Sunday, July 19
Worship at Home for Sunday, July 19
Greeting
Welcome. God is here. You are here. The Communion of Saints is here. Take a moment to create space physically and spiritually for this time of worship. Take a moment to give thanks to God for all that has been a blessing to you this week. Take a moment to offer up to God all that has been painful this week. And now, take a moment to simply be still and know, whatever it is God needs you to know in this moment, know and be. Amen.
Prelude
Holy, Holy, Holy arr. John Innes
Kathy Ferguson, piano; Janet Tolman, organ
Opening
Eternal Redeemer, in the words of the prophet Isaiah You declare:
44:6b I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. 44:7 Who is like me? Let them proclaim it, let them declare and set it forth before me. Who has announced from of old the things to come? Let them tell us what is yet to be. 44:8 Do not fear, or be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? You are my witnesses! Is there any god besides me? There is no other rock; I know not one.
Teach us this fear-less-ness, that we might be bold in our faith reach out with our lives. Mold us into your hands and feet, instruments of your peace, compassion, and welcome, so that all may meet You in what we do. Amen.
Call to Prayer: Sweet Hour of Prayer (vs. 1), UMH #496
Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer,
That calls me from a world of care
And bids me at my Father’s throne,
And bids me at my Father’s throne,
Make all my wants and wishes known
In seasons of distress and grief,
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare,
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare,
By thy return sweet hour of prayer.
Prayers of the People (Based on Psalm 139)
“O Lord, you have searched me and known me,” You know the prayers my heart, and the needs of Your people. I offer to You these prayers for my friends and family.
Take a moment to pray for friends, family, and loved ones.
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Or Where can I flee from your presence?” Hear my prayers for the community at Christ Church seeking Your comfort, Your healing, Your presence. Be with us.
Take a moment to pray for our community at Christ Church, and our community served by Christ Church.
“If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, your right hand shall hold me fast.” You know our city, our state, our nation, you know our world, pour out Your peace, Your wholeness, Your compassion on those in need this day.
Take a moment to pray for our communities, state, nation, and those concerns you hold in your heart for the world.
“If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night.’, even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you.” Empower me to serve as Your hands and feet and to love and forgive with the courage of Your heart, so that I may be part of your light in this world.
Take a moment to name some intentions for your faith Journey this week and ask God for what you need to fulfill those intentions.
Mysterious Trinity, I am only one, and in You I am part of the great community of faith, bound together by grace, upheld by love, thoroughly forgiven, fully accepted and welcomed as part of Your blessed community. “You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me..Search me O God, and know my heart;” so that I might be about your work this week. Amen.
Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his 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 to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he 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.’”
He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his 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 to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he 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.’”
Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!
Message: “Of Weeds and Wheat”
Rev. Beth Rambikur
Offering Invitation
God of Love. We live in a complex world where many things grow together, you call us all to grow in the likeness of You, to facilitate kingdom work in all that we do. Allow us to see the world with Your grace, to see Your potential in all life, and to share hope with one another as generously as we can. Let the work of your church reflect Your love for all, and use our offerings, our lives, and ourselves, to flourish Your kingdom here and now. Amen.
Offertory
My Faith Has Found a Resting Place arr. John Innes
Kathy Ferguson, piano; Janet Tolman, organ
Prayer of Dedication (UMH 10-11)
And now, with the confidence of children of God, let us pray:
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 for ever. Amen.
Benediction
Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer; Let the worshipful work of this week begin.
Bless us Your church, all Your child, the world Your good creation. Amen.
Postlude
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee arr. John Innes
Kathy Ferguson, piano; Janet Tolman, organ
Sunday, July 12
Worship at Home for Sunday, July 12
Greeting
Welcome. God is here. You are here. The Communion of Saints is here. Take a moment to create space physically and spiritually for this time of worship. Take a moment to give thanks to God for all that has been a blessing to you this week. Take a moment to offer up to God all that has been painful this week. And now, take a moment to simply be still and know, whatever it is God needs you to know in this moment, know and be. Amen.
Opening
Patient Sower, many seeds have been planted by Your steady hand. Not every seed grows, not every plant survives, not every branch bears fruit, and not every fruit is harvested. Yet each seed You plant, You tend to with love and grace. Each harvest You celebrate and bless. Refresh the soil of our lives, nurture the roots of our souls, and flourish the branches of our heart so that we might grow abundantly in Your care, and in turn be a blessing for all.
Patient Sower, many seeds have been planted by Your steady hand. Not every seed grows, not every plant survives, not every branch bears fruit, and not every fruit is harvested. Yet each seed You plant, You tend to with love and grace. Each harvest You celebrate and bless. Refresh the soil of our lives, nurture the roots of our souls, and flourish the branches of our heart so that we might grow abundantly in Your care, and in turn be a blessing for all.
Call to Prayer: Sweet Hour of Prayer (vs. 1), UMH #496
Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer,
That calls me from a world of care
And bids me at my Father’s throne,
And bids me at my Father’s throne,
Make all my wants and wishes known
In seasons of distress and grief,
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare,
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare,
By thy return sweet hour of prayer.
Prayers of the People
Steadfast Gardener, You know the prayers my heart, and the needs of Your people. In this moment I offer to You prayers for my friends and family.
Steadfast Gardener, You know the prayers my heart, and the needs of Your people. In this moment I offer to You prayers for my friends and family.
Take a moment to pray for friends, family, and loved ones.
Eternal Tender, I offer to You prayers for my community at Christ Church seeking Your comfort, Your healing, Your presence. Be with us.
Take a moment to pray for our community at Christ Church, and our community served by Christ Church.
Growing One, You know the needs of this restless world! You know our city, our state, our nation, you know our world, pour out Your peace, Your presence, Your compassion on those in need this day.
Take a moment to pray for our communities, state, nation, and those concerns you hold in your heart for the world.
Merciful Redeemer, You make all things whole, You remind us that in the least, the last, the lost, we meet your children. Empower me to serve as Your hands and feet and to love and forgive with Your heart, so that I may be part of your ongoing work in this world.
Take a moment to name some intentions for your faith Journey this week and ask God for what you need to fulfill those intentions.
Mysterious Trinity, I am only one, and in You I am part of the great community of faith, bound together by grace, upheld by love, thoroughly forgiven, fully accepted and welcomed as part of Your blessed community. Walk with me this week that in each step I take, I may participate as fully as I can in your ongoing work of salvation. Amen.
Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!”
Scripture: Matthew 13:18-23
“Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
Message: “Planting a Seed”
Rev. Beth Rambikur
Offering Invitation
God, you have scattered seeds of hope, courage, compassion, love, and joy in the fields of our lives. You provide all that we need to grow and thrive and be a blessing to others. Your generosity allows us to flourish. Teach us to tend to our gardens of possibility so that we might plant and harvest generously, share fearlessly, and bless freely. Amen.
Doxology (UMH #95)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God all creatures here below
Praise God above ye heavenly hosts;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Prayer of Dedication (UMH 10-11)
And now, with the confidence of children of God, let us pray: 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 for ever. Amen.
And now, with the confidence of children of God, let us pray: 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 for ever. Amen.
Benediction
Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer; Let the worshipful work of this week begin. Bless us Your church, me Your child, the world Your creation. Amen.
Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer; Let the worshipful work of this week begin. Bless us Your church, me Your child, the world Your creation. Amen.
