Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
July 20, 2014
The Celebration of the Gospel
A man wrestled with him until daybreak…
Then he said, “Let me go.”
But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.”
— Genesis 32.24-26
______ We Gather as The Body of Christ________
PRELUDE Some VBS Songs
GREETING
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: God of All Creation, we worship you.
All: God of this day, we thank you.
God, who dwells in all people, we greet you.
God of the present moment, we open our hearts to you.
We worship in your Spirit, in the name and the company of Christ. Alleluia!
* SONG Just a Closer Walk with Thee Black hymnal #2158, vv. 1, 2
CHILDREN’S TIME
___________ We Attend to the Word___________
PRAYER OF THE DAY
God of love, you walk with us each moment. Speak to us now, in scripture, in thoughts, in imagination, in silence. Open our eyes and ears to your wisdom . Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT Genesis 32.22-32
[ Jacob wrestles with an angel and receives a new name, “Israel,” meaning “One who wrestles with God.”]
Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.”
Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.” The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the thigh muscle that is on the hip socket, because he struck Jacob on the hip socket at the thigh muscle.
PSALTER
[ God is present everywhere and aware of us and participating in our lives, no matter where we are or in what condition.]
Lord, for your presence I thank you and praise you.
O Lord, you see me from the inside out.
You know me better than I do.
You take every step with me;
you have already walked all my journeys.
Even before I speak
you know my thoughts.
You are around me and within me;
I feel your hand on my back.
I can’t imagine the greatness of your love;
I can only trust it.
Lord, for your love I thank you and praise you.
Where could I go from your presence?
In outer space, at the core of the earth—there you are.
If I ran away to the farthest place,
you would be with me all the way.
I could try to hide in perfect darkness
but to you the darkness is light.
Lord, for your light I thank you and praise you.
You formed me before I was born;
you made me by hand in secret.
I praise you, for you are wonderful!
For I am wonderfully, awesomely made.
How amazing is your wisdom, O God,
how infinite your presence.
When I try to comprehend, you are beyond my understanding.
But when I simply become aware—here you are.
Search through me, O God, and know my heart.
Root out what is unloving, and lead me in your life-giving way
Lord, for your Way I thank you and praise you.
NEW TESTAMENT Romans 8.12-25
[It is the Spirit that enables us to connect with God. Paul speaks of all creation waiting for redemption, waiting to reestablish our connection as God’s children.]
So then, brothers and sisters, we are not defined by our flesh — to live as if we are merely self-contained bodies — for if you live according to the flesh, you will die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the desire simply to be a body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
I consider that our present sufferings cannot be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us. All of creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. Nothing in the world can fulfill its own destiny by itself; it’s doomed to failure. This is no one’s fault, it was made that way by God, in confidence that the whole world will be set free from its slavery to decay, and brought into the glorious freedom of being God’s children.
Sothe whole creation has been groaning forever in pain, like the pain of childbirth. And so do we, who have the first fruits of the Spirit: we groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as children, the redemption of our lives. This hope opens the door for us. Of course hope that is seen is no hope at all. How can we hope for what we already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
GOSPEL Matthew 13.24-30,
[Jesus tells a parable of weeds growing among wheat. The farmer does not destroy the whole crop, but lets it bear fruit and then separates out what is valuable from what is not.]
He put before them another parable: “The Realm of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in a field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said, “Did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ The farmer answered, “An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said, “Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But the farmer replied, “No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’ ”
SERMON
SONG You Are Mine Black hymnal #2218
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
Our Father-and-Mother in heaven,
holy be your name.
Your Realm come now,
your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our wrongs
as we forgive those who wrong us.
Save us from our temptations
and deliver us from evil.
For the world, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.
_____ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World______
OFFERING OUR GIFTS
OFFERING SONG Walk with Me Black hymnal # 2242
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. By your Spirit in us, help us to work with you, for the sake of the healing of the world, in the name of Christ. Amen.
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
SONG How Can I Keep from Singing Black hymnal #2212
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.
[There are people ready to pray with you at the candle in the corner.]