Worship Service

July 5th (Fifth Sunday after Pentecost)

“WE GATHER TO PRAISE GOD AND BE CHRIST’S PEOPLE”

“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24)

“For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20)

Opening Hymns - “I Love You, Lord” --------- 2068 (TFWS) X 2

Opening Prayer

We come together, gracious God, because we have heard your invitation. We sense that you alone know the burdens we carry. You understand our weariness. Sometimes our journey seems long and without respite. We long for the refreshment you provide as we come to worship you. The anticipation of this hour of rest and nourishment fills us with renewed joy and gladness. We thank you, God, that your revelation comes to us, not because we are worthy, but because we are open to your word. Open our hearts to receive all you offer. Amen. (Taught by Love, Lavon Bayler)

Welcome & Announcements

Good morning! How are you today? Welcome to the worship of our Lord. Today is the fifth Sunday after Pentecost and the first Sunday of July. Because of God’s love and grace, we are saved and became his people. And Gpd sent Counselor to help we can keep our faith in this world. As we confessed, we believe God loves us and he is always with us. That is why we want to worship together.

1. The church office will be closed on Monday, July 6 in observance of Independence Day; we wish you all a safe and enjoyable weekend!

2. ZOOM MEETING: Do you have an opinion on the re-opening of the church? If so, Pastor Jung invites all

to a scheduled Zoom meeting to discuss in-person worship services. You can join thru the internet or by phone.

Date & Time: Tuesday, Jul 7, 2020 @ 06:30 PM

Join the Zoom Meeting by following this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82415253208?pwd=dWRSSm5WSTNGbDJuUGV3VXQyTXYvQT09

If dialing in by phone, call one of the numbers listed here and enter the Meeting ID & Password noted below.

+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)/ +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)/ +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)/ +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)/ +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)/ +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

Meeting ID: 824 1525 3208#/ Password: 837722#

3. Caring Connections will meet Wednesday, July 8 at 9:00 a.m. at the church; all are welcome to attend.

4. From Tim & Vicky Ettleman: “Many thanks to our church friends and family who came to our reception, made a trip thru our “drive thru” or sent cards to wish us well on our 50th wedding anniversary. Thanks again!”

5. A memorial service for Bob Lebsack will take place Saturday, August 1 at 10:00 a.m. on the church lawn. Please wear face masks and if you wish to sit, bring your own lawn chair.

6. Tim and Joyce Patterson have arrived in North Carolina; we sent them off with almost $1500, lots of cards and yummy food! Thank you to all who contributed!

7. Ilah Crisp, who attended here for many years, passed away May 22 at her home in Berthoud. For more information and to read her obituary, visit: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/longmont-co/ilah-crisp-9193397.

8. Worship Update: A team of church leaders has been hard at work making plans to resume in-person worship services. The planned date for our first service back in the sanctuary is Sunday, July 12. We will follow all recommended guidelines from The Mountain Sky Conference and State of Colorado for houses of worship. Please watch your mail and email for more information as the date nears. If there are any questions in the meantime, please feel free to contact Lay Leader Janie Patterson at (970) 217-3133 or mjpat1006@msn.com.

9. In the meantime, please continue to worship, praise and give thanks to God by participating in the alternative worship each week. Pastor KyeongSu will continue to prepare a document you and your family can use to worship in your homes, as well as a YouTube video which corresponds with the document. You should receive emails, which will include the material and the link to the video. You may also go to the church website’s home page for the link to the video and the worship material. Delivery of materials to those without email access will also continue. If you know of someone who would like the material to be delivered to their home, please contact Debbie or Pastor KyeongSu in the church office to get them added to the list.

10. Also, please continue to give as you are able during this time. There are several options for giving:

1) Give online through our website, www.berthoudumc.org. At the top-right corner of the website is a white heart with a button that says “giving”; click on that button and follow the instructions. If you have not set up a profile, you will have to do that first. Call Debbie in the office or Barbara Boyd for help.

2) Mail a check to 820 9th Street, Berthoud, CO 80513.

3) Drop off a check or cash to the church office on Monday-Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

Passing the Peace of Christ: Please Greet Each Other in Jesus’ Name – “Peace be with you!”

Hymn - “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” ----------- 2158(TFWS)

Prayers of Joy and Petition

It is time for us to open our hearts, and share our joys and concerns. We want to pray for one another. We can remember each other in our hearts and in our prayers.

Sharing - Please share your joy and concern together. Please do not forget “give thanks to God.”

Meditation – Together

Pastoral Prayer

Our gracious and loving Heavenly Father, we come to you this morning in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. We come, not as strangers or foreigners, but as your people and your children. We want to thank you for your amazing love and grace that saved us, that changed our lives and brought us into your faithfulness, mercy, and grace. You are always there when we need you. You have never turned us away and you have never failed to fulfill your promises to us. In our troubles and trials, you have been right there with us and you have helped us through. Thank you, Lord, for all you have done for us. We believe that you have led us here with your spirit. Help us be closer to you during this time by your grace and love. Receive our hearts and fill it with your words so that we may live in this world confidently, strongly, and joyfully as your loving children.

Now we want to lift up all our prayers and pray for all people who are in our minds and hearts. Oh loving God, they are suffering from pain, sorrow, anguish, and loss. They need your help. Send your healing and comforting Spirit so that they may feel your love and grace in their difficult time. We are thinking especially today about those who have lost loved ones. We pray for the comfort of the Holy Spirit, and may they find in you their source of strength and the courage to go on. We also pray for those who are struggling against sicknesses and physical problems. We believe you are the Great Physician and you know everything they need. Strengthen and help them physically, mentally, and spiritually. Send them proper helpers and supporters. And use every hand and prayer so that they can experience your love. Now God, prepare our hearts to receive your Word. May it change us. Wash us, shape us, and refine us with your Word. And help us to know how to be used as your instruments of righteousness, holiness, and truth. We pray in Jesus’ name.

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 --------------------- “Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30” ----------------------------- Betsy Haskins

To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.”’ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.”

At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Sermon ------------------------------------------ “Easy and Light” ----------------------------- Rev. KyeongSu Jung

In the Bible, there are some passages that people really like. For example, people like to read Psalm chapter 23 because it gives a special thing to us. It begins with, “The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not be in want.” It shows human beings’ natural desires. Basically, human beings have an earnest desire to be comforted by the absolute being and to get peace and rest in their lives. Psalm chapter 23 demonstrates who can comfort human beings, how people can have peace, and how people can enjoy and rest in their lives. That is why many people like Psalm chapter 23. If there is Psalm chapter 23 in the Old Testament, we can find a very similar passage in the New Testament; it is today’s text. In verse 28, Jesus clearly said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” It means Jesus will give us rest and peace. And it has something in common with Psalm chapter 23; it is Jesus’ promise that we will be comforted by him and we will have peace and rest within him.

However, when we read this message, we find that it is a little bit different from Psalm chapter 23. Psalm chapter 23 said, “Because Lord is my shepherd; he will comfort and give me rest.” It said, “comfort and rest.” Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Jesus also said, “comfort and rest.” Both passages proclaimed, “comfort and rest.” But, there is a difference. When Psalm chapter 23 just said “comfort and rest,” Jesus emphasized, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me” because “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” What does that mean? Why did Jesus say “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me?” It is really hard to understand because there would be nobody who wants to take the yoke and burden. Even though the yoke is easy and the burden is light, it is still a yoke and burden. In our lives, we have to take our own yoke and burden; it does not matter how big or small and how heavy and light. That is, we suffer from our yoke and burden every day. So, everyone wants to be free, but Jesus said, “Take my yoke and burden.” Why did Jesus say that? If so, does it mean we have to take even Jesus’ yoke and burden? What did he want to teach? From here, we can find the greatest secret that God wants to reveal to us.

In conclusion, the reason Jesus taught “Take my yoke and burden” was to let us know God’s amazing love and grace for human beings. That is, Jesus’ yoke and burden is another expression of God’s love and grace. At that time, the Israelites had to suffer from heavy burdens in their lives. They had to experience oppression from the power of Rome and Jewish powered people. Powered people always acted like people’s masters. They oppressed and exploited people, so they could not have peace and rest in their lives. But Jesus was different. Jesus did not come to rule or oppress the people, He came to serve as the servant. Jesus clearly said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” So, Paul testified, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2)

The purpose of Jesus coming into the world was to give us freedom. It was freedom not only from sin but also from the yoke of the law. Under the standard of the law, we were sinners. We had to die and to be punished. But God did not want our destruction. He sent his only son, Jesus Christ to save us from the power of darkness and death. God wanted to free us from the yoke and burden of the law. To save us, Jesus took the yoke and burden for us. He died on the Cross as the worst sinner to cleanse all our unrighteousness. But that was not the end; He resurrected and became our Lord. And he is now saying to us. “Just believe! If you believe me, you will be saved and you will receive eternal life.” In Galatians, Paul witnessed, “We were held prisoners by the law. But, Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law. In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. Through his blood, we might receive the full rights of sons.”

How about us? Do you have any yoke and burden in your lives? Are you tired because your yoke and burden is too heavy? Please do not hesitate to come to Jesus. Please ask him. Please put your heavy burdens on him and lean on him. Jesus will comfort us and he will give us his peace. He promised, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. You will find rest for your souls.” The only thing he asks is “Believe!” Jesus wants to say, “Do not suffer from your yoke and burden. Please believe me and put everything to me. I will take it all. If you believe, you will be comforted and you will have rest under my wings.” When we believe Jesus Christ came for us, died for us, and resurrected for us, we will experience comfort and rest with his power of love. I pray we can experience “real rest and peace” within his everlasting love.

However, we still have one more question: why did Jesus say “Take my yoke and burden” after he said, “put your entire burden to me?” Is it impossible to make us free from all kinds of yoke and burden? Why do we have to take Jesus’ yoke and burden? Moreover, Jesus’ yoke and burden was the Cross in our understanding. It was extremely hard on Jesus. Jesus asked in Gethsemane, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” That is, to take Jesus’ yoke and burden is almost an impossible thing to us. But, Jesus said, “Take my yoke and burden.” You would say, “Why do we have to take your extremely heavy and difficult burden? You said you love me. If so, how can you ask us to take your yoke and burden? It seems rather incongruous.” To realize what Jesus wants to say to us, we have to read the next verse. Jesus also said, “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” But, it does not make sense. How can the Crucifixion be easy and the Cross be light? Here, we find an amazing secret of love. Yes, Jesus’ yoke and burden was not easy and light. Jesus’ Cross was for cleansing all sins and saving all human beings from the power of darkness. How can it be easy and light? But, we have to know the reason why it is easy and light. The secret is Jesus Christ. When we take his yoke and burden, he will take it with us. That is, he will never let us be alone. He promised he will be with us forevermore. “I will not leave you as orphans.” (John 14:18) “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

From this message, I was reminded of a very similar thing that I experienced when I was in army service. In training camp, we did physical training almost every day. One of those was several people taking a big log together. It was really heavy. So, when all lifted together, we could take it over our heads. At that time, I experienced a very embarrassing situation. As you see, I am not tall. One day, I was in a group with tall guys. So, when we lifted the heavy log together, I could not hold the log. I could not even touch it because the other tall guys lifted it. That is, it was not heavy to me because I am was too short to reach the log. Some tall guys complained, “It is unfair. While we hardly lift the log, some short person does not need to work hard.” I was very sorry. But our drill instructor did not hear their complaint. Instead, he said, “You are a team. That means you have to support each other in any situation. Just think that you are taking a little bit more for your fellow soldiers.” Although I just followed them, I was recognized that I took the log together. It was a kind of grace.

I think it is exactly the same as Jesus’ words. Jesus asked, “Take my yoke and burden.” But he also said, “It is easy and light.” How can the yoke and burden be easy and light? The reason for “it is easy and light” is because Jesus took it with me. And Jesus is much taller than me and much stronger than me. So, although we take Jesus' yoke and burden with him, he mostly takes it, not us. That is, the meaning of “My yoke is easy and my burden is light” is “I will take all yoke and burden. You are ok if you just walk with me.” How amazing is that? How wonderful is that? Now, Jesus is saying to us, “Come to me and put your heavy burden on me. I will take it all. I will give you rest. And when you take my yoke and burden with me, do not worry. I will take all for you. Just remain in me and walk with me.”

What is your answer? Please put your burden to Jesus Christ and get rest. Please take Jesus’ yoke and burden as his people. Please remain within Jesus and walk with Jesus. At that time, we will experience his amazing love and grace. We will experience “easy and light” through our Lord’s power. I pray we can all experience his power of love with his easy yoke and light burden. I pray we can enjoy his power of love in our lives. I pray we can remain in him and walk with him until we finish our spiritual journey.

Let us pray. Loving God, thank you for giving us this time to worship you. Thank you for your wonderful message of love. We give thanks to you because you came here to show your love and to save our lives. Because you loved us, you called us as your people and promised your comfort, peace, and rest. It is amazing grace. But the more wonderful thing is the grace that your yoke is easy and your burden is light because you will take it for us. When we struggle against our burden as Christians, you promised you will take all burdens for us and you will make it easy and light. The only thing we have to do is believe and confess you as our Lord and Savior. Please help us boldly confess “You are our Lord and Savior.” Please help us experience your amazing grace in our lives. Please help us enjoy your steadfast love in our lives. Please help us to remain in you and walk with you until we finish our spiritual journey. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Offertory – “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” -------- 94 (UMH)

Offertory Prayer

With all the gifts of creation, you have blessed us, gracious God. We give thanks for all your works. Gratitude is our first impulse for giving. Accept our grateful hearts, along with our gifts. We ask for wisdom as our church determines priorities for the use of resources. May we be as concerned about outreach and mission as we are about programs for ourselves. As you are faithful to us, O God, may we be faithful in all things, seeking always to live by your gracious will. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. (Taught by Love, Lavon Bayler)

Closing Hymn - “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” -------------- 526(UMH)

Commission and Blessing

We go into the world in the name of Jesus Christ.

We are not afraid, for we know God’s presence.

We feel empowered to endure all things.

We go into the world with confidence and courage from God.

We believe the grace of God, the love of Jesus Christ,

And the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

Great is our God, and greatly to be praised.

We believe God will keep us strong to the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.