Weekly Worship Material

Order of Service for July 6th, 2025

Fourth Sunday After Pentecost

Joint Summer Service

 

WE GATHER TO PRAISE GOD

 

GATHERING MUSIC

            

PRELUDE

 

In the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 

Who calls us to be the church 

And to celebrate God’s presence, 

Let us worship.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

 

AFFIRM MINUTE

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE LAND

 

INTROIT 

 

CALL TO WORSHIP: 

One: Jesus sends us out, just like the seventy-two

All: Ordinary people with an extraordinary calling.


One: We don’t go alone. We go in pairs, in peace, in love.


All: We go with open hands and open hearts.


One: The road ahead might not be easy.


All: But the Spirit walks with us.


One: Let us come together—tired, unsure, hopeful, bold

All: To worship the One who sends and strengthens us.

 

PASSING OF THE PEACE:

Loving God,
You meet us on the road—


when we’re sure of the way,


and when we’re completely lost.

You don’t ask us to be perfect.


You just ask us to go.


To show up.


To try.


To love our neighbour.


To speak peace.

In a world that often feels divided,
help us be people of connection.


In a church that sometimes feels small,
remind us that your kingdom is near.


Right here.


Right now.

We’re listening, Holy One.


Speak to us today.


Amen.

 

The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God, and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you… And also with you.

 

*OPENING HYMN: VU #120 O Jesus, I Have Promised

 

            ♫1      O Jesus, I have promised to serve you to the end;

                        remain for ever near me, my Saviour and my friend:

                        I shall not fear the journey if you are by my side,

                        nor wander from the pathway if you will be my guide.

 

            2         O let me feel you near me: the world is every near;

                        I see the sights that dazzle, the tempting sounds I hear;

                        my foes are ever near me, around me and within;

                        but, Jesus, then draw nearer and shield my soul from sin.

 

            3         O let me hear you speaking in accents clear and still,

                        above the storms of passion, the murmurs of self-will;

                        O speak to reassure me, to hasten or control;

                        now speak, and make me listen, O guardian of my soul.

 

            4         O Jesus, you have promised to all who follow you,

                        that where you are in glory your servant shall be too.

                        And Jesus, I have promised to serve you to the end;

                        O give me grace to follow, my Saviour and my friend.

 

~Children are welcomed to the front of the Sanctuary 

for Children’s Time following the hymn~

 

CHILDREN’S TIME

 

LORD’S PRAYER:

Abba with us,

hallowed be your name, 

your kingdom come, 

your 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 the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours 

forever and ever. AMEN.

 

MUSICAL OFFERING

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION & ASSURANCE OF GRACE: 

One: Jesus sends us out with peace,


but we confess that we’ve often stayed still.


Let us bring our hearts honestly before God:

 

ALL:
 God of the harvest,


we confess that we have held back—


afraid of rejection,


comfortable in our routines,


unsure how to speak peace


in a world that argues first and listens later.

We have passed by neighbours who needed kindness,


we have doubted that we were enough,


and we have wondered whether church still matters.

Forgive us.


Call us again.


Send us out with your Spirit,


not to fix the world,


but to love it as you do.


Amen.

 

Words of Assurance:


Hear the good news:


The One who sends us is also the One who equips and forgives us.


In Christ, we are set free to go out in love.


Your names are written in heaven.


You are called, you are needed, you are loved.


ALL: Thanks be to God.

 

*CREED: 

 

We are not alone,
    we live in God’s world.

We believe in God:
    who has created and is creating,
    who has come in Jesus,
       the Word made flesh,
       to reconcile and make new,
    who works in us and others
       by the Spirit.

We trust in God.

We are called to be the Church:
    to celebrate God’s presence,
    to live with respect in Creation,
    to love and serve others,
    to seek justice and resist evil,
    to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
       our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death,
    God is with us.
We are not alone.

Thanks be to God.

 

*HYMN: VU #641 Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song

 

♫1       Lord Jesus, you shall be my song as I journey,

            I’ll tell everybody about you wherever I go:

            for our life and our peace and our love is yourself.

            Lord Jesus, you shall be my song as I journey.

 

2         Lord Jesus, I’ll praise you as long as I journey.

            May all of my joy be a faithful reflection of you.

            May the earth and the sea and the sky join my song.

            Lord Jesus, I’ll praise you as long as I journey.

 

3         As long as I live, Jesus, make me your servant

            to carry your cross and to share all your burdens and tears,

            for you saved me by giving your body and blood.

            As long as I live, Jesus, make me your servant.

 

4         I fear in the dark and the doubt of my journey,

            but courage will come with the sound of your steps by my side;

            and with all of the family you saved by your love,

            we’ll sing to your dawn at the end of our journey.

 

PASTORAL PRAYER:

ONE:


God of the journey,


you send us out with nothing but your peace and your promise.


You remind us that even when the world feels overwhelming,


your harvest is growing.


So we come to you now, bringing our prayers—


for our world, our neighbours, our church, and ourselves.(pause)

 

We pray for the world you love—


for places torn by war and violence,


for those who are grieving, displaced, or afraid,


for leaders who hold power,


that they would lead with compassion and wisdom.

 

(Invitation to silent or spoken prayer for the world.)

 

God of peace,


All: Send your Spirit near.

 

ONE: We pray for our communities—


for the people we pass by each day,


for those who feel invisible, 

unheard, or unwelcome,


for schools and shelters, hospitals and homes.


Help us to be neighbours who see and care.

 

(Invitation to prayer for local concerns.)

 

God of love,


All: Send your Spirit near.

 

ONE: We pray for the Church—


for this congregation and for all who gather in your name,


whether in buildings, parks, 

living rooms, or online.


Remind us that you don’t measure faith by numbers


but by the love we live out.


Give us courage to follow where you lead.

 

(Pause. Invite prayer for the church and its calling.)

 

God of calling,


All: Send your Spirit near.

 

ONE: We pray for those in need—


for the sick and the suffering,


for the lonely, the lost, and the doubting,


for those overwhelmed by the cost of living or the weight of the world.


Help us be part of your healing and hope.

 

(Pause. Invite names or situations aloud or in silence.)

 

God of healing,


All: Send your Spirit near.

 

ONE: And we pray for ourselves—


our questions, our worries,


our hope that we might really make a difference.


Remind us that being a disciple doesn’t mean having all the answers—


it means walking with you,


step by step, in love.

 

(Pause. Silent prayer.)

 

God of grace,


All: Send your Spirit near.

 

ONE:
 We give thanks that our names are written in heaven,


not because of what we’ve done,


but because of who you are—


faithful, loving, and always near.

We lift all these prayers, spoken and unspoken,


in the name of Jesus,


who goes before us and sends us still.
 Amen.

 

OFFERING:

            INVITATION TO INVEST IN GOD’S MISSION:

“Called by God, as disciples of Jesus, The United Church of Canada seeks to be a bold, connected, evolving church of diverse, courageous, hope-filled communities united in deep spirituality, inspiring worship, and daring justice.”

 

            OFFERTORY

 

            *DOXOLOGY: VU #542

 

♫        We give you but your own, 

what e'er the gift may be,
all that we have is yours alone, 
we give it gratefully.

           

PRAYER:

“We send forth our offerings in blessing and thanksgiving that they may serve God’s Holy mission that has this church. May we walk humbly in your way.”

 

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION:

God, YOUR WORD IS THE LAMP TO OUR FEET, AND A LIGHT TO OUR PATH. GIVE US GRACE TO RECEIVE YOUR TRUTH IN FAITH AND LOVE. May it be so.

 

SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 10:1–11, 16–20

10 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. 2 He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go on your way; I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ 6 And if a person of peace is there, your peace will rest on that person, but if not, it will return to you. 7 Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9 cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’

 

16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” 18 He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19 Indeed, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”                                  The Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.

 

MESSAGE: “Disciples in a Distracted World”

 

*CLOSING HYMN: VU #675 Will Your Anchor Hold

 

♫1       Will your anchor hold in the storms of life?

            When the clouds unfold their wings of strife,

            when the strong tides lift and the cables strain,

            will your anchor drift or firm remain?

                        We have an anchor that keeps the soul

                        steadfast and sure while the billows roll,

                        fastened to the rock which cannot move,

                        grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love!

 

2         It will surely hold in the straits of fear,

            when the breakers tell that the reef is near;

            though the tempest rave and the wild winds blow,

            not an angry wave shall our bark o’er-flow.

                        We have an anchor that keeps the soul

                        steadfast and sure while the billows roll,

                        fastened to the rock which cannot move,

                        grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love!

 

3         It will surely hold in the floods of death,

            when the waters cold chill our latest breath;

            on the rising tide it can never fail

            while our hopes abide within the veil.

                        We have an anchor that keeps the soul

                        steadfast and sure while the billows roll,

                        fastened to the rock which cannot move,

                        grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love!

 

4         When our eyes behold, through the gathering night,

            the city of gold, our harbour bright,

            we shall anchor fast by the heavenly shore,

            with the storms all past for evermore.

                        We have an anchor that keeps the soul

                        steadfast and sure while the billows roll,

                        fastened to the rock which cannot move,

                        grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love!

 

*COMMISSIONING:

Leader:


Jesus sends us out,


just like the seventy-two—


ordinary people with an extraordinary purpose.

You don’t need to have all the answers.


You don’t need to pack a bag.


You just need to go—


with peace in your heart,


love in your actions,


and trust that God goes with you.

Go to your schools and neighbourhoods,


your workplaces and homes,


as messengers of hope,


as people of peace,


as disciples of Christ.

The harvest is plentiful.


The Spirit is near.


And you are already enough.

 

All:


We go now,


not in fear, 

but in faith.


Not alone, but together.


To love, to serve, to follow.


Amen.

 

*SUNG RESPONSE:

 

♫        The Lord bless you, and keep you:

The Lord make his face shine upon you, 

and be gracious unto you:

The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, 

and give you peace.  

 

POSTLUDE