Firelands Presbyterian Church

www.firelandschurch.org
June 20, 2021
2626 East Harbor Road Port Clinton, OH 43452
419-734-6211 https://www.facebook.com/firelandschurch
Pastor David Aber aberdavidrobert@gmail.com
 Welcome to Firelands Church, a community of believers gathered by the Holy Spirit and
committed to serving God and growing together in Jesus Christ.
We invite all of our worshippers to stay for fellowship following the service
so that we might become better acquainted.

THE ORDER OF THE LITURGY

*Those who are able are invited to stand.

GATHERING

Prelude Amazing Grace Virginia Harmony Arr. by C.Berry

Welcome and Announcements

*Call to Worship
We gather in this place to worship our God.
Calm Presence in our times of confusion,
Comforter in our nights of struggle.
We gather with fellow pilgrims,
As we seek to follow Jesus.
Brother to those swamped by fears,
Friend to all overwhelmed by loss.
We are brought together by the Spirit
Who lives in the depths of our souls.
The Serenity who travels with us
On this up-and-down journey we call life.

*Invocation (together)
You are the Sovereign One of God, and rightly to be blessed. Your name shall ever be
upon our lips. You have heard the poor and saved them from trouble. You have
enlightened believers; their faces reflect your radiance. Aglow with the splendor of
your promised redemption, we gather to worship you, ruler of nations. Amen.
*Hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness Hymnal #39

Call to Confession
Our lives, our words, our foolishness show how hard it is for us to be confident to rest in
God’s ways and hopes for us, and not become so scared when the winds begin to blow,
or the giants facing us rise up. Let us confess our lack of faith to the One who knows this
is the right time to receive forgiveness and hope. Join me, as we pray together, saying,

Corporate Prayer of Confession

We are at our wits’ end, O God, as we try to live each day. We could confront the
angry voices around us with peace and grace, but our courage melts away. We could
see you at work in those who care for the vulnerable, but we let our fears of those
who we don’t understand wash our faith away. We see your grace drawing close to us
and cry out, ‘no further!’
Because of such lives, it is tempting to blame you, Holy One, and think you are asleep
at your post. But you are the God who tells the storms of temptation to ‘shush!’ You
are the God whose love is not just now and then, but offered to us in every moment.
You are the God who, in Jesus Christ, comes to us in order to comfort us, to encourage
us, and to cradle us in your peace. Amen.

Silent Prayer of Personal Confession

Assurance of Pardon
While we may believe God does not always have the time for us, there is not a moment
that God is not listening, not forgiving, and restoring us to grace-filled lives. This is
indeed the acceptable time, to recognize, to accept, and live out the reality that we are
forgiven and redeemed by our God. Thanks be to God. Amen!

WORD
Prayer for Illumination
Guide us, O God, by your Word and Spirit, that in your light we may see light, in your
truth find freedom ad in your will discover your peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
First Reading I Samuel 17:32-49
32
David said to Saul, “Let no one’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and
fight with this Philistine.” 33Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this
Philistine to fight with him; for you are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his
youth.” 34But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father; and
whenever a lion or a bear came, and took a lamb from the flock, 35I went after it and
struck it down, rescuing the lamb from its mouth; and if it turned against me, I would
catch it by the jaw, strike it down, and kill it. 36Your servant has killed both lions and
bears; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, since he has defied the
armies of the living God.” 37David said, “The LORD, who saved me from the paw of the
lion and from the paw of the bear, will save me from the hand of this Philistine.” So Saul
said to David, “Go, and may the LORD be with you!” 38Saul clothed David with his armor;
he put a bronze helmet on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail. 39David
strapped Saul’s sword over the armor, and he tried in vain to walk, for he was not used
to them. Then David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these; for I am not used to them.”
So David removed them.
40
Then he took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones from the wadi, and
put them in his shepherd’s bag, in the pouch; his sling was in his hand, and he drew near
to the Philistine. 41The Philistine came on and drew near to David, with his shield-bearer
in front of him. 42When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he
was only a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. 43The Philistine said to David,
“Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his
gods. 44The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds
of the air and to the wild animals of the field.” 45But David said to the Philistine, “You
come to me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of
the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46This very day
the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head;
and I will give the dead bodies of the Philistine army this very day to the birds of the air
and to the wild animals of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God
in Israel, 47and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not save by sword
and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and he will give you into our hand.”
48
When the Philistine drew nearer to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle
line to meet the Philistine.
 49
David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his
forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.

Second Reading Psalm 9:9-20

9
The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
10
And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not
forsaken those who seek you.
11
Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion. Declare his deeds among the peoples.
12
For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the
afflicted.
13
Be gracious to me, O LORD. See what I suffer from those who hate me; you are the one
who lifts me up from the gates of death,
14
so that I may recount all your praises, and, in the gates of daughter Zion, rejoice in
your deliverance.
15
The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid has their own
foot been caught.
16
The LORD has made himself known, he has executed judgment; the wicked are
snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah
17
The wicked shall depart to Sheol, all the nations that forget God.
18
For the needy shall not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the poor perish forever.
19
Rise up, O LORD! Do not let mortals prevail; let the nations be judged before you.
20
Put them in fear, O LORD; let the nations know that they are only human. Selah

Third Reading Mark 4: 35-41

35On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other
side.” 36And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he
was. Other boats were with him. 37A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into
the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38But he was in the stern,
asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care
that we are perishing?” 39He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea,
“Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40He said to them,
“Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?”
41And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that
even the wind and the sea obey him?”
 God, we thank you for Your Word.
The story of Your Grace

Sermon Ed Carlson

Interlude I Will Serve Thee W.& G. Gaither

*Affirmation of Faith The Confession of 1967, Section C, 9.20

God the Holy Spirit fulfills the work of reconciliation in man. The Holy Spirit creates
and renews the church as the community in which men are reconciled to God and to
one another. He enables them to receive forgiveness as they forgive one another and
to enjoy the peace of God as they make peace among themselves. In spite of their sin,
he gives them power to become representatives of Jesus Christ and his gospel of
reconciliation to all men.

*Hymn Faith Begins by Letting Go Hymnal #684

The Prayers of the Church

The Lord’s Prayer (debts and debtors) p. 35

Communion

SENDING

*Hymn: Today We Are Called to Be Disciples Hymnal #757

*Benediction

Postlude Swing Low, Sweet Chariot African American Spiritual

Arr. by J.Thompson (in Celebration of Juneteenth)
 The Church Office is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, 10:30 – 1:30 unless otherwise
noted on the calendar above and/or the calendar on the firelandschurch.org website.

Prayer Concerns
Sally Wahlers, Jennifer Carr, Christopher Longaker, Janet Miller, Ruth, Ron, Geraldine Work, Eric
Pott, Tom Roush, and Diane Jordan
If you have a name to add to the prayer list, please contact the office. Names remain on this list for
up to one month unless they are resubmitted.

Volunteers Needed!
The Ottawa County Advocacy Center is looking for volunteers to help in two different ways.

1. Tutor for 90 minutes a week for 10 weeks a child who needs help with schoolwork. Call Judy
Peters at 419-367-6385 with questions or if you are interested. You may also Talk with Janine
or Kay McIntosh.

2. The summer lunch program needs help with passing out and pack groceries. If interested
contact Annie Hild 419-341-7013.

The Musical Arts Series/Port Clinton Free Concert

MAS is offering a very special free concert on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at 7:00 PM on the M.O.M.
stage - Steve and Lisa Ball! They will be presenting their program on the music of The Carter
Family. The Carter family had a profound influence on bluegrass, country, southern gospel, pop,
rock and the folk revival in the 1960s. This family friendly show will appeal to folks who love
Appalachian roots music. Steve and Lisa Ball are also known for their programs based on the music
of the civil war era.

Wednesday Study Begins June 30

Please join us in the fellowship hall at 10:30 am to begin a new study group.
The group will be reflecting on Pastor David’s Sermons. Coffee and Juice will be provided. Please
bring your own snack if you so desire.