June 14, 2020

Second Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday School Teacher Recognition

Reflection

We bring into this sacred space our God given gifts. We may be silent, as we experience the Spirit in the pauses between the notes expressed in voice and instrument. We may be filled with thoughts as the Word reaches through time to speak to our time. We may be expressive, to communicate in this unique church tool of our culture. In all things, and in all places, the Spirit speaks.

PRELUDE

Hymns for Children

WORDS OF WELCOME

CALL TO WORSHIP & OPENING PRAYER

Psalm 116:7 – 9

I love the Lord for He has heard my voice and my supplications

For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. I walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

I kept my faith, even when I said, "I am greatly afflicted"; I said in my consternation, "Everyone is a liar."

What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones. O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant, the child of your serving girl. You have loosed my bonds.

I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice and call on the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!

HYMN NO. 315, St. 1, 3, 4

“In the Midst of New Dimensions”

NEW DIMENSIONS

In the midst of new dimensions,

in the face of changing ways.

Who will lead the pilgrim peoples

wandering in their separate ways?

REFRAIN:

God of rainbow, fiery pillar,

leading where the eagles soar,

We your people, ours the journey

now and ever, now and ever,

now and ever more.

As we stand a world divided

by our own self-seeking schemes,

Grant that we, your global village

might envision wider dreams. REFRAIN

We are man and we are woman,

all persuasions, old and young,

Each a gift in your creation,

each a love song to be sung. REFRAIN

PRAYER OF CONFESSION & ASSURANCE OF PARDON (In Unison)

God of Grace, hear our prayer. We are a people of grand phrases, but we have left a kind word left unsaid to the lonely. We have seen people in their poverty and imagined that we were not impoverished by walking away. We have let good people and projects fail by moving away or averting our eyes. We were not always like this. When our hope was fresh and our faith was boundless, so was our expressed love. When the years ahead outnumbered the years lived, we had not learned to be cautious. Help us see your call to discipleship in our own lives, in our own church, in our own community. Help us take the steps toward community. Be patient with us, even as we are confident in You.

Jesus sees US in the crowd. Out of the crowds, Jesus sees the unmerited shame, the burden of guilt and the burdens that crush us. Before we could even voice the request, Jesus sent the gifts of the Spirit to us with on intention. Hear. Believe. Know, that in Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.

HYMN N0. 188

“Jesus Loves Me”

JESUS LOVES ME

Jesus loves me, this I know,

for the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to him belong;

they are weak, but he is strong.

REFRAIN:

Yes, Jesus loves me!

The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me, this I know,

as he loved so long ago,

taking children on his knee,

saying, "Let them come to me." REFRAIN

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

RECOGNITION OF SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS

MINUTE FOR MISSION

Update from the Interim Pastor Search Committee

EPISTLE READING

Romans 5:1-8

GOSPEL READING

Matthew: 9:35-10:10

SERMON

“Message to Faceless People”

Rev. Tom Malek- Jones

SPECIAL MUSIC

“Let the Children Come”

Pepper Choplin

PASTORAL PRAYER & LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CLOSING HYMN NO. 541, St. 1

“God Be with You Till We Meet Again”

RANDOLPH

God be with you till we meet again;

Loving counsels guide, uphold you,

With a shepherd’s care enfold you:

God be with you till we meet again.

BENEDICTION

SPECIAL MUSIC

WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS

Rev. Tom Malek-Jones

Rev. Barbara Piercy

Noel A. Piercy

Susan Jones

Paul Salierno, Cantor

Ray Liptak & Rob Thiemann, Technical Assistance

Session Elder Anthony D’Annunzio