CCLI license #1913561
Sunday, June 21, 2020 Father's Day
Opening Words
God cares for us completely and calls for our total commitment.
Christ gave his life that we might live and calls us to give our lives to him.
Through Christ we have died to sin; in Christ we are fully alive to God.
Come, let us worship God.
Opening Prayer
God of the covenant, your compassion reaches beyond the mere making and keeping of promises. Teach us to listen to one another with your heart, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Music Fairest Lord Jesus by Joseph Seiss
Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature
O thou of God to earth come down
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor
Thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown
Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands
Robed in the blooming garb of spring
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer
Who makes the woeful heart to sing
Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight
And all the twinkling starry host
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
Than all the angels heaven can boast.
Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature
O thou of God to earth come down
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor
Thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown.
Prayer for Illumination
O Lord, send now your Spirit into our midst to overpower us with the strength of your word. Open our hearts to hear your call and live according to your will. Amen.
A Reading from the Gospel of Matthew 9: 9—13
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" But when he heard this, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”
Sermon “ Love One Another ” Rev. Russell Lehman
Offering of Our Gifts (One way to donate money is to use the "Donate Now" button on the main page of this website.)
Loving God, creator, redeemer, sustainer, we bow before you our humble thanks. You have given us life, and that which is needed to sustain life. In the face of the pandemic which threatens all of us, we understand our reliance on your grace. We offer our lives and our resources in grateful thanksgiving. Use us as instruments of your love in a broken and hurting world, through Christ our Lord. Amen
Music Offering Deep River Traditional Negro Spiritual
Deep River,
My home is over Jordan.
Deep River Lord.
I want to cross over into campground.
Deep River.
My home is over Jordan.
Deep River, Lord,
I want to cross over into campground
Oh, don't you want to go,
To the gospel feast.
That promised land,
Where all, is peace.
Oh, deep River, Lord,
I want to cross over into campground.
Father’s Day Litany
Blessed are you Lord our God in heaven, Creator and Redeemer of all. You have revealed yourself to us as our Father, and all of us are your children.
We give thanks for those fathers who strive to balance work, marriage, and children and church life.
We pray for fathers who live away from their wives and children, because of military service or other work location.
Grant them faith, hope and joy in the midst of necessary separation.
We give thanks for those fathers who have adopted children or who have stepchildren, just as our heavenly Father has adopted us as his own children in Christ.
Grant them joy and gratitude for the gift you have provided, and fairness in loving all their children.
We pray for fathers who gave up their children for adoption.
Grant them peace and comfort as they trust in your providence.
We pray for fathers who face the demands of single parenthood.
Grant them strength, wisdom and sufficient livelihood.
We pray for those men who have “fathered” us as mentors and guides.
Grant them patience and love as they teach and nurture others.
We ask your blessings on those men who are about to become fathers.
Grant them joy, rest and peace as they trust you for the future.
We pray for older fathers who continue to love and support their children now grown- ups.
Grant them joy and satisfaction for a job well done.
We ask your special blessing on those fathers who have lost a child to death.
Grant them comfort in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
And we continue to pray for those who miss their fathers who are now with the Lord.
May their loving memories continue to live in them and nurture them. Grant them comfort in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Closing Prayer
Almighty God, Creator of the Universe, you have loved us with a steadfast love and redeemed us from all evil, empower us to love as we have been loved and seek the healing of all who are broken and the redemption of all who are enslaved. Amen.
Benediction
Go out to love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself; this is the Day of the Lord!
QUESTION FOR REFLECTION
The prophet Jeremiah said God’s word was like a “burning fire shut up in his bones.” How would you describe you experience of God? Is there only comfort? or is there passion?