THE EPISTLE LESSON 2 Corinthians 6:1-13
THE GOSPEL LESSON Mark 4:35-41
SERMON "Faith to Still a Storm"
Worship Notes
Today is the third Sunday after the celebration of Pentecost. In worship today we hear the story of Jesus calming the storm from the Gospel of Mark. This story tells of how the faith of the disciples falters when they are confronted with a crisis. Crises, or storms can take many forms in our lives and we will reflect on the importance of a steady faith in order to weather all types of storms.
Today is also the start of Vacation Bible School. This year we are focusing on God's grace in justice movements, particularly the Civil Rights movement. This is an example of a crisis in which many people found their faith shaken. Though, like the disciples who weathered the storm, coming through the Civil Rights movement strengthened the faith of those who participated. There are many ways in which our faith can grow through studying the faith of the people who fought for justice in the 1960s and 70s and those continuing the fight today.
Today we also commission our youth for their mission trip to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The mission trip participants will be leaving Madison early next Sunday morning, June 28, to go and serve for a variety of social service organizations in Sault Ste. Marie. The scriptural theme for our trip is from Galatians 5:13-14, which speaks to the freedom that we are granted through Christ and the fact that it is out of our freedom we are called to serve others. In order to act upon this freedom we need a faith that can weather storms and we will rely on the support and prayers of the whole congregation.
