SUNDAY 21st JULY
WELCOME and NOTICES
CALL TO WORSHIP
Good Shepherd,
remind us that we are your little flock,
gathered by your Spirit,
and tended through your love.
May we know your presence
as we worship today. Amen.
HYMN MP 366 Jesus is King!
PRAYERS
Jesus, our Shepherd,
who makes us lie down in green pastures,
who leads us beside still waters,
who restores our souls:
you anoint our heads with oil
and our cup overflows.
We worship and adore you,
King of kings and Lord of lords.
Amen.
A prayer of confession and an Assurance of forgiveness
Gracious God, you always make time for us;
we are sorry that we don’t always make time for you.
When we are rushing around being busy,
sometimes even when we are doing your work,
we forget about you.
We are sorry when we make our lives so full
that there is no room left for you –
no room to get away, to be in a quiet place with you.
Forgive us, Lord, and help us not to hurry but to slow down,
to make space for you to dwell within us.
And in that dwelling place,
may we seek what you want us to do
and who you want us to spend time with.
Help us to get the right balance,
a right rhythm that is in tune with you.
Amen.
Assurance of forgiveness
Even though we have gone astray,
you are our Shepherd –
the one who brings us back to the fold.
We are assured of your forgiveness,
and we are set free in the knowledge
that you always make room for us.
Amen.
SHARING GOOD NEWS
LYCIG PRAYER
God of Mission,
Who alone brings growth to your Church,
Send your Holy Spirit to give,
Vision to our planning,
Wisdom to our actions,
Joy to our worship
And power to our witness.
Help our church to grow in numbers,
In spiritual commitment to you,
And in service to our local community,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
READING Psalm 23 from Living Bible
23 Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need!
2-3 He lets me rest in the meadow grass and leads me beside the quiet streams. He gives me new strength. He helps me do what honors him the most.
4 Even when walking through the dark valley of death I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me, guarding, guiding all the way.[a]
5 You provide delicious food for me in the presence of my enemies. You have welcomed me as your guest;[b] blessings overflow!
6 Your goodness and unfailing kindness shall be with me all of my life, and afterwards I will live with you forever in your home.
HYMN R+S 677 The God of love my shepherd is
READING Mark 6: 30-34 and 53-56 from Living Bible
30 The apostles now returned to Jesus from their tour and told him all they had done and what they had said to the people they visited.
31 Then Jesus suggested, “Let’s get away from the crowds for a while and rest.” For so many people were coming and going that they scarcely had time to eat. 32 So they left by boat for a quieter spot. 33 But many people saw them leaving and ran on ahead along the shore and met them as they landed. 34 So the usual vast crowd was there as he stepped from the boat; and he had pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he taught them many things they needed to know.
53 When they arrived at Gennesaret on the other side of the lake, they moored the boat 54 and climbed out.
The people standing around there recognized him at once, 55 and ran throughout the whole area to spread the news of his arrival, and began carrying sick folks to him on mats and stretchers. 56 Wherever he went—in villages and cities, and out on the farms—they laid the sick in the market plazas and streets, and begged him to let them at least touch the fringes of his clothes; and as many as touched him were healed.
REFLECTION
HYMN R+S 595 Sometimes a light surprises
PRAYERS
LORD’S PRAYER
OFFERING PRAYER
God, in response to your great love and generosity,
we offer these gifts of money and the gift of our lives,
use them for good, as we seek to serve you and our fellow humans in love, Amen.
HYMN R+S 497 Give to me Lord a thankful heart
BLESSING
May God be with us,
a bright flame before us,
a guiding star above us,
a smooth path beneath us,
and a kindly shepherd behind us.
May we know the blessing of God,
Creator, Christ and Comforter. Amen.