​​Prelude
Welcome and Announcements              John R. Thomas
 
*Call to Worship
Look to the mountains! Look to the hills!
Love comes to us with joy!
The world is filled with beauty.
Flowers appear on the earth, birdsong brightens the day.
Crops yield their produce in abundance,
The air is filled with sweetness.
The summer of God’s love is with us.
Let the oil of gladness anoint your souls.
Arise and sing for joy!
 
*Hymn 14           For the Beauty of the Earth
 
Prayer of Confession
God of justice and righteousness,
your call beckons us:
to live faithful lives,
to turn from wickedness,
to walk in your ways.
Yet it is easy to turn aside:
to speak a thoughtless word,
to ignore those in need,
to strike out in anger,
to forget your ways.
Forgive us.
Implant your word in our hearts,
and cleanse us from all evil.
By the power of your love,
save us, that we might fully love and serve you.  Amen.
 
Words of Assurance
God’s word has the power to save us.
God has anointed us with gladness,
forgiven and freed us,
to live holy and joyful lives.    Alleluia! Amen.
 
 
First Reading         Song of Songs 2:8-13  
 
Time With Our Young Disciples
 
Second Reading               James 1:17-27           
Morning Message
 
The Fifth Grade Choir at an elementary school near us took a short road trip to present their Christmas program at a local nursing home. They were very fifth grade. Confident at the school, the big kids, top dogs, they dominated the playground equipment. Take them out, though, and they were not so confident. Stand them up and have them sing in front of the elderly and infirm, and all kinds of anxiety emerges.
 
The teacher lined up the students. She cued the recorded accompaniment tape and directed them through several songs, some with a little choreography. They reached the end of the performance. The staff and residents seemed to have been charmed. They enthusiastically applauded.
 
The parents who had driven that day began to gather the kids in groups and head to their cars. But, not before the teacher called them all together in the lobby and blessed them out for giving a lousy performance. Words were used that should never come out of any teacher’s mouth. She was angry. And everyone in eastern Cabell County could surely hear her railing at her students.
 
The kids were shocked, embarrassed. Some started crying. Most of them walked to the cars with heads hanging.
 
And, the parents were angry. Not at the kids. They did their best and should have been commended for their efforts. We were angry at the teacher for her outrageous behavior and language. It was demoralizing and abusive in my opinion.
 
I delivered my group to their classroom and stomped down the hall to the principal’s office. I had never done this before but I went straight to his desk and started to describe what had just happened. But, I was so upset I couldn’t get the words out and I, too, started to cry.
 
The principal got up and came around the desk. He took my arm and said, “Let’s walk.”
And so we did. Not a word said between us for awhile.
 
And then, this wise and gentle man said, “You know, Cinda, this is a special time of year. To some of us, it is sacred. A child is coming who will change the world. He brings the good news of salvation. We are filled with gratitude and love.
 
But there is a competing spirit that does not want that good news to be shared with the world. That spirit does all kinds of cruel things to ruin the Spirit of Christmas. I see it every year. You just witnessed it. I’m very sorry that the children heard those mean words. I’ll take care of it. You go on home and settle down. When we get upset, the devil wins.”
 
Many of us struggle with anger. Maybe we are the victims of anger or maybe we are the aggressors. Maybe we have created a toxic environment in order to have control over others.
 
Some of us may have lived in anger-filled homes or worked in conflicted settings. This fills us with fear and anxiety. It steals our joy and often keeps us trapped in unhealthy relationships and situations.
 
Just as damaging, maybe we were taught to hide signs of hurt or anger, to deny or bury them. That’s not good either. Do you know what therapists call depression? Anger turned inward.
 
So, it’s a real problem.
 
We can’t completely avoid anger. Sometimes it is justified. Jesus got angry. We remember how angry he got when he went into the temple courtyard and overturned the tables of the moneychangers because they were cheating God’s faithful people. Sometimes anger gives us the impetus to act, to address a need, to correct a wrong.
 
Anger has been described as “When what is doesn’t line up with what ought to be.”
 
The world has a lot of big, complicated, generations-deep problems. We can get angry about some of those. I am angry when someone is discriminated against because of their race or gender or age. I am angry when the disabled are ignored. I am angry when little children are neglected and abused. I am angry when my aging relatives are dismissed. And I’m angry when someone endangers others for their own selfish ends.
 
I’ve heard a lot of angry speeches this past week as the US has begun to withdraw our troops from Afghanistan. I received a text message at 7am Friday about it.  Seriously. Facebook was just as bad. It is full of mean-spirited messages that only result in more of the same.
 
Do you know what happens inside us when we get angry? Anger is a natural response to a perceived threat.  It causes your body to release adrenaline, your muscles tighten, and your heart rate, body temperature, and blood pressure rise. That’s good if you are being chased by a bear.
 
But, consider this: in a wildfire, if fire begins at the root level of certain species of trees, the fire burns the tree from the inside out. You can’t tell how badly the fire has damaged the tree until you take a whack at it and you see the flames consuming it from within.
 
Anger can do the same thing to us. If we aren’t careful, it can burn us up from the inside out.
 
The Rev. Dalton Rushing offers a simple test to determine if our anger is righteous and useful or serves no purpose other than burning you up on the inside:
Ask yourself, have you been slow to listen? Slow to speak? Has your anger come about deliberately, with thoughtful consideration? Does your anger have a direction?  Does it face outward, toward the needs, defense, or welfare of others? Does your anger prompt you to make life better for all people or does it stop with your own comfort or progress or recognition?
 
Martin Luther called the Book of James “The Epistle of Straw.” He was critical of what some call “works righteousness.” He believed James would lead people to think they could earn their way to salvation, which cheapened the grace that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.
 
The Epistle of James is short in length, but long on virtue. It does focus on doing as well as hearing the word of God. How we behave, react, and respond to the events of our lives gives an important witness to our faith. It gives us the momentum to change “what is” into “what ought to be.”
 
Prayer
Gracious God, teach us the fine art and practice of anger. May our hearts be broken by the things that break yours and direct us to the kind of true devotion that makes us agents of healing and wholeness. Amen.
 
 
*Affirmation of Faith             The Apostles’ Creed     Glory to God p. 35
 
Sharing Our Joys and Concerns
Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer
Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings
Prayer of Dedication
God of light and beauty, every gift is from you.
Even our ability to give is a blessing of your love.
We offer what we have and what we are that you may use our gifts
to give birth to a world of peace and understanding,
where none are in need,
and all are drawn into your embrace.  Amen.
 
*Hymn   692           Spirit, Open My Heart
*Blessing
In everything, let us offer our thanks to God.
In our darkness and questioning,
in our relief and rejoicing,
in the assurance that God holds us in love,
that we may cheerfully serve others,
replacing fear with the hope born of Eternal Love.  Amen.
 
*Postlude
 
 
Announcements
Today is ECCHO Sunday. School supplies and underwear are being received at this time, along with our customary contributions of cereal.
 
We also receive the Centsability Offering today for the relief of hunger in our community.
 
Rev. Harkless will be away next week. Worship will be led by Jim Musgrave, friend and former pastor.
 
Rally Day Events:
(use the two announcements from Harold and Kevin)

​Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
*Call to Worship                                                   Joshua 24:15
Choose this day whom you will serve.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
 
*Hymn  361        O Christ, the Great Foundation
 
Prayer
O, Lord, our God,
wellspring of all that is,
you are the sea on which we float,
the wind that fills our sails,
the storm that buffets,
the calm that brings us peace.
Open our ears to hear your word,
our eyes to see your beauty,
our hearts to be warmed by your love.
Free us from the bonds of sin and selfishness,
and make us over to be bearers of your joy and peace.  Amen
 
First Reading         Psalm 84 
 p.
 
Time With Our Young Disciples
 
Second Reading    Deuteronomy 32:11; Job 38:29; Hosea 13:8; Psalm 131:2; Matthew 23:37-39
Morning Message      “Bears, Eagles, Hens…and Jellyfish”
 
“The Bible says a minister is the husband of one wife. You can’t be the husband of any wife. So, you can’t be a minister.”
 
I remember exactly where I was when I heard that pronouncement. I was standing in front of my grandmother’s living room fireplace, dusting the mantle. I was seventeen and close to the end of my senior year in high school. My grandmother had just asked what I planned to study in college. I don’t know what she expected, but, hearing that I wanted to be a minister wasn’t it.
 
Her reaction shocked me. It was swift and harsh. It hurt my feelings…all of them. I thought she would be pleased. She lived at the church. My grandmother was someone through whom I saw God.
 
I never met my grandfather. He died before I was born. My dad would say he built houses and Baptist Churches while his mother raised four kids, ran a grocery store, served as church clerk, taught Sunday School, planned every church dinner, visited the sick, and helped the needy.
 
One of my favorite memories was watching her make unleavened bread for Communion. She moved around her kitchen with reverence, her dress covered with a big apron, her hair caught up in a net.
 
My grandmother’s words stung that day. But, it served as a teachable moment.
 
You see, my growing faith and my grandmother’s generations-deep faith had just crashed into each other. This would be the first, but certainly, not the last time I would be challenged by an interpretation of scripture that differed from mine. It would not be the last time my call to ministry would be called illegitimate.
 
Thankfully, I was raised in the more tolerant Presbyterian Church, one that was illumined by love and grace, not shuttered by prohibitions and judgment.
 
Youth group gave my life meaning at a critical time. It was a warm and welcoming environment. Discussion was how we learned about God and one another. We tackled hard topics like capital punishment, abortion, war, euthanasia. We asked questions that stretched our imaginations, like, is God male or female? We were taught that God is Spirit, that God is so awesome that it was not possible to adequately name or describe God with our limited language.
 
My grandmother and I never spoke of the ministry again. There was no room for discussion or imagining in her faith. There was also no reason to tell her that when Steve picked me up for youth group, we stopped at the Snack Shack for root beer on the way home.  
 
Obviously, I did follow the call into ministry. I am blessed every day by this life. But, it hasn’t always been positive. Nearly fifty years after that short exchange with my grandmother, women in ministry still run into those who question their faith and call. Some are refused fellowship in the community because they are women. Churches may still encounter criticism when led by a female pastor.   
 
God calls both women and men into ministry. That’s good news. We need both masculine and feminine perspectives in worship, in study, in fellowship, and in reaching out to the neighborhood and the world.
 
So, to that end, over the years, I have meditated on Scripture texts like the ones I read a few minutes ago: passages that describe feminine images of God. The ones that are most moving for me are the ones that depict God as Mother. While all women are not mothers, we are all, men and women, born of mothers. Developmental psychologists say this is our first love relationship.
 
Picture this: God comes to Job in the whirlwind and asks, “Where were you when the sea burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment, the dense clouds its wrap? From whose belly does ice come…who gave birth to heaven’s frost?” God is giving birth to the forces of nature using the imagery of a woman giving birth.
 
In Isaiah, God says, “Like a woman in labor, I will moan; I will pant, I will gasp.” God is in the process of giving birth to the whole creation, including God’s children. And, apparently it is not an easy birth. It is hard work.
 
The synoptic gospels-Matthew, Mark, and Luke, describe the faith and life of Mary, the mother of Jesus, mother of God, offering her body and intentions for God’s purpose.
 
The birth image continues in the gospel of John, when Jesus tells Nicodemus that if he wants to see God’s kingdom, he must be born again. In Romans, Paul speaks of the whole creation groaning as it labors toward redemption and new life.
 
I think my favorite female image is Hosea 11:4, in which God says about Ephraim, “I was to them like those bent who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them.”
 
These images describe the essence of mothering, the relationship of a woman to the child she loves. Such imagery describes a God who has the capacity and the desire to bend down, to lift up and hold, to stroke, to cover, hug, feed, bathe, and to hold us.*
 
And then, there are these lively pictures of God as a mother in the animal kingdom. The ones that say, “God is like a mother”…animal of some sort, and then describe the characteristics of that animal.
 
Like this one in Hosea:
God is like a mother bear raising her cubs. Affectionate, nurturing, resourceful, intelligent, and gentle… until she or those kids are threatened and then she mercilessly claws you to pieces.
 
Or this one in Deuteronomy:
God is like a mother eagle. The bird with the keen eye, so sharp it can detect another eagle fifty miles away and prepare for a possibly hostile encounter. She is strong and fearless. She nurtures her babies carefully and teaches them one by one how to fly. She takes them out for test runs and catches them if they begin to falter. As the babies learn to fly, the mother tears pieces of her nest away, so that there is less and less for the babies to cling to. And soon they are on their own.
 
And this one: God as a mother hen. Though it’s another bird, it is certainly different from the magnificent eagle. We might well picture God as a mother hen in a red chintz apron standing at her kitchen counter pickling cucumbers. But, should a storm blow in, or a predator come lurking, she gathers her kids under her ample wings and shields them from harm.  
 
My husband and I made it to the beach for a few days this summer. One morning, a group of excited, happy kids, accompanied by two women, took their place beside us. They may have been a family or maybe just friends, but it was obvious they had a close relationship and had done this more than once. They had a system.
 
Soon umbrellas, blankets, chairs, and coolers were in place and one of the women ran into the surf with the children, who were immediately shrieking and frolicking in the cold swirling waves.
 
Suddenly, there was an ear-splitting scream and one of the children, a little boy, came running out of the water and toward the woman under the umbrella. His cries were loud and distinct. If you’ve spent much time at the beach, you knew what had happened: he had been stung by a jellyfish.
 
The child was inconsolable. From a couple of umbrellas down the beach, a woman appeared with first aid supplies. They quickly examined and cleaned the wound and applied some topical medication.
 
Eventually the little guy calmed down. But, he had been so traumatized that he was not going anywhere near the water. Ever. The other kids invited him to play in the water with them, but, he just shook his head. He stayed under the umbrella with Mom. They played with some little trucks and had a snack. At some point he laid his head on her leg and took a nap. The other mom offered to take her place for awhile, but she silently waved her off. They were ok.
 
We never saw them return to the water that day. But, we had the feeling that all was well anyway.  As we packed our stuff to head back inside, I thought, “God is like the mother who sits all day with her child, bearing witness to his pain and fear.”
 
God calls pastors who will never be the husband of one wife. God calls women, men, and children to serve the church. God calls people whose faith journeys are smooth and unfettered. And God calls people whose faith journeys look more like a zip line over the New River Gorge.
 
God is like a mama bear with her cubs, eager to play and ready to defend; God is like a mother eagle nudging her young out of the nest when it’s time to get their learner’s permit; God is like a plump mother hen sheltering her biddies under wide-spread wings.
 
And God is like a mother whose gentle presence comforts her child more than salve on a jellyfish sting.
 
 
Affirmation of Faith                    A Brief Statement of Faith, PCUSA, 1991
We trust in God the Holy Spirit,
everywhere the giver and renewer of life.
The Spirit justifies us by grace through faith,
sets us free to  love God and neighbor,
binds us together with all believers in the one body of Christ, the Church.
The same Spirit, who inspired the prophets and apostles rules our faith and life in Christ through Scripture, engages us through the Word proclaimed, claims us in the waters of baptism, feeds us with the bread of life and the cup of salvation, and calls women and men to all ministries of the Church.
In a broken and fearful world, the Spirit gives us courage to pray without ceasing, to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior, to unmask idolatries in Church and culture, to hear the voices of peoples long silenced, and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace.
In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God’s new heaven and new earth, praying, “Come, Lord Jesus!”
 
Hymn 581        Gloria Patri    
 
Sharing Our Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer
 
Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings
Prayer of Dedication
Almighty God, from whom all blessings flow, may you find us ever-thankful for the abundance of your gifts. Accept this offering as a sign of our thanks and praise. May they serve to strengthen our commitment to know, love, and serve you this and every day. Amen.
 
*Hymn   462    I Love to Tell the Story
 
*Blessing
And now, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all,
now and always.  Amen.
 
*Postlude
 
Announcements
 Rally day  announcement from Kevin

Prelude
Welcome and Announcements     Robin McComas
*Call to Worship
What shall we return to the Lord for all the good things God has done for us?
We will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.
 
*Hymn 260       Alleluia! Sing to Jesus
 
Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, you pardon all who truly repent and turn to you.
We humbly confess our sins and ask your mercy.
We have not loved you with our whole hearts,
nor have we loved our neighbor as ourselves.
We have not done justice, loved kindness, or walked humbly with you.
Have mercy on us, O God, in your loving-kindness.
In your great compassion,
cleanse us from sin.
Create in us a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within us.
Do not cast us away from your presence,
or take your Holy Spirit from us.
Restore to us the joy of your salvation
and sustain in us a bountiful Spirit.
 
Jesus, Lamb of God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins, have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world, grant us peace.
 
Assurance of Forgiveness
Hear the good news!
Who is in a position to condemn?
Only Christ,
and Christ died for us,
Christ rose for us,
Christ reigns in power for us,
Christ prays for us.
Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation.
The old life is gone and a new life has begun.
Know that you are forgiven and be at peace.  Amen.
 
First Reading              Exodus 16:1-15  
 
Time With Our Young Disciples
 
Gospel Reading          Matthew 14:13-21
Morning Message
 
Our texts today are what we call “bookmark stories.” They are accounts of distinctive moments in the life of God’s people in the Old and New Testaments with which we are likely to be very familiar. We even refer to them in Bible shorthand. We only have to say “manna in the wilderness” or “loaves and fishes” and an image forms in our minds of a special event in Bible history. There are many accounts of eating and drinking in Scripture. Meals figure prominently in the faith story. These particular texts are often chosen to support a service of Communion, such as we are having today.
 
I was asked last week why we are having Communion today. So, I think that begs a word of explanation. It has been Kuhn’s practice to celebrate Communion on the first Sunday of every month. We hope to get back to that when practical and possible.
 
When Covid struck last year, we suspended worship in the church building. We moved to a recorded service. We scaled back Communion and began observing the sacrament on those days in the church year most closely identified with Communion: Maundy Thursday and World Communion Sunday.
 
On Christmas Eve we had planned an outdoor service with Communion. Then the snow and ice covered our streets and walkways and we cancelled the service.
 
We observed Communion most recently on Pentecost Sunday, the day we recognize as the church’s birthday. But, this is not the first Sunday of the month. It is not a special day in the liturgical calendar. But, it is a significant moment in the lives of the church’s people. So we will mark it with the sacrament.
 
This is the week and the season that the church’s children and young people return to their classrooms. A school is a real community, with its own culture and traditions, practices, and challenges. This year, hopes are high for a “normal” year, uninterrupted by Covid. We are all praying for that.
 
When school is in session, the rhythm of our weekdays change, even for those of us who left the school community years ago. Traffic will increase. We will be on alert for school buses loading and un-loading. Maybe we will attend athletic or cultural events, especially if they involve a grandchild or a neighbor kid. The school year provides the whole community with a certain energy and momentum.
 
Some are making the big transition to college life. This certainly changes the dynamics of every family, including the church family. We pray that our young people have been adequately prepared to enter the adult world. 
 
And so, today, we gather around the Lord’s Table, to break the bread and drink the cup, to be fed and strengthened, before we scatter to engage the next season of life.
 
According to Melva Wilson Costen, retired professor of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia, the oldest New Testament references to the “breaking of bread” and “the Lord’s Supper” are found in the gospel of Mark and in 1 Corinthians.
 
The term Communion is derived from the practice of early Christians. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth: “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a koinonia in the blood of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16). The Greek word koinonia is translated “Communion” in the King James Version of the Bible, and sharing in the New Revised Standard Version. It is also translated “fellowship” or “partnership,” referring to a common sharing, or a sense of communion, with Christ and with one another.
 
The gospels report Jesus’ common eating and drinking with people from various walks of life, making such events worthy of remembrance. As far as it can be determined, Jewish meals always included bread. It was also customary for the host, or head of the house, to bless the bread and then break and share it with those at the table.
 
On the night of his betrayal, Jesus and his disciples shared the Passover meal in the Upper Room. It was in those final, intimate moments together, that Jesus broke bread and called it his body, and lifted the cup of wine and called it the new covenant poured out in his blood, given for the forgiveness of sins. He gave a new commandment that they love one another as he has loved them.
 
On the day of his resurrection, the risen Jesus made himself known in the breaking of the bread. He continued to show himself to believers by preparing, serving, and sharing meals post-resurrection.  This became a practice among the followers of Jesus and the breaking and sharing of bread became a sacred act of remembrance.
 
In Communion, Presbyterians believe, we are in the company of the real presence of Christ. Communion is understood as our common participation in the divine life, a life set apart, because it is initiated by Christ. John Calvin contends that such a union is ultimately a mystery too great to explain.
 
In Communion, we give thanks to the God who creates, redeems and sustains us throughout salvation history. We confess our sins and receive forgiveness. We remember the dying and rising of Christ and we anticipate the heavenly banquet promised to us in the fullness of time.
 
When our daughter Caroline, was about three or four, she asked for a kitchen set. One of Ed’s hobbies is woodworking. So, the two of them looked through plans, bought the supplies, and built a stove and a table. She spent hours playing house, baking imaginary cookies and serving endless cups of coffee. Her friends always gravitated to the “little kitchen” as she called it. Boys and girls alike. They all enjoyed playing with it. What they were doing was imitating the scenes they witnessed in their own homes, rehearsing for the time when they would live out those roles for real.
 
When our first grandson was about two, he loved playing with the silver service that used to sit on a table in our living room. We packed away the silver and pulled out the old kitchen set. We bought a toy coffee maker and some new plastic food. Both of the boys have spent hours stirring imaginary soup and serving coffee to Mommy and Daddy. I don’t drink coffee, but do drink tea, which they remember, so I’m served tea.
 
There are some moments with little ones that we would like to preserve forever. This is one: Tad making coffee with the toy coffee maker, it’s a Keurig, like the one that sits on the kitchen counter. Walking slowly, balancing the little cup carefully in his hands, like it truly held hot steaming tea, his little boy voice piping, “Here’s your tea, Fifi. I made it for you.”  The sweet smile and the sparkling eyes of the host at this meal just melt my heart. He is eager to convey that this was a special act for a special person in his orbit. He finds delight in serving others.
 
The One who invites us to the Table reminds us that we are to live as the divine host lived. Accepting the invitation to come to the Lord’s Feast demands that we actively seek peace and reconciliation with Christ and we commit to work for the reconciliation of the world.
 
In the Brief Statement of Faith, we read, “we trust in God… who feeds us,” meaning we have faith in the Word of God-faith in the Word who became flesh, lived among us, and provided the model for our actions.
 
We are invited to the Table to be nurtured for Christ-like living. A life that calls us to commit ourselves anew each time we eat the bread and drink the cup to love and serve God and one another.  
 
In that, may we all find our heart’s true delight.
 
 
*Affirmation of Faith                           The Apostles’ Creed p. 35
Gloria Patri   
 
Celebrating the Sacrament of Communion
The Invitation; Words of Institution; Great Thanksgiving; Communion of the People
The Communion elements will be served from the Table. Those who wish to remain seated will be served by the elders.
 
Prayer After Communion
We thank you, O God, that through Word and Sacrament you have given us your Son, who is the true bread from heaven and food of eternal life.
So strengthen us in your service
that our daily living may show our thanks,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.
 
Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings
Prayer of Dedication
Blessed are you, God of all creation,
through your goodness we have these gifts to share.
Accept and use our offerings for your glory
and for the service of your kingdom.  Amen.
 
*Hymn 65    Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
 
*Blessing
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.  Amen.
 
*Postlude
 
Shower announcement
 
Mark your calendars now for Rally Day, September 15. Sunday School begins, third and fourth grade students will receive Bibles, and we will celebrate the day with a picnic dinner at Barboursville Park.
 
The Presbytery of West Virginia meets August 19 in Charleston. This is the first in-person meeting since the beginning of the pandemic. Please lift some prayers for all who work to make the meeting possible and the body as they conduct the business of the church.

​Prelude
Welcome and Announcements                               John R. Thomas
Call to Worship                                                       Isaiah 40:31
Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
We come to worship the holy One who meets us where we are.
We come to open ourselves to God, who lifts us up.
 
*Hymn    I Sing the Mighty Power of God              Glory to God 32
 
Old Testament Reading and Prayer of Confession   Psalm 130
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.
Men: Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!
Women: If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, who could stand?
But, there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.
All: My soul waits for the Lord, more than those who watch for the morning.
       More than those who watch for the morning.
 
Response            Take, O Take Me As I Am                       Glory to God 698
 
Assurance of Forgiveness
O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is great power to redeem.
It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Believe the good news of the gospel. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Be at peace.
 
Time With Our Young Disciples
 
Gospel Reading             Matthew 11:28-30
Morning Message
 
William Barclay interprets the words of this passage a little differently:
“Come to me, all you who are exhausted and weighted down beneath your burdens, and I will give you rest.”
 
In this text, Jesus is speaking to people who were desperately trying to find God, desperately trying to be good, and who were finding the tasks impossible. They were worn out and driven to fatigue and despair.
 
So, when Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are exhausted, he is speaking to people trying to be faithful Jews in that day, keeping all the laws, rules, and obligations laid upon them. This practice was known as “the yoke of the Pharisees,” the burdensome yoke of self-righteousness and legalistic law-keeping.
 
According to biblical scholarship, the Pharisees had added over 600 regulations to the proper observance of not working on the Sabbath. Working on the Sabbath is prohibited according to the Law, the Decalogue, what we call the Ten Commandments.
 
So, we can easily see why a person would find their faith less joy and more burden under this system. It was impossible to adhere to such a complicated system. Jesus has come to change the system and he invites everyone to join him.
 
In The Message, the Bible interpreted by Eugene Peterson, we hear it this way:
“Are you tired? Are you worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me. And you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
 
I could respond to an invitation like that. It’s hopeful. It’s winsome.
 
For the religious orthodox, being a faithful Jew was a real burden. It was oppressive. We can look back with the help of social science and see that the goal of a rigid rule system is to establish control over a group of people. The Pharisees maintained control and wielded power because they made the rules.
 
Jesus said of them, “They bind heavy burdens, and grievous to the bone, and lay them on men’s shoulders.” For the Jews, religion was a life of rule-keeping that affected every aspect of their lives. Barclay says they had to listen for the voice that continually said, “Thou shalt not.”
The rabbis were aware of this oppression. There is a poignant story that illustrates the tragedy of the system:  ( Page 18, The Gospel of Matthew, William Barclay, The Westminster Press, Philadelphia.)
 
The yoke of Jesus is different. It is his desire that we take his yoke upon ourselves. There is a legend that, as a carpenter, Jesus would make yokes for beasts of burden, ox yokes in particular. A yoke had to be custom-made for an animal. The animal was brought to the shop. Measurements were taken. The yoke was roughed out. Then there was a second fitting. Adjustments were made. It had to be smooth so as not to hurt the animal which would enable him to labor effectively.
 
The legend goes that Jesus made the best ox-yokes around. In that day, as well as ours, a sign would hang over a shop, identifying the nature of the service or business. Over Jesus’ shop, a sign read, “My yokes fit well.”
 
What does Jesus want for his followers, for those called by his name? let’s try this on for size:
“My yoke fits well. The life I give you is not a burden to gall you. Your task, your life, is tailor-made for you. In this life, find joy. Find fulfillment. Find peace.”
 
The rabbis used to say, “My burden has become my song.”
 
We all have burdens. Work that is hard, but necessary. It’s not always physical labor. Sometimes the burden is a deeply emotional one.
 
My husband and his brother have been trying to sell the family home for over two years. It has been unsuccessful. There is great frustration. But, if Covid has a silver lining, it has been that it allowed them to set aside this burden for many months.
 
Recently, they reached out in a new direction for assistance and the weight of this task has become lighter. We are hopeful.
 
The Christian’s burden, or work, is simply to love God and love others. This is grace. It is then that our burden becomes a song.
 
There is an old story in which a man comes upon two children. A little boy carrying an even smaller boy, who was lame, on his back. The man said to the child, “That’s a heavy burden for you to carry.”
 
And the little boy responded, “That’s not a burden, sir, that’s my wee brother.”
 
May all your burdens be given and borne in love, and may they all be light.
 
 
 
*Affirmation of Faith      The Apostles’ Creed   Glory to God  p. 35
*Gloria Patri
 
Sharing Our Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer
 
Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings
Prayer of Dedication
Lord of abundance, help us who have received so freely from you,
to give as freely in our turn,
and so, have the pleasure of giving
as well as the joy of receiving. Amen.
 
*Hymn              Love Lifted Me
 
*Blessing
Go out and imitate God, living in love.
Put your hope in God’s Word
and let your own words be truthful and constructive.
Though sin may stir your anger,
never let anger cause you to sin.
And may God always hear your voice.
May Christ Jesus raise you to new life;
and may the Holy Spirit nourish you for the life of love and grace.  Amen.
 
*Postlude
Announcements
Join us for the Ice Cream Social at the home of Steve and Karen Gold, tonight at 6PM. Bring cookies or ice cream to share, a lawn chair, and your swimsuit if you plan to swim.
A bridal shower for Mackenzie Cassidy will be held next week, August 15, at 3 PM in the fellowship hall.
We will celebrate the Sacrament of Communion next Sunday in worship.

​Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
*Call to Worship
We come to hear the stories of God’s people in ages past.
We come to hear the stories that are also about God’s people here and now.
O God, give us ears to hear and eyes to see,
and hearts to receive God’s will for our lives.
 
*Hymn      All Creatures of Our God and King         Glory to God 15, verses 1-4           
 
Prayer of Confession                     Psalm 51:1-12
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy, blot out our transgressions.
Wash us thoroughly from our iniquity, and cleanse us from our sin.
For we know our transgressions, and our sin is ever before us.
Against you, you alone, have we sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment.
Indeed, we were born guilty, sinners when our mothers conceived us.
You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach us wisdom in our secret hearts.
Purge us with hyssop, and we shall be clean; wash us, and we will be whiter than snow.
Let us hear with joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from our sins, and blot out all our iniquities.
 
Take, O Take Me As I Am             Glory to God  698
 
Assurance of Forgiveness
God will create in us a clean heart and put a new and right spirit within us.
God will never cast us away from God’s presence, and will not take the Holy Spirit from us.
God will restore to us the joy of our salvation, and sustain in us a willing spirit.
Alleluia! Amen.
 
Old Testament Reading                   Exodus 16: 2-4, 9-15            
 
Time With Our Young Disciples
 
Gospel Reading                 John 6:24-35
Morning Message
One of the most influential minister mentors in my life was Gray Hampton. Many of you knew him and appreciated his gentle ways, his service to the Church, and his vision for developing a retirement community that would eventually become The Woodlands. He and his wife, Julia, were great cheerleaders for Huntington, they were patrons of the arts, loved to travel, were life-long learners and excellent teachers. They especially loved young people and seemingly never tired of encouraging them in all their efforts.
Gray died due to a chronic illness. He spent about two weeks in the hospital before his death. He was in and out of consciousness. Even so, there were periods of wakefulness that allowed him and his family to share some special moments together.
After his death, as we were visiting with Julia, she said that it was during one of these brief occasions that Gray took her hand and said he was sorry if he had disappointed her in any way. She asked why on earth he would think that. They had enjoyed a rich and full life. They were blessed. Gray replied saying he had never achieved many of the marks of success. He had never been the Senior Minister at a flagship church, had not earned a doctorate, never held a high-paying job.
His wife of many decades expressed her love for him, assured him that she had always counted it her high honor to be called his wife, and recalled the abundant blessings of their life together. And, told him that if he had any doubt about leaving his mark on the earth, he should see the crowd gathered in the ICU waiting room.
In our text, the disciples are debating who had the most impressive resume and what rank and position each should have in Jesus’ administration.
Jesus overhears the conversation and seizing upon a teachable moment, sits down with them and explains the way he sees greatness. And Jesus’ vision of greatness is not the same as the way the world sees it.
He says, in his realm, whoever wants to be first must be last and must become the servant of all. In Jesus’ realm, material acquisition and wealth, position, power and influence were replaced with service, humility, self-sacrifice, compassion.
To further drive home his point, Jesus took a little child in his arms and tells them. “Whoever welcomes one such child, welcomes me.”  He goes on to say, that they not only welcome Jesus, but the One who sent Jesus to live and labor among them.
In Jesus’ day, children had no agency, no rights, no voice. They were completely vulnerable. Powerless. To be compared to a child would not be a compliment.
 Sometimes we think that our forebears had no ego-needs, no desire to acquire things like wealth, status, power, but we would be wrong. Wherever two or more people exist, there is a pecking order. It is part of our fallen human nature.
Jimmy Buffet wrote a memoir titled,  A Pirate Looks at 50. In it he writes about his unsatisfied cravings.
“I sang and worked on a fishing boat, when totally crazy, did a lot of dope, met the right girl, made another record, had a hit, bought a boat and sailed away to the Caribbean.
I started another band, worked on the road, had my second and last hit, bought a house in Aspen, started spending summers in New England, got married, broke my leg three times in one year, had a baby girl, made more records, bought a bigger boat, and sailed away to St. Bart’s. I got separated from the right girl, sold the boat, sold the house in Aspen, moved back to Key West, worked the road, and made more records.”
Another band, another house, a bigger boat.  It does not go away, this sense that there is something better out there, and we will be something better and more satisfied when we just have this other thing. Then, life will be the greatest. We will be the greatest.
John Claypool is an Episcopal priest and renowned preacher. He says he grew up with a profound sense  of “nobodiness.” His says that his parents meant to encourage and inspire but, the phrase he heard over and over as a young child was, “If you are ever going to amount to anything, you are going to have to make something of yourself.”
He fell into and succeeded in the game of competition-trying to satisfy desires for accomplishments and admiration. He became teacher’s pet, then he became a safety patrol, and then an athlete. Nothing wrong with any of that.  Except that, to John, people became objects, They either contributed to his success or hampered it. He says he lived that way until he was 35 years old. Exploiting people on his way up the success ladder.
What happened then was that he became a part of a ministers peer group. As sometimes happens, as people grow comfortable with each other, they begin to risk showing the vulnerable parts of themselves they wouldn’t reveal to just anyone, but, to people they trusted.
So, one day, John confessed to how he had been living. How he continued to strive for worth. He confessed that he was wrung out with the constant competition- always proving how important and indispensable he was.
Then, he says, a word of grace came from the man in the group with whom he felt the least affinity.
“We need to feel the truth of the gospel down in our guts. When Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount, “You are the light of the world, he just declared, “You are. It is your birthright. There is nothing to achieve. By birthright, we are persons of great worth. Our worth is not something out there to be acquired, but something in here, to be claimed.”
Claypool  says this was a life-changing moment. His agenda shifted from attainment to awareness. He realized that for him to live fully, he was going to have to win the war of the cravings. He simply could not acquire enough of anything to feel worth and significance. It is futile. Worth does not come from what you can attain but from gratitude with what you already have. It is not a tangible possession, but a deep and profound truth that yields satisfaction.
And, when we let that truth sink deep down within us, we are assured of God’s love for us, Christ’s sacrifice for us, and his instruction to go be a servant, welcome children as if welcoming Jesus, and to find meaning in supporting the struggling and laying aside our biggest ego needs.
One of Gray Hampton’s gifts to the Church was his monologues of bible characters. He would don a costume and entertain after dinner audiences, appear in Sunday School classes, and was known to give sermons dressed like Mary and Joseph’s donkey. His goal was to present the nativity story in a different character’s voice each year.
Who does that? Someone who swaps a pulpit robe for a fuzzy gray donkey costume, makes his voice sound a little like Mr. Ed of TV fame, and invites us all into the old, old story.
 
 
 
Affirmation of Faith            The Apostles’ Creed           Glory to God  p. 35
Gloria Patri                                                                      Glory to God  581
 
Sharing Our Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer
 
Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings
Prayer of Dedication
O God, we share these gifts in the spirit of those who shared their loaves and fishes on that day long ago. We ask that you take and use these gifts to feed all your creation-to produce seed and grain, wisdom and strength, compassion and peace.  May our efforts help to restore wholeness in all the places where malnourishment exists- in body, mind, spirit, and circumstance.  Amen.
 
*Hymn                  Christ Be Beside Me             Glory to God 702
 
*Blessing
Go out from here and live lives worthy of the one calling we all share.
In humility, gentleness, and patience,
speak what is true and loving
and so grow into the unity that is ours in Christ.
And may God the creator, reshape your hearts;
may Christ Jesus, the bread of life, sustain you always;
and may the Holy Spirit unite you in the bond of peace.       Laughingbird Liturgical Resources
 
*Postlude
 
Announcements
Ice cream social announcement from July 25 bulletin
 
We will observe the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper August 15.

​Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
*Call to Worship
God of grace, you have given us minds to know you, and voices to sing your praise.
Fill us with your Spirit,
that we may celebrate your glory
and worship you in Sprit and in truth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
*Hymn                 Glory to God
 
Prayer of Confession
Holy and merciful God,
in your presence we confess our sinfulness, our shortcomings,
and our offenses against you.
You alone know how often we have sinned
in wandering from your ways,
in wasting your gifts,
in forgetting your love.
Have mercy on us, O Lord,
for we are sorry for all we have done to displease you.
Forgive our sins,
and help us live in your light,
and walk in your ways,
for the love of Jesus Christ our Savior.
 
Take, O Take Me As I Am             Glory to God  698
 
Assurance of Forgiveness
Hear the good news!
The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance,
that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross,
that we might be dead to sin and alive to all that is good.
I declare to you in the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. Be at peace.
 
First Scripture Reading
 
Time With Our Young Disciples
 
Second Scripture Reading
Morning Message                     Rev. David Richards
 
*Affirmation of Faith                The Apostles’ Creed              Glory to God p. 35
*Gloria Patri                                                                             Glory to God  581
 
Sharing Our Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer
 
Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings
   Contributions may be placed in the offering plates provided
    on the Communion table and  narthex.
Prayer of Dedication
Loving God, having received your grace in the redemption of Christ Jesus,
we live strengthened in the faith, with lives overflowing with gratitude.
From the depths of our hearts, we offer to you the very best we have-time, talent, and treasure.
May our offerings be a sign of our true devotion and thanksgiving. Amen.
 
*Hymn                     Glory to God
 
*Blessing
May the God of peace
make you holy in every way,
and keep your whole being- body, mind and spirit,
free from every fault at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.
 
*Postlude
 
Announcements
Leading worship and preaching this morning is Rev. David Richards. Prior to retirement, David served as Pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church in Huntington. He also served the community as a counselor and as a teacher in the field of astronomy.  David is married to Lois Richards and they are the parents of Joel.
 
This is ECCHO Sunday. Thank you for bringing contributions of cereal. We will also receive the Cents-ability Offering to relieve hunger in our community.