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: It isn’t the burdens of today that drive men mad. It is the regrets over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today. –Robert Hastings
Gathering Music: Into the Mystic ( by Van Morrison) -Michelle Currie
Welcome: Rev. Paula Norbert
Responsive Call to Worship:
Leader: Come, out of your busy lives to a quiet time and place.
All: Our souls thirst for some peace and quiet.
Leader: Come, and rest in the Lord who will restore your souls.
All: Our lives need moments of rest.
Leader: Come and find the quiet center. Come, be at peace.
All: Praise God who offers to us a shelter and resting place. Amen.
Opening Hymn: Here In This Place #401 vs 1, 2 & 4
Here in this place the new light is streaming now is the darkness vanished away See in this space our fears and our dream-ings brought to you here in the light of the day.
Gather us in the lost and forsaken gather us in the blind and the lame Call to us now and we shall awaken we shall arise at the sound of our name.
We are the young our lives are a mystery. We are the old who yearn for your face. We have been sung through-out all of history called to be light to the whole human race. Gather us in the rich and the haughty gather us in the proud and the strong
Give us a heart so meek and so lowly give us the courage to enter the song. Fir of love in our flesh and our bone.
Not in the dark of buildings confining not in some heaven light years away Here in this place the new light is shining now is the kingdom and now is the day. Gather us in and hold us forever gather us in and make us your own Gather us in all peoples together fire of love in our flesh and our bone.
Invocation:
Creator God who breathed this world into being,
who is discernible within the harmony of nature,
the perfection of a butterfly’s wing, the grandeur of a mountain range,
the soaring eagle and humming bird, thank you for this world
which you have created. Thank you for summer sun, which reminds us that your creative breath is still alive and active.
Thank you for the warmth of your love,
sustaining this world, your garden. Be with us this day
as we gather to be in the company of one another
and You this wonderful summer day. Amen.
Lord’s Prayer:
Awakening: 23rd Psalm (arr. Bobby McFerrin) -Patricia Mulholland & The Union Church Choir)
Scripture: Song of Solomon: 2:10-13, Mark 6: 30-34 -Caryn Firebaugh
Sermon: The Sacrament of the Present Rev. Paula Norbert
Sermon Response: Meditative Instrumental ~ 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 ( by( 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: I, the Lord of Sea and Sky #69
I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry. All who dwell in dark and sin my hand will save.
I, who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send?
Here I am Lord. Is it I Lord? I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go Lord if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart
I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have borne my people’s pain. I have wept for love of them, They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone, give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them? Whom shall I send?
Here I am Lord. It is I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go Lord if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart.
I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame. I will set a feast for them. My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide till their hearts be satisfied. I will give my life to them. Whom shall I send? Here I am Lord. Is it I lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go Lord if you lead me. I will hold tour people in my heart.
Benediction
Our prayer is finished. Let us leave this holy place renewed in mind and refreshed in spirit. Take some time this week to enjoy the warmth of the sun, the chirping birds, the fragrance and beauty of the flowers, and the colors of nature all around us.
Sending Forth: Go forth in peace into the loveliness of a summer day.
Response: Amen
Recessional: Go in Peace
Go in peace and the peace of God be with you this day.
Go in peace and the peace of God be with you always.
celebrate and share the joy. Celebrate new life.
Go in peace and the peace of God be with you always.
Thank you to Music Director Michelle Currie, and to Patricia Mulholland & The Union Church Choir
Pastor’s Information:
Rev. Paula Norbert (207) 205-4951 or (pnorbert1217@gmail.com)
If you are interested in joining Union Church or would like to set up a time to meet with our Pastor, please contact Pastor Paula directly.
Union Church website: www.unionchurchme.com. Church Address: Union Church, P.O. Box 344, B.P. ME. 04006.
Announcements:
Today, please join us following the Service for some light refreshments and conversation! Everyone is welcome!
Summer Speaker Series: Be a Supporting Sponsor! Tickets for our 21st Summer Speaker Series — $60 for the series, $20 for individual events – are still on sale at unionchurchme.com/news-events.
In further support of this important Mission fundraiser, we invite you to consider becoming a “Supporting Sponsor” for $100. With that, a name of your choice – your own, your family’s, your business’s, or a favorite nonprofit’s – will be added to the scrolling roster of sponsors that includes the “Series Sponsor” and “Event Sponsors” and is played before and upon the opening of each event. To become a Supporting Sponsor, please mail by June 28, (a) the name you choose for the roster to unionchurchbpool@gmail.com , and (b) a check made out to Union Church with “SSS” in memo to Union Church/Treasurer, PO Box 344, Biddeford Pool, ME 04006. Thank you!