THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
PRESERVICE MUSIC: “Faith” -- by J. Brickman
Jim Moriarty
GREETING & TIME FOR CENTERING AND SILENCE:
From our scattered, unfocused lives, and circumstances we come, O God, to become again a community of prayer and service. Help us to claim and center our spirits, so that we may be more tuned to your divine Spirit. Help us to bring before you all those concerns for which we need to offer prayer, trusting that in your grace and your own time, our prayers will be answered. Amen
WELCOME:
Drake Smith, Guest Speaker
CALL TO WORSHIP:
Pastor: Trust in the Lord and do good.
All: May the Lord give strength to the people!
Pastor: O taste and see that the Lord is good!
All: God is our refuge and strength.
Pastor: This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
All: This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
Pastor: In the midst of the congregation I will praise you.
All: Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to God's holy name!
Pastor: Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!
All: Give thanks to him, bless his name!
*OPENING HYMN: “God Is Here” -- verses 1,2 & 4” – Chalice #280
*UNISON PRAYER OF INVOCATION:
All: Lord our God, as with all creation
we offer you the life of this new day,
give us grace to love and serve you
to the praise of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
*GLORIA PATRI
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen
HEBREW BIBLE READING: Isaiah 61:1-4 (pg. 650)
Heidi Palmer
*SECOND HYMN: “The Old Rugged Cross” – verses 1,2 &4 Chalice #548
GOSPEL READING: Matthew 5:1-12 (pg. 4)
Heidi Palmer
MESSAGE: “A Red-Lettered Theology”
Drake Smith
MESSAGE RESPONSE: TBA
Jim Moriarty
JOYS AND CONCERNS
Heidi Palmer
PASTORAL PRAYER / THE LORD'S PRAYER
Drake Smith
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in 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.
OFFERTORY:
John Harmon
OFFERTORY ANTHEM: “It’s No Secret (What God Can Do)” -- by J. Martin
Sanctuary Choir
*DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise God all creature here below
Praise God for all that love has done
Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One. Amen.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION:
Drake Smith
*CLOSING HYMN: “Because He Lives” – Chalice #562
BENEDICTION:
Drake Smith
BENEDICTION RESPONSE: “Go Now in Peace” -- by D. Besig
Sanctuary Choir
POSTLUDE: TBA
Jim Moriarty
* All who are present in the sanctuary and are able, please stand.
Our thanks this morning to Drake Smith for leading us in worship, as well as Jim Moriarty and the Sanctuary Choir for our music. All music is licensed by OneLicense & CCLI or is in the public domain.
Parts of the liturgy are adapted and reprinted by permission of Westminster John Knox Press from Connections Worship Companion. Copyright 2023. Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=48287
Our Ordained Partners in Ministry:
Pastor Reverend Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, General Minister, President of UCC
Reverend Darrell Goodwin, Executive Conference Minister
Reverend Margret Hofmeister, Area Conference Minister