St. Mark’s United Church – Port Hawkesbury DLM-R/MDiv Student – Barb MacNaughton (Phone# 902-625-0407)
Guest Minister – Jim MacNaughton services/pastoral care June 14-July 25 (Phone # 902-302-5923)
Pianist – Adam Cooke
Ministry – The Whole Congregation
Sunday June 13th, 2021 – 3rd after Pentecost
St. Mark’s United Church Anniversary – 55 Years
Welcome and Announcements Lighting of the Christ Candle
♫Introit♫: Rise Up, Rise up MV #130
Rise up, Rise up, Rise up O my soul
Rise up and sing this blessing to God’s name. Rise up, Rise up, Rise up O my soul
Rise up and sing this blessing to God’s name.
Gathering Words:
Why have we come to together virtually to worship on this day?
We have come to give thanks and praise for the life of this community; hoping to honour the past, live in the present, and prepare for the future.
In this community of faith, the first Methodist church in Port Hawkesbury – Zion, was established in 1883; the first Presbyterian church was Robertson in 1911, and now, 138 years later, we are still here together in St. Marks. How this church has evolved and changed over time. And so we ask ourselves a hard question.
How will we continue to do all of the work of this community as we look at the reality of how many of us there are and as we age? We will reach out beyond ourselves, opening
ourselves to the power of the Spirit that empowers us to be far greater than we think we are, far more faithful than we, and with our God beside us, we will fly to heights and places never even heard of before.
Are we willing to work for the Kingdom of God to be seen, felt, and experienced in this church community and in our personal lives?
We rejoice in all that we have received, in all that we are and all that we may become, for our God is an awesome God and we are God’s people! Come, let us worship our God together! Let us pray...
Gracious and Loving God by whose action and Word the universe is being constantly created, by whose brooding presence humankind comes to populate the earth, by whose tender compassion all persons are called and called again, and then recalled through your presence and Word into relationship, we give thanks for all those who before us have lived in faith and through your grace now reside with you. It is by faith that we find the blessings that we hope for and it is the faith of our ancestors that got us this far. We give thanks for those founders of this congregation. With so many witnesses we call on the love, presence and guidance of the spirit that we may be a generation of caring, loving people who will work to enhance your kingdom here in this place and beyond.
As the first service in 1966 ended, we begin today by singing: ♫Hymn: The Church is One Foundation VU#331
1 The church's one foundation is Jesus Christ our Lord; we are his new creation by water and the Word;
his living servant people, by his own death set free.
2 Called forth from every nation, yet one o'er all the earth;
one charter of salvation: one Lord, one faith, one birth. One holy name professing and at one table fed,
to one hope always pressing, by Christ's own Spirit led.
3 Though with a scornful wonder the world sees us oppressed,
by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed,
yet saints their watch are keeping; their cry goes up, 'How long?'
But soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song.
4 Mid toil and tribulation, and tumult of our war,
we wait the consummation of peace forevermore;
till with the vision glorious our longing eyes are blest, and the great church victorious shall be the church at rest.
5 We now on earth have union with God the Three in One, and share through faith communion with those whose rest is won. Oh, happy ones, and holy! Lord, give us grace that we like them, the meek and lowly, on high may dwell with thee.
Centering Prayer
♫Lord Listen to your Children Praying - VU #400 Lord Listen to your children praying
Lord send your spirit in this place
Lord listen to your children praying
Send us love, send us power, send us grace.
♫Hymn♫: God of the Sparrow VU#229
1 God of the sparrow God of the whale God of the swirling stars
How does the creature say Awe How does the creature say Praise
How does the creature cry Woe How does the creature cry Save
3 God of the rainbow God of the cross God of the empty grave
How does the creature say Grace How does the creature say Thanks
4 God of the hungry God of the sick God of the prodigal
How does the creature say Care How does the creature say Life
5 God of the neighbour God of the foe God of the pruning hook
How does the creature say Love How does the creature say Peace
6 God of the ages God near at hand God of the loving heart
How do your children say Joy
Scriptures:
Ezekiel 17: 22-24
Psalm 92: 1-4, 12-15 VU #810
Refrain: It is good to sing your praises and to thank you, O Most High.
It is good to give you thanks, O God, to sing praises to your name, O Most High.
To tell of your love in the morning, and your faithfulness during the night,
With a ten-stringed lute and harp, with voice and lyre together,
For you, O God, have made me glad by your work, I shout for joy at the works of your hands. R
The just shall flourish like the date-palm and increase like the cedars of Lebanon.
Planted in God’s house, they will flourish in the courts of our God.
In old age they still produce fruit, thriving and full of vigour.
They will show that God is just, God, our rock, in whom there is no wrong. R
2 Corinthians 5: 6-10
♫Hymn♫: In the Garden
I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,
The Son of God discloses.
Refrain: And He walks with me and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
He speaks, and the sound of His voice is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me,
Within my heart is ringing. R
I’d stay in the garden with Him tho’ the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; thro’ the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling. R
Mark 4: 1-2, 26-34
♫Hymn♫: Jesus, You have come to the Lakeshore VU #563
Prayer before Message: Message
Refrain:
O Jesus, with your eyes you have
searched me,
and while smiling, have spoken my name; now my boat's left on the shoreline ehind me; by your side I will seek other seas.
2 You know so well my possessions;my boat carries no gold and no weapons; you will find there my nets and labour. R
3 You need my hands, full of caring through my labours to give others rest, and constant love that keeps on loving R
4 You, who have fished other oceans, ever longed for by souls who are waiting, my loving friend, as thus you call me. R
Minute for Mission
Offering our gifts
♫Hymn♫: Bread of Life, Feed My Soul MV #194
Bread of life, feed my soul, as the presence of the Spirit makes me whole.
Bread of life, fill my heart with the grace and mercy you impart
I have heard your voice calling, come my friend and share In the feast that is laid out for you, to show how much I care.
Bread of life, help me life a life as pure and true as Jesus did. Bread of life, help me see the boundless love of Christ for you and me.
I have heard your voice calling, come my friend and share In the feast that is laid out for you to show how much I care
Bread of life, feed my soul, as the presence of the Spirit makes me whole.
Bread of life, fill my heart, with the grace and mercy you impart.
The Sacrament of Communion
As we come to this table, we are reminded that this is not the table of this congregation; nor is it the table of The United Church of Canada; or any particular denomination. It is the table of Jesus Christ, the family feast of the whole people of God. All who seek to be nourished and sustained in the journey of faith and long to live justly and in peace with their neighbour, are welcome here. Let us eat and drink together for our strengthening in the faith, and for the sake of the world.
At this table we give thanks for justice, love, peace and freedom.
At this table we give thanks for friends and strangers.
At this table we welcome old and young. All are invited.
It is around common tables in our lives that we come to understand nourishment, love, challenge, and caring. We gather around them in our childhood to share our day’s adventures. As adults, it is there that we reconnect with friends and family, grounding ourselves in what is real. In our senior years we share the wisdom we are with those who sit at the table with us. We are cared for there. We face challenge there. We look into one another’s eyes and face truth there. Tables are a powerful part of our lives. Tables are an ordinary part of our lives.
So it is that we gather here today – to be about what is, for us, at once both common and exquisitely beautiful. In this community, we pledge to be strength and encouragement for each other on the spiritual journey, to wrap our hearts around one another as we travel together. And it is here, at this table that we symbolize the power of that pledge. The road is long and, too often, we are weary. When we gather here, as we look into the eyes of those gathered with us, we see the light of love and feel our hope lifted.
So it may have been, that night so long ago, when Jesus along with his disciples, shared a meal, burdened by the realities of life. In that place, perhaps they offered one another care, lifted burdens from each other, and placed possibilities in their over-brimming hearts. So may it be for us.
The morning has awakened the earth and day unfolds its possibilities before us. We stand ready to embrace the options life offers. May we do so with courage and grace as we remember we are wondrously and beautifully made.
We pray there might be within ourselves the wisdom necessary to bring about an age of goodness, an age of truth, an age of love beyond measure. May we, who gather at this table, see and know the humanity of those around us. May we feel their individuality, sense their fears, and believe in the strength of their confidence. May we be nourished by who they are.
We pray that we might, be instruments of grace. May we find within our own hearts, the hope that will light another’s way, the strength that will not fold beneath another’s weight, and the courage to face another’s fears. May all be nourished by who we are.
At this time, may we remember all those with whom we would share this feast. We pray for all who are in sorrow or in pain . .
all who are ill or alone . . .
all who live with fear, oppression, or hunger . . all whom the world counts as last and least . . . .
We pray for your church and its varied ministries . . . for the nations as they strive for peace and justice . . . for the earth, and the fragile web of life we share . . . for our families and friends . . . .
We have on this table, the common things of life – bread to break with each other and wine to quench our thirst. May these common things be for us as they have been for many: strength and faith, nourishment and hope, blessing, and forgiveness. And may we now come to this table, know the presence of that which is beyond all our understanding and yet resides within our own.
The meal has been prepared, let us eat and drink together for our strengthening in the faith, and for the sake of the world.
Prayer after communion: For the bread we have eaten, for the wine we have tasted, for the life we have received, we give thanks. May what we have done and have been given here, may so put its mark on us that it may remain always in our hearts. May we may grow in love and understanding, and that ours may be lives of faithful action. Amen
♫Hymn♫: In the Bulb there is a Flower VU#703
In the bulb there is a flower
In the seed an apple tree
In cocoons, a hidden promise;
Butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter
There’s a spring that waits to be unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
there’s a dawn in every darkness bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future, what it holds, a mystery, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
In our end is our beginning,
in our time, infinity, in our doubt, there is believing, in our life eternity. In our death, a resurrection,
at the last, a victory,
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
Commissioning/Benediction
♫ Strathdee Choral Amen (3x) VU #974
WE welcome Adam Cooke back to our Piano today as we now have our license to broadcast the music as well as put the words in the bulletins for you. I hope you enjoy the service.
Barb’s six weeks of classes begin tomorrow morning. Jim will be on call for us and his number is at the top of the bulletin.
