Welcome and Announcements
Call to Worship: Psalm 139
O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from far away.
Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it.
LET US WORSHIP GOD.
Hymn: “O God, You Search Me,” 29
Prayer of the Day
Prayer of Confession
Gracious God, You call us to step out in faith, trusting You for all things. We respond to Your command but then sink in doubt and fear. We hide from the challenges of bold discipleship. We are not able to fulfill Your commandments, for our purposes are seldom in full accord with Yours. Forgive us, we pray, when we confess with our lips but do not trust in our hearts. Help us to practice our faith in all circumstances. Lift us out of sin into the arms of Your mercy. Thought we are distracted by noise all around, help us to hear Your voice. We pray in the name of Christ. AMEN.
Assurance of Pardon and Commitment to Pass the Peace
Prayer for Illumination
Gracious God, Your Word is very near, on our lips and in our hearts. As this Word is read and proclaimed, by the power of Your Holy Spirit, make it become in us the Word of faith. Then send us in joy to bring this Word to others who also need the good news of salvation. AMEN.
Time for Children, Jenny Newman
Gospel Reading: Matthew 14:22-33
22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land,[a] for the wind was against them. 25 And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
28 Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he noticed the strong wind,[b] he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Sermon: “Keep Walking,” Rev. Vincent Kolb
Hymn: “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less,” 353
Affirmation of Faith: Confession of 1967, 9.17
Life is a gift to be received with gratitude and a task to be pursued with courage. People are free to seek life within the purpose of God: to develop and protect the resources of nature for the common welfare, to work for justice and peace in society, and in other ways to use their creative powers for the fulfillment of human life.
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer, 2019 Vatican Update
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 debts,
as we forgive our debtors;
do not let us fall into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power
and the glory forever. Amen.
Closing Anthem: “Cantate Domino,” Rupert Lang
Cantate Domino canticum novum;
laus ejus in ecclesia sanctorum.
Laetetur Israël in eo qui fecit eum,
et filii Sion exsultent in rege suo.
Sing ye to God a new canticle:
let God’s praise be in the church of the saints.
Let Israel rejoice in the God of creation:
and let the children of Sion be joyful in their Eternal Sovereign.
Benediction
Announcements
We are an open and affirming community of faith in Jesus Christ. At home in an urban neighborhood of many faiths, we acknowledge that we are not alone on the path to understanding God. In worship, study, and fellowship, we celebrate our Presbyterian roots and find joy in our diversity. We strive for the grace to love one another as we seek deeper understanding of life in the Spirit, working for justice and serving as stewards of God’s wondrous creation.
We are a More Light congregation: “Following the risen Christ, and seeking to make the Church a true community of hospitality, the mission of More Light Presbyterians is the full participation of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people of faith in the life, ministry, and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA).”
Inclusive Language: Words matter. Jesus Christ, the living Word, reached out to all people to bring all people into God’s fold. The kingdom of God includes all types of people; therefore our language should reflect the inclusivity and equality among the people of God. To the end, when possible, we seek to eliminate the inherent bias of the English language towards the masculine gender without altering passages that reflect the historical situation of ancient patriarchal culture, out of which the Bible originated.
* The Session has closed the building until further notice to observe the governmental restrictions of social distancing.
* Many thanks to Jan Myers-Newbury for being part of the service this week!
* Kids Lunchtime with Jenny: Tuesday, July 21, at noon. Check your email for the Zoom link!
* “Thank God It’s Friday Happy Hour!”: Join Pastor Vincent on Friday, July 24, from 5:30-6:30 for a time of virtual fellowship. If you’d like to attend, let the office know via email, and we will send you the Zoom link.
* The Earth Care Committee will be meeting Sunday, July 26, at 1 pm. Contact Keith Gillogly for more information and/or the Zoom link.
* Want to join Pastor Vincent’s Bible study of the lectionary texts at 11 am on Wednesdays? Contact the office to get on the email list for connection to the Zoom meeting.
* Zoom confused? Set up a call with Amy, and we’ll work through it together.
* It’s not the same as the thrill of putting the envelope in the plate, but you can still pay on your pledges either through eGive (click here!) or by mailing your check to the church. We continue to need your support in this challenging time!
* Resources for families are on Jenny’s Children and Youth blog (click here!)
* The Sixth Church Mouse Returns! For congregants who would like to participate in an email form of prayers of the people, please contact [email protected] to be added to the list. You can submit prayer requests to the same email address by Thursdays at 5 pm to be included in an email sent each Friday. Please remember that confidentiality still applies; we want this to be a safe place for both participants and those we love.
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