The Celebration of the Gospel
June 18, 2017 —Second Sunday after Pentecost
_____ We Gather as the Body of Christ_____
GREETING
PRELUDE I Love You, Lord Laurie Klein, arr: Mark Hayes
[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: Loving God, River of Life, you give us birth.
All: We flow from you.
Brother Christ, healing water of grace, you make us whole.
We flow from you.
Holy Spirit, stream of love, you carry us.
We flow from you. Alleluia!
* SONG For the Beauty Of the Earth Blue hymnal # 92
CHILDREN’S TIME
__________We Attend to the Word________
THE WORD IN SONG How Great Thou Art Stuart Hine; arr. Lloyd Larson
PRAYER
God, you give us bountiful, beautiful gifts to give. Give us the faith to harvest them and share them with all the world, for your sake. We open our hearts to you. Speak to us and give us new birth, in the Spirit of Christ. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT Romans 6.1-11
What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it?Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into Christ’s death? Therefore we have been buried with Christ by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of God, so we too might walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united with Christ in death, we will certainly be united with Christ in resurrection. We know that our old self was crucified with Christ so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Christ. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion. The death Christ died, Christ died to sin, once for all; but the life Christ lives, Christ lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
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GOSPEL Matthew 9.35 – 10.1
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 overseer of the harvest to send out laborers into the 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.
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SERMON
SONG I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry Black hymnal # 2051
THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
Kathryn Grace Iorio
Emily Mae Martin
Introduction
Pastor: Beloved in Christ:
through the sacrament of baptism
God brings us into Christ’s holy church,
makes us part of the salvation of the world,
and gives us new birth through water and the Spirit.
So we come to the water—
Yes, everyone who thirsts! Come to the waters:
water of new birth, poured out and flowing freely
for all who will receive it;
water of justice rolling down,
water of righteousness like an everflowing stream;
a spring of water in us gushing up to eternal life;
the river of God for the healing of the world.
We come to this water
because our souls thirst for you, O God,
as in a dry and weary land.
Sponsors: We come to this water
to baptize Emily and Katie
and to bathe them in your love for therm.
Pastor: We come to this water as a community.
All: We come to this water
to renew our love as siblings in Christ,
and to renew our baptism
in the death and resurrection of Christ.
The Baptismal Vows
Pastor (to the parents): As we behold the mystery of God’s grace,
I invite you to profess your faith,
and to confirm the baptismal covenant made in your name:
Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness?
Parents: We confess our need for the saving, life-giving grace of God.
Will you turn away from the powers of sin and death?
We renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness,
reject the evil powers of this world,
and repent of our sin.
Will you let the Spirit use you as prophets to the powers that be?
We accept the freedom and power God gives us
to resist evil, injustice, and oppression
in whatever forms they present themselves.
Will you receive God’s grace, give yourselves wholly to God,
and live as disciples of Jesus, Christ’s body on earth?
We confess Jesus Christ as our Savior,
put our whole trust in his grace,
and promise to serve him as our Lord,
in union with the church which Christ has opened
to people of all ages, nations, and races.
Will you, their parents and mentors, nurture these children in Christ’s holy church?
Parents: By teaching and example we will guide them
to accept God’s grace, to grow in faith, and to lead a Christian life.
Will you who sponsor these children
support and encourage them in their Christian life?
Sponsors: I will.
Do you, as Christ’s Body, the church, reaffirm your rejection of sin
and your commitment to Christ?
Congregation: We do.
Will you be living witnesses to the gospel,
individually and together, wherever you are, and in all that you do?
We will live as faithful members of the Body of Christ
and serve as Christ’s representatives in the world.
Will you nurture one another in living the faith through the church
and include these young people in your care?
With God’s help we will embody the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We will surround Emily and Katie with faith, hope and love
that they may grow in grace and faith
and learn to trust God and live in loving service in the world.
We will pray for them and walk with them
on their journey of discipleship among us.
Profession of Faith
Let us join in professing our faith.
Do you trust in God the Father and Mother?
All: I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
Do you follow Jesus Christ?
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Begotten, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
Do you live by the Holy Spirit?
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy universal Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
Thanksgiving over the Water
The Spirit of God is among us.
The blessing of the Beloved is upon us!
Let us pray. Loving, life-giving God, we give you thanks,
for in the beginning your Spirit brooded over the waters
and you brought forth Creation.
You brought us to freedom through the waters of the Red Sea.
You gave us new birth through baptism into Christ,
and gave us life that cannot die.
The river of God is full of water,
the river of the water of life,
bright as crystal, flowing from the heart of God.
We who are baptized into Christ Jesus
are baptized into his life,
born in the water of a womb;
we are baptized into his ministry,
giving water to the thirsty,
washing the feet and sharing the tears of all who suffer;
and we are baptized into his death,
so that just as Christ was raised by the glory of God,
we too might walk in newness of life.
Born of water and the Spirit,
may we enter into the Realm of God
as children of God,
born not of human will, but of God.
Pour out your Holy Spirit in this water
and bless the ones who receive it,
that claimed by your Word, nourished in your grace,
washed from all sin and borne by your Spirit,
they may live in freedom, trust and courage,
sharing in the eternal life of Christ.
Katie and Emily, you are God’s Beloved,
in whom God is well pleased.
All reverence and delight is yours,
infinite and loving God, now and forever.
All praise to you, Eternal Father and Mother,
Son and Holy Spirit,
in the present moment and in eternity. Amen!
… Baptism with Laying on of Hands …
Let us welcome our new siblings in Christ.
Katie and Emily, Children of God, claimed by water and the Spirit,
you are joined to God’s new creation.
We are one in Christ Jesus,
sharing in Christ’s royal priesthood.
With joy and thanksgiving
we welcome you as members of Christ’s church.
God bless you now and in eternal life. Amen.
RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS
Members of the household of God, I commend these persons to your love and care.
Do all in your power to increase their faith, confirm their hope and perfect them in love.
We give thanks for all God has already given you
and we welcome you in Christian love.
As members together with you in the Body of Christ
and in this congregation of the United Methodist Church,
we renew our covenant faithfully to participate in the ministries of the church
by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service and our witness,
that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.
The God of all grace, who has called us to eternal glory in Christ,
establish you and strengthen you by the power of the Holy Spirit,
that you may live in grace and peace.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer concern at the microphone.]
RESPONSE: This is my prayer. All: This is our prayer.
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
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.
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
_____ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World____
OFFERING OUR GIFTS Be Thou My Vision Tune: SLANE, arr: Robert Lau
* OFFERING SONG Seek Ye First Blue hymnal #405
* PRAYER
Gracious God, in gratitude we give you our lives, symbolized in these gifts. Receive them with love, bless them with grace and use them according to your will. Send us into the harvest of your grace, for the sake of the healing of the world, in the name and the Spirit of Christ. Amen.
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG Lord, Be Glorified Black hymnal #2150
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE Please stand and sing to your 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 Victory Through Christ Lani Smith
[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the corners.]