Order of Worship

Dear Church Family,

Our Simple Prayer Service will be held this Wednesday at 7 PM, and we would love for you to join us!

We will be worshipping in person and by phone, and we want everyone to have the opportunity to be a part of this meaningful time together.

We are living in the season of Pentecost — the gift of the Holy Spirit alive among us and moving in our midst. Pentecost marks the birthday of the Church, the moment the Spirit moved among the disciples with power and purpose, and that same Spirit moves among us still. As we continue through this season, we invite you to join us as we are renewed and inspired by all the Spirit has in store. What are you experiencing as we walk through this season together? We have attached the Order of Worship and cannot wait to worship with you in this season of Pentecost.

Conference Call

Please Dial-in:  267-807-9601

Use access code: 111-576-270#

Simple Prayer for June 24, 2026
Wednesday of the Fourth Week after Pentecost

Greeting and Welcome

*Lucenarium:  Lighting of the Christ Candle

Leader:       Jesus Christ is the light of the world

All:              A light no darkness can extinguish.

Leader:       The Lord be with you.

All:              And also with you.

Leader:       Lift up your hearts.

All:              We lift them up to the Lord.

Leader:       Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All:              It is right to give our thanks and praise.

     Leader:       We give you thanks, O God,
Creator and Ruler of the universe:

     All:              You made the lights of the heavens:
the sun in the day to brighten and warm the earth
the moon at night, and all the countless stars.

You gave us these lights as signs
for seasons, days and years.
Then in the fullness of time
you sent Jesus Christ to be the light of the world,
the morning star that never fades.
Let your light illumine our lives

                             and enlighten our path
until we rest in perpetual light with you,
through Christ our Lord
and in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Leader:       Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

All:              Blessed be God for ever and ever. Amen.

Hymn:  Lord of All Hopefulness  TFWS 2197

Epistle Reading:  1 Timothy 6:11-16

11 But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and for which you made[a] the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 16 It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

The Word of the Lord.  THANKS BE TO GOD.

Congregational Response  Psalm 16: 5-11
5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold fast my lot.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
I have a goodly heritage.

7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I keep the Lord always before me;
because God is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
my body also rests secure.
10 For you do not give me up to Sheol,
or let your faithful one see the Pit.

11 You show me the path of life.
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

GOSPEL LESSON:  Matthew 7:6, 12-14

Jesus said:  6 “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.

12 “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
13 “Enter through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. 14 For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

                     The Gospel of the Lord.  THANKS BE TO GOD.

MUSIC FOR MEDITATION

REFLECTION:  Narrow Road, Expansive Hearts
— Lauren L. Murphy

A few years ago while traveling in Ireland, my husband and I visited the Poulnabrone Dolmen in the Burren, a national park south of Galway. We’d been there twice before, and in the past the GPS directed us to turn right out of the little parking lot to get to the site. That way takes travelers along the Wild Atlantic Way with stunning views of the ocean and cliffs. This time, though, it sent us left. Then left again, onto an uneven gravel track of pits and curves. You wouldn’t think that two miles could feel like fifty. It can. As my husband Patrick drove along, white-knuckled, grumbling about GPS and hoping fervently another car wasn’t coming toward us, I wondered why on earth we were on this road when a better option existed.

Narrow roads are not necessarily ideal. They demand we stay alert, and there can be little room for passing travelers. I much prefer the spacious path with room for all, not just a few. Especially because I firmly believe most of us are doing our best to walk a life-affirming path. The Golden Rule bumps up against this admonition about broad and constricted roads and those who travel them. Elsewhere in the Gospels we are told to “love your enemies” (Matt 5:43) or to “love one another” (John 13:34). Here Jesus doesn’t add a qualifier or explainer: “Do unto others.” All others. Anyone you meet. The road may be narrow, but our hearts are open wide.

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE:

As candles are lit and prayers are lifted up from the silence of our hearts by those assembled, all may sing as the musicians lead
Come and Fill Our Hearts With Your Peace  TFWS 2157

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Closing Prayer  (in unison):

To you, O God,
we give up the burden of this day,
trusting in your love and mercy.
To you, O God,
we surrender ourselves,
trusting our risen Lord
to lead us always in the way of peace,
today, tomorrow, and forever. Amen.

Benediction

Response:              Triple Amen                      UMH 898