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

June 13, 2021

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

“Source of shade, may we rest”
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

“Prière” by Léon Boëllmann

Call to Worship

One: God in the Spirit revealed in Jesus Christ, calls us by grace
Many: to be renewed in the image of our Creator, that we may be one in divine love for the world.
One: Today is the day, God cares for the integrity of creation, wills the healing and wholeness of all life, weeps at the plunder of earth’s goodness.
Many: And so shall we.
One: Today is the day, God embraces all hues of humanity, delights in diversity and difference, favors solidarity transforming strangers into friends.
Many: And so shall we.

One: Today is the day, God cries with the masses of starving people, despises growing disparity between rich and poor, demands justice for workers in the marketplace.
Many: And so shall we.
One: Today is the day, God deplores violence in our homes and streets, rebukes the world’s warring madness, humbles the powerful and lifts up the lowly.
Many: And so shall we.
One: Today is the day, God calls for nations and peoples to live in peace, celebrates where justice and mercy embrace, exults when the wolf grazes with the lamb.
Many: And so shall we.
All: Today is the day, God brings good news to the poor, proclaims release to the captives, gives sight to the blind, and sets the oppressed free.
And so shall we.

Hymn #311: Now the Green Blade Riseth

Connecting in Prayer

Shared Prayer

Oh Holy Gardener, the One who tends our souls.
Plant in us Your seeds of love and justice.
Remind us that big trees come from small seeds,
and big fires start as single sparks.
Remind us again that life-giving movements start as single acts of resistance.
The act of staying seated,
the act of throwing a brick,
the act of speaking a truth
are seeds you can nourish,
sparks you can feed.
Grant us wisdom to know your truth.
Grant us courage to be your mouthpiece, speaking truth to power.
Grant us compassion, to comfort the world’s afflicted.
And when the burdens become too heavy, grant us rest
in the shade of your Garden…
So that tomorrow, we can do it all again. Amen

Silent Prayer

Pastoral Prayer

Loving God, when life is like a hot sun beating down on us,
you are shade that helps us breathe and recover.
Life has been like a hot sun beating down on us.
Help us take this time to savor the rest and healing you offer.
With many of our support systems disrupted,
and life as we knew it changed forever,
we are still – often – overwhelmed.
Guide us into the shade where we can stop, and be.
With grief that feels like it flows endlessly on,
and grief piled up on more grief,
we worry that we can go no further.
Help us hear you calling us by name,
inviting us to stop pushing beyond our capacities,
to connect with your Spirit,
and trust in you.
When the day continues on, and the shade moves with the angles,
remind us that we are allowed to keep on receiving the gift,
and nudge us to move to receive your shelter.
When we are ready, show us others in the shade with us,
remind us we aren’t alone,
and bless us with new life from new connections. Amen

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

Choir Anthem

I Will Sing With the Spirit by John Rutter

Scripture: Ezekiel 17:22-24

Mission Moment: Summer Lunch Program, Jan Huston

Schenectady Community Ministries (SiCM) is currently planning distribution of summer lunches. Because of COVID, children will be given pre-packaged, bagged lunches. FUMC’s week to help is July 19—23. Volunteers are needed for 2 different jobs:

1. 2 people are needed daily at the central library for ½ hour – 11:00 to 11:30 – to hand out lunches. We will not be reading to or playing with the children.
2. 3 or 4 or more people are needed daily from 8:00—11:00, or any part of that time, to help pack lunches at the SiCM site at 83 9 Albany St.

We hope that participating at SiCM will help us get an updated understanding of SiCM and a better feel for the community. Please try to volunteer for one of these tasks by contacting Jan Huston, or the Church Office.

Children’s Time: Seeds of Love

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.

Hymn #97: For the Fruits of This Creation

Scripture Reading – Mark 4:26-34

Sermon: “Shade” by Rev. Sara E. Baron

Responding

Offering

Photo by Alice Nash
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?

Offertory: “You Are Holy” by Per Harling

Prayer of Presentation

God who gives us rest,
Thank you for all that you give to us.
Please receive this offerings as signs of our gratitude and our hope.
May they be blessings for others who need your gifts as well.
Amen

Hymn #583: You Are the Seed

Benediction

May God’s shade give you rest, and life, hope, and restoration. Amen

Postlude

“Chaconne” by Louis Couperin