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Worship Prayers June 29

 CENTERING PRAYER

As prophets catch fire, as disciples draw flame, as apostles walk in the Spirit, O Holy One, fill us with fervent desire to enter your kingdom. Lead us by the cross of Christ to live in the love of Christ, now and forever. Amen.

 

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

 

God, who rules the universe, calls us;

Christ, who took up his cross, calls us;

Holy Spirit, who frees us body and soul, calls us.

Let us faithfully answer

by worshipping the triune God.

 

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

O God, Holy Trinity, help us to confess our sins. You give us a place in your creation, and you want us to live in love with all you made. We confess we abuse what you give us. By our thoughts and actions, we show how enslaved we are to the things that do not lead to life. Far from walking in the Spirit, we stumble on paths that lead to death. O Fire of heaven, have mercy on us. Satisfy the longings of our souls by taking up into your Spirit. Help us to love all of our neighbors, both near and far, as we love ourselves.  (Silent Confession)

 

 

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – WCF SC Q1

 

 

OFFERING

 

Invitation to the Offering

 

God’s blessings are rich like the fruits of summer. With our tithes and our offerings, let us give thanks to our triune God.

 

Prayer after Offering

 

Let us pray…Creator God, you provide us with every good thing to thrive in this life. We ask you to use these gifts to grow the church and to further your mission in this, your world. Amen.

Scripture for June 29

Galatians 5:1, 13-25 

Freedom in Christ

5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Worship Prayer June 22

 

CENTERING PRAYER 

Holy God, there is much that tries to separate us from one another. Creed and color, gender and nation, class and culture call for our fragmentation, but you call us to live together in your grace. You call us your children. You call us beloved. Today, let the refrain: “There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:29) guide us with every step. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

CALL TO WORSHIP 

Set aside your enemies— the people, thoughts, time, and challenges— that separate you from knowing God’s love. Clothe yourselves in Christ. Shout praise in his name, and declare how much God has done for you.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION 

Loving and holy God, we confess that we hold tightly to our pride and resist your transforming grace. You offer us freedom and a welcome place in your family, yet we struggle, trying to earn what you have already given. We cling to our old ways of doing and thinking. You call us your beloved children. Help us hear and claim our new identity. Free us from the bonds of limited imagination and empower us to thrive in your life of faith and grace. (Silent Confession)

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH From The Book of Order, F-1.0301 

The Church is the body of Christ. Christ gives to the Church all the gifts necessary to be his body. The Church strives to demonstrate these gifts in its life as a community in the world: The Church is to be a community of faith, entrusting itself to God alone, even at the risk of losing its life. The Church is to be a community of hope, rejoicing in the sure and certain knowledge that, in Christ, God is making a new creation. This new creation is a new beginning for human life and for all things. The Church lives in the present on the strength of that promised new creation. The Church is to be a community of love, where sin is forgiven, reconciliation is accomplished, and the dividing walls of hostility are torn down. The Church is to be a community of witness, pointing beyond itself through word and work to the good news of God’s transforming grace in Christ Jesus its Lord.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND 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.

Scripture for June 22

 Galatians 3:23-29

Children of God

23 Before the coming of this faith,[a] we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

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UPWARD: From the End to the Complete

  “…when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end” (1 Corinthians 13:10, NRSV.) 

I remember the first time I saw them in college. They wore denim overalls, had long beards, and brought their own sound equipment. One could easily mistake them for a ZZ Top cover band, but their message was filled with brimstone and fire. Several of them had sandwich board signs hanging around their necks announcing all the things God hated with “selective” Scripture passages. They stood in the middle of Speaker’s Circle every Wednesday morning shouting at coeds making their way to their next class. They said many scary things, but their main message was, “The End is Near.” Most people walked on by ignoring their condemnation, but a few would stop and engage them in arguments. For all their effort, I don’t believe any souls were saved in the center of the Mizzou campus. I’ve seen similar displays in California, Alabama, and throughout Missouri. Perhaps, you’ve encountered them too. Every bullhorn blazing sermon announcing the end is nigh. This message stuck with me for many years. I don’t know if it was the repetition or my internal dread, but my spirit lived in fear of the end (whatever that might be.) 

I remember the first time I received the theologicalantidote to this toxic theology. I was a second semester seminarian sitting in my New Testament class. The professor’s lecture, “What Does Revelation Really Reveal”walked students through the history, meaning, and misuse of the apocalyptic text. He reminded us the Bible never talks about the “end” of time; it only speaks about its completion. Jesus tells the disciples he did not come to end the law; he came to complete it. His message was not abolition, it was fulfillment. I felt the scales falling from my eyes and the weight lifted from my spirit. I didn’t have to fear the end of things; I could look forward to the completion of God’s work.

I hope you remember this good news as we make our way into a new month together. We are celebrating the completion of several important seasons here at St. Mark. On June 8, we concluded our 40-day journey for our UPWARD Capital Campaign with our Celebration Sunday. I am excited to announce we already have financial commitments for over one-third of the total cost of the projects. This is an exciting time in the life of our congregation. On Sunday, June 15, we will celebrate the completion of Pastor MP’s service in our community of faith. We are so thankful for the past five-and-a-half years and pray God’s blessing on this next chapter. I hope you will join us for these important celebrations.

 In Hope and Confidence, 

Pastor Dave

Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services

 

Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services (PCHAS) began with a simple biblical calling: care for children in need. Today, that mission encompasses lives across Missouri, Louisiana, and Texas.

Each day, we witness the struggles of parents striving to keep their families together and children seeking to heal from past trauma. At PCHAS, we look beyond immediate challenges to envision brighter futures. We understand that every journey is unique, and true healing means addressing the root causes of their struggles–not the symptoms.

At PCHAS, a child finds more than just a service; they find a community that believes in their potential. Our doors are open to all, regardless of background or belief, united by the conviction that every child deserves the chance to thrive. We help children process their experiences and build healthy relationships. We also partner with parents, helping them uncover their inherent strengths and develop the skills they need for long-term stability.

In 2024, we expanded our Child and Family program in Missouri. This growth reflects our dedication to meeting evolving family needs. Whether helping a child heal from trauma, supporting a family in crisis, or working alongside foster parents, PCHAS offers these vital services at no cost.

Together, we are not just changing lives; we are transforming generations. Each child helped, each family strengthened, adds a new chapter to this story of hope and healing. We are grateful for St. Mark Presbyterian Church’s ongoing support and partnership! Because of you, our mission is possible. You are a blessing!

Worship Prayers June 8

 

CENTERING PRAYER

Holy God, who comes to us in breath, visits us from the throne of heaven, and sets us aflame with amazement and joy, you open our paths to new visions and guide our feet deeper into your wisdom. Give us faith to trust your presence, through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 

CALL TO WORSHIP (Psalm 104)

 

How manifold are your works, O Lord!

In wisdom you made them all;

the earth is full of your creatures.

You send forth your spirit, and they are created;

You renew the face of the earth.

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;

I will praise my God while I have my being.

 

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

Without your power, O God, we are lost. We have done the things we should avoid and left undone the things you desire. Transform our lives by your purifying fire, and guide us into honesty and compassion. Renew us with gentle breezes and move us to action with your mighty wind. May our dreams and visions be one with yours; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. (Silent Confession)

 

 

OFFERING

 

Invitation to the Offering

 

Because God first loved us, we are made to love one another. For the sake of the life of the world, offer yourselves, your time, and your possessions as signs of love.

 

Prayer after Offering

 

Let us pray… Make us thankful every day, O God, for the gifts that illuminate your bounty. Guide us to use these offerings to your glory for the health of your people and this creation. Amen.

Scripture for June 8

 Acts 2:1-21

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,[b] 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

Peter Addresses the Crowd

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 “‘In the last days, God says,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your young men will see visions,
    your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
    I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
    and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below,
    blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood
    before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
    on the name of the Lord will be saved.’[c]

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Moving Upward Together

 

In Conclusion: Sharon Tharp

My young family arrived in the St Louis area in the mid 70’s. I had grown up in a Presbyterian church most of my life and when I lived in an area that didn’t have a Presbyterian church I had to make do with another denomination. So one of the first things I did after we moved into our new house was try to locate a Presbyterian church close to our home. 

 I looked in the phone book and called what I thought was the closest church to our location. I called the church office to see if I could get directions. The man who answered the phone was kind and welcoming. I said, “I was a bit confused about how to get to the church, could you give directions?” He said he was sorry but this was his first week as the associate pastor and he was not familiar with the streets but he would try to help. We both figured out a way for me to get there from my house! Who knew it was hidden in the middle of a subdivision! 

I was a young mother of elementary children and it was important to me to have them in Sunday school. I had also lost my mother a few years earlier and I was looking for a women’s study group where I might find mentoring and fellowship. My husband was an engineer looking to climb the proverbial ladder and this was a great community of professionals who offered him friendship and fellowship. Because he was a great handyman he was recruited to be on the property committee. 

 

We had found our happy place! 

As life goes on, the twists and turns of life show up in many ways. My husband lost his job the minute Ronald Reagan took office as he abolished the EPA. The EPA was the only client his engineering company had and he was immediately fired. We also fell into an economic depression. It was 2 years until he could find a job again. With the help of BBJ and pastoral counseling he was able to make it through a very hard time.  We were so happy for him to have an income again. When he got his first paycheck I said I did not see it in the bank and he told me he thought it was important to give the first fruits to the Lord! That is because St Mark had been so important to us. 

Now our children, who attended Sunday School and Youth Group, are gone and have families of their own. But I do think their time at St Mark gave them guidance. My daughter was married at St Mark. My son attended a Christian college and married a woman with a strong Christian background.  

My husband, who has gone on to be with the Lord, was very dedicated to St Mark. What would he want me to do? I think a donation would be a great tribute. 

What has St Mark done for you and your family? Can you help us continue our service to keep our church up to date and welcoming?