Welcome to Safe Harbor Presbyterian Church 

Where the love of Christ builds a harbor of acceptance, inspiration, 

Fellowship, service and joy. 

You enrich our worship with your presence. 

"When we say welcome we mean it!"

Sound Recording only - Podcast

It is not possible to pass the collection plate at our live home church.

  We do need your contributions.  Please sent your check, made out to Safe Harbor Presbyterian Church to:

Safe Harbor Presbyterian Church

c/o Monty Rice

1298 Warren Rd.

Cambria, CA 93428

 If this is your first time here, WELCOME. 

If you have a prayer request, please send to:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Safe Harbor Presbyterian Church-PCUSA 

2700 Eton Rd. • Cambria, CA 93428 

Call or text 805.395.1521 

Info: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. website: www.safeharborcambria.org 

The Gathering

At the tolling of the bell, please quietly prepare your heart for worship.

Welcome and Announcements

Meditation Music Deborah Farrand

† Call to Worship (In unison)
All: We are here with searching hearts. We come seeking your Holy spark. We desire the light of the world, to know the Word, to be healed and renewed by love. Gather us into your ever-loving arms, as we sing your praise, seek your mercy and bow before your everlasting glory and honor, great Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Psalm Prayer (In unison; Psalm 111)
Praise the Lord. Great are the works of the Lord. Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and compassionate. He remembers his covenant forever. The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. They are established for ever and ever. Holy and awesome is his name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; to him belongs eternal praise. Praise the Lord. Amen.

†Hymn of Praise # 336 We Gather Together

Prayer of Confession and Supplication (In unison)
All Powerful God we know you forget not your own, that you guide us and that, Lord, you will make us free. We come now asking that you would give us the resolve to live into your plan. There are times we fail to love, moments we miss when we can serve, people we fail to forgive, justice we do not demand, mercy we fail to give. We offer now our personal prayer. (silent prayer). Please nudge our hearts, quicken our spirits, so we live and beam as you intend us to. We offer these prayers in the name of Jesus, the Christ, our Savior. Amen

Assurance of Pardon New Creations in Christ

†The Sharing of the Peace

The Word

Hymn of Preparation #452 Open the Eyes of My Heart

Leader: Listen for the Word of God.
People: Our ears are open and our hearts are ready to receive.

Scripture: Mark 1: 21-28

Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

Sermon: The Real Deal Rev. Eugenia Gamble

Hymn of Response # 95 All Hail The Power of Jesus Name

The Prayers

Call to Prayer: Hymn #466 Come and Fill Our Hearts

Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer

Response to Prayer Hymn # 710 We Are An Offering
Prayer of Dedication

The Parting

† Hymn of Parting #353 My Hope is Built on Nothing Less

† Charge and Benediction

Musical Response #748 Go With Us, Lord
Go with us, Lord, and guide the way, through this and every coming day;
That in your Spirit strong and true, our lives may be our gift to you.

After the service, we hope you will join us for Virtual Fellowship Time.

CURRENT PRAYER LIST 

Members of our community that are lonely, hungry and sick.

If you would like to support the work of Safe Harbor Church financially: 

Tax deductible checks may be made to Safe Harbor Presbyterian Church. 

During our period of isolation, please mail checks to: 

Monty Rice 1298 Warren Road Cambria CA 93428 

WHEN WE SAY “ WELCOME! ”, WE MEAN IT! 

 Jesus Begins His Public Ministry…..Mark 1:21-28…1/31/21

Mark 1:21) They went to Capernaum; and when the Sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22) They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23) Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24) and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” 25) But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26) And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27) They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28) At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

The Historical Present: Verse 21 sets the stage and tone for most of what follows in the next long section of Mark’s Gospel, all the way to chapter 8:26. The verb translated as “went” in this verse is actually “come”. It is known as a historical present tense and it’s intended for use when talking about a past event that one can enter into experientially in the present. We are to understand that what happened in Jesus is happening in us now.
Capernaum was a city on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. It was an economic center and a prosperous fishing village that became the base of operation for Jesus’ ministry in Galilee. Some later referred to it as Jesus’ home town.
The Synagogue: Synagogues were common throughout Palestine, but not every town had one. A synagogue could only be formed when there were at least 10 Jewish men available to support and govern it. The word “synagogue” comes from a Greek root that means “to bring together”. Synagogues were not only places of worship. They were also local courts where judgments were
rendered regarding the Law. They usually had grammar schools and were centers of Jewish social life.
Scribes: By the time of Jesus, scribes were no longer the mere secretaries of the religious community. They were extremely powerful, usually wealthy, interpreters of the Law. They were the experts. They were the ones who got to decide what the Law meant. They loved to research and recite long precedents in support of their judgements. They got prominent seats in the synagogue and were highly respected.
Jesus’ Teaching Ministry in Mark: In Mark, Jesus’ acts are as much a part of his teaching ministry as his formal speaking. Teaching is declaring the truth of God and God’s new realm in Jesus. Jesus does that in words, but also by healing and exorcising.
Authority in Mark: This entire section is about the declaration and affirmation of Jesus’ authority. Authority is not just his job description. Authority is both the “right and the power” to do what he does and teach what he teaches. This was important because the scribes largely spent their time making decisions about what was and was not permitted in a business as usual world. Jesus spoke and acted in a radically different way. Many recognized this new realm power immediately. Others sought to undermine his authority.
Exorcism in Mark: Exorcism was common and accepted in Jesus’ day. People understood there to be spiritual realities or powers which were at work in the world to destroy and undo human life. The exorcisms of Jesus are uncommon in their form, but their purpose is the same; to rid stricken people of bondages that made life not worth living. In Mark, the exorcisms are examples of Jesus’ authority to overcome everything that subverts the will of God for blessing in life. His exorcisms are also ways to declare that the new messianic age has come since there was a common belief that when Messiah came, evil would be rendered powerless.
Setting: This story unfolds in the local synagogue during regular Sabbath observance. At this time the Temple in Jerusalem was the site for sacrifice and was attended by many priests. Lay committees ran the local synagogues. Anyone could speak or teach with the permission of the leaders. Times of instruction were often dominated by violent disputes about small points of law.

Word study
Vs. 21 – It is important to note that Jesus goes to the synagogue, the center of Jewish life, to start his teaching ministry. We are not told the content of his message here. We learned earlier in the chapter that is was “the kingdom is at hand, repent, believe.” What was important was the authority with which he spoke.
Vs. 22 – astounded – amazed, awestruck, from the root “to panic”, carries connotations of surprise, fear and uncertainty.
       Authority – very important word from the root “the power to act”. It carries all of the following meanings at the same time: power to act, ability to accomplish, control, domain, dominion, jurisdiction, liberty, freedom, right.
Vs. 23 – Just then – immediately, the next moment
       A man with an unclean spirit – demons, unclean spirits and evil spirits are used interchangeably in Mark. The differences are in the results of the possession. An unclean spirit was one that did not attack physical health necessarily. It could refer to what we call mental illness, or to minor physical complaints that interfered with a person’s capacity to live in community. An unclean spirit was utterly alien to holiness. It rendered the possessed person an outcast in the worship and communal life of the people.
Vs. 24 – destroy – strong word: utterly destroy, cause to perish, kill completely
       I know who you are – some argue that the spirit is uttering a defense intended to dissuade Jesus from tampering with it. Because the spirit came from the spiritual realm and only abided in and spoke through the man, it was natural, although not without irony, to these early readers that the spirit would recognize Jesus for who he was when mere earthlings could not.
Holy One of God – Greek hagios, often translated as saint. It is reminiscent of the ancient phrase Holy One of Israel that referred to God. It often simply meant God’s messenger.
Vs. 25 – rebuked – a stern warning
       Be silent and come out – lit. put on a muzzle. There were formal rituals for exorcism that usually included the handling of the possessed person and prayers and incantations. It was stunning that Jesus' word alone was enough.
Vs. 26 – convulsing – interesting and unusual word, from “to mangle”. The route to wholeness is not pain free.
       Crying – lit. calling or crowing
       Loud voice – blast of language, outcry
      Came out – left and went away
Vs. 27 – new – lit. fresh. This word does not mean recent. It means unprecedented.
       Obey – can be translated as listen, answer or heed
Vs. 28 – At once his fame began to spread – The consequences of Jesus’ teaching are immediate and so is the opposition. He has taken on the religious establishment and he is gaining a following. From this moment on he is in danger.

Question for Reflection
1. What are the things in your life about which you feel most helpless? What are the things that seem to run your life in negative ways? Make a list and ask God to heal you.