The Second Sunday After Pentecost

		"Happy are your ears because they hear. I assure you that many prophets and righteous people wanted to see what you see and hear what you hear, but they didn't." —Mark 13.15-17 The Second Sunday After Pentecost The Twelth Sunday in Ordinary Time Proper 7 June 19, 2022 A Liturgy For Worship and Meditation
		CENTERING IN PREPARATION Close your eyes. Be in stillness. Feel the breath you breathe. Hear the rhythm of your heartbeat. Know the relaxing of your body. Remind yourself it is OK to let yourself go. Be aware of the gentle thoughts in your mind. Whisper, softly: "God is here. God is here." OPENING WORDS We live is a world of noise. Everything we do, everything we use, even in our most calm moments, noise is made. The whoosh of a fan. The ticking of the toaster. The voice of a loved one. Traffic passing by outside. The song of the bird perched on the fence. The sound of children playing. The alarm clock letting you know it is time to awaken. The motorcyclist reving his engine. The train blowing its horn. The siren of a firetruck passing by. Everything has a sound. some sounds are but noise. Where is it that we may hear the voice of God? God is a Whisperer who speaks within our heart of hearts. Even in the noise that distracts and turns on our need to seek quiet. God is whispering within. SONG FOR WORSHIP Lord, Speak To Me That I May Speak (Click Here For Music) Frances R. Havergal (1872) CANONBURY Robert A. Schumann (1839) 1). Lord, speak to me that I may speak In living echoes of your tone. As you have sought, so let me seek Your erring children, lost and lone. 2). Oh, lead me, Lord, that I may lead The wand'ring and the wav'ring feet. Oh, feed me, Lord, that I may feed Your hungry ones with manna sweet. 3). Oh, teach me, Lord, that I may teach The precious truths which you impart. And wing my words that they may reach The hidden depths of many a heart. 4). Oh, fill me with your fullness, Lord, Until my very hearts o'erflows In kindling thought and glowing word, Your love to tell, your praise to show. 5). Oh, use me, Lord, use even me, Just as you will, and when, and where Until your blessed face I see, Your rest, your joy, your glory share. OPENING PRAYER Almighty One, God of Eternity, You spoke and in the sound of your voice creation came into being. Your voice formed the universe and shaped the planets. You placed each star where it remains with a command of your Word. Human life and all living things were made in your voicing. What an all-powerful voice are You, O God, our Creator, Redeemer, and Perfecter. In ancient days your voice was mistaken for thunder, and storm, and earthquake, and volcanic eruption. We have come, however, to discover that your voice is audible not in the noise that surrounds us, but in the silence of our heart of hearts. O, Still Small Voice, speak within us this day that we may know your presence and the way in which we are to follow. Blessed are you, O God, and blessed is your Realm; fro ever. Amen. FIRST READING—I Kings 19.1-10 1 Now, Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah did, and how he killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them!” 3 Full of fear, Elijah fled for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his attendant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, O God,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel of God Most High touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there near his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate the cake and drank the water and then lay down again. 7 The angel of the God of Hosts came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank some more. Strengthened by that food, he traveled for forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of God came to him: “What are you do ing here, Elijah?” 10 Elijah replied, “I have been very zealous for God Omnipotent. The people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death by the sword. I am the only one left, and now they’re trying to kill me, too.” —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. PSALMODY—Psalm 42 & 43 1 Like a deer, longing for streams of cool water, my whole being longs for you, my God. 2 My soul aches with thirst for God, for a god that lives! When can I go and see God face to face? 3 My only food, day or night, is my tears; they recriminate me: “Where is your God?” they say. 4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul like water— how I’d go with the crowds and lead them into God’s house, amid cries of gladness and thanksgiving, drunk with the dance of celebration. 5 “Why so dispirited?” I ask myself. “Why so churned up inside? Hope in God!” I know I’ll praise God once again, for you are my Deliverance; you are my God. 6 This is why my heart despairs: I remember other days with you, in the land of Jordan, on Mount Hermon and the Hill of Mizar. 7 The primeval Deep is echoing in the sound of your waterfalls; your torrents rage and break over me, overwhelming me. 8 Every day, YHWH, you ordain your love toward me, and during the night you bring me your song. In my prayers to the God of my life, 9 I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do you keep me in mourning, oppressed by an unseen enemy?” 10 My bones are shattered by their words, foes taunt me constantly: “Where is your God?” they say. 11 “Why so dispirited?” I ask myself. “Why so churned up inside? Hope in God!” I know I’ll praise God once again, for you are my Deliverance; you are my God. 43 :1 Vindicate me, God! Plead my cause before unjust judges! Rescue me from a lying, deceitful accuser. 2 For you, O God, are my stronghold, my defense. Why have you forgotten me? Why do you keep me in mourning, oppressed by an unseen enemy? 3 Send forth your light and your truth— let them guide me, let them bring me to your holy mountain, to your dwelling place. 4 Then at last I’ll go up again to the altar of God, the God of my joy and delight. My harp and lyre will sing your praise once again, O God, my God. 5 “Why so dispirited?” I ask myself. “Why so churned up inside? Hope in God!” I know I’ll praise God once again, for you are my Deliverance; you are my God. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. SECOND READING—I Kings 19.11-15 11 God said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of YHWH, for YHWH is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountain apart and shattered the rocks by YHWH’s power—but YHWH was not in the whirlwind. After the wind there was an earthquake—but YHWH was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire—but YHWH was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.* 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He replied, “Elijah replied, “I have been very zealous for YHWH God Omnipotent. The people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death by the sword. I am the only one left, and now they’re trying to kill me, too.” 15 YHWH told Elijah, “Go back the way you came, to the Desert of Damascus. —Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward. SONG OF RESPONSE Be Still My Soul (Click Here For Music) Kathrina von Schlegel; Translator: Jane Borthwick (1855) FINLANDIA, Jean Sibelius (8 December 1865—20 September 1957) 1). Be still, my soul; the Lord is on your side; bear patiently the cross of grief or pain; leave to your God to order and provide; in ev'ry change he faithful will remain. Be still, my soul; your best, your heav’nly friend through thorny ways leads to a joyful end. 2). Be still, my soul; your God will undertake to guide the future as he has the past; your hope, your confidence, let nothing shake; all now mysterious shall be bright at last. Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know his voice who ruled them while he lived below. 3). Be still, my soul; when dearest friends depart and all is darkened in the vale of tears, then you will better know his love, his heart, who comes to soothe your sorrows and your fears. Be still, my soul; your Jesus can repay from his own fullness all he takes away. 4). Be still, my soul; the hour is hast'ning on when we shall be forever with the Lord, when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored. Be still my soul; when change and tears are past, all safe and blessed we shall meet at last. PRAYER OF HEALING AND RECONCILIATION God of earthquake, wind, and fire, God of healing touch and uniting love, God of our ancestors, neighbours, and grandchildren, God of deafening silence and quiet harmonies: We are drawn by Your Spirit calling out to our own souls, for You are the source of all life, the home to which we will return. In You we find strength and comfort, safety and courage. May all that is in us, praise You, O God! We are crafted in Your divine image: we rejoice; we fall short of Your perfect love: we lament; we contribute to the pain of others: we confess; we fear what we do not understand: we repent. In our return to You, welcoming God, we seek Your healing, transforming touch, knowing You will not withhold it, not now, not ever: praise be to You, O God! Amen. —The Church of Scotland PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND DEDICATION Grant us, O God, a vision of Your world as Your love would have it: a world where the weak are protected, and none go hungry or poor; a world where the riches of creation are shared, and everyone can enjoy them; a world where different races and cultures live in harmony and mutual respect; a world where peace is built with justice, and justice is guided by love. Give us the inspiration and courage to build it, through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen. PRAYER OF INTERCESSION Eternal defender and protector of the weak, we give thanks for Your universal love, which sees beyond our human labels and divisions, rejoicing even more in Your preference for the outcast and oppressed. We give thanks for everyone in the church who works tirelessly, and often in confidence, to keep others safe; we pray for all children and vulnerable adults who engage with our mission: may they know Your love and protection. We give thanks for the shelter and protection of our homes; we pray for all people who are homeless, for whatever reason, including refugees and victims of trafficking: may they know Your love and protection. We give thanks for the range and quality of food around us; we pray for each person who is hungry, whether they be across the world or on our doorsteps: may Your love be shown in practical ways. We give thanks for easy access to clean water; we pray for all who are parched with thirst, especially where the decision is dirty water or none: may Your love be shown in practical ways. We give thanks for the relative peace and security we enjoy: we pray for all places of war and violence, whether the aggressor be in the home or another nation: may Your peace be known in our time. We give thanks for all the bits of our life that bring us joy and contentment; we pray for the broken-hearted, bereaved, and lonely, and for all who have lost faith or purpose in life: may Your peace be known in their hearts. Healing, liberating, transforming God, in amongst our shouts and songs of thanksgiving, may we hear Your still whisper in the midst of pain and suffering, and may we respond with courageous tenderness to the needs around us, as we follow the example of Jesus, our teacher and Redeemer. Amen. PRAYER OF JESUS Loving God, in whom is heaven, may Your name be honored everywhere. May Your Kin-Dom come. May the desire of Your heart for the world be done, in us, by us and through us. Give us the bread we need for each day. Forgive us. Enable us to forgive others . Test not our trust in you, but keep us from all anxiety and fear. For You reign in the power that comes from love which is Your glory forever and ever. Amen. DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING Go forth declaring how much God has done for you. And the blessing of our ever-loving God, Creator, Christ and Spirit, rest upon you and all whom you love, this day and forevermore. Amen. SONG IN GOING FORTH Sent Forth By God's Blessing (Click Here For Music) Omer Westendorf, 1964 THE ASH GROVE 1). Sent forth by God's blessing, our true faith confessing, the people of God from this dwelling take leave. The service is ended, O now be extended the fruits of our worship in all who believe. The seed of the teaching, receptive souls reaching, shall blossom in action for god and for all. God's grace did invite us, and love shall unite us to work for God's kingdom and answer the call. 2). With praise and thanksgiving to God ever living, the tasks of our everyday life we will face. Our faith ever sharing, in love ever caring, embracing God's children of each tribe and race. With your grace you feed us, with your light now lead us; unite us as one in this life that we share. Then may all the living with praise and thanksgiving give honor to Christ and that name which we bear.