https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X8FVfC5Rh7VnX_oDqL1utw756L1VjzM6/view
Above is the link to our recording of worship from Sunday May 5th. Copy the link and place it in your browser if you’d like to view the recording.
Order of Worship, Grafton Community Church, 05-05-24
Bill Watson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Grafton Community Church Worship
Time: Meeting – 9:45 a.m. May 05, 2024
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Meeting ID: 235 223 715
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This will make the service more enjoyable for all.
**In the sanctuary, masks and a safe social distance are suggested, especially when singing or responding in prayer!!!
Order of Worship, Grafton Community Church, 05-0524, Sixth Sunday of Easter with Holy Communion
Prelude
(After entering Zoom or the Sanctuary, please use mute or observe silence to allow all to prepare for worship. Thank you & Blessings)
My Jesus, I Love Thee (Mark Hayes)
Jesus Loves Me (Joel Raney)
3rd Gymnopédie (Erik Satie)
Blest Be the Tide That Binds (Ron Mallory)
All Creatures of Our God and King (Larry Shackley)
Welcome and Announcements (Linda Robertson, Council Chair)
No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!
*Please observe a moment of silence; so we may each offer our prayers and praise to Creator, Christ & Holy Spirit.
*Hymn #22 “All Creatures of Our God and King”
1 All creatures of our God and King, lift up your voice and with us sing
Alleluia, Alleluia!
O burning sun with golden beam, O silver moon with softer gleam:
[Refrain]
O praise God, O praise God, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
2 O rushing wind with voice so strong, you clouds that sail in heav'n along,
O praise God, Alleluia!
O rising morn, in praise rejoice, you lights of evening find a voice:
[Refrain]
3 O flowing water, pure and clear, make music for your God to hear,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
O blazing fire who lights the night, providing warmth, enhancing sight,
[Refrain]
O praise God, O praise God, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
4 And all forgiven tender hearts, forgiving others, take your part,
sing praises, alleluia!
You who long pain and sorrow bear, praise God, who knows your ev'ry care.
[Refrain]
* Call to Worship (from “Prayers for the World & Its People,” Iona Abbey Worship Book)
One: Believing that God made and loves the world,
Many: we gather.
One: That it may be reshaped to fulfill God’s purposes,
Many: we pray.
One: To seek a wisdom deeper than our own thinking,
Many: we listen.
One: To honor God who gave us voice,
Many: we worship.
* Unison Prayer )
Creator of the universe, you made the world in beauty, and restore all things in glory through the victory of Christ Jesus over death and suffering. We pray that, wherever your creation is still disfigured by poverty, sickness, selfishness, war and greed, a renewed creation in Christ Jesus may appear in justice, love, and peace, by the power of Holy Spirit in us and to the glory of your Name. Amen.
* Response Hymn #218 “Thine Is the Glory” (verse2)
Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
let the church with gladness hymns of triumph sing.
for the Lord now liveth; death hath lost its sting.
[Refrain:]
Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son,
endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.
Scripture:
John 15: 9-17
As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.
I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.
You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.
I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.
*Hymn #349 “My Jesus, I Love Thee”
1 My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine,
for thee all the follies of sin I resign;
my gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou;
if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.
2 I love thee because thou hast first loved me,
and purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree;
I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow;
if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.
3 In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I'll ever adore thee in heaven so bright;
I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow:
if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.
Reflection: “ Where Is Joy? ” Pastor Bill Watson
Synopsis: : Jesus promises his followers complete joy in today’s Gospel reading. The promise is made as the Christ prepares his followers, who have trusted in him and believed in him, to be ready for his suffering, death and ultimate departure from them. Could they find joy in that? Can we find joy in the violence, hate and distrust of today’s world? Maybe we will, trusting that our real joy is in the service of love we are asked to show on our God’s behalf.
*Hymn #433 “Blest Be the Tide that Binds”
Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love:
the fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.
2 When we are called to part,
it gives us inward pain;
but we shall still be joined in heart,
and hope to meet again.
All lyrics © 1995 Chalice Press
Used by Permission. CCLI License #21383697
Holy Communion
(Music Minister Ken Olsson)
Let Us Break Bread Together (Mark Hayes)
Offerings of the People
You can present your offering for the work of Grafton Community Church, using the “Donate Now” button on our Facebook page at The Grafton Church, or on our web site www.graftoncommunitychurch.org (The button may actually say “Shop Now,” but it has the same function. You will not run afoul of Martin Luther’s edicts on indulgences.)
Offertory: (Music Minster Ken Olsson)
Interlude (James Pethel)
Response: Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise God all creatures here below – Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise God above the source of gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts.
Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit – Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Offertory Prayer of Dedication
The Benediction & Ceremony of the Bells
Let us go forth today in JOY for the sacrifice Christ made that we might live our lives in God’s GRACE.
And, let us on this Sunday, join with hundreds of other churches across this nation to mark the sacrifices made by firefighters and EMS personnel with their lives in the past year.
In the early days of firefighting, municipal firefighters were summoned to calls by a telegraph system triggered by box alarms on almost every street corner. The bells would ring out 1-2 — 1-2-3 — 1 — and that would denote a specific intersection. When fire companies returned from an alarm it was, again, signified by bell signals.
If a firefighter’s life was lost, the bells tolled in three groups of five and everyone in the fire service, within hearing of the bell signal bowed their heads in memory.
Today, this fire bell tolls out that 5-5-5 bell pattern in memory of 226 firefighters and EMS personnel who gave their lives in service.
Please bow your heads in memory of their sacrifice made in order that “God’s will be done” here on earth.
(Bell tolls 5-5-5)
And now, let us conclude our service with the prayer Christ Jesus taught us:
The Lord's Prayer
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, the power, and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen.
Postlude:
Rigaudon (Andre Campra)
Please greet your neighbors on Zoom or at a “Safe Social Distance” in the sanctuary, as the postlude ends. On Zoom unmute your mikes, share greetings and the peace of this virtual space.
Masks are optional but recommended in the sanctuary!
Grafton Prayer List:
Our Planet Earth *Those with PTSD & their families *Those enduring times of stress * *Beloved pets of Grafton *Mary Karam, & the Humes family *Arlene & Ron Carey *Gaelle McLoud *Ellis Miller * Pat Mack *The Rowley family *Carol Bason *Phil Atwood *Bob Haseltine & the Haseltine families *Arthur Park *Bill Brown *Galen Pinkham *Kate Gravelle *Matt Brown *Michael Brown (Matt Brown’s brother) *Pastor Harold Noyes *Michelle Dufort *Andrea Turner *Sylven Lang *Jane Metcalf (Sherry Brown’s Aunt) *Kenny King (Pastor King’s brother) *Norm Robertson *Robert Johnson (Ken Olsson’s father-in-law) *Nancy Merrill *Ann Royal Beaulne *Dick Warren *Amy Phillips *Michelle Dolloph *Dave Robinson *Michelle Dufort *Joyce Olsson (Ken’s mom) *Mark Rushton *Cecile Fisher Smith *Pam & Ray Robinson *Meg Gonzalez *Dennis Scharback
Those Who Have Lost Loved Ones
*Irene Rice & family *Family & friends of Arol Ward *Family & friends of Jonathan Miller *Family and friends of Joe Valente *Family & friends of Mary Clare Ahern (Maryanne Donald’s mother) *Family & friends of Eric Lambert *Family & friends of Allison Forney (Mary Ann & Bill Kearns’ daughter) *Family & friends of Jerry Smith *Family & friends of Len Gravelle *Family & friends of Evan McCulloch Lovell *Family & friends of Henry Rounds *Family & friends of Stuart Archambault *Family & friends of Tom Rutkowski *Family & friends of Chuck Woodman *Family & friends of Dennis Hunt *Family & friends of Jim Chickering *Family & friends of Ray Durand *Family & friends of Gloria Gold (Donna Alexander’s mother) *Family & friends of Rev. Allen Humes *Family and friends of Richard Geist (Franklin Geist’s- brother) *Family & Friends of Marion Tenney *Family and friends of Patricia Hastings (Nelson Cooley’s sister.) *Family & friends of Philip Rowley *Family & friends of Doug Wright *Family & friends of Cathy Hallock *Family & friends of Michelle Brown (sister of Carol Wright) *Family & friends of Stan Mack *Family & friends of Frank Ryan *Family & friends of Peter Preziosi *Family & friends of Charles “Tim” Goodwin (Kirk’s brother) *Family & friends of Raymond Gregory
Extended Care:
*Denize Schemm, Vermont Veterans’ Home, Cardinal Point, 325 North St., Bennington, VT 05201
*Dottie Royal, Bromley Manor, 2595 Depot St., Manchester, VT 05255
*Luann Ward, Gill Odd Fellows Home, 18 Gill Terrace, Ludlow VT 05149
*Rev. Catherine Cadieux, Sterling House, 33 Atkinson Street, Bellows Falls VT 05101
Grafton Community Church, 55 Main Street, PO Box 158, Grafton, VT, 05146, United States
(802) 843-2346 Graftonchurch@gmail.com
Our Website: www.graftoncommunitychurch.org
On Facebook: The Grafton Church
Alleluia! Celebrate Easter!
with Grafton Community Church