WELCOME Rev. Nathan Lonsdale Bledsoe, Senior Pastor

PASSING OF THE PEACE

PRELUDE Why We Sing Sung by Alisa Tackett, Brenda Paulk, (by Greg Gilpin) Bert Hensley and Ron Bruns CALL TO WORSHIP (from Psalm 88) Rebekkah Sandt, Liturgist

One: My prayer meets you first thing in the morning! All: Lord, God of my salvation, let my prayer reach you! One: Why do you reject my very being, Lord? All: Lord, God of my salvation, let my prayer reach you! One: Why do you hide your face from me? All: Lord, God of my salvation, let my prayer reach you! One: I am considered as one of those plummeting into the pit. All: Lord, God of my salvation, let my prayer reach you! One: I am like those who are beyond help, drifting among the dead. All: Lord, God of my salvation, let my prayer reach you! One: You’ve made my friends distant. You’ve made me disgusting to them. All: Lord, God of my salvation, let my prayer reach you! One: I can’t escape. I’m trapped! All: Lord, God of my salvation, let my prayer reach you!

*HYMN When Words Alone Cannot Express Rev. Suzi Byrd, (by John Thornburg) Pastor of Music and Worship

When words alone cannot express all that our hearts ache to confess, bring music! Alleluia! Bring melody and rhythmic fire! Bring instruments, bring bells and choir! Bring music! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

When speech erodes and tempers flare, when peace gives way to idle dare, bring music! Alleluia! Let psalms restore our memory that God has made us to be free! Bring music! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

When bread is broken, wine is poured, when we encounter Christ the Lord, bring music! Alleluia! When children teach us how to pray, when simple heroes chow the way, Bring music! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Within each season of our lives, when every passageway arrives, bring music! Alleluia! Sing when the infant draws a breath; sing when the elder yields to death. Bring music! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

*AFFIRMATION St. Stephen’s Affirmation of Faith Rebekkah

We believe in God who claims us as beloved children whose love unites us when the world would divide us. We believe in Jesús Christ our living Savior and example whose love knows no bounds. We believe in the Holy Spirit who empowers and enables us to transform the world, who speaks through the stories of scripture to transform our own stories. We believe in the Church who is the body of Christ, and does not belong to us, whose work cannot be contained by a building. We worship God together proclaiming God’s love for us and our love for God and each other. We act in God’s name, knowing God is at work all around us, calling us to join in, claiming us all as beloved.

*GLORIA PATRI Suzi CHILDREN’S MOMENT Steven Fisher, Director of Family Ministries PRAYER Nathan THE LORD’S PRAYER

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, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen

*SCRIPTURE READING 2 Samuel 1:17-27; Matthew 2:16-18 (Jeremiah 31:15) Rhonda Boehm, Reader

2 Samuel 1:17-27

Then David sang this funeral song[a] for Saul and his son Jonathan. 18 David ordered everyone in Judah to learn the Song of the Bow.[b] (In fact, it is written in the scroll from Jashar.)

19 Oh, no, Israel! Your prince[c] lies dead on your heights.[d] Look how the mighty warriors have fallen! 20 Don’t talk about it in Gath; don’t bring news of it to Ashkelon’s streets, or else the Philistines’ daughters will rejoice; the daughters of the uncircumcised will celebrate. 21 You hills of Gilboa! Let there be no dew or rain on you, and no fields yielding grain offerings.[e] Because it was there that the mighty warrior’s[f] shield was defiled— the shield of Saul!—never again anointed with oil. 22 Jonathan’s bow never wavered from the blood of the slain, from the gore of the warriors. Never did Saul’s sword return empty. 23 Saul and Jonathan! So well loved, so dearly cherished! In their lives and in their deaths they were never separated. They were faster than eagles, stronger than lions! 24 Daughters of Israel, weep over Saul! He dressed you in crimson with jewels; he decorated your clothes with gold jewelry. 25 Look how the mighty warriors have fallen in the midst of battle! Jonathan lies dead on your heights. 26 I grieve for you, my brother Jonathan! You were so dear to me! Your love was more amazing to me[g] than the love of women. 27 Look how the mighty warriors have fallen! Look how the weapons of war have been destroyed!

Matthew 2:16-18 (Jeremiah 31:15)

When Herod knew the magi had fooled him, he grew very angry. He sent soldiers to kill all the children in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding territory who were two years old and younger, according to the time that he had learned from the magi. 17 This fulfilled the word spoken through Jeremiah the prophet: 18 A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and much grieving. Rachel weeping for her children, and she did not want to be comforted, because they were no more. The Lord proclaims: A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and wailing. It’s Rachel crying for her children; she refuses to be consoled, because her children are no more.

*SCRIPTURE RESPONSE

One: Inspired words for beloved people. All: Lord, transform us through its hearing.

SERMON “Why We Sing Lament” Rev. Nathan Lonsdale Bledsoe Rev. R. Deandre Johnson Rev. Suzi Byrd OFFERING PRAYER AND INVITATION Nathan

You can give using your smartphone! Text a dollar amount to 84321 and select St. Stephen’s. Our Communion offering for July will go to Kairos Outside Prison Ministry.

Those wishing to commit their lives to Christ are invited to contact Pastor Nathan at 512-771-2741.

OFFERTORY It is Enough Sung by Rev. R. Deandre Johnson (by R. Deandre Johnson) *BENEDICTION Nathan

*POSTLUDE Blessed Assurance Andreea (arranged by Fred Bock)

*Please stand in body or in spirit.

St. Stephen’s is a church with an exciting vision for loving God and our neighbors. If you want to learn more about our church, more about who Jesus is and why that matters, or just about anything else, Nathan would love to meet with you! Call or text him at 512.771.2741 to make an appointment.

2003 W.43rd Street, Houston, TX, 77018 (713) 686-8241 | stshtx.org

Text a dollar amount to 84321 and select St. Stephen’s, or go to stshtx.org/give.

Book Study: White Fragility by Dr. Robin Diangelo 6-week study

New hard copy study begins soon. Register at stsumc.churchcenter.com

New Worship Series Begins July 26