ST. LUKE'S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

JUNE 21, 2026                                                                                                  

FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

SILENT MEDITATION: 

“Earth’s crammed with Heaven, And every common bush afire with God: But only he who sees  

  takes off his shoes; The rest sit round it, and pluck blackberries.”  --Elizabeth Barrett Browning

GATHERING MUSIC

GREETING

PRELUDE “Christians, We Have Met to Worship”                            

William Moore

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN No. 210 “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”                           

LOBE DEN HERREN

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!

O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation!

All ye who hear; now to his temple draw near,

join me in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth;

Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!

Hast thou not seen, How thy desires all have been

Granted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;

surely His goodness and mercy shall daily attend thee.

Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,

if with His love He befriends thee.

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him!

All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him.

Let the Amen sound from His people again;

gladly forever adore Him

CALL TO WORSHIP

One: God seeks to restore our sight as we worship.

All:    May our eyes be opened to God’s goodness.

One: God seeks to show us things we have not seen before.

All:    May we glimpse ourselves and others from God’s point of view.

One: God seeks to touch us and transform our lives.

All:    May we see God’s way clearly and walk in all of God’s ways.

CALL TO CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Unison)

Forgive us in your mercy, O God—when we let busyness blind us; when we hunker in the shadows of our own short-sightedness, satisfied with a skewed perspective of the world. Free us from the blindness of our hearts, that we may behold your glory more clearly and reflect your light for all to see. Amen

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

GLORIA PATRI       

Glory be to the Father and to the Son       
and to the Holy Ghost;                                 

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,                                 

world without end. Amen. Amen.

MOMENTS WITH MINNIE    

PASTORAL PRAYER 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 sins as we forgive those
who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.  Amen.

SPECIAL MUSIC “I’ve Got Peace Like a River”                      

Traditional American Spiritual

                                                                                                                                                      
SCRIPTURE Mark 8:22-26

SERMON “Do You See Anything?”

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN No. 563 “Open My Eyes That I May See”                                           

SCOTT

Open my eyes that I may see glimpses of truth thou hast for me.

Place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free.

Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see.

Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!

Open my ears that I may hear voices of truth thou sendest clear,

and while the wave notes fall on my ear, ev’rything false will disappear.

Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see.

Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit divine!

Open my mouth and let me bear gladly the warm truth ev’rywhere.

Open my heart and let me prepare love with thy children thus to share.

Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see.

Open my heart, illumine me, Spirit divine!!

STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION
CALL TO STEWARDSHIP  
THE BEAUTY OF SHARED GIFTS “I, the Lord”                                                      

Owen Alston

CELEBRATING STEWARDSHIP — DOXOLOGY                                                                     

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;                                        

Praise God, all creatures here below;                                             

Praise God above, ye heavenly host:                                      

Creator, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION (In Unison)                                                           

Loving God, as you illuminate our lives with fascinating insights and possibilities, we reach out to share your love through our offerings and commitment of our lives. All this we offer now for your blessing, for apart from you, the light of our eyes grows dim. Let us dwell in your light as we serve you wherever we go. Amen

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN No. 508  “Love Lifted Me”                                                                         

SAFETY

I was sinking deep in sin, Far from the peaceful shore,

Very deeply stained within, Sinking to rise no more;

But the Master of the sea Heard my despairing cry,

From the waters lifted me –Now safe am I.

Refrain: Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help,

Love lifted me! Love lifted me! Love lifted me!

When nothing else could help, Love lifted me!

All my heart to Him I give; Ever to Him I'll cling,

In His blessed presence live, Ever His praises sing.

Love so mighty and so true Merits my soul's best songs;

Faithful, loving service, too, To Him belongs. [Refrain]

Souls in danger, look above; Jesus completely saves;

He will lift you by His love Out of the angry waves.

He's the Master of the sea, Billows His will obey;

He your Savior wants to be –Be saved today. [Refrain]

BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE “Christ is Made the Sure Foundation”                            

Joachim Neander

The Liturgist is Jodie Puhr
Thank you to Carol Lyon for accompanying the hymns today.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL BUDGET MEETING

Annual Congregational Budget Meeting, June 28th, following worship.
This will be a hybrid meeting, in person and on zoom.
The budget and zoom information will be sent out the morning of the meeting.
 

Summer Reading Program – Sign Up Now!
We’re inviting all kids to join our Summer Reading Program! Participants will read 15 minutes a day,
5 days a week and earn tickets to spend in our Reading Store filled with fun prizes.
As a group, we’re working toward a goal of 3,000 total minutes read,
which will earn a special end-of-summer celebration for everyone involved!
Sign your child up today and help them stay engaged in reading all summer long.
We’re also collecting donations of small prizes (stickers, snacks, toys, etc.) for our Reading Store.
Interested in contributing? Contact Mariah to get involved.
Let’s work together to make this a fun and impactful summer for our kids!

SHARING TABLE
Take time on Sundays, or anytime during normal office hours, to SHOP at the sharing table. There are Bibles and some old hymnals available if you would like to take one or even more.