July 3, 2022 – Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
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Welcome
Call to worship
Call to Worship
One: Call upon the Lord! I asked for help and I was healed!
All: We asked for freedom, and we were given liberty beyond measure! Praise God!
One: Sing to the Lord, all you faithful; give thanks to God’s holy name!
All: God turned our mourning into dancing! The Great Tailor took away the sackcloth and dressed us up in celebration! Our hearts sing without ceasing! O Lord our God, we will always give you thanks!
Lighting of the Christ Candle
This is the Christ Candle. We light the candle to help us remember that Jesus Christ, the light of the world, is with us in every place and every time.
Opening Hymn
“Morning has broken” (Book of Praise 1997, hymn 814). Words (1931) by English author Eleanor Farjeon (1881–1965). Music is a traditional Scottish Gaelic tune, “Bunessan”. Arrangement by John W. Wilson (1905–1992). Words and music in the public domain. Arrangement copyright © 1983 Hope Publishing Co; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A.
Prayers of Approach and Confession, & Lord’s Prayer (sins)
God of mercy, You came to us in Jesus Christ to show us the face of your love. You walk into our lives to meet us in the midst of joy and pain. Through the Holy Spirit, you speak words of wisdom to help us find our way. God in our midst, speak to us today in this time of worship. Speak the words we need to hear so that we know you still walk with us in Jesus Christ.
Forgiving God when we walk from darkness into the light we can see ourselves as we are. We see our own weaknesses and our paradoxes and we realize that we need God’s grace and healing in our lives. Renew our hearts in this hour of worship.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever.
Amen.
Declaration of Pardon
In Jesus Christ, we have been forgiven and we have been restored. Thanks be to God.
The Peace
The Peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Fun with the young at heart (Children’s story)
The Life and Work of the Church (Announcements)
Scripture Reading
Luke 10: 1–11, 16–20 <– this links to on-line text of the NRSV bible
Click here for additional scripture readings from today’s lectionary. Links courtesy of the Revised Common Lectionary, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library.
Sermon
When you travel, things can go wrong. I just read a story about what happened to two sisters on their trip to Newfoundland. Gail Bridgeman who lives in Australia and Karen Burke of Ontario decided to travel together. They booked their trip to Newfoundland six months ahead of time (buying airline tickets, booking rental cars, hotels and so on), but when they flew into St John, they found out their rental car provider had no car booked six months ago. They could not find any rental car. So, what did they do? They ended up renting a moving truck from U-Haul. They had thought they were getting a small truck, but there was only one truck available for them, their largest truck, a 30-foot moving truck. Yet, that did not bother them; they went out, had fun, and completed their trip together.
I would like us to remember these two sisters, their story, and their smile, as we listen to the gospel of Luke where Jesus reminds his disciples and followers of what they could face in their spiritual journey.
I would like to read from verse 8 to verse 11 of Luke chapter 10.
“8 Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9 cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’”
I would like to highlight verses 10 and 11, “10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’”
Here in the gospel of Luke Jesus talks about what we should do when things go wrong in our spiritual journey with Christ.
Sure, there are times we will be welcomed and accepted, but there are also times we will be questioned, rejected, and misunderstood.
This is the advice Jesus gives to his disciples and perhaps to us when that happens when things go wrong: “Go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you.’”
I like that, I like this teaching far better than the teaching about turning the other cheek or going two miles when you are asked to go one mile.
When we are not welcomed, received, and accepted, Jesus commands us to go out into the streets, wipe the dust off our feet, and tell others about it.
During this week, I have been thinking about what that teaching means for us. What does it mean for us to go out to the streets, wipe the dust off and tell others about it?
Jesus does not say to us, “Stay there until you change the other person or do a better job of explaining who you are and what you are trying to do for me.” I am sure there are times we need to try a better job of loving others, but we also need to accept that not everything will go the way we want, and not everyone will like what we do. In those times, Jesus asks us to go out into the streets immediately. These streets Jesus talks about are probably not the physical ones. A street is where we meet others. It is what allows us to travel… A street is what allows us to travel and move on to the next. It is easy to go out to a physical street, but it is difficult for our minds and hearts to move on, especially when we are not treated well. How easy can we get stuck with one complaint over 100 encouraging words? How easy can we get stuck with one bad day over 100 great days?
Once we find these streets, we are to look for the dust that clings to our feet…and wipe it off from our feet. I am sure Jesus talks about the dust that got into our hearts. We know what that dust looks like and sound like! We know what that dust feels like; this dust of meanness, rejection, hatred, and injustice.
“You are not good enough!” “You are not one of us.” “You are not good as this person and that person.” “You are nothing.” “What is the point of doing what you do.” “You are wasting your time.” “What am I trying so hard when he is doing this and that?”
The sound of inadequacy, the sound of fear, the sound of darkness, the sound of despair and hopelessness… the sound of nothingness…”. Jesus invites us to wipe it off from our hearts.
Our question is, how? I mean, who does not want to get rid of all this dirt and dust in our hearts? Let me ask you, “How do you remove the dust in your hearts?” I know many of you are far better at dusting than I am. I would like to share what I experienced doing this inner dusting during the week….
Also, I want to go back to the two sisters. Their story cleansed my soul. These sisters could easily have given up their travel or stayed in St John for the entire trip, but they found a way to go on… and now they have an inspiring story to share with their children and friends. We know what we need to do this week.
Musical Reflection
“God on the Mountain” Words and music (1975) by American musician Tracy Gail Dartt (1944–2022). Words and music copyright © 1975 Gaviota Music, c/o Manna Music, Inc; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A.
Offertory
We remind everyone that we must continue to pay our bills; in the absence of being present at Sunday worship, you may sign up for pre-authorized remittance (PAR), donate online, or drop off your offering envelope in the mailbox at the church. Do not leave a cash donation unattended in the mailbox; instead, please call the office (416.261.4037) to ensure someone will be there to receive it. The building will be checked daily for mail and phone messages. If you are not comfortable leaving an envelope, you are welcome to contact the office (once again, 416.261.4037) and someone will pick up your offering.
Dedication of our Gifts
Prayer of dedication
Generous God, you have blessed our lives with gifts, both visible and invisible. We offer our gifts in gratitude, to build up your kingdom in the world. Bless all that we give to make a difference in the lives of others, for the sake of Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Hope
Creator God, source of all life and each life, we come to you in prayer this day, grateful that your world is full of wonder and possibility, but also in desperate need of your reconciling love.
We pray for the many different peoples of this world, divided as we are into many nations, clans, cultures, and spiritual traditions. Help us understand those differences more fully, and honour the good things that bind us together despite differences. Bless both our diversity and our unity as those who belong to you.
Compassionate God, the world is filled with violence and hatred, costing innocent lives. We pray for those who live amid brutal conflict, for those have died through violence, and for those who suffer the many effects of trauma.
We pray for those who have lost their homes through conflict and fled their countries just to survive.
All-knowing God, you see into our hearts and know the heartaches we carry. We pray for those living with illness and pain, for those who mourn the loss of someone or something dear, and for all those struggling with anxiety or despair in these challenging times.
Wise and welcoming God, give us the grace to live out our faith among family and friends, with acquaintances and strangers. Help us to trust your guidance in all situations. Amen.
Closing Hymn
“My faith looks up to thee” (Book of Praise 1997, hymn 677). Words (1830) by American pastor Ray Palmer (1808–1887). Music (1832; tune “Olivet”) by American music director and banker Lowell Mason (1792–1872). Harmony by Canadian composer and organist Carman Hilliard Milligan (1909–1999). Milligan served several Presbyterian churches, and chaired the committee that created the 1972 Book of Praise. Words and music in the public domain. Arrangement copyright © Carman H. Milligan.
Changing the Light
Now, it is time to change the light. The light that was in one place can now be in every place and every time going with you wherever you go.
Benediction
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (the risen Christ), the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you always. AMEN.
O Canada
- Performed by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra under the direction of then music director Peter Oundjian (1955–).
- Recorded at Roy Thomson Hall, November 2016.
Choral Amen
- Go Now in Peace”. Words by American educator, lyricist and composer Don Besig (1936–) and American lyricist Nancy Price (1958–). Music by Don Besig. Words and music copyright © 1988 Harold Flammer Music, a division of Shawnee Press; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A.
- Performed by Rachelle Risling (keyboard) and the GCPC Senior Choir. Audio and video production by Rachelle Risling.
- Audio and video recording copyright © 2021 Guildwood Community Presbyterian Church.
Copyright © 2022 Guildwood Community Presbyterian Church
Last updated 2022-07-11 – Added Musical reflection info.