Download pdf - Salem Lutheran Church The Fourth Sunday After Pentecost ... · WELCOME / ANNOUNCEMENTS PRAYER OF CONFESSION P: God of creation, Humanity is capable of such evil. Stories in scripture

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Welcome To

Salem Lutheran Church The Fourth Sunday After Pentecost

June 28, 2020 “Unraveled”

Rizpah Mourns Her Sons: Public Grief That Inspires Action

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SALEM LUTHERAN CHURCH

1145 DeKalb Avenue “Living Christ’s Love” Sycamore, Illinois Church Office: (815) 895‐9171 Fax Number: (815) 895‐6266 Web Site: www.slcSycamore.org E‐Mail: [email protected]

The Fourth Sunday After Pentecost June 28, 2020 “Unraveled”

Rizpah Mourns Her Sons: Public Grief That Inspires Action – ELW Settings 6 & 8

PRELUDE Christ Be Our Light Raabe

WELCOME / ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

P: God of creation, Humanity is capable of such evil. Stories in scripture alongside stories on the news remind us of that truth all the time. For the moments when we choose violence over peace, exclusion over inclusion, and fear over hope—forgive us. When we choose pride over what is right, and comfort over justice— Show us mercy. And when we numb our pain instead of leaning into empathy— Unravel us, for we long to be changed. Gratefully we pray, C: Amen. ASSURANCE OF FORGIVNESS

P: With a heart full of mercy and compassion, God saves us and forgives us all our sins. Christ, the dawn from on high, shines upon us, and by the light of the Holy Spirit guides our feet into the way of peace.

C: Amen.

GATHERING AS GOD’S PEOPLE

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GATHERING HYMN ELW Hymn 720

We Are Called

Text: David Haas, b. 1957. Music: David Haas Text & Music © 1988 GIA Publications, Inc.

Used by Permission ... OneLicense.net #A‐708303

CALL TO WORSHIP

P: When we come to this space, we bring all of ourselves. C: We bring joy and hope,

P: dreams and prayers, C: grief and doubt,

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P: memories and heartache. C: God meets us here.

P: God hears our prayers and sees our scars. C: With open hearts and authenticity, let us worship good and gracious God.

APOSTOLIC GREETING

P: The grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. C: And also with you.

KYRIE

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PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

P: God of unending surprises, this life is a tapestry of moments woven together, and we long to be weavers of love. Today we gather and pray that you would unravel our bias. Unravel our assumptions. Unravel whatever it is that keeps us from you. And as you do, clear space in our hearts for your Word. We are listening. We are praying.

C: Amen.

Rizpah Mourns Her Sons Public Grief That Inspires Action 2nd Samuel 3:7; 21:1‐14

A: A reading from 2nd Samuel . . .

Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah daughter of Aiah. And Ishbaal said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father's concubine?"

Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. The LORD said, "There is bloodguilt on Saul and on his house, because he put the Gibeonites to death." So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not of the people of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; although the people of Israel had sworn to spare them, Saul had tried to wipe them out in his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah.) David said to the Gibeonites, "What shall I do for you? How shall I make expiation, that you may bless the heritage of the LORD?"

SCRIPTURE READING

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The Gibeonites said to him, "It is not a matter of silver or gold between us and Saul or his house; neither is it for us to put anyone to death in Israel." He said, "What do you say that I should do for you?" They said to the king, "The man who consumed us and planned to destroy us, so that we should have no place in all the territory of Israel — let seven of his sons be handed over to us, and we will impale them before the LORD at Gibeon on the mountain of the LORD." The king said, "I will hand them over."

But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Saul's son Jonathan, because of the oath of the LORD that was between them, between David and Jonathan son of Saul. The king took the two sons of Rizpah daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Merab daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite; he gave them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they impaled them on the mountain before the LORD. The seven of them perished together. They were put to death in the first days of harvest, at the beginning of barley harvest.

Then Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it on a rock for herself, from the beginning of harvest until rain fell on them from the heavens; she did not allow the birds of the air to come on the bodies by day, or the wild animals by night. When David was told what Rizpah daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done, David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of his son Jonathan from the people of Jabesh‐gilead, who had stolen them from the public square of Beth‐shan, where the Philistines had hung them up, on the day the Philistines killed Saul on Gilboa. He brought up from there the bones of Saul and the bones of his son Jonathan; and they gathered the bones of those who had been impaled. They buried the bones of Saul and of his son Jonathan in the land of Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of his father Kish; they did all that the king commanded. After that, God heeded supplications for the land. A: The word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God.

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

MESSAGE Pastor Preston Fields

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HYMN OF THE DAY

Rizpah Was A Loving Mother A Hymn Inspired by 2nd Samuel 21:1‐14

Text: Stephen M. Fearing, 2019 Tune: EBENEZER Music: Thomas John Williams, 1890

© 2019 Stephen M. Fearing / www.stephenmfearing.com

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AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

C: I believe in God, the Great Sewer— Who weaves us together in community, Collecting our loose ends and turning them into belonging.

I believe in the Holy Spirit— Who hems us in before and behind, Catching us when we fall and writing us into God’s holy narrative.

And I believe in Jesus Christ— Who loved and claimed the people society had thrown out, refusing to disregard anyone as scrap.

I believe God has woven part of God’s self into the fiber of our being, Making us inherently worthy of love and belonging.

I believe the fabric of my life is weak, That I am prone to error and need God’s handiwork to remind me of love.

I believe in the Church, and that like a quilt of different fabrics, She is designed to be as diverse and beautiful as God’s creation.

And I believe that when life unravels, God is there to stitch my wounds together, To hold me in the palm of God’s hand, to tell me of love, And to invite me into a new journey. Amen.

PRAYER HYMN ELW Hymn 178

Hear Our Prayer

RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD

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Text & Music: Paul Andress, b. 1956 Text & Music © 2006 Augsburg Fortress


PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

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

(A brief silence) A: God of companionship, encourage our relationships with our siblings in

Christ. Bless our conversations. Shape our shared future and give us hearts eager to join in a festal shout of praise. Hear us, O God.

C: Your mercy is great.

A: God of abundance, you make your creation thrive and grow to provide all that we need. Inspire us to care for our environment and be attuned to where the earth is crying out. Hear us, O God.


A: God of mercy, your grace is poured out for all. Inspire authorities, judges, and politicians to act with compassion. Teach us to overcome fear with hope, meet hate with love, and welcome one another as we would welcome you. Hear us, O God.


A: God of care, accompany all who are in deepest need. Comfort those who are sick, lonely, or abandoned especially Alexis, Jane, Lindsey, Pastor Tom, Bob, Bruce, Thomas, Virginia, Olivia, Wanda, Gwyneth, Greg, Brian, Arabella and those we say aloud or hold in our hearts. Strengthen those who are in prison or awaiting trial. Renew the spirits of all who call upon you. Hear us, O God.


A: God of community, we give thanks for this congregation. Give us passion to embrace your mission and the vision to recognize where you are leading us. Teach us how to live more faithfully with each other. Hear us, O God.


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A: God of love, you gather in your embrace all who have died especially Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyon, Joyce Cole, and Ralph Johnson. Keep us steadfast in our faith and renew our trust in your promise. Hear us, O God.


P: Receive these prayers, O God, and those too deep for words; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C: Amen.

Hear Our Prayer (Sung before and after the Prayers)

Text & Music: Paul Andress, b. 1956 Text & Music © 2006 Augsburg Fortress


SHARING GOD’S PEACE

OFFERING

To Give Your Offering Electronically, please text “Salemlutherangive” to 77977

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OFFERING HYMN ELW Hymn 710

Let Streams of Living Justice (Stanzas 1 & 2)

Text William Whitla, b. 1934 Music: Gustav Holst, 1874‐1934

Text © 1989 William Whitla Used by Permission ... OneLicense.net #A‐708303

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OFFERING PRAYER

A: Let us pray … God of goodness and growth, all creation is yours, and your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens. Water and word, wine and bread:

these are signs of your abundant grace. Nourish us through these gifts, that we might proclaim your steadfast love in our communities and in the world, through Jesus Christ, our strength and our song.

C: Amen.

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

P: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you.

P: Lift up your hearts. C: We lift them to the Lord.

P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

PREFACE

P: It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Although our road has been stony going, you have given us the power to stand firm in the face of wickedness and to rejoice in triumph over death and the grave. And so, with the multitude from east and west, from north and south, with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, we lift our voices in the unending hymn:

GATHERING AT GOD’S TABLE

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PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

P: God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, you have brought us this far along the way. In times of bitterness you did not abandon us, but guided us into the path of love and light. In every age you sent prophets to make known your loving will for all humanity. The cry of the poor has become your own cry; our hunger and thirst for justice is your own desire. In the fullness of time, you sent your chosen servant to preach good news to the afflicted, to break bread with the outcast and despised, and to ransom those in bondage to prejudice and sin.

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

P: Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.

For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

C: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

P: Remembering, therefore, his death and resurrection, we await the day when Jesus shall return to free all the earth from the bonds of slavery and death. Come, Lord Jesus! And let the church say, Amen.

C: Amen.

P: Send your Holy Spirit, our advocate, to fill the hearts of all who share this bread and cup with courage and wisdom to pursue love and justice in all the world. Come, Spirit of freedom! And let the church say, Amen.

C: Amen.

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P: Join our prayers and praise with your prophets and martyrs of every age, that, rejoicing in the hope of the resurrection, we might live in the

freedom and hope of your Son. Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father, now and forever.

C: Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

P: Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us: C: 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 and ever. Amen.

Please refer to Pastor Preston’s email/letter “Communion in Exceptional Times.”

INVITATION TO COMMUNION

P: Friends of Jesus, come to the table. Receive nourishment for your journey.

COMMUNION CANTICLE

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COMMUNION HYMN ELW Hymn 461

All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly

Text: Sylvia G. Dunstan, 1955‐1993 Music: W. Moore, Columbian Harmony, 1825; arr. Hymnal Version

Text © 1991 GIA Publications, Inc. Arr. © 2003 Augsburg Fortress Used by Permission ... OneLicense.net #A‐708303

TABLE BLESSING

P: The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. C: Amen.

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PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

A: Let us pray … God of the welcome table, in this meal we have feasted on your goodness and have been united by your presence among us. Empower us to go forth sustained by these gifts so that we may share your neighborly love with all, through Jesus Christ, the giver of abundant life.

C: Amen.

DEPARTURE BLESSING

P: May God give you grace never to sell yourself short, grace to risk something big for something good, and grace to remember the world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but love. Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.

C: Amen.

SENDING HYMN ELW Hymn 715

Christ, Be Our Light

GOING FORTH TO “Live Christ’s Love”

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Worship Leaders . . . Pastor Preston Fields Deacon Carla Vanatta, Cantor Erin Rowland / Steve Latimer, Cantors Susan King, Reader

Ron Vanatta, Organist / Pianist Bulletin Sponsors:

Susan & Bill Lorence in memory of Myrtle Bryant’s Birthday

Text: Bernadette Farrell, b. 1957 Music: Bernadette Farrell Text & Music © 1993 Bernadette Farrell, admin. OCP Publications


DISMISSAL

A: Go in peace. Christ is with you. C: Thanks be to God.

Liturgy Reprinted by Permission … SundaysandSeasons.com License #20487 Permission to reprint/podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A‐708303. All rights reserved.

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RIZPAH MOURNs HER SONS (Public Grief That Inspires Action)

By Lauren Wright Pittman

Inspired by 2nd Samuel 3:7; 22:1‐14 Graphic Image

I don’t know what to say. This story leaves me without adequate ways to fully process the

searing pain and utter wrecking of the life of this woman, Rizpah. She is a “low status” wife of Saul.1 She is raped by a man who denies his actions. Her two sons are sentenced to death as a king fumbles to rectify wrongs that cause a famine in the land.

She gathers her sackcloth and climbs the mountain of God to defend the bodies of her children and their half brothers. She spends day and night for up to six months fighting off birds of prey and animals of the night from ripping apart the bodies of her children and what shred of hope she has left.2 David hears of her passionate, radical, public grief and is moved to delayed justice. He calls for the burial of Saul and Jonathan, but also sees to the proper burial of the seven sons that he carelessly offered up to appease God. Justice in this scenario looks like sheltered, buried, dry bones. Rizpah’s public unraveling causes the unraveling of David’s distorted version of justice. God doesn’t require a human sacrifice for the end of the bloodguilt. God ends the famine when David listens to the voice of this strong, fierce, unraveling woman. I pray that we learn from Rizpah. When we see injustice may we, like Rizpah, climb the mountain of God and defend those who cannot defend themselves. When we see someone unraveling in inexplicable grief, may this sight unravel us from the ways we are entangled with injustice.

– Lauren Wright Pittman –

1 Gafney, Wilda C. Womanish Midrash: A Reintroduction to the women of the Torah and the Throne. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2017. 198

2 Ibid. 199