Bulletin -Sunday, June 29, 2025 – Third Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday, June 29, 2025
Third Sunday after Pentecost

We Gather as People of Faith

Welcome

Announcements

Lighting the Christ Candle

As we begin worship today let us light the Christ Candle remembering that as a people of God we ae a light to the world that cries out for justice, hope, and peace.

Call to Worship

One:   People of God, let us lift our voices in gratitude for the real gift of freedom that is our through the Creator who joyfully made the heavens and the earth and all that is in it.
All:      We gather, bound by trust and faith in God, who guides us with wisdom and prods us on like the wind.

One:   Believers in Christ the risen one, as we gather as one in faith, let us open our hearts and minds today to remember to follow the one who came to bring true freedom through peace.
All:      We gather, united in compassion and care for all those in need for the bountiful creation that it may be a source of life for all.

One:   Friends, let us be attune to Ruah, the spirit moving among us that we may through our time together be strengthened in love for one another and the world in need.
All:      We gather, listening and waiting for inspiration and direction for the spirit our guide and our hope. Amen.

Hymn – “Teach Me, God, to Wonder” (VU #299)

Teach me, God, to wonder, teach me, God, to see;
Let your world of beauty capture me.
Praise to you be given, love for you be lived,
Life be celebrated, joy you give.

Let me, God, be open, let me loving be;
Let your world of people speak to me.
Praise to you be given, love for you be lived,
Life be celebrated, joy you give.

Let me, God, be ready, let me be awake,
In your world of loving my place take.
Praise to you be given, love for you be lived,
Life be celebrated, joy you give.

Teach me, God, to know you, hear you when you speak,
See you in my neighbour when we meet.
Praise to you be given, love for you be lived,
Life be celebrated, joy you give.

Prayer of Approach and Confession

Compassionate God, we are sorry for allowing ourselves to live separated from you the source of all that is good, loving and truth. At times, our greed and hoarding, has led us to exploit your precious resources. Our fears have led us to support systems that discriminated against others based on race, gender, religion, and socioeconomic status. The injustices in the world overwhelm us and at times the weight of the world feels too heavy. When we are afraid, we sometimes fail to stand for what is right and true. Although we fall short at times, we strive to live as your faithful disciples in what seems like an increasingly difficult and complex world.

Words of Assurance

God your boundless forgiveness and endless love, gives us assurance and liberation from our brokenness and fears. Regardless of our failings, our greed, unjust actions, or discriminatory attitudes, your invitation for us all to abide in love offers freedom from our sense of separation and brings us in unity with you, our Creator. God we are forever grateful for your mercy that breaks open our hearts so that we are set free, liberated from the chains of our wrongdoings, and empowered to live in harmony with your saving love.

Sung Response – “Spirit of Life” (VU #381)

Spirit of Life, come unto me.
Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion.
Blow in the wind, rise in the sea; move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice.
Roots hold me close; wings set me free;
Spirit of Life, come to me, come to me.

A Story for All – Children of the Earth…Remember (author Shim Schimmel)

Hymn – “It’s a Song of Praise to the Maker” (MV #30)

It’s a song of praise to the Maker, the thrush sings high in the tree.
It’s a song of praise to the Maker, the gray whale sings in the sea,
And by the Spirit you and I can join our voice to the holy cry
And sing, sing, sing to the Maker too.

It’s a call of life to the Giver when waves and waterfalls roar.
It’s a call of life to the Giver when high tides break on the shore,
And by the Spirit you and I can join our voice to the holy cry
And sing, sing, sing to the Maker too.

It’s a hymn of love to the Lover; the bumblebees hum along.
It’s a hymn of love to the Love, the summer breeze joins the song,
And by the Spirit you and I can join our voice to the holy cry
And sing, sing, sing to the Maker too.

It’s the chorus of all creation; it’s sung by all living things.
It’s the chorus of all creation; a song the universe sings,
And by the Spirit you and I can join our voice to the holy cry
And sing, sing, sing to the Maker too.

We Hear God’s Word

Scripture Reading:    Psalm 77 (VU #791)

Sung Response:    God, bend your ear and hear my prayer

One:   I cry aloud to God, I cry that God may hear me.
All:      In my time of distress I have turned to God; with hands uplifted I have prayed all night, but my soul refuses all comfort.

Sung Response:    God, bend your ear and hear my prayer

One:   Then I recall your deeds, O God! I remember your wonders of old. I recount all your works and ponder the things you have done.
All:      O God, your ways are holy. What god is as great as you!

One:   You are the one who works wonders; you have shown your strength among nations.
All:      By your arm you redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph.

Sung Response:    God, bend your ear and hear my prayer

One:   The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you and churned in fear;
All:      the seas trembled to their depths.

One:   Clouds streamed water, the heavens rumbled;
All:      your arrows bolted on every side.

One:   The voice of your thunder was heard in the whirlwind;
All:      lightning lit up the world, the earth quaked and shuddered.

One:   Your way was through the sea;
All:      your path, through mighty waters;

One:   Your footprints could not be seen;
All:      but by the hand of Moses and Aaron, you led your people like a flock.

Sung Response:    God, bend your ear and hear my prayer

Scripture Reading:    Galatians 5:1, 13-25

¹ It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

¹³ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

¹⁶ So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

May God speak to us through these readings of scripture.
Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Love is the Recipe?”

Hymn: “Spirit of the Living God” (VU #376)

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, us me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.

Spirit of the living God, move among us all,
Make us one in heart and mind, make us one in love;
Humble, caring, selfless, sharing
Spirit of the living God, Fill our lives with love!

We Respond to God’s Word

Invitation to Share

As a manifest of our worship, let us unite in solidarity to uplift one another and embrace the freedom to live abundantly in every aspect of our lives. God has blessed us with a community and entrusted us to care for one another. Giving is the expression of freedom to enable all to live life to the fullest. Let us now bring our offerings to God.

Offering Sung Response – “For the Life That You Have Given”

For the life that you have given, for the love in Christ made known,
With these fruits of time and labour, with these gifts that are your own:
Here we offer, Lord, our praises, heart and mind and strength we bring;
Give us grace to love and serve you, living what we pray and sing.

Offering Prayer

Prayers of the People

One:   Lord in your mercy,
All:      Hear our prayer.

The Prayer Jesus Taught Us:

One:   Please join me in praying as Jesus taught us.
All:      Our loving God who is like our Mother and 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, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Passing of the Peace

We Go Into God’s World

Hymn – “God Says” (MV #172)

God says, “Be still so you may hear the words I whisper in your ear.
If you listen, you will know I’m with you always where you go.”

God says, “Look up and see the prize I’ve placed here right before your eyes.
Find beauty in the things of earth, a cause for wonder and rebirth.”

God says, “Come here! I need your voice. Please teach my people to rejoice.
In who you are, in what you do, your life will show my love for you.”

God says, “Reach out! The world’s in need and wants a word, a song, a deed.
I send you forth to speak, to sing, to act for Christ in everything”

Commissioning / Benediction

God of Justice and Love, as we conclude our celebration, we are grateful for your word poured out for and shared with us today. We are blessed to be led to be beacons of your light in a broken and blessed world. The message we’ve received today motivates us to stand in solidarity with those who are in need, oppressed, and deprived of justice and equality. Help us to become a community that supports one another’s efforts, demonstrating Your love by serving all who are in need.

Siblings in Christ, we have received and embodied the ingredients of Love. As we leave this place, let us take the promise of freedom through love with us and pass it on to others, giving hope and encouragement where we go.

Go now in peace. Until we meet again, may God’s blessings be within each of you and among us, may Christ be with you, and all God’s grace be poured upon you, and protect you all your days, may the spirit of compassion nurture and guide you always, now and forever. God in peace, amen.

Sung Response – “With a Vision of Hope”

With a vision of hope we move along.
Empowered by faith we carry on.
Reaching out far and wide, moving forward reaching high.
Filled with hope, filled with dreams, we journey on.