Sunday, June 21

GATHERING AS THE PEOPLE OF GOD

    Good morning beloved people of God and welcome to online worship!Happy Father's Day to all fathers and fatherly figures. 

    In addition to online worship this morning you are welcome to engage in worship in-person as well. 

    If you are not feeling sick at all today and are not a part of the vulnerable population in this age of COVID-19 (meaning you are under 65, do not suffer from a chronic illness, or do not live in the same home as someone who is a part of the vulnerable population), then you are welcome to attend in-person worship at 10:00am at St. Luke's. If the weather holds out, we will be worshipping outside once again. Please bring a hat, light jacket, your Bible, and chairs. If you don't have chairs we will bring some out to you when you arrive. 

    If the weather does not hold out for us, we will worship inside the sanctuary. As a reminder, you must have a mask or cloth face covering on before you can enter the church building. Keep in mind that wearing a mask or a cloth face covering is not primarily to keep you from getting sick. Instead, it reduces the risk of you unknowingly spreading germs to others. As the newly coined, and medically accurate, phrase goes: "My mask protects you, and your mask protects me" 

Preparing for Worship

    This past week included two major anniversaries to be aware of as we center and prepare ourselves for worship. 

    The first is the fifth anniversary of the shooting of nine Bible Study participants at Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) commemorated the day on June 17 by offering a worship and prayer service. 

    As a denomination they have reckoned with the reality that the shooter was a rostered member of the ELCA and two of the victims, Rev. Clementa Pinckney and Rev. Daniel Simmons, had graduated from an ELCA seminary. The denomination also recognizes that among Christian denominations they are the least racially diverse (96% of their membership is white). While the ELCA knows that the Emmanuel shooter did not become radicalized and driven to racially motivated violence through what he learned in his home church, the denomination is aware that they must play a major part in racial justice and reconciliation. 

    

    Two days later on Friday, June 19 was "Juneteenth" a day that recounts the announcement to thousands of slaves in Texas that emancipation had finally arrived for all people across the newly restored Union. In recent years "Juneteenth" has become more widely celebrated and commemorated. Below is a brief video from a Houston, TX news station explaining the history and significance of Juneteenth. 

Announcements 

    Check out and click on these links below for information and updates on the COVID-19 pandemic:

• Forest County Health Department
• Wisconsin Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church 
• Wisconsin Department of Health Services
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

    We are so glad that you are worshiping with us today online. Please stay connected with us during this time of social distancing and staying at home in these ways: 

• "Follow" this blog through entering your email address on the right-side of the screen.
• "Subscribe" to our YouTube channel: CSLA United Methodist Church
• "Like" us on Facebook: click here to access our page

Sharing of Joys and Concerns

    If you would like a copy of the prayer list or have prayer requests, please email Pastor Adam at pastor.adamwoods@gmail.com. You can also add your pray request in the comment section below. Please be aware that comments posted below are public. Before posting, please consider the privacy of those might not want their name shared publicly on the Internet. 

    If you would like the latest version of our prayer list for church and community members, please email Pastor Adam using the address above. 

Greeting and Offering One Another the Peace of Christ

    Offer this greeting to those in your household or call someone up right now (and I mean it, call them right now) and offer these words to them.

Shalom to you now, shalom, my friends.

May God's full mercies bless you my friends.

In all your living and through your loving,

Christ be your shalom, Christ be your shalom. 

Words (c) 1983 The United Methodist Publishing House

CCLI#2880227

PROCLAIMING THE WORD OF GOD

    In our Scripture lesson this morning, Jesus quote the Old Testament prophet Micah. This video from The Bible Project provides a helpful overview of the message of Micah the prophet and the book that bears his name. 

Matthew 10:24-39

RESPONDING TO THE WORD OF GOD

Prayers of the People 

    

   Called into unity with one another and the whole creation, let us pray for our shared world.

    Expansive God, you bring diverse voices together to form your church. Open our hearts and unstop our ears to learn from one another, that differences might not overshadow our baptismal unity. Lord in your mercy…

    Providing God, your creation shows us that life comes from death. Renew the places where our land, air, and waterways have been ill for too long. Direct the work of all who care for birds and their habitats. Lord in your mercy…

    Protecting God, sustain and keep safe all who work to defend others across the world. Revive and strengthen organizations dedicated to caring for refugees and migrants while their homelands struggle for peace. Lord in your mercy…

    Loving God, you promise to be with all who are persecuted for your sake. Guide all who speak your word of justice and console any who are tormented or targeted for being who they are. Lord in your mercy…

    Compassionate God, you are with us and we are never alone. Bless all fathers and father figures who strive to love and nurture as you do. Comfort all who long to be fathers and all for whom this day is difficult. Lord in your mercy…

    Reigning God, you bless us with guides and caretakers in the faith. As we give thanks for those who have died, increase our care for one another until we walk with them in newness of life. We pray for Joan Kirker's family as they mourn her death, celebrate her life, and gather together this week to honor her and worship you. Lord in your mercy…

Receive these prayers, O God, and those too deep for words; through Jesus Christ our Lord who taught his disciples to pray: 

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 trespasses,

    as we forgive those who trespass against us.

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 

    As we begin a time of offering our gifts and ourselves, consider the various organization, missions, and events that you are able to offer you time, talents, and money to during this time. The offering is a key part of worship because it reminds us that the God we have met this morning is a God on the move and a God at work in our world. Here are some links to click on that will direct you to several organizations that have online financial giving opportunities:

• Online Giving to Crandon and Argonne through the Wisconsin Annual Conference website 
• New Hope Shelter and Transitional Housing
• United Methodist Committee on Relief
• CDC Foundation

    If you wish to make a financial offering by writing a check, offerings to both St. Luke's and Argonne should be mailed to the office at St. Luke's (301 South Lake Ave, Crandon, 54520) or dropped in the outdoor mail slot next to the side entrance to St. Luke's. 

Gracious and Giving God, 

in this time of pandemic and distancing 

continue to use us and guide us 
to care for your people. 

All that we have, 

all that we are, 

and all that we give are because you have first loved us.

Bless all the work of our hands, 

the investments of our time, 

and the fruits of our labors,

so that we may embody and extend 

your grace, love, and mission to all our neighbors.

In the name of Jesus Christ we offer ourselves and we lift up this prayer.

Amen. 

GOING FORTH IN GOD'S MISSION AND LOVE

"Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone" and "The Old Rugged Cross"

The United Methodist Hymnal #424 and #504

CCLI#2880227

Must Jesus bear the cross alone,

and all the world go free?

No, there's a cross for everyone,

and there's a cross for me.

The consecrated cross I'll bear

till death shall set me free;

and then go home my crown to wear,

for there's a crown for me.

O precious cross, o glorious crown 

of resurrection day.

The angels from the stars bear down,

and bear my soul away.

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,

till my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

and exchange it some day for a crown.

Blessing and Benediction 

Go forth into the world to serve God with gladness; 

be of good courage; 

hold fast to that which is good; 

render to no one evil for evil; 

strengthen the fainthearted; 

support the weak; 

help the afflicted; 

honor all people; 

love and serve God, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.