NATIONAL ANTHEM : 524 VU   “O CANADA ”

 CALL TO WORSHIP:
God's Rainbow is a sign of promise.
A reminder of the covenant between God & humanity
Red is the colour of Pentecost & God's compassionate love.
Pulsing & powerful, we discover God in the rainbow.
Orange is the colour of creation, changing and growing, the colour of God's presence.
Envisioning change - we discover God in the rainbow.
Yellow is the colour of the sun, life-giving & warming, bringing joy & enthusiasm.
Embodying hope - we discover God in the rainbow.
Green is the colour of the forest, with many trees of every description. Green is the cour of ordinary time, the season of Pentecost, of summer growth in the knowledge we are all in God & in God's love.
Incorporating love - we discover, God in the rainbow.
Blue is the colour of sea, sky, water & air, the necessities of life.
Present in life - we discover, God in the rainbow.
Purple is the colour of Lent, pondering & professing the power of repentance and renewal.
Redeeming God - we discover, God in the rainbow.
Yet there are colours are we can't see or experience, present in the rainbow, beyond our senses but real & powerful.
The rainbow is a sign of God's presence his promises.
Let us worship the God of life & promise.
     Gathering P1 2025 pg 64 Used with permission (adapted)

SUNG RESPONSE 141 MV  “It's a Song of Praise to the Maker”

 OPENING PRAYER: Let us pray
Gracious God, we praise & adore you. Your love for humankind is so vast that by the Holy Spirit you have poured love into our hearts. By your grace we are empowered to love one another & share your love with strangers. Perfect your work in us until we know no strangers, but only brothers & sisters through our Lord Jesus Christ. Bless now our time of worship & all who have gathered, we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray saying , Our Father . . . Amen

RESPONSE  400 VU   “Lord Listen to Your Children Praying” 3X
Lord, listen to your children praying, Lord, send your Spirit in this place; Lord, listen to your children praying, send us love, send us power, send us grace!

A TIME FOR ALL AGES:  God loves each of us . . .
PRAYER:   In peace dear God, I come to you, through Jesus who makes me new, while I run, or play or rest. Be with those whom I love best, As you walk with us each day, Show your love for us, we pray. Amen

  HYMN: MV 79 “Spirit, Open My Heart”
Refrain:  Spirit, open my heart to the joy and pain of living.
As you love may I love, in receiving and in giving, Spirit, open my heart.

1.  God, replace my stony heart with a heart that's kind and tender.
All my coldness and fear to your grace I now surrender.  Refrain

2.  Write your love upon my heart as my law, my goal, my story.
In each thought, word, and deed, may my living bring you glory.  Refrain

3.  May I weep with those who weep, share the joy of sister, brother.
In the welcome of Christ, may we welcome one another.  Refrain

SCRIPTURE READINGS
First Reading: 2nd Kings 2:1-2
The LORD Takes Elijah Away
2 Not long before the LORD took Elijah up into heaven in a strong wind, Elijah and Elisha were leaving Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “The LORD wants me to go to Bethel, but you must stay here.” Elisha replied, “I swear by the living LORD and by your own life that I will stay with you no matter what!” And he went with Elijah to Bethel.

2 Kings 2: 6 - 14
6 Elijah then said to Elisha, “Now the LORD wants me to go to the Jordan River, but you must stay here.” Elisha replied, “I swear by the living LORD and by your own life that I will never leave you!” So the two of them walked on together. 7 Fifty prophets followed Elijah and Elisha from Jericho, then stood at a distance and watched as the two men walked toward the river. 8 When they got there, Elijah took off his coat, then he rolled it up and struck the water with it. At once a path opened up through the river, and the two of them walked across on dry ground. 9 After they had reached the other side, Elijah said, “Elisha, the LORD will soon take me away. What can I do for you before that happens?” Elisha answered, “Please give me twice as much of your power as you give the other prophets, so I can be the one who takes your place as their leader.” 10 “It won't be easy,” Elijah answered. “It can happen only if you see me as I am being taken away.” 11 Elijah and Elisha were walking along and talking, when suddenly there appeared between them a flaming chariot pulled by fiery horses. At once, a strong wind took Elijah up into heaven. 12 Elisha saw this and shouted, “Israel's cavalry and chariots have taken my master away!”[a] After Elijah had gone, Elisha tore his clothes in sorrow. 13 Elijah's coat had fallen off, so Elisha picked it up and walked back to the Jordan River. 14 He struck the water with the coat and wondered, “Will the LORD perform miracles for me as he did for Elijah?” As soon as Elisha did this, a dry path opened up through the water, and he walked across.

The Psalm 791 VU Psalm 77: 1-2, 11-20
Refrain: God bend your ear and hear my prayer

I cry aloud to God, I cry that God may hear me.
In my time of distress I have turned to God; with hands uplifted I have prayed all night, but my soul refuses all comfort.  Refrain

Then I recall your deeds, O God! I remember your wonders of old. I recount all your works and ponder the things you have done.
O God, your ways are holy. What god is as great as you!
You are the one who works wonders; you have shown your strength among nations.
By your arm you redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph.  Refrain<BR>
The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you and churned in fear;
the seas trembled to their depths.
Clouds streamed water, the heavens rumbled;
your arrows bolted on every side.
The voice of your thunder was heard in the whirlwind;
lightning lit up the world, the earth quaked and shuddered.
Your way was through the sea;
your path, through mighty waters;
your footprints could not be seen;
but by the hand of Moses and Aaron, you led your people like a flock.  Refrain

Second Reading: Galatians 5:1, 13-15
Christ Gives Freedom
5 Christ has set us free! This means we are really free. Now hold on to your freedom and don't ever become slaves of the Law again. 13 My friends, you were chosen to be free. So don't use your freedom as an excuse to do anything you want. Use it as an opportunity to serve each other with love. 14 All the Law says can be summed up in the command to love others as much as you love yourself. 15 But if you keep attacking each other like wild animals, you had better watch out or you will destroy yourselves.

The Gospel: Luke 9: 51-62
Samaritan Village Refuses To Receive Jesus
51 Not long before it was time for Jesus to be taken up to heaven, he made up his mind to go to Jerusalem. 52 He sent some messengers on ahead to a Samaritan village to get things ready for him. 53 But he was on his way to Jerusalem, so the people there refused to welcome him. 54 When the disciples James and John saw what was happening, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to destroy these people?"[a] 55 But Jesus turned and corrected them for what they had said.[b] 56 Then they all went on to another village.
Three People Who Wanted To Be Followers
57 Along the way someone said to Jesus, “"I'll follow you anywhere!"” 58 Jesus said, “Foxes have dens, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man doesn't have a place to call his own.” 59 Jesus told someone else to come with him. But the man said, “Lord, let me wait until I bury my father.”[c] 60 Jesus answered, “Let the dead take care of the dead, while you go and tell about God's kingdom.” 61 Then someone said to Jesus, “I want to follow you, Lord, but first let me go back and take care of things at home.” 62 Jesus answered, “Anyone who starts plowing and keeps looking back isn't worth a thing to God's kingdom!”

 HYMN VU #567  “Will You Come & Follow Me”
1.  Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don't know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

2.  Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

3.  Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean, and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?

4.  Will you love the "you" you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you've found to reshape the world around,
through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?

5.  Christ, your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In your company I'll go where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me.

OFFERING ~ We offer our gifts to God   Ushers come forward as we sing

OFFERTORY 191 MV “What Can I do?” 2X
What can I do? What an I bring? What can I say? What can I sing? I'll sing with joy? I'll say a prayer. I'll bring my love. I'll do my share.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
God of all creation we give you thanks for this world, we call home. God of Sabbath rest, we give you thanks, for your reminders to “stop & smell the roses,” Helping us to take time for needed rest. Saviour God, we worry about so many things. Remind us what really matters: relationships, caring for others, loving our beautiful world, seeking justice & putting your realm first. God of all life, your world is a busy place, filled with both beauty & horror. We pray for those places where war has overtaken everyday lives, We pray for the leaders around the world to be given wisdom & to act with compassion & for positive life-giving change.
We pray now for those close to us who are hurting & in need of your grace, We pray for all who are ill at home, in hospital or in care facilities. We also pray for those who struggle to find meaning & purpose in life. We pray for all who wait for diagnoses, treatment and care. We pray for our health care workers and those who help in so many ways. We pray for all those who grieve today for loss of a loved one, friend or colleague. May the wind of the Holy Spirit move within each of us, then through us , may the Spirit's love be felt & shared by all. This we ask in Jesus' name.  Amen
     Gathering P1 2025 pg 66 Mary Parsons, Oakville, On. Used with permission (adapted)

CLOSING HYMN 422 VU “God Be with You till We Meet Again”
Refrain: Till we meet, till we meet, till we meet at Jesus' feet; Till we meet, till we meet, God be with you till we meet again.

1.  God be with you till we meet again;
loving counsels guide, uphold you,
with a shepherd's care enfold you;
God be with you till we meet again.  Refrain

2.  God be with you till we meet again;
unseen wings protecting hide you,
daily manna still provide you;
God be with you till we meet again.  Refrain

3.  God be with you till we meet again;
when life's perils thick confound you,
put unfailing arms around you;
God be with you till we meet again.  Refrain

4.  God be with you till we meet again;
keep love's banner floating o'er you,
smite death's threatening wave before you;
God be with you till we meet again.  Refrain

SENDING FORTH

BENEDICTION & SUNG AMEN

EXTINGUISHING THE CANDLES

POSTUDE    Go in peace. Serve the Lord.

Next Sunday:  Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
        June 15, 2025:
         2 Kings 5:1-14;  Psalm 30;
         Galatians 6:(1-6)7-16;  Luke 10:1-11, 16-20.

1. SUNDAY, June 29, 2025  “Third Sunday after Pentecost”   10:45 AM   Rev. Nora Borgeson  “RECOLLECTIONS”   ALL ARE WELCOME!


2. SUNDAY, July 6, 2025  “Fourth Sunday after Pentecost”   10:45 AM   Rev. Jo-Ann Hills  “RECOLLECTIONS”   ALL ARE WELCOME!


3. SUNDAY, July 6, 2025  “A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS”   3:00 PM   An Afternoon of Song To Raise Funds For Mental Health  “Diane Gryba & More Music Makers”   ALL ARE WELCOME!
   [ See Poster on "HAPPENINGS" tab for full details ]