Hybrid Church July 2, 2023 , Rev. Sally Bullas

Hybrid Church July 2, 2023 , Rev. Sally Bullas 

Musician: Dorothy Dittrich 

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

Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here! 

Welcome & Announcements 

Whether you are gathering in person, on zoom or worshipping at home with the bulletin, welcome! We are one community, one in the body of Christ.  

Centering & Stillness                                   

“O dear one, you need never feel abandoned, or have need to prove your worth.  If you would but pause, be very still, and listen to your heart’s ear, you would come to know that you are loved by the Friend even more than a parent for its child.”                                               (From “Meditations and Mandalas:   Simple Songs for the Spiritual Life”) by Nan C. Merrill) 

                                    (invitation to sit in silence) 

Introit: Come and Fill Our Hearts     MV #16      

Come and fill our hearts with your peace.  

            You alone, O God, are holy.   Come and fill our hearts with your peace, 

          alleluia! (X2) 

Lighting of the Christ Candle   One: Christ is our Light. 

All: Thanks be to God! 

(the Christ Candle is lit) 

Greeting 

One:  The grace of Christ Jesus, the love of God,    and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 

All:  And also with you 

Hymn: Bathe Me in Your Light         MV #82 
1Bathe me in your light, O God of All, Creator, 

Let it shine upon my soul with healing and with grace, Be to me a beacon bright through shadows of life’s wounding, Showing me the way to live in faith, in your embrace.  

2Bathe me in your light, O Source of Awe and Wonder, 

Help me walk the sacred path of harmony and peace, May I be attentive to the musings of your presence, Drinking from the well of hope that brings the heart release.  

3Bathe me in your grace, O One of Spirit’s longing; Teach me of your gentle ways that fill the soul with strength. 

Guide me on the pilgrimage that leads to truth and wholeness,    Fill me with your promise of a love that knows no length.  

Opening Words     (Nan C. Merrill, adapted) 

One: Be still, dear one, for all is well.  Your fears will soon fade away.  All: Love is stronger than fear. 

One: Remember, I am with you always, closer than your every breath. 

All: We belong to one another.” 

One: Welcome are you, O Divine Friend, in the secret room of our hearts.                                                                      

Opening Prayer      (Nan C. Merrill, adapted) 

One: You do not leave me alone with my anger and fears.  

All: You patiently await my call.  

One: When I calm down and listen in silence, your voice breaks     through my walls.  

All: May we rest in your love.  Do not let pride keep us from     making amends with those we have hurt by word or deed. 

One: Therein lies healing and freedom.   

All: May we be gentle with ourselves and remember our true    selves.  

One: Know that the Divine Friend is with you always. 

All: Amen.                                                                    

Passing of the Peace 

One:  The peace of Christ be with you!  

All:   And also with you! 

You are invited to turn to those directly around you and share Christ’s peace. Those on zoom, please unmute and share with one another. 

Reader: By the gift of your Spirit, calm and quiet our souls that we may hear your Word today and be lifted up to walk with you. In Christ’s  name we pray. Amen 

Genesis 22:1-14 (NRSV)  Reader: Tim Leadem 

After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ He said, ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burntoffering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.’ So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt-offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. Then Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you.’ Abraham took the wood of the burnt-offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Isaac said to his father Abraham, ‘Father!’ And he said, ‘Here I am, my son.’ He said, ‘The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt-offering?’ Abraham said, ‘God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son.’ So the two of them walked on together. 

When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.’ And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burntoffering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place ‘The Lord will provide’; as it is said to this day, ‘On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.’ 

Psalm 13           VU #734 

Refrain:  

Be still my soul, for God is on your side.  God is on your side. 

How long, O God, will you utterly forget me?  

                How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I suffer anguish in my soul, and be so grieved in my heart day and night? 

How long shall my enemy triumph over me?   R 

Look at me, and answer me, O God, my God;  give light to my eyes, least I fall asleep in death 

Lest my enemies claim to have prevailed against me, lest my foes rejoice at my downfall But my trust is in your mercy. 

Let my heart be joyful in your salvation. 

I will sing to you, O God, because you have dealt so lovingly with me. I will praise your name, O God most high.   R

Gospel Reading:                                                                          Reader: Tim Leadem As is your custom, please stand or sit for the reading of the gospel.  Reader: God be with you.   

All:         And also with you 

Reader:  The Good News of Jesus the Christ according to Matthew All:    Glory to you, Christ Jesus. 

Matthew 10:40-42 

‘Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.’ 

          Reader: This is the Gospel of Christ.    

          All:        Praise be to Jesus Christ        

Reflection:  “A Strange Sacrifice” 

Hymn: Like a Mighty River Flowing     VU #267 
1Like a mighty river flowing, like a flower in beauty growing, far beyond all human knowing is the perfect peace of God. 

2Lke the hills serene and even, like the coursing clouds of heaven, like the heart that's been forgiven is the perfect peace of God. 

3Like the summer breezes playing, like the tall trees softly swaying, like the lips of silent praying is the perfect peace of God. 

4Like the morning sun ascended, like the scents of evening blended, like a friendship never ended is the perfect peace of God. 

5Like the azure ocean swelling, like the jewel all-excelling, far beyond our human telling is the perfect peace of God. 

A Statement of Faith     (Daniel Sire, progressivechristianity.org)

I believe in God, the source of all life, wholeness, and love. 

I believe that God is revealed in Jesus Christ. 

I believe that in his life, Jesus reveals God in grace, mercy,      forgiveness, and justice. 

I believe that in his death, Jesus reveals God’s determined presence in the world even in the face of hatred, violence, and    pain.  

I believe that in his resurrection, Jesus reveals God calling us to        abundant life both now and forever; life beyond our fearful and    fragile imaginations. 

I believe that God lives among us, within us, and through us by the    power of the Holy Spirit. 

I believe that God moves us to be together in communities of faith,    hope, and love. 

I believe these things not out of certainty but out of faith; as one    who trusts in the reality of God revealed in Jesus Christ through    the Holy Spirit. 

Minute for Mission 

Offering 

Offertory: Grant Us, God, the Grace      VU #540 
            Grant us, God, the grace of giving,  with a spirit large and free,that ourselves and all our living we may offer faithfully. 

Offering Prayer    (Nan C. Merrill) 

One: Let us celebrate the mystery of life! 

All: Let us commit our lives to the Divine Plan! 

Prayers of the People     Mona Smart         

One:  Loving God 

All:  Hear Our Prayers 

The Prayer of Jesus    VU #959  

            Our Father in heaven,     (Inspired by the words of Nan C. Merrill)

Thank You   hallowed be your name, your Kin-dom come,  Blessing   your will be done

One: Blessed is the Divine Friend who brings light to those who walk in 

          on earth as in heaven.  darkness, 

          Give us today our daily bread.    

All:  and love to those who open their hearts to the Divine 

          Forgive us our sins as we forgive

One:  Blessed are those who illuminate the Divine in all of creation,

those who sin against us.    

All:  with light and love and power!  Alleluia and Amen!      

Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil

for the kin-dom, the power   

 and the glory are yours,

now and forever. 

Hymn: One More Step Along the World I Go  VU #639 
1One more step along the world I go, one more step along the world I go, from the old things to the new keep me travelling along with you: 

[Refrain:] 

And it's from the old I travel to the new. keep me travelling along with you. 

2Round the corners of the world I turn, more and more about the world I learn; all the new things that I see 

you'll be looking at along with me. [Refrain] 

3As I travel through the bad and good keep me travelling the way I should; where I see no way to go 

you'll be telling me the way, I know: [Refrain] 

4Give me courage when the world is rough, keep me loving though the world is tough; leap and sing in all I do, 

keep me travelling along with you: [Refrain] 

5You are older than the world can be, you are younger than the life in me. 

ever old and ever new, 

keep me travelling along with you: [Refrain] 

  (Picture: Inspired by the words of Nan C. Merrill)