The Celebration of the Gospel
July 3, 2016 —7th Sunday after Pentecost
Bear one another’s burdens: that’s how you fulfill the law of Christ.
— Galatians 6.2
_______We Gather as the Body of Christ_______
GREETING
PRELUDE Materna Clifford Demarest 1874-1946
[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, giver of life,
All: we praise you!
Loving Christ, healer of our souls,
we thank you!
Holy Spirit, flame of love in our hearts,
we open ourselves to you.
We thank you for your love, we ask your blessing, and we trust your grace
as we worship you. Alleluia!
* SONG America the Beautiful Blue hymnal # 696
CHILDREN’S TIME
_____________ We Attend to the Word_________
THE WORD IN SONG
Prayer of St. Francis Music by Olive Dungan (Susan Myszewski, Soprano)
PRAYER OF THE DAY
God of love, you establish your Realm of mercy and justice, your Empire of Grace. Speak your Word to us now, that we may be formed in the image of Christ. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT Galatians 6.1-10
[Paul talks about living in community. The point of God’s law is not for some people to be righteous, but for everybody to live together. Restore transgressors gently, and bear one another’s burdens. Pay attention to your own behavior instead of criticizing others or comparing yourselves to them. You reap what you sow: you set the tone of your own life. Work for the good of all.]
My friends, if you see someone do wrong,
by the Spirit in you’ve received
restore them with gentleness.
Help them out of that pit;
don’t climb into it yourself.
Bear one another’s burdens:
this is what the law is really about.
Don’t embarrass yourself
thinking you’re better than others.
Do work you yourself are proud of;
don’t fuss about your neighbor’s.
Live your life, not somebody else’s.
Those who are learning in the Word
should share with their teachers.
You might be deceived but God’s isn’t:
you reap what you sow.
If you sow desire you will reap more desires.
If you sow the Spirit, you will reap the Spirit,
and its eternal life.
So don’t grow weary of doing good;
don’t give up: the harvest is coming.
Whenever you have an opportunity
work for the good of all,
especially those in the family of faith.
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GOSPEL Luke 10.1-11, 16
[Jesus sends out 70 disciples in pairs to go ahead of him (he is on his way toward Jerusalem) to cure the sick and proclaim the nearness of the Reign of God. He coaches them to travel light, spread peace, and take nothing personally. Upon their return they rejoice at their success, but Jesus reminds them that the real joy is their relationship with God.]
Jesus appointed seventy-two people and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the overseer to send out laborers into the harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house.
Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The Realm of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’
Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
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SERMON
SONG This Is my Song Blue hymnal # 437
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer concern at the microphone.]
PASSING THE PEACE
____________We Share at Christ’s Table ________
OFFERING OUR GIFTS Finlandia Diane Bish b. 1941
* COMMUNION SONG Steve G-H
We come with thanks, God, at your call,
to share our gifts in love with all;
for what to us you have supplied
is meant for all both far and wide.
The bread and cup from Jesus’ hand
exceeds the bounds of every land.
Your saving love, surpassing worth,
we share with every soul on earth.
Here at this feast we are, by grace,
one nation now, one tribe, one race.
All our divisions are erased.
We all are kin in every place.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
God is with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift our hearts to you, O God,
in thanksgiving and in praise.
… we praise you with one voice:
Holy, Holy, Holy God, source of power and life,
Heaven and earth are glorious with your presence!
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the one who comes in your name!
Peace on earth, and glory in the highest!
…. we proclaim the mystery at the heart of our faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and wine,
that they may be for us the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us,
that we may be for the world the Body of Christ:
redeemed by Christ’s grace, and in your Spirit one with Christ,
one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world.
Amen.
As Jesus taught us to pray, we ask you always to teach us to pray:
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 HOLY MEAL [Everyone is welcome at the table of Christ’s self-giving love.
The bread is wheat-, soy- and dairy free. We dip the bread in the juice.]
PRAYER OF BLESSING
Gracious God, we thank you for this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. In this meal Jesus has modeled for us your Empire of Grace. Send us out into the world to share your love, to break down the barriers and boundaries that divide your beloved children, to work for peace and justice in the name and the Spirit of Christ. Amen.
_______We Are Sent in Ministry to the World____
Jesus said, “Go on your way. I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ “
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG Lord, Dismiss Us with Thy Blessing Blue hymnal #671
* 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 National Hymn Emma Lou Diemer b. 1927
[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the corners].