First United Methodist Church of Schenectady
Worship for the Third Sunday after the Pentecost

June 26, 2022

Photo by Zach Long

Getting Centered

It may help to center yourself into worship by lighting a candle, as a symbol of God’s presence with you during the time of worship. You may also want to pay attention to lighting, the position of your body, and the availability of distractions.

Breath Prayer

“Love, joy.”
or
“Peace, patience.”
Breath prayers involve breathing in the first phrase, and breathing out the second.
You may wish to simply pray for a moment before starting, or you may wish to pray while listening to the prelude.

Prelude

Prelude on “St. Columba” Traditional Irish Melody

Call to Worship

One: The Holy One breathes life into us.
Many: God walks with us for all our days.
One: The Spirit’s wisdom is available to us.
Many: Love shows us the way.

Hymn #2004: “Praise the Source of Faith and Learning”

Connecting in Prayer

Prayer for Graduates

God of Truths and Knowledge,
by your wisdom we are guided.
Bless those who graduate this year,
those who have finished a course of study
and a stage of their lives.
Thank you for those who taught them,
and learned with them.
Walk with the graduates as they
take their next steps,
as they enter the next stage of their lives.
Be with them in any anxiety or confusions.
Strengthen their talents and skills,
help them find confidence
in their way forward.
May each of them find ways to
bless your people
with their knowledge and their energy,
to build your kindom.
Amen

Silent Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father (Creator) 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 trespasses,
as we forgive those who
trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory, for ever.
Amen.

Word and Reflection

Scripture Reading: Galatians 5:1, 13-25 and Luke 9:51-62

Time for Young People: “Graduations”

Hymn #336: “Of All the Spirit’s Gifts to Me”

Passing of the Peace

If you are worshiping with others, please pass the Peace of Christ.
Whether you are alone or with others, please take a moment to find God’s peace within, and then to share it with the world. You may want to reach out to speak peace to another during this week.

Sermon: “Spiritual and Physical” – Rev. Sara Baron

Responding

Offertory: “Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart” Arranged by Crystal Davis Clay

Offering

Photo by Larry McArthur
If you wish, you are welcome to use this time to make a donation to the church online, or to put a check in the mail.
The time of offering is not only about our financial gifts to the church, it is about offering our lives to God and the building of the kindom. This is a time for reflection: What is being asked of us? What is being given to us? What are we able to offer? What do we need?

A Home-Based Prayer

Holy One,
Foxes have holes, but the Son of Man had
no where to lay his head.
Yet, we still want those places.
In fact, we want to have homes and have
EVERYONE have homes.
Help us use our gifts to the greater good,
to the kindom, to the beloved community,
so that foxes may have holes and all of the
children you claim
may have a place to lay their head
in safety
and joy.
Amen

Hymn #2120: “Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness”

Benediction

May God bless us with a thirst for justice, a yearning for healing, and the capacity to create both! Amen

Postlude

“I Will Praise Him / When Morning Gilds the Skies” Arranged by Carol Tornquist