The Celebration of the Gospel

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
July 12, 2015

  David danced before the Lord with all his might.
— 2 Samuel 6.14

________ 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: Holy One, we gather to worship you.
All:    Beloved, we cry out to you.
But you are already here. It is you who have brought us.
Eternal One, we love you.
But it is your love with which we love,
for you have loved us first.
God of all life, we take our lives from the hands of every idol
and give our lives to you alone.
Beloved, we worship you. Alleluia!

* SONG   We, Thy people Praise Thee   Blue hymnal #67

____________ We Attend to the Word__________

THE WORD IN SONG     from Sonatina   Johann Christian Bach (Nancy Vacaro, flute)

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Pastor:   The grace of God be with you.
Congregation: And also with you.
Trusting in God’s tender mercy, let us confess our sin to God with one another.
God of love, help us to see ourselves with the eyes of love,
to see all that is in us that is loving,
and all that is not loving.
By the grace that we know in Christ,
receive us, forgive us, heal us, and perfect your love in us.
SILENT PRAYER …   THE WORD OF GRACE
RESPONSE      Bless the Lord, My Soul   Black hymnal #2013

PRAYER OF THE DAY
God of grace and truth, as David danced before the ark, we come before your Word with joy. Speak to us and let your Word move us to dance your love in all our lives, in the name and the Spirit of Christ. Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT       2 Samuel 6.1-5, 12-19
[David brings the ark, which is the chest holding the stone tablets of the law, into Jerusalem. He dances before the ark clothed only in a linen ephod. The former king’s daughter, Michal, is offended.]

David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. David and all the people with him set out and went from Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who is enthroned on the cherubim. They carried the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart with the ark of God; and Ahio went in front of the ark. David and all the house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.

David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing; and when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. David danced before the Lord with all his might; David was girded with a linen ephod

So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart. They brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the Lord. When David had finished the offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts, and distributed food among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to each a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people went back to their homes.
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PSALTER       Psalm 24
[Who comes close to God? Those who seek truth and live truthfully. Who is the power that rules our lives? It is Yahweh. A refrain about opening the gates suggests the bringing of the ark into Jerusalem—and also implies that Jerusalem is the base of operations from which God protects the people.]

The whole earth, and everything on it,
         belongs to the Holy One.
All Creation and all people are God’s.
For God made it all—the deep mysteries,
all flowing life and beauty.
How can we draw near to God?
         How does one witness God’s presence?
By having gentle hands and pure hearts.
By honoring what is true,
and not harboring the lies of fear.
In this way the Holy One blesses us;
         our saving God vindicates us.
This is the way of those who seek God,
the community who seek the God of love.
O gates of life, swing wide with welcome,
          you doors to joy, open your arms:
let the Glorious One come in and be with us.
Who is the Glorious One?
          The Beloved, gracious and loving,
whose mercy ends all battles.
O gates of this moment, open to grace!
          You doors of attentiveness, open your arms:
let the Glorious One come in and be with us.
Who is the Glorious One?
          The Beloved, gracious and loving.
The Beloved is the glory of life.
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NEW TESTAMENT      Ephesians 1.3-14
[God has chosen us and adopted us as children, forgiven us, and disclosed the mystery of God’s delight to us: that all Creation is to be gathered together in love. We have inherited Christ’s work: that we might live for the praise of God’s glory. God has given us the Holy Spirit as a sign of this inheritance. ]

Blessed be God, who birthed real love among us in Christ,
and in that love has given us the blessings of heaven itself.
Since before Creation, in this love, God intended
that we would be holy, loved, and loving,
God’s own dear children.
In this love, so generously lavished on us,
we are redeemed, and all our wrongs are forgiven.
Stop and wonder at this grace, and give thanks!

If God gives us any wisdom or insight
it is to know that it is God’s delight
to always be gathering everything in Creation into the body of love.
This is is our destiny, God’s will, which is always fulfilled:
that we, who began by hoping in the Love that Fills the World,
would ourselves live lives that radiate that love.
When first heard this wonder, that you are part of the world’s salvation,
when you first opened yourself to this love,
it poured into you. God’s Spirit changed you.
Now you yourself are part of God’s promise.
The Spirit in you is the first bit of God’s redemption of the world.
That is God’s glory. Doesn’t it make you want to praise God?
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GOSPEL           Mark 6.12-29
[Jesus sends out the disciples two by two with power to heal and cast out evil spirits. Meanwhile Herod kills John the Baptist, a foreshadowing of Jesus’ own death, and a reminder of the self-sacrifice of those who confront injustice nonviolently. ]

The disciples went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, ‘John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.’ But others said, ‘It is Elijah.’ And others said, ‘It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.’ But when Herod heard of it, he said, ‘John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.’

For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, ‘It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.’ And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him.

But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.’ And he solemnly swore to her, ‘Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.’ She went out and said to her mother, ‘What should I ask for?’ She replied, ‘The head of John the baptizer.’ Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, ‘I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.’ The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
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SONG   Why Stand So Far Away, My God?   Black hymnal #2180

SERMON

SONG     Goodness is Stronger than Evil     Black hymnal #2219

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer concern at the microphone.]
PASSING THE PEACE

______ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World_____

OFFERING OUR GIFTS

* OFFERING SONG   Song of Hope    Black hymnal #2186

* PRAYER
Gracious God, we give you these gifts as symbols of our lives. Receive them with love, bless them with grace and use them according to your will. We go out to face the powers of injustice, sustained by the power of your love. Help us, guide us and empower us even to dance with love and joy in the face of evil, for the sake of the healing of the world, in the name of Christ. Amen.

THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD

* SONG    Song of Hope    Black hymnal #2186

* 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

[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the corners.
Following worship please join us for fellowship and refreshments.]