Order of Worship
July 6th, 2025
10:00 AM
*If you are able, please stand.
Prelude: “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” Arr. Jane Linker
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
MISSION STATEMENT: (Let us say our Mission Statement together)
“To welcome and inspire All through faith, love, and fellowship according to Christ’s example.”
Introit: “I’m Gonna Eat at the Welcome Table” Arr. Carl Ditson
*Call to Worship (Responsive)
Leader: Even in the times of darkness, our God surrounds us with help and hope.
People: Our spirits and voices shall continually praise God.
Leader: Though our hearts ache and war is abounding in the world, God is with us.
People: Help us, Triune God, to see and feel your presence with us.
Leader: Let our hearts be open to the Spirit so that we can find wisdom without confusion and fear.
People: Let us offer our praise to God who heals and redeems our lives. AMEN.
*GATHERING HYMN: “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” #85
PRAYER OF INVOCATION: God of unexpected mercies and fierce challenges, it can be disorienting to be your people. You turn our mourning into dancing, then you send us forth like lambs into the midst of wolves. You turn our weeping into shouts of joy, then you charge us to seek the welfare of those who have abused and betrayed us. You turn our scarcity into overflowing abundance, then you instruct us to leave it all behind and seek those who have gone astray. Help us question our deeply held assumptions and challenge our unconscious convictions. Grant us the courage to speak Christ’s word of peace and to share Christ’s word of comfort: “God has come near.” Amen.
Let us pray as Christ taught us to pray. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen
STATEMENT OF FAITH: We believe in God known to us in three persons: Creator of all, resurrected Christ, and the Holy Spirit, who guides and brings about the creative and redemptive work of God’s love in the world.
We believe that each person is unique and valuable.
We believe that we are called to welcome each person who is on a
spiritual journey, no matter who they are or where they are on that
journey.
We believe that the persistent search for God produces an authentic
relationship with God, one that engenders love, strengthens faith,
dissolves guilt, and gives life purpose and direction.
We believe we are a people of possibility.
We believe we have the breathing room to explore and to hear our call. We believe that God is still speaking…
*SERMON HYMN: “O Beautiful for Spacious Skies” # 720
WORD OF GOD: Luke 10: 1-11, 16-20 (Pew Bible pp. 901-902)
10 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. 2 He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go on your way; I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ 6 And if a person of peace is there, your peace will rest on that person, but if not, it will return to you. 7 Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9 cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’
16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” 18 He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19 Indeed, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Sermon Title: “God Has Come Near” Rev. Norman Michaud
COMMUNION HYMN: “All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly” #419 (verse 3)
SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION
One: Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. You who come to me shall not hunger; you who believe in me shall never thirst.”
All: In company with all who hunger for spiritual food, we come to this table to know the risen Christ in the sharing of this life-giving bread.
One: You need not be a member of this church or any church to partake of this spiritual food. All you need be is hungry.
Communion Prayer: (Unison)
All: Eternal God, who created the heavens and the earth, giving breath to every living thing, we thank you for the gifts of creation and for the gift of life itself. We thank You for making us in your image, for forgiving us when we act as though you have no claim on us, and for keeping us in your steadfast care. Praise you for Christ’s birth, life, death, and resurrection and for calling forth your church for its mission.
One: We remember that on the night of betrayal and desertion, Jesus took bread, gave you thanks, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, saying, “This is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, Jesus took the cup after supper, saying: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
All: Bless this bread and this cup. Bless all of us in our eating and drinking at this table, that our eyes may be opened and we may recognize the risen Christ in our midst, in each other, and in all for whom Christ lived and died. Amen.
One: Through the broken bread we remember the body of Christ.”
Through the cup of blessing, we remember in the new life Christ gives.
The gifts of God for the people of God. Come, for all things are ready.
Sharing of the Elements: (One) Eat and drink in remembrance of Christ.
Prayer of Thanksgiving (Unison)
Holy one, you gave us this day our daily bread and nourished us with Christ’s presence. Through one loaf and cup, you have made us one, with you and each other. By your grace and love, feed the world with this bread. Let us remember the joy of your presence with the fruit of the vine. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
JOYS AND CONCERNS OF THE PEOPLE: (Please share by phone, text, or email at [email protected] or 603-812-1161 before the service.)
CALL TO PRAYER:
Pastor: May God be with you.
People: And also with you.
Silent Prayer
Pastoral Prayer:
Patient and Loving God, we have just come through a national holiday in which we have celebrated freedom and independence. Yet you have called us to remember that it is you who gives true independence and hope in your healing and restoring love. Free us from our fears and trepidation. Hear our joys shared with you, spoken and unspoken. Open our hearts to receive your healing comfort and hope. Walk with us and strengthen us. Give us spirits of eagerness to serve and witness to your love. As we have brought names of those near and dear to us to this time of worship, asking your mercies and blessings. Help us to remember that we stand in need of those blessings as well. Help us to receive the blessings and to use the gifts which we have been given to serve you through our prayer and actions. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. AMEN.
Choral Response: “For Each Life We Thank You” H. Glen Lanier/Amos Pilsbury
CALL TO GIVING: Creator and sustainer of all, remind us of our many sisters and brothers, your many children, who need hope and care. Use our gifts to reach others with the story of your great love for our world. Amen.
Offertory Music for Inspiration: “Brethren, We Have Met to Worship” Faye Lopez
Doxology: (Tune: Old Hundredth) #46
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*Prayer of Dedication: (Unison) Bountiful God, the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. May the offerings we bring before you this day be a sign of our commitment to labor in your vineyard. May the gifts we share with the world reflect our commitment to bring your kingdom here on earth, as it is in heaven. Amen.
*HYMN OF DEPARTURE: “Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ” # 422
Benediction: In the spirit of Christ, bear one another’s burdens; correct one another with gentleness; and heal one another with signs of peace. Rejoice as you leave this place, for if you persevere in doing what is right, you will reap a harvest of joy, hope, and love. Go with the peace of God.
Postlude: “Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory” Arr. Janet Linker