September 24, 2023
Sunday Gathering
. . . . . . . . . . 

-PRELUDE-
"You’ll Never Walk Alone" - Rogers/Hammerstein
Brenda Gardiner

-ACKNOWLEDGEMENT-
We acknowledge that the place where we are gathered today is the ancient and ancestral homeland of more than twenty Indigenous tribes. We mourn the loss of their lives, livelihoods, homes, and cultures, and acknowledge the legacy of violence against them.

We acknowledge that the space where we worship today was established and built by those whose Black ancestors were also abused and mistreated - some even bought and sold as enslaved people right here in our city.

We acknowledge the women who’ve faced unfair treatment and misogyny throughout the ages and we acknowledge those who identify as LGBTQ or other who’ve been mistreated and misunderstood.

We acknowledge our role and responsibility as professed followers of Christ to stand for and alongside all of these and others who have been and continue to be oppressed.

-SINGING TOGETHER-
"For All the Children”
GOD, WE GATHER AS YOUR PEOPLE
TO RAISE OUR SONG ABOVE,
AND WE DARE TO CLAIM THE PROMISE OF YOUR LOVE,
THOUGH THE DAY MAY NOT YET BE HERE
WE TRUST IT SOON WILL BE,
WHEN YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE FREE.

O, MAY OUR HEARTS AND MINDS BE OPENED,
FLING THE CHURCH DOORS OPEN WIDE.
MAY THERE BE ROOM ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE INSIDE.
FOR IN GOD THERE IS A WELCOME,
IN GOD WE ALL BELONG.
MAY THAT WELCOME BE OUR SONG.

-WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS-

-GREETING EACH OTHER-

-SINGING TOGETHER-
"For All the Children”
O, MAY OUR HEARTS AND MINDS BE OPENED,
FLING THE CHURCH DOORS OPEN WIDE.
MAY THERE BE ROOM ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE INSIDE.
FOR IN GOD THERE IS A WELCOME,
IN GOD WE ALL BELONG.
MAY THAT WELCOME BE OUR SONG.

* -CALL TO WORSHIP-
Friends, we gather to learn, grow, and be shaped by God.
TEACH US YOUR WAY, O GOD.

When we are uncertain or distracted,
TEACH US YOUR WAY, O GOD.

When we feel crushed and hope is crowded out,
TEACH US YOUR WAY, O GOD.

In our work, our play, and relationships,
TEACH US YOUR WAY, O GOD.

And now, in this time of holy worship,
TEACH US YOUR WAY, O GOD.

** -OPENING PRAYER-

-SINGING TOGETHER-
“Morning Has Broken"
MORNING HAS BROKEN
LIKE THE FIRST MORNING,
BLACKBIRD HAS SPOKEN
LIKE THE FIRST BIRD.
PRAISE FOR THE SINGING!
PRAISE FOR THE MORNING!
PRAISE FOR THEM, SPRINGING
FRESH FROM THE WORD!

SWEET THE RAIN’S NEW FALL
SUNLIT FROM HEAVEN,
LIKE THE FIRST DEWFALL
ON THE FIRST GRASS.
PRAISE FOR THE SWEETNESS
OF THE WET GARDEN,
SPRUNG IN COMPLETENESS
WHERE GOD’S FEET PASS.

MINE IS THE SUNLIGHT!
MINE IS THE MORNING
BORN OF THE ONE LIGHT
EDEN SAW PLAY!
PRAISE WITH ELATION,
PRAISE EVERY MORNING,
GOD’S RECREATION
OF THE NEW DAY!

-SHARING JOYS & CONCERNS-

-SINGING TOGETHER-
"Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying"
LORD, LISTEN TO YOUR CHILDREN PRAYING,
LORD, SEND YOUR SPIRIT IN THIS PLACE;
LORD, LISTEN TO YOUR CHILDREN PRAYING,
SEND US LOVE, SEND US POW’R, SEND US GRACE.

-PASTORAL PRAYER-

-SINGING TOGETHER-
"Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying"
LORD, LISTEN TO YOUR CHILDREN PRAYING,
SEND US LOVE, SEND US POW’R, SEND US GRACE.

-SCRIPTURE-
Exodus 16: 9-18 (The Message)

Moses instructed Aaron: “Tell the whole company of Israel: ‘Come near to God. [God has] heard your complaints.’”  When Aaron gave out the instructions to the whole company of Israel, they turned to face the wilderness. And there it was: the Glory of God visible in the Cloud.

God spoke to Moses, “I’ve listened to the complaints of the Israelites. Now tell them: ‘At dusk you will eat meat and at dawn you’ll eat your fill of bread; and you’ll realize that I am God, your God.’”

That evening quail flew in and covered the camp and in the morning there was a layer of dew all over the camp. When the layer of dew had lifted, there on the wilderness ground was a fine flaky something, fine as frost on the ground. The Israelites took one look and said to one another, man-hu (What is it?). They had no idea what it was.

So Moses told them, “It’s the bread God has given you to eat. And these are God’s instructions: ‘Gather enough for each person, about two quarts per person; gather enough for everyone in your tent.’”

The People of Israel went to work and started gathering, some more, some less, but when they measured out what they had gathered, those who gathered more had no extra and those who gathered less weren’t short—each person had gathered as much as was needed.

-THE MESSAGE-
"Everything’s Gonna Be Okay"
Pam Lee-Miller

-SPECIAL MUSIC-
"Light of a Clear, Blue Morning"
Kenny Bishop

-COMMUNION-
"As We Gather At Your Table” - arr. E. Carlson

-OFFERING-
"Morning Has Broken" - C. Stevens

-THANKS TO THOSE WHO SERVE-

-SPECIAL PRESENTATION-

"Operation Lion Drop

-INVITATION TO RESPOND-

-SINGING TOGETHER-
“God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending"
GOD, WHOSE GIVING KNOWS NO ENDING,
FROM YOUR RICH AND ENDLESS STORE:
NATURE'S WONDER, JESUS' WISDOM,
COSTLY CROSS, GRAVE'S SHATTERED DOOR,
GIFTED BY YOU, WE TURN TO YOU,
OFF'RING UP OURSELVES IN PRAISE;
THANKFUL SONG SHALL RISE FOREVER,
GRACIOUS DONOR OF OUR DAYS.

SKILLS AND TIME ARE OURS FOR PRESSING
TOWARD THE GOALS OF CHRIST, YOUR SON:
ALL AT PEACE IN HEALTH AND FREEDOM,
RACES JOINED, THE CHURCH MADE ONE.
NOW DIRECT OUR DAILY LABOR,
LEST WE STRIVE FOR SELF ALONE;
BORN WITH TALENTS, MAKE US SERVANTS
FIT TO ANSWER AT YOUR THRONE.

TREASURE, TOO, YOU HAVE ENTRUSTED,
GAIN THROUGH POW'RS YOUR GRACE CONFERRED;
OURS TO USE FOR HOME AND KINDRED,
AND TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL WORD.
OPEN WIDE OUR HANDS IN SHARING,
AS WE HEED GOD'S AGELESS CALL,
HEALING, TEACHING, AND RECLAIMING,
SERVING YOU BY LOVING ALL.

-BLESSING & BENEDICTION-

-SINGING TOGETHER-
“God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending"
OPEN WIDE OUR HANDS IN SHARING,
AS WE HEED GOD'S AGELESS CALL,
HEALING, TEACHING, AND RECLAIMING,
SERVING YOU BY LOVING ALL.

* Call to worship written by Valerie Showalter
** Opening Prayer written by Christine Lonhyurst 

. . . . . . . . . .  

-THE TEAM-

ACCOMPANIST: Brenda Gardiner, Timmy Smallwood

BUILDING CARE: Seth Tuska

NURSERY: Stacy Greene, Marsha Johnson, Kathy Lyons, Lin Stocker, Lorie Yaste 

PHOTOGRAPHY: Cynthia Buckner

PROPERTY CARE: West Gillium, Lee Hamilton, Morgan Hamilton, Lorie Yaste

SCENIC: Ron Johnson, Tiffany Jones, Kathy Lyons

SERVICE PREPARATION: Travis Hines, Keith Reid, Barry Thompson

SONG LEADER: Chris Prichard

TECH LEAD: Timmy Smallwood

TECH: Nancy Alspach, Stephen Austin,  Mason Bishop, Dale Hamilton, Morgan Hamilton