July 5 Worship

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

We Gather

CENTERING WORDS

“Come to me . . . and I will give you rest,” Jesus promises. Where do we go, and to whom do we turn, to discover the truth of these words?

GATHERING MUSIC

WELCOME and CALL TO WORSHIP

The music is playing, and God is calling.

We have come to sing and dance with God.

The prayers are flowing, and Spirit is moving.

Breathe on us, breath of God.

Christ promises rest and renewal, when we come to him.

We are here, trusting this sacred promise.

OPENING HYMN No. 104

O Lord, How Shall I Meet You

Because the singing of hymns is discouraged during this period of pandemic, you are invited to meditate on verses 1 & 3 below.

O Lord, how shall I meet you,

how welcome you aright?

Your people long to greet you,

my hope, my heart’s delight!

O kindle, Lord most holy,

a lamp within my breast,

to do in spirit lowly

all that may please you best.

You come, O Lord, with gladness,

in mercy and goodwill,

to bring an end to sadness

and bid our fears be still.

In patient expectation

we live for that great day

when your renewed creation

your glory shall display.

CALL TO PRAYERS

Come to Christ with the confidence of children, for Christ will carry our burdens, renew our souls, and give us rest, through his mercy and grace.

PRAYERS OF CONFESSION & INTERCESSION

Prophetic One, you call us to new places and new ways. You challenge us to dance new steps and to sing new songs. We yearn to follow you with confidence and joy, but our resistance is often stronger than our willingness. At times, our steps falter. At moments, we can’t even hear your voice, let alone recognize your song in our hearts.

Strengthen us with your mercy. Renew us with your grace. Sing to us with your compassion. Connect us with the yoke of unconditional love, that we may follow joyously, dance confidently, and sing praise and love with every act and with every word of our lives. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.

In humility, let us lift our silent prayers to God for the brokenness of this world and for the needs of our community and our hearts.

Please refer to the deacon’s prayer list in your bulletin.

Silence

ASSURANCE OF GOD WITH US

Rejoice and give thanks. With grace, Christ is already carrying our burdens to renew our souls. With mercy, Christ is already shouldering our load to strengthen our lives.

PASSING OF THE PEACE

The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!

And also with you.

We Reflect

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

Loving God, the chaos of the world encircles and frightens us. We worry about tomorrow, even though you tell us not to be anxious. Send your Spirit to quiet our distractions and draw us to you so that we might know the peace of your close presence. Amen.

GOSPEL LESSON

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

SERMON

The Shared Yoke

Rev. Kathryn R. Mustaro

We Respond

CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

The Invitation

The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

Let us gather as God’s people.

We come open to God’s grace.

We lift our lives, our hearts, our strength;

we lift ourselves to God.

We offer our thanks to God;

it is right to give our thanks and praise.

The Words of Institution

The Lord’s Prayer

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.

The Communion

Musical Meditation

Prayer following Communion

We bless you, O God, for these gifts of bread and cup, and for sustaining us in hope every day of our lives. We pray for your strength to prepare us now for your service as we offer to you lives of witness and worship in the world you have made. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

OUR GIFTS OF SACRIFICE and THANKSGIVING

Invitation

Come to Christ and offer your gifts, not as a burden, but as an opportunity to give rest and renewal to those who yearn to know God’s love.

Thank you for sending your offerings. They make a great difference to our church’s work in the world. First Sunday loose plate offerings benefit the Deacons Fund.

Musical Meditation

Prayer of Dedication

Receive these gifts we bring, God of gifts, and bless them to be gifts for your world. Through our giving, renew others, that they too may know the comfort and rest of living in the arms of your compassion and your love. Amen.

We Are Sent

CLOSING HYMN No. 714

God of the Fertile Fields

You are invited to meditate on verses 1 & 2 below.

God of the fertile fields,

shaper of earth that yields

our daily bread:

forth from your bounteous hand

come gifts your love has planned,

that all in every land

be clothed and fed.

We would be stewards true,

holding in trust from you

all that you give;

help us in love to share,

teach us like you to care

for people everywhere,

that all may live.

BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE

All songs not in the public domain are used by permission of CCLI #1124594.

Centering Words, Call to Worship, Call to Prayers, Prayers of Confession and Intercession, Assurance of God With Us, Inviation to the Offering and Prayer of Dedication - Scifres, Mary. The Abingdon Worship Annual 2020 . Abingdon Press. Kindle Edition.

Prayer for Illumination - From Order of Worship 5th Sunday after Pentecost July 5, 2020, The Presbyterian Outlook, accessed online at

Responsorial opening to the Great Prayer of Thanksgiving - Seasons of the Spirit, SeasonsFusion Pentecost 1 2020, (Kelowna BC: Woodlake Publishing 2019) 12.

Prayer Following Communion - Reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, Second Edition (Grand Rapids: Faith Alive Christian Resources 2013) 346.

Special thanks to Elder Nancy Varga for being our liturgist today, and to Elder Carol Thomson for assisting with communion.