FOR REFLECTION
“Joy for human beings lies in proper human work. And proper human work consists in: acts of kindness to other human beings, disdain for the stirrings of the senses, identifying trustworthy impressions, and contemplating the natural order and all that happens in keeping with it.”
—Marcus Aurelius
CALL TO WORSHIP I Corinthians 13: 1-8a, 13
If I speak in the tongues of humans and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.
It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
MINUTE FOR MISSION
Meals on Wheels Volunteer Anthem (90 seconds) – “America, Let’s Do Lunch”
Southminster has recently disbursed $500.00 to our local Meals on Wheels chapter. During this pandemic, the needs have greatly increased and the human connections made are incalculable.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
Pastor Don: May the Spirit of Christ be with you.
Congregation at Home: And also with you.
Pastor Don: Please share the spirit within you to those around you.
OPENING HYMN “Where Justice Flows Down”
Lyrics
Where justice rolls down like a mighty water
and righteousness grows like an ever flowing stream
and mercy resounds like the waves on the ocean
Let praises rise high on the songs of the redeemed
There is a river that streams from the temple
Begins as a trickle but ends in the sea
As it grows healing it will give
Where it flows everything will live
Chorus
Wade in the water and feel the strong current
Remember the stagnance of stale life before
God is here, leave the past behind
In these clear waters you will find
HEBREW READING Amos 5:21–24
“I hate, I despise your feasts,
and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them;
and the peace offerings of your fattened animals,
I will not look upon them.
Take away from me the noise of your songs;
to the melody of your harps I will not listen.
But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
2020 GRADUATION VIDEO
Congratulations to all graduates with connections to Southminster. The four high school graduates from Southminster are Natalie and Tyler Greenwood, Brennen James, and Calvin Butler. Also graduating this year: Emilee Marie Ruff, granddaughter of Sandy Ruff & Wally Carey; Olivia Fuson, granddaughter of Roger & Mary Ellen Fleck; and Drew Mittendorf.
CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURE Matthew 25: 31-40
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’
Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,you did it to me.’
SERMON
“Time to Get Personal!”
by Craig Butler
If you prefer to read the sermon text, click here.
RESPONSIVE HYMN “Guide My Feet” (An African American Spiritual)
PASTORAL PRAYER
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear” (Psalms 46:1-2).
Spirit of life and of love, give us courage for the journey. Guide us to live fully in the midst of so much change all around. May we look to all the things that make life abundant and amazing. Through it all, help us to make a space for the stirring of our hearts. Help us to listen and to pay attention.
Spirit of life and of love, help us to go deeper than quiet indignation about the current realities of racism and economic despair—to reflect on our own assumptions, practices, and discomforts and to recognize how we perpetuate systemic racism in this culture and even in the halls of our own church
Spirit of life and love, Guide us into the unknown. May we make “mission” personal, today and everyday. Show us places where we can make a difference. Help us to discover our mission with clarity and purpose and give us the courage and strength to do what needs to be done. Amen.
TIME FOR OFFERING
As we reflect on all of our blessings, individually and as a community, may we consider how we may give of ourselves so that the work of Christ’s love and peace may continue throughout our world. (Please contact staff@southmin.org, or one of our Trustees to discover simple ways you may give electronically or via mail. Thank you for supporting the staff and on-going ministries of Southminster Presbyterian Church).
CLOSING HYMN “We Are One in the Spirit”
FINAL BLESSING AND BENEDICTION
By Eugenia Gamble
May God bless you with discomfort
With easy answers, half truths and superficial relationships,
So that you will live deeply
And from the heart
And may God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression, and the exploitation of people,
So that you will work
For justice, freedom and peace.
And may God bless you with tears to shed
For those who mourn,
So you will reach out your hand to them
And turn mourning into joy.
And may God bless you with just enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in this world,
So that you will do those things that others say
Cannot be done.
JOIN US FOR OUR LIVE ZOOM WORSHIP TODAY, JUNE 7 – 11:00-12:00 p.m.
- You are asked to prepare for worship by securing a plate of “bread” and a cup of “juice” and having it by your computer as we celebrate our first Zoom communion.
- We will recognize our current graduates and the Koeman family will provide special music.
- We will ordain and install Elders and Deacons
- Here is the Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/99668593630?pwd=eVQva3VLK1hNTjlNbnRIdzAxdU94Zz09
- If you are unable to access ZOOM for whatever reason, you can call Michel on his cell phone (503.523.7878) and he will help you get into today’s worship.
