Rockport United Methodist Church
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
August 9, 2020
Opening Ourselves to Worship
Welcome
Call to Worship (People’s response in bold.)
Leader: God speaks peace to the faithful, to those who turn to God in their hearts.
People: Surely salvation is at hand for those who fear God.
Leader: Where God dwells, steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.
People: Faithfulness springs up from the ground and righteousness looks down from the sky. God gives what is good and we respond with abundant praise!
Opening Hymn: Rock of Ages
Invitation to Confession
Let us confess our sins in the presence of the One who blesses us and meets our need.
Prayer of Confession
Gracious God, you call us to step out in faith, trusting in you for all things. We respond to your command but then sink in doubt and fear. We hide from the challenges of bold discipleship. We are not able to fulfill your commandments, for our purposes are never in full accord with yours. Forgive us, we pray, when we confess with our lips but do not believe in our hearts. Help us to practice our faith in all circumstances. Lift us out of sin into the arms of your mercy. Though we are distracted by noise all around, allow us to hear your voice even when it is the sound of sheer silence. . . [A time of silence is kept.] We pray in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness
Jesus is Lord! God raised him from the dead and we are saved through him.
People: This is the good news we believe in our hearts confess with our mouths: in Jesus Christ we are forgiven! This is good news to share with all people! Glory to God! Amen.
Hearing God’s Word
Prayer for Illumination
Gracious God, your word is very near, on our lips and in our hearts. As this Word is read and proclaimed, by the power of your Holy Spirit, make it become in us the word of faith. Then send us in joy to bring this word to others who also need the good news of salvation. We pray, through Jesus Christ our Lord and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Epistle Lesson: Romans 10:5-15
The Children’s Time to Lead Us: Mrs. Holchin
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 14:22-33
Leader: This is the Word of God for the People of God. People: Thanks be to God.
Sermon: Rev. Lorrin Radzik
Affirmation of Faith: The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Transforming Our Lives & the World
Prayers of the People
God of power and love, you are with us in every circumstance of this life. We thank you for your steadfast faithfulness. We thank you for the gift of your peace, which comes to us even in times of chaos and fear, trouble and doubt. We thank you for your powerful arms of mercy that grasp us when we are sinking; for your powerful Word that coaxes us even when we are hiding and afraid. We put our trust in you, for you alone can save us.
We ask for your power and love to overwhelm the chaos of the nations. In every place of war, send your encompassing shalom to restore and repair all that is torn and broken.
We pray that violent and hostile struggles will be defeated by good.
Give us faith and courage to follow Christ so closely that divisions are dismantled, reconciliation is accomplished, and love casts out all fear.
Increase mutual understanding and a sense of unity in our community, in this congregation, in the church around the world.
In our personal relationships, bring healing where there is estrangement and hurt.
In our relationship to your creation, give us creativity and perseverance as we work to be faithful, tender stewards of all that you have so wondrously made.
We entrust to your providence and care all those who suffer; all who are hiding from you,
from others, or even from themselves because of fear or feelings of unworthiness.
To one struggling with doubt, increase faith.
To one enduring persecution or prejudice, bring freedom.
For those caught in the grip of anxiety and uncertainty, grant the calm rest that your peace alone gives. And for all who face illness, pain, or even death, we pray for restoration and wholeness to fill them—in heart, mind, and body.
You alone can save us, almighty God; hear our cries to you, we pray. Gather us up
and set us in safety, and we will praise your name. We ask all things in the name of Jesus Christ, who truly is your Son. Amen.
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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
Invitation to Generosity
Offertory
Prayer of Dedication
Generous God, we thank you for your call and claim upon our lives. Because there is so much more we can become, and so much more we can do, we pray that our faith will increase; that our practice of generosity will be enlarged; and that our joy in believing will encourage others as we share with them the good news of Jesus Christ; in whose name we pray. Amen.
Closing Hymn: Christ for the World We Sing
Benediction
Thank you for joining us in worship today.
Today’s worship is compiled and adapted from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Year A, Volume 2, Proper 14.
Worship Participants:
Rev. Lorrin Radzik, Senior Pastor, Rockport UMC
Music recorded by Susan Shick, Director of Music and Organist at Rockport UMC
Permission to print and podcast/stream the music (not in public domain) is obtained from CCLI with license #20417540