A Service of Worship and Communion for Sunday, July 5, 2020 —
Old First Church, Philadelphia, PA
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the Rev. Michael Caine, pastor; the Rev. Dr. Bob Robinson, preacher;
Holly Phares, music director; William Lowden, organist
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Because this is a Communion Sunday,
we ask you to prepare bread and cup before service
so we may eat and drink in worship together.
Welcome — We don’t always mark the secular and national holidays in worship. But this year, today’s Gospel lesson… it seemed to speak to our weariness as citizens in this time of unrest. Let’s think of church today as Old First’s 4th of July worship and picnic…
Prelude Adagio in G Major
Joseph Hector-Fiocco
Silence
Words of Gathering —
One: We hear the voice of one who calls us to come and find rest.
Many: We come burdened with much, but heed the voice of Jesus.
One: We have much to learn from him; he will give us all we need.
Many: May we open ourselves to receive Christ’s help, and be empowered living into it.
Confession — How hard we make things, God? How heavy the yoke we place on ourselves and others — through our insecurity and pride; through our fear and mistrust. How threatening our world becomes when we make life and joy depend on our own abilities?
But, you have invited us to a different life, a deeper joy; you have offered us a lighter yoke if we will just stop insisting we are in charge and follow you. Help us to hear your gently urgent whisper. Make us aware of your softly persistent calling. Let us feel your bidding to come and rest; let us trust your promise that we can lay down self-imposed burdens. Open us to the relief and hope of sharing our load with you, and sharing your burden with you. In confession and trust, may we give ourselves fully to you. Amen.
Silence — In the silence, can we continue with our personal confessions
Assurance
A Time with the Children Malaika and Gaia Bhullar
The Scripture Matthew 11: 16-19, 25-30
This Is My Song
This is my song,
O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my home, the country where my heart is;
Here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine;
But other hearts in other lands are beating
With hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.
My country’s skies are bluer than the ocean,
And sunlight beams on clover- leaf and pine.
But other lands have sunlight too and clover,
And skies are everywhere as blue as mine.
Oh, hear my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for their land and for mine.
The Sermon Jesus’ Gifts for Getting Through This
Sermon Talk-back
In the first congregation Michael served, there was a tradition that the “Word was not preached until the responses of the congregation had been heard.” Preaching is always a conversation; a sermon talk-back just makes it more explicit. Now is a time for questions, corrections, comments, additions…
Affirmation of Faith — adapted from the Belhar Confession of the World Communion of Reformed Churches
We believe that God’s life-giving Word and Spirit has conquered the powers of sin and death, and therefore also of irreconciliation and hatred, bitterness and enmity, that God’s life-giving Word and Spirit will enable the church to live in a new obedience which can open new possibilities of life for society and the world.
The Offering
Offertory Gymnopedie No. 1
Eric Sadie
Dedication
Communion and Prayers
Invitation
Passing of the Peace
The Prayer of our Savior (using sins, debts or trespasses)
The Sharing of the Bread and the Cup
Thanksgiving
Let Us Make America America Again, Langston Hughes
A poem as a prayer
Community Life
- Children’s Bible Storytime
- Lunch with the Pastor
- Adult Bible Study
- Prayer Group
- Shawl Ministry Team
- Voter Engagement Service
Benediction — Bob Schneider
Postlude
