Sunday June 21, 2020

PREPARING OUR HEARTS & MINDS FOR WORSHIP:

Watch this song video, “His Eye is on the Sparrow,” performed by Lauryn Hill & Tanya Blount. 

What does this hymn teach you about God?

What connections do you see between the song and today’s scripture readings?

CANDLE-LIGHTING

We light a candle each week as a reminder of God’s presence with us through the Holy Spirit, and that Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. We also remember the words of our congregation’s mission statement—“being formed, being sent, by Christ”—and that Jesus is still doing this work in us, even as we are physically apart and worshiping in our homes. AMEN.

CALL TO WORSHIP* 

God cares for us completely and calls for our total commitment. 

Christ gave his life that we might live and calls us to give our lives to him.

Through Christ we have died to sin; 

in Christ we are fully alive to God. 

Come, let us worship God.

 PRAYER TIME*

Prayer of the Day: God of the covenant, your compassion reaches beyond the mere making and keeping of promises. Teach us to listen to one another with your heart, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Pause for individual prayers: Take a moment to silently lift your prayers and praises to God. Whatever you have on your heart today, share it with God in this time of silence. 

Prayers of Intercession:

God of our ancestors, you are the God of our future.

You showed mercy to Hagar and Ishmael in the desert,

just as you answered Sarah’s laughter with Isaac’s birth.

We pray that you heal the deathly divisions between all peoples of the earth today.

We pray that the church of Jesus Christ will also be filled with the Holy Spirit,

so committed to the head of the church that we will have Christ’s mind among us.

May the sword of the Word pierce our hearts

and give us compassion for a suffering world.

We pray for world leaders, that they would seek to make peace.

We pray for medical professionals committed to healing. 

May they be guided and guarded by the Spirit who lifts up the brokenhearted and even raises the dead. 

We pray for your promised kingdom to come,

when all wars will cease, and there will be no disease;

when courageous faith, hope, and love cast out hatred and poverty.

All this we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our savior, redeemer, and friend, who taught us to pray, saying…

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 

your kingdom come, your will be done, 

on earth as it is 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.

SCRIPTURE READINGS: Genesis 21:9-21, Matthew 10:29-31

MEDITATION

OFFERINGS

God's gifts to us are abundant, and in gratitude we offer our hearts and our gifts to God. Offerings may be contributed online here, or can be mailed to the home of our church Treasurer (address in church directory). 

We also invite you to consider contributing to our Mosaic Mennonite Conference Shalom Fund. This fund helps our congregations and ministries respond to members and neighbors in ways that provide support for basic and essential needs. We greatly appreciate your generous support of this ministry. 

SENDING BLESSING*

The God of all mercy,

who answers the cries of the helpless

and raises you from death,

keep you safe in Christ Jesus,

now and forever. AMEN.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

• What does the story of Sarah and Hagar (Gen 21:9-21) say about God?
• What does the story suggest about how we might treat one another more justly? 
• How might the song “His Eye is on the Sparrow” resonate with the story of Hagar and Ishmael?
• Who do you need to see and hear today? What steps will you take to listen more deeply to people who are different from you?

 *Adapted from Kimberly Bracken Long. Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year A, Volume 2: Trinity Sunday through Reign of Christ (p. 37-40).