Virtual Worship – Sunday, July 12, 2020

First Presbyterian Church

Delavan, Illinois

Service for the Lord’s Day

July 12, 2020

6th Sunday after Pentecost

Prelude “How Firm A Foundation”   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGi_c4fMAfc

Welcome and Announcements

Good morning everyone. We continue to do a new thing in this time of social distancing. We are still a community of faith, even though we are separated for the safety of ourselves, our families, our congregation, and our communities. We will continue to meet like this for the foreseeable future. 

In this bulletin you will find links to the hymns which also show the lyrics (or are shown below). If you get an ad (and you likely will) you can skip it by clicking the SKIP AD usually found in the lower right corner of the video. There are also links to the Gospel reading and the sermon.

For inclusion in next week’s service, please email or phone the church or Pastor Jean (who can also receive texts) with any prayer requests.

Please note that we have begun having LIMITED in person worship services. Please read the guidelines below

We offer praise and prayer to God

^Call to Worship

The word is very near to you;

it is in your mouth

and in your heart 

for you to observe.

^Opening Prayer

Almighty God, we thank you for planting in us the seed of your Word. By your Holy Spirit, help us to receive it with joy, and live according to it, that we may grow in faith and hope and love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

^Hymn     “All Creatures Of Our God And King”     # 22 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d3gO6qDLNA

Call to Confession

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. In humility and faith let us confess our sin to God.

Confession of Sin

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 ashamed and sorry for all we have done to displease you. Forgive our sins, and help us to live in your light, and walk in your ways, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Savior.

Time of Silent Confession

(Lord, have mercy on us) #300

Assurance of Pardon

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 has gone; a new life has begun. Know that you are forgiven and be at peace. Amen.

^Gloria Patri (Glory be to the Father) #35

^Passing the Peace

Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another. The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

And also with you.

We listen to God’s Word

Prayer for Illumination

God, source of all light, by your Word you give light to the soul. Pour out upon us the spirit of wisdom and understanding that, being taught by you in Holy Scripture, our hearts and minds may be opened to know the things that pertain to life and holiness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

First Reading               Genesis 25:19-34

(Esau rejects his birthright for a bowl of lentil stew)

¹⁹These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham was the father of Isaac, ²⁰and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean. ²¹Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. ²²The children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is to be this way, why do I live?” ^?So she went to inquire of the LORD. ²³And the LORD said to her,

      “Two nations are in your womb,

      and two peoples born of you shall be divided;

      the one shall be stronger than the other,

      the elder shall serve the younger.”

²⁴When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. ²⁵The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they named him Esau. ²⁶Afterward his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

²⁷When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. ²⁸Isaac loved Esau, because he was fond of game; but Rebekah loved Jacob.

²⁹Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. ³⁰Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!” (Therefore he was called Edom.) ³¹Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” ³²Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” ³³Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. ³⁴Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

The Word of The LORD.  Thanks be to God.

Psalm 119:105-112 (A prayer in praise of God’s law) Responsive

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,to observe your righteous ordinances.

I am severely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to your word.

Accept my offerings of praise, O LORD, and teach me your ordinances.

I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law.

The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts.

Your decrees are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.

I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.

Second Reading                Romans 8:1-11

(There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus)

¹There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ²For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. ³For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ⁵For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. ⁶To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed it cannot, ⁸and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

⁹But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. ¹⁰But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

The Word of The LORD.  Thanks be to God.

Gospel Reading           Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cgvYe-kbTc

(The parable of the sower and the soils)

¹That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. ²Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. ³And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. ⁴And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. ⁵Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. ⁶But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. ⁷Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. ⁸Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. ⁹Let anyone with ears listen!”

¹⁸“Hear then the parable of the sower. ¹⁹When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. ²⁰As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; ²¹yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. ²²As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. ²³But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

The Word of The LORD.  Thanks be to God.

Sermon “The Good Soil Of Discipleship”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJ1k-JMMEoQ

^Affirmation of Faith  Apostle’s Creed 

I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come again to judge the quick and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.  Amen.

^Hymn “Breathe On Me Breath Of God”   #254 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmkzSjs9eAw

Prayers of the People

Almighty God, you taught us to pray not only for ourselves but for people everywhere, hear us as we pray for others, in the name of Jesus Christ.

Inspire the whole church with your power, unity, and peace. Grant that all who trust you may obey your Word, and live together in love.

Lead all nations in the way of justice and goodwill.

Direct those who govern, that they may rule fairly, maintain order, uphold those in need, and defend oppressed people; that this world may claim your rule and know true peace. Bring peace and justice to all peoples and end all racial division. We especially pray for those making decisions in this time of crisis – our president Donald, our vice president Mike, members of the covid-19 task force and those working to find a cure or vaccine or treatment, our senators and representatives, our governor J.B., our state government, our county and town governments. We also pray for health care providers in every place, for their safety and for the healing touch which you provide. We also pray for all those that have been designated as essential that they may be safe as they serve their communities. Do not let any become weary of doing good.

Awaken all people to the danger we have inflicted upon the earth.

Implant in each a reverence for all you have made that we may preserve the delicate balance of creation for all coming generations.

Give grace to all who proclaim the gospel through Word and Sacrament and deeds of mercy, that by their teaching and example they may reveal your love for all people.

Comfort and relieve, O Lord, all who are in trouble . . . sorrow . . . poverty . . . sickness . . . grief . . . especially those known to us, whom we name before you in silence. . . . We especially pray for all those affected in any way by the covid-19 virus. We also remember all who grieve including the family and friends of Rev. Jack Porter and Diane Jackman.

Heal them in body, mind, or circumstance, working in them, by your grace, wonders beyond all they may dream or hope.

We pray for the miracle of growth in this congregation; we pray for the miracle of revitalization of main street and we pray for the miracle of your blessing on this community and its schools.

Bring to our remembrance all those who, having served you on earth, now sing your praises eternally. May their endurance give us courage and their faithfulness give us hope; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Offering Invitation

It might seem a bit strange to see an invitation to offering in this time of social distancing and virtual worship. Some of you may be financially affected as well. I would like to remind you that offering of ourselves is always a three-part process – our time, our talent and our treasure. So I invite you to offer yourself in whatever way(s) are most appropriate to our heavenly Father.

Offertory “Sweet Hour Of Prayer” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVmmgZqpvLQ

^Doxology (Praise God from Whom all blessings flow)     #46

^Prayer of Thanksgiving

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to offer thanks and praise.

Holy God, we praise you. Let the heavens be joyful, and the earth be glad. We bless you for creating the whole world, for your promise to your people Israel, and for Jesus Christ in whom your fullness dwells. Born of Mary, he shares our life. Eating with sinners, he welcomes us. Guiding his people, he leads us. Visiting the sick, he heals us. Dying on the cross, he saves us. Risen from the dead, he gives new life. Living with you, he prays for us. Send to us your Holy Spirit that, being made one with Christ, we may be one with each other and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory. We praise you, eternal God, through Christ your Word made flesh, in the holy and life-giving Spirit. Amen. 

^Lord’s Prayer

We depart to serve Christ in the world

^Hymn “Open My Eyes, That I May See”                # 586   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtFg12sKzpw

^Charge

God has shown you what is good. What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

^Benediction

May the God of peace make you holy in every way and keep your whole being-spirit, soul, and body-free from every fault at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Alleluia! Amen.

Please remember in your prayers: 

Crystal Hack, Marian Allen, Marge Donley, Helen Hopkins, Barb Day, Verbie Hoffman, Susan (Sinn) Funke, Glenn Holmes, Meryl (Pastor Jean’s cousin) and Dick Place, Diane Schlosser, Joyce Culbertson, Mardelle Neumann (Apostolic Christian Skylines), Donna Diekhoff, Dick Temple, Dick Watts, Myrna and Don Brose, Margaret Altine, Fran (Alzheimer’s), Val (cancer diagnosis), Alex Rich and Roland Rich (from a fall) and their family, Blake Renner (Diane Allen Renner’s son), Joy Heaton, Lyndee Lewis’ niece, Jeremy Warner, Rose Goeken and Sophia Clauser (jaw surgery)

The families and friends of Rev. Jack Porter and Diane Jackman (Cindy Sinn’s sister)

All affected by the Covid-19 virus, those caring for them in any way, and those working to find a cure.

WORSHIP RESUMES – I’m sure many of you are overjoyed to see these words but they come with some precautions. Currently, the maximum number to gather is 10. Please wear a mask, to protect others as it is astonishing to see the number of people who are ill but asymptomatic. (Masks will be available if you don’t have your own.) When you enter please use the provided hand sanitizer then pick up a bulletin. We will practice social distancing inside the sanctuary, asking that those who live in the same household sit together and to space yourselves out if you do not. Please keep your mask on throughout the service, especially when singing. We will not move around during the Passing of the Peace, instead wave, bow, or give air hugs. The offering plates will not be passed. Instead, they will be located at the rear of the sanctuary so you may make your offering as you leave. Some may feel these restrictions are too much, others may feel they are not enough. Your Session has considered all the available information before resuming in-person worship. If you are uncomfortable in attending worship please know we are continuing the virtual services.

Calendar:

Cro-Knits—begins this Wednesday with social distancing, masks and bring your own beverages at the historical society. Contact Mary Ruth Lowry or Pastor Jean for details

NO Bible Study until at least August

Sun., 7/5:  Worship, 10:30 a.m., 5th Sunday after Pentecost; Virtual Worship, Pastor Jean Sparks preaching

Threads of Love—Resuming in September

Sun., 7/12:  Worship, 10:30 a.m., 6th Sunday after Pentecost; Virtual Worship, Pastor Jean Sparks preaching 

Wed., 7/15:  Cro-Knits—10:00 a.m. at the Historical Society with social distancing, masks and bring your own snacks and beverages; Session, 7:00 p.m.; with masks and social distancing

Sat., 7/18:  Prayer Group, 9:00 a.m.; with masks and social distancing

Sun., 7/19:  Worship, 10:30 a.m., 7th Sunday after Pentecost; Virtual Worship, Pastor Jean Sparks preaching 

Sat., 7/25:  Prayer Group, 9:00 a.m.; with masks and social distancing

Sun., 7/26:  Worship, 10:30 a.m., 8th Sunday after Pentecost; Virtual Worship, Pastor Jean Sparks preaching 

Mon., 7/27:  4th Monday Free Meal, 5:30 p.m.; watch newspaper for instructions

First Presbyterian Church

P.O. Box 602, 201 W. Fourth Street, Delavan, IL 61734

(309) 244-7105

E-mail: firstpresdelavan@gmail.com

www.firstpresdelavan.org

Rev. Jean Sparks, Pastor

Linda Clauser, Organist