For Lay-led Service: July 11, 2021
Meditation Thought Why do we embrace this life of faith? Why have we been given this blessing, this opportunity, this grace? ~Rev. Dr. Derek Weber
Prelude
Welcome, Announcements, and Lighting of the Christ Candle Betty Bergstrom
Call to Worship (adapted, Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago) Brad Geltz
L: Beautiful are the works of God! P: Beautiful also are the skins of God’s people! L: Beautiful is the mind of God! P: Beautiful also are the hopes of God’s people! L: Beautiful is the heart of God! P: Beautiful also are the souls of God’s people! L: God made the heavens and the earth! P: To God be the glory for the things God has done!
Hymn “For the Beauty of the Earth” #28 NCH
For the Beauty of the earth, for the splendor of the skies, For the love which from our birth over and around us lies, God of all, to you we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
For the wonder of each hour of the day and of the night, Hill and vale, and tree and flower, sun and moon, and stars of light, God of all, to you we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child, Friends on earth, and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild, God of all, to you we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
For the good that love inspires, for a world where none exclude, For a faith that never tires, and for every heart renewed, God of all, to you we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
Invocation and the Lord’s Prayer (*Written by Michael Saward. Posted on the Jubilate Grace Website, https://www.jubilate.co.uk/liturgy/prayer_for_grace.) Muff Kruse O God our Father, we thank you that today you have called us to worship you and learn of you. You alone know our needs. Satisfy them with your unchanging love. In your presence may we find comfort in sorrow, guidance in perplexity, strength to meet temptation, grace to overcome the fascination with disobedience, and courage to face up to the hostility of this rebellious world. Above all, may we meet Jesus and go out from our worship indwelt by his spirit This prayer we ask to your glory and in his name.* Let us continue our prayer as Jesus taught us: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your 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, the power, and the glory forever. Amen
Musical Offering “Peaceful Easy Feeling/Amazing Grace” The Quonset Brothers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-gjCvqVHOw
Scripture Reading Ephesians 1:3 - 14 Beth Shehadi
Message “Gratitude for our Blessings” Betty Bergstrom & Beth Shehadi
Musical Reflection “Hallelujah (Your Love Is Amazing)” Brian Doerksen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJK0RW_3Vm8
Recognition of our Graduates Jaylene Bengtson
Lay-led Prayer with shared Joys and Concerns (introductory prayer by Richard Bastille) Betty Bergstrom
Closing Hymn “Come, O Fount of Every Blessing” #459 NCH Come, O Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing your grace; Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of endless praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above. Praise the mount; I’m fixed upon it, mount of God’s unfailing love.
Here I pause in my sojourning, giving thanks for having come, Come to trust, at every turning, God will guide me safely home. Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God, Came to rescue me from danger, blessed body, precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor daily I am drawn anew! Let that grace now, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to you. Prone to wander, I can feel it, wander from the love I’ve known: Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for your very own.
Benediction Beth Shehadi
Parting Song “Go Now in Peace” Go now in peace. Go now in peace. May the love of God surround you Everywhere, everywhere you may go.
Postlude