Online Worship – October 11, 2020

Sunday Vespers. You are invited to join the members and friends of Trinity Palm Coast (in-person!) for outdoor vespers on Sunday evenings. Vespers, by definition, is an informal worshipful gathering. We will observe social distancing and all are asked to wear a mask in consideration of others. We also ask that you bring your own chair. In case of bad weather, we’ll plan to meet in Mehaffey Hall or cancel as necessary. We look forward to seeing and worshipping with you!

Hymn books are available to borrow. You could use them at home to follow along with the worship service or bring it to Sutdoor Vespers. The Hymn books can be checked out in the Church office, Monday-Thursday from 9am-12pm.

A new Midweek Bible Study video is available online each week. Visit our website or Facebook page to view a video from Rev. Beebe. A new video will be released each week and will be available to watch whenever it is convenient for you. You can also ‘catch-up’ anytime at the Bible Study archive. To be included in our weekly email, simply subscribe to the website or join our Facebook group. Links to subscribe and join are at the bottom of our webpage.

Portions of the liturgy we use in the service are provided by Sanctified Art. Where used, they are identified with a superscript ² and the copyright acknowledgment is at the bottom of this worship page.

Briefly, a word concerning the technical presentation of this service. If you are having difficulty reading the words, look for your web browser’s “Zoom” settings. The keystrokes are typically ‘Ctrl-Shift-+’ to increase the zoom or ‘Ctrl-Shift-(minus)’ to decrease the zoom. Other devices may have a different mechanism (‘finger pinch’), but most support zoom.

Although the sanctuary doors will not be open, we hope you will have a meaningful Sunday worship experience!

This week’s bulletin is available at any time by clicking this link. The bulletin will open in a separate tab or window.

Please note the bulletin matches the order of service on this page, but there are additional items that may be of interest to you that are not included on this worship page.

The service this day contains:

• Preparation for Worship
• Prelude “Creation In Me a Clean Heart, O God”
• Call to Worship
• Hymn #703 “Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me”
• A Prayer of Confession
• Declaration of Forgiveness
• Gloria Patri (Hymn #581)
• Prayer for Illumination
• Gospel Reading
• Old Testament Reading
• Anthem “Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart”
• Children’s Sermon
• Meditation “Catch and Release”
• A Stewardship Story
• Affirmation of Faith
• The Lord’s Prayer
• Hymn #707 “Take Thou Our Minds, Dear Lord”
• Benediction
• Congregational Response (Hymn #306)
• Prayer of Dedication for the Offering
• Offering to God
• Postlude “The Earth Belongs to God Alone”

² One: Through Moses, God said,
All: “Let my people go.”
One: In scripture, the law declares:
All: “In the seventh year, you must cancel all debts.”
One: With grace, Jesus said:
All: “Give one coat away.”
One: With honesty, Jesus taught:
All: “Sell what you have, give that money to the poor.”
One: Faith has always involved letting go, releasing, setting free,
Dropping our nets, giving to others, and following.
All: So in this hour of worship, may we release that which binds us.
May we worship with open, untamed, and porous hearts, so that we can walk freely with God.
One: Let it be so.
All: Amen.

Rev Dr Jeffrey Beebe

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, Amen.

Hawley Rogers, lay reader.

² Gracious God,
We release our hearts to you.
First, we remove the pressure,
For release requires the freedom to be moved.
Then we allow our hearts to return to their original resting position—
In sync with you, with the rhythm of summer cicadas, and this whole wild creation.
Then, we pray that you will find our hearts available—
Not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually.
So like the mockingbird releases her song,
We release our hearts to you.
Move in them.
Stir us awake.
Speak to us now.
We are waiting.
Amen.

Hawley Rogers, lay reader.

Matthew 19:16-22 – The Rich Young Man. Listen for God speaking to you today.

Then someone came to him and said, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; 19 Honor your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “I have kept all these; what do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

Hawley Rogers, lay reader.

Deuteronomy 15:1-11 – Laws concerning the Sabbatical Year.. Listen for God speaking to you today.

Every seventh year you shall grant a remission of debts. 2 And this is the manner of the remission: every creditor shall remit the claim that is held against a neighbor, not exacting it of a neighbor who is a member of the community, because the LORD’s remission has been proclaimed. 3 Of a foreigner you may exact it, but you must remit your claim on whatever any member of your community owes you. 4 There will, however, be no one in need among you, because the LORD is sure to bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you as a possession to occupy, 5 if only you will obey the LORD your God by diligently observing this entire commandment that I command you today. 6 When the LORD your God has blessed you, as he promised you, you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.
7 If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your needy neighbor. 8 You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be. 9 Be careful that you do not entertain a mean thought, thinking, “The seventh year, the year of remission, is near,” and therefore view your needy neighbor with hostility and give nothing; your neighbor might cry to the LORD against you, and you would incur guilt. 10 Give liberally and be ungrudging when you do so, for on this account the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. 11 Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, “Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.”

Brooke Tucker, Director of Faith Formation.

Rev Dr Jeffrey Beebe

We know we all have a story to share concerning how we think about or do stewardship. So if you would like to share with us your story, please let us know, for we would love to hear it. Call any committee member: David Tiernan (chair), Marc Hitchins, Karen Walker, Jane Lippian or Martha Gioielli.

Martha Gioielli introduces Brooke Tucker with Bill and Libbie Butler.

Please wait until AFTER the worship service on November 1 to fill in your 2021 Stewardship Pledge Cards. Once filled in, they may be turned in to the church or mailed to the church office. May God richly bless our generosity as we return to God a small portion of what He has given to us.

Hawley Rogers, lay reader

² We believe that on the first day,
God released love and creativity over a void;
and that void became mountains and rivers, sunsets and starry nights.
We believe God released
God’s people from the grips of slavery,
liberating us day in and day out.
We believe God laid down with death
and was released from its grip,
knowing suffering and freeing us from this fragile life.
And we believe God invites us—
day in and day out—
to release our fears,
let go of assumptions, tear down walls,
throw open the doors, and walk closer to love.
May it be so.
Amen.

Rev Dr Jeffrey Beebe

Heasuk Che, organist.

Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.
The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.

² Gracious God,
As we come to you today in prayer, we admit that giving is complicated.
At times it is easier to remember our shame or guilt around giving,
as opposed to your joy or generosity.
We all have our money narratives, and they affect us in different ways.
So today as we offer our gifts to you,
we pray that you would re-center our narrative.
Remind us that we do not give out of shame or guilt.
We do not give out of obligation.
We do not give to feel worthy.
And we do not give to buy your grace.
We give out of a desire to participate.
We give as a sign of gratitude.
We give because we belong to one another.
We give to build a more just and equitable world.
We give because we love, and that’s what love does.
So take these gifts and remind us that we belong to one another.
Remind us that all money narratives are welcome at this table.
Remind us that whatever shame or guilt we bring with us
will be washed away with your empathy and love.
Remind us, and then help us to build that more beautiful world.
In hope we pray, Amen.

God calls us to give all of who we are, and all of what we have to be used in and thru the Church. So let us present our lives. Let us present our gifts unto God.
Offerings can be received in the church by mail or you may utilize online banking options.

You can click the image to the right or this link to give online now. At the online Giving site, select “2020 Pledge” as the Fund to fulfill your 2020 pledge or use another fund if you’re directing your gift elsewhere. Note, the church must pay a small processing fee to receive your contribution via online giving. Increasing your gift would help cover the cost of processing and would be greatly appreciated.

If you’d like to see alternatives to online giving, please take a look at our Contribute page.