Virtual Worship – June 14, 2020

The Service For The Lord’s Day THE 2ND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

JUNE 14, 2020 WHENEVER “Love, especially God’s love, is not acceptance of the way things are.

Love is resistance. Love resists because it overcomes all powers and principalities.” … Rev. Samuel Son

Gathering Together for “Virtual” Worship

PRELUDE VIDEO “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me” (Fountainview Academy) PRELUDE (Brandon Cook)

CALL TO WORSHIP (from “A Brief Statement of Faith”) In sovereign love God created the world good and makes everyone equally in God’s image, male and female, of every race and people, to live as one community.

Obviously some of us have missed the point. Yes, we have missed the point! We rebel against God; we hide from our Creator. Ignoring God’s commandments, we violate the image of God in others and ourselves, accept lies as truth, exploit neighbor and nature, and threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care.

We deserve God’s condemnation. And yet God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation. In everlasting love, the God of Abraham and Sarah chose a covenant people to bless all families of the earth. Hearing their cry, God delivered the children of Israel from the house of bondage.

Loving us still – ALL OF US - God makes us heirs with Christ of the covenant. This God is who we gather to worship; let us do so in spirit and in truth.

May God be pleased with our praise. May God’s voice be clear and his spirit guide us to be agents of love and justice. Amen.

CHIMES OF THE HOLY TRINITY

* HYMN # 442 “The Church’s One Foundation” (all verses)

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison prayer) You came that we might have abundant life, but that eludes too many of us, O God. Hate and bigotry are ever present. The news is filled with despair. Our hearts ache as we still wade through a global pandemic, reaching grim milestone after grim milestone. But even as we navigate a new threat, old ones still linger. Communities of color bear the uneven weight of a new disease, yet we see that violence and injustice linger despite a pandemic that should bring us together. And far too many of us waver, unconvinced that there is a problem. Remove our hearts of stone, Lord. Replace them with hearts of love that can see our brothers and sisters of color as just that – our siblings. Help us to reckon not only with our personal failures, but also with our institutional history and the ways the

church has helped perpetuate inequality. By your Spirit, help us live into our creeds and confessions and provide sanctuary for all of God’s children. When we say that “God, in a world full of injustice and enmity, is the God of the destitute, the poor and the wronged” and that “the church labors for the abolition of all racial discrimination,” help us to truly mean it. We humble ourselves and cry out to you in the hope that you will hear us and heal us. Amen.

CHORAL RESPONSE # 573 “Lord, Have Mercy” (A new version of the Kyrie) Leader: Lord, have mercy Response: Lord, have mercy Leader: Christ have mercy Response: Christ have mercy Leader: Lord have mercy Response: Lord have mercy.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

* RESPONSE “Gloria Patri”

* SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST May the Peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.

(If you are worshiping with family this morning, share the peace of Christ with them; If this reminds you of someone you might need to reach out to, make a note to send them an email or text and share Christ’s peace that way.)

Proclaiming the Word PRAYER OF THE DAY (liturgist) FIRST READING: Matthew 7: 1 – 2; 15 – 20 (last page)

ANTHEM (Brandon Cook)

SECOND READING: Galatians 1: 6 – 9; 6: 1 – 5 (last page)

SERMON “Where You Stand Depends on Where You Sit” (Rev. Sellers) (Today’s “cliff notes” sermon will be followed up with a more in-depth sermon that will be a separate video uploaded on Sunday.)

Responding to the Word

* HYMN “A Hymn by Slats Toole” (Kingsfold Tune)

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (from The Confession of Belhar) We believe that God has entrusted the church with the message of reconciliation in and through Jesus Christ; that we are called to be the salt of the earth and light of the world, that the church is called blessed because it is a peacemaker, that the church is witness both by word and by deed to the new heaven and the new earth in which righteousness dwells;

The credibility of this message is seriously affected and its beneficial work obstructed when it is proclaimed in a land which professes to be Christian, but in which the enforced

separation of people on a racial basis promotes and perpetuates alienation, hatred and enmity.

Therefore, we reject any doctrine which, in such a situation sanctions in the name of the gospel or of the will of God the forced separation of people on the grounds of race and color and thereby in advance obstructs and weakens the ministry and experience of reconciliation in Christ. Amen.

CONCERNS AND CELEBRATIONS; ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PLANS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

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 AND OURSELVES TO GOD As you listen to the video offertory this morning, please take a moment or two to be intentional in your support of our churches. However you do it, remember that this is more than supporting staff or paying bills; this is accepting the opportunity of being a part of what God is doing in our world.

VIDEO OFFERTORY “Amazing Grace” (The Normal Christian Life)

* RESPONSE # 592 “Doxology” Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below; praise

him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

* PRAYER OF DEDICATION

Carrying the Word Into the World

* HYMN # 447 “Lead On, O King Eternal” * CHARGE AND BENEDICTION * POSTLUDE * VIDEO POSTLUDE “The Irish Blessing” (Beannacht uile-Éireann 2020)

(Italic words are spoken by the leader; Bold words are spoken by everyone.)

PRAYER REQUEST REMINDERS: You can use the contact form on either church website to share a prayer request with everyone in both congregations. https://mulberrypc.org/contact/ or https://christpccharlotte.org/contact/ .

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: REV. SAMUEL SON ON OUR CURRENT PROBLEMS “The novelist and playwright James Baldwin wrote the following in the middle of his long essay in The New Yorker Magazine titled “A Region in My Mind,” where he shared his coming of age as a black person in a white world. ‘White people in this country will have quite enough to do in learning how to accept and love themselves and each other, and when they have achieved this – the Negro problem will no longer exist, for it will no longer be needed.’

James Baldwin wrote this as a person who had been, but was no longer in the Church; and as one who intimately knew the complexity of the race issue. Still, he said that the fundamental problem is the inability to love, and in that way practically proclaimed for us that the answer to this – and every question – is the gospel of God’s love. And love is not acceptance of the way things are. Love is resistance. Love resists because it overcomes all powers and principalities. Love like Paul who confronted the behavior of someone as powerful as Peter, even publicly. Love like Paul who confronted not just an individual but confronted his own community for their hypocrisy. Love that confronts racist behavior from the fellowship hall to the city hall, from classrooms to courtrooms, from the preachers to the presidents. Love like Paul who confronts policies, like not eating food sacrificed to idols, and if the powers are unwilling to change them, just disregarding them.

If this generation is to be known for the 2nd Reformation, of rediscovering the power of the gospel to change the world, it will have to be the story of how it reformed the church from being a religious arm of white supremacy to the gospel-proclaiming people of God who confessed with their lips and life that Christ alone is Lord. Amen.” SERVICE NOTES: Today’s Video Prelude, “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me,” taped in Kauai, Hawaii, is another music video by the incredibly talented young musicians of the Fountainvew Academy in British Columbia, Canada. This secondary school associated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church has a renowned orchestra and choir that tours the world performing sacred music. This talented group of young people have dedicated their musical

James Baldwin

Rev. Samuel Son

talents to spreading the Gospel. Every student at Fountainview takes part in music and their music is an expression of their lived faith in Jesus Christ.

The Hymn following today’s sermon was written by musician, writer, educator and theater director Slats Toole. Slats is part of “The Center for Congregational Song,” lives in New Jersey, is on the advisory team for NEXT Church and is currently a candidate for ordination in the PC(USA).

Today’s Video Offertory is a version of “Amazing Grace” sung by people in 50 different countries who took part in “Global Outreach Day 2020,” an effort described in their own words as “inviting you to join thousands of churches and ministries worldwide and to dedicate the entire month of May 2020 to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Imagine how this will impact your neighborhood, your city, your country and the world!”

Today’s Video Postlude, “The Irish Blessing,” is an effort of 300 churches and organizations from every county [we would say state] in Ireland, who joined together “for the first time in history to play and sing an ancient Irish Blessing. “ It sends us from worship today with the same blessing that has been used as a benediction for God’s people for over 1,500 years.

Happy Birthdays to: Bill Thomason, Yesterday, June 13th Shirley West, Friday, June 19th Tina Dean, Tuesday, June 23rd Sandra Phillips, Saturday, June 27th Mike Tano, Monday, June 29th

MULBERRY CONTACT INFORMATION www.mulberrypc.org

Christ Contact Information www.christpccharlotte.org

Pastor: Rev. Rodger Sellers rpsellers@gmail.com 704-796-3117

Admin: Tina Emmons tinaemmons@ymail.com

Music Dir: Brandon Cook kbrandco@aol.com 704-941-9400

Announcements and Notes REOPENING PLANS: We’ve shifted the target date on our reopening worship to Sunday,

July 12th due to the 4th of July holiday. Please understand that the date is completely tentative and is dependent on both federal guidelines regarding COVID-19 “curve” numbers as well as the state’s own directives as to what stage of reopening we will be in by the 1st week of July. We’ll share more info. as we have it and a decision will be made by July 4th.

FATHER’S DAY, JUNE 21ST: It’s not too late to get a picture of your dad included in our Father’s Day tribute next Sunday, but we need them no later than this coming Thursday, June 18th. Email one to Rodger or bring a photo by the MPC office on Wednesday.

THURSDAY NIGHT VIRTUAL WORSHIP TAPING SESSION: If you would like to attend this coming week’s virtual worship taping session on June 18th at Mulberry, please either call or email Rodger beforehand. Attendance is capped at 10 people and we’ll begin 6:30 PM.

The WEEKLY “ZOOM IN” CATCH UP THIS WEEK: Join us at 6 PM Wednesday to catch up with everyone. If you need the meeting ID # and password, let Rodger know and he will email it to you.

Christ and Mulberry Prayer Concerns – June 14, 2020 (Updated as of Saturday, June 13th)

Pray for: Keith Davis (Lee West’s friend): Has COVID-19. Gayl Wilshire (Judy Sellers’ coworker) as she continues to recover from successful

Achilles tendon surgery this past Tuesday. Peace and sanity in the myriad of cities that have experienced violence and calamity in

the past week. Pray for safety for those protesting as well as police doing their jobs. Pray for cooler heads to prevail than many of the prominent voices whose choice of words and actions are fueling more unrest and protest instead of helping calm tension and unrest.

Bill Thomason (MPC member), that the setback with his eye and vision clears up quickly and that he continue healing with his back.

Linda Carpenter (CPC member) for her eye and the plans being made with a retina specialist.

4-year-old Sofie in Bonn Germany. (A friend of Judy Seller’s brother-in-law): She continues to recover from multiple spinal surgeries.

Everyone who is experiencing anxiety and depression due to the ongoing limitations and restrictions in our daily lives.

Those out of work and struggling to make ends meet financially. Sylvester Barbee’s extended family in the loss of his godmother Priscilla, whose

funeral was this past Wednesday. Lewis West, that the ruptured vertebra in his back heals quickly and fully. Our friends and family in assisted living or nursing homes who can’t have visitors, like

Maggie Thrower, Lillian Williamson, Louise Carter, Lorraine Smith, Lorenzo Conyers. Keith Bigham (Deborah Ray’s husband) with some current health concerns. Pray for Susan Kinley’s family (Linda Sadler’s friend): She passed away Wed., June 3rd. All our members and friends that we’ve not had regular contact with lately. All those who do not have a church family to love and support them in difficult times. The Lorien Academy of the Arts, as they plan for their summer camp. The Creative Player Foundation, as they also try to figure out how to move forward

with summer program plans. All our church leaders who are prayerfully looking at how we continue to safely and

responsibly move forward in our plans for reopening.

A Hymn by Slats Toole

Meter: 7.6.8.6.8.6.8.6 Tune: KINGSFOLD

How can we cry for justice when our swords stained the ground, With blood that cries from lands we stole but then claimed to have found? These swords have morphed to guns and bombs, that we will not let go. We don't deserve forgiveness, God; have mercy even so. How can we march for freedom when our hands built the wall, That greets the stranger with a cage instead of love for all? We willfully ignore the tale of Christ as refugee. We don't deserve your kindness, God; but Savior, hear our plea. How can we seek God's kin-dom when our words stoke the flame, That animates our acts of hate, our systems, sins and shame? Our doctrines justify our need to conquer, cage, and kill. We don't deserve your mercy, God; have mercy even still.

Text copyright 2019, Slats Toole.

Permission to use in worship (in-person or online) is granted for services grappling with the death of George Floyd.

Matthew 7: 1 – 2; 15 – 20: 1 “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. 2 For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will know them by their fruits.

Galatians 1: 6 – 9; 6: 1 – 5: 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed!

6:1 My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. 4 All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor’s work, will become a cause for pride. 5 For all must carry their own loads.