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 14, 2020Second 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

God of all creation, help us to recognize your presence among us. May we greet one anotheras your precious children and as messengers of your care. Help us offer such hospitality toone another that even the most skeptical among us will be touched by love. You are love; inyou we find hope amid our weakness and doubt. Let your glory shine in this place today as welift up the cup of salvation and call on your name. Amen.

{Those who are able, please rise}

*PROCESSIONAL HYMN “We All Are One in Mission” (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: This is a time of God’s appearing; let us worship!Let us recognize that God is within and among us.

People: God’s ear is inclined toward us.We know that God listens and hears our prayers.

Leader: We are here to offer our thanks to God.We will pay our vows to God in the presence of others.

People: We will listen for God’s commandments.We will seek to do all that God requires.

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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)Meeting God can be a very disturbing experience, for God may require of us changes that wefear. We may hear challenges that push us beyond our comfort zones. In our prayers ofconfession, we seek to overcome our resistance to God’s direction and open ourselves togreater possibilities.

*CONFESSION OF SIN Ï (Unison)God, we often fail to recognize that you are always with us. We are the ungodly oneswho deny your love by our failure to love. We deny your law by our failure to live byit. We laugh at your promises. We appear more burdened than joyful in the midstof the wondrous gift of life. We seldom pause to give thanks. The compassion ofChrist finds little echo in us, who claim to be Christians. We need your forgiveness,O God, and a new vision. Amen.

*SILENT PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

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

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON Ï (Leader)God’s favor rests on us. Sincere confession is met with caring acceptance. God hears theprayers of our hearts and grants us peace the world cannot give. While we were yet sinners,Christ died for us, that we might have access to the grace in which we stand. Lift up the cupof salvation and offer sacrifices of thanksgiving. God has loosed our bonds and freed us toshare God’s glory. 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 18:1-15; 21:1-7Second Lesson: Romans 5:1-8Gospel Lesson: Matthew 9:35-10:23

HYMN “We Are Dancing Sarah’s Circle” (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

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Leader: Called into unity with one another and the whole creation, let us pray for ourshared world.

{silent prayer}

Leader: Holy One, you bring us together and call us your own. Bless theologians,teachers, and preachers who help us grow in faith. Guide your church, that wemight be a holy people. Hear us, O God.

People: Your mercy is great.Leader: Holy One, the whole earth is yours. Where there is fire, bring cool air and new

growth. Where there is flooding, bring abatement. Where there is drought,bring rain. Inspire us to care for what you have provided. Hear us, O God.

People: Your mercy is great.

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Leader: Holy One, we have created divisions you will not own. In places of conflict, raiseup leaders who work to develop lasting peace and reconciliation. Encourageorganizations and individuals who care for all forced to leave their homes. Hearus, O God.

People: Your mercy is great.Leader: Holy One, you care for those who are harassed and helpless. Protect and

defend those who are abused. Heal those who are sick. Feed all who hunger. Empower all whose voices go unheard, and help us respond to the pressingneeds of our neighbors. Hear us, O God.

People: Your mercy is great.Leader: Holy One, you provide a plentiful harvest of gifts and resources. Prepare us to

labor and gather the fruits of this congregation, that we might discover new waysof living. Minister to us in our work, that we do not lose heart. Hear us, O God.

People: Your mercy is great.Leader: Holy One, you bring all people to yourself. We give thanks for the holy people

who have gone before us. Sustain us in your mission until the day you bear usup to join the saints in light. Hear us, O God.

People: Your mercy is great.Leader: Receive these prayers, O God, and those too deep for words; through Jesus

Christ our Lord who taught us when we pray to say...

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: What shall we return to God for all the bounty we have received?People: Everything we have comes from God and is but lent to us for a time.Leader: Let us offer a thanksgiving sacrifice,People: rejoicing in the opportunity to share in bringing in the harvest for God.

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

Gracious God, we repeat our vows of commitment to you, as we dedicate this offering. We are disciples of Jesus Christ, commissioned to share the good news. May all thatwe dedicate here—our abilities, the fleeting moments of our days, the resourcesentrusted to our management— announce your reign and the nearness of yourdominion. We give with joy and serve with delight, thanking you for this opportunity toshare what you have given. Amen.

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

We Are Sent Out

*COMMISSION Ï

Leader: Go out, prepared each day for God’s appearing.The harvest is plentiful but laborers are few.Ask God to send the laborers who are needed.

People: As we are able, we will serve.God will empower our witness and ministry.We carry God’s grace into the world.

ALL: Amen.

*BENEDICTION

*SENDING HYMN “We Would Be Building” (vs 2 & 3)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

Supply MinisterWe thank Rev. Robert Masenheimer for leading us today in worship while Pastor Ben is on vacation. May

God’s blessing be upon him as he preaches God’s Word.

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 also email them directly atCareTeam@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 an assortment ofother materials that are available for downloading. Click on this link for Sunday school for youth. For our adults wehave a Zoom study/discussion group lead by Pastor Bob that meets every Sunday at 12:45pm. This group will bestudying and discussing the Heidelberg Catechism, including the study of the scripture upon which it is based. Clickon this Heidelberg Catechism link for more information.

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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 14, 2020, Lectionary Reading for Second Sunday after PentecostGenesis 18:1-15, (21:1-7) and Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 or Exodus 19:2-8a and Psalm 100;

Romans 5:1-8; Matthew 9:35-10:8, (9-23).

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 116This is an OT song of thanksgiving, where the individual saying/singing it is giving praise to God fordeliverance from past troubles and giving assurance of that they will keep their vows to God.

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 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.

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