Third Sunday after Pentecost
21 June, 2020
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a clanging cymbal.
St. Paul
Call to Worship
"Psalm 134 (Bless The Lord)"
words: Robbie Seay (based on Psalm 134)
music: Robbie Seay
Come and bless the Lord (3x)
all you servants of God
Lift up your hands (lift up your hands)
to the holy place (to the holy place)
lift up your hands (lift up your hands)
and bless his name
Hear me, Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord,
for I call to you all day long.
Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
for I put my trust in you. (Psalm 86:1-4)
Hymn
"'Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus"
words: Louisa M.R. Stead (c. 1850-1917)
music: William J. Kirkpatrick (1838-1931) additional music & arr.: Latifah Alattas, Reid Phillips, Dann Stockton
'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
and to take him at his word
just to rest upon his promise
and to know, "Thus sayeth the Lord"
chorus:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him
How I've proved him o'er and o'er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus
O for grace to trust him more
and more, and more
and more, and more
O how sweet to trust in Jesus
just to trust his cleansing blood
and in simple faith to plunge me
‘neath the healing, cleansing flood
chorus
I'm so glad I learned to trust thee
precious Jesus, Savior, friend
and I know that thou art with me
wilt be with me to the end
the end, the end
the end, the end
chorus
Scripture Reading
Isaiah 65:1-3a, 13-17 (niv)
“I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me;
I was found by those who did not seek me.
To a nation that did not call on my name,
I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’
2 All day long I have held out my hands
to an obstinate people,
who walk in ways not good,
pursuing their own imaginations—
3 a people who continually provoke me
to my very face
13 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“My servants will eat,
but you will go hungry;
my servants will drink,
but you will go thirsty;
my servants will rejoice,
but you will be put to shame.
14 My servants will sing
out of the joy of their hearts,
but you will cry out
from anguish of heart
and wail in brokenness of spirit.
15 You will leave your name
for my chosen ones to use in their curses;
the Sovereign Lord will put you to death,
but to his servants he will give another name.
16 Whoever invokes a blessing in the land
will do so by the one true God;
whoever takes an oath in the land
will swear by the one true God.
For the past troubles will be forgotten
and hidden from my eyes.
17 “See, I will create
new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
nor will they come to mind.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Confession
O Lord, you have examined our heart and know everything about us.
You know when we sit down or stand up.
You know our thoughts even when we are far away.
You see us travel and when we rest at home. You know everything we do.
You know what we are going to say even before it is said, Lord.
You go before us and follow us.
Search us, O God, and know our hearts; test us and know our anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in us that offends you,
and lead us along the path of everlasting life. (based on Psalm 139)
Confession
Take a moment now to acknowledge these things silently before the Lord, knowing forgiveness and rest are freely available in Jesus.
Receiving of Grace
I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.
Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
Hear and know that you are forgiven and be at peace.
Thanks be to God.
All Souls Kids is taking a break this week and will be back next Sunday! In the meantime, feel free to play back one of our previous weeks' videos.
Reflection
Andy Pelander
Matthew 7:13-29 (niv)
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day,‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Prayers of the People
Show us your mercy, O Lord;
Show us your mercy, O Lord;
And grant us your salvation.
Clothe your ministers with righteousness;
Let your people sing with joy.
Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;
For only in you can we live in safety.
Lord, keep this nation under your care;
And guide us in the way of justice and truth.
Let your way be known upon earth;
Your saving health among all nations.
Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.
Show us your mercy, O Lord;
Show us your mercy, O Lord. Amen.
Hymn
"How Long?"
words: Isaac Wardell
music: Issac Wardell
How long will you turn your face away?
How long? Do you hear us when we pray?
On and on, still we walk this pilgrim way
How long?
How long ‘til your children find their rest?
How long ‘til you draw them to your breast?
We go on holding to your promises
How long?
chorus:
‘Til you wipe away the tears from every eye
‘Til we see our home descending from the sky
Do we wait in vain?
Jesus, give us hope again
How long ‘til your word will still the storm?
How long ‘til you bear your mighty arm?
How we groan ‘til you save us from the thorns
How long?
chorus
How long? Sweet the dawn that ends the race
How long? Weak our hearts but strong our legs
Looking on, great that cloud of witnesses
How long?
chorus
Giving
Freely you have received; freely give.
(Matthew 10:8)
All we have is given to us by God. Our offerings express this joyful dependence as well as our commitment to join God in his work of renewal. He who met our most dire need through Christ will continue to provide for every need we have— so, whether we have much or little, God calls us to treasure and trust Him above all.
All gifts go toward ministry initiatives of All Souls and relief of those in need.
Benediction
May the blessing of God, the giver of every good and perfect gift;
and of Christ, who summons us to service;
and of the Holy Spirit, who inspires generosity and love, be with us all. Amen.
Let us go forth and serve our world as those who love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Thanks be to God!
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