HOPE UNITED CHURCH
6th Sunday After Pentecost
July 12th, 2020  11:00am

Pastoral Charge Supervisor – Brian Stevens BA MDiv
Summer Student – Christopher Slusar

OPEN DOORS.  OPEN MINDS.
OPEN HEARTS.

PRELUDE

WELCOME

Welcome everyone. My name is Brian Stevens, I am the Pastoral Charge Supervisor and Worship Leader at Hope United here in Toronto. We are so pleased to have you with us today.  Our musicians today are Sandy and myself. Gavin is our Zoom host assisting with our sound. 

You can type hellos and greetings at any time in the chat. A copy of the order of service was emailed out with your invitation. It is also available on our website HopeUnited.ca.  

Call to Worship, Prayers are drawn from The United Church of Christ and United Church of Canada on-line worship resources.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE LAND (Suzanne)

With respect, we acknowledge the world views, spirituality, history and stewardship of the Mississauga of Scugog, the Hiawatha and the Alderville First Nations, on whose traditional lands our church resides. 

We thank and honour the other indigenous peoples who share this land.  As followers of the Jesus Way, we affirm our commitment as a people empowered to work in restoring broken relationships

Opening Hymn     “Spirit God, Be Our Breath”     MV # 150  (Sandy)   

Spirit God: be our breath, be our song.
Blow through us, bringing strength to move on.
Our world seems inward, defensive, withdrawn…
Spirit God, be our song.

Patient God: soothe our pride, calm our fear.
Comfort us when we know you are near
we grow more certain, our vision is clear.
Patient God, calm our fear.

Loving God: be our voice, be our prayer.
Reaching out, joining hands as we share,
We seek your guidance through friendship and care.
Loving God, be our prayer.

Spirit God: be our breath, be our song.
Blow through us, bringing strength to move on.
Through change, through challenge, we’ll greet the new dawn.
Spirit God, be our song.

CALL TO WORSHIP
(adapted from  “Feasting the Word”)
(Gavin and Christopher)

Call to Worship (Psalm 119:105,111)

Your Word is a lamp to our feet
And a light to our path
Your Word is our heritage forever,
The joy of our hearts.
Guide us and inspire us
To follow Your Word as we journey. Amen

OPENING PRAYER (Sheldon) ps119.105

Author of Life, Living Word, Holy Breath,
We have stumbled through the week
And made our way to this place.
Light up the steps in front of us
And write your word on our hearts
For we carry the name of Jesus
And would walk in the light of His love.
Amen

LIGHTING OF CHRIST CANDLE (Brian)

We light this candle as a symbol of love, peace, care and comfort. May all who open themselves to this light, walk always in the ever present light of Christ. 

Let us sing together, twice through, “Touch us With Your Light”. The words will appear on your screen.

“Touch us with Your Light” (Sandy)

Light from this candle
burning bright
Light our way through 
dark of night.
Help us find our way to you,
Guide us, touch us 
with your Light, O Lord.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Adapted from Matthew 13.1-9,18-23
(Jimmy)

Patient and persistent God,
We gather in your presence, polished and presentable,
As if we knew what to expect,
As if this were a predictable place to simply observe

Holy One, forgive our lukewarm expectations.
In the mystery of your love, overshadow us.
Plant the seeds of your saving good news in our hearts
Until we bloom
To serve a world that is hurting. Amen

ASSURANCE OF GRACE
Adapted from Romans 8.1
(Brian)
God’s grace is always with us. For those who are in Christ Jesus, the weight of sin is lifted, for the Spirit of God dwells in you. In the name of Jesus you are forgiven. Amen

“Gloria”  - VU # 37 (Sandy)

Gloria, Gloria, in excelsis deo
Gloria, Gloria, Alleluia, Alleluia!

THE PEACE OF CHRIST

The Peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.

(mics will be unmuted so you may greet one another)

FIRST READING Genesis 25:19-34 (Christopher)
This is the account of the family line of Abraham’s son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram[a] and sister of Laban the Aramean.

Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.
The Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb,
    and two peoples from within you will be separated;
one people will be stronger than the other,
    and the older will serve the younger.”

When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb.The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.

The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents.  Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.)
Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”
“Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”  But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.
Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left.
So Esau despised his birthright.

This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Psalm 119 (VU # 841) (Marion and Suzanne, Sandy - Refrain)

Refrain:    Your word is a lamp for my feet
and a light for my path.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, and a light for my path.
    I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
    To keep your righteous judgments.
I am in deep distress,
Give me life, O God according to your word.
    Accept, O God, the willing tribute of my lips,
    And teach me your decrees.

Refrain:    Your word is a lamp for my feet
and a light for my path.

I take my life into my hands continually,
Yet I never forget your law,
    The wicked have laid a snare for me,
    But I have not strayed from your precepts.
Your testimonies are my heritage forever,
The very joy of my heart.
    I have set my heart to fulfill your statutes,
Forever, even to the end.

Refrain:    Your word is a lamp for my feet
and a light for my path.

GOSPEL    Matthew 13.1-9,18-23 (Marion)

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.  Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.  Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.  

The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time.

When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.  The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

The Good News of Christ!

Thanks be to God!

MV # 174  “Soil of God, You and I”     (Sandy)

Soil of God, you and I, stand ready to bear
Seeds of faith nourished by God’s tender care.
Growing in everyone for here God is found.
All stand together, we are…
Holy ground.

Soil of God, you and I, now ready to be
Part of God’s promise, for others to see.
Open to everyone for here God is found.
All stand together, we are…
Holy ground.

Soil of God, you and I, now called to rebirth,
Joining as partners with all of the earth.
Living in harmony for here God is found.
All stand together, this is…
Holy ground.

SERMON: “Rocky Soil ” (Brian)

The heat of these past few days left much of the soil, grass, plants and trees parched and yearning or water…until he heavens opened overnight on Friday and brought welcome relief of both heat and humidity. The soil cracked and dry, the grass mostly brown with a few green patches, will now revive as it drinks the living water into its cells and reinvigorates.

For our gardens and farmers fields, water is critical. as too is the quality of the soil. Rich fertile soil can produce great yields, feeding all who rely upon it to sustain them.  Yet without enough precipitation, that same soil becomes hard, dry, cracked and craggy, the top layer blows away revealing a rocky base that offers  little to plants trying to survive or new ones tying  to root..the soil becomes rocky, it becomes hard to work, and hard to nourish… as the dryer the soil, the less receptive it is to absorbing the very water it so desperately needs to once again be able to nourish life.

As Spirit tries to nourish us, tries to reinvigorate us, what kind of soil are we. Are we fertile, open to embracing the healing love that emanates form Spirit, are we interested in exploring the way of Jesus, a unique way of moving in the world, or are we dry, craggy and uninterested in learning anything new…interested only in what serves us at any particular moment. Such a way, I suggest is not life giving.

Can new ways of being be plated upon our heart, and souls? I suggest to you that this is always a possibility, if we set such an intention…an intention to allow nurture, to allow new ideas, to allow self-examination, then embark upon it

Like the farmer who discovers that the soil is too acidic for particular crop. Once the crop rotation is changes, the plants bloom and flourish.

Our gospel today tells us of a parable Jesus shared with those gathered ‘round him. Tossing seeds about, some root and grow strong, others hold their own for a little bit, others wither quickly. He talks about the quality of the soil and the difference it makes to the seeds.

Rocky soil is rocky soil..nothing grows…or does it?

I grew up in Nova Scotia….early years, summer were spent at the cottage in Shad bay, the shore was rocky and rugged, with a small sand beach at the bottom of what seemed like an enormous hill….as well thee would an annual  day trip to Peggy’s Cove, about a half hour drive away. There we would see massive glaciated rocks, with little ponds in between, scraggy trees…very little grew…yet in between the rocks as you hopped from section to section, sometimes you find the beautiful tiny tree or flower. 

The fearsome winds had blown soil into the crack between the rocks….a seed had also been caught by the wind and dropped on this very spot as if by miracle, and amongst these awesome giant boulders that were as tall as two story buildings, was this petite green tree or bright purple flower.

In the midst of all these uninhabitable boulders and rocky granular soil, that appeared impenetrable…the wind had gathered enough fertile soil to allow a singular seed to root.. and something to grow, standing strong in the salty air.

If we but open ourselves ever so slightly, to the possibility of spiritual growth, something happens, a little seed of faith and hope finds a corner in which to root, and when nourished begins to grow. Two thousand years later Jesus offers us the same opportunity that he offered the seeds as they scared across the soil…those that root in fertile grown, will flourish and grow, those that do not have  secure footing will flounder and shrivel up

We need to examine what type of soil we are…are we rocky and  craggy, not really interested in growing In new ways, or are we receptive to exploring new ways of being, welcoming the presence Spirit in our lives. For when we open ourselves, ever so slightly, interesting things may happen, the light of Christ creeps Into some of the those dark places where we like to hide and illuminates a new path for to journey upon, a path of healing and love of light and joy, a place where we allow ourselves to experience being embraces by Spirit each and every day. Amen.

OFFERING OF OUR LIFE AND WORK

MINISTRY OF MUSIC: “HOLY SPIRIT COME”
  written and performed by Sandy Thorburn

Lord of light, shine on me day and night
Help me to find a way,
Teach me to trust and pray
Come to me.
Lord of might, guide me into your light,
Help me to know what’s true
While on my way to you,
Come to me.

Holy Spirit speak. Lord, I know I’m weak,
Give me the knowledge, The strength to acknowledge
That you are way.

Lord of light, shine through the dark of night
Help me to find the day
Breaking so far away
Come to me.
Lord I plead, show me a way to lead,
To give the ones who need
Some of your healing seed,
Come to me.

Holy Spirit come.
Lord, I know I’m numb,
Give me the insight
The strength to be forthright
In praising your name.

Life’s not long walking amid the throng
Come to me with your balm
So that I can be calm
Come to me
Lord of light, give me the gift of sight
Let me be here in you
So that my words are true
Come to me

Holy Spirit rise, Let me see the prize
Eternity beckons, The truth ever reckons
My heart ever true.

Come to me,
Come, Lord Jesus, come,
Come, Lord Jesus, come
O give me the insight,
The strength to be upright
In praising your name.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION  (Jimmy)

Giver of life,
As the sower casts seeds abundantly, hopefully,
So we long to participate in your seeding of the world.
Receive this gifts as part of our lives.
Send your cultivating spirit to work among us 
Until we grow and bear fruit in grace,
For we pray in the name of Jesus,
Who came out of love for the world.
Amen

VU # 540  DOXOLOGY “Grant Us God the Grace of Giving” (Sandy)

Grant us god the grace of giving
With a spirit large and free
That ourselves and all our living
We may offer faithfully.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
(Suzanne, Sheldon, Verona, Christopher)

(Suzanne)
Tender and loving God, you formed the earth to be a place of joy and abundance for all your creatures.
For food in all its variety and the people who grow it, transport it, and market it, we give you thanks.
These days of pandemic have shown us how much we depend on others.
We pray for those who do not have enough food, and for those whose agricultural supply is at risk through extreme weather, uncertain prices and social upheaval.
Help us care for the earth and its fruitfulness
And for each other in our common need of its fruits.
God, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

(Sheldon)
God of all the nations,
You gather people together in communities to care for each other and enjoy each other’s company and creativity.
Yet the pandemic has revealed there are so many vulnerable people, so many places where resources are not shared fairly.
Where there is division, bring unity and peace with justice;
Where people are distracted, give wisdom to see what is important;
Where people are tired and anxious, bring strength and courage.
God, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

(Verona)
God of compassion, You call us to be communities held together by prayer and love for our neighbours.
Where people mourn loss of any kind, provide comfort;
Where there is illness and pain, bring healing;
Where there is distress or discouragement, transform fear into hope.
By your Spirit, equip us to serve one another in Christ’s name so that your compassion touches lives with love and mercy.
God, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

(Christopher)
And for all in need of your healing love O Lord.  For people and intentions, we name aloud, or hold silently in our hearts…

(mics unmuted)

For all those named and intentions offered

We pray to the Lord
Lord hear our prayer.

And in the words Christ offered us, we sing

LORD’S PRAYER (SUNG)-  VU # 959 (Sandy)

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name; Your kingdom come; Your will be done; on earth as  in heaven.
Give us this today our daily bread. 
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. 
Save us from the time of trial; And deliver us from evil. 
For the kingdom, the power and the glory, are Yours, now and forever. Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

- Our re-opening committee will meet on line on Monday July 13th  at 2:00pm. Link or dial in are the same as Sunday Service

- Although we are not using the building the costs of the Church continue with utilities & insurance costs as well we have chosen not to lay off our three staff.
Rather than passing the plate weekly we would encourage either:
By post-dated cheques mailed to the Church:
2550  Danforth Avenue, Toronto M4C 1LC
OR
by credit card through the CanadaHelps website:
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/hope-united-church/
In Search: select Hope United Church Toronto, then click on the connection
Then use Donate Now and proceed.
(Note that CanadaHelps levies a 4% service fee so your donation will be for the lower unless you select donating the 4% fee to CanadaHelps which is a charity so you will receive a tax receipt.)
If you have any questions about donations please contact the Church office.
Thank you.

- Our service next Sunday, July19  will be on-line at 11:00am

- For pastoral emergencies, please contact Brian Stevens via email HopeUnitedChurch@gmail.com or on his cell 647-825-5136

CLOSING PRAYER (Marion)

We rejoice, O Christ, for in your tender compassion you shoulder our burdens and ease our heavy hearts.
Give us the strength to carry each other as you have carried us. Amen.

Closing Hymn VU # 660 “How Firm a Foundation” (recorded)

How firm a foundation, you servants of God
is laid for your faith in God’s excellent Word!
What more can be said than to you  has been said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

Fear not, I am with you, O be not dismayed;
for I am your God, and will still give you aid;
I'll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call you to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
for I will be with you, your troubles to bless,
and sanctify to you your deepest distress.

When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie,
my grace, all-sufficient, shall be your supply;
the flame shall not hurt you; I only design
your dross to consume and your gold to refine.

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake.

BENEDICTION and BLESSING
(Christopher)

May you go forth sowing the seed of God’s new world
And give thanks…. for God will supply the growth.
Go forth in joy and be led back in peace….
This day and always.

CHORAL BLESSING     “Walk in Love”
(Sandy)

Walk in love as you go into the world,
Walk in peace with everyone you meet,
May God’s grace touch your heart, mind and soul…
This day and evermore, Amen.
Amen, Alleluia and Amen!

POSTLUDE