SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
June 27th, 2021
Gathering
MUSICAL OFFERING
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Let me remind you quickly of our protocols for everyone’s safety.                   
·  Attendance was taken by Ushers as you entered.
· Offerings may be placed in the plate by the doors.
· Please write your prayer request on the Yellow cards.  An usher will pick them up during the 1st hymn.
· Please join us after service for fellowship in Calvin Hall
· Dr Dyke has started a Bible study on Wednesdays  at 3pm sign-up  sheet outside Pastor Study
 
Schedule reminders:
The office and the rest of the building remain closed, but you can contact Karla during her office hours.
June 30th Bible Study
July 4th Independence Day
July 11th Session
July 18th Congregational Meeting
July 21st Mission and Outreach Meeting
 
PRAYER REQUESTS
     Gary Iverson, all who are seeking Jesus, Bob Bock, Joan Boyd, Jack Braden, Wanda Hirl, Marilyn Neymeyer, Joan Pinkston, Maxine Wagner, Valerie Jerez, a person seeking a job, Annette Conzett, Jim Roling and family, Sara Feilmeier, Jackie with difficult pregnancy, Jo Lefleur,  Dr Dyke, Jane with upcoming knee surgery, Deb Weller death of father in-law and upcoming surgery, people of India, Tom Kelly facing Surgery, Amy Jacobs, Jeff Fish, Cornell Family two deaths in the past week, Bonnie Pillers, Pawlik Family
 
PRELUDE
 
WORDS OF WORSHIP
     Leader: Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled.”
     Response: “You believe in God; believe also in me.”
     L: I go to prepare a place for you.”
     R: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again!
     L: I am the way, the truth, and the life.
     R: No one comes to the Father, but by me
 
.GATHERING PRAYER (Unison)
Jesus said, “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.  O God, our heavenly Father, who has made known Your love in Jesus Christ and Your presence by Your Holy Spirit,; we praise You, we adore You, and we worship You, world without end. Amen.
 
*HYMN                                  Precious Lord                                                   No. 404                      
 
 
CONFESSION AND PARDON   (Unison) 
                Eternal God, in whom we live and move and have our being, whose face is hidden from us by our sins and whose mercy we forget in the blindness of our hearts; cleanse us, we ask You from all our offenses and deliver us from proud thoughts and vain desires. We seek to draw near to You, confessing our sins, confiding in Your grace forever. Amen
 
Assurance of Pardon
     Almighty God, whose nature is to forgive sinners and ever to have compassion on them that turn to You, grant you perfect remission of all your sins and full assurance of pardon. May He strengthen and confirm you in all good works and bring you to eternal life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
     
*ANTHEM     
                          
*THE PASSING OF THE PEACE
 
THE OFFERING AND OFFERTORY
 
OFFERTORY PRAYER
   .O giver of every good and perfect gift, we acknowledge Your bounty in these gifts which we now offer and dedicate unto You. We ask You to accept them and multiply them for the work of Your church and the spread of your kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
 INTERLUDE
 
                                                    Word
 
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
O Master, in a world with multiple voices always seeking to give direction and purpose to our lives, help us to focus today upon Your timeless voice of Truth in a world of confusion and sin. Amen.
 
​
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Psalm 130: 1-6
 
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; 2 Lord, hear my voice.  Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.  3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.  5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.  6 I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.
 
Matthew 17: 14-21
14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”  17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.  19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”  20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” ]
 
Mark 5: 21-43
21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”  31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”  32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”  35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”  36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.
 
SERMON               When Things Get Desperate 
 
    We come to the close of the first half of the year 2021 today! What a year-full of trouble and distress it has been in our land and in the world! Yet, the people of God gather in this place to thank God for His manifold blessings in the midst of all the struggle we have encountered. This is the Facebook broadcast of the morning worship service of the First Presbyterian Church of Clinton, Iowa.
 
     I am Rev. Dr. Dale Dykstra, the interim minister here for the past 15 weeks. I have been a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) for the past nearly 49 years, with July 2 being the anniversary of my ordination by the Presbytery of Chicago. I have served churches in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and now in Iowa.
 
     I have been blessed to be of service to many people over the years who have faced terrible situations and events in their lives. Just this very week I got a phone call from a woman I did not know.  She was a distraught great-grandma whose little great-grandson had passed away very soon after his birth.  I was priviledged to bring the comforting words of our Savior to her wounded heart. After the call, I recognized that she was one of the people that this sermon is pointed to. I contend that every one of us faces times in our lives that seem desperate; times of hopelessness.
 
     It seems that we all turn to our faith and our Church when we have encountered desperate times that seem totally beyond our control. We are pretty good at managing our lives through normal difficulties and stresses, but there are times beyond our capabilities.
 
     I took you to David once again in his famous Psalm 130. Do you recall much of David’s story? He was the shepherd’s youngest son. He was the smallest and weakest among a family of burly outdoorsmen, One day, the great judge Samuel came to their house because God had sent him there to anoint a new King for Israel.
After looking at all the other men, Samuel chose David. He faced overwhelming odds many times. The first one was a Philistine giant named Goliath—remember? There was NO WAY that a boy armed  with a slingshot he used to chase away predators from his sheep should have defeated a huge and strong man with armor, a sword, and a shield! BUT HE DID !! God blessed Israel and David with the victory.
 
     There were several stories about various enemy nations –like the Ammonites, the Edomites, the Philistines, the Moabites, and others—who came up against Israel. They usually had much larger armies than the Hebrews did. In that day and age before sophisticated weaponry and explosives; usually the LARGER army would win the battle. Often times the smaller army captain simply surrendered, rather than sustaining great losses in conflict. Yet David turned to God EVERY TIME and Israel was blessed.
 
     But there was one time where David got himself into terrible trouble! Remember Bathsheba? You know the story of his adultery- Even worse than taking her in sin—David sent her husband Uriah to his death in battle in order to cover up his own unfaithfulness. David was no longer God’s obedient servant – he became public enemy #1.
 
     That is why I took you to Psalm 130. It was written just after his sins were proclaimed publicly by the prophet Nathan. It answers a critical question that every one of us faces sometimes.
 
                                       WHAT DO I DO NOW??
 
     David says – and means – “out of the depths I cry to you, o Lord.” “If You should mark sin, who could stand?” David confessed his sin openly, brought the mistakes of his ways to God, and stopped his sin. The Psalm declares that David feels God’s forgiveness as he hopes for grace to continue life in obedience as he starts over.
     There are critical lessons here:
Realize your errors and sins
Confess them to God
Hope for grace and mercy from God.
Start fresh walking in newness of life
 
     I also took you to a story of two different people in desperate situations. There was a leader in the synagogue – a man of influence and power in the community – named Jairus. His twelve-year-ole daughter was at the point of death –the physicians could do no more for her. What could her desperate father do?
 
     He had heard about this miracle-worker named Jesus. He had created quite a stir when he cast demons out of a man in the neighboring town of Gergasa. It seemed that the demons went into a big herd of pigs and made them run pell-mell into the sea! Boy were the swineherds mad!! Yet the story caused Jairus to have hope that Jesus might be the only possible solution! He humbled himself (fell at his feet) and BEGGED Jesus to come and heal her.
 
     Here again, coming to Jesus in desperate times was the right answer!
 
     But Jesus wasn’t able to go to Jairus’ house directly. I read you the next story about the woman with a 12-year hemorrage! She done all the right things- gone to every doctor , gotten all their help – but to no avail. Here was a pitiful hopeless woman.  She had used up all her resources, and not received a healing. She was desperate, too!
 
     This lady could not address Jesus like Jairus did. She was a common woman without any “clout” like the cantor of the synagogue had. She tried to SNEAK a blessing. If she could just touch Jesus, her faith told her that would be enough to heal her---so she grabbed him as he went on his way to this very important journey to heal the little girl. Now, we all know that was not the right way to seek a rescue from despair!
 
                                      BUT IT WORKED!!!
 
She was healed! But she did not get away with stealing the blessing. Jesus felt the touch! His disciples didn’t understand his statement; thinking there was quite a crowd and of course somebody bumped him. Jesus said “No, I felt some healing power leave me- I need to know who touched me, and why! She had to admit her fraud to the Master.
 
              BUT HE SAID: “GO IN PEACE, YOUR FAITH HAS MADE YOU WELL.”
 
      Back to Jairus. The girl dies!!!   Jairus’s helpers come running up, telling him not to bother Jesus, because IT IS TOO LATE. With her dead, there was nothing there for Him to do. But Jesus doesn’t let him give up. Professional mourners at the house certify that, yes, the girl was dead. They had seen a lot of people die AND THEY CERTINLY RECOGNIZED DEAD!
 
                                      BUT JESUS RAISED HER TO LIFE AGAIN!
   
Last of my examples of people in desperate situations is the man with the epileptic son. He had done everything he could to keep him safe. He even sought the healing power that Jesus had given to his disciples, but even they could not heal him. Jesus healed the boy by casting out the demon. When asked by his disciples, he said they couldn’t do it because of their “little faith”.
 
      There are many ways of getting into desperate times. Our world has had a huge one in the global pandemic we are all just emerging from. Some of the troubles are our own fault –like those of David. Others are beyond our control, like those of the father of the epileptic boy. Some are physical in nature, like the woman with blood. Other desperate times affect other people that we care for—like those of Jairus.
 
 
     The key point is that ALL of these examples of truly helpless predicaments were brought to the Lord Jesus Christ and
 
                                                  HE OVERCAME THEM!
 
Will God in Christ heal every situation? Of course not, but many times when we feel hopeless can be overcome with answered prayer to the Lord our God. Amen.
 
 
 
 
*Hymn                                There Is a Balm In Gilead                             No. 394                
           
*AFFIRMATION Apostle’s Creed, Ecumenical Version
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 on 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.
 
MORNING PRAYER AND LORD’S PRAYER
 
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done in earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
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.
 
Sending
 
*HYMN                                Great Is Thy Faithfulness                                    No. 276                                             
 
 
  CHARGE & BLESSING
And now, may the grace, mercy, and peace which proceeds from God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Son, and into the Holy Spirit within us, rest and abide within us, now and forever more.
 
POSTLUDE
*Stand as you are able.
 

​ 
SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
June 20th, 2021
Gathering
MUSICAL OFFERING
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Let me remind you quickly of our protocols for everyone’s safety.                  
·  Attendance was taken by Ushers as you entered.
· Offerings may be placed in the plate by the doors.
· Please write your prayer request on the Yellow cards.  An usher will pick them up during the 1st hymn.
· Please join us after service for fellowship in Calvin Hall
· Dr Dyke has started a Bible study on Wednesdays  at 3pm sign-up  sheet outside Pastor Study
 
Schedule reminders:
The office and the rest of the building remain closed, but you can contact Karla during her office hours.
June 20th Father’s Day
June 23rd Bible Study
 
PRAYER REQUESTS
     Family of Rose, Family of Chuck Thornton, Gary Iverson, all who are seeking Jesus, Bob Bock, Joan Boyd, Jack Braden, Wanda Hirl, Marilyn Neymeyer, Joan Pinkston, Maxine Wagner, Valerie Jerez, a person seeking a job, Annette Conzett, Jim Roling and family, Sara Feilmeier, Jackie with difficult pregnancy, Lois Seger, Jo Lefleur,  Dr Dyke, Clayton Mallory, Jane with upcoming knee surgery, Deb Weller death of father in-law and upcoming surgery, people of India, Tom Kelly facing Surgery, Amy Jacobs, Jeff Fish and Cornell Family two deaths in the past week
PRELUDE
WORDS OF WORSHIP (From Psalm 150)
     LEADER:  Praise the Lord!
     Response:   Praise God in His Sanctuary.
     L:  Praise Him in his mighty firmament!
     R: Praise Him for His mighty deeds.
     L: Praise Him according to His surpassing greatness!
     R:  Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!
 
GATHERING PRAYER
          O God, whose chosen dwelling is the heart that longs for Your presence and humbly seeks Your face, we come to You at the beginning of the day as the light and warmth of the sun projects Your eternal glow. Strengthen every desire to improve our lives according to Your holy Will. We ask You to restore the joy of our salvation as we proclaim Your grace to our personal worlds. Amen.
 
HYMN                                  Immortal, Invisible                                               No. 263                      
 
CONFESSION AND PARDON.
     O most merciful God, Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who pardons all who truly repent and turn to You, we humbly confess our sins and implore Your mercy. We have not loved You with a pure heart nor have we loved our neighbor as ourselves.
We have not done justly, nor loved mercy and walked humbly with our God. Have mercy upon us according to Your loving-kindness. According to the multitude of Your mercies, blot out our sin. We ask You to create a clean heart within us, Lord. Amen.
 
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
       Almighty God, who doth freely pardon all who repent and turn toward You, now fulfill in every contrite heart the promise of redeeming grace. We will remit all our sins and cleanse us from an evil conscience, through the perfect sacrifice of Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
 
ANTHEM                                 More Than Just Enough                
                                Hope College Chapel Chorus – loaned by Jon Ryner
 
THE PASSING OF THE PEACE
 
RECOGNITION OF FATHERS
 
THE OFFERING AND OFFERTORY
    
OFFERTORY PRAYER
       As King David wondered what he could offer to God that was worthy, so we, also, come with our best gifts and realize that they fall so far short of Your divine goodness toward us. Help us to see our financial gifts to Your church as the symbols they truly are; representing the gift of our lives in Your service. Amen.
 
INTERLUDE
 
                                                    Word
 
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
      Heavenly Father, we come to hear the divine Word from the Holy Bible. We know that we cannot approach Your gospel without receiving Your blessing. Open our ears and hearts to accept what you teach us, and put it into practice in our lives. Amen,
 
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
 
     Psalm 68: 1-6
May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him.  2 May you blow them away like smoke— as wax melts before the fire,    may the wicked perish before God.  3 But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.  4 Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the Lord. 5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,  is God in his holy dwelling.  6 God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
 
Matthew 10: 24-33
24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household! 26 “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.[a] 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
 
Ephesians 4: 25- 5:2
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
 5 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
 
 
SERMON                  The God Father
 
     Here we are at the First Presbyterian Church of Clinton, Iowa again, and this is the Facebook broadcast of our Father’s Day morning worship. Now, ladies, remember that you had a special sermon for you on Mother’s Day just a month ago, so TODAY IS THE MEN’S TURN!  I am still Rev. Dr. Dale Dykstra, the interim minister here and a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) for nearly 49 years. 10 churches have called me “Dr. Dyke” in Pennsylvania, Illinois and now Iowa.
     Well, I didn’t get through one paragraph without divulging the theme of today’s sermon. Jesus set it out in the Matthew 10 reading that I shared with you this morning. “ALL WHO ACKNOWLEDGE ME BEFORE MEN, WILL I ACKNOWLEDGE BEFORE MY FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.”
 
     He called God “My Father”---since He was God’s holy Son. That statement led to the priests and the Pharisees calling Him a blasphemer—since that made him an equal with his Father God. Did you ever realize that we do the same thing? Haven’t you ever heard someone refer to a boy as “A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK?” – meaning that he took after His father enough to resemble him? This might be a physical resemblance, but more often it is a mannerism or behavior that calls the father to mind.
 
     Let’s go even further with this simile--- Jesus extended His sonship to us! He said “Our Father”---including ME- AND YOU!! as the children of God himself! Now, He COULD have and really SHOULD have said “My Father” as a true statement; whether mankind recognized it or not. But He did not. MEN—YOU HAVE THE VERY WORDS OF JESUS –YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD!!
 
    Now that is not a license or privilege to claim. NO, it is a relationship of dependance. We have known, or certainly heard of men who take advantage of their parent’s position, or wealth, or education. We may not know them, but there are sons who are SPOILED by their fathers into believing that the world OWES them honor or recognition just because of their birth. These are, without question, NOT our favorite people. Not “role model” material, I am afraid.
 
      I have mentioned that my youngest grandson is just over a year old, now. It was just a few months ago that he couldn’t MOVE! Not even roll over! Do you remember the days when you could put your baby down and know that HE COULDN’T MOVE?
He was totally dependent upon his mother (my daughter), his father, and family. PS, he is not only rolling over now, but walking, even running and CLIMBING now—putting him into some dangerous situations. Still dependent; but a different way!
 
      We are a lot like that. We are not able to lead the righteous life that would remind others of Jesus on our own---we need to DEPPEND upon the aid of our Almighty Father.  We can’t be independent….but we don’t have to be so! Our Father REALLY IS our father! We don’t need to be independent and strong by ourselves. It is OK to rely upon the holiness of God. HE can do what we cannot.
 
    In his fatherhood, David tells us in Psalm 68 that God is “the father of the fatherless and the protector of widows.” How bereft is the man who has not got a father! What does a fatherless man LOSE?
 
    Psalms tells us that the fatherless man loses PROTECTION. From the beginning to the bumps and bruises of childhood to the heartaches of youth, a father protects his children. So, God, OUR FATHER protects us from the very worst that Satan can do to us. His Holy Spirit is IN us, to warn us and to protect us. There is comfort knowing that we are protected from evil by a heavenly Father.
 
      Men, have you shared an experience that I know all-too-well?  There have been times in my life where I faced important choices and temptations and was poised to make what would have been the wrong choice. Suddenly, I had an uneasy feeling—one that I recognize now as the warning of the Holy Spirit—and paused and reconsidered in time to avoid a terrible outcome. God, My Father, was protecting me IN SPITE OF MYSELF.
 
      You are also Malnourished without a Father. He is there to provide for you—to nourish you. Every father wants to give “Good gifts” to his children as our Lord, himself, said. Fathers go out to labor so that they can provide for their children. Now God provides for us –His children. He provides for me.
 
       God provides ---PEACE– My own father was not one to express emotion; but one odd thing about my childhood was when I would do a “stupid kid thing” and get scraped or dented in some fall or disaster. I would go home and seek out my dad—rather than my more obviously loving mother –because of his big hand! He would put that hand on my back and rub and say “It will be all right”—and I knew that it WOULD be.
 
     God provides COURAGE.  I knew that my dad was brave, strong, and would certainly protect my mom and me. I knew that because I heard the stories of his service in the army in the South Pacific during World War II. In second grade I wanted to bring the ribbon for his Good Conduct Medal to school’s show and tell. I learned later how much that meant to him. I felt safe at home, though we certainly did not live in the best part of Chicago.
 
     God provides FORGIVENESS.  We only had one car, and Dad used it every day for work. Early in my teen years he was very clear that I would NOT drive the family car. I could drive when I could afford a car and insurance! I came home from college during my freshman year and after I got my license, and BEGGED Mom to get Dad to allow me to drive JUST ONCE with my friends. I am sure she had to really work hard to get him to allow it; but he did. Wouldn’t you know—while out, another car pulled right in front of me, and we hade a fender bender. Oh no! I knew Dad would kill me!
 
     I was afraid and parked the car about a block from in front of the house and walked home. I went to my room until supper, where we all ate together. After a time, I couldn’t hold it in any longer, and blurted out that I had an accident as careful as I tried to be! AND MY DAD STARTED LAUGHING! Huh???
     Mom explained—Where does your dad work? I answered “At the newspaper, why?” She said that Dad had seen the police report of my accident come through the ticker at work BEFORE I EVEN CAME HOME!  He was grateful I confessed—and he FORGAVE ME. I will never forget it.
 
     God provides LOVE.  Dad showed his great capacity for love as mom’s health declined. He took such good care of her!
 
      Fathers give their sons a NAME.  My initials are DAD and my son’s initials are DAD, and my grandson’s initials are DAD too! That was to honor both of my parents’s deceased fathers when I was born. I have told the story to my grandson and its special meaning as he goes to college.
 
     God calls us “Christians” which means “little Christs” –the diminutive of Christ our Lord. WE HAVE HIS NAME and all it represents. Men, make sure that people respect God’s name in you!
 
     Most obviously, God provides LIFE!  Matthew again relates “He who finds his life will lose it, but he who loses his life for Christ’s sake will find it.” You were born in Christ in baptism and you live the life He gave you.
 
      God gives us His EXAMPLE. Remember when you tried to walk in Daddy’s shoes? CLOMP, CLOMP, CLOMP. Oops! Now move to Ephesians and St. Paul. He says ““Therefore, be imitators of God, as His beloved children.” How can we imitate one who is perfect, while we are so far from it?
       By loving others.
       By sharing and caring
       By living a straight life
       By confessing sin to God.
 
     No, we won’t be perfect like God—we can’t be! But we will be the best we can for him, ---and reflect Him in what we do, say, think, and say. We can make our Father PROUD! Do you remember a time Dad popped his britches because of you? My Seminary graduation and the ordination service in my home church in Chicago was when I saw the pride that my mom always told me was there.
 
    We can humbly and honestly MAKE GOD PROUD of us as his sons and we must do so while there is time.  Amen.
 
HYMN                                There’s a Wideness In God’s Mercy              No. 298                       
                                 “
   
*AFFIRMATION       Apostle’s Creed, Ecumenical Version
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 on 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.
 
MORNING PRAYER AND LORD’S PRAYER
 
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done in earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
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.
 
Sending
 
*HYMN                                Come, Thou Almighty King                               No. 139
 
 
  CHARGE & BLESSING
And now, may the grace, mercy, and peace which proceeds from God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Son, and into the Holy Spirit within us, rest and abide within us, now and forever more.
 
POSTLUDE
*Stand as you are able.

​ 
SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
June 06 2021
 
MUSICAL OFFERING
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Let me remind you quickly of our protocols for everyone’s safety.                  
·  Attendance was taken by Ushers as you entered.
· Offerings may be placed in the plate by the doors.
· Please write your prayer request on the Yellow cards.  An usher will pick them up during the 1st hymn.
· Please join us after service for fellowship in Calvin Hall
· Dr Dyke is starting a Bible study on  Wednesday June 2rd at 3pm sign-up  sheet outside Pastor Study
 
Schedule reminders:
The office and the rest of the building remain closed, but you can contact Karla during her office hours.
June 6th Installation of Elders and Deacons
June 9th Bible Study
June 13th Session Meeting
June 17th Pulse Articles due
June 20th Father’s Day
 
PRAYER REQUESTS
     Family of Rose, Family of Chuck Thornton, Gary Iverson, all who are seeking Jesus, Bob Bock, Joan Boyd, Jack Braden, Wanda Hirl, Marilyn Neymeyer, Joan Pinkston, Maxine Wagner, Valerie Jerez, a person seeking a job, Annette Conzett, Jim Roling and family, Sara Feilmeier, Jackie with difficult pregnancy, Lois Seger, Jo Lefleur,  Dr Dyke, Clayton Mallory, Jane with upcoming knee surgery, Deb Weller death of father in-law and upcoming surgery, and people of India.
 
 
WORDS OF WORSHIP
  LEADER: Lord of heaven and earth, we praise Your glorious majesty!
     Response: Your wisdom is seen in all Your manifold works.
     L: Your grace and truth are revealed in Jesus Christ.
     R: God’s power and presence are seen in us through the Holy Spirit.
     L: We adore Your holy name, o blessed Trinity.
     R: You are our help and redeemer now and forevermore.
 
GATHERING PRAYER (Unison)
      We turn the page on another month, o Master. We prepare to receive the forgiveness of our sins through the Holy Sacrament of Communion together. Come to us through the answers to our most fervent prayers, the hearing of the words of the Holy Bible and our heartfelt confessions of sin. Strengthen us for the challenges we will face in the days to come. In Jesus’ precious and eternal name. Amen.
 
 
*Hymn    Let All Mortal Flesh                                  No. 5
 
 CONFESSION AND PARDON   (Unison)   
         O most merciful God, Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who grants pardon to all who truly repent of their sin and turn toward You, we humbly confess our sins and implore Your mercy. We have not loved You fervently with a pure heart, nor have we loved our neighbor as ourselves in the way You commanded. We have not done justly, nor loved mercy, nor walked humbly at Your side. Have mercy upon us, o Savior. Amen.
 
 
Assurance of Pardon
     Almighty God, who doth freely pardon all who repent and turn toward Thee, now fulfill in every contrite heart the promise of redeeming grace. We thank you for remitting our sins and cleansing us from an evil conscience through the perfect sacrifice of Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
 
*ANTHEM:
 
*THE PASSING OF THE PEACE
 
INSTALLATION OF ELDERS AND DEACONS
 
THE OFFERING AND OFFERTORY
    
OFFERTORY PRAYER
         Father in heaven, you have told us that we shall reap what we sow. This is true not only for our character, but our conduct. We trust You today with our tithes and offerings, knowing that You will use them for Your kingdom and continue in Your provision for us who believe. Amen.
 
INTERLUDE
 
     Word
 
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
                  We approach the Holy Bible as the word of God, the inerrant truth of heaven, and the message of grace through the cross of Calvary. All of our hope comes from the refreshing message that, despite our shortcomings, You love us with an everlasting love. Teach us today what we need to understand for the living of the days to come. Amen.
 
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
     Genesis 9: 8-17
8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”
 
Luke 22: 14-20
14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
 
   Hebrews 8: 8-13
 
8 But God found fault with the people and said [a]: “The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel  and with the people of Judah. 9 It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. 10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.  11 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord, ‘because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”13   calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.
 
SERMON     
     Hello again! This is the morning worship service of the First Presbyterian Church of Clinton, Iowa. Today is a special Sunday, because we will install our Elders and Deacons to their offices, as well as receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion. You are invited to join us at the table at the end of the service to use your own bread, roll, or cracker and whatever juice or wine you may have at home. The Lord will bless the elements by the loving intent of the participant.
 
     I am Rev. Dr. Dale Dykstra, interim minister at this parish for 2 and ½ months so far. I have pastored a total of 10 churches of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and now Iowa for the past 48 years. Indeed, next month it will become 49 years on July 2nd. It is my joy to serve the Lord and His church!
 
     Have you ever made a promise? Of course you have! Probably very many of them. Have you kept EVERY ONE of them? Probably not—even with your best effort.
Many of them are in the category of “casual” promises, where we indicate a desire or intention; but without the commitment to abide by what we have said. We don’t mean to cause any trouble for anyone; but sometimes these can lead to hurt feelings or a lack of trust in our friends or acquaintances. I remember waiting for a friend for TWO HOURS because of a promise to meet together at a certain place and time!!
 
     OK, I get it----some promises are WAY more important than others, even though ALL promises indicate a commitment on our part. How many of you have ever had to sign a contract? Buy a car? Or a house? Even a dish washer or stove??  SURE! We have all done this by this time in our lives. A contract IS a promise, but one that is two-way.
 
     “I will give you this or do this for you if you will pay me so much money.” Right? And we are all “good people” –we do our level best to KEEP our promises that are in this form. As a matter of fact, there are punishments if we fail to keep a contract! That car can be repossessed! Heavens! The house can be foreclosed on! Those penalties are enforced to make sure that most folks would never THINK of breaking these promises.
 
     What about other kinds of promises? I had to take one with my first wife, Cheryl, when we adopted our children. That was a contract or agreement for the placement of another little human life in our care between the two of us and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania! And if we didn’t follow through with good care for the kids in the eye of the social workers on their inspections—they could withdraw them from our home by a heart-rending court procedure.
 
     Speaking of wives –and husbands too—did any of you make a very HIGH PROMISE called a VOW TO THEIR MATE?  “To love, honor, and cherish one another”? NOTE---the Presbyterian Church (USA) has not asked women to “obey” for literally centuries!! This higher level of commitment in a promise at the “vow” level has more severe punishments for breaking them. Separation and even divorce cause the rupture of a God-blessed relationship.
 
      Nor is that the only Vow that people take. We just celebrated Memorial Day where we honored all of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation’s freedom.   That service started with a vow to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States” and the penalties for breaking this promise include a visit from the MP’s and severe jail time!
 
     Do you realize that you have taken vows to God, too? When the George’s just joined our church by their confession of faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, that was a VOW to God Almighty. And nearly all of us have taken them. Now God does not send you to jail for unfaithfulness, friends. His punishment is far worse than jail---and is eternal!!
 
     Do you realize that there are promises FROM GOD as well? These are the very highest form of promises and are called COVENANTS. Essentially a covenant is a guarantee between two parties. More formal—and much more important than just a contract; they have the potential to enrich both parties ---or to destroy them.
 
     God introduced the relationship of covenant to man with what we call the Adamic Covenant. Note that God offered it to Adam and Eve. God promised that every tree of the garden would be good for food to keep them strong and healthy EXCEPT the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And, yes, there was a penalty for breaking this covenant. God told them that they risked DYING!
 
      Now the snake was the master of the half-truth. He still is! He told Eve that God did not mean what He said. No, they would not die. She chose to believe it. And Satan was right!!! They did not “drop dead.”; but they became mortal, and would eventually die. We had no mention of them dying before the broken covenants—God wanted to walk in the garden with them forever!
 
     The second covenant was the Noahic Covenant. “I will never again cut off all flesh with a flood.” This introduced a new aspect to the meaning of a covenant. God promised without a penalty for the people’s sin. This introduced the God of MERCY.
 
     There were other covenants in the Old Testament between God and His people. Kings – most notably David – made covenants for their nation. Israel, however, kept breaking their promise to be faithful to the one true God and to turn away from idols. The prophets kept warning them about failing to keep the covenant with God.
 
    I jump to the New Testament now. Jesus is at the Last Supper that we are going to celebrate together today. It, too, was a covenant. He says that “this cup that is poured out which is the New Covenant in my blood” Jesus, himself, BECAME the covenant as the sacred pure lamb of sacrifice through the blood shed on the cross. There Jesus paid the penalty of sin for all of us with His Sacred Blood. God’s MERCY became personal in Jesus.
 
     We cannot lead sinless lives, but through Jesus, we don’t need to! We DO need to do our best to live a life worthy of the calling to which we are summoned, but know that we can’t be perfect. Jesus paid with His death our broken covenant.
 
     There is one more divine covenant. I took you to Hebrews 8. In it, it says “I will establish a NEW COVENANT. “I will be their God and they shall be my people.” He forgave our sins as He says, “I will be merciful toward their iniquities and I will remember their sins no more.”
 
     Truly, through the goodness of God, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and by the Holy Spirit within each of us, OUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN. All that we have ever done and ALL THAT WE EVER SHALL STILL DO are covered by the cross as the atonement for the broken covenant between you AND ME AND God. Amen.                      
 
   
 
HYMN                       Let Us Break Bread Together                                   No. 513                          
                         
                      
AFFIRMATION   Apostle’s Creed, Ecumenical Version
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 on 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
INVITATION TO THE LORD’S SUPPER
 
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
      The Lord be with you.
      And also with you.
      Lift up your hearts.
      We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
O Holy God…we lift our hearts in joyful praise.
 
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might.                                          Hymnal #581
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.
 
We praise you…together, we proclaim the mystery of our faith.
 
Dying, you destroyed our death; rising, you restored our life.                    Hymnal #582
 
Gracious God… all glory and honor are yours,
Almighty God, now and forever.  Amen.
 
 
                                                                Sending
*HYMN                                 Jesus, Thou Joy                                                 No. 510                                            
 
 
  CHARGE & BLESSING
And now, may the grace, mercy, and peace which proceeds from God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Son, and into the Holy Spirit within us, rest and abide within us, now and forever more.
 
​
 
POSTLUDE