We welcome you to either virtual or in-person worship on Sunday, July 25, 2021 at 10am! You are welcome to join us for in-person worship in the Essex Center UMC sanctuary, you may participate on Facebook Live by clicking here, or you may watch below. After worship concludes, a recording will be posted on this page.
Dear Guests – WELCOME!
We are thankful for your presence with us this morning. We pray that you will be blessed and strengthened by the Holy Spirit in our time together and you will continue to join us for worship and ministry in the weeks to come.
The Church Gathers
WELCOME, ANNOUNCEMENTS,
& PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
ORGAN PRELUDE
*CALL TO WORSHIP adapted from Psalm 145
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised!
Generation upon generation declare your wonder and mighty acts
and the awesomeness of your deeds are declared throughout the cosmos!
Each and every day I praise your name and celebrate
your abundant goodness and righteousness with song!
With all creation I bless your name forever and ever!
The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The Lord is good to all, and has compassion for all creation.
The Lord is faithful in word and gracious in deed;
supporting all who stumble, and raising up all who are oppressed.
We look to you, Lord, for the nourishment
to sustain our daily needs,
trusting in your justice, kindness, and truth.
You hear our cries and save us by your grace.
I will speak your praise
and join with all creation to bless you name forever!
*H78YMN OF PRAISE No. 3014, W&S
You Are Good
MORNING PRAYER (unison)
From everlasting to everlasting,
you are indeed the LORD our God.
Today we again seek your presence and the anointing
of your Holy Spirit to enliven our hearts and inspire our minds
so we may indeed fully embrace life
and become all that you created us to be.
As we grow into your image, may we live out
your justice, compassion, and truth.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
YOUNG DISCIPLE’S TIME
All the children are invited to come to the Chancel for a time of discipling!
SONG OF RESPONSE The Seed in the Ground
God gives you the sun and God gives you the rain
And if you plant a little seed in the old back lane
And you pray and you hope and you keep the weeds down
You might find, oh, you might find
A root growing out from the seed in the ground!
…a shoot growing out from the root from the seed in the ground!
…a stem growing out from the shoot from the root
from the seed in the ground!
…a flower growing out from the stem from the shoot
from the root from the seed in the ground!
…a seed growing out from the flower from the stem from the shoot
from the root from the seed in the ground!
The Sharing of God’s Holy Word
FIRST READING Mark 6:45-48
45Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat
and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida,
while he dismissed the crowd.
46After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray.
47When evening came, the boat was out on the sea,
and he was alone on the land.
48When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind,
he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the sea.
He intended to pass them by.
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to Christ!
*HYMNS OF RESPONSE No. 351, UMH
Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior
SECOND READING Mark 6:49-52
49But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought
it was a ghost and cried out; 50for they all saw him and were terrified.
But immediately he spoke to them and said,
“Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
51Then he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased.
And they were utterly astounded,
52for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to Christ!
SERMON The Rev. Dr. Joel Daniel Hubbard, III
Fear, Confusion, & Resistance – Response to a New Normal
Responding With Faith
*HYMN OF RESPONSE AND INVITATION No. 525, UMH
We’ll Understand it Better By and By
PRAYERS FOR GOD’S CHILDREN AND THE WORLD
SUNG RESPONSE Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
(sung before and after the prayer)
Turn your eyes upon Jesus; look full in his wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
in the light of his glory and grace.
THE GIVING OF GOD’S TITHE AND OUR OFFERINGS
The Church Goes Out in Mission
*BLESSING
*SUNG BENEDICTION We’ll Understand it Better By and By
By and by, when the morning comes,
When the saints of God are gathered home,
We’ll tell the story how we’ve overcome,
For we’ll understand it better by and by.
ORGAN POSTLUDE
For the full bulletin, including announcements and prayer requests, please click here.
