NOTES: On this Memorial Day, we remember lives given in service and ultimate sacrificefor their country. We also hear from scripture the call which Peter and the post-Easter Apostles heard to step outside their comfort zone. A new horizon for ministry opens up and to everyone's great surprise, the Holy Spirit is already out there at work. As we root ourselves in grateful memory, what horizons do we see opening up?
Scripture: Acts 16:9-15
During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.
We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days.
On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home." And she prevailed upon us.
8:30 am Order of Service
We Gather in God's Presence
WelcomePrelude
Lighting the Christ Candles
Praise Hymn#61 "All Things Bright and Beautiful" (all verses)
Call to Worship
Leader: May all the nations of the earth joyfully
sing because God’s justice is supreme!
People: May the love that lights up the face of God
shine with favour upon us and bless us;
teaching us God’s way of living and loving.
Leader: We gather to worship our wise and holy God.
People: Praise be to our generous and just God.
~ written by Joan Stott, and posted on the Geelong City Parish UCA website. If used in shared worship, please provide an acknowledgement as follows: © 2010 Joan Stott – "The Timeless Psalms" RCL Psalm Year C, used with permission. http://www.wesleychurchgeelong.net/
Invocation
God, we remember with wonder and joy
that your spirit is reaching everywhere:
rejoicing in the liveliness of all living things;
touching what is wounded or ill with healing power;
gathering in the lonely, the lost, the least;
soothing ancient animosities;
creating and recreating a vision of hope.
Come now, Holy Spirit.
Let our worship rejoice in you,
and lift our hearts,
and bind us in one family of loving grace.
We ask in Jesus’ name; Amen.
~ from The World is Our Home, written by John A. Nelson. Posted on the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways Archive. http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/
Passing of the Peace
We Contemplate God's Word
ScriptureSermon
We Pray Together
Joys & ConcernsPrayer Hymn#452 "Here I Am, Lord"(all verses)
Praying Together
Prayer for Memorial Day
Optional intro - In the quiet sanctuaries of our own hearts,
let each of us name and call on the One whose power over us
is great and gentle, firm and forgiving, holy and healing ...
You who created us,
who sustain us,
who call us to live in peace,
hear our prayer this day.
who sustain us,
who call us to live in peace,
hear our prayer this day.
Hear our prayer for all who have died,
whose hearts and hopes are known to you alone ...
whose hearts and hopes are known to you alone ...
Hear our prayer for those who put the welfare of others
ahead of their own
and give us hearts as generous as theirs ...
ahead of their own
and give us hearts as generous as theirs ...
Hear our prayer for those who gave their lives
in the service of others,
and accept the gift of their sacrifice ...
in the service of others,
and accept the gift of their sacrifice ...
Help us to shape and make a world
where we will lay down the arms of war
and turn our swords into ploughshares
for a harvest of justice and peace ...
where we will lay down the arms of war
and turn our swords into ploughshares
for a harvest of justice and peace ...
Comfort those who grieve the loss of their loved ones
and let your healing be the hope in our hearts...
and let your healing be the hope in our hearts...
Hear our prayer this day
and in your mercy answer us
in the name of all that is holy.
Amen. The peace of God be with you.and in your mercy answer us
in the name of all that is holy.
-D.A. Graham
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/memorial-day-prayer_b_868308
We Come to the Lord's Table
Invitation to the TableCommunion Hymn#537 "My Hope is Built" (verses 1, 2, & 3)
Elder's Prayer
Words of Institution
The Lord's Supper with instrumental meditation
Prayer of Thanksgiving
We Go Forth into the World
Challenge for DiscipleshipDiscipleship Hymn#680"O God of Every Nation"(all verses)
Blessing
10:40 am Order of Service
We Gather in God's Presence
WelcomePrelude
Call to Worship
Leader: May all the nations of the earth joyfully
sing because God’s justice is supreme!
People: May the love that lights up the face of God
shine with favour upon us and bless us;
teaching us God’s way of living and loving.
Leader: We gather to worship our wise and holy God.
People: Praise be to our generous and just God.
~ written by Joan Stott, and posted on the Geelong City Parish UCA website. If used in shared worship, please provide an acknowledgement as follows: © 2010 Joan Stott – "The Timeless Psalms" RCL Psalm Year C, used with permission. http://www.wesleychurchgeelong.net/
Praise Hymn#61 "All Things Bright and Beautiful" (all verses)Lighting of the Candles
Invocation
God, we remember with wonder and joy
that your spirit is reaching everywhere:
rejoicing in the liveliness of all living things;
touching what is wounded or ill with healing power;
gathering in the lonely, the lost, the least;
soothing ancient animosities;
creating and recreating a vision of hope.
Come now, Holy Spirit.
Let our worship rejoice in you,
and lift our hearts,
and bind us in one family of loving grace.
We ask in Jesus’ name; Amen.
~ from The World is Our Home, written by John A. Nelson. Posted on the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways Archive. http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/
Passing of the Peace
Faith Hymn #530 "Peace Like a River" (all verses)
We Contemplate God's Word
ScriptureChoir Anthem
Children's Sermon
Sermon
We Pray Together
Joys & ConcernsPrayer Hymn#452 "Here I Am, Lord"(all verses)
Praying Together
Prayer for Memorial Day
Optional intro - In the quiet sanctuaries of our own hearts,
let each of us name and call on the One whose power over us
is great and gentle, firm and forgiving, holy and healing ...
You who created us,
who sustain us,
who call us to live in peace,
hear our prayer this day.
who sustain us,
who call us to live in peace,
hear our prayer this day.
Hear our prayer for all who have died,
whose hearts and hopes are known to you alone ...
whose hearts and hopes are known to you alone ...
Hear our prayer for those who put the welfare of others
ahead of their own
and give us hearts as generous as theirs ...
ahead of their own
and give us hearts as generous as theirs ...
Hear our prayer for those who gave their lives
in the service of others,
and accept the gift of their sacrifice ...
in the service of others,
and accept the gift of their sacrifice ...
Help us to shape and make a world
where we will lay down the arms of war
and turn our swords into ploughshares
for a harvest of justice and peace ...
where we will lay down the arms of war
and turn our swords into ploughshares
for a harvest of justice and peace ...
Comfort those who grieve the loss of their loved ones
and let your healing be the hope in our hearts...
and let your healing be the hope in our hearts...
Hear our prayer this day
and in your mercy answer us
in the name of all that is holy.
Amen. The peace of God be with you.and in your mercy answer us
in the name of all that is holy.
-D.A. Graham
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/memorial-day-prayer_b_868308
We Come to the Lord's Table
Invitation to the TableCommunion Hymn#537 "My Hope is Built" (verses 1, 2, & 3)
Elder's Prayer
Words of Institution
The Lord's Supper with instrumental meditation
Prayer of Thanksgiving
We Go Forth into the World
Challenge for DiscipleshipDiscipleship Hymn#680"O God of Every Nation"(all verses)
Blessing
Closing Hymn "He is Lord" (sing once)
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