ORDER OF SERVICE JULY 27TH 2014--7TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

The Congregations of St. Mark’s and St. David’s

United Church of Canada

Port Hawkesbury/Port Hastings, NS

Office: 625-2229, Fax 625-3597, e-mail: stmarks1@eastlink.ca

Blog: http://ourcontactonline.blogspot.com/

Ministers: The Whole People of God

Minister: Nan Corrigan D. M.

Minister of Music: Al Fougere

July 27^th, 2014—7^th Sunday after Pentecost

Blessing
There is a tightness in the world’s chest, a tangled mess of stress and distraction, a constriction of the heart that blocks our ability to extend blessing. It is not through endless theological debate, not through intellectual gymnastics, or changing standards of orthodoxy that we will be set free. The heart is set free through blessing. Blessing opens the heart. It is time to untangle, loosen, and open our hearts so that we too can offer the essential blessing to God’s love. Blessing begets blessing.

Intention: Today I know who I really am – blessed one of God.

Breath Prayer:            BREATHING IN: Bless the Lord
BREATHING OUT: Oh my Soul

~ from Sabbath Pause by Terry Chapman

 Announcements         The Work of Church and Community

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

Greeting

One: The peace of Christ be with you. All: And with your spirit

*Introit            Come and Find the Quiet Centre, verse 1          VU 374

*Call to Worship

We stand on the shore of God’s new day

and look ahead to what is yet to be.    Flour is brought forward.

We hold close the precious treasures

of biblical stories, past experiences of God,

and the wisdom of our ancestors in faith.

Yet we move in God’s Spirit to experience

something new.     A carafe of oil is brought forward.

May old and new blend

in the way we respond to God’s surprises

as well as God’s steady hand.   A pitcher of water is brought in.

*Opening Prayer

Come, O Spirit of God,

and hide within us a yeast that will cause us

to rise in resurrection hope and praise.

Come, O Spirit of God,

and hide within in us that which will grow

through the hearing of God’s Word

so we may share bread of life

with those in need of hope.

Come, O Spirit of God. Amen.

*Hymn            Praise to the Lord, the Almighty                    VU 220

Prayer for Wholeness

In today’s passage from Romans 8 the apostle writes of the way that the Spirit prays with us in sighs too deep for words. You are invited to respond in this litany with a deep, audible sigh (breathe in deeply and breathe out as you say “ah”).

God, you have created beautiful faces

            and lives all around us.

Yet we forget about your beauty

            and do harm to each other.

                        May your Spirit help us. (Sigh.)

God, you have created amazing seas

            and animals and plants all around us.

Yet we forget about your beauty

            and harm the creation you have given us.

                        May your Spirit help us. (Sigh.)

God, you have created people and nations

            and communities for good.

Yet we forget about your goodness as we experience

            war and hunger and sickness in our world.

                        May your Spirit help us. (Sigh.)

God, we forget that deep within creation and

            humanity there are voices calling for healing and wholeness.

We pretend that we groan alone. May your Spirit help us. (Sigh.)

Assurance of Love

In the Spirit’s sighs, we are renewed in God’s purposes with us.

Nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God.

We are forgiven! We are loved! Thanks be to God!

WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD 

Genesis 29:15–28      Jacob marries Leah and Rachel.

One: Here is Wisdom. All: Thanks be to God.

Psalm 105: 1-11, 45b Make known what God has done  VU828 pt. 1

*Hymn:           I love to Tell the Story                                                VU 343

Romans 8:26-39 The Spirit intercedes for us when we cannot pray.

Opening the Word & The Lord’s Prayer

The Gospel Acclamation

Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52   Mustard seed, yeast, treasure, pearls, net.

One: Here is Good News. All: Praise be to God.

WE RESPOND IN FAITH

* Hymn            It Only Takes a Spark                                                VU 289

Minute for Mission & Offering Our Gifts to God

*Offering Prayer  

Giving and Gracious God, you have shown us what it means to give. You have showered us with gifts of love, of grace, and of life itself. Now, with gratitude, we offer you back humble gifts: we offer you our whole selves. Some of our gifts are of time, some are of spirit, and some are of finances. We pray that you will bless all of our gifts, and that you will show us how to partner with you to use all of these gifts for your continued ministry in creation. Amen.            

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession  

Response: Be still and know that I am God. (x2)

WE GO TO SERVE GOD

* Hymn           What  a Friend We Have In Jesus                  VU 664

* Commissioning and Blessing         

Go now, you yeast of the kingdom of God

            and let the hope rise!

Go now, you surprising mustard ministers

            and watch the yield of love spread!

Go now, you treasures of God’s delight

            and live in faithfulness.

And may the light and love of God abide with us and shine through us as we go from this place.       
*Choral Amen