June 18, 2017
Worship leader – Rev. Dr. Robert M. Close, Jr.
For Meditation and Reflection
Come, come, whoever you are. Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving. It doesn’t matter. Ours is not a caravan of despair. Come, even if you have broken your vows a thousand times. Come, yet again, come again and again. -Rumi
Welcome and Announcements:
Call to Worship – Rev. Close
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Opening Hymn: For the Beauty of the Earth – Red hymnal #55
An Expression of Our Faith (in unison)
We are a Christian community of faith, with each person traveling a journey of spiritual discovery….a journey to healing and wholeness. We find more grace in faithful searching than in certainty. For us, following Jesus involves selfless love, resistance to evil, and renunciation of privilege. We believe that God is calling us to build a healthy community of faith, to strive for peace and justice, to protect and restore God’s creation, to bring hope to others, to live our lives with compassion and holy boldness. In Jesus we find our approach to God, yet we respect the faithfulness of those whose approach is different. Listening to the Spirit in our midst, we are convinced that God’s plan is for all to be one. All that matters is to Be At One with God. Amen.
Today’s Scripture Readings: Luke 15: 11 – 32
“Reflections on Father’s Day” by Rev. Close
Reflective Hymn: This is my Father’s World – Red hymnal, #58
Joys and Concerns
The Offerings and Offertory Music
Lord’s Prayer (Traditional, with “debts”)
Closing Hymn: Be Thou My Vision – Red hymnal, #344
Benediction (to be said by All):
May God bless us with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships, so that we may live deep within our hearts;
May God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people, so that we may work for justice, freedom and peace;
May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, hunger and war, so that we may reach out our hands to comfort them and turn their pain into joy; and
May God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done, to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.
Sharing the peace as we go….and we hope you can join us for coffee, cake and conversation in Fellowship Hall.
Thoughts for the Day/Week
The name of Jesus, whose life and message resonated with acceptance, welcome and inclusion, has too often become a symbol of elitism, exclusion and aggression.
– Brian McLaren
If you are enjoying lovely flowers in your garden, please consider sharing some of them with your church family on Sunday.
Announcements:
This Sunday, June 18th
Our Worship Leader is the Rev. Robert Close. We are particularly celebrating fathers and our graduates this Sunday.
We will NOT be having our monthly open-mic session, Jammin’ At James on this date, since our fearless leader, Max Honn, has other commitments. We hope you will join us next month for this enjoyable fellowship.
Sunday, June 25th
Our Worship Leader will be the Rev. Samantha Tuttle.
Our annual congregational meeting will be held at around 12:15, after our post-worship fellowship. All members are cordially invited to attend.
Sunday, July 2nd
We will gather for our monthly potluck at 9:00 a.m. (for breakfast rather than lunch). After our meal of fellowship, we will have a roundtable discussion to share thoughts and feelings about the structure of our worship, and to brainstorm ideas for expanding our outreach into the community. All are welcome!
Sunday, July 9th
Our Worship Leader will be the Rev. Samantha Tuttle.
Sunday, July 16th
Our Worship Leader will be David Plume.
Sunday, July 23rd
Our Worship Leader will be the Rev. Michael Lyle.
Sunday, July 30th
On the fifth Sunday of the month, we will once again join another local congregation to share their worship. This Sunday, we will join pastor Roland England, at the Christian Community Church at St. Paul, in Neersville. Directions and ride-sharing options will be provided.