Hybrid Worship 14 JUNE 2016 PENTECOST III

 

Hybrid Worship

14 JUNE 2016

PENTECOST III

Minister: Mona Smart

Music: Frances Armstrong

We acknowledge that 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!

Words for Worship

Words of response are in bold & italics

Prelude

Gathering Words

Today’s reading includes the “Missionary Discourse,” one of five of Jesus’ great speeches in Matthew. Some scholars propose the author of Matthew organized the book in this way to provide a Christian parallel to the Torah and the five books of the Moses.

The early church was clear that it was fundamentally called to a life of discipleship. Just as Jesus chose his twelve disciples in the gospel passage, Christ has called us and we follow him. This is essentially the key theme of this Sunday’s gospel reading.

Acknowledgement of the Land

We prayerfully acknowledge with thanksgiving that we gather on the unceded territories of the Snuneymuxw people. Gracious God, help us to seek a new relationship with the first peoples here, one based in honour and respect. Amen

Call to Worship or The Collect                                      (Episcopal Church)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,

and the fellowship of the Holy Sprit, be with you all.

And also with you.

Your Spirit prompts our seeking, guiding us to make us holy.

May your Holy Spirit transform our fears into love of ourselves, and others, and all the world. Amen

Lighting of Candle                                                                      (Episcopal Church)

We light the Christ Candle fully aware of our vulnerability and need.

The light of Christ’s love breaks in to fill our lives with love.
As we walk together in the light of Christ and the path of his teaching, may we be as a collective light to shine like a beacon in the world. Amen

Opening Hymn: Gather Us In (x3)                                             MV #7

Gather us in, ground us in you.

Gather us in, gather us in,

ground us, ground us in you.

Prayer of Forgiveness                                         (Anglican & United Church)

Merciful God,

We confess that we have sinned against you,

in thought, word and deed,

by what we have done and what we have left undone.

We have not loved you with our whole heart, mind, and strength.

We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.

Forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are,

and direct what we shall be, that we may delight in your will

and walk in your ways.

Amen

Words of Assurance                                                           (United Church)

Most merciful God,

We take comfort in the assurance that even those things that are hidden from memory, or are too deep for our words, are not beyond God’s forgiving love. God, who knows us completely, bestows pardon and peace. Amen.

Affirmation of Faith                                                               (United Church)

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.

Peace of Christ

May the peace of Christ be with you.

And also with you.

Let us share the peace of Christ with one another.

Prayer Before the Reading of Scripture       (Episcopal Church) Mona Smart

God draws near to us through holy scripture. Let us be prepared to be inspired by His word.

We open our ears to hear, and our hearts and minds to receive the Word of God.

Psalm 100                                                                               Mona Smart

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

come into his presence with singing.

Know that the Lord is God.

It is he that made us, and we are his;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise.

Give thanks to him and bless his name.

For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever,

and his faithfulness to all generations.

Scripture: Exodus 19:2-8a (NRSV)                                             Reader: Tim Leadem

They journeyed from Rephidim, entered the wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness; Israel camped there in front of the mountain.

Then Moses went up to God; the Lord called to him from the mountain, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the Israelites: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now, therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.”

So Moses went, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. The people all answered as one, “Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do.” Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord.

This is the Word of God.

            Thanks be to God.

Gospel Reading                                                            Reader: Tim Leadem

As is your custom, please stand or sit for the reading of the gospel.

God be with you.

And also with you

The Good News of Jesus the Christ according to Matthew.

Matthew 9:35-10:8, (9-23) (NRSV)

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless, like

sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not take a road leading to gentiles, and do not enter a Samaritan town, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick; raise the dead; cleanse those with a skin disease; cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.

This is the Gospel of Christ.

Thanks be to God.

Word: A Reflection on Matthew

Hymn of Response: Now the Green Blade Rises                VU #186

Life & Work of the Church

Prayers of the People                                                         Lynette Jackson                                                                                                     

Loving God,

            Hear our Prayers.

Prayer (sung)                                                                            VU #959

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 forever.

Amen

Offering (offering now to be collected)                                    CP #669

Praise God the Source of life and birth,

Praise God the Word, who came to earth.

Praise God the Spirit, holy flame.

All Glory, honour to God’s name.

Offering Prayer

In the name and in the spirit of Jesus, we bring our gifts to you, O God. Help us to give with them a ready mind, a willing spirit, and a joyful heart. Amen

Holy Communion

Invitation                            (United Church adaptation of a contemporary composition

of the Anglican Church based on a 4^th century liturgy)

Here is the table of the Lord.

We joyfully gather at the Lord’s table, open to all.

 

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

God be with you all.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts;

We lift them up to God.

Let us give thanks to God!

It is right to give God our thanks and praise!

It is indeed right that we should praise you, Gracious God,

for you created all things.All creation rightly gives you praise.

At your command all things came to be:

the vast expanse of interstellar space,

galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses,

and this fragile earth, our island home;

by your will they were created and have their being.

From the primal elements you brought forth the human race,

And blessed us with memory, intelligence, reason, and skill;

You formed us in your own image:

male and female you created us.

You made a covenant with Israel,

and through your servants Abraham and Sarah

gave the promise to a blessing to all nations.

Through Moses you led your people from bondage to freedom. Through the prophets you renewed your promise of salvation. Therefore, we give you thanks.

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, (sung)                                                  VU #942

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might,

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might.

Heaven and earth are full, full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Holy God, source of life and goodness,

all creation rightly gives you praise.

In the fullness of time, you sent your child Jesus Christ.

to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us.

He healed the sick and ate and drank with outcasts and sinners; He opened the eyes of the blind and proclaimed the Good News to the poor and to those in need. In all things, he fulfilled your will.

Breaking of the Bread

Loving God,

as we break bread and share the cup,

we give thanks for the bread and the wine,

fruits of your earth and of our labour.

We commit ourselves to your service

and that our lives may proclaim the mystery of faith.

On the night he was betrayed our Lord Jesus Christ took bread;

And after giving thanks to you, broke it, and gave it to his disciples.

And said, “Take, eat: this is my body which is given to you.

Do this in remembrance of me.

After supper he took the cup of wine;

And after giving thanks, gave it to them, and said,

“Drink this, all of you: this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for all for the forgiveness of sin.

Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.”                           7

Sharing of the Bread and Cup

We offer you, O God, this bread and this wine.

Send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts,

That all who eat and drink at this table may be one body, one holy people.

(Bread and wine to be served)

Prayer after Communion

Gracious God,

May our participation in the sacramental gifts transform us that we may live lives of thanksgiving and be faithful to your will.

Closing Hymn: Go to the World                                                VU #420

Blessing & Sending

May the God of hope fill us with all joy

and guide and comfort us in the disruptions

and turnings of our lives,

so that we may abound

in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.        

Postlude

 

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