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: “To know the Creator we need only to look at the things He created, ‘through the letters of scripture and the species of creation.”
John Philip Newell
Gathering Music: May It Be (by Enya/Nicky Ryan &/Roma Ryan) -Michelle Currie
Welcome: Rev. Shirley Bowen
Unison Call to Worship:
I arise this day
In the strength of the Creator
In the strength of the rising Redeemer
In the strength of the life-giving Spirit
In the strength of the mighty Three
Whose love is One
I arise today
In the strength of the angels & archangels
In the strength of the prophets and apostles
In the strength of the saints and ancestors
I arise today
In the strength of heaven and earth
In the strength of sun and moon
In the strength of fire and wind
In the strength of sea and sky
I arise today in the peace of Creation.
…Adapted from “Celtic Blessings
Opening Hymn: It Is Well With My Soul #840
When peace like a river at-tend-eth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll what ever my lot, thou hast taught me to say. It is well, it is well with my soul
It is well, with my soul, it is well, it is well with my soul.
Though Satan shall buffet, though trials should come, let this blest assurance control,
that Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, and hath shed his own blood for my soul.
It is well, with my soul, it is well, it is well with my soul.
He lives O the bliss of this glorious thought. My sin, not in part, but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it n more. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
It is well, with my soul, it is well, it is well with my soul.
Lord, hasten the day when our faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
the trumpet shall sound and the Lord shall descend, even so it is well with my soul. It is well, with my soul, it is well, it is well with my soul.
Invocation:
Lord, be with us this day, Within us to purify us;
Above us to draw us up; Beneath us to sustain us; Before us to lead us; Behind us to restrain us; Around us to protect us.
…Adapted from St Patrick’s Breastplate
Lord’s Prayer:
Awakening: Come Thou Fount (Robert Robinson) -Michelle Currie
Scripture: John 21: 20 – 25 -Maureen White
After the readings, you may respond with “Thanks Be to God.”
Sermon: Listening for the Heartbeat of God – Rev. Shirley Bowen
Sermon Response: Only Time (by Enya/Nicky Ryan & Roma Ryan)
Meditative Instr. ~ Michelle Currie
Musical call to Prayer: (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 (Joseph Brackett) Instr. ~ 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: Be Thou My Vision #450 vs. 1-3
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; naught be all else to me, save that thou art;
thou my best thought, by day or by night, waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word; I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord
my soul’s shelter and thou my high tower; raise thou me heaven-ward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise; thou mine inheritance, now and always;
thou and thou only first in my heart, High King of heaven, my treasure thou art.
Benediction:
Benediction Response:- from the 19th century “Glory in the Grey,” Scottish theologian George MacLeod
Almighty God, Sun behind all suns, Soul behind all souls.
Show to us in everything we touch and in everyone we meet
the continued assurance of Thy presence around us
lest ever we should think Thee absent.
In all Created things Thou are there. In every friend we have
the sunshine of Thy presence is shown forth.
In every enemy that seems to cross our path,
Thou are there within the cloud to challenge us to Love.
Show to us the Glory in the Grey.
Awake for us Thy presence in the very storm,
till all our joys are seen as Thee,
and all our trivial tasks emerge as priestly sacraments
in the universal temple of Thy love.
Closing: Go In Peace
Our thanks to Rev. Shirley Bowen for leading Worship today and to Michelle Currie, our Music Director.
Pastor’s Information: Rev. Paula Norbert (207) 205-4951 or (pnorbert1217@gmail.com)
Union Church website: www.unionchurchme.com. Church Address: Union Church, P.O. Box 344, B.P. ME. 04006