Home Church 11th Sunday after Pentecost, July 11, 2021, Rev. Karen Hollis

Home Church 11th Sunday after Pentecost, July 11, 2021, Rev. Karen Hollis

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

Preparing the Space Around Us

Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here! Welcome if you are gathering on zoom or if you are worshipping at home with the bulletin. We are one community and all part of the body of Christ. I invite you to prepare the space around you so that for the next hour you can be fully in this worship experience, not to keep out the realities of the world, rather to focus us in the midst of it all on God. If you need to go and get something or shift something around you, feel free.

Preparing the Space within Us

Let us prepare now the space within us for a time of worship. I invite you to sit quietly, perhaps with feet on the floor, taking a couple of deep breaths and bring yourself into this moment. Open yourself to the presence of God who is with us and within us . . . as you intentionally open yourself to God, open yourself also to what you need from this time of worship.                         

Greeting                                                         
One:    The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, 

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

All:      And also with you     

Call to Worship - Jean Leckie, Gathering

One:    In the majesty of the mountain and the thunder of the waterfall,

All:      we can see God’s glory.

One:    In the call of the loon and the reflection of trees in still waters,

All:      we can see Christ’s mercy.

One:    In the rush of the river and the soaring of the eagle,

All:      we can see the Spirit’s power.

One:    So we come to worship the One who has the power to grant us mercy and forgiveness and lift us to heights of glory.

All:      We come to give God thanks and praise and to offer ourselves as God’s faithful servants.

Opening Prayer                                 

Gather us in, O God, as we come to praise and worship you. May this time fill us with delight and wonder so that our spirits may dance your sacred story in true celebration and devotion. Amen.

 

Hymn: Joyful, Joyful We Adore You  -   VU #232

1 Joyful, joyful, we adore you,

God of glory, life and love;

hearts unfold like flowers before you,

opening to the sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,

drive our fear and doubt away;

giver of immortal gladness,

fill us with the light of day.

 

2 All your works with joy surround you,

earth and heaven reflect your rays,

stars and angels sing around you,

center of unbroken praise.

Field and forest, vale and mountain,

flowery meadow, flashing sea,

chanting bird and flowing fountain,

sound their praise eternally.

 

3 You are giving and forgiving,

ever blessing, ever blest,

wellspring of the joy of living,

ocean depth of happy rest!

Source of grace and fount of blessing,

let your light upon us shine;

teach us how to love each other,

lift us to the joy divine.

 

4 Mortals, join the mighty chorus

which the morning stars began;

God's own love is reigning o'er us,

joining people hand in hand.

Ever singing, march we onward,

victors in the midst of strife;

joyful music lifts us sunward

in the triumph song of life.

Prayer of Confession -  Kathy Gallaway, Iona Community

Merciful God, for the things we have done that we regret, forgive us;

for the things we have failed to do that we regret, forgive us; 

for all the times we have acted without love, forgive us;

for all the times we have reacted without thought, forgive us; 

for all the times we have withdrawn care, forgive us;

for all the times we have failed to forgive, forgive us.

For hurtful words said and helpful words unsaid, for unfinished tasks and unfulfilled hopes, 

God of all time forgive us and help us to lay down our burden of regret.

Silent prayer of confession

Assurance of Grace 

God’s grace is not something we earn by being good enough or repentant enough; it is a gift freely given to us in love. Receive this gift today and know God’s love is for you. 

Peace of Christ 

Whenever we gather, Christ is present with us. Let us share the peace he brings. Please unmute and join me as north enders and south enders – those in the middle or off-island can choose your affiliation. North enders, we say together:

 

            South enders:  The Peace of Christ be with you!

            North enders: And also with you!

First Reading: 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 -  Susan Brockley

       David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. David and all the people with him set out and went from Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD of hosts who is enthroned on the cherubim. They carried the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart with the ark of God; and Ahio went in front of the ark. David and all the house of Israel were dancing before the LORD with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. 

       So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing; and when those who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. David danced before the LORD with all his might; David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. 

       As the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. 

       They brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the LORD. When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts, and distributed food among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to each a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people went back to their homes.

Psalm 24  - Susan Brockley

The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it;

for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers.

Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?

Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully.

They will receive blessing from the LORD, and vindication from the God of their salvation.

Such is the company of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.

Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.

Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.

Gospel Reading  - David Soy              

One:      God be with you.       

All:        And also with you.

One:      The Good News of Jesus Christ according to Mark;

All:        Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Mark 6:14-29 

       King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some were saying, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him." But others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised." 

       For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it." And he solemnly swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom." She went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" She replied, "The head of John the baptizer." Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

One: This is the Gospel of Christ; 

All:   Praise be to Jesus Christ

Reflection:    (attached)                    

Silent Reflection

A New Creed

Let us affirm our faith . . . 

We are not alone,

    we live in God’s world.

 We believe in God:

    who has created and is creating,

    who has come in Jesus,

       the Word made flesh,

       to reconcile and make new,

    who works in us and others

       by the Spirit.

We trust in God. 

We are called to be the Church:

    to celebrate God’s presence,

    to live with respect in Creation,

    to love and serve others,

    to seek justice and resist evil,

    to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,

       our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death,

    God is with us.

We are not alone.

    Thanks be to God.

Prayers of the People  - Betty Schultze

One:    Loving God,

All:      Hear Our Prayers.

Lord’s Prayer  - Ecumenical Version

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, 

and the glory are yours

now and for ever. Amen.

Offering - Paddy Waymark on behalf of Pastoral Care                

Offering Prayer Let us pray . . . 

Loving God, we give thanks for the container of caring that is the church, for the practice of accompanying each other through all the stuff of life that is foundational to our life together. We pray that in every card, every phone call, every visit, every hug, every errand done, your love is made known . . . and makes a difference. We pray in Jesus' name, as his hands and feet in the world. Amen.                                                

 

Hymn: You Shall Go Out with Joy - VU #884

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 all the trees of the field
will clap, will clap their hands.

And the trees of the field will clap their hands,
the trees of the field will clap their hands,
the trees of the field will clap their hands,
while you go out with joy.

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.

Blessing  - Iona Community

If you are with another person, you’re invited to bless each other, taking every other line.

One:      The Creator’s blessing be yours on your road, on your journey,    guiding you, cherishing you.

North:    The Son’s blessing be yours, wine and water, bread and stories,  feeding you, challenging you.

South:   The Spirit’s blessing be yours, wind and fire, joy and wisdom, comforting you, disturbing you.

All:        The Angel’s blessing be yours, on your house, on your living, guarding you, encouraging you. Let us walk together, a community on a journey, sustained in God’s blessing. Amen!

One:      Let us go now in peace to love and serve the Lord.

All:        Thanks be to God! Alleluia!