Crandall United Methodist Church

Worship Guide

June 23, 2024

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Creating Disciples of Jesus who Transform the World

ENTRANCE WITH PRAISE

Greetings:

Minister: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!

People: And also with you!

Special Music: “It is Well” Stefanie

Centering Words:

Inhale the calming presence of God, then exhale the chaos wreaking havoc on your hearts. As Christ speaks, “Peace! Be still,” feel your spirit relax and release the tempest all around.

*Call to Worship:

Leader:    Put your trust in God, who knows our names.

People:   The Holy One does not forsake those who seek God.

Leader:    Be gracious to us, Holy One.

People:   For you are the One who lifts us from the storm.

Leader:    We praise you in every time in space.

People:   We rejoice that your hand guides us.

Leader:    Let us pray.

ALL: Holy Breath of Life, we enter this space searching for sacred peace. May the winds of this hour be quiet and calming. May the waters of this day be as peaceful as a pond. May our hearts find the tranquility we desire. May we fill the air with sweet songs of joy. Amen

Hymn: “In Christ Alone”

In Christ alone my hope is found,

he is my light, my strength, my song.

This Cornerstone, this solid ground,

firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,

when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!

My Comforter, my all in all,

here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, who took on flesh,

fullness of God in helpless babe.

This gift of love and righteousness,

scorned by the ones He came to save.

Till on that cross as Jesus died,

the wrath of God was satisfied;

for every sin on Him was laid.

Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,

Light of the world by darkness slain.

Then bursting forth in glorious day,

up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory,

sin's curse has lost its grip on me.

For I am His and He is mine,

bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,

this is the power of Christ in me.

From life's first cry to final breath,

Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme or plan

can ever pluck me from His hand.

'Till He returns or calls me home

here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD

Words of Assurance

From the great fountain of salvation, find peace in God’s grace.

Even amidst the hardships and storms of life, God’s love carries us to safe harbors.

Receive the unconditional love of God with hearts filled with joy.

Praises be to God! Amen

*Gospel Reading: Mark 4:35-41

³⁵ On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” ³⁶ And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. ³⁷ A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. ³⁸ But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” ³⁹ He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. ⁴⁰ He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” ⁴¹ And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

WORD AND RESPONSE

Time with Young Friends: “Jesus Loves Me”

Children’s Message: “The Right Moment”

Hymn: “How Firm a Foundation”

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,

is laid for your faith in his excellent Word!

What more can he say than to you he hath said,

to you, who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,

for I am thy God and will still give thee aid;

I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand

upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,

the rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;

for I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,

and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,

my grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;

the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design

thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

The soul that on Jesus still leans for repose,

I will not, I will not desert to its foes;

that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,

I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.

Sermon: “In Sorrow and in Rejoicing” 2 Corinthians 6:1-13

¹As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. ² For he says,

“At an acceptable time I have listened to you,

and on a day of salvation I have helped you.”

See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! ³ We are putting no  obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, ⁴ but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, ⁵ beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; ⁶ by purity, knowledge, patience,  kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, ⁷ truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; ⁸ in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; ⁹ as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; ¹⁰ as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

¹¹ We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. ¹² There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours. ¹³ In return—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also.

¹⁴ Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship is there between light and darkness? ¹⁵ What agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what does a believer share with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

“I will live in them and walk among them,

and I will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

¹⁷     Therefore come out from them,

and be separate from them, says the Lord,

and touch nothing unclean;

then I will welcome you,

¹⁸     and I will be your father,

and you shall be my sons and daughters,

says the Lord Almighty.”

RESPONSE TO THE WORD

Hymn: “Be Still My Soul”

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 every change, God faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: your best, your heavenly friend

through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: your God will undertake

to guide the future, as in 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

the Christ who ruled them

while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening 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.

Psalter: Psalm 9:11-20 

¹¹   Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion!

Tell among the peoples God's deeds!

¹²   The Lord who avenges blood is mindful of them,

and does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

¹³   Be gracious to me, O Lord!

See what I suffer from those who hate me;

You are the One who lifts me up from the gates of death,

¹⁴   that I may recount all your praises,

and, in the gates of the daughter of Zion, rejoice in your deliverance.

¹⁵   The nations have sunk in the pit which they made;

their own foot has been caught in the net which they hid.

¹⁶   The Lord is made known! The Lord has executed judgment!

The wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.

¹⁷   The wicked shall depart to Sheol,

all the nations that forget God.

¹⁸   For the needy shall not always be forgotten,

and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.

¹⁹   Arise, O Lord! Let not mortals prevail;

let the nations be judged before you!

²⁰   Put them in fear, O Lord'

let the nations know that they are mortal!

Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow

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

Prayers of the People: Joys and concerns       

     Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer   

SENDING FORTH

Hymn: “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”  

Our God, our help in ages past,

our hope for years to come,

our shelter from the stormy blast,

and our eternal home.

Under the shadow of thy throne

still may we dwell secure;

sufficient is thine arm alone,

and our defense is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,

or earth received her frame,

from everlasting thou art God,

to endless years the same.

A thousand ages in thy sight

are like an evening gone;

short as the watch that ends the night

before the rising sun.

Time, like an ever rolling stream,

bears all who breathe away;

they fly, forgotten, as a dream

dies at the opening day.

Our God, our help in ages past,

our hope for years to come,

be thou our guard while life shall last,

and our eternal home.

Benediction