Preparation for Worship
- Something green. Christian worship has different seasons throughout the year. We are in the season after Pentecost. The color green represents this time communicating growth and discipleship. Add some green to your worship area with cloth, paper, or plants.
- Two candles. Our worship begins with the light of two candles: one represents Christ’s humanity and the other represents Christ’s divinity.
- Something to eat and drink to celebrate communion. The type of food and drink does not matter for they are merely symbols which help us celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
The Worship of God
Light two candles in recognition of Christ’s presence. In our practice, one candle represents Jesus’ divinity and the other Jesus’ humanity.
Gathering for Worship
Passing the Peace
Say to one another, “May the Peace of Christ be with you.”
Respond by saying, “And also with you.”
Call to Worship
God welcomes all the dreamers,
as well as the doubters:
the worriers and wanderers
can call on God by name.
Here, in this time, we can remember
all the ways God has graced us:
here, in these moments, we are reminded
that God is with us, always!
Here are gathered those daring enough
to step out of comfort into the unknown:
here, in this faith space, we will find the courage
to cry out, ‘God, save us!’ in every situation.
Opening Prayer
Holy God, we gather here to worship you with praise and thanksgiving for all you have done, are doing, and promise to do in the world and in our lives. We have done nothing to deserve such grace and goodness and so we cannot help but respond with joy and delight for being so loved by you and so precious to you. We rejoice because we no longer have to earn your love — only to accept it. You, O God, graciously revealed this love forever when you entered our world and our history in person — in Jesus Christ our Lord. He enters our very lives through the gift of the Holy Spirit. We pray that this time of worship may reveal the depth of our love for you and for this world you created, for we offer it in Jesus’ name. Amen
Songs and Psalms of Praise and Prayer
Psalm 105
Give thanks to the Lord;
call upon his name;
make his deeds known to all people!
Sing to God;
sing praises to the Lord;
dwell on all his wondrous works!
Give praise to God’s holy name!
Let the hearts rejoice of all those seeking the Lord!
Pursue the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always!
Remember the wondrous works he has done,
all his marvelous works, and the justice he declared—
Praise the Lord
Song of Praise
How Firm a Foundation
How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in his excellent Word!
What more can he say than to you he has said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
Fear not, I am with you, O be not dismayed;
for I am your God, and will still give you aid;
I’ll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
When through the deep waters I call you to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
for I will be with you, your troubles to bless,
and sanctify to you your deepest distress.
When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie,
my grace, all-sufficient, shall be your supply;
the flame shall not hurt you; I only design
your dross to consume and your gold to refine.
E’en down to old age all my people shall prove
my sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
and when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
like lambs they shall still in my bosom be borne.
The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.
A Reading from the Psalms
Psalm 85:8-13
Let me hear what the Lord God says,
because he speaks peace to his people and to his faithful ones.
Don’t let them return to foolish ways.
God’s salvation is very close to those who honor him
so that his glory can live in our land.
Faithful love and truth have met;
righteousness and peace have kissed.
Truth springs up from the ground;
righteousness gazes down from heaven.
Yes, the Lord gives what is good,
and our land yields its produce.
Righteousness walks before God,
making a road for his steps.
Choral Response
Mercy and Truth
Mercy and truth have met together,
Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Truth shall spring up from the earth,
and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
Prayer for Others
Pause after each paragraph to give voice to prayers as prompted. [Additionally, if you would like our church family to pray for someone or something in particular this week, email the request to tonya@cullowheebaptist.com.]
Merciful God, who shelters us and guides us, we give you thanks for….
God who comforts, receive those who are fearful and lonely….
God whose love is steadfast, be refuge for the ill, the dying, and those who care about them.…
God of righteousness, we ask for your wisdom and ways of justice to prevail in our community, this nation, your world….
God who seeks our trust, grow us and guide us in your ways that are life-giving in your world. Amen.
Celebrating Communion
A Reading from the Gospels
Mark 14:22-24
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.”
Share what you have to eat. Before eating, have someone say,
“This food represents the body of Christ. As we eat, we remember Jesus.”
Share what you have to drink. Before drinking, have someone say,
“This drink represents the covenant Christ made with us that our sins will be forgiven. As we drink, we remember Jesus.”
Prayer of Thanksgiving. Dear God, thank you for your abounding compassionate love. Thank you for guiding and leading us through these difficult times. Thank you for always being with us. Amen.
Song of Faith
Amazing Grace (NEW BRITAIN)
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I am found,
was blind but now I see.
Choral Anthem
The Rain Will Seek the Rivers
The rain will seek the rivers,
And rivers run to seas,
While human hearts will wander
Unfulfilled and restlessly.
The anxious heart must listen,
For the quiet voice
That whispers, answers, offers,
Calls forth the unforced choice.
To grasp the easy burden,
God’s grace our soul’s delight.
Oh, run to claim the promise
Of everlasting life.
The Gospel Reading
A Reading from the Gospels
Matthew 14:22-33
Listen to a church member read the gospel and/or read below.
Right then, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead to the other side of the lake while he dismissed the crowds. When he sent them away, he went up onto a mountain by himself to pray. Evening came and he was alone. Meanwhile, the boat, fighting a strong headwind, was being battered by the waves and was already far away from land. Very early in the morning he came to his disciples, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified and said, “It’s a ghost!” They were so frightened they screamed. Just then Jesus spoke to them, “Be encouraged! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.” Peter replied, “Lord, if it’s you, order me to come to you on the water.” And Jesus said, “Come.” Then Peter got out of the boat and was walking on the water toward Jesus. But when Peter saw the strong wind, he became frightened. As he began to sink, he shouted, “Lord, rescue me!” Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him, saying, “You man of weak faith! Why did you begin to have doubts?” When they got into the boat, the wind settled down. Then those in the boat worshiped Jesus and said, “You must be God’s Son!”
Reflection on the Gospel from Tonya
Listen to the reflection and/or read below.
I imagine that Jesus was tired at this point in chapter 14 of Matthew’s gospel. John the baptizer has been beheaded by the government. His head had been brought out like a trophy on a platter at a party held by the government. News of such cruelty to anyone, but especially to a God fearing man like John had to rattle the nerves of the people as well as Jesus’. Jesus tries to get away for little a bit but, as we find out in last week’s gospel reading, he ends up with a fan crowd following his every move. That day it was getting late and the crowd was hungry. He couldn’t rescue John, but he could feed this hungry crowd and he does. After the bread and fish are eaten and the extra food is gathered up, something changes. I don’t know where it’s the expectations of the crowd or maybe the expectations of the disciples. John’s gospel says that after the meal the crowd wants to take Jesus by force and make him their king. With great urgency Jesus makes the disciples get into a boat and start heading to the other side of the sea. That word “made” is forceful. It’s insisting. With the disciples safe in the boat headed to the opposite shore, Jesus dismisses the crowd. And then he heads up into the mountain alone to pray.
As evening comes, the disciples are having a rough time out there on the sea. A storm has blown in and there is a strong headwind. So strong that these twelve disciples who are used to being in a boat, it was like riding a bike to them, they are being beaten to death by this storm. “Battered by the waves,” the gospel reads, and that “battered” is like “tormented, tortured, harassed.” It’s like nature is echoing the heart of how they all must have felt with the knowledge of John’s death and especially how he had died. Out on the sea, still far from shore, worn out, the wind is blowing against them. The gospel reads like they have been up all night working, working hard to stay afloat straining at the oars to stay headed in the right direction. This storm is not a punishment nor a sinister arrangement made so as to grab their attention. It’s just the true reality of how vulnerable we are to to the changes of life whether they are storms by nature or storms by the injustice forced upon by human exploitation. Being in control and having the power does not define life and these do not bring us life either. We will see this in what comes next.
Early the next morning, you can just imagine how worn out these disciples are. After such a long battle through the night, to top off the experience, they see a ghost walking on the water coming toward them. God bless them. They are terrified. They don’t recognize it, but it’s Jesus out there. I don’t think I would have been able to recognize him either. Maybe our children might have. You know, the little nes in the church. But not us grownups. Because we know that walking on water is not what people do. It has to be a ghost. They are afraid, so afraid they are screaming. The gospel records Jesus saying, “Be encouraged. It’s me. Don’t be afraid.” “Be encouraged,” must be a first century way of saying, “Get a grip.” They had been in fear all night, but they need not fear this unusual presence for it is Jesus. “It’s me,” he says. Another reminder that we don’t have to be afraid of the one who can feed 5,000 with just a little of bread and fish. We don’t have to be afraid of the one who can walk on water. We don’t have to ever be afraid of God.
Peter is truly unique in the moment. Well maybe not just in the moment. It’s just Peter. He is so impulsive, like many of us He sees that it might be Jesus out there, but he wants to make sure and he does so by giving an impossible test of the one who calls himself Jesus, “If it’s really you, Jesus, then give me some of that water walking ability too.” “Come on out,” replies Jesus. I can almost see Jesus shaking his head, humored by Peter’s need to be sure. Peter steps out the boat and onto the turbulent waters and quickly realizes that he is not God. He cannot walk on water. That’s not what he is meant to do. That’s not what he is meant to be. He is not meant to walk alone. He is not meant to be self-sufficient. He is not meant to be the Savior. He is meant to be a disciple who trusts in God through Jesus Christ. Well, in the midst of all this the storm is still raging. The wind is still blowing hard. Jesus doesn’t stop it. But when Peter starts to sink, Jesus without hesitation reaches out to Peter and catches him. He says to Peter, “Why did you doubt it was me?” Now did Jesus expect Peter to have a sufficient amount of faith to be able to walk on water? I don’t believe that’s what Jesus wanted Peter to have faith in. When Jesus asks Peter, “Why did you begin to have doubts?” Jesus wasn’t talking to Peter about doubting his ability to walk on water. Jesus was talking about Peter having faith that this was Jesus, the Son of God. Recognizing Jesus is the problem, not enough faith to do the impossible. That’s why when they get in the boat and the wind dies down, they all had church. They all worship the one, this Jesus who they know, who they believe without a doubt to be God’s Son.
If nothing else, this experience of the disciples with Jesus reminds us that at times we are vulnerable. We’re weak. We’re helpless. But our goal is never to be in control or to be more powerful than the storm. Our goal is not to be stronger than any adversity or sufficient for every need that comes our way. Our goal is not to be independent, nor is to have all the answers, nor is to never ever be rattled, or to always be able. Our goal is not to always know the right thing to do. No, you see, all those pursuits, all those desired ways of living, those just just get in the way of living the Way of Jesus. Our faith is in God through Jesus the Christ, not in ourselves, not in our abilities.
On the wall in Jeffrey and my office behind those two red chairs and that “beautiful” brass lamp from the ’60’s hang two posters of paintings by the Chinese artist He Qi. The one of the right is the painting entitled, Peace Be Still. In vibrant colors against a background of blues, Qi portrays his vision of this moment with Jesus. In the painting Jesus stands in the boat. His arms are stretched out parallel to the sea as they will be when he is crucified. But here above his head instead of a sign that reads “King of the Jews” here is an olive branch held in the beak of a dove in flight.
That images recalls for us those earlier words in Matthew’s gospel. “When Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.” For us the dove is a symbol of the Spirit of God. That’s why on the back wall of our baptistery we have a carved wooden dove reminding us of the Spirit’s blessing in our baptisms. However, the dove holding an olive branch recalls a much older story from the book of Genesis. Like a reset button water flooded the earth for 150 days cleansing the earth and all of creation. And then God made a wind blow over the earth and the waters subsided. At the end of 40 days, Noah the man who had been safe in the ark with his family and all those animals, Noah opense the window of ark and sends out a raven. The black bird flies around back and forth until the waters are dried up from the earth. Then Noah releases a dove to see if there was any place dry enough for the plants to be growing. But not yet. Noah waits seven days and then sends the dove out again. In the evening the dove returns with a freshly plucked olive leaf. Yes, I know, if you are like me, the story goes in my head that the bird brought back an olive branch. That’s the influence of the Romans on us. We have taken different symbols from our culture and we have meshed them together with the biblical story and we still communicate something powerful. We see a dove and we see an olive branch and we think of God given peace.
In Xi’s painting there are four disciples in the boat. Now honestly there’s not room on the poster nor my wall for all 12 to be depicted. Three of them are sitting in the boat and one is standing. One of the seated disciples has eyes closed, head tilted to the side, and hands pressed together in prayer. The other two are seated behind this praying disciple. The oars they hold in their hands are in the water. Evidently they are rowing the boat working hard to get somewhere, anywhere out of those troubled water. And their eyes are set on Jesus. The fourth disciple is standing in the boat, holding onto the mast of the boat sail with one arm and looking into the eyes of the viewer. I love it. Three images of how we follow Jesus even as we endure the boat ride through troubled waters for which we did not sign up. Three images of how the peace of God comes to us. One way in prayer seated at the feet of God, eyes closed because we have no idea which way to look. But in prayer we make our requests known to God and God hears us. Peace comes from prayer. Another way, as we journey through this life, sometimes we work hard at it, like rowing a boat, working hard but with our eyes fixed on the Prince of Peace. God has shown us which way to go. God is pointing the way and we are getting there with Jesus at the helm rowing hard. And then like that third disciple, or that third depiction, there are times when we haven’t got a clue. We can’t see Jesus. We don’t know which way to look. We’re just standing there, holding on to something. I believe in fact this portrayal is the most peaceful posture. For this disciple only has one arm wrapped around the mast. Not hugging for dear life. But just holding on. Can you imagine the trust and the faith this disciple must have? You don’t know which way to go. You can’t see Jesus. No need to put you hand to the oar to row the boat. But you trust that the breath of God will blow into sails of life and direct you. You don’t want to lose the mast, so you hold on to it. But you trust God so much that you know you can stand there holding the mast of the boat with one arm while the choppy, turbulent water rocks the boat.
Fear is a formidable power. And it is a natural response to the unknown. Life during a pandemic has reminded all of us that not a single one of us knows for sure what the months ahead will be like. It is beyond our control as so many other things in life are as well. The gospel story teaches us again that our fears though they are real can be matched by the presence of God through Jesus Christ. What was it that Jesus said? “Be of good cheer, it is I. Do not be afraid.” The uncertainty and the unknowns still remain, but we are never alone. Our God is with us all the time. Bind the encouraging words of Psalm 85 to your hearts and receive the promise that the Psalmist sings about.
Let me hear what God the Lord has to say
for since we are God’s people,
God will speak peace to us.
and we will be faithful to God.
and we will keep our hearts turned to God.
For God’s salvation is near.
God’s glory will live among us.
Steadfast Love, Faithfulness, Righteousness, and Peace
will be the way of life.
And God’s goodness will pervade all the earth.
Questions for Reflection
- Why do you think Jesus goes off alone to pray?
- How does the peace of God come into your life?
- What is the relationship between faith and the reality of steadfast love, faithfulness, righteousness, and peace being the way of life here on earth?
Prayer of Thanksgiving. Thank you God for constant love. Please help our church family grow deeper and deeper in your love. Amen.
Song of Faith
Jesus Calls Us O’er The Tumult
Jesus calls us o’er the tumult
of our life’s wild, restless sea;
day by day his sweet voice soundeth,
saying “Christian, follow me.”
As, of old, apostles heard it
by the Galilean lake,
turned from home and toil and kindred,
leaving all for his dear sake.
Jesus calls us from the worship
of the vain world’s golden store,
from each idol that would keep us,
saying “Christian, love me more.”
In our joys and in our sorrows,
days of toil and hours of ease,
still he calls, in cares and pleasures,
“Christian, love me more than these.”
Jesus calls us; by thy mercies,
Savior, may we hear thy call,
give our hearts to thine obedience,
serve and love thee best of all.
Sending Out
May the blessing and peace of God uphold you
the compassion and love of Christ enfold you
and the vitality and power of the Holy Spirit nourish and sustain you
this day and always. Amen.
Closing Song. In our tradition, we close worship by singing the first verse of Blest Be the Tie. Mindy starts us each week, and so she does today as well.
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.
The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. Amen.
Credits: The image is from https://www.pikist.com/free-photo-vlnvt [retrieved August 8, 2020]. The Call to Worship was written by Thom Shuman. The Opening Prayer and Sending Out were written by Moira Laidlaw. The author of How Firm a Foundation is unknown and is set to the tune FOUNDATION, an Early American Folk Tune. Both hymns were played by Tracy on the organ. Mercy and Truth is based on Psalm 85 and composed by Mark Schweizer and sung by Mindy, Ally, Elizabeth, Kendall, and Tonya. Amazing Grace is set to the tune NEW BRITAIN from the Virginia Harmony, 1831. The words were written by John Newton (1807). The song was played by Aidan. The Rain Will Seeks the Rivers was written by Bev Easterling, composed by Robert J. Powell. The song was sung by Mindy, Kendall, Ally, Elizabeth and Tonya accompanied by Tonya on the piano. The gospel was read by Meagan. Jesus Calls us O’er the Tumult was written by Cecil Francis Alexander (1852) and set to the tune GALILEE composed by W. H. Jude (1922). Blest be the Tie is set to the tune DENNIS which was composed by Johann G. Nageli (1836) and arranged by Lowell Mason (1872). The words were written by John Fawcett (1782). The hymn is sung by Mindy. All scripture passages are from the Common English Bible translation. Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-724755. All rights reserved. All writings have been used by permission from the posting sites or authors.
Cullowhee Baptist Church 
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