Gathering those who fear they are not enough,

so we may experience grace, wholeness, and renewal as God’s beloved.

Juan Pablo Rodriguez on unsplash 

PREPARING OUR HEARTS FOR WORSHIP The stories we’ve told were carefully moulded with not-so-lightly chosen terminology.

Words avoided and what was told aloud was certainly not as loud as what was shrouded by our mutually unagreed silence

Because violence, while it is deep in us, is not what sleeps deepest in us.

And the question is can I see my face when I face my own history from where you’ve faced it?

And the question is can we create the space that holds us and moulds us in our bodies so that we embody who and what we can be with one other? – O n c e u p o n a t i m e b o m b by Pádraig Ó Tuama

July 5, 2020 9:30 a.m.

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

We Gather to Praise God 

PRELUDE AND RINGING OF THE BELL Fanfare for the Common Man   Aaron Copland (1900-1990) arr. Greg Bloy 

WELCOME AND CALL TO WORSHIP 

* HYMN 755 (verse 1)  Alleluia! Laud and Blessing

 

* Please stand in body or spirit    

DRAW NEAR TO GOD’S LOVE AND GRACE adapted from the Iona Community

Because you made the world, and intended it to be a good place, and called its people your children; because when things seem at their worst, you come in Christ to bring out the best in us, so gracious God, we gladly say:

Goodness is stronger than evil, love is stronger than hate, Unity is stronger than division, truth is stronger than lies.

Because confusion can reign inside us, despite our faith, because old inherited ways of seeing distort our vision, because our minds sometimes worry small things all out of proportion, because we do not always get it right, we want to believe:

Goodness is stronger than evil, love is stronger than hate, Unity is stronger than division, truth is stronger than lies.

Because you have promised to hear us, and are able to change us, And are willing to make our hearts your home, We ask you to confront, control, forgive, and encourage us, As you know best Silence for personal reflection Then let us cherish in our hearts that which we proclaim with our lips:

Goodness is stronger than evil, love is stronger than hate, Unity is stronger than division, truth is stronger than lies.

Lord, hear our prayer, and change our lives until we illustrate the grace of the God who makes all things new.

Amen.

* SING GLORY TO GOD   

We Listen for God’s Word 

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

FIRST SCRIPTURE LESSON John 21:15-19 15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” 19 (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

ONE: The Word of the Lord. ALL: Thanks be to God.

WORD IN MUSIC Deep River   arr. Moses Hogan (1957-2003)  

SECOND SCRIPTURE LESSON  2 Corinthians 5:17-21 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. 20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

ONE: The Word of the Lord. ALL: Thanks be to God.

SERMON MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION Diane Walton Hendricks

 

We Respond to God’s Word 

* HYMN 757 (verses 1, 4)  Today We All Are Called to Be Disciples

* RESPONSE OF FAITH from The Belhar Confession We believe

• that God has entrusted the church with the message of reconciliation in and through Jesus Christ; • that the church is called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, that the church is called blessed because it is a peacemaker, that the church is witness both by word and by deed to the new heaven and the new earth in which righteousness dwells; • that God’s life-giving Word and Spirit has conquered the powers of sin and death, and therefore also of irreconciliation and hatred, bitterness and enmity, that God’s life-giving Word and Spirit will enable the church to live in a new obedience which can open new possibilities of life for society and the world; • that the credibility of this message is seriously affected and its beneficial work obstructed when it is proclaimed in a land which professes to be Christian, but in which the enforced separation of people on a racial basis promotes and perpetuates alienation, hatred and enmity; • that any teaching which attempts to legitimate such forced separation by appeal to the gospel, and is not prepared to venture on the road of obedience and reconciliation, but rather, out of prejudice, fear, selfishness and unbelief, denies in advance the reconciling power of the gospel, must be considered ideology and false doctrine.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE  from Carolyn Bruce ONE: Lord in your mercy, ALL: Hear our prayer.

The Prayers of the People are offered on behalf of and with the congregation, usually by an elder currently serving on Session (governing council) or other members of the congregation.

Please keep in your prayers… Hayden Beatty, father of Sam Beatty, in hospice care Avery Burns, recovering from hip surgery after a fall, and in rehab at Mount Vernon

Hospital Bob Moore, in hospice care Becca Leland, as she begins clinical pastoral education Frank Burdette and family on the death of Frank’s father, F. Page Burdette, from

Covid-19 on June 11, and for Page’s wife, Lois, sick with Covid-19 Those who have lost jobs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic Staff and residents of elder care facilities everywhere First responders, health care providers, caregivers, essential employees, and all who

are putting their lives at risk during the coronavirus pandemic

Continued prayers for… Doug Ammons, Kris Barth, Brenda Buchly, Chuck and Marty Campbell, Judy Cornier, Soledad Cuzzi, Sgt. John R. Goldsmith, Steve Graff, Mike Hugo, Linda Issaacson, Doug Jonas, Nora Long, Nancy Lundien, Ruth Mileham, Cheryl Naderman, Ruth Nowjack-Raymer, Cort Peret, Stanley Rusher, James Steele, Cathy Stewart, Lawson Swift, Doris Webb, Doris Williams, Charles Wirth, Christa Young

Prayer requests can be sent to Pastors James and Diane at prayers@fallschurchpresby.org

OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD Offertory

* DOXOLOGY  

 

SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE Great Thanksgiving

ONE: The Lord be with you. ALL: And also with you. ONE: Lift up your hearts. ALL: We lift them up to the Lord. ONE: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. ALL: It is right to give God thanks and praise. ONE: It is truly right…

Sanctus

The Lord’s Prayer

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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Distribution of the Elements

   

POST COMMUNION PRAYER 

* HYMN 774 (verses 1-4) There Is Now a New Creation

* OUR LIFE TOGETHER AS THE BODY OF CHRIST 

* CHARGE AND BLESSING 

TRIBUTE TO LISA BILLINGHAM    

Songs reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-721003

Supporting us in Worship 

Audio/Video Diane Maloney Musicians Andrew Jonas, tenor; David Schoonover, baritone

Falls Church Presbyterian belongs to the Covenant Network of Presbyterians, “working for the unity of the church, furthering the inclusion of LGBTQ persons, seeking understanding and

reconciliation, and joining with others seeking a still more just and inclusive church.”

The Rev. James Sledge, Pastor The Rev. Dr. Diane Walton Hendricks, Pastor for Spiritual Growth Diane Maloney, Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministry 

The Rev. Megan Klose, Parish Associate The Rev. Rusty Lynn, Hon. Ret., Parish Associate 

David Schoonover, Music Coordinator Dr. Lisa Bloy, Organist 

      

225 East Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046 • 703‐532‐6518 • www.fallschurchpresby.org     

     This Week at FCPC  

  July 5‐12, 2020  

 

Summer Worship at 9:30 a.m. Join us for online worship in the sanctuary this communion Sunday, then Zoom in for virtual fellowship hour at 10:45. Zoom Meeting ID: 919 9132 3252. Please note: Even though Northern Virginia has now entered Phase Three of the governor’s plan to reopen Virginia, FCPC will remain closed to in-person activities until clear guidelines are in place and approved by Session. 

Drop & Dash Food Drive, July 3, 4 and 5. Hosted by the Mercy Ministry team. Drop off much-needed items at FCPC in a safe manner from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on July 3, 4 and 5. Click here to see what items are needed. Donations will be delivered to Knox Food Pantry and Food for Others. Hymnals available for home use. Borrow a hymnal from the church when you drop off your food drive items at the Drop & Dash event July 3, 4, and 5. If you can’t make it to Drop & Dash, contact the church office and we will arrange a time during office hours for contactless pickup. Gathering Groups round two. Our first set of Gathering Groups wrapped up this week. Groups focused on Gratitude using a collection of videos featuring Diana Bulter Bass. The next round of Gathering Groups will encourage participants to read White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo. These groups will also share life and conversation. Fill out this simple survey to help us prepare for this new opportunity. Groups will begin the week of July 19 and run through the week of August 23. Welcome Table serves 256. Many thanks to head chef John Loyd and all the volunteers who helped set up, prep food, package meals, and clean up, we served 256 grateful guests at our Welcome Table dinner on July 1. Twice a month we serve our guests a to-go meal with a $10 Giant gift card (given to adults only) outside the church building. If you would like to volunteer at our next Welcome Table on July 15, sign up here. Please note that anyone not signed up to help cannot be allowed inside. If you would like to support Welcome Table financially, you can donate to FCPC’s Hunger Ministries program at our secure online giving link.

ONLINE WORSHIP AND MEETINGS 

Worship Service – Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Join us for online worship at www.fallschurchpresby.org/livestream or on our FCPC Facebook page.

Virtual Fellowship Hour – This Sunday at 10:45 a.m. Led by Theresa Brown.. Zoom Meeting ID: 919 9132 3252

Tuesday Morning Prayer – Tuesdays at 8:45 a.m. Led by Diane Walton Hendricks. Zoom Meeting ID: 104 294 101

Family Table at Home – Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. Led by Diane Maloney. Zoom Meeting ID: 374 023 830

Saturday Bible Study Group – Saturdays at 8:00 a.m. Led by Tom Koger. Zoom Meeting ID: 972 0316 4309

Escape 2020 Update. During the Covid-19 shutdown, the Escape planning team has been in regular contact with Shrine Mont, which has just announced it will open on June 19, with special protocols to keep guests and staff safe. For now, we are holding onto our reservation for Escape Weekend, November 6-8. So keep it on your calendars. Dining restrictions effective on June 19 would not suit a group like ours. If the Covid-19 situation improves enough for Shrine Mont to ease those restrictions, and if we feel comfortable gathering together, we will reassess and decide whether to Escape in 2020 or defer until 2021. God sightings. You are invited to share a photo that captures a time or place where you have experienced God. Photos submitted by noon each Wednesday will be considered for use at the opening of our virtual worship service. Email images to Diane Walton Hendricks. Crossing Paths is a daily email designed to be a way to stay connected to each other, our community, and God. Crossing Paths are simple reflections shared by the FCPC community, available by email and on our Facebook page, Instagram, and Twitter. If you would like to share a prayer, poem, or scripture passage to be included in Crossing Paths, email Diane Walton Hendricks. Family Table at Home is a weekly resource offering a scripture passage, discussion questions, suggestions on ways to get creative, and a prayer. If you would like to receive the Family Table at Home email, contact Diane Maloney.  Church giving during COVID‐19. Even though there aren’t many people at the church these days, the cost of being the church remains. We are still paying bills and salaries, still helping people who need assistance. And so we hope you will continue to make your offerings online or by mailing them to the church office. But if this crisis has suddenly changed your financial situation, we understand. What most people call “pledge cards” are actually labeled “Estimate of Giving.” Such estimates are based on the income you expected, and if that has changed, please do not feel bad about adjusting your giving accordingly. And please let us know if you need some assistance. Pastoral care during social distancing. If you or your loved one is in need of pastoral care, James Sledge and Diane Walton Hendricks are both available. And if you are at-risk from COVID-19, please let the pastors or deacons know if we can offer you support with specific tasks such as grocery shopping, picking up prescriptions, or other things that might put you at risk.