Gathering the Community

Making Space, getting ready:
Normally we know worship begins when we enter the sacred space of a church building. When we pray at home, we may find it hard to concentrate on worship. So spend a moment in preparation for worship. Create a little “sacred space”:
Have a candle or tealight ready, and set a table with a cross, bible and perhaps a picture or some flowers. Take time to notice and calm your breath. Wait till you are ready, then dedicate this time to God.

Organ Prelude: Chaconne in F minor by J. Pachelbel -- Deirdre Morrell-Ormerod

Land Acknowledgement and Call to Worship:   Reader: Linda Moffat
Long before the Europeans landed on the shores of the Annapolis basin, for thousands of years generations of people of the Wabenaki Confederation were the only inhabitants of the land. The Mi’kmaq took seriously the Creator’s call to be stewards of earth and water, land and creatures. We humbly pray our thanks for their conservancy and we are committ to being attentive to the lessons they continue to teach.
We are called together by the One who created the heavens and the earth, the universe and our tender planet, so let us seek wisdom and guidance as we sing, pray and listen.
Lighting of the Christ Candle
Light a candle or tealight in your home, saying:
We light this light in the name of Creator who said
“Let there be light” - and there was light.
We light this light in the name of Christ, who said:
“I am the light of the world, whoever walks in my footsteps will not be in darkness
We light this light in the name of Holy Spirit, who is our inner light and the light of God’s presence in the world.
Be still for a moment and become aware of God’s light within you and of God’s presence in all of God’s creation.

Hymn: "Morning Has Broken"
​Voices United # 409

Opening Prayer of Adoration
Lord, it is summer. Once again the seasons have turned, the longest day of the year is past, the hottest days of the year are before us. We are so grateful for this beautiful part of your world we live in: For the moonrises over dewy meadows, for sunsets over the St. Mary’s bay, for the ocean breezes and abundance of green. For fireflies at night and birdsong in the morning. For the fruit and vegetables your fields yield through the hard work of farmers.
Your earth sustains us and nurtures us. We sing in praise and adoration of you, invisible and all present Creator.....

Hymn: “Praise to the Lord the Almighty...”   Voices United # 220

Hearing the Story ​

​Prayer for Illumination *
Life-Giving God,
Open our hearts and minds, that we will receive and then act on your message of love, hope and grace in your living Word, Jesus. Amen.

​ A reading of Paul’s letter to Philemon                          Reader: Burton Leathers     A personal plea for a person (Onesimus, a runaway slave). This is undoubtedly an authentic letter of the apostle Paul, written some time between 55-60 A.D.

Salutation
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, 2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philemon’s Love and Faith 4 When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God 5 because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ. 7 I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.
Paul’s Plea for Onesimus
8 For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, 9 yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. 10 I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. 13 I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. 15 Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17 So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.
22 One thing more—prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you.
Final Greetings and Benediction
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you,] 24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

From The gospel according to John: Jesus speaking in John 15:15
      Reader: Linda Moffat                                   “I call you slaves no longer because the slave does not know what his lord is doing, but I have called you friends, because everything I have heard from my Father I have made known to you”.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church. Thanks be to God.

Hymn:  “From the slave pens of the Delta”  Voices United # 690 -
​sung by David Holborn 

Reflection/Message   Philemon, slavery and changing the world - one person at a time           
​Rev. Elisabeth
The text of this sermon can be found on the website under "Sermon Archive".

Responding to the Word

Music: “Stand by me” ( Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller “Playing for Change” musicians from around the world.  
"I won't be afraid, just as long as you stand, stand by me... Whenever you're in trouble won't you stand by me."

Prayers of Thanksgiving , Lament and Intercession
Holy One, looking back at the centuries that have past since Paul wrote his letter we give thanks, lament and pray:
We give thanks for the witness of people inspired by your Holy Spirit. Thanks to their determination slavery has become unacceptable in societies around the world.
We give thanks for the Quaker communities of faith, and for people like William Lloyd Garrison, William Wilberforce, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Fredrick Douglass, Harriett Tubman and Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. We are made whole by your Spirit. Thanks be to God!
We lament the continued “under cover” existence of modern slavery like conditions through bonded labour in manufacturing, the sex and organ trade and via human trafficking. We lament with You the children: boys and girls, whose childhood and education is stolen because they have to lay bricks, weave carpets or do domestic work because their families have no other choice.
We lament with You teenagers who work under dangerous conditions in mines, agriculture or construction. We lament with You young women who disappear and are forced into prostitution, young men who sell their bodies because they have nothing else to feed themselves and their families.
We cry: Lord have mercy. By our lives and through our action your kingdom come!
We pray for the work of organizations who fight against crime and for justice; such as UNICEF and the Polaris project (US). We pray for those who investigate the difficult chains of human trafficking such as the RCMP in our country. We pray for an increase in our own awareness when we purchase electronic, computers and clothing; we pray for companies and governments, we pray for new protective legislation and the will to enforce them.
Lord, in your mercy: Guide our actions, hear our prayer.
This we pray in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray like this: Our Father, who is in heaven...

Preparing for the coming week:
Faith-full Living

Announcements and Notices
Please send any announcements or news to share to the church email.
Looking for: Your digital photos that might be suitable as bulletin covers. Images evoking thoughts of: Forgiveness, Vulnerability, Comfort, Generosity, Walking in the dark. This can be nature or object or person.
When will we “get back?”
Our church board created a “re-entry” committee, which will do an ongoing work of drafting a plan for safely resuming in person church activities. The folks on this committee are: Kerry Fitzgerald, Lillian Stewart, Shelley Wright, Rosanne Peach, Peter Hall, Rev. Elisabeth.
The board will approve the proposed plan before its put into practice. While everything depends on Covid 19 developments it was felt that we would not re-open the building before September but might have small group events if people have a desire for that.
Worship will continued to be provided on the internet as audio and by bulletin distribution for those who don’t have internet. Pastoral care by telephone or via outdoor visits. If you wish to arrange a funeral, please contact Rev. Elisabeth.
The gathering limit for outdoor events is 50 with social distancing, and 10 without.
Readings for next week’s worship and Bible study :  2 Cor 1:1-11 - Consolation
We begin a series on 2nd Corinthians
Bible study is every Tuesday morning by video tune in from 9:30-10:30. If you wish to participate its simple: call or email Rev. Elisabeth
Stewardship Moment: Paul wrote “ If he owes you anything, ...charge that to my account” (Phil.1:18)
Such generosity inspires me, who has a salary, to give extra to cover for those who don’t at this time.
Offering our Gifts
If you are able, please send a cheque or postdated cheques by mail, sign up for PAR, or send an e-transfer to stgeorgeandstandrew@gmail.com
Bulletin Dedication:
This morning's paper bulletin has been dedicated by Linda MacCharles in celebration of the recent birth of great-niece Autumn Hannah Smith.

Closing Hymn: “Be Thou my vision”    Voices United # 642

Commissioning:
“I have called you friends,
for everything I have heard from my Father I have made known to you”
​John 15:15

Organ Postlude : Voluntary in G by H. Heron  --  Deirdre Morell-Ormerod

*Source acknowledgement: Illumination Prayer by Fraser Williamson, Lorning P.C.  Golden Valley, Ont. From Gathering Magazine Pentecost 1, 2020

Thank you for listening! If you liked it, invite your friends. Till next week!