May 5, 2024
Sunday Gathering
. . . . . . . . . .
-PRELUDE-
”God Will Take Care of You” – arr. P. Hamm
Brenda Gardiner
-ACKNOWLEDGEMENT-
We acknowledge that the place where we are gathered today is the ancient and ancestral homeland of more than twenty Indigenous tribes. We mourn the loss of their lives, livelihoods, homes, and cultures, and acknowledge the legacy of violence against them.
We acknowledge that the space where we worship today was established and built by those whose Black ancestors were also abused and mistreated - some even bought and sold as enslaved people right here in our city.
We acknowledge the women who’ve faced unfair treatment and misogyny throughout the ages and we acknowledge those who identify as LGBTQ or other who’ve been mistreated and misunderstood.
We acknowledge our role and responsibility as professed followers of Christ to stand for and alongside all of these and others who have been and continue to be oppressed.
-SINGING TOGETHER-
"I Dream of a Church”
I DREAM OF A CHURCH WHERE EVERYONE IS WELCOME,
I DREAM OF A PLACE WE ALL CAN CALL HOME.
I DREAM OF A WORLD WHERE JUSTICE IS FLOWING,
WITH HOPE AND PEACE GROWING,
WHERE GOD’S WILL IS DONE.
MAKE IT SO, MAKE IT SO,
WE PRAY FOR THAT DAY, MAKE IT SO.
WE DREAM OF A WORLD
WHERE LOVE REIGNS AMONG US
AND YOUR WILL IS DONE,
O GOD, MAKE IT SO!
-WELCOME-
-GREETING EACH OTHER-
-SINGING TOGETHER-
“I Dream of a Church”
O GOD, FILL OUR HEARTS TO REACH OUT IN WELCOME,
MAKE US TO SEE YOUR VISION ONCE MORE.
LET’S DREAM OF A WORLD
WHERE OUR HANDS ARE YOUR HANDS,
WE OFFER OURSELVES,
O GOD, MAKE IT SO.
MAKE IT SO, MAKE IT SO,
WE PRAY FOR THAT DAY, MAKE IT SO.
WE DREAM OF A WORLD
WHERE LOVE REIGNS AMONG US
AND YOUR WILL IS DONE,
O GOD, MAKE IT SO!
-CALL TO WORSHIP-
We come to bathe our souls in God-Love,
WE COME, HUNGRY AND THIRSTY,
to a place where all may be filled.
We come tired from our hectic life,
AND OUR SOULS CRAVE GOD-PEACE,
to a place where all may be renewed.
We come with souls longing to be renewed,
SO WE WILL ALLOW THE DEMANDS OF LIFE TO FADE AWAY,
in a place filled with God’s presence.
REFRESH, RENEW, REVIVE US IN THESE MOMENTS TOGETHER.
AMEN.
(*Adapted from Ministry Matters™ | Worship Connection: July 28, 2024)
-OPENING PRAYER-
-SINGING TOGETHER-
“Sweet, Sweet Spirit” (AAHH 326)
THERE’S A SWEET, SWEET SPIRIT IN THIS PLACE,
AND WE KNOW THAT IT’S THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD;
THERE ARE SWEET EXPRESSIONS ON EACH FACE,
AND WE KNOW THEY FEEL THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.
SWEET HOLY SPIRIT,
SWEET HEAVENLY DOVE,
STAY RIGHT HERE WITH US,
FILLING US WITH YOUR LOVE;
AND FOR THESE BLESSINGS
WE LIFT OUR HEARTS IN PRAISE.
WITHOUT A DOUBT WE’LL KNOW
THAT WE HAVE BEEN REVIVED
WHEN WE SHALL LEAVE THIS PLACE.
THERE ARE BLESSINGS WE SHALL ALL RECEIVE
WHEN WE KNOW THE SPIRIT’S FULLNESS AND BELIEVE;
ALL THE WORLD WILL PROFIT WHEN WE PRAY,
AND WE WALK IN THE SPIRIT EVERY DAY.
SWEET HOLY SPIRIT,
SWEET HEAVENLY DOVE,
STAY RIGHT HERE WITH US,
FILLING US WITH YOUR LOVE;
AND FOR THESE BLESSINGS
WE LIFT OUR HEARTS IN PRAISE.
WITHOUT A DOUBT WE’LL KNOW
THAT WE HAVE BEEN REVIVED
WHEN WE SHALL LEAVE THIS PLACE.
-SCRIPTURE-
Ephesians 3:16-19 (CEB)
I ask that [God] will strengthen you in your inner selves from the riches of [God’s] glory through the Spirit. I ask that Christ will live in your hearts through faith. As a result of having strong roots in love, I ask that you’ll have the power to grasp love’s width and length, height and depth, together with all believers. I ask that you’ll know the love of Christ that is beyond knowledge so that you will be filled entirely with the fullness of God.
-SPECIAL MUSIC-
"Nobody Loves Me Like You"
Chris Cook
-THE MESSAGE-
"Rooted and Grounded in God Love"
Pam Lee-Miller
-SPECIAL MUSIC-
"A Time to Center in Love"
Margaret McGladrey
-SINGING TOGETHER-
“For Everyone Born”
FOR EVERYONE BORN,
A PLACE AT THE TABLE,
FOR EVERYONE BORN,
CLEAN WATER AND BREAD,
A SHELTER, A SPACE,
A SAFE PLACE FOR GROWING,
FOR EVERYONE BORN,
A STAR OVERHEAD,
AND GOD WILL DELIGHT
WHEN WE ARE CREATOR OF JUSTICE
AND JOY, COMPASSION AND PEACE:
YES, GOD WILL DELIGHT
WHEN WE ARE CREATORS OF JUSTICE,
JUSTICE AND JOY!
-SHARING AROUND THE TABLE-
-COMMUNION-
“As The Deer” – arr. S. Wilson
-OFFERING-
“A Mighty Fortress” – arr. P. Keveren
-IN GRATITUDE-
-ANNOUNCEMENTS-
-INVITATION TO RESPOND-
-SINGING TOGETHER-
“Rooted and Grounded in Love”
A BLESSED LIGHT, A LOVE SO WIDE,
THAT SHINES SO DARKNESS CAN’T RESIDE;
A BAFFLING LOVE WE BARELY GRASP,
A MYSTERY REVEALED.
GOD’S GIVE TO US, A PROMISE BOLD;
THE SPIRIT’S WORD, A POW’R UNTOLD.
GOD’S SEED OF FAITH LIVES IN OUR HEARTS
AS WE’RE ROOTED AND GROUNDED,
ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE.
THE RICHNESS OF GOD’S LOVE DISPLAYED,
GOD’S WISDOM SET IN FULL ARRAY,
THE TAPROOT OF STRENGTH TO SERVE
EXCEEDS THE DREAMS WE HAVE.
WITH VERVE AND LIFE WE GROW BEYOND,
THIS FERTILE SOIL IN US HAS SPAWNED
A VITAL SENSE OF WHAT CAN BE
WHEN WE'RE ROOTED AND GROUNDED,
ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE.
TO US IS GIVEN AN INNER STRENGTH.
GOD’S LOVE: ITS HEIGHT AND DEPTH AND LENGTH;
THE SOURCE OF OUR SERENITY
IS BEDROCK ‘NEATH OUR LIVES.
A SOIL WHERE DEEPLY WE REMAIN,
THIS RICH, WARM EARTH OUR LIFE SUSTAINS.
WE RISE, WE GROW, GOD’S VINTAGE ALL,
EVER ROOTED AND GROUNDED,
ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE.
-BLESSING & BENEDICTION-
-SINGING TOGETHER-
“Rooted and Grounded in Love”
A BLESSED LIGHT, A LOVE SO WIDE,
THAT SHINES SO DARKNESS CAN’T RESIDE;
A BAFFLING LOVE WE BARELY GRASP,
A MYSTERY REVEALED.
GOD’S GIVE TO US, A PROMISE BOLD;
THE SPIRIT’S WORD, A POW’R UNTOLD.
GOD’S SEED OF FAITH LIVES IN OUR HEARTS AS WE’RE
ROOTED AND GROUNDED,
ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE.
. . . . . . . . . .
-THE TEAM-
ACCOMPANIST: Brenda Gardiner, Timmy Smallwood
BUILDING CARE: Kathy Lyons, Margaret McGladrey, Jessica Stamm, Barry Thompson
BUILDING MAINTENANCE: Seth Tuska
NURSERY: Linda Netherton
PHOTOGRAPHY: Cynthia Buckner
PROPERTY CARE: West Gillium, Lee Hamilton, Morgan Hamilton, Lorie Yaste
SERVICE PREPARATION: Travis Hines, Keith Reid, Barry Thompson
SONG LEADER: Chris Prichard, Margaret McGladrey
TECH: Nancy Alspach, Mason Bishop, Dale Hamilton, Timmy Smallwood
MAY BULLETINS