Worship Celebration
Worship Celebration
United Church of Hyde Park
July 15, 2018
Guiding Vision
“We are a diverse, Christ-centered people, learning together and reaching out to serve the community in faith, hope, and love.”
Prelude “The King of Love My Shepherd Is” Arr: John Barr
Welcome
*Call to Worship
One: Praise be to the God and Parent of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has enriched us with every possible spiritual bonus.
All: The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live within it.
One: God has made known to us the glorious secret of life: that in the fullness of time all things should be brought together, all things on earth and in heaven united in Christ.
All: Praise be to the God and Parent of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in Christ has blessed us with every spiritual blessing that is available through all time and space.
*Opening Hymn “Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above” #126
Call to Reconciliation
One: God of secret purposes and extravagant blessings, we come to praise you. We come because we want to, we sing our songs because we are glad to, we pray for your grace because we need to, and we ask for the love Christ in our hearts because without it we are a dead loss. Let us pray.
Unison Prayer of Forgiveness
All: Merciful Friend, most holy God, we are grateful that you love us and call us to a life of boundless opportunities and unmeasured joys. Yet around us in this world we see a desperate search for happiness in all the wrong places. We humbly acknowledge that we have allowed ourselves to become caught up in the world’s busy futility. We exchange love for selfishness, encouragement for criticism, peace for conflict and alienation, wholeness for brokenness, contentment for dissatisfaction, joy for brief splashes of superficial pleasure. Loving God, we return to you for the spiritual blessing that is in short supply everywhere. Forgive each of us and have mercy upon this wide world for whom Christ died. In his name we pray. Amen.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
One: Hear these words of scripture–
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great, O Lord, is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23)
Passing the Peace
We invite the congregation to openly greet one another. Show a smile, shake a hand, and give a hug. Let’s share God’s love with one another. During the singing of “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” please find your way back to your seat as we continue fellowship.
*Song of Response sung while on the way back to our seats
“Blest Be the Tie That Binds” #557 (1st verse)
Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.
We Listen Together for the Divine Word
Anthem “You Raise Me Up” Jade Maze, Soloist
Prayer of Illumination
One: Guide us, O God by your Word, and Holy Spirit,
All: that in your light we may see light, in your truth find freedom, and in your will discover peace; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
1st Scripture Reading 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19, pew Bible pp. 244, 245
One: Here ends the reading
All: Thanks be to God.
2nd Scripture Reading Mark 6: 14-29, pew Bible pp. 817, 818
One: Here ends the reading
All: Thanks be to God.
Sermon “Good News for Tough Times” Rev. Paul Dietterich
We Respond to God’s Call
*Hymn of Response “Lord of All Hopefulness” #2197 The Faith We Sing
Invitation to the Offering
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Offertory “I Offer My Life to You” Jade Maze, Soloist
*Doxology “Give Thanks”
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the Holy One,
Give thanks because God’s given Jesus Christ his son.
(repeat)
And now let the weak say, “I am strong”;
let the poor say, “I am rich because of what the Lord has done for us.”
(repeat)
Give thanks! Give thanks! Give thanks!
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Congregants are invited to share requests for prayer.
After each the pastor will offer:
Pastor: Come Holy Spirit—
And the people respond:
People: Hear our prayer!
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer in unison
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be 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 sins,
as we forgive those who sin 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. Amen.
*Closing Hymn “God of Grace and God of Glory” #577
Benediction
Postlude
In Worship Today
Pastor: Rev. Charlene Hill
Director of Music – Organist: Joe Wilkinson
Liturgist: Rev. Inagrace Dietterich
1St Scripture Reading, 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19
David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem
6 David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 David and all the people with him set out and went from Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD of hosts who is enthroned on the cherubim. 3 They carried the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio,[a] the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart 4 with the ark of God;[b] and Ahio[c] went in front of the ark. 5 David and all the house of Israel were dancing before the LORDwith all their might, with songs[d] and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.
12b-19
12 It was told King David, “The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing; 13 and when those who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. 14 David danced before the LORD with all his might; David was girded with a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
16 As the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
17 They brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the LORD. 18 When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts,
19 and distributed food among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to each a cake of bread, a portion of meat,[a] and a cake of raisins. Then all the people went back to their homes.
2nd Scripture Reading, Mark 6:14-29
The Death of John the Baptist
14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’[a] name had become known. Some were[b] saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”
17 For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod[c] had married her. 18 For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed;[d] and yet he liked to listen to him. 21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. 22 When his daughter Herodias[e] came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” 23 And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.”
24 She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.” 25 Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s[f] head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, 28 brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
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