Sunday Service June 14, 2020

June 14, 2020 - Gary Johnson & Verna Kocski

Let us worship together as we read!

You can follow along with today’s sermon with Gary & Verna on Unity United Church and Evesham Community Church page:
https://www.facebook.com/Unity-United-Church-and-Evesham-Community-Church-233687243347894/
or Gary Johnson's page:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1654663852

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

·      - “Coffee & Connect” Wednesdays @ 10 am.

·      - Evesham Community Church Drive-in-Service June 21 @ 10am.

·     - Virtual Unity Composite High School Grad June 26, 2020... The Grads have a parade scheduled for that same day at 7pm.

·     - Gary & Verna holidays will be the month of July

·    -  A great big “Thank You” for your bottles and cans...!  A total of $5135.20 was collected from the Unity Community (and beyond) going towards the United Church Roof Fund..!

OPENING PRAYER:

We gather in the presence of God’s Spirit, where everyone is welcome. The spirit is life and peace that brings hope to each new day. The spirit that brings hope out of despair; renewing our hearts and minds with new life. God’s spirit dwells within us. Let us praise the Lord with our words and our prayers, with our listening and in our giving, drawing ever closer to the divine. Amen!

OPENING HYMN:

Voices United #263 “Our God’s a Fortress”

SCRIPTURE READING:

Proverbs 27:2-3,5-6,9-10,17,19,21-22

REFLECTION:

“Taking Any Wrongs…and Making It Right”

CLOSING PRAYER:

Creator God, thank You that in Christ we have a friend that sticks closer than a sister or a brother. Help us to reflect You in all we do, so that we show forth the grace of Jesus to all we meet, and may our life be that sweet-smelling savour to others and to You.

We pray that we may learn to keep the eyes of our heart fixed upon Christ and to daily search the scriptures more faithfully, so that we may learn more of You and increasingly reflect the Lord Jesus, in all we say and do.

Like fire tests silver, and heat tests gold, so are we tested by the praise we receive. Help us to see more clearly the intentions of our hearts. To let go of our self-serving ways and to catch the negative thinking of our minds. Help us to trust each other more. Letting go of suspicion and doubt that hinders us from lifting one another up.

We pray for the lonely and the hurting. The elderly and the home bound, the displaced and poor. May they feel the calming presence of God in their everyday lives. We pray for those struggling with addictions and mental health. Direct their path to the help they need.

Nudge us to use whatever resources we have available to help those who are struggling with everyday life. We are in this together.

We pray for those who have suffered at the hands of injustice and inequality. May we as people of God, learn to love and treat each other with respect and dignity.

We pray for leaders in whatever capacity they hold. Help them to focus on the best interests of all involved.  Help them to stand strong and true to their calling to unite us as a nation of love and compassion.

Thank you God for your amazing grace and love, For front line workers and essential care workers. We are grateful for the flattening of the curve, to see the country opening up so people can start connecting with each other.

Grant us your wisdom, your peace and your love to work together as a community of faith and service. May we learn to keep our eyes affixed on the healer and the giver of grace.

We pray to you .....

THE LORD’S PRAYER:

CLOSING HYMN:

Voices United #651 “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah”

CLOSING WORDS:

The Lord bless you and keep you:

The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you:

The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.