June 22, 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, Lord” – 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 deeper meaning.
TOO OFTEN, WE WRITE OFF
THE ORDINARY DAYS OF OUR LIVES
AS A DRONE OF TIME PASSING THROUGH
THE MASS OF MEDIA MESSAGES
ABOUT WHAT LIFE IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT.
Open us to perceive anew.
Inspire us to receive our surroundings with awe.
FORGIVE US WHEN WE ARE DISTRACTED
BY THE DROLL OF THE SCROLL
RATHER THAN LIFTING OUR SENSES
TO THAT WHICH IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.
Be with us on this journey
as we seek again to marvel at your works.
OPEN US…
INSPIRE US…
FORGIVE US…
SHOW US…
AMEN.
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-GREETING ONE ANOTHER-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
"For the Beauty of the Earth”
FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH,
FOR THE SPLENDOR OF THE SKIES,
FOR THE LOVE WHICH FROM OUR BIRTH
OVER AND AROUND 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,
SIBLINGS, FRIENDS, A PARENT, CHILD,
THOSE ON EARTH, AND THOSE 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.
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-SCRIPTURE-
excerpts from Psalm 19
The heavens herald your glory, O God, and the skies display your handiwork. Day after day they tell their story, and night after night they reveal the depth of their understanding. Without speech, without words, without even an audible voice, their cry echoes through all the world, and their message reaches the ends of the earth…
Holding you in awe, YHWH, is purifying; it endures. Your decrees are steadfast, and all of them just. They are more precious than gold, than the purest of gold, and sweeter than honey, than honey fresh from the comb. In them your faithful people find instruction; there is great reward in keeping them.
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-THE MESSAGE-
“Meaning”
Kenny Bishop
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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-
"How Firm a Foundation”
HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION, YOU SAINTS OF THE LORD,
IS LAID FOR YOUR FAITH IN GOD'S LOVE-GIVING WORD!
WHAT MORE CAN BE SAID THAN TO YOU GOD HAS SAID,
TO YOU WHO FOR REFUGE TO JESUS HAVE FLED?
"WHEN THROUGH THE DEEP WATERS I CALL YOU TO GO,
THE RIVERS OF SORROW SHALL NOT OVERFLOW;
FOR I WILL BE NEAR YOU, YOUR TROUBLES TO BLESS,
AND SANCTIFY TO YOU YOUR DEEPEST DISTRESS.
"WHEN THROUGH FIERY TRIALS YOUR PATHWAY SHALL LIE,
MY GRACE, ALL SUFFICIENT, SHALL BE YOUR SUPPLY;
THE FLAME SHALL NOT HURT YOU; I ONLY DESIGN
YOUR DROSS TO CONSUME, AND YOUR GOLD TO REFINE.
"THE SOUL THAT ON JESUS HAS LEANED FOR REPOSE,
I WILL NOT, I WILL NOT DESERT TO ITS FOES;
THAT SOUL, THOUGH ALL HELL SHOULD ENDEAVOR TO SHAKE,
I'LL NEVER, NO, NEVER, NO, NEVER FORSAKE."
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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, Erin Drenkhahn, Dale Hamilton, Keith Moore, Timmy Smallwood
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