June 27, 2021 – Order of Worship
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost – Belief, not Fear
Music While You Wait
Welcome, Announcements, Joys & Concerns Eileen Helvig, Worship Leader
Prelude “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” Michael Danner
by George Miles
Call to Worship Eileen Helvig, Worship Leader
One: Sing Praises to God, all you faithful ones.
All: God hears us in our fear and our sorrow
One: Where there was no way
All: God leads us in a new way
One: Where there was no mercy
All: God surprises us with fresh mercy
One: Where there was weeping
All: God invites us to step into a new dance.
Invocation
One: O Faithful God, You yearn to be so close to us
that we can know you in every breath,
in every hope, in every relationship.
All: You long for us to trust in your power
to bring to life new possibilities
where there has been no hope.
One: Meet us here today and teach us to recognize
the ways of life and hope into which you are leading us
All. So may our desires become your desires,
our work become your work, and our community
the place where you are sought and found.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Call to Confession
One: God calls us into our lives to take a risk
to be like the woman in the gospel
who reaches out to Jesus for healing for herself;
or the father who risks the scorn of others to being Jesus to his
dying daughter. Let us ponder for a moment the places of our
lives where we may resist turning to God for healing and change.
(Moment of silence and reflection)
Litany of Confession
One: When we resist your call to open our hearts to allow
the freshness of your grace to enter:
All: God have mercy.
One: When we close our eyes to new and unexpected
possibilities of healing and reconciliation.
All: Christ have mercy.
One: When we let fear overwhelm us, and cling to the security of what
we know instead of risking new steps toward your freedom and
justice:
All: God have mercy.
Assurance of Grace Eileen Helvig, Worship Leader
God’s mercies are fresh every morning.
In Christ God offers forgiving grace
and welcome into a community of trust, abundance, and hope.
Let us give thanks for the mercy of God
and pass the peace of Christ in community among us.
Gathering Hymn #25BH “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blasr, and our eternal home.
Under the shadow of your throne your saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is your arm alone and our defense is sure.
Before the hills in order stood or earth received its frame
From everlasting you are God, to endless years the same.
A thousand ages in your sight are like an evening gone,
Short as the watch that ends the night before the rising sun.
Time, like an ever rolling stream, soon bears us all away;
We fly forgotten, as a dream fades at the opening day.
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come.
Still be our God, while troubles last, and our eternal home.
Listening to the Still Speaking Word
Lesson from the Epistles – 2 Cor. 8:7-15 Eileen Helvig, Worship Leader
Now as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you – so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.
I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might be rich. And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something – now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has – not according to what one does not have. I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be fair balance. As it is written,
“The one who had much did not have too much,
and the one who had little did not have too little.”
Prayer of Illumination #283BH “Spirit of the Living God”
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me;
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.
Gospel Lesson – Mark 5:21-43 Eileen Helvig, Worship Leader
When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” So he went with him.
And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’” He looked all around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one else should know of this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Prayer of Illumination #283BH “Spirit of the Living God”
Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me;
Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.
Message “The Will of God” Rev. Dr. Bob Summers
Hymn of Reflection #472 BH “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”
Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light:
Refrain: Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.
When my way grows drear, precious Lord, linger near,
when my life is almost gone,
Hear my cry, hear my call, hold my hand, lest I fall:
Refrain: Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.
When the shadows appear and the night draws near,
and the day is past and gone,
At the river I stand, guide my feet, hold my hand:
Refrain: Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.
Responding to God with Our Lives
Offering Invitation Eileen Helvig, Worship Leader
The freshness of God’s mercy and love,
the continued generosity of God’s gifts to us,
call for thanksgiving and generosity on our part.
This church stands because of the faithful generosity
of those who came before us, and its ministry grows today
because of the hopeful, expectant generosity that lives in us.
All: Let us gather our gifts together, then, and offer them to God
in gratitude, heartfelt commitment, and praise.
Offertory “Piece pour Orque” Michael Danner
by Cesar Frank
Blessing over the Offering Eileen Helvig, Worship Leader
Generous God, take our gifts this day and use them
so that we may be part of your great work in this world.
Through our giving, bring a brighter day of justice and love,
not just in our community but in the world beyond these walls.
Strengthen our church and the whole United Church of Christ
so that we grow together each day
into a powerful voice for healing and peace. Amen.
Parting Hymn #BH12 “I Sing the Mighty Power of God”
I sing the mighty power of God that made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the loft skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at God’s command, and all the stars obey.
I sing the goodness of our God that filled the earth with food;
God formed the creatures with a word, and then pronounced them
good.
Oh, how your wonders are displayed, where’re I turned my eye:
If I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky!
On earth there’s not a plant or flower but makes your glory known.
The clouds arise and spread their showers by order from your throne.
All life is but a gift from you and ever in your care;
Wherever people gather, you, O God, are present there.
Benediction Eileen Helvig, Worship Leader
Deep in our hearts, we know that we are children of God.
Remember who you are, then,
and walk in the assurance of God’s presence and love being with you
always,
calling you beyond fear into belief and joy.
And may the grace and peace of God the Creator,
the Redeemer, and the Sustainer
come upon you this day and remain with you.
Postlude “Dialogue sur les Tierces et la Basse sur la Trompette”
by Francois Couperin Michael Danner
Belief, not Love: Service Prayers for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost was written by the Rev. Susan A. Blain, Minister for Worship and Gospel Arts.
Worship Ways – Copyright 2021, Faith INFO Ministry Team, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115-1100. Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education. All publishing rights reserved.
