Bulletin- Sunday, August 13, 2023 – Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost
Sunday, August 13, 2023
Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost
Approach
Welcome:
Please join me in an Acknowledgement to the Territory:
Indigenous peoples, for thousands of years, have walked on this land. We acknowledge the first peoples and their stewardship throughout the ages. The relationship with the land we worship and live on is part of Treaty 1 and is the center of our lives. Our water comes from Treaty 3 and our hydro from Treaty 5 territories. We acknowledge errors made in the past by those arriving from other lands and we pledge to work towards the right relationships with all First Nations people.
Lighting the Christ Candle:
Call to Worship:
All: We gather together to worship God, who comes to us when we least expect it, who calls us out of the safety of our ordered lives and invites us to join in the adventuring of faith. Let us worship God together.
(Worship blogspot)
Opening Prayer:
Hymn –“O Changeless Christ” (VU #350, v 1-4 Tune VU #75)
O changeless Christ, for ever new, who walked our earthly ways;
Still draw our hearts as once you drew the hearts of other days.
As once you spoke by plain and hill or taught by shore and sea,
So be today our teacher still, O Christ of Galilee.
As wind and storm their master heard and his command fulfilled,
May troubled hearts receive your word, the tempest-tossed be stilled.
And as of old to all who prayed your healing hand was shown,
So be your touch upon us laid, unseen but not unknown.
Prayer of Approach and Confession: Unison
Lord, you know us too well. We confess that it is often difficult for us to be your people. You know how, and when things are going well, that we find it easy to acknowledge you and loudly proclaim our faith. But, when the waters get rough and there may be waves, we cry and wail in fear of destruction.
We also admit we are more prone to apathy than action; isolation than involvement; callousness than compassion; obstinance than obedience; legalism than love; rigidness than receptiveness; pessimism than praise; self-filled than Spirit-filled.
Gracious Lord, pour out your mercy on us and forgive our sins. When you call, may our focused gaze be off any wind or waves but be directly on you. Attune our hearts and lives to hear your call and respond in faith. Hear our prayer. AMEN
Words of Assurance:
Hymn – “Jesus, Saviour, Pilot Me” (VU #637)
Jesus, Saviour, pilot me over life’s tempestuous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll, hiding rock and treacherous shoal;
Chart and compass come from thee, Jesus, Saviour, pilot me.
As a mother stills her child, thou canst hush the ocean wild;
Boisterous waves obey thy will when thou biddest them “Be still.”
Wondrous sovereign of the sea, Jesus, Saviour, pilot me.
When at last I near the shore, and the fearful breakers roar
‘Twixt me and the peaceful land, still supported by thy hand,
May I hear thee say to me, “Fear not, I will pilot thee.”
The Word
Scripture Reading Psalm 105: Parts 1 and 2 (VU page 828)
Part 1:
One: Give thanks and call on God’s name. Make known to the nations what God has done.
ALL: Sing, O sing the songs of praise; Tell of all God’s wonderful deeds.
One: Exult in God’s holy name;
All: let those who seek God be joyful in heart.
One: Turn for help to the One who is your strength; Seek God’s presence continually.
All: Remember the marvels the Most High has done, the wonders and judgements God has given,
One: O children of Abraham and Sarah, God’s servants,
All: O offspring of Israel, chosen of God.
One: You are the eternal God,
All: for justice reaches every corner of the earth.
One: You are ever mindful of your covenant, the promise you gave to a thousand generations,
All: the covenant you made with Sarah and Abraham, the oath you gave to Isaac.
One: You confirmed it for Jacob as binding. To Israel your everlasting covenant you declared,
All: “ To you I give the land of Canaan, As your appointed inheritance.”
Part 2:
One: You called down famine on the land, and cut off the supply of bread.
All: But you sent one ahead of them, Joseph, whom they had sold as a slave.
One: His feet were hurt with fetters, his neck collared with iron;
All: until his predictions came true, your word tested him.
One: Then the king sent and released him, the ruler of nations set him free.
All: He made Joseph master of his house, ruler of all his possessions,
One: to correct his officials at will,
All: to teach his counsellors wisdom.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 14:22-33
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God!
Sung Response: “Calm Me, Lord”
Calm me, Lord, as you calmed the storm;
Still me, Lord, keep me from harm.
Let all the tumult within me cease;
Enfold me, Lord, in your peace.
Calm me, Lord, as you calmed the storm;
Still me, Lord, keep me from harm.
Let all the tumult within me cease;
Enfold me, Lord,
Enfold me in your peace.
Meditation
Hymn – “We Do Not Knows What Lies Ahead”
We do not know what lies ahead.
Will we meet storms, or sun instead?
Do we hope Christ will calm the waves,
Or is our faith enough to save?
There will be times when we maintain
That all our efforts are in vain.
If we give up, what can we give?
For what we leave is how we’ve lived.
But Christ gives hope which makes us bold;
To take a risk, though trials unfold;
For love is patient, and sustains,
When we are lost, love still remains.
In welcome shared and kindness shown,
The love of God is truly known.
When we attempt to live shalom,
We find the road that leads us home.
We do not know what lies ahead.
Will we meet storms, or sun instead?
Do we hope Christ will calm the waves,
Or is our faith enough to save?
Offering / Response: VU #540
Grant us, God, the grace of giving,
With a spirit large and free,
That ourselves and all our living
We may offer faithfully.
The Response
Prayers of the People
One: When you hear “Lord, hear our prayer”, please reply with “and in your love answer”.
One: Everlasting God, we bring our prayers to your, asking that your blessing of love and peace be known to all people everywhere. Lord, hear our prayer
All: and in your love answer.
One: We pray that in our communities all will be welcome and accepted regardless of nationality, colour, gender or status. We seek always to serve You, our Lord, in one another. Lord, hear our prayer
All: and in your love answer.
One: Gracious God, we raise before you all who seek healing of body, mind or spirit asking that they will sense the touch of your loving hands and feel your peace and presence along side them – each and every step of their journey towards healing and wholesome. Lord, hear our prayer
All: and in your love answer.
One: We remember before you, O Lord, all those who have passed. May they see your salvation and find their fiend and rest in you. We especially remember the people of Dauphin and Carberry in their loss and for those whom have been a formative part of their lives, who made us who we are and who we still miss. Lord, hear our prayer
All: and in your love answer.
One: We pray for victims of violence or hatred. To the people of the Ukraine, the middle East, France, and other suffering countries. May peace come to them soon and hatred cease. Lord, hear our prayer
All: and in your love answer
One: Faithful Lord, we offer you these prayers for ourselves and others as we join in the prayer Jesus taught us to pray.
All: Our Father/Mother, 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, for ever and ever. Amen
Hymn – “Will Your Anchor Hold” (VU #675)
Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift or firm remain?
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
Fastened to the rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.
Will your anchor hold in the straits of fear,
When the breakers roar and the reef is near?
While the surges rave and the wild winds blow,
Shall the angry waves then your bark o’erflow?
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
Fastened to the rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.
Will your eyes behold through the morning light,
The city of gold and the harbour bright?
Will you anchor safe by the heavenly shore
When life’s storms are past for evermore?
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
Fastened to the rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.
Benediction
Response
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
Fastened to the rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.
