used with permission of Jerry Worster) You aren't going to find anybody that's going to be successful without making a sacrifice and without

Transcription

1 ( Jesus Wept used with permission of Jerry Worster) You aren't going to find anybody that's going to be successful without making a sacrifice and without perseverance. Lou Holtz June 7, :15 a.m.

2 The Colonial Church in Prairie Village United Church of Christ What Lies Beneath Sunday Worship Service in the series Following the Way of Christ 1 Please silence your electronic devices in preparation for worship. * Please rise in body or spirit We Gather as God s People Gathering Music Ach Gott und Herr Walther Welcome and Announcements (Please sign and pass pew pads and fill out Prayer Request cards you may have. You can place the Prayer Request cards in the offering plates later in the service.) A Moment to Lay Your Burdens Down * Opening Hymn #483 Out of the Depths I Call * Call to Worship Psalm 130 Leader: I cry out to you from the depths, LORD! People: My Lord, listen to my voice! Let your ears pay close attention to my request for mercy! Leader: If you kept track of sins, LORD, who would stand a chance? People: But forgiveness is with you. That's why you are honored. Leader: I hope, LORD. People: My whole being hopes, and I wait for God's promise. Leader: My whole being waits for my Lord more than the night watch waits for morning! People: Israel, wait for the LORD! Because faithful love is with the LORD; because great redemption is with our God!

3 * Song of Praise Gloria #759 adapted Glory to the Creator, and to the Christ, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen. Amen. 2 * Sharing God s Welcome (Greet everyone in the hope of peace and friendship.) Children s Conversation (Children of all ages are welcome to come forward to the chancel steps. Following the Conversation, children are welcome to remain to worship or to participate in our Sunday School.) This little light of mine, I m gonna let it shine, this little light of mine, I m gonna let it shine, this little light of mine, I m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. We Hear God s Word A Word Proclaimed The Plot to Destroy Jesus Begins Mark 3:6 The Pharisees got together with the supporters of Herod to plan how to destroy Jesus. What Lies Beneath? Mark 3:20 35 When his family heard [Jesus was in town], they came to take control of him. They were saying, "He's out of his mind!" The legal experts came down from Jerusalem. Over and over they charged, "He's possessed by Beelzebul. He throws out demons with the authority of the ruler of demons." When Jesus called them together he spoke to them in a parable: "How can Satan throw Satan out? A kingdom involved in civil war will collapse. And a house torn apart by divisions will collapse. If Satan rebels against himself and is divided, then he can't endure. He's done for. No one gets into the house of a strong person and steals anything without first tying up the strong person. Only then can the house be burglarized. I assure you that human beings will be forgiven for everything, for all sins and insults of every kind. But whoever insults the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. That person is guilty of a sin with consequences that last forever."

4 He said this because the legal experts were saying, "He's possessed by an evil spirit." His mother and brothers arrived. They stood outside and sent word to him, calling for him. A crowd was seated around him, and those sent to him said, "Look, your mother, brothers, and sisters are outside looking for you." He replied, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" Looking around at those seated around him in a circle, he said, "Look, here are my mother and my brothers. Whoever does God's will is my brother, sister, and mother." Questions to think about: Why do you think Jesus family call him crazy ( out of his mind )? Why do you think religious leaders say Jesus is possessed by an evil spirit? In Jesus riddle, who is the strong man? For what purpose is he tied up? A Word in Our Holy Meal Communion Prayer Pastor: You have told us, O God, what is good and right. People: You gave us a vision of a peaceable Kingdom in the garden of Eden, where man and woman were united to serve you. Pastor: You have told us, O God, what is good and right. People: Instructing your people through the prophets to be united with one another, seeking peace. Pastor: You have told us, O God, what is good and right. People: Showing us a different way of living in community through Jesus Christ. Pastor: Loving God, you have invited us time and time again to do what is good and right in your sight. To live the way that you intended us to live, in a community of peace and wholeness. You have given us every opportunity to return to you and embrace your vision. We witness to you now, joining our voices together and remembering your reign of peace and love and justice. (Written by Rev. Michelle Bodle) Remembering and Consecrating 3

5 Sharing the Bread and Cup (As the bread and cup are served, we will sing Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ, which is #347 in the hymnal. Drink the cup as you are served as a sign of God s particular love for you. Hold the bread until everyone has been served, and we will eat it together as a sign of our unity in Christ.) Prayer of Hope Gracious God, you have made us one in the body of Christ, and nourished us at your table with holy food and drink. Send us into the world to do justice: to find the lost and lonely, to heal broken souls, to free prisoners, and make the powerful care. Grant us strength to persevere in resisting evil, and to proclaim in all we say and do your good news in Christ Jesus our Savior. Amen. 4 We Respond with Thanksgiving and Prayer Call to Offering and Offertory Abide With Us, O Lord Jesus Christ Dupre * Doxology (#780 adapted; tune Old Hundredth) Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, you heavenly host: Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One. Amen. * Prayer of Dedication We dedicate our gifts today to Strengthen Christ s church. Bless what we give to give life to energize Colonial Church and new life to new church starts around our nation. In all places, may God s Spirit flow through the church to feed hungry people, give fresh water to the thirsty, and be sure that the sick and the prisoner are never left alone. To this end, we offer ourselves and our financial gifts today. Amen.

6 Time of Prayer Prayers of the People Believing that each joy and/or concern expressed is indeed a prayer, after each expression, the Pastor will say: Lord, in your mercy. And the people may respond: Hear our prayer. 5 Praying in Silence Our Lord s Prayer ( Our Father is the traditional way this prayer begins. You are invited to use whatever name for God you find most meaningful (Father, Mother, Creator, God, etc.). These names for God create a beautiful chorus.) Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

7 We Depart to Serve 6 * Hymn #417 This Is a Day of New Beginnings * Renew Our Covenant (Turn towards the center aisle as we bless one another with the promise of our covenant.) We covenant with the Lord and with one another and do bind ourselves in the presence of God to walk together in Christian Love. We seek to worship God in spirit and in truth and to love our neighbors as ourselves. With God s help we will honor Colonial Church in our conduct, support its program, and extend the influence of Christ throughout the world. * Congregational Song of Blessing #809 God Be With You God be with you, God be with you, God be with you till we meet again. O God be with you, God be with you, God be with you till we meet again. * Benediction and Postlude Linstead Kern (Please stay for our important Annual Meeting as we hear and affirm our New Horizons vision.) (Some liturgical elements used with permission of United Church of Christ Worship Ways.) Liturgist: Deloras Pemberton Children s Conversation: Shea Zellweger Communion Servers: Sally Huggins, Stacy Huggins, Hayden Huggins Greeters: LaVonne and Richard Grossman Head Usher: Howard Lee Ushers: Bill Yohn, Bob Starcke, Ken Werne

8 7 During our Following the Way of Christ worship series, we will be taking a break from our intensive readings to focus on Second Corinthians in our 10:00am Thursday morning Bible Study. It s a short study for a few weeks this summer, so if you would like to give it a try, please do! Keep the simple point in mind: our primary purpose is not simply learning information about the Bible Second Corinthians, in particular. It is hearing God speak. Lesson 2 Earthen Vessels Homework Step 1: First Reading 2 Corinthians 4:1 15 Find a comfortable place to sit, when you can be undisturbed for 15 minutes or so. Read the text slowly, prayerfully and meditatively. Savor the words. Pray them. Put yourself into the text with your senses. When do you hear, smell, or feel? Pay attention to words or phrases that speak to you or jump out at you. Consider reading it aloud. Step 2: Second Reading of the same text This may happen at the same time as your first reading or at a different time or on another day. For this second reading, note any questions you might have. Is the reading all one, or can you see subsections or parts? Who are the main characters? is there a plot or story? Note additional information you need place names, monetary values, etc. to better understand what s going on. Step 3: Interpreting the Text and Homework Questions (if you are planning to come to class, give the church office a call so that we can stick a copy of the study manual into the mail for you.)

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