July 15 – Seventh after Pentecost

July 15 – Seventh after Pentecost

 

2 Samuel 6:1–5, 12b–19

David brings the ark to Jerusalem.

 

Psalm 24 (VU pp. 750–751)

The earth is God’s and all that is in it.

 

Ephesians 1:3–14

Adopted through Christ and given an inheritance.

 

Mark 6:14–29

The death of John the Baptist.

Spark

Because the readings from both the Hebrew and Christian scriptures refer to dancing, invite someone to perform a liturgical dance, or get out the instruments and sing songs that get people moving. Encourage people to dance in their pews or to leave the pews and dance in the aisles.

Theme Engagement Question

Which worship and spiritual practices bring you comfort and calm, and which stretch you beyond your comfort zone?

With Children

Gather a variety of objects with different cultural significance, e.g., a Band-Aid, a knife, a scythe, a ball, stones. Talk about how these items might be used. Talk about how they can be helpful and talk about how they can be hurtful. Wonder aloud how an object can be used for both hurtful and helpful tasks. Do the children have suggestions how this could be so? It is not the object that is good or bad. It is the choices that people make about how to use them. The psalm tells us that the earth is God’s and everything in it is God’s. How would God want us to use what we receive from creation?

Sermon Starters

Most tools aren’t evil; it’s how we use them. Most activities aren’t bad; it’s what we do with them and why. Do we use them to serve God and in service to our neighbour or do we use them to serve our own needs? Do we use them in above-and-beyond service to the needs of others or do we use them to manipulate and to cause harm to others? David danced to praise God, while when Herodias danced, she used her talent to seduce Herod into offering her anything she wished. Clowning, dancing, puppets, drumming, drama, and labyrinths were vehicles for Christian worship and spiritual practice that were used before the Middle Ages, yet each was banished from the church as “evil.” In the past three decades, these art forms have been reclaimed within Christian practice, yet they are sometimes still treated with suspicion, and people are sometimes uncomfortable about using them. New faith expressions, perhaps favoured by youth and young adults, may also be treated with suspicion. Yet as Psalm 24 proclaims, “the earth is [God’s] and all that is in it.” What expressions of faith is your congregation most comfortable using? Are there others your congregation might be willing to try?

Hymns

Hebrew Scripture

VU 245            “Praise the Lord with the sound of trumpet”

VU p. 884        “You shall go out with joy”

MV 48             “I can feel you near me God”

MV 156           “Dance with the Spirit”

 

Psalm

VU 296            “This is God’s wondrous world”

MV 27             “Creator God you gave us life”

MV 30             “It’s a song of praise to the Maker”

 

Epistle

VU 266            “Amazing grace”

VU 559            “Come, O Fount of every blessing”

 

Gospel

VU 560            “O Master, let me walk with thee”

VU 691            “Though ancient walls”