August 7, 2022
Sunday Worship
. . . . . . . . . .
-PRELUDE-
"Wonderful Words of Life” – arr. P. Hamm
-ACKNOWLEDGMENT-
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 Indigenous 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-
"I Dream of a Church"
I DREAM OF A CHURCH WHERE EVERYONE IS WELCOME,
I DREAM OF A PLACE WE ALL CAN CALL HOME.
I 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!
-WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS-
-GREETING EACH OTHER-
-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!
-CALL TO WORSHIP-
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
ALL OUR HEARTS IN GRATEFUL PRAISE.
-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 MY 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 THE 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.
-JOYS & CONCERNS-
-SINGING TOGETHER-
"God Come to Us”
GOD COMES TO US ON SUMMER NIGHT,
IN BABY’S BREATH, BY FIRELIGHT,
GOD COMES TO US ON A STAR.
GOD COMES TO US AMIDST OUR FEARS,
UNSPOKEN JOYS, UNENDING TEARS,
GOD COMES TO US WHERE WE ARE.
-SCRIPTURE-
Matthew 15: 21-28 (Modern English Version)
Jesus went… into the regions of Tyre and Sidon. There, a woman of Canaan came out of the same regions and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David. My daughter is severely possessed by a demon.”
But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and begged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”
But He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Then she came and worshipped Him, saying, “Lord, help me.”
But He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s bread and to throw it to dogs.”
She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith. Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
-SERMON-
“It's not fair... thank God!"
Kenny Bishop
-SINGING TOGETHER-
"As We Gather at Your Table"
AS WE GATHER AT YOUR TABLE,
AS WE LISTEN TO YOUR WORD,
HELP US KNOW, O GOD, YOUR PRESENCE;
LET OUR HEARTS AND MINDS BE STIRRED.
NOURISH US WITH SACRED STORY
TILL WE CLAIM IT AS OUR OWN;
TEACH US THROUGH THIS HOLY BANQUET
HOW TO MAKE LOVE’S VICTORY KNOWN.
GRACIOUS SPIRIT, HELP US SUMMON
OTHER GUESTS TO SHARE YOUR FEAST
WHERE TRIUMPHANT LOVE WILL WELCOME
THOSE WHO HAD BEEN LAST AND LEAST.
THERE NO MORE WILL ENVY BLIND US
NOR WILL PRIDE OUR PEACE DESTROY,
AS WE JOIN WITH SAINTS AND ANGELS
TO REPEAT THE SOUNDING JOY.
-COMMUNION-
"Were You There?” – arr. P. Hamm
-OFFERING-
"Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” – J. S. Bach
-SINGING TOGETHER-
“Doxology"
GOD BLESSES US SO WE CAN GIVE;
WITH ONE ANOTHER WE SHOULD LIVE.
GOD BLESSES US WITH EACH NEW DAY.
GOD’S VISION GUIDES AND LEADS OUR WAY.
AMEN.
-THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO SERVE-
-INVITATION TO RESPOND-
-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 US 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, PARENTS, AND THE CHILD,
FRIENDS ON EARTH AND FRIENDS 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.
-BLESSING & BENEDICTION-
-POSTLUDE-
"If My People Will Pray” – J. Owens
. . . . . . . . . .
-SERVING THIS WEEK-
ACCOMPANIST: Brenda Gardiner
LIVESTREAM: Stephen Austin, Mason Bishop, Morgan Hamilton
SCENE DESIGN: Billy Metcalf
SERVICE PREPARATION: Billy Metcalf, Keith Reid, Barry Thompson
SONG LEADER: Chris Prichard
TECH MANAGER: Timmy Smallwood
VIDEO: Dale Hamilton, Billy Metcalf, Michael Privett