ST. LUKE'S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

JULY 5, 2026                                                                                                  

SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

SILENT MEDITATION: 

“Six days a week we live under the tyranny of things of space; on the Sabbath we try to become attuned to holiness in time. It is a day on which we are called upon to share in what is eternal in time, to turn from the results of creation to the mystery of creation; from the world of creation to the creation of the world.”   --Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

GATHERING MUSIC

GREETING

PRELUDE “I Am the Bread of Life”                                   

S. Suzanne Toolan

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN No. 160 “Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart”                                                       

MARION

Rejoice, ye pure in heart; rejoice, give thanks, and sing;
your glorious banner wave on high, the cross of Christ your King.
 

Refrain: Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice, give thanks and sing.
 

Your clear hosannas raise, and alleluias loud;
whilst answering echoes upward float, like wreaths of incense cloud. [Refrain]

Yes, on through life's long path, still chanting as ye go;
from youth to age, by night and day, in gladness and in woe. [Refrain]
 

At last the march shall end; the wearied ones shall rest;
the pilgrims find their heavenly home, Jerusalem the blest. [Refrain]
 

Praise God who reigns on high, the Lord whom we adore,
the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one God forevermore. [Refrain]

CALL TO WORSHIP 

One:  Come with joy and gladness to praise and honor God.

All:     All creation joins us in giving thanks.

One:  Come, all who are weary and carrying heavy burdens.

All:     God upholds all who are falling.

One:  Come to the refreshing waters that God provides.

All:     The gentle spirit of Christ invites us.

One:  Come, for Christ has promised rest.

All:     We have come to find rest for our souls.

CALL TO CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Unison)

God of grace, our hearts grow proud and conceited. We wear ourselves out going our own way. We labor beneath the load of our burdens. Humble us. Forgive us. Restore our souls in rest and renewal to the covenant to which you have called us. Together we take on the yoke of our Lord. We find rest for our souls in your grace. Amen 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

GLORIA PATRI       

Glory be to the Father and to the Son       
and to the Holy Ghost;                                 

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,                                 

world without end. Amen. Amen.

MOMENTS WITH MINNIE    

PASTORAL PRAYER 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 sins as we forgive those
who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.  Amen.

SPECIAL MUSIC “As We Break the Bread”                                                  

Jay Althouse

                                                                                                                                                      
SCRIPTURE Matthew 11:28-30

SERMON “Unforced Rhythms of Grace”

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN No. 369 “Blessed Assurance”                                                           

ASSURANCE

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

Refrain: This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight, visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love. (Refrain)

Perfect submission, all is at rest; I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above, filled with his goodness, lost in his love. (Refrain)

STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION
CALL TO STEWARDSHIP  
THE BEAUTY OF SHARED GIFTS “Friends”                       

Michael W.  and Deborah D. Smith

CELEBRATING STEWARDSHIP — DOXOLOGY                                                                     

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;                                        

Praise God, all creatures here below;                                             

Praise God above, ye heavenly host:                                      

Creator, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION (In Unison)                                                           

Gracious God, you have been faithful to us in every way. May we now be faithful to you in our lives.  In worship, in service and in giving, we present ourselves to you. Accept our gifts, bless them and the use of them for the work of your kingdom. May souls find relief and comfort through the ministry of this congregation. Amen  

SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

The Invitation

Affirmation and Renewal of Faith (Unison)  United Church of Canada

We believe in God:

Who has created and is creating,

Who has come in Jesus,

The Word made flesh,

To reconcile and make new,

Who works in us and others by the Spirit.
 

We trust in God.
 

We are called to be the Church:

To celebrate God’s presence,

To love and serve others,

To seek justice and resist evil,

To proclaim Jesus,

Crucified and risen,

Our judge and our hope.
 

In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us.
 

We are not alone. Thanks be to God.

Words of Institution

Sharing the Sacrament

Prayer of Thanksgiving (Unison)

We give thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us at your table by granting us the presence of Jesus Christ. Strengthen our faith, increase our love for you and for one another, and send us forth freed from the weights which have burdened our souls. Amen

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN No. 664 “Sent Forth by God’s Blessing”                                  

THE ASH GROVE

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 see 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.
 

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

BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE “Servant of All”                                                   

Michael Ryan                                              

The Liturgist is Dan O'Neill
Thank you to Carol Lyon for accompanying the hymns today.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

VENEZUELA DISASTER RELIEF
Two devastating earthquakes struck Venezuela triggering a rapidly escalating humanitarian crisis. Aftershocks continue to shake the region, including a recent magnitude 4.6 tremor. In response, the United Church of Christ is launching an urgent appeal to support both immediate life-saving aid and long-term recovery. You can donate by placing a check marked Disaster Relief in the offering box,
 on the church website or on the Vanco App.

Summer Reading Program – Sign Up Now!
We’re inviting all kids to join our Summer Reading Program! Participants will read 15 minutes a day,
5 days a week and earn tickets to spend in our Reading Store filled with fun prizes.
As a group, we’re working toward a goal of 3,000 total minutes read,
which will earn a special end-of-summer celebration for everyone involved!
Sign your child up today and help them stay engaged in reading all summer long.
We’re also collecting donations of small prizes (stickers, snacks, toys, etc.) for our Reading Store.
Interested in contributing? Contact Mariah to get involved.
Let’s work together to make this a fun and impactful summer for our kids!

SHARING TABLE
Take time on Sundays, or anytime during normal office hours, to SHOP at the sharing table. There are Bibles and some old hymnals available if you would like to take one or even more.