https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dJgedhjwnk80Uxnrrgyi0c1HLLMk6xBA/view
Above is the internet link to the recording of worship from Sunday 4/27/2025. Copy the link and place it into your browser if you want to view the recording. As always, the recording is also on our Facebook page: The Grafton Church.
Order of Worship, Grafton Community Church, 04-27-25
Bill Watson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Grafton Community Church Worship
Time: Meeting – 9:45 a.m. April 27, 2025
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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 optional. We recommend care and consideration, especially when singing or responding in prayer!!!
Order of Worship, Grafton Community Church, 04-27-25 — 2nd Sunday of Easter
Prelude (Ken Olsson, Music Minister)
The Strife Is O’er (Lani Smith)
He Lives! (Arr. Ken Olsson)
Song without Words, Op. 85, No. 1 (Felix Mendelssohn)
Breathe On Me, Breath of God (Mark Hayes)
God of Our Lives (arr. Ken Olsson)
Welcome and Announcements (Linda Robertson, Council Chair)
No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!
*Christening of Caidin Carlyle Domeracki — Service is on the last page.
*Please observe a moment of silence; so we may each offer our prayers and praise to Creator, Christ & Holy Spirit.
*Hymn #713 “God of Our Life”
1 God of our life, through all the circling years, we trust in you;
in all the past, through all our hopes and fears, your hand we view.
With each new day, when morning lifts the veil, we own your mercies, Lord, which never fail.
2 God of the past, our times are in your hand; with us abide.
Lead us by faith to hope's true Promised Land; be now our guide.
With you to bless, the darkness shines as light, and faith's fair vision changes into sight.
3 God of the coming years, through paths unknown we follow you;
when we are strong, Lord, leave us not alone; our faith renew.
Be now for us in life our daily bread, our heart's true home when all our years have sped.
* 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 (Chalice Hymnal #252 “Breathe Deeply in Faith,” Soren Kierkegaard)
Teach us, O God, not to torture ourselves, not to make martyrs of ourselves through stifling reflection;
but rather teach us to breathe deeply in faith, through Jesus, our Lord, Amen.
*Response: (Hymn 713, Verse 2)
2 God of the past, our times are in your hand; with us abide.
Lead us by faith to hope's true Promised Land; be now our guide.
With you to bless, the darkness shines as light, and faith's fair vision changes into sight.
Scripture:
John 20: 19-31
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."
After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."
Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not
doubt but believe."
Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"
Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book.
But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
*Hymn #254 “Breathe on Me, Breath of God”
1 Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew,
that I may love what thou dost love, and do what thou wouldst do.
2 Breathe on me, Breath of God, until my heart is pure,
until with thee I will one will to do and to endure.
3 Breathe on me, Breath of God, till I am wholly thine,
until this earthly part of me glows with thy fire divine.
4 Breathe on me, Breath of God, so shall I never die,
but live with thee the perfect life of thine eternity.
Reflection: “Faith Practice” Pastor C.J. King
Synopsis: Like Thomas, doubt may come easier to us than faith. Yes, faith takes practice.
*Hymn #226 “He Lives!” ©
1 I serve a risen Savior, he’s in the world today; I know that he is living, whatever others say.
I see his hand of mercy, I hear his voice of cheer, And just the time I need him, he’s always near.
[Refrain:]
He lives, he lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, he lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know he lives? He lives within my heart.
2 In all the world around me I see his loving care, and tho’ my heart grows weary, I never will despair.
I know that he is leading through all the stormy blast; the day of his appearing will come at last. [Refrain]
3 Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!
The hope of all who seek him, the help of all who find; none other is so loving, so good and kind. [Refrain]
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: (Ken Olsson, Music Minister)
Peaceful Piano #7 (Mark Hayes)
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: (Ken Olsson, Music Minister)
Jesus Christ is Risen Today (Barbara Boertje)
Please greet your neighbors on Zoom or at a “Safe Social Distance” in the sanctuary, as the postlude ends. Unmute your mikes, share greetings and the peace of this virtual space.
Grafton Prayer List:
Our Planet Earth * Immigrants experiencing or facing detention or deportation in their loneliness and fear *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 *Arthur Park *Michael Brown (Matt Brown’s brother) *Pastor Harold Noyes *Sylven Lang *Kenny King (Pastor King’s brother) *Norm Robertson *Robert Johnson (Ken Olsson’s father-in-law) *Nancy Merrill *Dick Warren *Dave Robinson *Michelle Dufort *Joyce Olsson (Ken’s mom) *Cecile Fisher Smith *Dennis Scharback *Todd Baker (Pastor Watson’s friend) *Linda Preziosi *Paul Nolan (Steve Nolan’s cousin) *Debbie Wright *Christine Tattersall *Gayle Arbuckle *JoAnn Supple (Sherry Brown’s mother) *Henry Feder *Jason Roger (Wren’s tenant & friend) *Jeremiah Olmas (Mary Feder’s friend’s grandson) *Luann King, (Pastor King’s stepmother) *Jessica Tragellis (Dear Nolan Friend) *Karen Knight
Those Who Have Lost Loved Ones
*Irene Rice & family *Family & friends of Bill Brown *Family & friends of Luann Ward *Family & friends of Helene Delaney (Steven Humes’ mother-in-law) *Family & friends of Ron Metzger (Pastor Watson’s cousin) *Family & friends of Simon Kimber (Christine Tattersall’s brother-in-law) *Family & friends of Peggy O’Keefe Lafave *Family & friends of Liam Parker (Michele Chickering’s son) *Family & friends of Jerry Goldlust (Christine Tattersall’s close friend) *Family & friends of Bob Wright *Family & friends of Barbara Andrews (Meg Gonzalez’ mom) *Family & friends of Bob Haseltine *Family & friends of Donald F.M. Bolton *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 Clint Lee *Family & friends of Susan Lathrop *Family & friends of David James Smith (Cecile Smith’s brother in law)
Extended Care:
*Dottie Royal, Bromley Manor, 2595 Depot St., Manchester, VT 05255
*Rev. Catherine Cadieux, Sterling House, 33 Atkinson Street, Bellows Falls VT 05101
*Estelle Pieth, Crescent Manor, 312 Crescent Blvd, Bennington, VT 05201
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
A Ceremony of Holy Baptism
for
Caidin Carlyle Domeracki,
April 17, 2025
Parents: Christopher Domeracki and Miranda Domeracki
God Parents: Amanda-Hope Domeracki and Robert Cole
** Indicates Congregational Response
Pastor Bill Watson:
Caidin from the moment of your birth you were welcomed into the family of our Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit. What we do here today, merely affirms your belief and our faith that you are a child of God and more particularly you are a member of Christ’s Church wherever you may go in life.
Do you understand that?
Do the parents and godparents of Caidin affirm that?
Does the congregation assembled here, at Grafton Community Church, affirm and welcome Caidin into our family with Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit?
** We all do!
Pastor C.J. King:
At this time, let us give thanks for the gift of water that sustains and cleanses all life on the portion of God’s Creation, which we call earth.
May the Holy Spirit move over this water, as she did at Creation and bless it for our purpose today. That it may mark Caidin with the love You offer all Your children — no matter their age — forever.
May we all, at this time, share our belief, faith and hope with Caidin:
**We welcome you with joy, and we celebrate your life, Caidin. We promise you our prayers, and
we promise to grow with you in love. By the power of the Holy Spirit, may our hearts be connected to
one another by God’s love for all, our love for God and for each other.
Pastor Watson:
Caidin, I baptize you now, with this consecrated water, in the name of Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit.
Please join me in prayer:
** God of love everlasting, we thank you for the gift of life for Caidin Carlyle Domeracki. May we be reflections for him of your love, your grace, your forgiveness and your acceptance; so that, he may know that he is truly loved. May the light of Christ guide him now and forevermore. In the names of Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit we pray. Amen.