Worship Service for June 2, 2024

June 2, 2024 – Second Sunday after Pentecost

Introit

Prelude

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.

Call to Worship

One: Raise a song of joy and gladness before God.
All: We will make music and sing God’s praises.

One: Sing aloud to God, our strength!
All: We will shout for joy to the God who made us.

One: Worship God who makes all things new!
All: We will celebrate God’s goodness in prayer and praise.

Opening Hymn

“The Lord’s my shepherd (Psalm 23)”. (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 11). Words Psalm 23; paraphrase, Scottish Psalter, 1650. Music (1872; tune: “Crimond”) by Scottish amateur hymn composer Jessie Seymour Irvine (1836–1887). Harmony by Thomas Cuthbertson Leithead Pritchard (1885–1960). Descant by W. Baird Ross (1871–1950). Words, music, harmony and descant all public domain.

Prayers of Approach and Confession, & Lord’s Prayer (sins)

God of all life and each life,
you created us in love to enjoy your presence in creation. You made us in your image so that we would find purpose and possibility in our lives. You gave us Sabbath rest to breathe in your grace and peace week by week. In Jesus you show us how to share grace and peace with one another. Refresh us in this time of worship, so that we may leave with a deep sense of well-being at our core, for we offer ourselves to you through Christ, our Saviour.

God of all life and each life,
you created us to enjoy your presence, yet we confess it is easy to lose track of that joy. When times are tough, we feel resentful. When someone else succeeds, jealousy creeps in. Some days bad news is all we hear. Draw us back to your goodness and grace.

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

Jesus said, Come to me all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Friends, trust that peace and forgiveness are God’s gift to you this day. Be renewed by the power of the Spirit that moves with you into each new day.
All: Thanks be to God!

The Peace

One: The Peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
All: And also with you.

The Life and Work of the Church (Announcements)

Guildwood Senior Choir presents

Fun with the Young at Heart (children’s story)

We sing verse 1 of “Jesus loves me this I know”.

“Jesus loves me, this I know” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 373). Words (1859 or 1860) by American writer Anna Bartlett Warner (1827–1915). Revisions to v2 and v3 by Canadian Anglican priest David Rutherford McGuire (1929–1971). Music (1862; tune: “Jesus loves me”) by American musician William Batchelder Bradbury (1816–1868). Words, revisions, and music in the public domain.

Scripture Reading

Mark 2:23–3:6  <– 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.

Mark 2:23–3:6

23 One Sabbath he was going through the grain fields, and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 25 And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food, 26 how he entered the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions?” 27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for humankind and not humankind for the Sabbath, 28 so the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

3 Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 2 They were watching him to see whether he would cure him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” 4 Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5 He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

Sermon

May we begin with verse 23,
“One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields,”

Jesus was very intentional about where he went and when he went. One Sabbath, he took his disciples and the people following him to the grain fields.

Can you picture this scene? Jesus is leading his disciples to the grain fields on the Sabbath. Instead of taking them to the synagogue or the temple first or to the street to help the poor or the hungry, he brought them to the grain fields first. Why do you think Jesus chose to take his disciples there on the Sabbath?

If you are familiar with the Gospels, you know that the grain fields were among his favorite places to teach about God’s kingdom and grace. Think of the parable of the seeds or the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus said, “Look at the lilies of the field….”

I wish I had been there to ask Jesus to tell and teach about the parable of the sower. I would love to have heard his voice saying, Matthew 6:25–31:

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to your span of life? 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’”

For this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be in the grain fields with Jesus, his disciples were busy plucking heads of grain and satisfying their physical hunger.

What his disciples were doing in the grain fields with Jesus is so frustrating. How do we compare that to today? To help us understand, imagine this: …… The Pharisees were no better. They were busy arguing with one another and with Jesus about what the disciples did wrong……

Jesus does not try to defend his disciples, nor does he agree with the Pharisees. Instead, he invites everyone to remember the story of David when the high priest broke the church rules and traditions to feed David and his followers. Jesus reminds them that the Sabbath was made for humankind, not humankind for the Sabbath. Jesus invites all of us to remember God’s grace.

Our task is not just to remember what the disciples and the Pharisees chose to do, but to remember that Jesus is taking all of us to the grain fields……

My prayer is that you continue to have conversations with Jesus Christ through this special text.

Please, join our Sunday worship service at 11 am, either in person or virtually, to hear the full version of the sermon.

Hymn

“Seek ye first” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 625). Words and music (1971; tune: “Seek ye first”) by American musician Karen Lafferty (1948–). Words and music copyright © 1972 Maranatha! Music, distributed by Capitol Christian Music Group; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A.

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Offering

As Jesus gave himself for us, let us return to God the offerings of our life and the gifts of the earth.

Musical Reflection

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

Our offering will now be received.

Doxology 306

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 306). Based on the tune “Old 100^th” with words (1989) by English hymnwriter Brian A. Wren (1936–). Words copyright © 1989 Hope Publishing Co.; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A. Music public domain.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
praise God all creatures high and low;
praise God in Jesus fully known,
Creator Word and Spirit One.

Prayer of dedication

God of grace and goodness, we offer our gifts in gratitude for all we receive from you, in Christ and in creation. Bless the ministries of our congregation and of the Presbyterian Church in Canada in these challenging times. Surprise us by what you accomplish through us as we sow seeds of generosity in the gifts we bring. Amen.

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The Sacrament of Communion

Invitation

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

In the name of Jesus, I invite to this table any who name him as their Saviour and desire to follow in his way, whether you are members of his congregation or communion or not. This is not our table but his, and in his name I bid you welcome.

Great Prayer Of Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you.
And with you also.

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 God thanks and praise.

The prayer opens with thanksgiving for creation and for God’s mighty acts throughout salvation history. The people join in the ancient song after these or similar words;
“… we join with the whole creation to lift our hearts in joyful praise.”

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.

Prayers of thanksgiving continue for the work of Jesus Christ, his life, death, and resurrection and for the institution of the Lord’s Supper. The people are invited to “proclaim the mystery of faith:”

Christ has died,
Christ has risen.
Christ will come again.

Thanksgiving continues for the gift of the Holy Spirit. The presence of the Holy Spirit is invoked followed by a doxology and the people say:

Amen.

“Great Prayer Of Thanksgiving”. Words traditional liturgical text; this version by The Worship Committee of the Board of Congregational Life, The Presbyterian Church in Canada, and printed (1991) in The Book of Common Worship. Reprinted in the Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 564. Words copyright © 1991 The Presbyterian Church in Canada; used by permission.

Communion Hymn

(remain seated as the elders come forward)

“One bread, one body” (verses 1 & 3; Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 540). Words and music (1978) by American Jesuit priest John B. Foley (1939–). Words and music copyright © 1978 John B. Foley, SJ, and New Dawn Music; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A.

Fraction and Distribution

On the night when he was betrayed, Jesus took bread and when he had given thanks he broke it and said
“this is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

In the same way after supper he took the cup and said,
“This cup is the new covenant sealed with my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me. For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the death of the Lord, until he comes.”

These are the gifts of God for the people of God.

Taste and see that the Lord is good.

The bread of life.

The cup of salvation.

Prayer After Communion

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Closing Hymn

“Open our eyes, Lord” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 445). Words and music (1976; tune: “Open our eyes”) by American musician and pastor Robert Marcus “Bob” Cull (1949–). Words and music copyright © 1976 Maranatha! Music, distributed by Capitol Christian Music Group; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A.

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.

Blessing

“Danish Amen” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 780). Words and music (tune: “Amen (Danish)”) traditional. Words and music public domain.

Postlude

Copyright © 2024 Guildwood Community Presbyterian Church

Last updated 2024-06-03 22:15– Added Sermon text.