3rd Sunday after Pentecost
June 29, 2025
Loving God and loving neighbor here in central Vermont
and to the ends of the earth—all to the glory of God.
Prelude
Prepare your heart for worship.
Rebekah Barnes
Welcome and Announcements Listen for upcoming events and ways you can get involved.
Pastor Josh
Lighting the Candles Jesus is the light of the world.
Acolytes
Statement of Faith—Heidelberg Cat. Q&A 18 and 19 Confess what you believe about the Christian faith.
Pastor Josh
L: Who is the mediator—true God and at the same time a true and righteous human?
C: Our Lord Jesus Christ who was given to us to completely deliver us and make us right with God.
L: How do you come to know this?
C: The holy gospel tells me. God began to reveal the gospel already in Paradise; later God proclaimed it by the holy patriarchs and prophets and foreshadowed it by the sacrifices and other ceremonies of the law; and finally God fulfilled it through his own beloved Son.
Greeting Your Neighbors Greet your neighbors in the name of the Lord.
Congregation
Call to Worship—Based on Psalm 27 and John 4 Hear God call you to worship through his word.
Scott Puopolo
L: God calls us to worship and we respond. Let us worship God, our light and our salvation.
C: The Lord is the stronghold of our lives. We desire to live in God’s house and to seek God in his holy temple. We have come with shouts of joy, to sing and to make music to the Lord.
L: Let us worship God in spirit and in truth.
C: Teach us your ways and make straight our paths in this hour of worship and always.
Opening Prayer Invite God to work in you as you worship today.
Scott Puopolo
Worship Songs Join with the congregation in praise to God.
Pastor Josh and Rebekah Barnes
Verse 1
Who has held the oceans in His hands
Who has numbered every grain of sand
Kings and nations tremble at His voice
All creation rises to rejoice
Chorus
Behold our God seated on His throne
Come let us adore Him
Behold our King nothing can compare
Come let us adore Him
Verse 2
Who has given counsel to the Lord
Who can question any of His words
Who can teach the One who knows all things
Who can fathom all His wondrous deeds
Verse 3
Who has felt the nails upon His hands
Bearing all the guilt of sinful man
God eternal humbled to the grave
Jesus Savior risen now to reign
Bridge
You will reign forever
(Let Your glory fill the earth)
(REPEAT)
You will reign forever
(Let Your glory fill)
#133—Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me
Verse 1
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy riven side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
Cleanse me from its guilt and pow’r.
Verse 2
Not the labors of my hands
can fulfill thy law’s demands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
thou must save, and thou alone.
Verse 3
Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to Thy cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die!
Verse 4
While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyes shall close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown,
see thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee.
Amen.
#136—“Man of Sorrows,” What a Name
Verse 1
“Man of Sorrows,” what a name
For the Son of God who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim!
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Verse 2
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Verse 3
Guilty, vile, and helpless, we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
“Full atonement” can it be?
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Verse 4
Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished,” was His cry;
Now in heav’n exalted high.
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Verse 5
When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew this song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Missions Moment—Small Town Summits
Pastor Josh
Scripture Meditation—Hebrews 9:1-14 (p. 1192 in Pew Bible) Hear a reading from the Gospel that relates to the sermon text.
Judy Stabolepszy
Confession and Assurance—Heidelberg Cat Q&A 56 Lift your burdens and concerns to the Lord.
Pastor Josh
L: Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name’s sake.
[Season of silent prayer]
L: Having confessed our sins together, we believe the promise of God to forgive.
C: I believe that God, because of Christ’s atonement, will never hold against me any of my sins nor my sinful nature, which I need to struggle against all my life. Rather, in his grace God grants me the righteousness of Christ to free me forever from judgment.
Congregational Prayer Lift your burdens and concerns to the Lord.
Pastor Josh
The Lord’s Prayer In closing, pray the words that Jesus taught us to pray.
Congregation
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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Children Dismissed for Kids Program
Megan Moore
Scripture Reading—Leviticus 16 (p. 112 in Pew Bible) Read this portion of God’s word.
Scott Puopolo
L: The grass withers and the flower fades.
C: But the word of our God will stand forever.
Sermon Hear God’s word proclaimed and explained.
Pastor Josh
Sermon Notes
Introduction
Song of Response—Wonderful Merciful Savior
h Respond to the preaching of the word with song.
Pastor Josh and Rebekah Barnes
Verse 1
Wonderful merciful Savior
Precious Redeemer and Friend
Who would have thought that a Lamb
Could rescue the souls of men
Oh You rescue the souls of men
Chorus
You are the One that we praise
You are the One we adore
You give the healing and grace
Our hearts always hunger for
Oh our hearts always hunger for
Verse 2
Counselor Comforter Keeper
Spirit we long to embrace
You offer hope when our hearts
Have hopelessly lost the way
Oh we hopelessly lost the way
Verse 3
Almighty infinite Father
Faithfully loving Your own
Here in our weakness You find us
Falling before Your throne
Oh we’re falling before Your throne
Extinguishing the Candles You are the light of the world.
Acolytes
Benediction Receive a parting blessing.
Pastor Josh
Postlude
Rebekah Barnes