Sunday, June 17, 2018

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

For Meditation and Reflection:
Frederick Buechner, referring to the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins writes, “He says with equal understatement that to have pity on his own heart means simply to be as kind and charitable to himself as Christ calls all of us to be to our neighbors, with the implication that unless charity begins at home, the chances are that there will be something a little grim and bloodless about it everywhere else.” (From Speak What We Feel)

Welcome and Announcements

Opening Prayer (Pastor)

Responsive Call to Worship (Traditional Monastic Liturgy)

Pastor: We wait for the word of the Lord as we wait for the rains.
People: and our God shall come down upon us like gentle dew.
Pastor: The hills and the mountains will be singing praise to God.
People: Every tree in the forest will be clapping its hands.
The Lord will come and rule for ever. Alleluia.

Opening Hymn: #43, Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

Prayer for Illumination (Pastor)

Today’s Scripture Reading Matthew 14:13-21

Sermon The One Thing God Can’t Do – Mike Lyle

The Offerings and Offertory Music

The Doxology: #780

A Litany of Thanksgiving
Pastor: All things come from you, O God, and with gratitude we return to you what is yours. All that we are, and all that we have, is your gift to us.
People: And so, in gratitude for all your gifts, we offer ourselves, and all that we have. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world.
All: Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Reflective Hymn #583, Like a Mother Who Has Borne Us

Joys and Concerns

Prayers of the Pastor and the People

The Lord’s Prayer (Traditional, with “debts”)

Closing Hymn: #429, God, Bless Our Homes

Prayer of Benediction: (Pastor)
Go forward in the comfort and strength of God’s blessing. Remember that you are loved, that God is ever near, and that divine mercy is your way in the world. Amen.

Sharing the Peace as we go… And we hope you can join us for post-worship coffee and conversation in Fellowship Hall.

Rev. Lyle is happy to talk about questions, concerns or thoughts you may have after today’s worship.

Thoughts for the Day/Week

Pied Beauty

Glory be to God for dappled things –
For skies of couple-color as a brinded cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings;
Landscape plotted and pieced – fold, fallow, and plough;
And all trades, their gear and tackle and trim.
All things counter, original, spare, strange;
Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change: Praise him.

— by Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

This Sunday, June 17: Worship Service led by Dr. Rev. Michael Lyle
10 AM Sunday School for Adults and Children
11 AM Service in Sanctuary
Thank you to Jessie Scobie for sharing you musical gifts today!

*** NEXT SATURDAY, June 23:
St. James has a booth at the Frederick Pride Festival. If you’d like to help decorate the booth or represent St. James, please talk with Lauranne 703-346-3071.

Next Sunday, June 24: Worship Service led by Rev. Mary Mason

Sunday, July 1: Worship Service led by Rev. Samantha Tuttle
10 AM Service in Sanctuary
11AM coffee and conversation in Fellowship Hall;
***11:30 Annual Congregational Meeting in Sanctuary***

Vacation Bible School! Mon – Fri, August 6-10. Tell everyone with children, ages 3 to 10. Applications available at www.StJamesUCC-Love.org
Join the fun! If you’d like to offer a short activity for the children during this half-day camp, or if you simply want to help, please talk with Robin or Janell.

Childcare is available during services at St. James. Thank you to Greta Harteis and Katie Sulek for your generous and caring work.

Food Bank Donations: Please bring non-perishable food items to church; Thank you to Tena Brass for taking our donations to the Lovettsville Food Bank at the New Jerusalem Lutheran Church.

NOTE! Summer Worship Time in July and August is 10AM.

Saint James United Church of Christ
10 East Broadway
Lovettsville, Virginia
www.stjamesucc-love.org