Sunday, June 27, 2021
Today we are celebrating PRIDE Sunday and the theme is about our 'hopes and dreams' for our lives, for these times, and as we move into the future.
God listens to us - from the cries of our hearts to the laments of injustice and hurt, to the wishful and hopeful changes in our lives, and to the elation and joy present here and now, but also as we envision future possibilities.
Let us bring all of our 'hopes and dreams' to the Lord, our God in prayer and praise.
Let us sing, Praise the Lord with the Sound of Trumpet.
Hymn: Voices United #245, Praise the Lord with the Sound of Trumpet (St. John's United Church Elmvale)
Call to Worship:
We come to worship today O God, dreaming and hopeful.
Dreaming of acceptance, and love, and belonging.
We dream of living exactly who we were made to be - authentic and true.
Hopeful that love quells hate, that love wins.
Just as Jesus taught us, love should always win.
In the Spirit of Life and Love, let us worship the Lord.
Opening Prayer:
Imaginative and Vibrant God, creator of all things,
you made this planet and all its variety.
Let us celebrate the diversity of the colours of the world.
With red, yellow, and orange, we praise and give thanks:
for the warmth of your love shared between all your children,
for the energy of the Holy Spirit that powers us forward in service to you,
and for the joy of being accepted by you, just as we are.
With green, blue, and violet, we worship and honour you:
for the softness of your caring and grace,
for the stillness of prayer when we draw close to you, and
for the peace of knowing you hold us in your loving embrace.
Imaginative and Vibrant God, creator of each of us,
you made us the way we are. Together, we are a diverse blend of all your colours.
Help us love and celebrate each other, as part of your beloved creation.
Amen.
Lighting of the Christ Candle
The Christ Candle is before us. (candle is lit)
We see how the flame flickers and dances.
It creates warmth and comfort, and brings light and hope and opens to us new possibilities.
The light of Christ.
Hymn: Voices United #670, Precious Lord, Take My Hand
Scripture Reading: Psalm 130 (RSV)
Out of the depths, I cry to God.
Scripture Reading: Mark 5:21-43 (NRSV)
Young girl raised, hemorrhaging woman healed.
and
Sermon: Hopes and Dreams
Instrumental Reflection
Two minutes of instrumental music to reflect on the scripture and sermon.
Offering Invitation
Since its beginning, the church was meant to be a place of chosen family—a community of outcasts and outlaws, dreamers, prophets, and humble disciples of Love. In the company of Divine Presence, we create belonging and nurture justice. With gratitude for the sacred labours of love in this place, let us bring our offerings to God and one another.
Our offering is both a practical and symbolic act of our commitment to serve Christ and build His church. Although we can’t actually pass the plate’ online, you are encouraged to continue your gift to the church, as the work of the St Paul’s and the staff continues:
Drop your envelope (cheque or cash) at the church;
Mail your cheque to the church;
Go on PAR (call the church for details);
Use the Donate button at the top of the page (it will take you to SPUC’s Canada Helps page where you can donate online and get an instant tax receipt).
Donations to St. Paul's United Church have decreased over the past few months and your support is needed to maintain our ministry and mission. Thank you.
Offertory Hymn: Voices United #541, Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow
Prayer of Dedication
God, we bring forward our best; We ask that you bless it and direct it to help the church and its ministry
and missional work in the community and the world.
From generous and grateful hearts, we offer our gifts for your glory,
on earth as in heaven.
Amen.
Prayers of the People
O God, lover of the world,
you hold all that you have created
within your compassionate embrace.
As you hold our lives
torn by pain, sorrow or hatred within your aching heart,
we cry out for wholeness-
for ourselves, for those we love,
and for our world.
May your healing presence gently transform
the places of our lives where we hold pain.
May your loving presence be a comforting reality
for all those who find themselves
in despair, lost or alone.
May your transforming presence
create generosity in place of greed,
harmony in place of hatred,
and everlasting justice where evil now reigns.
O God, lover of the world,
from the silence of our own hearts,
we bring before you
people and places that need
your healing, loving, transforming presence:
(silence)
O God, lover of the world,
this is your world,
and we claim your power and your presence
to make it whole.
We commit these, our prayers to you in the name of Jesus Christ, your Son.
Amen.
Hymn: Voices United #960, The Lord's Prayer
Let us pray now the one prayer that unites us in Your presence, O Lord (you can sing with the video or recite the words below):
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed by 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 them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory
forever and ever. Amen.
Closing Hymn: More Voices #138, My Love Colours Outside the Lines
Commissioning:
Go forth and be who you have been created to be by God.
Follow in the footsteps of Christ,
under the guidance of the Holy Spirit
that lives and breathes in you forever and always.
Go and share that the message of God's love is for everyone.
Hymn: Go Now in Peace
Food for the Journey
This video from East End United Church circulated around one of my classes at last Fall at Emmanuel College for PRIDE Sunday - listen to the words,
"All the dreams you had,
all the things you wanted,
don't turn your back, it's not too late.
You better love yourself,
before you love somebody.
Love somebody. Love somebody.
Can I get an amen?"
Closing Notes
Don't forget to extinguish your candle(s).
Pastoral Care
Rev. Debbie Johnson has joined St. Paul's to provide some Pastoral Care to our congregation on a part-time basis. If you would like a call or email from Rev. Debbie, please contact the office at 416-261-4222. More information a video from Rev. Debbie can be found on our church homepage.
Zoom Coffee
Zoom Coffee Time is taking a break this week.
More information on Zoom Coffee Time over July and August will be provided before next Sunday.
Worship Resources Used in this Service
The Opening Prayer was written by Gill Le Fevre. Gathering, Pentecost 1 2021,
pages 34-35. Used with permission.
The Offering Invitation is from Enfleshed: Worship Service and Communion Liturgy for Affirming PIE Day © 2020 The United Church of Canada/L’Église Unie du Canada. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike Licence. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ca.
The Prayers of the People is from Celebrate God's Presence: A Book of Services for The United Church of Canada, page 67. Copyright © 2000 The United Church Publishing House. Used with permission.
Thank Yous
Sheila Blinoff for reading the Psalm.
Max Laumeister for his web script that makes our YouTube videos work.
PNGWNG.com, Canva.com, and Pixabay.com websites for the images and backgrounds.
And, thank you to all of the artists whose music and videos were used in the service:
o St. John's United Church, Elmvale
o Bells Corners United Church
o St. Andrew's Owen Sound
o Relaxing Music
o VagleBrothers
o Golden Ears United Church
o dsasil
o East End United Church
