Keep Your Heart with All Vigilance

July 2, 2023
Pastor Jacob Lee
Worship

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Service of Worship

Après un rêve
Gabriel Faure
Public Domain

Leader: Prophets, what do you see?
 People: We see the many ways we distract ourselves.
 Leader: What else do you see?
 People: We see the good and the bad fruits we have produced. 
Leader: What do you see today?
 People: We witness and worship God today, grateful for love and forgiveness. AMEN.

(Written by Katie Minnis, Discipleship Ministries)

Prayer of Confession / Prayer of the People

God of Grace and Glory, we confess that we lose sight of our identities, finding our worth in our status, our demographic, or even our location. Forgive us of our idolatry. Forgive us for placing our worldly identities above your love for us. Forgive us for when we get distracted by elaborate rituals, holding ourselves superior, simply due to our place of birth. You, O God, are the source of our identity. You, O God, call us to love our neighbor. You, O God, challenge us to learn from one another. You, O God, tell us to be different! May we swim in your healing waters, resting in the fullness of being children of God. Amen.

Opening Hymn — #131 “We Gather Together”

1. We gather together
to ask the Lord’s blessing;
he chastens and hastens
his will to make known.
The wicked oppressing
now cease from distressing.
Sing praises to his name;
he forgets not his own.

2. Beside us to guide us,
our God with us joining,
ordaining, maintaining
his kingdom divine;
so from the beginning
the fight we were winning;
thou, Lord, wast at our side,
all glory be thine!

3. We all do extol thee,
thou leader triumphant,
and pray that thou still
our defender wilt be.
Let thy congregation
escape tribulation;
thy name be ever praised!
O Lord, make us free!

We Gather Together (Kremser)
Eduard Kremser | Theodore Baker
Public Domain

Holy Communion, The United Methodist Hymnal, page 15

The Lord be with you
And also with you.

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 our thanks and praise.

…The pastor concludes:
And so,
with your people on earth
and all the company of heaven
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

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.

…The pastor concludes:
And so,
in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a holy and living sacrifice,
in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died;
Christ is risen;
Christ will come again.

All honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and for ever.
now and for ever.

Amen.

Pastor’s Time With the Children – Rev. Jacob Lee

Joys and Concerns, Pastoral Prayer, Lord’s Prayer

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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and glory forever. Amen.

For those who are called and able, gifts and tithes can still be made through online giving, by mailing them in, and by dropping them off to the office through the secure mail slot to the left of the double door entry to the church hallway.

Offertory – Hani

I Will Praise Him
Arr. James Koerts
© 2014 James Koerts
Used with Permission.

Doxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow (Old 100th)
Louis Bourgeois | Thomas Ken
Public Domain

Offertory Prayer

Mighty God, you have poured down on us all manner of gifts and blessings; the ledger of our lives is so overwhelmed with your goodness that we struggle with how small our offerings to you seem in comparison. The gospel reminds us that not even the smallest act of mercy and compassion – a cup of cold water – will go unnoticed by you. Give us the eyes to see those in need, the ears to hear those who cry for justice, and the hearts to comfort those hurting and grieving. If we all were to offer a cup of cold water, the world would be flooded with compassion. We ask this in Christ, our rock, and our redeemer. Amen.

(Matthew 10:40-42)

Scripture Readings — Proverbs 4:20-27 (NRSV)

20 My child, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
and healing to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you crooked speech,
and put devious talk far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
26 Keep straight the path of your feet,
and all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.

Response
The Word of the Lord:
Thanks be to God.

Choral Anthem — Chancel Choir

One Bread, One Body
John Foley, Arr. Mark Hayes
© 1978, 2001 John B. Foley S.J. and New Dawn Music
Used with Permission. ONE LICENSE # A-401420

Sermon — Rev. Jacob S. Lee
“Keep Your Heart with All Vigilance”

Closing Hymn — #467 “Trust and Obey” (v. 1, 2, 4)

1. When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain
Trust and obey,
for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus,
but to trust and obey.

2. Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey.

Refrain

4. Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we’ll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey.

Refrain

When We Walk With The Lord (Trust And Obey)
Daniel Brink Towner | John Henry Sammis
Public Domain

Benediction

Postlude – Hani

Processional on Psalm 150
Alice Jordan
Used with Permission. ONE LICENSE # A-401420