Order of Worship
Let us be as open vessels that God’s spirit may enter.
The Community Gathers: Experience God’s presence in the assembly. Please greet one another with joy and welcome new friends into our community of love.
You are welcome here…come and worship!
Focus: “Dads are most ordinary men turned by love into heroes, adventurers, storytellers and singers of song.” —Unknown
Gathering Music: You Are Welcome Here (by Wiley Beveridge) -Michelle Currie
Welcome:
Call To Worship: (based on Psalm 103)
L: Come, bless the Lord with me.
All: For the Lord is like a father to his children compassionate
and merciful, filled with endless love.
L: Who forgives us, and heals us;
All: Who surrounds us with love and mercy
and fills our lives with good things.
Let’s worship God together.
Opening Hymn: Now Thank We All Our God #643
Invocation:
Lord’s Prayer
Awakening: Papa. Can You Hear Me? (by Alan & Marilyn Bergman/Michel Legrand) -Michelle Currie
Readings: Numbers 27:1-5. Romans 5:1-8 – Marti Odle
Sermon: Daughters and Sons – Rev. Ivy Merrill
Meditative Instrumental ~ Michelle Currie
Musical call to Prayer: (sung two times) Hush now in quiet peace, be still your mind at ease. The Spirit brings release, so wait upon the Lord.
Prayers of the People
Silent Prayers Pastoral Prayer
Offertory: Simple Gifts (by Joseph Brackett) -Michelle Currie
Doxology: Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God above ye heavenly hosts, Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication:
Closing Hymn: Faith of Our Fathers
(LYRICS)
Faith of our fathers living still, In spite of dungeon, fire and sword
O how our hearts beat high with joy, when-e’er we hear that glorious word!
Faith of our fathers, holy faith! We will be true to thee till death.
Faith of our fathers we will strive, to win all nations unto thee
And through the truth that comes from God, we all shall then be truly free.
Faith of or fathers, holy faith! We will be true to thee till death.
Faith of our fathers we will love, both friend and foe in all our strife
And preach to thee, too, as love knows how, by kindly words and virtuous life.
Faith of our fathers, holy faith! We will be true to thee till death.
Benediction: As we conclude our Worship this morning, remember this:
God’s love is from everlasting to everlasting,
from generation to generation.
Just as a father has compassion on his children
so God has compassion on all of us.
Go out in the knowledge
that the everlasting love of God goes with you.
Amen.
Recessional: Go In Peace
With thanks to our Guest Presider Rev. Ivy Merrill today, and to our Music Director, Michelle Currie.
Cover photo by Jonathan Stoner
Possible Invocation: Ground of all being,
Great Nurturing Spirit,
This morning especially, we give thanks
For beautiful days right in between spring and summer,
For flowers and green trees and freshly cut grass and lazy lakeside afternoons,
For the sound and sight and heart-swell of being together in this place made holy by our presence, For church years gone well,
For ice cream and all manner of frozen treats on warm summer days,
And for all who father.
For all who have warm and loving relationships with their fathers and children, we give thanks. For those who for whatever reason did not know their fathers, we will try to remember that this can be an uncomfortable day for you and others. And for those whose relationships with their fathers or children is painful or complicated, we support you. This Father’s Day, we lift up our gratitude for all kinds of fathers, and for the amazing ways fatherly love transcends blood lines and legal categories. And this morning especially,
We pray for peace. Peace in far-away lands and peace at home,
Peace in our community, peace in every heart.
For these and for all the hopes and aches and prayers of our own hearts we pray for love’s sake. Amen. (by Kristin Grassel Schmidt)
Readings:
A Prayer on Father’s Day By Carol Allman-Morton
On Father’s Day we honor those people who have been teachers, confidants,
and friends. We acknowledge that it is not biology that makes a parent,
But love and attention. For those of us that have lost a father, or a child,
we hold their memories in our hearts.
For all of us who are fathers, we ask for continued help in
discerning how best to care for our children,
Whether they are 5 or 50 years old.
May the strands of relationship between ourselves and
all of creation grow ever stronger.
May all of us, no matter what our place in the cycle of life,
experience nurture and love,
And may we pass on that love to those we encounter
on our own paths. So may it be. Amen.