In Person and Livestream Worship Services, July 24, 2022
(Video will be posted LIVE on the church’s FB page at 11am and then crossposted here)
PRELUDE: Toccata on “Hyfrydol”—Joel Raney
RESPONSIVE CALL TO RETURN TO OUR SOULS
Leader: In the stillness of the quiet, if we listen, we can hear the whisper of the heart giving strength to weakness,
People: Courage to fear, hope to despair.
Leader: There is something in every one of us that waits and listensfor the sound of the genuine in ourselves
People: It is the only true guide we will ever have.
Leader: And if we cannot hear it, we will spend our days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls.
People: Listen to the long stillness. New life is stirring.
Leader: New dreams are on the wing. New hopes are being readied.
People: God is at work—
Leader: In the spiritual work of worship
People: The season of Promise is here!
—adapted from Dr, Howard Thurman
HYMN: Christ is Alive! GTG#246
A UNISON CONFESSION OF A LACK OF AND HOPE FOR SPIRITUAL LIBERATION (adapted from Fred Culver’s Collegium Spiritus)
I have been bored and lonely and complied with the normal. I have settled for the dull and the common place The trivial and the brief. The secure and the comfortable. I have engaged in stereotypes. Still, I have been inspired with supreme beauty, Especially joyous and inspiring moments. It is time to withdraw, listen for inner support and diverse support By spending enough time in contemplation and dialogue, enough time alone, Enough time with others, preparing to be an agent of transformation. What makes life worth living is To experiencing enthusiasm [Greek: En(In) theos(God) = in God] To find my deep center, engage with friends and Come alive! Amen.
BLESSED ASSURANCE OF GOD’S ACTIVE, DYNAMIC GRACE
HYMN: He Came Down GTG#137
BIBLE READINGS: Psalm 138 Luke 11:1-10
Sung Response to Bible Readings: Gather Us In GTG#401
PRAYER BEFORE SERMON
Leader: May the words of my mouth
People: And the meditations of our hearts
All: Be acceptable to you, O Lord, our Strength and our Redeemer. Amen.
SERMON: Let’s Look Through the God Window!
HYMN: The Summons GTG#726
WELCOMING
ANTHEM: Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation—Rachel Aarons
PRAYER: Matthew 25 Prayer, Lord’s Prayer, Sung Response: Come, Bring Your Burdens to God (sing 2x) GTG#851
OFFERTORY (Offering link)
Ecstasy—text by Victor Hugo, translation by M. C. Gillington; music by A. Goring Thomas
Emma WitbolsFeugen, mezzo soprano
All alone by the waves, I strayed in midnight darkling,
No sail upon the tide, naught but stars o’er me sparkling;
My raptured gaze flew onward, past this world’s bars—
And the hills and the woods, the voice of all Creation,
I heard in deep tones making dim interrogation
Of silent seas and shining stars.
Then came the sweet reply of starry hosts unbounded,
Singing low, singing high, a thousand voices sounded.
While every fiery crown in obeisance bowed down,
And then the curbless waves on their way ever trooping,
I heard make answer far, their foamy crests downdrooping,
Praise ye the Lord!
RESPONSIVE PRAYER FOR WISDOM AND ENDURANCE IN DEDICATING OUR OFFERINGS TO GOD’S GREAT WORK AMONG US AND BEYOND US
Pastor: It is certain that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy that justice can have. (James Baldwin)
People: Hate is a wasteful emotion.Most of the people you hate don’t know you hate them.And the rest don’t care.(Medgar Evers, voting rights leader, 20th century martyr)
Pastor: No one can build the bridge upon whichyou and only you must walk across the river of life. (Friedrich Nietszche)
People: I never ran my train off the track,and I never lost a passenger, because I knew— Slavery is the next thing to hell. (Harriet Tubman)
Pastor: Never forget where you come from, And always praise the bridges that have carried you over. (Fannie Lou Hamer)
People: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the worldgives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (Jesus of Nazareth)
HYMN: Take Me to the Water GTG#480
BENEDICTION
SUNG BENEDICTION RESPONSE: Lead Me, Guide Me GTG#740
POSTLUDE: Redemption—Bethany K. Smith
Announcements:
Thanks to all who made the meal, donated and delivered the meal for Cherith Brook House of Hospitality for People Living Without a House and People Living in Extreme Poverty last Wednesday. Thanks to Karen Elmer for leading this great work!
Thanks to all who are making Westport Showers happen on Sunday morning (showers, breakfast, clothes washing, clothes giveaway) and Westport Weekday Food Refuge (nutritious lunches, guidance and resource counseling) during the week. We especially need men’s socks, underwear and shorts. We also need Sunday morning volunteers!
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