Welcome and Announcements
Welcome! In the name of Christ we welcome everyone to our worship for the seventh Sunday after Pentecost. It’s always our prayer that God will meet you exactly where you are as we worship God together.
This week our worship is led by our lay leader, John Watkins, with music supplied by Rhonda Stanton and Zoë Pouliot, and scripture readings provided by Jim Lacey, Marylouise Policastro, and Dianne Carlisle.
Father Will Holt recorded prayers and a personal note for us recollecting Reverend C. T. Vivian, a civil rights leader, who, along with Congressman John Lewis, passed away on Friday July 17th. For their lives, work and example, we give special thanks to God.
Children’s Resources
- Lectionary-based readings and activities for families for the week of July 19
- Coloring Page to Download and Print (Jacob’s Ladder illustration)
- Godly Play: The Story of Jacob (Note: In our worship service this week and next week the Old Testament readings contain parts of the story of Jacob.)
Opening Hymn: 423 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
1 Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious, your great Name we praise.
2 Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;
thy justice like mountains high soaring above
thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.
3 To all life thou givest, to both great and small;
in all life thou livest, the true life of all;
we blossom and flourish, like leaves on the tree,
then wither and perish; but nought changeth thee.
4 Thou reignest in glory, thou rulest in light,
thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
all laud we would render: O help us to see
’tis only the splendor of light hideth thee.
Collect of the Day
First Reading: Genesis 28:10-19a
Psalm 139: 1-11, 22-23
Second Reading: Romans 8:12-25
Gospel Hymn: 488 Be Thou My Vision
1 Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
all else be nought to me, save that thou art–
thou my best thought, by day or by night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
2 Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord;
thou my great Father; thine own may I be;
thou in me dwelling, and I one with thee.
3 High King of heaven, when victory is won,
may I reach heaven’s joys, bright heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my heart, whatever befall,
still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:24-30,36-43
Sermon
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Special Music: Amazing Grace / My Chains Are Gone
Prayers of the People
A Personal Note from Father Will
Closing Hymn: 653 Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
1 Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
forgive our foolish ways!
Re-clothe us in our rightful mind,
in purer lives thy service find,
in deeper reverence, praise.
2 In simple trust like theirs who heard,
beside the Syrian sea,
the gracious calling of the Lord,
let us, like them, without a word,
rise up and follow thee.
3 O Sabbath rest by Galilee!
O calm of hills above,
where Jesus knelt to share with thee
the silence of eternity
interpreted by love!
4 Drop thy still dews of quietness,
till all our strivings cease;
take from our souls the strain and stress,
and let our ordered lives confess
the beauty of thy peace.
5 Breathe through the heats of our desire
thy coolness and thy balm;
let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still, small voice of calm.
Dismissal
It was not enough to come and listen to a great sermon
John Lewis
or message every Sunday morning and be confined to those four walls
and those four corners.
You had to get out and do something.