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 (Rev. J. Lee Hill)
Let us worship the Triune God.
Let us worship the One
who spoke in the beginning
and created something out of nothing.
Let us worship the Triune God.
Let us worship the One
who took on the clothing of humanity
to set those who were oppressed free.
Let us worship the Triune God.
Let us worship the One
whose Spirit rests continually upon us,
calling us from sorrow-filled endings
to bright new beginnings.
OPENING PRAYER (My Redeemer Lives)
O God, whose holiness is not limited to grand cathedrals or saintly persons, spectacular mountains or mountain-moving leaders; O God, whose holiness is often discovered in simple everyday places and simple everyday folk, plant Your holiness in this place, in us now. Grow us this hour, that we might flower, right where we are, with the beauty of Your holiness. Through Jesus we pray. Amen.
CALL TO CONFESSION (Andrew Taylor-Troutman, Presbyterian Outlook)
The doctrine of the Trinity is a mystery, yet we believe that God is our creator, redeemer and sustainer. With humility, faith and hope, we confess the things we have done and left undone as well as the shortcomings and injustices in our society and world. Let us pray.
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 have to confess this week?
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Andrew Taylor-Troutman, Presbyterian Outlook)
Holy Triune God, you so loved the world, continue to love the world and will always love the world. Forgive us for our abuse of your created order and its intended harmony. Forgive us for our violence against our fellow creatures, including those made in your image. Forgive us for our indifference and cynicism, and our callousness. Cast out our fear with the faith that you can do all things, and renew a right spirit within us. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Andrew Taylor-Troutman, Presbyterian Outlook)
Hear the good news: God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, we are forgiven.
PRAYER FOR UNDERSTANDING (Andrew Taylor-Troutman, Presbyterian Outlook)
Holy Trinity, your word is a lamp unto our feet. Yet, there are great mysteries in life that we do not understand. We may ask with Nicodemus of old, “How can these things be?” Give us just enough light that we would step out in faith and do the next right thing. May it be so. Amen.
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING
John 3:1-17
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
‘For God so loved the world as to give God’s only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.’
HYMN Source and Sovereign, Rock and Cloud
lyrics by Thomas H. Troeger, 1986 © 1986 Oxford University Press
music by Joseph Parry, 1876
Used by Permission. CCLI License #3456351 and ONELICENSE # 738214-A
Source and Sovereign, Rock and Cloud,
Fortress, Fountain, Shelter, Light,
Judge, Defender, Mercy, Might,
Life whose life all life all endowed:
Refrain:
May the church at prayer recall
that no single holy name
but the truth behind them all
is the God whom we proclaim.
Word and Wisdom, Root and Vine,
Shepherd, Savior, Servant, Lamb,
Well and Water, Bread and Wine,
Way who leads us to I AM:
Refrain
Storm and Stillness, Breath and Dove,
Thunder, Tempest, Whirlwind, Fire,
Comfort, Counselor, Presence Love,
Energies that never tire.
Refrain
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING
Isaiah 6:1-8
A reading from the prophet Isaiah, chapter six, verses one through eight:
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said:
‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory.’
The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said: ‘Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!’
Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: ‘Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.’ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I; send me!’
-
God calls us whether we like it, want it or not- in our weakness (unclean lips) God gives us strength. What is keeping you (or your church) from answering God’s call? How is God helping you overcome that obstacle?
-
Isaiah confesses both individually and corporately. What sins are we guilty of corporately and what are we guilty of individually? Are they separable?
-
God chooses to offer healing, purification and forgiveness not directly but through a messenger. How might we be God’s messengers?
You can listen to Pastor Leia’s sermon, “Each Had Six Wings; and other surprising imagery for the divine,” here.
HYMN Thy Word Is a Lamp unto My Feet
lyrics by Amy Grant, 1984
music by Michael W. Smith, 1984; arr. John Sharber
© 1984 Meadowgreen Music Company (admin. EMICMGPublishing.com)/Word Music
Used by Permission. CCLI License #3456351
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
and a light unto my path.
When I feel afraid,
and I think I’ve lost my way,
still you’re there right beside me.
Nothing will I fear
as long as you are near.
Please be near me to the end.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (Andrew Taylor-Troutman, Presbyterian Outlook)
O blessed Trinity, we praise you as creator, redeemer and sustainer of our world and the cosmos beyond. We remember that we did not receive a spirit of fear but a spirit of adoption that allows us to call you: “Abba! Father!” We believe that your love is stronger than our fear. You invite us into the biggest story there is — the old, old story of your love for the world that is renewed each and every morning.
While your identity as three persons is a mystery, we know the terrible realities of violence and suffering. As our nation remembers our dead, we place our faith and hope in the vision that nations shall not make war against one another.
We praise you for the grace of being called as children of God. We ask for the courage to live into our calling, and for our hearts and minds to be opened to your Spirit in our place and time, including by the empowerment of others.
We pray for healing and wholeness from the pandemics of COVID-19, white supremacy and climate change. We pray for those who can’t breathe due to air population and oppression. We pray that your church, through truth and reconciliation, will join together across divisions and divides to exhibit the diversity and unity that is your gracious intention.
Spirit of the Living God, move again in our time like a breath of fresh air, giving life and liberty. Make us instruments of your peace and harmony. Through spiritual disciplines and acts of contemplation, kindle our holy imaginations and guide us into ministries of healing and wholeness.
For you, O Holy Three in One, are in relationship with your own self. May your children be led by the Spirit to be in right relationship with one another. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we pray the words Jesus taught us, 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 “King of My Heart”
music and lyrics by John Mark McMillan and Sarah McMillan
© 2015 Meaux Jeaux Music, Raucous Ruckus Publishing, Sarah McMillan Publishing (admin. Capitol CMG Publishing, Watershed Music Publishing)
Used by Permission. CCLI License #3456351
Be the mountain where I run
The fountain I drink from
Oh, He is my song
Let the King of my heart
Be the shadow where I hide
The ransom for my life
Oh, He is my song
You are good, oh oh
You are good
You are good, oh oh
You are good
You are good, oh oh
You are good
You are good, oh oh
Be the wind inside my sails
The anchor in the waves
Oh oh, He is my song
Let the King of my heart
Be the fire inside my veins
The echo of my days
Oh oh, He is my song
You are good, oh oh
You are good
You are good, oh oh
You are good
You are good, oh oh
You are good
You are good, oh oh
You’re never gonna let me down
And You’re never gonna let
You’re never gonna let me down
You’re never gonna let
You’re never gonna let me down
You’re never gonna let
You’re never gonna let me down
You are good, oh oh
‘Cause You are good
You are good, oh oh
‘Cause You are good
You are good, oh oh
You are good
You are good, oh oh
MORNING OFFERING (Andrew Taylor-Troutman, Presbyterian Outlook)
Through the Trinity, God has blessed us with more than we could ever give in return. Our response should neither be in fear nor compulsion, but out of gratitude and gladness for the grace given by the One who so loves the world.
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 (Andrew Taylor-Troutman, Presbyterian Outlook)
Holy, holy, holy Lord Almighty, may our gifts and offerings praise you and bring grace to your world. Make us instruments of your peace, for you are merciful and mighty. To God in three persons, blessed Trinity, we pray, amen.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Lisa Frenz)
Copyright Lisa Frenz. All Rights Reserved. Used with permission.
We believe in one God, who is Creator,
maker of all we see and all we don’t see;
Who is Ruler of the universe:
Source of all creation!
We believe in one God, who is Jesus Christ,
God from God, Light from Light, true God and true human.
He is one with the Creator; the Word made flesh, our Messiah:
Savior of all creation!
We believe in one God, who is Holy Spirit,
Breath of God moving among us.
Who is one with the Creator; one with the Christ; our Comforter and our Guide:
Mentor of all creation!
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.