jULY 19, 2026
EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
wORSHIP ON THE LAWN
A Service of Prayer, of Song, of Celebration,
and, of Worshiping Out in Nature.
Lead Minister: The Rev. Jope Langejans
Music Director: Cody Obst
Minister Emeritus: Rev. Gerry Scharff
Honorary Associate Ministers: Rev. Clint Mooney & Rev. Kelley Warner
Licensed Lay Worship Leaders: Fiona Hayes
Chair of Council: Vacant
Reader: Nancy Gillean
Special Musical Guests: Horizon Ridge
“May the brightness of the morning light fill our hearts with hope and with vision… may the bustle of the noonday heat fill our minds with wise reflection…may the lull of evening’s early calm fill our souls with contemplation…may the darkness and the sleep of night fill our bodies with restoration. May this day bring to each of us -- wholeness.”
Gathering
(*Indicates that you may stand if you are able…)
PRELUDE
WELCOMING / ANNOUNCEMENTS / INTRODUCTIONS
*INTROIT VU # 412 “This Is the Day”
ACKNOWLEDGING THE TERRITORY (Unison)
“May we all be mindful today that we are worshiping and coming together on Treaty 7 land. We acknowledge with respect the history, the spirituality, and the culture of the peoples with whom Treaty 7 was signed and the territory wherein Lakeview United Church resides, and our responsibility as treaty members to the Blackfoot Nations, the Blood, the Stoney, Siksika and our neighbouring Tsuu T’Ina Nation… Hey, Hey!”
A SPECIAL GIFT OF MUSIC ----- HORIZON RIDGE
CALL TO WORSHIP (responsive)
Rev. Jope: We come to gather on this Sabbath morning
ALL: with the joy and the courage of summer’s greening and growth,
Rev. Jope: alongside the eternal song and the swift journey of the flowing rivers and babbling brooks,
ALL: beneath the morning’s brightening ray and her shadows cast about with the leaves of the poplar.
Rev. Jope: Look! The Great Creator gives us earth and animates all of life.
ALL: God’s blessings are like the dew on a tender, new blade of grass,
Rev. Jope: and the breeze in the grey wisps of the alder.
ALL: The Creator rejuvenates all with summer
Rev. Jope: and gentles the children of Earth into the call of rest.
ALL: Here we gather, lest we fail to notice –
Rev. Jope: grace abounding; life playing out; a gift being given.
ALL: As a people of the Sabbath, we open inward eyes,
Rev. Jope: and prepare room for the Divine to raise life in us anew. Let us turn to our God in prayer and invite the Presence to be with us in what we do this morning:
OPENING PRAYER: (Unison)
O Gracious One, may the words which we share take us through this day and lead us gently into the week to come…
In the shelter of new light, before day’s weight begins to overcome some of us, hear our prayer:
As earth charts her course towards the end of the day, so may we chart ours: with quiet clarity…with visible compassion… with clear integrity.
May the scope of this created journey run broad with recognition: for each subtle miracle…for each transparent mercy…for each tender joy.
May the sweep of this day be steadied by your gestures of presence: infectious grace…persistent love…outrageous vision; until an iridescence grows within, marking our course with peaceful certainty…Amen.
A NEW CREED: (Unison)
We are not alone; we live in God’s world. We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church:
to celebrate God’s presence,
to live with respect in Creation,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God.
*HYMN “Jacob’s Ladder”
(The phrase ‘climbing Jacob’s ladder’ means living – struggling with life. We see God and the ‘angels’ between Heaven and Earth guaranteeing our survival in our struggles of life – Genesis 28:10-19a)
“We are climbing Jacob’s ladder
We are climbing Jacob’s ladder
We are climbing Jacob’s ladder
People of the Way”
“Ev’ry round goes higher, higher
Ev’ry round goes higher, higher
Ev’ry round goes higher, higher
Brothers, sisters, all”
“Every new one makes us stronger
Every new one makes us stronger
Every new one makes us stronger
Sisters, brothers, all”
“Seekin’, Knowin’, Lovin’, Servin’
Seekin’, Knowin’, Lovin’, Servin’
Seekin’, Knowin’, Lovin’, Servin’
People of the Way”
Engaging
(Reader: Nancy Gillean)
OLD TESTAMENT PASSAGE
GENESIS 28:10-19a Jacob’s dream of the ladder…
ROMANS 8:12-25 Creation groans with labour pains….
ANOTHER GIFT OF MUSIC - HORIZON RIDGE
GOSPEL PASSAGE
MARK 7: 31-37 And the deaf and the speechless are healed…
MESSAGE Belief Beyond Bounds
Responding
OFFERING BLESSINGS FOR GIFTS GIVEN (Rev. Jope)
So, in this moment, we offer blessings upon the gifts which we’ve given to the work of this community of faith…for the encouragement of your people…and with the love of Christ in our hearts…may the offerings which we give in so many different ways be a blessing in their giving and in their utilization of sharing in the Message of peace and of hope.
PRAYER of BLESSING (Rev. Jope)
*HYMN VU # 639 “One More Step Along the World I Go”
Blessing
SUNDAY’S CLOSING PRAYER (Rev. Jope)
THE LORD’S PRAYER (Unison)
*COMMISSIONING (unison)
As children of the Timeless One, our time-bound lives will find completion in the all-embracing Creator. In the meantime, we embrace the present, embodying hope, loving our enemies, caring for the earth, choosing life. Grateful for God’s loving action, we cannot keep from singing. Creating and seeking relationship, in awe and trust, we witness to Holy Mystery who is Wholly Love…Amen.
HORIZON RIDGE’S CLOSING GIFT OF MUSIC
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
SCRIPTURE PASSAGES for SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2026
GENESIS 29:15-28 (Older Testament)
PSALM 105:1-11, 45b
ROMANS 8:26-39 (Epistle passage)
MATTHEW 13:31-33, 44-52 (Gospel passage)