September 14, 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-
“Christ, Be Our Light” arr. M. Hayes
Brenda Gardiner
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SINGING TOGETHER-
“I Dream of a Church”
WE DREAM OF A CHURCH
WHERE EVERYONE IS WELCOME,
WE DREAM OF A PLACE
WE ALL CAN CALL HOME.
WE DREAM OF A WORLD
WHERE JUSTICE IS FLOWING
WITH HOPE AND PEACE GROWING,
WHERE GOD’S WILL IS DONE.
MAKE IT SO, MAKE IT SO!
WE PRAY FOR THAT DAY,
MAKE IT SO.
WE DREAM OF A WORLD
WHERE LOVE REIGNS AMONG US
AND YOUR WILL IS DONE,
O GOD, MAKE IT SO.
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-WELCOME-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“I Dream of a Church”
O GOD, FILL OUR HEARTS
TO REACH OUT IN WELCOME,
MAKE US TO SEE
YOUR VISION ONCE MORE.
LET’S DREAM OF A WORLD
WHERE OUR HANDS ARE YOUR HANDS,
WE OFFER OURSELVES,
O GOD, MAKE IT SO.
MAKE IT SO, MAKE IT SO!
WE PRAY FOR THAT DAY,
MAKE IT SO.
WE DREAM OF A WORLD
WHERE LOVE REIGNS AMONG US
AND YOUR WILL IS DONE,
O GOD, MAKE IT SO.
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-CALL TO WORSHIP-
God, as much as it is possible,
LET US LIVE AT PEACE WITH EVERYONE.
We believe you are the Prince of Peace;
WE BELIEVE YOU CAN LEAD US
WHEN PEACE SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE.
We believe that evil can be overcome by good.
HELP US STAND FOR PEACE, AGAINST EVIL
WITH COURAGE, WISDOM, AND UNITY.
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-OPENING PRAYER-
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-GREETING ONE ANOTHER-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“Blest Are They”
BLEST ARE THEY, THE POOR IN SPIRIT;
THEIRS IS THE KIN-DOM OF GOD.
BLEST ARE THEY, FULL OF SORROW;
THEY SHALL BE CONSOLED.
BLEST ARE THEY, THE LOWLY ONES;
THEY SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH.
BLEST ARE THEY, WHO HUNGER AND THIRST;
THEY SHALL HAVE THEIR FILL.
REJOICE AND BE GLAD!
BLESSED ARE YOU.
HOLY ARE YOU.
REJOICE AND BE GLAD!
YOURS IS THE KIN-DOM OF GOD.
BLEST ARE THEY, WHO SHOW MERCY;
MERCY SHALL BE THEIRS.
BLEST ARE THEY, THE PURE OF HEART;
THEY SHALL SEE GOD.
BLEST ARE THEY, WHO SEEK PEACE;
THEY ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD.
BLEST ARE THEY, WHO SUFFER IN FAITH;
THE GLORY OF GOD IS THEIRS.
REJOICE AND BE GLAD!
BLESSED ARE YOU.
HOLY ARE YOU.
REJOICE AND BE GLAD!
YOURS IS THE KIN-DOM OF GOD.
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-SCRIPTURE-
Excerpts from Matthew 14:3-13 (NIV)
Now Herod had arrested John [the Baptist] and bound him and put him in prison… and had him beheaded… John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
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-THE MESSAGE-
“What to do with Charlie"
Kenny Bishop
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“In the Quiet Curve of Evening (You Are There)”
IN THE QUIET CURVE OF EVENING,
IN THE CLOSING OF THE DAYS,
IN THE MOMENTS OF MY DARKNESS,
YOU ARE THERE.
IN THE RHYTHMS OF MY BREATHING,
IN THE SPACE BETWEEN MY WAYS,
IN THE WEARY TIMES OF SADNESS,
YOU ARE THERE.
YOU ARE THERE. YOU ARE THERE. YOU ARE THERE.
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-JOYS & CONCERNS-
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-PASTORAL PRAYER-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“In the Quiet Curve of Evening (You Are There)”
YOU ARE THERE.
YOU ARE THERE.
YOU ARE THERE.
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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-
“Amazing Grace, My Chains Are Gone”
AMAZING GRACE!
HOW SWEET THE SOUND
THAT SAVED A WRETCH LIKE ME!
I ONCE WAS LOST,
BUT NOW I'M FOUND;
WAS BLIND, BUT NOW I SEE.
'TWAS GRACE THAT TAUGHT MY HEART TO FEAR;
AND GRACE MY FEARS RELIEVED.
HOW PRECIOUS DID THAT GRACE APPEAR
THE HOUR I FIRST BELIEVED.
MY CHAINS ARE GONE,
I'VE BEEN SET FREE.
MY GOD, MY SAVIOR
HAS RESCUED ME.
AND LIKE A FLOOD
GOD’S MERCY REIGNS,
UNENDING LOVE,
AMAZING GRACE.
THE LORD HAS PROMISED GOOD TO ME;
HIS WORD MY HOPE SECURES.
HE WILL MY SHIELD AND PORTION BE
AS LONG AS LIFE ENDURES.
MY CHAINS ARE GONE,
I'VE BEEN SET FREE.
MY GOD, MY SAVIOR
HAS RESCUED ME.
AND LIKE A FLOOD
GOD’S MERCY REIGNS,
UNENDING LOVE,
AMAZING GRACE.
THE EARTH SHALL SOON DISSOLVE LIKE SNOW,
THE SUN FORBEAR TO SHINE.
BUT GOD WHO LOVES ME HERE BELOW,
WILL BE FOREVER MINE,
WILL BE FOREVER MINE,
YOU ARE FOREVER MINE.
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-BLESSING & BENEDICTION-
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-SINGING TOGETHER-
“Amazing Grace, My Chains Are Gone”
MY CHAINS ARE GONE,
I'VE BEEN SET FREE.
MY GOD, MY SAVIOR
HAS RESCUED ME.
AND LIKE A FLOOD
GOD’S MERCY REIGNS,
UNENDING LOVE,
AMAZING GRACE.
. . . . . . . . . .
-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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