The truth is rarely pure and never simple. Oscar Wilde

Transcription

1 ( Rose coloured glasses used with permission of Savannah Van der Niet.) The truth is rarely pure and never simple. Oscar Wilde August 9, :15 a.m.

2 The Colonial Church in Prairie Village United Church of Christ Know When to Cut Bait Sunday Worship Service in the series Ethics for Life 1 Please silence your electronic devices in preparation for worship. * Please rise in body or spirit We Gather as God s People Gathering Music Herzlich Lieb hab ich dich, o Herr Alberti 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 Sacrament of Baptism for Grant Michael Donnelly Pastor: Friends in Christ, we are here to celebrate the gift of grace in the sacrament of baptism. People: There is one body and one Spirit. There is one hope in God s call to us. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Creator of us all. Pastor: Jesus came to John to be baptized by him. John tried to stop him and said, "I need to be baptized by you, yet you come to me?" People: Jesus answered, "Allow me to be baptized now. This is necessary to fulfill all righteousness." So John agreed to baptize Jesus. Pastor: When Jesus was baptized, he immediately came up out of the water. Heaven was opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and resting on him. People: A voice from heaven said, "This is my Son whom I dearly love; I find happiness in him."

3 Pastor: At another time Jesus said: Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I've commanded you. Baptismal Hymn #354 God, When I Came into This Life * 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. 2 We Hear a Word from God A Word Proclaimed Align with Reality Principle (Third Commandment) Exodus 20:7 You must not misuse the LORD your God's name. Self Made Religion Colossians 2:8 & See to it that nobody enslaves you with philosophy and foolish deception, which conform to human traditions and the way the world thinks and acts rather than Christ. Rules are human commandments and teachings. They look like they are wise with this self made religion... but they are no help against indulging in selfish immoral behavior.

4 We Respond with Thanksgiving and Prayer 3 * Hymn #316 We Limit Not the Truth of God Call to Offering and Offertory Sonata No. 12 Lefèvre offered by Mary Burnett * 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 God of love, we give thanks and ask for blessings on all our gifts. May they be pleasing in your sight. Amen. 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. 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.

5 We Depart to Serve 4 * Hymn #76 Sent Forth by God s Blessing * 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 Komm, Gott Schöpfer Leavitt Liturgist: Joan Gilson Children s Conversation: Marilyn Uppman Greeter: Bill Sanderson Head Usher: Chester Bender Ushers: Bill Yohn, Bob Starcke, Bob LeVeau, Chester Bender Parents and Godparents: Lisa and Anthony Donnelly, Stan and Sarah Duitsman

6 Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost August 9, 2015 John 6:35, Shaping Community 5 Shoes can be an obsession for some people. The Rev. Angela Roach Roberson, pastor of Congregational United Church of Christ in High Point, North Carolina, has a passion for shoes but not as a fashion statement. She is on a mission to collect 10,000 pairs of shoes to benefit Shoeman Water Projects, a ministry that turns shoes into water. The project sends new and used shoes to street vendors in Kenya, South America and Haiti. The vendors then sell the shoes for pennies on the dollar with the proceeds used for well digging rigs, water purification systems and training programs that provide clean water. Back in November 2014, Rev. Roberson s congregation collected 1,700 pairs of shoes and other churches in the area collected a total of more than 1,000 pairs. And they are not done yet. This is the way I think about what we are doing, Roberson said. On the surface of it, we are putting shoes on those who are barefoot. But when you think about that more critically, there are more pieces to this it cuts down on disease, it helps to keep people healthy. Selling shoes also creates a micro business which helps to feed and clothe families, Roberson said. If women don t have to get water so often to cook, clean and wash, girls can go to school so there s an educational component, too. With all the benefits from the Shoeman Water Project, the ministry is truly shaping community one step at a time.

7 6 We are covering First 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 First Corinthians, in particular. It is hearing God speak. Lesson 5 Spiritual Gifts and Love Homework Step 1: First Reading 1 Corinthians 13:1 13 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 mail a copy of the full lesson to you.)

8 7 Homework Questions: 1. What difference does it make for you to place 1 Corinthians 13 in the larger context of the church at Corinth and its challenges? (and to take it out of the context of a wedding service as a primary setting)? 2. Paul uses a number of powerful images in this chapter, for example, noisy gong. List all the images you find in this passage. is there one that you find particularly memorable or provocative? Why? 3. In the middle section where Paul talks about what love is and what it is not, there is some variety in different translations. For example, one translation (NSRV) reads, love is not irritable or resentful, while another (NIV) says love is not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs. Which of these two translations is more powerful to you? Why? 4. Sometimes religious faith can be dangerous. Is can foster great zeal or produce loveless zealots. Can you think of examples of this in the world today? What would Paul have to say about such forms of faith or religion?

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