Emmanuel Presbyterian Church

Emmanuel Presbyterian Church
                                Bedford, Texas
                              Sunday June 13, 2021
                                   10:00am

                               Mission Statement

          Courageously proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we:
         ● worship and glorify God,
         ● grow in faith as disciples,
         ● seek justice and mercy,
         ● and nurture those in need while embracing all humanity.

Welcome to this service of worship. The Emmanuel congregation invites all ages to
worship God together. Children’s bulletins and activity bags are available from the
ushers. A “Fidgety Friends” room is available upstairs behind the sanctuary if
children become restless and parents would like a comfortable place to continue to
participate in worship.

Celebration of Worship
                                  Third Sunday after Pentecost
10:00am                                                                             June 13, 2021
  [Currently from CDC: If you are fully vaccinated you do not need to wear a mask or practice
social distancing either inside or outside while on campus; those who are not fully vaccinated are
                                       asked to wear a mask;
 Your Covid Task Force believes group singing to be of little risk given local vaccination rates.]

We Gather in Worship
Greeting and Announcements
[Remember to add your prayer requests for inclusion in the Prayers of the People at
https://forms.gle/SYTJ4pe93vk16CDx6 or on the paper forms in the friendship pads. Place the
paper forms in the offering plate.]
Centering Words - (Peter Denton)
   “And weeds? I will never forget her terse observation: 'Back home, we don't have any weeds.
                We only have plants for which we have not yet found a use.”
Prelude                                 Open Our Eyes                         arr. Mark Zeeman
*Call to Worship
  What mysteries there are in God’s world!
  We, so sophisticated, stand in awe at the wonders of the natural world.
  We look at the tiniest of seeds and wonder what will happen
  From that small seed will grow a large shrub.
  Although we consider our gifts to be small and insignificant,
  God will use our gifts in miraculous ways.
  Praise the God of small seeds and mighty power. Amen.
*Hymn (GTG) No. 441            Hear the Good News of Salvation                         NETTLETON

                                      (verses 1 and 2 only)

We Are Renewed in Grace
Remembering Baptism (Liturgist)
Prayer for Restoration
    Mighty God, to you belong the mysteries of the universe. You transform
    shepherds into kings, the smallest seeds into magnificent trees, and hardened

hearts into loving ones. Bless us with your life-giving Spirit, re-create us in your
    image, and shape us to your purposes, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
                 (Worshippers are invited to offer silent prayers of confession)
Words of Assurance
  Fear not, for our creator, the loving maker of all reality, forgives us, and redeems us
  from violence and oppression. God sows the good news in tiny seeds, inviting us to
  tend the soil of community, and marvel as they grow. In the name of Jesus, who is the
  Christ, we are forgiven, redeemed, and restored. Amen.
*Sung Response (GTG) No. 299 You Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim             HANOVER

                                       (verses 1, 2 and 4 only)

We Receive God’s Word
Children’s Gathering                                                        Kristin Hartwell
Psalter Reading        Psalm 92:1-4, 12-15 (pages 537-538, red Bible)
Anthem                           Ancient Words                            DeShazo/Courtney
                             (Emmanuel Chancel Choir)
Gospel Reading         Mark 4:26-34 (page 914, red Bible)               Rev. Dr. Kyle Walker
Leader: The Word of God for the People of God.                    People: Thanks be to God.
Sermon                     “Tending the Weeds”                        Rev. Dr. Kyle Walker

We Experience God’s Grace
*Affirmation of Faith - (A Brief Statement of Faith)
   The same Spirit who inspired the prophets and apostles rules our faith and life in
   Christ through Scripture, engages us through the Word proclaimed, claims us in
   the waters of baptism, feeds us with the bread of life and the cup of salvation, and
   calls women and men to all ministries of the Church .
   In a broken and fearful world the Spirit gives us courage to pray without ceasing,
   to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior, to unmask idolatries in
   Church and culture, to hear the voices of peoples long silenced, and to work with
   others for justice, freedom, and peace .
   In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, we strive to serve Christ in our
   daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God’s new
   heaven and new earth, praying, “Come, Lord Jesus!”
   With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death
   can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Prayers of the People                                                    Rev. Dr. Kyle Walker
The Lord’s Prayer                                                        Rev. Dr. Kyle Walker
   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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but
   deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
   forever. Amen.
Offering our Gifts to God
   [Note: A basket is available in the sanctuary for you to walk to and drop your offering and
              prayers into. You may also contribute online at emmanuelpc.org]
Invitation to the Offering
Offertory                 The Sweetest Name of All                           arr. Mark Zeeman
*Doxology                                                      Glory to God Hymnal, page 606
Prayer of Dedication
   Holy One, we commit our actions and resources to the flourishing of our human
   family, our planet home, and our sacred selves. We mourn for the ways we have
   lived into the lie of self-sufficiency. We repent for denying our
   interconnectedness. We have gratitude for the creativity of the Beloved who joins
   us co-creating the community we truly desire. Amen.

We Leave to Serve
*Hymn (GTG) No. 171            A Sower Came from Ancient Hills                        SEACHRIST

                                    (verses 1, 2 and 4 only)
*Charge and Benediction
[You are invited to sit and enjoy the postlude. Please respect distance and the masking
preferences of others as you depart.]
Postlude                         Chaconne in C major                      Dieterich Buxtehude
*Sharing Peace and Fellowship in the Parking Lot
*please stand, if able
(GTG) – Glory to God Hymnal
Words in bold print are said in unison by the congregation.

Sources for this service: Call to Worship, Nancy Townley. Prayer for Restoration,
Thematic, Intercessory and Scripture Prayers for the RCL, Vanderbilt Divinity Library.
Words of Assurance, Peter Bankson. Offering prayers from Enfleshed, 2021.

                                   Worship Leaders
                        Rev. Dr. Kyle Walker, Transitional Pastor
                           Susan LaPointe, Director of Music
                             Tak Yan Yeung, Accompanist
                                       Liturgists:
                                      Anni Wordell
                                    Kristin Hartwell