"You Have Asked a Hard Thing"
THE CELEBRATION OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD
third sunday after pentecost
june 26 2022
- In Person Sunday, June 26, 11 a.m. (Mask optional for all) This Sunday, Pastor Matt Lang's sermon is "You Have Asked a Hard Thing"
- Worship Live Streaming at 11 a.m. Click here for June 26th streaming of live service. (If it is NOT blue "refresh" your page.) Complete service bulletin below.
- After the service, feel free to stay on Zoom for Heavenly Perks until 2:00 p.m., where we can see each other and visit just like we did at our Heavenly Perks coffee time (except you provide your own cuppa tea/coffee).
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gIVE -- electronically
to contribute (ACTIVE link: a monetary offering) to first presbyterian church of homewood or you may also contribute by mail to:First Presbyterian Church of Homewood
P.O. BOX 1519
Homewood IL 60430Click on this Blue Link to Ask a Question or Leave a Comment
BULLETIN FOR STREAMING SERVICE
WE GATHER IN GOD’S NAME
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF HOMEWOOD
MISSION STATEMENT
Through the grace of God, faith in Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit, we prayerfully seek to discern God’s will for this congregation and to reach beyond ourselves to feed the hungry, body and soul. Adopted by Session 7/31/17
PRAYER FOR PEACE
Peace Prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
PRELUDE ||| Lord, I Want to Be a Christian ||| Cindy Berry
(American Folk Hymn)
*CALL TO CONTINUING WORSHIP
We gather to worship our God of wonder, and we gather to meditate on God’s works and mighty deeds.
Our God who is great and mighty, with arms stretched out, welcomes us into the fold.
*HYMN 308 ||| O God in Whom All Life Begins ||| Noel
CALL TO CONFESSION
Seeking to follow God, shepherd of our flock, and knowing how we have strayed, we humbly confess the ways in which we have sinned, that we might find grace.
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of mercy,
We confess that we too often give in to the yearnings of the flesh. We have impure thoughts. We idolize those who misuse power. We harbor jealousies and are quick to anger. We neglect to care for others and gratify our own desires. Forgive us, O God, and cleanse us of our sin. Lead us to ways of love, joy, and peace. Send your Spirit to engender patience, kindness, and generosity, and lead us to be gentle in our care for all of your people.
(silent prayer)
Amen.
*DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
Sisters and brothers, we are all called to freedom.
Amidst thunderous storms and rocky waters,
God reaches out to us in love.
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God!
*THE GLORIA 581
MOMENT WITH OUR CHILDREN ||| Rev. Matt Lang
WELCOME AND CHURCH COMMUNICATIONS
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING ||| 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
1Now when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2Elijah 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. 6Then 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. 7Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8Then 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. 9When 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." 10He 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." 11As 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. 12Elisha 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. 13He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14He 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.
SPECIAL MUSIC ||| Take Up Your Cross ||| Edward Broughton ||| (Early American Hymn Tune)
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING ||| Luke 9:51-62
51When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; 53but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54When 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?" 55But he turned and rebuked them. 56Then they went on to another village. 57As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." 58And 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." 59To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." 60But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." 61Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." 62Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God!
SERMON ||| You Have Asked a Hard Thing ||| Rev. Matt Lang
WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD
*HYMN 718 ||| Take Up Your Cross, the Savior Said ||| Bourbon
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH ||| The Brief Statement of Faith 1983
In life and in death we belong to God. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve.
*PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
…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.
OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS
OFFERTORY ||| Here I Am, Lord ||| Daniel Schutte
*DOXOLOGY ||| 606 Old Hundredth
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
See in our gifts our loyalty to you. We commit ourselves to both show forth and work for your kingdom to come. Amen.
WE GO IN GOD’S NAME
*HYMN 688 ||| Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart ||| Morecambe
BLESSING
The blessing of the one God—
Spirit, Son, and Father—
be with you now and always.
Alleluia!
CHARGE
Lead a life worthy of your calling,
giving glory to God in all things.
Amen.
POSTLUDE ||| "Festal Fanfare" ||| from the Fourth Concerto ||| J.S. Bach
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord! Thanks be to God!
Rev. Matt Lang, Pastor
Mrs. Mary Ann Wenzelman, Interim Organist/Pianist
Worship Liturgist: Jay Ruklic Usher: Laura Dillman
Web Techs: Laura Dillman, Phil Dillman, Kathie Hazlett, Susan Zorns
SCRIPTURES IN WORSHIP – Next Sunday we will be reading 2 Kings 5:1-14 and Luke 10:1-11, 16-20.
PRAYER CHAIN – If you want prayer requests included on the prayer chain, contact Shirley Armistead at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..