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!
Welcome:
Gathering Music: Be Still (Text from Psalm 46) Music by Patricia Mulholland) -The Union Church Choir
Call To Worship:
Here in this place, we can ask big questions.
Who is my neighbor?
How can I help?
What do I have to learn?
Where is God in it all?
Here in this place, we can ask big questions.
So may we listen. May we learn.
May we stay curious, and may we look for God.
This is our invitation to be open. Let us worship our holy God.
Opening Hymn: Be Nor Afraid (Lyrics in Insert)
Call to Confession:
Our faith tells us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, but you and I know that is often easier said than done.
Fortunately for us, prayer can be a tool for transformation.
When we are honest before God and each other, we open the door to growth and change. So join me in the prayer of confession.
Join me now, so that tomorrow, we will be even better at loving our neighbors as ourselves.
Prayer of confession
Let us pray, Holy God, you have told us to love our neighbors as ourselves, but we get tripped up on logistics. We want to know: who is our neighbor? Do we have to love the stranger? Must we have compassion for our enemy? Forgive our human tendency to create exceptions in the face of love. Rewire our hearts so that we might see the face of a neighbor in every stranger we pass. With hope we pray,
amen. (Time for Reflection)
Words of forgiveness
Family of faith, When we set limits on love, God loves extravagantly. When we forget that we are neighbors,
God claims us as God’s own. When we judge, hold back, or harm, God surrounds us with grace. There is nothing we can do or leave undone that could separate us from the love of God.
This is the good news of the Gospel. Thanks be to God! Amen.
Prayer for illumination
Gracious God, We love to ask you questions.
We love to throw our wonderings at the sky,
to bring our curiosity to your feet, to examine, beseech,
and imagine all day long. But when the answers come, we don’t always like what we hear. Awaken a curiosity in us. Awaken a penchant for listening, and make room in our spirits for your Word to land. With hope we question, we wonder, we dream, we listen. Amen.
Lord’s Prayer
Awakening: Listen With Your Heart (by Delilah Poupore)
-Delilah Poupore
Scripture: Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16, Luke 10:25-37 -Tom McPheeters
Sermon: In a World of Strangers… Rev. Paula Norbert
Music: Meditative Instrumental ~ Delilah Poupore
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:
Offertory: We Shall Be Known (by MaMuse) -Delilah Poupore
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.
Dedication Prayer:
Closing Music: Here In This Place #401 vs. 1,2 &4
Blessing:
Postlude: Go In Peace
Many thanks to Michelle Currie, our Music Director, Guest Musician Delilah Poupore, Choir Director Patricia Mulholland & The Union Church Choir, and Choir Accompanist Barbara Berry.
Many thanks to our Deacons and Reader for today