The Celebration of the Gospel
June 24, 2018 — 5th Sunday after Pentecost
The boat was being swamped. But Jesus was in the stern, asleep on the cushion.
— Mark 4.37-38
________We Gather as the Body of Christ______
GREETING
PRELUDE
If Thou But Suffer God To Guide Thee – G. Neumark, arr: Penny Rodriguez
[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: God of love, you hear the cry of those who suffer.
All: We cry out with all who are in anguish.
Gentle Christ, you walk with those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.
We walk with you among those who suffer.
Holy Spirit, we often despair as we face the troubles of the world.
We open ourselves to your presence, so we need not fear.
Calm our hearts, and give us courage to serve with you.
* SONG His Eye Is on the Sparrow Black hymnal # 2146
____________ We Attend to the Word__________
CHILDREN’S TIME
THE WORD IN SONG Summer Singers
PRAYER
God of love, the storms of life frighten us. Speak to us and give us peace. Call to us, and give us courage. Awaken us with your Word, so we may serve you without fear. Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT from 1 Samuel 17.1-50
[Little David defeats the giant warrior Goliath not by strength, but by relying on God.]
Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. He had greaves of bronze on his legs and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and his shield-bearer went before him. He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” And the Philistine said, “Today I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man, that we may fight together.” When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse. He came to the encampment as the army was going forth to the battle line, shouting the war cry. Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. Goliath came up out of the ranks of the Philistines, and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him. All the Israelites, when they saw the man, fled from him and were very much afraid.
Then he took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones from the wadi, and put them in his shepherd’s bag, in the pouch; his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine. The Philistine came on and drew near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was only a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the field.” But David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hand; and I will give the dead bodies of the Philistine army this very day to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not save by sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and he will give you into our hand.”
When the Philistine drew nearer to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, striking down the Philistine and killing him; there was no sword in David’s hand.
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* PSALTER Psalm 46
[We rejoice that God is “a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear.” God will act; we are invited to be at peace and trust. “Be still, and know that I am God.”
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city;
it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.
The world is in an uproar, the nations totter;
God speaks, and the earth melts.
Yahweh the Holy One is with us;
the God of our ancestors is our refuge.
Come, behold God’s mighty deeds;
see what desolations God has brought on the earth.
God makes wars cease to the end of the earth,
God breaks the bow, and shatters the spear;
God burns the shields with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.”
Yahweh the Holy One is with us;
the God of our ancestors is our refuge.
NEW TESTAMENT 2 Corinthians 6.1-13
[Paul says God offers salvation today, not later. So don’t sit and let it go by you! Paul then describes the difficulties of ministry and offers hope: “Open wide your hearts.”]
As I work together with God, I urge you not to miss out on the grace of God. For God says, “At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.” See, now is the acceptable time; Look! now is the day of salvation!”
We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights and hunger. We have endured with purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and yet look—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours. In return—I am speaking as if you are children—open wide your hearts also.
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GOSPEL Mark 4.35-41
[The disciples go through a storm at sea, while Jesus sleeps in the boat. In their anxiety they rouse him and he calls for peace and calm.]
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
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SERMON
SONG In the Boat Steve G-H
I am at peace because Jesus is in my boat.
I am in the boat with Jesus.
Sometimes my Love says, “Oh, peace; be still,”
and then my Jesus calms the sea.
Sometimes my Love says, “Oh, peace; be still,”
and I know that Jesus is talking to me.
Jesus says, “Please help me spread my love.
It will be hard along the way.
But though the waves pound you from above,
I always will save you so you can obey.”
When I am sinking or feel afraid,
I see him sleeping peacefully.
If I am here because I have obeyed
then how could I sink with my savior with me?
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH from Romans 8 Blue Hymnal # 887
* SONG Lead Me, Guide Me Black hymnal #2214
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer concern at the microphone.]
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
______We Are Sent in Ministry to the World_____
OFFERING OUR GIFTS Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah John Hughes, arr: Don Wyrtzen
* OFFERING SONG Doxology Blue hymnal #95
* PRAYER
Gracious God, we give you our lives, symbolized in these gifts. Receive them with love, bless them with grace and use them according to your will. Trusting your saving presence and the peace of your grace, we go into the world to heal, to do justice and to proclaim your good news, for the sake of the wholeness of the world, in the name of Christ. Amen.
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG Stand By Me Blue hymnal #512, v. 1-4
* 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 A Mighty Fortress – arr: Jan Zwart
[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the corners.]