Home Church 5th Sunday after Pentecost June 27, 2021 Rev. Karen Hollis

Home Church 5th Sunday after Pentecost June 27, 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. 

Prelude: Ode to Joy by Beethoven    Colin Kilbourn                         

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   - UCC Worship Ways

One:    Sing Praises to God, all you faithful ones

All:      God hears us in our fear and our sorrow

One:    Where there was no way

All:      God leads us in a new way

One:    Where there was no mercy

All:      God surprises us with fresh mercy

One:    Where there was weeping

All:      God invites us to step into a new dance.

Opening Prayer   - UCC Worship Ways, edited

O Faithful God, You yearn to be so close to us that we can know you in every breath, in every hope, in every relationship. You long for us to trust in your power to bring to life new possibilities where there has been no hope. Meet us here today and teach us to recognize the ways of life and hope into which you are leading us. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

 

Hymn: Great Is Thy Faithfulness  - VU #288

1 Great is thy faithfulness, God our Creator,

there is no shadow of turning with thee;

thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;

as thou has been thou forever wilt be.

[Refrain:]

Great is thy faithfulness!

Great is thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

all I have needed thy hand hath provided --

great is thy faithfulness, ever to me!

 

2 Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,

sun, moon, and stars in their courses above

join with all nature in manifold witness

to thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. [Refrain]

 

3 Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,

strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow --

wondrous the portion thy blessings provide. [Refrain]

 

Prayer of Confession                                             

God seeks us in the particularities of our lives. In the joys that distract us

from the source of all gifts and in the challenges that derail our plans, God invites us to reach out for God . . . to be like the woman in the gospel who reaches out to Jesus for healing for herself or the father who risks the scorn of others to bring Jesus to his dying daughter. With confidence in God’s grace, let us bring our full selves before God with this question: in what areas of your life do you resist turning to God for grace and healing? You are invited to share your truth with God.

Silent prayer of confession

Assurance of Grace 

God’s grace is most potent in those specific places in our lives where we have avoided God or shut God out. Receive God’s grace this morning and experience the love that is specifically for you.

Peace of Christ 

It’s difficult in this virtual space to look into the eyes of another person and share Christ’s peace. We’ve tried zoom rooms, we’ve shared a collective call and response. This is one area that will be much more personal when we are in our building again. As we share the peace with each other this morning, I invite you to say your line while directing your words to a particular person on the screen. Those at the beginning of the alphabet, we say together:

            A-M: The Peace of Christ be with you!

            N-Z: And also with you!

First Reading: 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 (NRSV)  -  Owen McCooey

Listen for the word of God to you this morning . . .

After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. David intoned this lamentation over Saul and his son Jonathan.  (He ordered that The Song of the Bow be taught to the people of Judah; it is written in the Book of Jashar.) He said: Your glory, O Israel, lies slain upon your high places! How the mighty have fallen! Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon; or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, the daughters of the uncircumcised will exult. You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor bounteous fields! For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, anointed with oil no more. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, nor the sword of Saul return empty. Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with crimson, in luxury, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain upon your high places. I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; greatly beloved were you to me; your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

 

Psalm 130 (Lynn C. Bauman)  -  Owen McCooey

Lord, I am calling to you again from the depths,

in this place of despair hear my voice.

Listen, listen, if you will, for I am crying.

       If you were to note everything,

       all missteps and offenses,

       none of us could stand before you uncondemned.

But always, always you forgive,

and make us whole again,

and so we stand in awe before you, waiting.

       My whole being waits for you, my God,

       listening for your presence.

       I long to hear your voice again, speaking.

So like a watchman who anticipates the crack of dawn,

my heart waits for the first-light of your word.

       Listen, listen, wait in silence listening

       for the One from whom all mercy flows,

Who is the secret source of our redemption,

       and the healing of the wounds

       our sins have caused.

Gospel Reading - Angela Nutter

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 5:21-43 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live." So he went with him. And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him.

       Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, "If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well." Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, "Who touched my clothes?" And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, 'Who touched me?'" He looked all around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease."

       While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader's house to say, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?" But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe." He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, "Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha cum," which means, "Little girl, get up!" And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

One: This is the Gospel of Christ; 

All:   Praise be to Jesus Christ

Reflection:  Rev Karen Hollis                    

Silent Reflection                           

New Zealand Prayer Book 

Let us affirm our faith . . . 

You, O God, are supreme and holy.

You create our world and give us life.

Your purpose overarches everything we do.

You have always been with us.

You are God.

 

You, O God, are infinitely generous,

good beyond all measure.

You came to us before we came to you.

You have revealed and proved

your love for us in Jesus Christ,

who lived and died and rose again.

You are with us now.

You are God.

 

You, O God, are Holy Spirit.

You empower us to be your gospel in the world.

You reconcile and heal; you overcome death.

You are our God. We worship you.

Prayers of the People    -    Paddy Waymark        

One:    Giver of Life

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   -  Susan Brockley                  

Offering Prayer Let us pray . . .                                              

 

Hymn: We Are One  v.1,2,4  -  VU #402

1 We are one as we come, as we come, joyful to be here,

in the praise on our lips there's a sense that God is near.

We are one as we sing, as we seek, we are found;

and we come needful of God's grace as we meet, together in 

this place.

 

2 We are one as we share, as we share brokenness and fear,

in the touch of a hand there's a sense that God is here.

We are one as we care, as we heal, we are healed;

and we share warmth in God's embrace as we pray together in this place.

 

4 We are one as we hear, as we hear, heart and hand unite;

in the word we receive there’s a sense that God is light.

We are one as we leave, as we love, we are loved; and we seek justice in God’s ways as we move together from this place.

 

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.

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

A-M:      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!