Everything Changes: Let it Go

July 2, 2023
 
Prelude
Stephanie Shorden

*Call to Worship
CLM Twinkle Gordon
Leader: God who breaks us open, you call us to let the seeds of your love be planted anew in us again and again. Open us this day as you invite us to let go of how we think things are.
People: God, calm our fears, and animate our spirits for this time of discovery.
Leader: This is the day that the Lord has made.
People: We will rejoice and be glad in it!
 
*Gathering Song
Hymn of Promise
UMH #707
WORDS: Natalie Sleeth, 1986 © 1986 Hope Publishing Co.
 
1. In the bulb
there is a flower;
in the seed, an apple tree;
in cocoons,
a hidden promise:
butterflies will soon be free!
 
In the cold
and snow of winter
there’s a spring
that waits to be,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.
 
2. There’s a song
in every silence,
seeking word and melody;
there’s a dawn
in every darkness,
bringing hope to you and me.
 
From the past
will come the future;
what it holds,
a mystery,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.
 
3. In the end
is our beginning;
in our time, infinity;
in our doubt
there is believing;
in our life, eternity.
 
In our death,
a resurrection;
at the last, a victory,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.
 
Mystery Box
 
Prayer Song
One Bread, One Body
UMH #620
WORDS: John B. Foley, 1978 (1 Cor. 10:16-17; Gal. 3:28; 1 Cor. 12) © 1978, 1989 John B. Foley and North American Liturgy Resources
 
Refrain
One bread, one body,
one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing
which we bless.
 
And we, though many
throughout the earth,
we are one body
in this one Lord.
 
Pastoral, Silent, and The Lord’s Prayer
 
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. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power and the Glory forever.
Amen
 
Prayer Song
One Bread, One Body
UMH #620
WORDS: John B. Foley, 1978 (1 Cor. 10:16-17; Gal. 3:28; 1 Cor. 12) © 1978, 1989 John B. Foley and North American Liturgy Resources
 
Refrain
One bread, one body,
one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing
which we bless.
 
And we, though many
throughout the earth,
we are one body
in this one Lord.
 
Invitation to Offering
CLM Twinkle Gordon
 
Offertory
Let Us Be Bread
Sanctuary Choir
 
Prayer of Thanks and Dedication
Rev. David Petty
 
Doxology
Praise God from Whom All Blessing Flow
 
Praise God, from whom 
all blessings flow; 
Praise God, all creatures 
here below: Alleluia! Alleluia! 
 
Praise God, the source 
of all our gifts! 
Praise Jesus Christ, 
whose power uplifts! 
 
Praise the Spirit, 
Holy Spirit! 
Alleluia! Alleluia! 
Alleluia!
 
Scripture Reading
John 12:20-26 The Message
CLM Twinkle Gordon
 
“Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever, real and eternal. If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you’ll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment’s notice. The Holy One, Parent of Us All, will honor and reward anyone who serves me.”
 
Prayer for Illumination

Leader: May the words of my mouth,
People: and the meditations of all of our hearts
All: be acceptable in your sight, O Lord our rock and our redeemer.
Psalm 19:14

Message
Everything Changes: Let It Go
Rev. David Petty

Communion

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth. You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life. When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast. You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God,
brought us to a land flowing with milk and honey, and set before us the way of life. And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit. By your great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of your Son from the dead and to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. Once we were no people, but now we are your people, declaring your wonderful deeds in Christ, who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. When the Lord Jesus ascended, he promised to be with us always, in the power of your Word and Holy Spirit.
On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: "Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." When the supper was over he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said: "Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
On the day you raised him from the dead he was recognized by his disciples in the breaking of the bread, and in the power of your Holy Spirit your Church has continued in the breaking of the bread and the sharing of the cup. And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
 
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes and we feast at his heavenly banquet. Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church,
all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and for ever.
 
Amen.

*Sending Hymn
In the Midst of New Dimensions
v. 1, 3, 5 TFWS 2238
WORDS: Julian B. Rush (Gen. 9:12-16; Exod. 13:21-22; Num. 14:14) MUSIC: Julian B. Rush © 1994 Julian B. Rush
 
1. In the midst of
new dimensions,
in the face of
changing ways,
 
who will lead the
pilgrim peoples
wandering in their
separate ways?
 
Refrain
God of rainbow,
fiery pillar,
leading where the
eagles soar,
 
we your people,
ours the journey
now and ever,
now and ever,
now and evermore.
 
3. As we stand
a world divided
by our own
self-seeking schemes,
 
grant that we,
your global village,
might envision
wider dreams.
 
Refrain
God of rainbow,
fiery pillar,
leading where the
eagles soar,
 
we your people,
ours the journey
now and ever,
now and ever,
now and evermore.
 
 
5. Should the threats
of dire predictions
cause us to
withdraw in pain,
 
may your blazing
phoenix spirit
resurrect the
church again.
 
Refrain
God of rainbow,
fiery pillar,
leading where the
eagles soar,
 
we your people,
ours the journey
now and ever,
now and ever,
now and evermore.
 
*Benediction
Rev. David Petty
 
Postlude
Stephanie Shorden

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