Order of Worship, Grafton Community Church, 07-05-26 FINAL
Bill Watson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Grafton Community Church Worship
Time: Meeting – 9:45 a.m. July 05, 2026
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Meeting ID: 235 223 715
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This will make the service more enjoyable for all.
** For those with health concerns, masks and safe social distance are suggested within the sanctuary, especially so, when singing or responding in prayer! Masks are available at the rear of the sanctuary.
Order of Worship, Grafton Community Church, 07-05-26 — Summer Worship — with Holy Communion
Note: Gathering Music will begin at 9:50 with the Prelude to follow
Musician Amy Cann
Gathering Music/Prelude — medley, ending with America/My Country Tis Of Thee
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.
* The Star-Spangled Banner (National Anthem)
O say can you see by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watch’d, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O! say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave?
* 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
We praise your abiding guidance, O God, for you sent us Jesus, our Teacher and Messiah, to model the way of love. We celebrate our inheritance — Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit, and we pray for help, as we seek to grow as disciples of Christ. Amen.
*Response:
O! say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave?
Scripture:
Lamentations 3:22-29
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
"The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him."
The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him.
It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
It is good for one to bear the yoke in youth,
to sit alone in silence when the Lord has imposed it.
Let him bury his face in the dust — there may yet be hope.
2nd Corinthians. 5: 16-20
From now on, we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being!
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation;
that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.
So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God.
*Hymn: #725 “God of The Ages, Whose Almighty Hand”
1 God of the ages, whose almighty hand leads forth in beauty all the starry band
of shining worlds in splendor through the skies, our grateful songs before thy throne arise.
2 Thy love divine hath led us in the past, in this free land with thee our lot is cast;
be thou our ruler, guardian, guide, and stay, thy Word our law, thy paths our chosen way.
3 From war's alarms, from deadly pestilence, be thy strong arm our ever sure defense;
thy true religion in our hearts increase, thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.
4 Refresh thy people on our toilsome way, lead us from night to never-ending day;
fill all our lives with love and grace divine, and glory, laud, and praise be ever thine.
All lyrics © 1995 Chalice Press
Used by Permission. CCLI License
#21383697
Reflection: “God’s New Creations” Pastor C.J. King
Synopsis: We are dual citizens — of the United States and of the kingdom of God. What choices can we make as citizens of this nation that are most aligned with God?
*Hymn #720 “O Beautiful for Spacious Skies” — “America the Beautiful”
1 O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain;
for purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed full grace on thee,
and crown thy good with servanthood from sea to shining sea.
2 O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife,
who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine,
till all success be nobleness, and every gain divine.
3 O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years
thine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God mend thine every flaw,
confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law.
Holy Communion
(Bread is passed)
*Taizé: Bless the Lord, my soul and bless God’s holy name.
Bless the Lord my soul, who leads me into life.
(Wine is passed)
*Taizé: Gloria tibi Domine, Domine.
Gloria a tibi Domine, Domine.
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.)
*Offertory — Finlandia/This Is My Song (722)
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 & 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: — “This Land is Your Land”
See MUSIC NOTES
As the postlude ends, feel free to move about the Sanctuary. Music may continue as you join others for coffee or greet your friends as you exit the Sanctuary. All should feel free to share the peace of this space in the Sanctuary or on Zoom. On Zoom you may unmute your mics and begin virtual coffee hour. (You will temporarily be muted in the Sanctuary.)
In the sanctuary, use appropriate precautions for those with health concerns.*
*Masks are available in the sanctuary for those wishing to use one.
MUSIC NOTES:
This land is your land, this land is my land from California to the New York island,
From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters; this land was made for you and me.
As I was walking that ribbon of highway I saw above me that endless skyway;
I saw below me that golden valley; this land was made for you and me.
I've roamed and rambled and I followed my footsteps to the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts;
And all around me a voice was sounding; this land was made for you and me.
When the sun came shining, and I was strolling, and the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling,
As the fog was lifting a voice was chanting: This land was made for you and me.
As I went walking I saw a sign there, and on the sign it said "No Trespassing."
But on the other side it didn't say nothing. that side was made for you and me.
In the shadow of the steeple I saw my people, by the relief office I seen my people;
As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking is this land made for you and me?
Nobody living can ever stop me, as I go walking that freedom highway;
Nobody living can ever make me turn back this land was made for you and me.
Grafton Prayer List:
Our Planet Earth * Immigrants experiencing or facing detention or deportation in their loneliness and fear *Transgender people and their families *Those enduring times of stress *Those with PTSD & their families *Beloved pets of Grafton *Mary Karam, & the Humes family *Arlene & Ron Carey *Gaelle McLoud *The Rowley family *Carol Bason *Nancy Merrill *Dick Warren *Cecile Fisher Smith *Todd Baker (Pastor Watson’s friend) *Linda Preziosi *Christine Tattersall *Karen Hunt *David Lambert *Irene Rice *Max Brown *Dick Desrochers *Ben Williams (Pastor King’s husband) *Patricia Donatelli *Lorrie Young *Ed Gruelich *Flo & Tim Bosch *Ross Ludeman *The Olsson families. *Candace Damon & the Jacobson family *The Arbuckle family *Christian Rogerson & family *Krista Gay *Lima Leland *Darlene Babbitt (Katherine Gorey’s sister) *Joanne Giel *Peter Howard
Those Who Have Lost Loved Ones
*Irene Rice & family *Family & friends of Liam Parker (Michele Chickering’s son) *Family & friends of Barbara Andrews (Meg Gonzalez’ mom) *Family & friends of Bob Haseltine *Family & friends of Denize Schemm *Family & friends of Helen Lanoie (mother of Andre Lanoie) * Family & friends of Bernard “Pete” Haley *Family & friends of Donna Rice *Family & friends of Galen Pinkham *Family & friends of Susan Lathrop *Family & friends of David James Smith (Cecile Smith’s brother in law) *Family & friends of David Fischmann (partner of Katherine Brown) *Family & friends of Estelle Pieth *Family & friends of Dave Robinson *Family & friends of Debbie Wright *Family & friends of Stephan Fitzsimmons (Caidin Domeracki’s grandfather) *Family & friends of Norm Robertson *Family & friends of Ginger Ludeman *Family & Friends of Lisa Cashetto (Lorrie Young’s sister-in-law) *Family & friends of Diana Toomey *Family & friends of Jim Webb (Angela Moulton’s Father) *Family & friends of Kenneth Dorko (Pastor Watson’s nephew) *Family & friends of Dennis Scharback *Family & friends of Arthur Park *Family & friends of Sophie Field
Extended Care:
*Dottie Royal, Bromley Manor, 2595 Depot St., Manchester, VT 05255
*Addie Hall Vogel. Equinox Village, 49 Maple St. Manchester, VT 05255
*Judy & Chuck Dickison, Equinox Village, 49 Maple St. Manchester, VT 05255
*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
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