https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SsWdTeBvVA47CanwhqGNq5X5yuQCYzD3/view
Above is the link to our recording of worship from Sunday 5/17.
To view the recording copy and paste the link, above, into your browser.
You can also view the recording on our Facebook page: The Grafton Church
Order of Worship, Grafton Community Church, 05-17-26 FINAL
Bill Watson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Grafton Community Church Worship
Time: Meeting – 9:45 a.m. May 17, 2026
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Meeting ID: 235 223 715
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Please mute your computer or phone microphone! Make sure there is a red slash through the microphone icon in the lower left-hand corner of your screen.
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, 05-17-26 Seventh Sunday of Easter & Ascension Day
Note: Gathering Music will begin at 9:50 with the Prelude to follow
Musician Amy Cann
Gathering Music/Prelude — "Sicut Spiritus Ducit" “As the Spirit Leads”
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 #234 “Crown Him with Many Crowns”
1 Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne.
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing of him who died for thee
and hail him as thy matchless King through all eternity.
2 Crown him the Lord of life, who triumphed o'er the grave,
and rose victorious in the strife for those he came to save;
his glories now we sing who died and rose on high,
who died eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.
3 Crown him the Lord of peace, whose power a scepter sways
from pole to pole, that wars may cease, and all be prayer and praise.
His reign shall know no end, and round his pieced feet
fair flowers of paradise extend their fragrance ever sweet.
4 Crown him the Lord of love; behold his hands and side,
those wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified.
All hail, Redeemer, hail! for thou hast died for me;
thy praise and glory shall not fail throughout eternity.
* 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
O God of glory, Your Son Jesus Christ suffered for us and ascended to Your right hand.
Unite us with Christ and each other, in suffering and in joy, by the power of Your Spirit;
that all your children may be drawn into Your bountiful dwelling. Amen.
*Response: (Hymn # 234 Verse 3)
3 Crown him the Lord of peace, whose power a scepter sways
from pole to pole, that wars may cease, and all be prayer and praise.
His reign shall know no end, and round his pieced feet
fair flowers of paradise extend their fragrance ever sweet.
Scripture:
Acts 1: 6-14
So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?"
He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them.
They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away.
When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.
All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.
*Hymn: #91 “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name”
1 All hail the power of Jesus' name! Let angels prostrate fall;
bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all;
bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all.
2 Ye seed of Israel's chosen race, ye ransomed of the fall,
hail him who saves you by his grace, and crown him Lord of all;
hail him who saves you by his grace, and crown him Lord of all.
3 O Sinners, who can ne'er forget the wormwood and the gall,
go spread your trophies at his feet, and crown him Lord of all;
go spread your trophies at his feet, and crown him Lord of all
4 Let every kindred, every tribe, on this terrestrial ball,
to him all majesty ascribe, and crown him Lord of all;
to him all majesty ascribe, and crown him Lord of all.
5 O that with yonder sacred throng we at his feet may fall!
We'll join the everlasting song, and crown him Lord of all;
We'll join the everlasting song, and crown him Lord of all.
Reflection: “Be One with God” Pastor Bill Watson
Synopsis: On this Sunday, as we celebrate Christ Jesus’ ascension into heaven, we note that Christ’s final message to the disciples is, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” Maybe that power is already there for us all, and we are just waiting to recognize the sign. Aren’t those signs constantly there for us, if we accept them?
*Hymn #280 “God Is Here” ©
1 God is here! As we your people meet to offer praise and prayer,
may we find in fuller measure what it is in Christ we share.
Here, as in the world around us, all our varied skills and arts
wait the coming of the Spirit into open minds and hearts.
2 Here are symbols to remind us of our lifelong need of grace;
here are table, fount, and pulpit; here the cross has central place.
Here in honesty of preaching, here in silence, as in speech,
here, in newness and renewal, God the Spirit comes to each.
3 Here our children find a welcome in the Shepherd's flock and fold;
here as bread and wine are taken, Christ sustains us as of old.
Here the servants of the Servant seek in worship to explore
what it means in daily living to believe and to adore.
4 Lord of all, of church and kingdom, in an age of change and doubt,
keep us faithful to the Gospel; help us work your purpose out.
Here, in this day's dedication, all we have to give, receive;
we, who cannot live without you, we adore you! We believe!
All lyrics © 1995 Chalice Press
Used by Permission. CCLI License
#21383697
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 — Hymn# 569 "Jesus, Remember Me” Taizé
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: — “Voluntary on "Mary Magdalene"
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
Full title of postlude lyrics, as given by Carol Winfrey Gillette, 2000:
"A Hymn For Mary Magdalene And Other Misunderstood Disciples"
Mary Magdalene was suffering in her body, mind and soul —
until Jesus met her, offering love that made the wounded whole.
God, may we like Mary meet you and accept your healing grace.
May we be — like Mary — grateful as we serve you in this place.
“Tower of Strength,” the people called her — Christ’s disciple, come what may.
She with other women traveled, funding Christ’s work on the Way.
We are also on a journey sharing in Christ’s ministry.
Make us strong in Christ to serve you with great generosity.
Mary was a weeping witness as she stood there at the cross.
At the tomb, she grieved for Jesus; love had paid a heavy cost.
Three days on, the risen Savior gave her good news to proclaim.
She was first to preach the gospel. May we share it, just the same!
Mary’s one that we’ve lost sight of in our church’s history.
She’s been labeled and made light of; she’s been called a mystery.
May we see her loving witness in these stories we’ve been told;
And may her example help us to be faithful, strong and bold.
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 *Arthur Park *Nancy Merrill *Dick Warren *Cecile Fisher Smith *Dennis Scharback *Todd Baker (Pastor Watson’s friend) *Linda Preziosi *Christine Tattersall *Karen Hunt *David Lambert *Sophie Field *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 *Lima Leland
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)
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
Celebrate the Easter Season
with Grafton Community Church