St. Paul’s United Church of Christ301 West Penn Avenue, Robesonia, PA 19551

610-621-5770 -- office@sprucc.org -- www.sprucc.org Worship 9:30am

No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you’re welcome here.

Welcome toSt. Paul’s United Church of ChristOnline Streaming Worship Service

May God’s loving presence be very real to you,and may you receive strength and guidance todaythat will enable you to handle life’s challenges.

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Sunday, June 21, 2020Third Sunday after Pentecost

We are coming together as a community of faith to worship our God,and provide for one another our love, support, and care.

ORDER FOR WORSHIP

We Gather

A TIME OF GATHERING

RINGING OF THE BELL

GREETING AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE

{To center your hearts and minds,you are invited to individually offer this prayer silently during or before the Prelude}

PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP Ï

Holy God, come to us in our distress. We are weary of conflict and long for your healing watersof forgiveness and renewal. You have sent us a teacher to draw us into discipleship, and wehave found fulfillment when we are faithful to Christ’s call. We long to find peace as we serve,but more often we encounter a sword. Our disagreements are many, and our capacity toforgive is strained. Send your light that we might not falter in our caring and in the proclamationof your good news. Amen.

{Those who are able, please rise}

*PROCESSIONAL HYMN “How Firm a Foundation” (vs 1 & 2)

Reprinted on the following page.Used with Permission One License #A-728042

*INVOCATION

Leader: In the name of God the Father, and of God the Son, and of God the Holy Spirit.ALL: Amen.

*CALL TO WORSHIP Ï

Leader: Come, nations of the earth, to bow before God.Distant galaxies proclaim the Creator of all things.

People: We are humbled by the wonders of creation.We are amazed by God’s mighty works.

Leader: This infinite God cares for each one of us.God hears our cries and responds to our needs.

People: In our days of trouble, we call on our God.We are confident that God listens and answers.

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This is a time to confess our wrongdoings and neglects, ask forGod’s mercy, admit our need for God’s forgiving grace,

hear the assurance of our forgiveness,and then give God our thanks and praise.

We Repent

*CALL TO CONFESSION Ï (Leader)God’s grace has been poured out among us that we might die to sin. Yet, we are persistentin our disobedience, as if we thereby give to God more opportunities to be gracious. Let usbring to God all the brokenness of our lives, our alienation from our Creator, from persons weare called to love, and even from our own best selves.

*CONFESSION OF SIN Ï (Unison)God, we are poor and needy in matters of the spirit. You have offered us newnessof life, but we are fearful of its cost. Your gifts place us in debts so vast that we cannever repay. We are not worthy of your love and cannot earn your forgiveness. Howis it that when we accept your grace we sense a freedom we have never beforeenjoyed? O God, we want to be dead to sin and alive to you. Help us! Amen.

*SILENT PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

{A time to silently offer our personal prayers of confession}

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON Ï (Leader)As Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of God, we are lifted up to walk in newness oflife, accepted and forgiven. You can never be your old self again, for Christ has set you free. Old divisions and misunderstandings are overcome in the steadfast love of God. All who giveup their self-occupied ways for Christ’s sake find abundant life. This is God’s gift to you today. Amen.

*CALL TO PRAISE ×

Leader: Let us give thanks and praise to our Triune God.People: We sing in praise of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

*SUNG PRAISE “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High” + Blue #107Lord, I lift Your name on high; Lord, I love to sing Your praises.I’m so glad You’re in my life; I’m so glad You came to save us.You came from heaven to earth to show the way;From the earth to the cross, my debt to pay.From the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky;Lord, I lift Your name on high.

Text and Music: Rick Founds, 1989Used with Permission One License #A-728042

{Please be seated}

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We seek to learn more about God’s love and grace, and how we are tolive our lives as disciples of Jesus Christ. The Bible is our primary text

on faith, which we consider to be scripture - sacred writings.We believe the Bible to be the “inspired word of God.”

Gospel (which means “Good News”) refers to Matthew, Mark, Luke,and John, which are Christians’ most central books of the Bible.

We Hear the Word of God

PROCLAMATION OF SCRIPTURE

First Lesson: Genesis 21:8-21Second Lesson: Romans 6:1b-11Gospel Lesson: Matthew 10:24-39

HYMN “O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee” (vs 1 & 2)Reprinted below.

Used with Permission One License #A-728042

CHILDREN’S SERMON SERMON

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We have heard God’s call and have come and worshiped,we have confessed our sins and been assured of our forgiveness, we have

learned more about God’s grace and God’s will. We now respond by re-affirming our faith in God,

praying with and for one another, trusting in God’s providence in our world,and giving of ourselves for the sake of the mission and ministry of Jesus

Christ.

We Respond with Thanks

{Those who are able, please rise}

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Unison) “Apostles’ Creed”I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

Creator of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord,who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,born of the virgin Mary,suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, dead, and buried;he descended to the dead;on the third day he rose again,ascended into heaven,and is seated on the right hand of God the Father Almighty.He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,the holy catholic church,the communion of saints,the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body,and the life everlasting. Amen.

{Please be seated}

CALL TO PRAYER

Leader: The Lord be with you.People: And also with you.Leader: Let us pray....

SILENT PRAYER

FATHER’S DAY BLESSING Ð (Leader)

Leader: For our fathers, who have given us life and love, that we may show them respectand love,

People: we pray to the Lord.Leader: For fathers who have lost a child through death, that their faith may give them

hope, and their family and friends support and console them,People: we pray to the Lord.Leader: For men, though without children of their own, who like fathers have nurtured

and cared for us,People: we pray to the Lord.Leader: For fathers, who have been unable to be a source of strength, who have not

responded to their children and who have not sustained their families,People: we pray to the Lord...ALL: God our Father, in your wisdom and love you made all things. Bless these

men, that they may be strengthened as Christian fathers. Let the exampleof their faith and love shine forth. Grant that we, their sons and daughters,may honor them always with a spirit of profound respect. Grant thisthrough Christ our Lord, who taught us when we pray to say...

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In response to God’s love and grace,we go out into the world to share God’s Good News

LORD’S PRAYER (Unison)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, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

OFFERTORY INVITATION Ï

Leader: We have received God’s help and comfort.People: Let us express our thanks.Leader: We have been called into the community of disciples.People: Let us offer the witness of our sharing.Leader: We have been assured of our own worth and value.People: Let us dedicate our tithes and offerings to building up others in God’s love.

RETURNING GOD’S TITHES AND PRESENTING OUR OFFERINGS Click here

{Those who are able, please rise}

*OFFERTORY RESPONSE “O Bless the Gifts” + Blue #817O bless the gifts our hands have brought;And bless the work our hearts have planned.Ours is the faith, the will, the thought;The rest, O God, is in Your hand.

Text: Samuel Longfellow; Music: Twila ParisUsed with Permission One License #A-728042

*OFFERTORY PRAYERÏ

O God, for all the great and wondrous things you have done for us, we are grateful. You give us strength to go on when we are troubled and discouraged. You grantnewness of life as we share in Christ’s resurrection. We want to pass on the good newsthrough this offering and by the way we live each day. Lead us and guide us in yoursteadfast love, that we might channel your gift to all we meet. Amen.

We Are Sent Out

*COMMISSION Ï

Leader: The Teacher has called you as disciples.Learn from Christ to serve without fear.

People: We expect to learn daily from our Teacher.We commit ourselves anew to Christ’s service.

Leader: Let God’s love be your first awareness each day.Let that love flow through every activity.

People: We bow down to glorify God’s name.We rejoice that God makes a place for our witness.

ALL: Amen.

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*BENEDICTION

*SENDING HYMN “This is My Father’s World” Reprinted below.

Used with Permission One License #A-728042

{Acolyte carries the light back into the world, leading us,as we now go to carry God’s light and love back into the world}.

*POSTLUDE

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Link to Website’sUpcoming Events

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Worship Service Resource CreditsBiblical quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible (1989) by the Division of Christian Education of the

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.Î Reprinted with permission from The New Century Hymnal of the United Church of Christ. (1995). Cleveland, Ohio: The Pilgrim Press. and/or the Book of Worship

of the United Church of Christ (1986). New York: United Church of Christ Office for Church Life and Leadership. Ï Taught By Love by Lavon Baylor. (1998). United Church Press; Cleveland, OH.Ð Reprinted with permission from Sundays and Seasons. (2019). Augsburg Fortress.å Reprinted with permission from the Order of Worship for the Reformed Church in the United States. and/or The Hymnal of the Evangelical and Reformed Church.

(1985) New York: United Church Press.Ò Reprinted with permission from Sourcebook of Worship Services Ü scouting.org - resources for Boy Scouts of AmericaÓ Reprinted with permission from Worship Ways of the United Church of Christ. (2013).Ô Worship WaysÞ Edmonds, Robert Lee (Editor). (2008). In Our Own Way; Living a Scouting Life Through Faith; A Handbook of Prayer and Devotion. Dallas, TX: Red Honor

PressÕ Reprinted with Permission from Lecturn Resource. 2014. Logos Productions, Inc., Inver Grove Heights, MN.à Miller, Earl D. (1994). Consecrating Stewards. Ohio Conference, United Church of Christ.× The Rev. Dr. Benjamin MotzOne License is our Church Copyright License# A-728042,, which is a subscription service giving us copyright permission to print the words and music found in the

bulletin and to live stream music on the internet during the Worship Service.Resources are edited and adapted for use in this worship service.

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The Flow of the Worship ServiceOur worship service has an intentional order to it. The flow of worship is called the liturgical movement. The

movement reminds us weekly of our journey in faith of moving from being separated from God by sin, to beingrestored by God’s grace as disciples of Christ. It is based on the sixth chapter of the Biblical book of Isaiah.

(1) God welcomes us and invites us(2) We respond to God’s call by worshiping Him(3) We confess our need for God’s forgiveness and grace(4) We are assured of God’s forgiveness and grace(5) We learn more about God’s will through scripture, song, and sermon(6) We grow closer to God and one another through prayer(7) We give God thanks by offering our time, talent, and treasure(8) God sends us into the world to share His love and grace with others

Visitation Care TeamOur Visitation Care Team (VCT) is composed of lay members who have been trained for visitation.

For more information, go to our “Visitation Care Ministries” page at www.sprucc.org. You may alsoemail them directly at CareTeam@sprucc.org.

Service Time ChangeDuring the months of June, July & August, we switch to our summer worship schedule with worship

beginning at 9:30am. Please make note of the change.

Virtual Sunday School OptionsAlthough we are not meeting in person, you can still continue to learn about God’s Word through the

information available on our website. For our youth we have Sunday school music, videos, and anassortment of other materials that are available for downloading. Click on this link for Sunday school foryouth. For our adults we have a Zoom study/discussion group lead by Pastor Bob that meets everySunday at 12:45pm. This group will be studying and discussing the Heidelberg Catechism, including thestudy of the scripture upon which it is based. Click on this Heidelberg Catechism link for moreinformation.

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About Today

Church Season: Pentecost -which is the season of the church in mission. It is the time between theascension of Christ and his second coming, which is the time we are presently living in today, and assuch is the longest season of the church year. The day of Pentecost is the birthday of the Christianchurch.

Color of the Paraments (cloths on the altar and pulpit):Green - symbolizing the life God brings, especially through our mission work.

The suggested scripture lessons are from the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL), which selectspassages throughout the Bible over a three year cycle. The RCL is the most common lectionary used byChristian churches. We are in Year A, which emphasizes the Gospel of Matthew.

The Bible is in two sections: Old Testament - OT (scripture prior to Christ’s birth), located in thefirst 2/3 of the Bible; and New Testament - NT (about Christ & early church).

This Sunday, June 21, 2020, Lectionary Reading for Third Sunday after PentecostGenesis 21:8-21 and Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17 or Jeremiah 20:7-13 and Psalm 69:7-10, (11-15), 16-18;

Romans 6:1b-11; Matthew 10:24-39.

GenesisThe book of Genesis (OT) is a part of the Pentateuch (first five books of the OT or Torah or one ofthe five most central books in Judaism). Genesis means beginning. The book of Genesis tells aboutthe creation of humankind and the entire universe by the will and power of God. Genesis creates acontext for the reading of the entire rest of the Bible. The book is traditionally attributed to Moses,who led the Israelite people from Egyptian slavery to freedom, through the saving grace and divineprovidence of God.

Psalm 86This OT song is a prayer of lament, asking God for help against one’s enemies. This hymn isattributed to King David, who ruled Israel from 1000-961 B.C.

The Letter of Paul to the RomansThis epistle (letter) is addressed “to all God’s beloved in Rome.” It was dictated by the Apostle Paulto Tertius in 58 A.D. in Corinth and delivered to Rome by Phoebe (she was appointed by Paul as adeacon, teacher, and leader of the church). Paul was a Christian, Jew, Pharisee, Roman citizen, andchurch leader, who had a direct encounter with Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus after Jesus’ascension into heaven. Paul, a highly educated man, wrote more of the NT than any other person.

The Gospel According to MatthewMatthew’s Gospel was written around 80-90 A.D. in Antioch, Syria by a Greek-speaking JewishChristian. The first writing was probably by a Christian scribe who wrote in the name of Matthew. Matthew was a disciple who knew Jesus personally.

Next Sunday, June 28, 2020, Lectionary Reading for Fourth Sunday after PentecostGenesis 22:1-14 and Psalm 13 or Jeremiah 28:5-9 and Psalm 89:1-4,15-18; Romans 6:12-23;

Matthew 10:40-42.

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