As I went a walking one morning in spring,
I met with some travelers in an old country lane.
One was an old man, the second a maid.
And the third was a young boy who smiled as he said:
Chorus:
With the wind in the willows and the birds in the sky.
We’ve a bright sun to warm us wherever we lie.
We have bread and fishes and a jug of red wine
To share on our journey with all of mankind.
I sat down beside them, the flowers all around,
And we ate on a mantle spread out on the ground.
They told me of prophets and princes and kings
And they spoke of the one god who knows everything. Chorus
I asked them to tell me their name and their race
So I might remember their kindness and grace.
My name is Joseph, this is Mary my wife
And this is our young son, our pride and delight.
We travel the whole world, by land and by sea
To tell all the people that they might be free. Chorus
Sadly, I left them, in an old country lane
For I knew that I never would see them again.
Once was an old man, the second a maid.
And the third was a young boy who smiled as he said: Chorus
The Gathering
Jesus spoke words of comfort, walked with the unclean and unloved,
shared wisdom, food, drink, brought healing into lives and challenged the status quo.
To show God’s love
Jesus spoke the word of God, walked a painful road to the Cross, shared living water, bread of life,
brought Salvation to the world and died for the sake of all.
This is love.
It is a seed planted that germinates and blossoms spreading its sweet perfume.
Reminding us of God’s love and care for all
Collect
Almighty God, without you we are not able to please you. Mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Song Give Thanks - Henry Smith
Give thanks with a grateful heart;
Give thanks to the Holy One;
Give thanks because we’re given Jesus Christ, the Son.
Give thanks with a grateful heart;
Give thanks to the Holy One;
Give thanks because we’re given Jesus Christ, the Son.
And now let the weak say, “ I am strong;”
Let the poor say, “I am rich,”
Because of what the Lord has done for us.
And now let the weak say, “ I am strong;”
Let the poor say, “ I am rich,”
Because of what the Lord has done for us.
As we read the word of God, and Listen to the word of God, Let it Speak to us
Scripture Reading Matthew 9:35-10:23Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Homily
Song for Refection Come with Me into the Fields - Dan Schutte
The fields are high and summer’s days are few;
Green fields have turned to gold.
The time is here for the harvesting,
For gathering home into barns.
Chorus:
The harvest is plenty, laborers are few.
Come with me into the fields.
Your arms may grow weary; your shoes will wear thin.
Come with me into the fields.
The seeds were sown by other hands than yours;
Nurtured and cared for, they grew.
But those who have sown will not harvest them;
The reaping will not be their care. Chorus
Affirmation of Faith (inspired by Matthew 25:16-20, Matthew 9:35-38)
I believe in a God
who created all things
and seeks for all to be in communion as God’s people.
I believe in Jesus Christ
who showed us how to share love,
and who commissioned us to go out into the highways and byways
inviting all to be a part of God’s work in the world.
I believe in the Holy Spirit
who leads and guides us into the world,
then touches the lives of those around us
in ways that make them receptive to love.
I believe in the harvest
and the call for laborers to receive and respond,
sharing light and life with the world. Amen.
~ by Tim Tate, Lead Pastor, Warrenton UMC. Posted on www.warrentonumc.org
Prayers of Reflection led by Mikaela Oldencamp
God our Creator, in whose love we live and move, we pray for a world crying out to feel loved, wanted, cherished and unique.
Heavenly Creator, source of all love
We pray for a world torn apart by conflict and war. A world that lives uneasily in a climate of fear
with no clear vision for future days
Heavenly Creator, source of all hope
We pray for a world that thinks less of others than of self. A world where division between nations, race, religion neighbour and family leads to distrust
Heavenly Creator, source of all peace
We pray for a world that is short on happiness, too busy to enjoy this world you have created, too preoccupied with living to appreciate life.
Heavenly Creator, source of all joy
We pray for a world where spiritual longing is satisfied by fashionable notions and temporary solutions
with no thought for tomorrow.
Heavenly Creator, source of our Salvation
We pray for a world that needs to know your love, your hope, your peace, your joy and Salvation.
A world that needs to know it is special, unique and is uniquely loved by the Creator. Amen.
— written by John Birch, and posted on his Faith and Worship website.
Song Until All Are Fed – Brian McFarland One Licence A-605236
How long will be sing? How long will we pray?
How long will we write and send?
How long will we bring? How long will we stay?
How long will we make amends?
Chorus
Until all are fed, we cry out. Until all on earth have the bread.
Like the one who loves us, each and everyone…
We serve until all are fed.
How long will we talk? How long will we prod?
How long must we fret and hoard?
How long will we walk to tear down this façade?
How long? How long, oh lord?
Chorus
How can we standby and failed to be aghast?
How long till we do what’s right?
How could we standby and choose a lesser fast?
How long till we see the light?
Chorus
On the green, green grass they gathered long ago,
To hear what the master said.
What they had they shared - some fishes and some loaves.
They served until all were fed.
Chorus
A time to pause for personal Reflection
We take time to give thanks for all that we have been blessed with during our life.
Consider: What would allow me to be more tender toward those I encounter today?
And Now as our Saviour taught us, we pray Our Father….
The Blessing
The Dismissal
Filled with God’s praises we glorify our creator. May peace be with us all, now and forever.
Amen Alleluia
Song Joyful, Joyful #425 -Beethoven, adapted by E. Hodges
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee
God of glory, Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee
Op'ning to the Sun above
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness
drive the dark of doubt away
Giver of immortal gladness
fill us with the light of day.
All Thy works with joy surround Thee
Earth and heav'n reflect Thy rays
Stars and angels sing around Thee
center of unbroken praise
Field and forest, vale and mountain
Flow'ry meadow, flashing sea
chanting bird and flowing fountain
call us to rejoice in Thee.
Thou art giving and forgiving
ever blessing, ever blest
well-spring of the joy of living
ocean-depth of happy rest
Thou the Father, and our Mother—
all who live in love are Thine
Teach us how to love each other
lift us to the Joy Divine
St. Paul’s One License # A-605236 for the songs included in the service/blog
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