You can watch today’s service here.
If you are watching our live stream this morning, you are invited to find a candle, so that we can all light candles at the same time.
CALL TO WORSHIP (Re:Worship blog)
Come and worship, all you who love and serve the Lord—
outsiders and insiders,
old-timers and new-comers,
the young, old and the in-between.
Come as you are,
for this is God’s house—a house of prayer for all people,
and God welcomes each one who comes.
OPENING PRAYER (Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren)
Mighty God, who speaks a word of peace to calm our troubled sea; caring God, who nudges us away from fear and toward faith; ever-present God, who fills us with awe but also raises many questions without easy answers; open our eyes to see you in our boat—today, strengthen our hearts for the challenges that lie ahead, open our ears this hour to hear the word you speak. This we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen
CALL TO CONFESSION (Barbara Chaapel, PRESBYTERIAN OUTLOOK)
We come before God “just as we are, though tossed about,” as the hymn writer says. Let us now name our conflicts, our doubts and our sins before one another and before God.
I invite you to join with me in our unison prayer of confession, followed by a time either for silent personal confession.
Moment of silent prayer–people of God, what do you need to confess this week?
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Barbara Chaapel, PRESBYTERIAN OUTLOOK)
O Lord, we confess that we come to you in the midst of clutter: we have cluttered desks, cluttered schedules, cluttered minds, cluttered lives and a cluttered planet. The clutter can be like a storm that overwhelms us and distracts us from knowing your presence and hearing your strong voice. We pray for the will to put aside the clutter of life and to listen to your voice stilling the storm and calming the wind and waves. Help us to let go of our fear, and our desire to be in control of all manner of things. Lead us to place you in the center of our lives, where, if we do, we will also see neighbor, stranger and enemy. Then help us to cross the boundary waters with you, the One who has broken every barrier down, and will lead us to the other side.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Romans 8:1-2)
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. Friends, believe this astounding good news, through Jesus Christ we are forgiven!
PRAYER FOR UNDERSTANDING (Barbara Chaapel, PRESBYTERIAN OUTLOOK)
Come to us this day, O God, with the light of your Word. Speak to us through Scripture of your truth, and dwell in us with your love. May we know you more fully, and follow you more nearly. Amen.
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING
MARK 4:35-41
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’ And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?’ And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’
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What does it mean for our churches to “go to the other side”?
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What is our other side and are we afraid to go there? What storms might be face along the way?
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The end of the story is a question, and like much of Mark, demands the reader to be the one that answers. The disciples do not end with a great confession of Jesus’ Lordship. They are simply left stunned and wonder.They can’t even bring themselves to thank Jesus or ask him themselves…so we are left with the question, who is this man?
HYMN Come, O Spirit, Dwell Among Us
lyrics by Janie Alford, 1979
© 1979 Hope Publishing Company
music by Thomas John Williams, 1890
Used by Permission. CCLI License #3456351 and ONELICENSE # 738214-A
1 Come, O Spirit, dwell among us;
come with Pentecostal power;
give the church a stronger vision;
help us face each crucial hour.
Built upon a firm foundation,
Jesus Christ, the Cornerstone,
still the church is called to mission
that God’s love shall be made known.
2 We would raise our alleluias
for the grace of yesteryears;
for tomorrow’s unknown pathway,
hear, O Lord, our humble prayers.
In the church’s pilgrim journey
you have led us all the way;
still in presence move before us,
fire by night and cloud by day.
3 Come, O Spirit, dwell among us;
give us words of fire and flame.
Help our feeble lips to praise you,
glorify your holy name.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Three in One: what mystery!
We would sing our loud hosannas
now and through eternity.
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING
1 Samuel 17:1a, 4-11, 19-23, 32-49
Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armoured with a coat of mail; the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. He had greaves of bronze on his legs and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and his shield-bearer went before him. He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, ‘Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.’ And the Philistine said, ‘Today I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man, that we may fight together.’ When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. David rose early in the morning, left someone in charge of the sheep, took the provisions, and went as Jesse had commanded him. He came to the encampment as the army was going forth to the battle line, shouting the war cry. Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage, ran to the ranks, and went and greeted his brothers. As he talked with them, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines, and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him. David said to Saul, ‘Let no one’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.’ Saul said to David, ‘You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth.’ But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant used to keep sheep for his father; and whenever a lion or a bear came, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after it and struck it down, rescuing the lamb from its mouth; and if it turned against me, I would catch it by the jaw, strike it down, and kill it. Your servant has killed both lions and bears; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.’ David said, ‘The Lord, who saved me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will save me from the hand of this Philistine.’ So Saul said to David, ‘Go, and may the Lord be with you!’
Saul clothed David with his armour; he put a bronze helmet on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail. David strapped Saul’s sword over the armour, and he tried in vain to walk, for he was not used to them. Then David said to Saul, ‘I cannot walk with these; for I am not used to them.’ So David removed them. Then he took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones from the wadi, and put them in his shepherd’s bag, in the pouch; his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine.
The Philistine came on and drew near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was only a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. The Philistine said to David, ‘Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?’ And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, ‘Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the field.’ But David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the Philistine army this very day to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not save by sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and he will give you into our hand.’
When the Philistine drew nearer to meet David, David ran quickly towards the battle line to meet the Philistine. David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.
You can listen to Pastor Leia’s sermon, “Agincourt: an echo of David and Goliath,” here.
HYMN Rain Down
music and lyrics by Jaime Cortez, 1991
© 1992 Jaime Cortez (Published by OCP)
Used by Permission. ONELICENSE # 738214-A
Rain down, rain down;
rain down your love on your people.
Rain down, rain down;
rain down your love, God of life.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (Barbara Chaapel, PRESBYTERIAN OUTLOOK)
Gracious God, because we are not strong enough to pray as we should, you provide Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit to intercede for us in power. In this confidence, we ask you to accept our prayers.
We pray today for your creation. You entrusted the earth to the human race, yet we disrupt its wholeness with violence, and corrupt its purity with our greed. Prevent us from destroying what you have made and called good, so that our children’s children may inherit lands and seas brimming with life and beauty.
We pray today for the people of the world. Preserve the people of every nation from tyrants. Heal them of disease, especially of the pandemic that has afflicted all peoples. Protect them in disaster and war and famine. Help all people – adults and children – walk in the ways that lead to peace.
We pray today for our city and neighborhood. Heal the rifts and fear caused by violence and racism in our streets and schools. Protect all of our city’s children, and give them lives of safety, hope and joy.
We pray today for our country. Give wisdom to those who govern us, to our president and Congress and our courts. Keep safe those who protect us from danger, and form us as a nation where justice flows like life-giving water.
We pray today for this church. Strengthen its leaders – its ministers, deacons, elders – sustain them and give them the energy of your Holy Spirit so that they may give others new life and hope. Be close to those in our community who are sick, or alone, or vulnerable. We pray today especially for the newly baptized, that in the community of faith, you will gather them to you as a mother hen gathers her young under her wing, and they will come to know you and love you more and more.
We pray today for all who are fathers, of body or of spirit. Give them the grace to love their children abundantly and wisely, giving embrace when that is needed, and space and freedom to find their own way in life.
We pray for those students who will graduate in this season. Fill them with hope and energy as they find their callings in the world, and may they “go to the other side” as they journey with you, and serve you and your people with gladness to transform the world to look more like your kingdom.
Eternal God, your love is stronger than death. We rejoice in the lives of those who have died in faith. Keep us in joyful communion with them until we join the saints of every nation gathered before your throne in ceaseless praise. We pray these things through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the mystery of the Pentecost Spirit, in the name of the Triune God. In the words that Christ taught us, we pray, saying…
THE 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.
HYMN You Lift Us Up
music and lyrics by Matt Maher and Paul Baloche
© 2014 Thankyou Music, Valley Of Songs Music, Integrity Worship Music, Leadworship Songs (Admin. Capitol CMG Publishing, Capitol CMG Publishing (Integrity Music, David C Cook))
Used by Permission. CCLI License #3456351
When we’ve fallen to our knees
When we’ve broken everything
We’re waiting on
We’re waiting on You, GodOpen up the heavens wide
Put a new song in our lives
We’re waiting on
We’re waiting on You, God
You lift us up, You lift us up
And what was dead is raised again
In Your great love
You lift us up, You lift us up
And once again, Lord,
We remember what You’ve done
You lift us upAll of us in need of mercy
Reaching up to receive Your grace
We’re waiting on
We’re waiting on You, God
We’re waiting on
We’re waiting on You, God
You lift us up, You lift us up
And what was dead is raised again
In Your great love
You lift us up, You lift us up
And once again, Lord,
We remember what You’ve done
You lift us up
From the broken weary soul
To the highest place unknown
From the weakest part of us
When our strength is not enough
From the broken weary soul
To the highest place unknown
From the weakest part of us
When our strength is not enough
You lift us up, You lift us up
And what was dead is raised again
In Your great love
You lift us up, You lift us up
And once again, Lord,
We remember what You’ve done
You lift us up, You lift us up
And what was dead is raised again
In Your great love
On eagle’s wings in Your great love
You lift us up
MORNING OFFERING (Barbara Chaapel, PRESBYTERIAN OUTLOOK)
So come and follow Jesus, you who have committed yourselves already, and you who would like to do so for the first time; you who have given yourselves to the care of creation and to the suffering ones of the world, and you who feel moved by the Spirit to begin to offer yourselves; you who have been faithful in your life commitments and you who have failed. Come, offer yourselves and your gifts, and make new beginnings in your lives.
If you are able to, please consider mailing your offerings to the church (210 Smith Street) or dropping them off in the mail slot. Alternatively, if you visit peoples presbyterian dot org, you’ll find a donate button at the top of the page that will link you directly to a secure page where you could make a donation online. We appreciate the generosity of the Peoples family as we live out our faith in MISSION and ministry.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION (Barbara Chaapel, PRESBYTERIAN OUTLOOK)
Blessed are you, God of all creation; through your goodness we have these gifts to share. Accept and use our offerings and our lives for your glory and for the service of your kingdom. Amen.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Julian of Norwich)
I saw that God was everything that is good and encouraging.
God’s our clothing that wraps, clasps and encloses us so as never to leave us.
God showed me in my palm a little thing round as a ball about the size of a hazelnut.
I looked at it with the eye of my understanding and asked myself: “What is this thing?”
And I was answered: “It is everything that is created.”
I wondered how it could survive since it seemed so little it could suddenly disintegrate into nothing.
The answer came: “It endures and ever will endure, because God loves it.”
And so everything has being because of God’s love.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May God’s face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
May God’s countenance be lifted upon you and give you peace.
From wherever you are, serve the Lord: Creator, Son, and Holy Spirit.
VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR
If you are using this page to follow along with today’s worship service while it is being live streamed, please join us for virtual coffee hour! Turn on your video camera and join us after the benediction with THIS LINK. You could also join over the telephone by dialing (312) 626-6799 and entering the meeting code 146 874 134, followed by the password 075003. You can find other events throughout the week on our CALENDAR.