Sunday, June 20, 2021 – Fourth Sunday in Pentecost / Father’s Day
CALL TO WORSHIP:
In the midst of life’s storms, God is there.
What have we to fear?
In darkness and terror, God is with us.
Of whom shall we be afraid?
Rise up, people of God, for you are loved and saved.
Thanks be to God who cares deeply for us all!
OPENING HYMN: Be Still, My Soul – please click the link to play the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q18GAt3_tkc
Note: The hymn may not open in a new page, so you might have to hit the “back” arrow to return to the church website after the hymn. Thanks!
OPENING PRAYER: Almighty God, when the storms of life crash around us, be our quiet center of peace. When adversaries gather against us, Holy One, be our refuge and our strength. Give us the confidence as your followers, that we might place our trust entirely in you. And give us the assurance of the saints, that we might know the glory of our salvation. With joyful hearts and ready minds, we pray for your grace this day. Amen.
SPECIAL MUSIC: Stand By Me by Tennessee Ernie Ford – please click the link to play the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10_xjsb10Lg
Note: The song may not open in a new page, so you might have to hit the “back” arrow to return to the church website after the song. Thanks!
PASTORAL PRAYER:
Almighty God of all creation, we join our voices to praise you today, singing of your wonders, giving thanks for your grace and care, and celebrating the joys of life you have blessed us with: family and friends; new relationships and deeper relationships; new life and transformed lives; reconciliation and restoration. On this day we are especially grateful for the gifts of fathers, the gifts of being a father. and fathers that we miss. We thank you for the many ways that our fathers have shaped us, for their example and their love. Yet we also pray for those who have painful relationships with their fathers; those who are estranged from their fathers and fathers who are estranged from their children. And, God, we pray for those who are unwilling or unable to accept the responsibilities of fatherhood. Gracious God, all of our prayers are summed up in the longing for your kingdom, that wonderful, amazing, and new reality that is emerging all around us. We pray this all in Jesus’ name. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
OFFERTORY: Please see the bottom of this page for giving instructions. Thank you!
Let us pray: We offer to you, Lord, what you have first given us: our time, our talents, our gifts, and our service. And, we ask for your blessing, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
THE WORD OF GOD
Let Us Pray: Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that as the Scriptures are read and your Word is proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Amen.
SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 6:1-13
As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
SCRIPTURE: Mark 4:35-41
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
The Word of God for the People of God
MESSAGE: Don’t You Care?
SENDING HYMN: Lift Every Voice and Sing – please click the link to play the hymn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONgOH_tq7-Q
Note: The hymn may not open in a new page, so you might have to hit the “back” arrow to return to the church website after the hymn. Thanks!
BENEDICTION:
As the Lord has given to us such peace and stillness, now go into the world to care for others, offering God’s love and hope. Go in peace and remember that God goes with you.
Thank you for worshipping with us this day! Stay safe and God bless!
NOTE: Following conference directives, both Lake Street UMC (9:00am worship) and Pleasant Valley UMC (10:30am worship) are open this week for in-person services.
GIVING INSTRUCTIONS:
With meeting expenses for the churches, we would continue to welcome any weekly or monthly offerings, allowing us to further our ministries, serving others as part of serving God.
Lake Street offerings can be mailed or dropped off with Delores Fye – 427 Spruce St. Apt. #2, Clearfield, PA 16830.
Pleasant Valley offerings can be mailed to Sandy Bowser – 301 Orchard Rd., Woodland, PA 16881.
