August 2, 2020
Gathering as the Body of Christ
Welcome and Sharing of Announcements
Call to Worship
(Peter Seymour)
Liturgist: Happy are we when our treasures cannot be quantified.
People: Happy are we when our knowledge is tempered by mystery.
Liturgist: Happy are we when our pain is held in the balm of love.
People: Happy are we when our delight comes from beyond ourselves.
Katherine Hawker (2006), http://liturgyoutside.net/beatitudes.pdf
Opening Prayer
(Peter Seymour)
God of the blazing chariots, the whirling wind, the sacred silence, Listen, Lord, to the prayer of our hearts now. Create clean hearts in us. Renew right spirits within us. Shelter us within your presence. Sustain us by your Holy Spirit. Restore to us the joy of our salvation. Blazing, whirling, sacred God, inhabit and transform our stories. Amen.
Opening Hymn
“As the Deer
”
TFWS #2025
Based on Psalm 42:1
Pastoral Prayer and Lord’s Prayer
Prayer Response
“Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”
UMH #133 (vs 3)
What have I to dread,
what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Scripture Readings
Matthew 5:3-12; 11:28-30
(Peter Seymour)
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely[b] on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
28 “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
NRSV
Message
"
The Power of a Clean and Gentle Heart
"
(Pastor Seok-Hwan)
Message in Music
“The Lord Listens When I Pray"
Brain Ryder and Mark Beatty, duet
July 15, 2018
by Robert C. Evans
Offertory Prayer
For the wondrous gift of life, we are thankful, O God. Your generous outpouring of grace reminds us of the fruitful life we are called to bear. May these gifts of time and labor, therefore, embody our desire to share and contribute to your coming reign among us. Amen.
Closing Hymn
"
Have Thine Own Way, Lord
"
UMH #382
The Blessing and Sending Forth
May God bless you with a restless discomfort
about easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships,
so that you may seek truth boldly and love deep within your heart.
May God bless you with holy anger
at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
so that you may tirelessly work for justice, freedom, and peace among all people.
May God bless you with the gift of tears
to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish,
so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy.
May God bless you with enough foolishness
to believe that you really can make a difference in this world,
so that you are able, with God’s grace, to do what others claim cannot be done. Amen.
The Traditional Fransiscan Blessing
