Ringing of the Bell
Living Hope—Phil Wickham
Opening Sentences
Blessed be God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and forever. Amen.
In this opening poem by A. R. Ammons, the poet is surprised to find a moth within a bloom, and the moth blends perfectly with that bloom. As we spend time in the presence of God in prayer and in worship, we, like the moth who blends in with the bloom, may find that we begin to resemble our God who brings us home and shelters us through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
The Yucca Moth
The yucca clump
is blooming,
tall sturdy spears
spangling into bells of light,
green
in the white blooms
Faint as
a memory of mint:
I raid
a bloom,
spread the hung petals out,
and, surprised he is not
a bloom-part, find
a moth inside, the exact color,
the bloom his daylight port or cove:
though time comes
and goes and troubles
are unlessened,
the yucca is lifting temples
of bloom: from the night
of our dark flights, can
we go in to heal, live
out in white-green shade
the radiant, white, hanging day?
The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray.
Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
A Reading from the Book of Exodus.
The Israelites had journeyed from Rephidim, entered the wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness; Israel camped there in front of the mountain. Then Moses went up to God; the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the Israelites: You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.”
So Moses came, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. The people all answered as one: “Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do.”
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
This hymn is a paraphrase of Psalm 100, today’s Psalm.
A Reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans.
Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person– though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
A Reading from the Gospel according to Matthew.
Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Sermon The Rev. Catherine D. Hicks and The Rev. Daniel Johnson
Sermon, Brief Discussion
Confession of Sin
Loving God, without your grace we are like sheep without a shepherd. Sometimes we are harassed by sin and feel helpless against its power. Sometimes, in our sin, we use our own power to harass the helpless. Forgive us, O Lord, and bring us home. Restore us to your flock and fold, we pray; through Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd. Amen.
The Peace
Announcements
Thanks to Johnny, let’s take a look at what’s blooming around St Peter’s.
Happy Anniversary, Phil and Kate Fitzhugh, Chris and Becky Fisher, Tom and Barbara Segar
O God, you have so consecrated the covenant of marriage that in it is represented the spiritual unity between Christ and his Church: Continue to send your blessing upon these your servants, that they may so love, honor, and cherish each other in faithfulness and patience, in wisdom and true godliness, that their home may be a haven of blessing and peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Thank yous—Charles McGuire and Chris Fisher have finished painting the ramps at church. Thank you! For those who contributed to today’s worship—Nancy Long provided the opening music, Johnny Davis and Andrea provided photos for our worship, thank you to Ben for playing the part of Fr Daniel, and to Andrea for reading.
Garden articles for the July Newsletter
Zoom Compline on Friday, June 19
The Prayers
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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Blessed are you, O Lord God our creator: for you do not abandon your creation, but continue to make your grace known among us. We thank you for those you have chosen to speak your reconciling word in this age, and we pray for the grace to receive it.
Blessed are you, our caring God: for you hear the cries of those who are sick, the cries of those who are gasping for breath, you see the tears of those who mourn, you feel the pain of those in anguish and you come to the side of the lonely. Call us, your church, to compassion and service.
Blessed are you, our God of peace: for you have bid us to forgive one another and to be people of reconciliation. You have borne us up on eagle’s wings. Raise up among us peacemakers.
Blessed are you, our God of justice: For you desire that all be one. Erase the prejudice and class divisions among us, that together we may share in your vision of harmony.
Blessed are you, Our God of strength: for your will for us is health and salvation. We give thanks for the ongoing recovery of Terry Hudgins, injured in a fall at the Lyceum. Thank you that he is able to walk again. For all who are sick, and for those on our prayer list, especially John, Laura’s son, Gracelynn, granddaughter of the Birches, and Mike Shamblin, Terri Harrison’s friend, and to Terri in her anxiety, give health, patience and hope.
We pray for those who serve in the armed forces of our nation, that they may work for justice and peace and defend us in danger, especially those on our prayer list, Cheyenne, Cliff, Alexis, Scott, Steven, Michael, George and Greg; that in war you would inspire them to serve our country well; in peace hold them ready and alert. In their lives may they bring honor to our country’s name. Bring them safely home when their work is done.
We pray all who have died, that they may have rest and perpetual peace in your loving presence, and that your will for them may be fulfilled. May we share with all your saints in your eternal kingdom, we pray:
Through dreams and visions, O God, you broaden our horizons and our hopes, so that we may discover the meaning of your covenant with us, even in our current trials and the continuing exile. Pour your love into our hearts, that, overflowing with joy, we may freely share the blessings of your kingdom and faithfully proclaim the good news of Christ. Amen.
Blessing
May the love of God, the grace of Christ, and the Spirit’s peace be with you always. Amen.
Closing—On Eagle’s Wings
Grow in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Resources:
Feasting on the Word Liturgies for Year A, Vol 2: Trinity Sunday through Reign of Christ Worship Companion, Kimberly Bracken Long, Ed.
Intercessions for the Christian People, Gail Ramshaw, Ed.
Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, Proposed by the Consultation on Common Texts