Sunday, July 26, 2020

This is a photograph of a field of sunflowers in bloom.
Sunday, July 26

This is a close-up photograph of  sunflower in bloom.

Spirit Open my Heart (More Voices 79)

Welcome and Call to Worship

Amazing Grace (Voices United, 266)

Our Wisdom Story 
This is an image of small hand atop a larger hand signifying a father's blessing.

Psalm 105: 1 - 11 (Voices United 828 Part One)

Refrain: Bless God my soul, Hallelujah!

Give thanks and call on God’s name.

Make known to the nations what God has done.

      Sing, O sing the songs of praise;

      tell of all God’s wonderful deeds.

Exult in God’s holy name;

      let those who seek God be joyful in heart. R

 

Turn for help to the One who is your strength;

seek God’s presence continually.

      Remember the marvels the Most High has done,

      the wonders and judgements God has given,

O children of Abraham and Sarah, God’s servants,*

      O offspring of Israel, chosen of God. R

 

You are the eternal God,

      your justice reaches every corner of the earth.

You are ever mindful of your covenant,

the promise you gave to a thousand generations,

      the covenant you made with Sarah and Abraham,

      the oath you gave to Isaac.

You confirmed it for Jacob as binding.

To Israel your everlasting covenant you declared,

      ‘To you I give the land of Canaan,

      as your appointed inheritance.’ R



Our Wisdom Story 
Matthew 13: 31 - 33 and 44 - 52 

He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
 
He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”
 
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
 
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
 
 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
 
 “Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”
This is an image of clouds.
This is an image of several loaves of bread.

Reflection and Pastoral Prayer: Kin-dom Parables

If you would like to download the sermon or read along, click here.

Know That God is Good (More Voices 104)

Offering Prayer, Commissioning and Final Benediction

The Blessing - Symphonic Version

Image credits for today's Church Online:

Flower images by Jen Smith.
Blessing hands image by Nisha Gill from Pixabay.
Mustard field image by Yvonne Huijbens from Pixabay 
Bread image by NickyPe from Pixabay 
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