Opening Prayer

Gracious God, we gather once again to offer You praise and thanksgiving for Your unfailing love and faithfulness, shown most clearly through Your Son, Jesus Christ.

Grant us grace to worship You in spirit and in truth. Through the power of Your Holy Spirit, open our eyes to recognize You here among us. Give us courage to step out in faith to meet You, and confidence to follow where You lead.

For You are our God, and we are Your people, called by Your name.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  Amen.

Children’s Time

Faith in Jesus

Confession & Words of Assurance

 

Saving God,

we confess that we do not always understand Your ways. We are easily discouraged when life takes unexpected turns and our carefully laid plans and dreams come to nothing. We confess that we are quick to give up when things get difficult, and quick to question Your presence and Your power.

Forgive us. Grant us patience to wait for Your good timing. Open our eyes to recognize Your leading in our lives—to listen for Your gentle whisper when we least expect it. And then give us courage to step out in faith and obedience, trusting in Your leading even when we cannot yet see the outcome.

We praise You for Your faithful love, and pray that You would make us worthy to bear Your name. Amen.

Jesus loves us. There is no more profound truth than that. And through love we are already forgiven. Relax into that and allow your faith to shine through.

Scripture

 

Jesus walks on the water

Matthew 14²² Right away, Jesus made his disciples get into a boat and start back across the lake. But he stayed until he had sent the crowds away. ²³ Then he went up on a mountain where he could be alone and pray. Later that evening, he was still there.

²⁴ By this time the boat was a long way from the shore. It was going against the wind and was being tossed around by the waves. ²⁵ A little while before morning, Jesus came walking on the water toward his disciples. ²⁶ When they saw him, they thought he was a ghost. They were terrified and started screaming.

²⁷ At once, Jesus said to them, “Don’t worry! I am Jesus. Don’t be afraid.”

²⁸ Peter replied, “Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ “Come on!” Jesus said. Peter then got out of the boat and started walking on the water toward him.

³⁰ But when Peter saw how strong the wind was, he was afraid and started sinking. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

³¹ Right away, Jesus reached out his hand. He helped Peter up and said, “You surely don’t have much faith. Why do you doubt?”

³² When Jesus and Peter got into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ The men in the boat worshiped Jesus and said, “You really are the Son of God!”

 

Sermon

 

Performed by Margaret Whisselle

Prayers of the People

(Please add your prayers aloud and in the comment in section below)

God of love and faithfulness, the world is in pain and we Your children are often helpless in making that better. We need You to be the one to heal the world, and we recognize our responsibility in that relationship. You are our God and we are Your people.

Your people are crying this week for those in Beruit. We know the death toll will go higher, and the losses will be greater than we can imagine today. Help us know how to reach out in love, prayer and with our money, so we can make a difference.

Your people are sighing this week as more needless death is seen with Covid-19. So many are refusing to accept the basic ways they can mitigate the spread of this virus, while others in their desperation are turning to chemicals that hurt and kill them. Help us know how to reach out in both compassion and intolerance of ignorance and lies.

Your people are frustrated this week as more black people are killed, more queer folk are killed, more women are killed. Help us rise up in a force of justice to right these wrongs and tell those who would institutionalize inequality that they are not doing God’s work.

Your people are scared this week as schools start reopening and the numbers of infected children and teachers are on the rise. Help us know how to force governments to honour their commitment to the youngest in our society, and help us know how to support parents and teachers in every tough decision they make.

Gathering all these prayers together, along with those in our hearts and minds, we say the prayer tradition has taught us:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Your kingdom come, Your 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Benediction & Commission

 

As you leave this time of worship

Jesus calls us to step out on to the water with Him, to leave the safety of our boats, and to walk toward Him in faith, joining Him in the work He is already doing in our world.

And when the wind and waves get high and threaten to overwhelm us, we remember His words: “Don’t be afraid.  Take courage.  I am here.”

So let us go with faith, to follow where Jesus leads, confident that His love and presence go with us.

We go in peace to love and serve the Lord, Amen.