June 29, 2025
Speaker: The Rev. Dr. Victor C. Gavino
Liturgist: Geoffrey Githae
Music: Yeo Jung Kim and Victor C. Gavino
10:15 - 11:30 AM at the Sanctuary
Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
Land Acknowledgement
We want to acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples: Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam Nations.
Call to Worship - Responsive
(Based on Psalm 91)
Come, dwell in the shadow of the Most High, where refuge is found!
God is our fortress, our shelter beneath wings of grace.
Fear not the terrors of night, for the Lord is our shield and strength.
With angels as guardians, we tread paths of safety and song.
Lift your voices to the One who delivers and loves without end!
We worship our God, our refuge, with hearts ablaze in praise!
Hymn: “On Eagle’s Wings” Book of Praise #57
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession - Unison
Merciful God,
You call us to follow, yet we hesitate, clinging to our ploughs and looking back to what we leave behind. Like the would-be disciples, we make excuses, prioritizing comfort over commitment and our plans over your purpose. Forgive our divided hearts and our reluctance to trust your path. We confess our failure to follow Jesus with courage and wholehearted devotion. Cleanse us, renew us, and turn our faces toward your kingdom, that we may walk faithfully in your way. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.
Assurance of God's Grace and Pardon - Responsive
The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Passing of the Peace
Westminster Shorter Catechism
Question 7: What are the decrees of God?
The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.
Question 8: How does God execute his decrees?
God executes his decrees in the works of creation and providence.
Prayer for the children
Prayer for understanding
Scripture readings:
1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21(Lexham English Translation)
Then Yahweh said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. Go and anoint Hazael as king over Aram; and Jehu son of Nimshi you shall anoint as king over Israel. You shall also anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-Meholah as prophet in your place.
So he went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him. When he and the twelve passed Elijah, he threw his cloak on him. Then he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will go after you.” Then he said, “Go, return, for what I have done to you?” So he returned from after him, and he took a pair of oxen and slaughtered them, and with the yoke of the oxen he boiled the flesh and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and served him.
Luke 9: 51-62 (Lexham English Translation)
Now it happened that when the days were approaching for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers before him, and they went and entered into a village of the Samaritans in order to prepare for him. And they did not welcome him because he was determined to go to Jerusalem. Now when the disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned around and rebuked them, and they proceeded to another village.
And as they were traveling on the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go!” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” And he said to another, “Follow me!” But he said, “Lord, first allow me to go and bury my father.” But he said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead! But you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” And another person also said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first allow me to say farewell to those in my house.” But Jesus said, “No one who puts his hand on the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God!”
Sermon: “A Radical Commitment”
Hymn: "Take my life and let it be"
Offertory
Doxology and Prayer of Thanksgiving
Prayers of the People
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever.
Amen.
Closing song: "Yet not I, but through Christ in me"
Charge and Benediction
Threefold Amen
Postlude