June 17, 2018
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Prelude: The Cuckoo Louis Claude D’Aquin
Chiming of the Hour
*Hymn: Silver Lake Summer Staff
Welcome
Joys and Concerns
Call to Worship
One: It is good to give thanks to God!
Come to make music with our Creator.
All: God knows our troubles and remembers our need. Our petitions are answered and our hearts’
desires fulfilled.
One: Declare God’s steadfast love and faithfulness. Seek God’s help in the sanctuary.
All: We know that God will help the anointed ones. Our pride is in God alone.
One: Listen for the voice of God, speaking to us again. How great is our God, our rock and redeemer!
All: God will respond when we call. We will bear fruit for God as long as life endures.
One: Come, let us worship God together!
Prayer of Invocation (in unison)
We turn to you, O God of all worlds, knowing we can help depend on you when earthly rulers stumble and fall, when other relationships are strained and broken, when we are faced with difficult challenges. It is good to sing your praises, even when we do not feel like singing. It is good to declare your faithfulness when we have been unfaithful. It is good to give thanks, for when we do, we are reminded of the multitude of blessings we so often take for granted. Lead us in this time of worship. Amen.
Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession (in unison)
God of all truth, who can stand before you? We judge by outward appearances, but you examine our hearts. We see what is on the surface, but you discern beauty deep within. We measure importance by paychecks, but you find value among those we deem lowly and insignificant. You offer us the deep and profound joy of living in your realm. We forget your promises and turn to pursuits that separate us from you and destroy community. We seek forgiveness and a new direction for our lives. Hear us now as we turn to you with our silent confessions, seeking your mercy, forgiveness and grace.
Moment of silent prayer
Assurance of God’s Love
Gloria Patri: #583 Glory to God, glory to God, glory in the highest! Glory to God, glory to God, alleluia, alleluia!
Commissioning of Silver Lake Summer Staff
Pastor: Our friends gathered today have agreed to serve as Silver Lake Conference Summer Staff, taking the love of God to the hundreds of children and youth who come to our beautiful Northwest Corner seeking adventure, fellowship and God’s presence.
Each one of these individuals has been called by God, has accepted that call and stand before us today to witness to their willingness to serve.
(To the Silver Lake Staff)
Beloved Children of God, you have answered a call to provide leadership and care to the children and youth who will come to Silver Lake this summer.
Having prayerfully considered the duties and responsibilities of your ministry, are you prepared to serve with the help of God in Christ’s name?
Silver Lake Staff: I am
Pastor: Do you promise to exercise your ministry diligently and faithfully, showing forth the love of God?
Silver Lake Staff: I do, relying on God’s grace.
Pastor: Members of the congregation, you have heard the promises of our Silver Lake Summer Staff who have answered God’s call to service. Let us affirm our intention to live in covenant with them.
Congregation: We gather in celebration of the joy that is ours to be partners with you in the service of Jesus Christ. We promise to keep you in our prayers, honor your leadership, and assist you that together we may be a faithful church of Jesus Christ.
Reverend Ryan Gackenheimer: Let us pray.
Eternal God, you have called these people to serve you in this important ministry and in the world, which you have entrusted to our care and keeping. Send your Holy Spirit on them that they may serve among us with honor and faithfulness. May their example prove worthy for all of us to follow, as we are united in Christ’s ministry, to the glory of your name. Amen.
Responsive Reading – Psalm 104:1-5, 10-26
(Page 682 HS in the pew bible)
Reading from Hebrew Scriptures – Proverbs 12:14-20
(Page 730 HS in the pew bible)
*Hymn: Silver Lake Staff
Offering of our Gifts ~ Strengthen the Church
Anthem: Silver Lake Staff
*Doxology: #607 Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise Christ, all people here below; praise Holy Spirit ever more; praise Triune God whom we adore. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication
Scripture Reading – Mark 4:1-9
(Page 46 NT in the pew bible)
Sermon by Reverend Ryan Gackenheimer
Pastoral Prayer, Silent Prayer & Lord’s Prayer
*Hymn: Silver Lake Staff
Benediction
Postlude: Arrival of the Queen of Sheeba G.F.Handel
(* Please stand if able.)
Welcome Statement
We, the Salisbury Congregational Church, seek to love God with all our hearts, souls and minds and love our neighbors as ourselves.
This Church declares itself to be Open and Affirming to all for participation, membership, leadership and employment regardless of race, ancestry, class, gender identity, physical/mental ability or sexual orientation.
We further declare ourselves to be Affirming of each individual as a child of God, celebrating the total identity of each person.
As a declared Open and Affirming Congregation, we commit ourselves to work toward ending ignorance, fear, hatred, prejudice and discrimination against any person.
No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!
If you are visiting us today, Welcome!
Please sign our guest book and introduce yourself to our Pastor or to one of the Deacons.
Fill out a welcome card in the pew to be put on our email list!
Please join us in the Parish Hall for refreshments and fellowship following worship.
Today’s host is the Hospitality Committee.
Please see an usher:
If you would like to use a hearing device.
If you would like to bring your child to the Nursery.
Many thanks to:
Reverend Ryan Gackenheimer for leading worship.
Silver Lake Staff for serving as lay readers and providing music for the service.
Prayer List
Steve M., John & Jan Hazard, Stan & Pam Brown, Ron Ham, Mary Davidson, Sal Accardo, Don & Bonnie Cuneo, Violet Hvasta, Bob “Bullet” Sherwood, Sandra Schafer, Mary O’Neill, Laura Hawks, Debbie Merwin, Jessica Whelton, Keith Grant, Jack Ritchie, Marian Ferguson, Jane Fitting, Libby Bishop, Miles Bishop, Chuck Carroll, Andrew Gunderson, Gail Weigel, Paula & Herman Blumberg, Harriet, Emily, Anne, Bill, Peter, Connie, Cheryl and those among us who struggle with anxiety, depression and addiction
CALENDAR
Monday: 3:30 pm Parish Hall Library in use
Thursday: 5 pm Christian Action Meeting
Sunday: 10 am Worship at Silver Lake Conference Center
11 am Deacons’ Retreat at Silver Lake Conference Center
OPPORTUNITIES
COFFEE HOUR
The Coffee Hour sign up is in the Parish Hall. If you have never served at Coffee Hour and would like to “learn the ropes,” please sign your name in the column marked “helper” and you will be paired with an experienced Coffee Hour server. If you have served before, please sign up for a Sunday or two and consider inviting someone new to join you!
FILE OF LIFE
The Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service has provided us with important FILE OF LIFE cards, for anyone who would like to take one. Fill it out with important medical information and keep in the magnetic pocket/holder on your refrigerator. In the case that you are ever in need of emergency services, the EMTs will take this card and be better able to treat you, with this information handy. Pick one up in the Parish Hall or church office.