21st Century Worship Resources for Pentecost 4B

The disciples said: Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?

We, like the disciples, are tempted to say: "Jesus, do you not care that the boat is filling with water and we are about to drown?"

Take courage, Scripture reminds us that "The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry." (Psalm 34:15, NRSV)

But we are still like the disciples: Wake up, Jesus! We need to know that you are alert to our needs; we need to hear the calming sound of your voice.

When you are in trouble, remember these words: "Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" (Romans 8:35, NRSV)

For we are convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39, NRSV)

Remember the God who has promised never to leave us or forsake us, and remember one day when Jesus told the winds of the ways to be still!

All: God over the winds and the waves, we come in faith to worship you today!

Gathering Meditation
Inspired by 1 Samuel 17, the Story of David and Goliath

Service Note: Think of presenting these words in short phrases with appropriate images of the "giants" that disturb us.

The spies in Numbers
trembled as grasshoppers

The armies of Israel
trembled at the name of Goliath of Gath

What makes you tremble?

(pause)

"The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble….
For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
nor the hope of the poor perish forever."
(Psalm 9:9, 18, NRSV)

Fear not!