Order of Service, Sunday, June 21, 2020

A Service of Worship for Sunday, June 21, 2020 — 

Old First Church, Philadelphia, PA

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Rev. Michael Caine, pastor; Holly Phares, music director; William Lowden, organist

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Reminder: The Zoom 5 minute grace period that we have been observing is over!  And we have gone to our early summer hours.

Michael will begin worship with the Welcome when he hears the bells at St. Augustine’s, at 10 o’clock on the dot. 

Welcome 

Prelude                           Pastorale

                                           Giuseppe Sammartini

Silence   “What makes the desert beautiful,” said the little prince, “is that somewhere it hides a well…” 

 (Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince) 

Words of Gathering 

The Hebrew name “Ishmael” means “God hears.”  

In the bible reading for today, though it is mostly about him and his mom, the only time Ishmael’s name appears is in the beginning of the 17th verse when the text says “And God heard… or in Hebrew ‘Ishmael”…  

God heard the voice of the boy. 

Will you repeat after me, the opening of the 86th Psalm, 

Incline your ear, O LORD (let second voice repeat)

And answer me, for I am poor and needy.(let second voice repeat)

Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you; (let second voice repeat)

Save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God. (let second voice repeat)

Confession

Who have I put out, Lord? 

How have I shown my preferences in ways that have done others harm? 

What relations have I cut off? 

Are there ways my promise is another’s burden? 

What responsibility have I cast away as if it mattered not the least?  

Silence

Assurance

The Passing of the Peace  — do you have a sentence or promise of God’s peace to share? 

A Time with the Children               We All Have a Father                                                          

The Scripture                                       Genesis 21: 8-21

The Sermon                                         God of the Abandoned and Rejected

Affirmation of Faith  — adapted from the Belhar Confession of the World Communion of Reformed Churches   

We believe that God is the one who wishes to bring about justice and true peace among people.

We believe that God, in a world full of injustice and enmity, is in a special way the God of the destitute, the poor, and the wronged. 

HYMN                    There Is a Wideness in God’s Mercy                          Julie Steiner, vocalist

                                                                                                                               William Lowden, organist

There’s a wideness in God‘s mercy, like the wideness of the sea;

There’s a kindness in God‘s justice, which is more than liberty.

There’s no place where earthly sorrows are more felt than in God’s heaven;

There is no place where earthly failings have such kindly judgment given.

For the love of God is brighter than the measures of our minds;

And the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind.

If our love were but more faithful, we would gladly trust God‘s word;

And our lives would show thanksgiving for the goodness of our God.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer (using sins, debts or trespasses as you wish)

The Offering 

         Offertory                           Softly and Tenderly

                                                        arr. Michael Cox

        Dedication

Community Life

1. Children’s Bible Storytime
2. Lunch with the Pastor 
3. Adult Bible Study
4. Prayer Group
5. Shawl Ministry Team
6. WISE Training

Benediction — Larry Waddell

Postlude                         Allegretto

                                            Henry Purcell