Union Congregational

United Church of Christ

At Union, we are all the body of Christ together: Through our voices, Christ is still speaking Through our hands, Christ is still serving Through our hearts, Christ is still loving

An Alternative Independence Day Celebration with Holy Communion

July 5, 2020 Serving Christ . . . Loving Each . . . Affirming All

An Alternative Independence Day Celebration with Holy Communion

July 5, 2020 10:00 a.m.

This Sunday, the 6th Sunday of Pentecost, we celebrate America by celebrating some of America’s great composers—Duke Ellington, along with two other great African American composers, Oscar Petersen and Scott Joplin. We are led by Matt Hillman and Rissel Peguero, who have also worked with Sam Stranz to write arrangements of our patriotic hymns in ways suitable for this time of pandemic and injustice. We are also celebrating Communion, so we encourage you to gather bread and wine, or any other food and drink, beforehand.

GATHERING FOR WORSHIP

PRELUDE With music and silence we begin worship, praying and opening our hearts to God.

Isfahan Recorded in 1967, and composed by Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington, “Isfahan” takes its name from a city in Iran. The opening lyrics mourn separation: “And now the purple dusk of twilight time/Steals across the meadows of my heart/High up in the sky the little stars climb/Always reminding me that we’re apart.” Many consider this Strayhorn-Ellington’s most beautiful composition.

THE LIFE OF OUR COMMUNITY Welcome! We share Announcements, Ministry Opportunities, Joys and Concerns.

PRAISING OUR GOD

THE BOND OF UNION (in unison) Giving our all as we have been given all... We accept the religion of love and service which Jesus lived and taught, and declare it our purpose to strive to do the will of God, and to make the Christ Spirit dominant in our lives and in all human relations.

GATHERING PRAYER (in unison) Lord God, your lovingkindness always goes before us, and your lovingkindness follows after us, like the wind. We give you thanks for the Spirit, for the Church, and for our nation. Help us to live into the joy of your Spirit, and help us to bring your grace to our nation and its beautiful diversity of peoples. Amen.

— 1 — PRAYER OF CONFESSION Pastor Bridget: And now, in an act of honesty, let us confess our sins in the presence of God as the music of “Mood Indigo” takes us into the blues of repentance.

Mood Indigo “Mood Indigo” is an Ellington composition from 1930, when he was in the midst of a divorce. The tune is mournful, in a minor key, and is usually played slowly. The lyrics, as recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, put it bluntly: “You ain't been blue; no, no, no/ You ain't been blue/ Till you've had that mood indigo…When I get that mood indigo/I could lay me down and die.” The tune can thus serve as an excellent introduction to the Prayer of Confession.

Please read to yourself as the music is playing: Gracious God, have mercy on us. We confess that we have turned from you and fallen into self-interest. We want to live in loving relationship with you, our neighbors, and the Earth, but we fall into alienation, anger, despair and other unsustainable habits. We harm the planet and others, and we fail to bring about your vision of the beloved community gathered for justice. In your compassion forgive us, as we forgive others. Turn us again toward you and your love, and we ask you also to restore us to loving relationship with all the living. Uphold us by your Spirit, so that we may live and serve you in newness of life. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON Pastor Bridget: God, who is rich in mercy, loves us even when we feel unlovable, even when we feel the blues. By grace we have been saved. In the name of Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven. Almighty God strengthen us with power through the Holy Spirit, that Christ may live in our hearts and lives through faith and love. Amen.

PASSING THE PEACE OF JESUS CHRIST Having been forgiven, we can now share the deep peace that comes to us through God’s grace. So, greet one another through whatever means at your disposal: “May the peace of Jesus Christ be with you!”

OPENING HYMN: “Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory” BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC arr. Sam Stranz

PROCLAIMING GOD’S GOOD NEWS

SCRIPTURE READING: Song of Solomon 2:8-13 Susan Tucker

ANTHEM: “Hymn to Freedom” Oscar Peterson David Hassel, piano

Composed by the Canadian Oscar Peterson in 1962 as an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement, lyrics were later added by Harriette Hillman: “When every heart joins every heart and together yearns for liberty/That’s when we’ll be free. When every hand joins every hand and together molds our destiny/That’s when we’ll be free.”

— 2 — CHILDREN’S MOMENTS Bridget Flad Daniels “Hatred Has No Place” by David Heitler-Klevens (permission granted), recorded by Chris and Roy Goodner

GOSPEL READING: Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

SERMON: “My Burden is Light” Jon Pahl

RESPONDING TO GOD’S GOOD NEWS

HYMN: “America the Beautiful” MATERNA arr. Sam Stranz

INVITATION TO THE OFFERING:

Offerings can be made by going to unionucc.com/giving Or by mailing your check to the church office.

RESPONSE: “A Real Slow Drag” --from the opera Treemonisha Scott Joplin

“Treemonisha” was a complete opera composed by Scott Joplin between 1912 and 1913. It celebrates a heroine, Treemonisha, who is an educator. “A Real Slow Drag” is the last song. Drag here refers to a dance.

CELEBRATING COMMUNION

THE INVITATION L. The table of bread and wine is now to be made ready. Come to this table, you who have much faith and you who would like to have more; All. You who have been here often and you who have not been for a long time, if ever. L. You who have tried to follow Jesus, and you who have fallen short. All. Come, all who seek to follow Christ’s way. It is Christ who offers to encounter us here.

THE COMMUNION PRAYER Pastor. May the God of freedom be with you. People. And also with you. Pastor. Children of God, lift up your hearts! People. We lift them up to the One who sets us free for lives of service and hope. Pastor. God’s children: let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People. We will sing our songs of freedom to the One who calls us to new life.

THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION:

— 3 — PRAYERS OF CONSECRATION, OF THE PEOPLE, AND OF OUR LORD Please join us in praying the Lord’s Prayer in these words or a translation meaningful to you. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

SHARING OF THE BREAD AND CUP We will indicate verbally during the prayers the time at which all are invited to commune together. The host at this table is Jesus Christ. In Christ’s name and spirit, we invite all to partake of God’s grace. Children may participate according to their parents’ wishes.

SENT INTO ALL THE WORLD

CLOSING HYMN: “This Is My Song” FINLANDIA arr. Rissel Peguero

THE BENEDICTION:

POSTLUDE: “Come Sunday”

“Lord, dear Lord above/ God Almighty, God of love/ Please look down and see my people through/ I believe that God/ put sun and moon up in the sky/ I don’t mind the gray skies/ ‘cause they’re just clouds passing by/ Heaven is a goodness time/ A brighter light on high/ “Do unto others as you would have them do to you/” And have a brighter by and by.” Premiered at Carnegie Hall, 1943.

Musical annotations come from various sources, including jazzstandards.com; dukeellington.com; Stanley Dance, The World of Duke Ellington; John Edward Hasse, Beyond Category: The Life and Genius of Duke Ellington; and Mark Tucker (ed.), The Duke Ellington Reader.

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