The Celebration of the Gospel
August 13, 2017 —10th Sunday after Pentecost
“Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
— Matthew 14.27
________We Gather as the Body of Christ______
GREETING
PRELUDE
[As we listen to the music we quiet our minds and bodies,
listen for our hearts’ deepest desires,
and become present to the Holy One who is lovingly present for us.]
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: We gather to give thanks to God for the beauty of this earth.
All: We gather to give thanks to God for the community we have here.
We come to hear God’s Word of Love and Encouragement.
We come to become that Word to our world that God’s kingdom will grow.
* SONG For the Beauty of the Earth Blue hymnal # 92
CHILDREN’S TIME
____________ We Attend to the Word__________
THE WORD IN SONG
PRAYER
Gracious God, we come to you thankful for the beauty of your world. You clearly intend for us to live in peace and harmony with everyone. Yet, fear and distrust abound. We lock our doors, warn our children about strangers, and allow the media to frame our world as a dangerous place. While we do not want to be naive, we do want to live believing that all are worthy of our compassion and our concern. Help us build bridges and not walls, be willing to forgive and start anew, and establish communities of love and not fear. Putting our trust in you, we pray. Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT 1 Kings 19.9-18
[The prophet Elijah has killed the prophets of Baal; to escape retribution he has fled to the wilderness. There he encounters God—not in the earthquake, wind or fire, but in utter silence. God then sends him back to Damascus to get to work.]
Elijah came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of God came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He answered, “I have been very zealous for Yahweh, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.” God said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before me, for I am about to pass by.”
Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before God, but God was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but God was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but God was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
Then there came a voice to him that said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He answered, “I have been very zealous for Yaweh, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.” Then God said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. Whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall kill; and whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall kill. Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
+
PSALTER Psalm 85.8-13
[We pray to listen for God, trusting the peace God promises to us. “Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other.” God’s blessing will prevail.]
Let me hear what the Holy One will speak,
for God will speak peace to the people,
to God‘s faithful, to those who turn to God in their hearts.
Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear God,
that God’s glory may dwell in our land.
Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
and righteousness will look down from the sky.
God will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness will go before God,
and will make a path for God’s steps.
+
GOSPEL Matthew 14.22-33
[In a boat the disciples struggle against a storm. The sight of Jesus walking on the water terrifies them, but he reassures them. He invites Peter to walk on the water as well. In fear Peter sinks, but Jesus saves him.]
Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them.
And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Teacher, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are God’s Own.”
+
SERMON Rev. Sam Johnson
SONG In The Midst of New Dimensions Black hymnal # 2238
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe in a God of love that gives us radical freedom to act as we choose. Our God walks with us in the good times and the hard times, desiring that we act with compassion and seek justice.
Jesus came to reveal God’s love, show us the power of love, and to encourage us to love God and love one another. By doing so, our lives will be rewarding even if challenging and will give us inner peace as we work for outer peace in our communities and our world.
The Holy Spirit is God’s power of love made manifest within us and among us. This Spirit connects us with each other as well as with God, empowering us to do what did not seem possible living in harmony with all creation.
SONG The Summons Black hymnal # 2130
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer concern at the microphone.]
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
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 trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
______ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World_____
OFFERING OUR GIFTS
* OFFERING SONG Doxology Blue hymnal #94
* PRAYER
Gracious God, we offer not only our material gifts but also our gifts of service, talents, and commitment. May they all be used to bring peace, justice, and community in our world today. In the name of the One who gave himself to us that we might live for one another. Amen.
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG Shalom to You Blue hymnal #666
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE We stand and sing to our neighbors:
May the grace and peace of Christ be with you my friends.
Go and share the love of God, love that never ends.
POSTLUDE