.

Thank God for the mothers who are so strong.

For all the women who have desperately wanted to have children of their own, 

but chose instead to mother everyone else.

Thank God for the mothers in spirit.

We thank you, Lord, for the women 

who have influenced our lives

in so many ways. We pray that we will

honor them in everything we do. Amen. 

Benediction

Song: Lean on me

Isaiah 40: 31

But they 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.

1

Sometimes in our lives we all have pain

But if we are wise

We know that there's always tomorrow

Refrain

Lean on me, when you're not strong

And I'll be your friendI'll help you carry on

For it won't be long'til I'm gonna need

Somebody to lean on

2

Please swallow your pride

If I have things you need to borrow

For no one can fill those of your needs

That you won't let show

Refrain

You just call on me brother, when you need a hand

We all need somebody to lean on

I just might have a problem that you'll understand

We all need somebody to lean on

Lean on me, when you're not strong

And I'll be your friendI'll help you carry on

For it won't be long'til I'm gonna need

Somebody to lean on

You just call on me brother, when you need a hand

We all need somebody to lean on

I just might have a problem that you'll understand

We all need somebody to lean on

3

If there is a load you have to bear

That you can't carry

I'm right up the roadI'll share your load

If you just call me (call me )…

Welcome

Opening hymn: The ninety and nine

1.There were ninety and nine that safely lay

In the shelter of the flock,

But one was out on the hills away,

Far off in the cold and dark;

Away on the mountains wild and bare,

Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.

2.“Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine;

Are they not enough for Thee?”

But the Shepherd made answer: “This of Mine

Has wandered away from Me;

And although the road be rough and steep,

I go to the desert to find My sheep.”

3.But none of the ransomed ever knew

How deep were the waters crossed;

Nor how dark was the night which the Lord passed through

Ere He found His sheep that was lost.

Out in the bleak desert He heard its cry—

All bleeding and helpless, and ready to die.

4. “Lord, whence are those blood-drops all the way

That mark out the mountain’s track?”

“They were shed for one who had gone astray

Ere the Shepherd could bring him back.”

“Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?”

“They’re pierced tonight by many a thorn.”

5. And all through the mountains, thunder-riven,

And up from the rocky steep,

There arose a cry to the gate of heaven,

“Rejoice! I have found My sheep!”

And the angels echoed around the throne,

“Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!”

(Repeat the last line of each stanza)

Opening prayer and Lord's Prayer song

Our Father, which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth,

As it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our sins,
As we forgive them that sin against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, 

The power, and the glory,

For ever and ever.

Amen.

Hymn: Blessed assurance

VU 337 

1. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

Born of His Spirit, washed in Christ’s blood.

Refrain

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long;

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long.

2. Perfect submission, perfect delight,

Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;

Angels, descending, bring from above

Echoes of mercy, whispers of love. R

3. Perfect submission, all is at rest,

I in my Savior am happy and blest,

Watching and waiting, looking above,

Filled with His goodness, lost in Christ’s love. R

A  Time for all God's children

Hymn: I'm gonna live/I've got peace

VU 575

1 I'm gonna live so God can use me

anywhere, Lord, anytime!

I'm gonna live so God can use me

2 I'm gonna work so God can use me

anywhere, Lord, anytime!

I'm gonna work so God can use me

anywhere, Lord, anytime!

3 I'm gonna pray so God can use me

anywhere, Lord, anytime!

I'm gonna pray so God can use me

anywhere, Lord, anytime!

4 I'm gonna sing so God can use me

anywhere, Lord, anytime!

I'm gonna sing so God can use me

anywhere, Lord, anytime!

VU 577

1 I've got peace like a river,

I've got peace like a river,

I've got peace like a river in-a my soul.

I've got peace like a river,

I've got peace like a river,

I've got peace like a river in-a my soul.

2 I've got joy like a fountain,

I've got joy like a fountain,

I've got joy like a fountain in-a my soul.

I've got joy like a fountain,

I've got joy like a fountain,

I've got joy like a fountain in-a my soul.

3 I've got love like an ocean, 

I've got love like an ocean,

I've got love like an ocean in-a my soul.

I've got love like an ocean, 

I've got love like an ocean,

I've got love like an ocean in-a my soul.

Scripture reading: 1 Peter 1: 3-9

From The Message Bible

3 What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, 4 including a future in heaven - and the future starts now! 5 God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you'll have it all - life healed and whole. 6 I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. 7 Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory. 8 You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don't see him, yet you trust him - with laughter and singing. 9 Because you kept on believing, you'll get what you're looking forward to: total salvation.

May God bless to our understanding this reading of his holy word. Amen.

Pastoral prayer

Hymn: To God be the glory

1
To God be the glory, great things He hath done,

So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,

Who yielded His life our redemption to win,

And opened the life-gate that all may go in.

Refrain

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

Let the earth hear His voice;

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

Let the people rejoice;

Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,

And give Him the glory; great things He hath done.

2

Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,

To every believer the promise of God;

The vilest offender who truly believes,

That moment from Jesus a pardon receives. R

3

Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,

And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;

But purer, and higher, and greater will be

Our wonder, our transport when Jesus we see. R

Sermon

Prayers of the people & benediction

Photo by Szabo Viktor on Unsplash

Hymn: How firm a foundation

VU 660  

1.How firm a foundation, you servants of God,

Is laid for your faith in God’s excellent word!

What more can be said than to you has been said,

To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

2. “Fear not, I am with you, O be not dismayed,

For I am your God, and will still give you aid;

I’ll strengthen and help you, and cause you to stand,

Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.”

3. “When through the deep waters I call you to go,

The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;

For I will be with you, your troubles to bless,

And sanctify to you your deepest distress.”

4.“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,

My grace, all sufficient, shall be your supply;

The flame shall not hurt you; I only design

Your dross to consume, and your gold to refine.”

5.The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose, 

I will not, I will not desert to his foes, 

That soul, though all hell should endeavour to shake, 

I’ll never no, never no, never forsake. 

Welcome & call to worship

Call to worship         Psalm 138

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
    before the gods I sing your praise;

I bow down towards your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love

and your faithfulness;
    for you have exalted your name

    and your word above everything.

On the day I called, you answered me,
    you increased my strength of soul.

All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord,
    for they have heard the words of your mouth.

They shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
    for great is the glory of the Lord.

For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly;
    but the haughty he perceives from far away.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies;
you stretch out your hand,
    and your right hand delivers me.

The Lord will fulfil his purpose for me;
    your steadfast love, O Lord, endures for ever.
    Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth             
    ~  Psalm 124:8

Opening hymn: Jesus lover of my soul

VU 669, Key: C

1          Jesus, lover of my soul,

            let me to thy bosom fly,

            while the nearer waters roll,

            while the tempest still is high.

                        Hide me, O my Saviour, hide,

                        till the storm of life is past;

                        safe into the haven guide,

                        O receive my soul at last.

2         Other refuge have I none;

            hangs my helpless soul on thee.

            Leave, ah! leave me not alone;

            still support and comfort me.

                        All my trust on thee is stayed,

                        all my help from thee I bring;

                        cover my defenceless head

                        with the shadow of thy wing.

3          Thou, O Christ, art all I want;

            more than all in thee I find.

            Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,

            heal the sick, and lead the blind.

                        Just and holy is thy name,

                        I am all unrighteousness:

                        false and full of sin I am,

                        thou art full of truth and grace.

4          Plenteous grace with thee is found,

            grace to cover all my sin;

            let the healing streams abound;

            make and keep me pure within.

                        Thou of life the fountain art,

                        freely let me take of thee;

                        spring thou up within my heart;

                        rise to all eternity.

A time for all God's children

Hymn: All things bright and beautiful

VU 291, Key: G

            Refrain
            All things bright and beautiful

            All creatures great and small

            All things wise and wonderful

            In love God made them all

1          Each little flower that opens,

            each little bird that sings,

            God made their glowing colours,

            God made their tiny wings. R

2          The purpleheaded mountains,

            the river running by,

            the sunset and the morning

            that brightens up the sky; R

3          The cold wind in the winter,

            the pleasant summer sun,

            the ripe fruits in the garden:

            God made them every one. R

4          The rocky mountain splendour,

            the lone wolf's haunting call,

            the great lakes and the prairies,

            the forest in the fall; R

5          God gave us eyes to see them,

            and lips that we might tell

            how great is God our maker,

            who has made all things well. R

Scripture

Thessalonians 1: 1-10   “The Message Bible”

I, Paul, together here with Silas and Timothy, send greetings to the church at Thessalonica, Christians assembled by God the Father and by the Master, Jesus Christ. God’s amazing grace be with you! God’s robust peace!

Every time we think of you, we thank God for you. Day and night you’re in our prayers as we call to mind your work of faith, your labor of love, and your patience of hope in following our Master, Jesus Christ, before God our Father. It is clear to us, friends, that God not only loves you very much but also has put his hand on you for something special. When the Message we preached came to you, it wasn’t just words. Something happened in you. The Holy Spirit put steel in your convictions.

You paid careful attention to the way we lived among you, and determined to live that way yourselves. In imitating us, you imitated the Master. Although great trouble accompanied the Word, you were able to take great joy from the Holy Spirit!—taking the trouble with the joy, the joy with the trouble.

Do you know that all over the provinces of both Macedonia and Achaia believers look up to you? The word has gotten around. Your lives are echoing the Master’s Word, not only in the provinces but all over the place. The news of your faith in God is out. We don’t even have to say anything anymore—you’re the message! People come up and tell us how you received us with open arms, how you deserted the dead idols of your old life so you could embrace and serve God, the true God. They marvel at how expectantly you await the arrival of his Son, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescued us from certain doom.

May God bless to our understanding this reading of His holy word. Amen

Hymn: I need thee every hour

VU 671, Key: D

1          I need thee every hour, most gracious Lord;

            no tender voice but thine can peace afford.

                        Refrain

                        I need thee, O I need thee;

                        every hour I need thee.

                        O bless me now, my saviour;

                        I come to thee.

2          I need thee every hour; stay thou near by;

            temptations lose their power when thou art nigh. R

3          I need thee every hour, in joy or pain;

            come quickly and abide, or life is vain. R

4          I need thee every hour; teach me thy will;

            and thy rich promises in me fulfil. R

Sermon

Special music: South Mountain Gospel Singers

“Heaven’s sounding sweeter” from the CD Bev Shea Weekend July 2002

Pastoral prayer

Throughout the church, across the world, please loving God, may the message of the living Christ penetrate beneath the level of familiarity, and begin to awaken that which is lost and dying within the human spirit.

           Come living Christ,

         Come among us and make all things new.

For brilliant thinkers we pray, those whose thoughts divert them into doubts and enigmas that leave a genius confused while little children dance freely into your kingdom.

           Come living Christ,

         Come among us with the priceless gift of faith.

For confused minds we pray, those who have been over impressed with smart theories or bullied around by sharper intellects, and who this day live like puppets.

           Come living Christ,

         Come among us with truth

         that sets prisoners free.

For dirtied souls we pray, those who for the sake of varied hungers have told lies to themselves so often that they now believe their own crooked self-justifications.

           Come living Christ,

         Come among us with your light and make us see.

For thirsty minds we pray, those who are awakening to questions previously ignored, or who are dissatisfied with the answers of religious quacks and social dogmatists.

           Come living Christ,

         Come among us with waters

            that bubble up with eternal life.

For wounded souls and bodies we pray; those in hospitals and clinics, those who watch by their beds, and those who are grieving and waiting for funerals later in the week.

           Come living Christ,

         Come among us with rest for the weary

                  and peace for the distraught

For our own loved ones we pray, some with faith and others on the fringe, those who are strong and others who are weak, some who are confident and others who are riddled with anxieties, those close at hand and those who are far away in body or spirit.

           Come living Christ,

         Come among with that grace which shows

                its perfection in human weakness.

Amen! Even so come, Lord Jesus. Mara-natha!

         Amen! Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Hymn: He leadeth me

VU 657, Key of D

1          He leadeth me: O blessed thought!

            O words with heavenly comfort fraught!

            Whate'er I do, where'er I be,

            still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.

                        Refrain

                        He leadeth me! He leadeth me!

                        By his own hand he leadeth me!

                        His faithful follower I would be,

                        for by his hand he leadeth me!

2          Sometimes 'mid scenes of deepest gloom,

            sometimes where Eden's bowers bloom,

            by waters calm, o'er troubled sea,

            still 'tis his hand that leadeth me. R

3          Lord, I would clasp thy hand in mine,

            nor ever murmur nor repine,

            content, whatever lot I see,

            since 'tis my God that leadeth me. R

4          And when my task on earth is done,

            when by thy grace the victory's won,

            even death's cold wave I will not flee,

            since God through Jordan leadeth me. R

Welcome and announcements

Opening hymn: Leaning on the everlasting arms

(Key: G)

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.
 

            Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;

            Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

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.

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.

            Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;

            Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Opening prayer and the Lord’s prayer song

Our Father, which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth,

As it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, 

The power, and the glory,

For ever and ever.

Amen.

Children's hymn: Flower carol

(Tune: Good King Wenceslas; Key: G)

Spring has now unwrapped the flowers,

Day is fast reviving

Life in all her growing powers

toward the light is striving

Gone the iron touch of cold,

Winter time and frost time

Seedlings working through the mold

     now make up for lost time.

Herb and plant that winter long

slumbered at their leisure

Now bestirring green & strong,

find in growth their pleasure

All the world with beauty fills,

gold the green enhancing

Flowers make glee among the hills

    And set the meadows dancing.

Through each wonder of fair days

God himself expresses

Beauty follows all his ways

as the world he blesses

So as he renews the earth,

artist without rival

In his grace of glad new birth

    We must seek revival.

A time with all God’s children

Scripture: John 20: 19-31

Jesus appears to his disciples

¹⁹ On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

²¹ Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” ²² And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Jesus appears to Thomas

²⁴ Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

²⁸ Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The purpose of John’s gospel

³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

May God bless to our understanding this reading of his holy word. Amen.

Sermon

Special music: Marleen Fawcett

marleenfawcett.com 

Prayers

Photo by Szabo Viktor on Unsplash

Hymn: What a friend we have in Jesus (VU 664)

(Key: D)

What a friend we have in Jesus,

            all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

            everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

            O what needless pain we bear,

all because we do not carry

            everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?

            Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged;

            take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,

            who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness;

            take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden,

            cumbered with a load of care?

Christ the Saviour is our refuge;

            take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do our friends despise, forsake us?

Jesus' strength will shield our weakness,

            and we'll find new courage there.

Benediction

Closing hymn: Precious Lord, take my hand

Precious Lord, take my hand,

                lead me on, let me stand,

                                I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;

                through the storm, through the night,

                lead me on to the light:

                                take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.

When my way grows drear,

                precious Lord, linger near,

                                when my life is almost gone,

                hear my cry, hear my call,

                hold my hand lest I fall:

                                take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.

When the darkness appears,

                and the night draws near,

                                and the day is past and gone,

                at the river I stand,

                guide my feet, hold my hand:

                                take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.