May 25, 2025
Sunday Gathering
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-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.
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-PRELUDE-
“Open the Eyes of My Heart” - arr. P. Keveren
Brenda Gardiner
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-WELCOME-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
"Open My Eyes That I May See”
OPEN MY EYES THAT I MAY SEE
GLIMPSES OF TRUTH YOU HAVE FOR ME.
PLACE IN MY HANDS THE WONDERFUL KEY
THAT SHALL UNCLASP AND SET ME FREE.
SILENTLY NOW I WAIT FOR YOU,
READY, MY GOD, YOUR WILL TO DO.
OPEN MY EYES, ILLUMINE ME,
SPIRIT DIVINE!
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-BEING A PURVEYOR OF AWE-
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-SINGING TOGETHER
"Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord”
OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART, LORD.
OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART.
I WANT TO SEE YOU,
I WANT TO SEE YOU.
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-OPENING PRAYER-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
"Open My Eyes That I May See”
SILENTLY NOW I WAIT FOR YOU,
READY, MY GOD, YOUR WILL TO DO.
OPEN MY EYES, ILLUMINE ME,
SPIRIT DIVINE!
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-COMMUNITY PRAYER-
AWE-INSPIRING GOD,
WE COME TOGETHER THIS DAY
BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE REMINDED
TO SEE THROUGH THE LENS OF BEAUTY.
Too often, we admire a standard of beauty
that leaves too much out of its definition,
forgetting that life and its imperfections
are inherently beautiful simply because it exists.
INSPIRE US TO RECEIVE OUR SURROUNDINGS WITH AWE.
FORGIVE US WHEN WE MOVE THROUGH OUR LIVES
AND DO NOT NOTICE YOUR HANDIWORK
IN ALL THINGS, ALL PEOPLE.
BE WITH US ON THIS JOURNEY
AS WE SEEK AGAIN TO MARVEL AT YOUR WORKS.
All of the cosmos was created and called good.
You are a part of this mystery of life.
God forgives us. Jesus embraces us. The Spirit enlivens us.
We are whole.
With awe, we accept this belovedness.
And all God’s people say, “Amen.”
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-GREETING ONE ANOTHER-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
"God Who Touches the Earth with Beauty”
GOD WHO TOUCHES EARTH WITH BEAUTY,
MAKE MY HEART ANEW.
WITH YOUR SPIRIT RECREATE ME
PURE AND STRONG AND TRUE.
LIKE YOUR SPRINGS AND RUNNING WATER,
MAKE ME CRYSTAL PURE.
LIKE YOUR ROCKS OF TOW’RING GRANDEUR,
MAKE ME STRONG AND SURE.
LIKE YOUR DANCING WAVES IN SUNLIGHT,
MAKE ME GLAD AND FREE.
LIKE THE STRAIGHTNESS OF THE PINE TREES,
LET ME UPRIGHT BE.
GOD WHO TOUCHES EARTH WITH BEAUTY,
MAKE MY HEART ANEW.
KEEP ME EVER, BY YOUR SPIRIT,
PURE AND STRONG AND TRUE.
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-READING-
Rene Proyer
“On the way to work… look out of the window. Is there a tree that you haven't noticed before that blooms beautifully at this time? When we naturally notice and appreciate the beauty around us, it can lead to all kinds of different benefits. Studies show it can make us feel more satisfied in life, have a stronger sense of meaning, and act with more kindness towards others and the environment.”
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-SCRIPTURE-
Job 33:2-4
Now I will open my mouth; my tongue and lips will form words.
And those words will come from an upright heart, and my lips will speak about what I know to be true. The Spirit of God is what made me; the breath of Shaddai gives me life.
Psalm 27:4
One thing I ask of you, YHWH, one thing I seek: that I may dwell in your house all the days of my life, to gaze on your beauty and to meditate in your Temple.
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-CHILDREN’S MOMENT-
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-SPECIAL MUSIC-
“Everything is Beautiful” – R. Stevens
Brenda Gardiner
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-THE MESSAGE-
“Beauty”
Pam Lee-Miller
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
"Great and Awesome God”
YOU ARE A GREAT AND AWESOME GOD.
YOUR WONDERS WE PROCLAIM.
YOU ARE OUR ROCK, OUR STRENGTH, OUR SHIELD,
FROM AGE TO AGE THE SAME.
YOU FORGIVE US ALL OUR SINS.
YOU TRANSFORM US WITH YOUR LOVE.
WITH JOYFUL, GRATEFUL HEARTS WE SING.
YOU ARE A GREAT AND AWESOME GOD!
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-SHARING JOYS & CONCERNS-
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-PASTORAL PRAYER-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
"Great and Awesome God”
YOU HEAR US WHEN WE PRAY.
YOU RECEIVE US WITH YOUR LOVE.
WITH JOYFUL, GRATEFUL HEARTS WE SING.
YOU ARE A GREAT AND AWESOME GOD!
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-INVITATION TO COMMUNION-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
"Come to the Table of Grace”
COME TO THE TABLE OF GRACE,
COME TO THE TABLE OF GRACE,
THIS IS GOD’S TABLE, IT’S NOT YOURS OR MINE,
COME TO THE TABLE OF GRACE.
COME TO THE TABLE OF LOVE,
COME TO THE TABLE OF LOVE,
THIS IS GOD’S TABLE, IT’S NOT YOURS OR MINE,
COME TO THE TABLE OF LOVE.
COME TO THE TABLE OF HOPE,
COME TO THE TABLE OF HOPE,
THIS IS GOD’S TABLE, IT’S NOT YOURS OR MINE,
COME TO THE TABLE OF HOPE.
COME TO THE TABLE OF JOY,
COME TO THE TABLE OF JOY,
THIS IS GOD’S TABLE, IT’S NOT YOURS OR MINE,
COME TO THE TABLE OF JOY.
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-IN GRATITUDE-
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-OFFERING-
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-ANNOUNCEMENTS-
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-INVITATION TO RESPOND-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
"For the Beauty of the Earth”
FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH,
FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE SKIES,
FOR THE LOVE WHICH FROM OUR BIRTH
OVER AND AROUND US LIES,
LORD OF ALL, TO THEE WE RAISE
THIS OUR HYMN OF GRATEFUL PRAISE.
FOR THE BEAUTY OF EACH HOUR
OF THE DAY AND OF THE NIGHT,
HILL AND VALE, AND TREE AND FLOWER,
SUN AND MOON, AND STARS OF LIGHT,
LORD OF ALL, TO THEE WE RAISE
THIS OUR HYMN OF GRATEFUL PRAISE.
FOR THE JOY OF EAR AND EYE,
FOR THE HEART AND MIND'S DELIGHT,
FOR THE MYSTIC HARMONY
LINKING SENSE TO SOUND AND SIGHT,
LORD OF ALL, TO THEE WE RAISE
THIS OUR HYMN OF GRATEFUL PRAISE.
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-BLESSING & BENEDICTION-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
"Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord”
OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART, LORD.
OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART.
I WANT TO SEE YOU,
I WANT TO SEE YOU.
. . . . . . . . . .
-THE TEAM-
ACCOMPANIST: Brenda Gardiner, Lisa Loeffler, Timmy Smallwood
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE: Tiff Jones
BUILDING CARE: Travis Hines, Keith Reid, Barry Thompson
FACILITIES CARE: Edmond Edwards, Lisa Loeffler, Kathy Lyons, Steve Melton, Barry Thompson, Seth Tuska
NURSERY: Linda Netherton
PHOTOGRAPHY: Cynthia Buckner
PROPERTY CARE: West Gillium, Lee Hamilton, Morgan Hamilton, Lorie Yaste
SERVICE PREPARATION: Travis Hines, Keith Reid, Barry Thompson
SONG LEADER: Chris Prichard, Lisa Loeffler, Chris Cook
TECH: Nancy Alspach, Mason Bishop, Dale Hamilton, Morgan Hamilton, Timmy Smallwood
MAY BULLETINS
JANUARY BULLETINS