June 29, 2025
Pride 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-
“The Rainbow Connection” – Williams/Ascher
Brenda Gardiner
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-WELCOME-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
"Welcome”
LET’S WALK TOGETHER FOR A WHILE
AND ASK WHERE WE BEGIN
TO BUILD A WORLD WHERE LOVE CAN GROW
AND HOPE CAN ENTER IN,
TO BE THE HANDS OF HEALING
AND TO PLANT THE SEEDS OF PEACE.
SINGING WELCOME,
WELCOME TO THIS PLACE.
YOU’RE INVITED
TO COME AND KNOW GOD’S GRACE.
ALL ARE WELCOME,
THE LOVE OF GOD TO SHARE.
‘CAUSE ALL OF US ARE WELCOME HERE;
ALL ARE WELCOME IN THIS PLACE.
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-WELCOME-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
"Welcome”
LET’S TALK TOGETHER OF A TIME
WHEN WE WILL SHARE A FEAST,
WHERE PRIDE AND POWER KNEEL TO SERVE
THE LONELY AND THE LEAST,
AND JOY WILL SET THE TABLE
AS WE JOIN OUR HANDS TO PRAY.
SINGING WELCOME,
WELCOME TO THIS PLACE.
YOU’RE INVITED
TO COME AND KNOW GOD’S GRACE.
ALL ARE WELCOME,
THE LOVE OF GOD TO SHARE.
‘CAUSE ALL OF US ARE WELCOME HERE;
ALL ARE WELCOME IN THIS PLACE.
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-CALL TO WORSHIP-
God has shown us what is good;
TO ACT JUSTLY, TO LOVE MERCY, TO WALK HUMBLY.
Jesus says, “Anyone who welcomes you, welcomes me.”
EVERYONE IS WELCOME IN THIS PLACE.
We are God’s people welcoming all of God’s people.
WE CELEBRATE GOD’S LOVE FOR EVERYONE!
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-OPENING PRAYER-
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-GREETING ONE ANOTHER-
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-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.
OH, WE SING FOR ALL THE CHILDREN,
THAT ONE DAY THEY BE FREE;
AND WE SING FOR GENERATIONS YET TO BE,
THAT THEY NEVER HAVE A REASON
TO DOUBT THAT THEY ARE BLEST.
MAY THEY, IN YOUR LOVE, FIND REST.
OH, WE PRAY FOR ALL THE YOUNG LIVES
CUT SHORT BY FEAR AND SHAME
SO AFRAID OF WHO THEY ARE AND WHOM THEY LOVE.
MAY THE MESSAGE NOW BE BANISHED
THAT YOUR LOVE IS FOR THE FEW,
MAY THEIR FAITH IN YOU RENEW.
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.
GOD, WE’RE WORKING FOR A FUTURE
WHEN CHILDREN FAR AND WIDE
CAN LIVE THEIR LIVES WITH DIGNITY AND PRIDE.
AS THEY GROW IN STRENGTH AND STATURE,
MAY THEY JOIN US HAND IN HAND,
AS AGAINST ALL HATE WE STAND.
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.
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-SCRIPTURE-
1 John 4:7-8 (CEB)
Dear friends, let’s love each other, because love is from God, and everyone who is born from God knows God. The person who doesn’t love does not know God, because God is love.
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-THE MESSAGE-
“Love has EVERYTHING to do with it!”
Helena Handbasket
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
"The Open Table”
COME, OH COME, COME TO THE TABLE.
GATHER ‘ROUND, COME WITHOUT FEAR.
KNOWN BY NAME HERE AT THE TABLE, THIS TABLE;
WELCOME HERE, TO THE TABLE OF LOVE.
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-INVITATION TO COMMUNION-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
"The Open Table”
COME, OH COME, COME TO THE TABLE.
GATHER ‘ROUND, COME WITHOUT FEAR.
KNOWN BY NAME HERE AT THE TABLE, THIS TABLE;
WELCOME HERE, TO THE TABLE OF LOVE.
CIRCLE ‘ROUND, LET’S JOIN TOGETHER.
SHARE YOUR JOYS, AND BRING YOUR TEARS.
STRENGTH AND HOPE FOUND AT THE TABLE, THIS TABLE;
WELCOME HERE, TO THE TABLE OF LOVE.
GOD IS LOVE; LOVE IS CREATING
SOMETHING NEW, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.
WE’RE CHILDREN OF GOD, HERE AT THE TABLE, THIS TABLE;
WELCOME HERE, TO THE TABLE OF LOVE.
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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-
"Draw the Circle Wide”
DRAW THE CIRCLE,
DRAW THE CIRCLE WIDE.
DRAW THE CIRCLE,
DRAW THE CIRCLE WIDE.
NO ONE STANDS ALONE,
WE’LL STAND SIDE BY SIDE.
DRAW THE CIRCLE,
DRAW THE CIRCLE WIDE.
DRAW THE CIRCLE WIDE,
DRAW IT WIDER STILL.
LET THIS BE OUR SONG:
NO ONE STANDS ALONE.
STANDING SIDE BY SIDE,
DRAW THE CIRCLE,
DRAW THE CIRCLE WIDE.
DRAW THE CIRCLE,
DRAW THE CIRCLE WIDE.
DRAW THE CIRCLE WIDE,
DRAW IT WIDER STILL.
LET THIS BE OUR SONG:
NO ONE STANDS ALONE.
STANDING SIDE BY SIDE,
DRAW THE CIRCLE,
DRAW THE CIRCLE WIDE.
DRAW THE CIRCLE,
DRAW THE CIRCLE WIDE.
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-BLESSING & BENEDICTION-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
"Draw the Circle Wide”
DRAW THE CIRCLE WIDE,
DRAW IT WIDER STILL.
LET THIS BE OUR SONG:
NO ONE STANDS ALONE.
STANDING SIDE BY SIDE,
DRAW THE CIRCLE,
DRAW THE CIRCLE WIDE.
DRAW THE CIRCLE,
DRAW THE CIRCLE WIDE.
. . . . . . . . . .
-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, Erin Drenkhahn, Dale Hamilton, Keith Moore, Timmy Smallwood
JANUARY BULLETINS