CCLI license #1913561
Lakeview Presbyterian Church
Service of the Word for June 26, 2022
Welcome Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
There will be a called meeting of the Congregation following this morning’s worship service.
Prelude
A Psalm of Preparation: from Psalm 77
I will call to mind the deeds of the LORD
Your way, O God, is holy
I will meditate on all your work, and muse on your mighty deeds.
With your strong arm you redeemed your people
Gathering Prayer
Living God, you call us to yourself so that we may live in wholeness with ourselves and our neighbors. Help us to let go of those forces which bind us to old ways of thinking and set us free to live in your saving grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
*Hymn “In Christ There Is No East or West” G #317
Prayer for Understanding
Open our ears to hear your word, O God; open our hearts to receive your wisdom. By your Spirit, let your word illumine the darkness and your light break through our delusions, that we may hear your truth for us today. Amen
Readings from the Hebrew Scriptures: 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14NRS
Now when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here; for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.
Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here; for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So the two of them went on. Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan.Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you." Elisha said, "Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit." He responded, "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not." As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven.Elisha kept watching and crying out, "Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, "Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" When he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.
Hymn: (please remain seated) “Holy Spirit, Truth Divine” TPH #321
Reading from the Gospels Luke 9:51-62
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village. As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
Sermon "Being Know By Our Love” Rev. Russell Lehman
*A Hymn Affirming our Faith “O God of Earth and Space” TPH #274
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer and a time of silent prayer…
Lord’s Prayer (This is the Ecumenical Version; feel free to use the words of your choice)
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen
A Statement about Offering our Gifts
God has blessed us with an abundance of gifts and calls us to be faithful stewards of the resources entrusted to our care. In grateful response, let us bring a just portion for sharing the Good News God’s love with a world in desperate need of that Good News.
Donations can be placed in the offering plate near the baptismal font or mailed to Lakeview Presbyterian Church at 1310 22nd Av S, St Petersburg, FL, 33705 or given online through our website @lakeviewpresbyterianchurch.org
Special Music
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Dedication
Thanks be to you, Creator of the universe, for earth and sky, water and rock, creatures and plants, that we may have life enough to live and to offer for others. Thanks be to you, Crucified and Risen Lord, who shows us the face of God so that we may see in our brothers and sisters a member of Christ’s own body and rejoice. Thanks be to you, Holy Spirit, Giver of Life, who groans within us as we pray and teaches us compassion that we might love our neighbors as ourselves. Accept our offerings as signs of your never-failing care, in the name of all that is most precious in your sight. Amen.
*Hymn “Here I Am, Lord” G #69
Announcements
Charge
Go in peace to care for those who cross your path,
to give voice to those who need your help,
to notice what is beautiful and what is amiss,
to counter injustice and guard what is good, and
to rest and work, mindful of God’s desire
for your health and faith.
Blessing
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy.
The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. AMEN
Postlude