Home Church 12th Sunday after Pentecost, August 15, 2021, Rev. Karen Hollis

Home Church 12th Sunday after Pentecost, August 15, 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. We’re continuing this week with Jesus’ teaching in the gospel of John on the Bread of Life . . . we’re invited to consider some provocative statements by Jesus about his identity as Living Bread.

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.                           

Lighting Christ Candle

Once there was a man who said such amazing things and did such wondrous things that people began to follow him. Someone asked him, “who are you?” He said, “I am the light of the world.”

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     

Opening Words   -   John 1:1-5, 14, 16

In the beginning was the Word, 

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God.

All things came into being through him,

and without him not one thing came into being.

What has come into being in him was life,

and the life was the light of all people.

The light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness did not overcome it.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us,

and we have seen his glory . . .

and from his fullness we have all received, 

grace upon grace.

Opening Prayer                     

With gratitude and reverence we gather in your name, O God. We gather in our homes, in the midst of the lives we lead and turn to you in worship. Speak to us during this time, we pray; speak to us a word that makes a difference in our lives, that offers us what we need today . . . speak to us a word of comfort, of challenge, of hope. We are here, O God, to worship you. In Christ Jesus we pray, Amen.

Hymn: O Jesus, Joy of Loving Hearts   -  VU #472

1 O Jesus, joy of loving hearts,

the fount of life, the light of all

from every bliss that earth imparts,

we turn, unfilled, to hear your call.

2 Your truth unchanged has ever stood;

you plead with all to call on you,

to those who seek you, you are good,

to those who find you, life is new.

3 We taste your ever-living bread,

and long to feast upon you still;

we drink of you, the fountainhead,

our thirsting souls from you we fill.

4 O Jesus, ever with us stay;

make all our moments calm and bright;

chase the bleak night of sin away;

shed o'er the world your holy light.

Prayer of Confession   -   BAS

Most Merciful God,

We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.

Silent prayer of confession

Assurance of Grace 

God draws near to us this day and all days; God’s love knows no bounds and sees no barriers; it reaches even the darkest places and brings them to the light. Thanks be to God.

Peace of Christ 

Whenever we gather, Christ is present with us. Let us share the peace he brings. Please unmute and let us share the peace of Christ with one another. 

            One: The Peace of Christ be with you!

            All:   And also with you!

First Reading: 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14  -    Mollie Ford

Then David slept with his ancestors, and was buried in the city of David. The time that David reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned for seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David; and his kingdom was firmly established. Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David; only, he sacrificed and offered incense at the high places. The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt-offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, ‘Ask what I should give you.’ And Solomon said, ‘You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart towards you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?’ It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, ‘Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honour all your life; no other king shall compare with you. If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life.’

Psalm 111 (Lynn C. Baumann)   -   Don Butt

In the congregation all who worship you with hearts made right, I shout with all my being, “Hallelujah!”

And hear again the litany of praise, for deeds and acts and ways which are for us a sacred teaching to be learned.

Your works brim fully of majesty, your splendor shines through everything, and right-relationship grounds all that is.

       These last and will not fade from life or mind,

For we remember well, with pure delight, your utter graciousness, your deep compassion.

You are the source of bread and life, you feed the souls of those in covenant with you.

You show them works of utmost strength. You give the nations into their care.

Your two hands guide and guard with firm command their names, fidelity and justice.

And these are counter-balanced as a higher law, that will not wane, but lasts,

       And so you send restoring power, in bonds that hold forever.

We stand in awe, aware of these, of wisdom’s first and final law,

Our understanding grows as does our praise for promises you’ve hidden in your holy name until the end of time.

Gospel Reading    -  Don Butt

One:    God be with you.          

All:      And also with you.

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

All:      Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

John 6:51-58 (Inclusive Bible)

       I myself am the living bread come down from heaven.

       If any eat this bread, they will live forever;

       the bread I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

The temple authorities then began to argue with one another. “How can he give us his flesh to eat?”

Jesus replied,

“The truth of the matter is, if you don’t eat flesh and drink the blood of the Chosen One, you won’t have life in you.

Those who do eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day.

For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.

Everyone who eat my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I live in them. Just as the living Abba God sent me and I have life because of Abba God, so those who feed on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. It’s not the kind of bread your ancestors ate, for they died; whoever eats this kind of bread will live forever.”

One: This is the Gospel of Christ; 

All:   Praise be to Jesus Christ

Reflection:                        

Silent Reflection

Iona Affirmation of Faith

Let us affirm our faith . . . 

We believe in God above us, Maker and Sustainer of all life, 

of sun and moon, of water and earth, of male and female. 

We believe in God beside us, Jesus Christ, the word made flesh, 

born of a woman, servant to the poor, tortured and nailed to a tree. 

A man of sorrows, he died forsaken. 

He descended into the earth to the place of death. 

On the third day he rose from the tomb. 

He ascended into heaven to be everywhere present, 

and His kingdom will come on earth. 

We believe in God within us, the Holy Spirit of Pentecostal fire, 

life-giving breath of the church, spirit of healing and forgiveness, 

source of resurrection and of eternal life. Amen

Prayers of the People  -    Paddy Waymark

One:   God of Strength,

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  - Rob Brockley – Pastoral Relations

Offering Prayer

Let us pray… We give thanks for our church community, for the many relationships that make up the whole and for those who intentionally and skillfully support those relationships. Help us, we pray to be a community where healthy boundaries are maintained, where we can speak truth in love and respect. As we walk together, a community on a journey, may we ground ourselves in your love and look to you as the source of new life and reconciliation. In Christ, the great reconciler we pray, Amen.

Hymn: Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether  - VU #479

1 Draw us in the Spirit's tether,

For when humbly in Your name

Two or three are met together,

You are in the midst of them;

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Touch we now Your garment's hem.

2 As disciples used to gather

In the name of Christ to sup,

Then with thanks to God the Giver

Break the bread and bless the cup,

Alleluia! Alleluia!

So now bind our friendship up.

3 All our meals and all our living

Make as sacraments of You,

That by caring, helping, giving,

We may be disciples true.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

We will serve with faith anew.

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.

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

Female: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!