https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yCsFWKge1Dige63jo3N2LXeVhodhdWvS/view
Above is the link to our recording of worship from Sunday.
Copy the link and place it into your browser so you can view the recording.
Also available on our Facebook page “The Grafton Church’
Order of Worship, Grafton Community Church, 09-27-26 FINAL
Bill Watson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Grafton Community Church Worship
Time: Meeting – 9:45 a.m. September 27 2026
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*Password: 099540
*You may need to enter this to join. Write it down; so, you have it when/if your computer/phone asks you to enter it. It may keep you out of the “waiting room.”
Meeting ID: 235 223 715
It helps to download the FREE Zoom app ahead of time.
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, 09-27-2026 — Autumn Worship
Note: Gathering Music will begin at 9:50 with the Prelude to follow
Musician Amy Cann
Gathering Music/Prelude —
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 #16 “Come Thou Font of Every Blessing
1 Come, thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it, mount of thy redeeming love.
2 Here I raise to thee an altar; hither by thy help I've come;
and I hope, by thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God;
he, to rescue me from danger, interposed his precious blood.
3 O to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be!
Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, how I feel it, prone to leave the God I love;
here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.
All lyrics © 1995 Chalice Press
Used by Permission. CCLI License
#21383697
* 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, Christ and Holy Spirit; You receive and bless all who come to You in humility.
We pray that You show us our false pride, that we may repent of all conceit and arrogance.
May we in caring for one another, express our love for You, Christ Jesus and the Spirit to the
glory of Your names. Amen!
*Response: (Hymn #16, Verse2)
Here we raise to thee an altar; hither by thy help we've come;
and I we hope, by thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought us when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God;
he, to rescue us from danger, interposed his precious blood.
Scripture:
Philippians 2:1-8
If, then, there is any comfort in Christ, any consolation from love, any partnership in the Spirit, any tender affection and sympathy,
make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.
Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others.
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped,
but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, assuming human likeness. And being found in appearance as a human,
he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death-- even death on a cross.
Matthew 21: 23–32
When [Jesus] entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?"
Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things.
Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" And they argued with one another, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why, then, did you not believe him?'
But if we say, 'Of human origin,' we are afraid of the crowd, for all regard John as a prophet."
So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
"What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.'
He answered, 'I will not,' but later he changed his mind and went.
The father went to the second and said the same, and he answered, 'I go, sir,' but he did not go.
Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you; the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.
For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him, and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.
*Hymn #92 “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,
crown him, crown him, crown him, 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, crown him, crown him, crown him,
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, crown him, crown him, crown him,
and crown him Lord of all!
4 Let every kindred, every tribe, on this terrestrial ball,
to him all majesty ascribe,
and crown him, crown him, crown him, crown him,
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, crown him, crown him, crown him,
and crown him Lord of all!
Reflection: “Not What We Believe” Pastor Bill Watson
Synopsis: When we challenge God’s authority, be it our faith or someone else’s, we can expect to be challenged in return. That’s what happens when Jesus is confronted by the Judaic Temple authorities. One lesson from this scripture might be: When we truly listen for it in others, we might truly experience God’s word.
*Hymn #200 “What Wondrous Love Is This”
1 What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul, what wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul!
2 When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down, when I was sinking down, sinking down;
when I was sinking down beneath God's righteous frown, Christ laid aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside his crown for my soul!
3 To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing, to God and to the Lamb I will sing!
To God and to the Lamb, who is the great "I AM," while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
while millions join the theme, I will sing!
4 And when from death I'm free, I'll sing on, I'll sing on, and when from death I'm free, I'll sing on!
And when from death I'm free, I'll sing and joyful be, and through eternity I'll sing on, I'll sing on,
and through eternity I'll sing on!
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.)
Special Music — “Summer Ended, Harvest O’er”
Grafton Community Church Choir
*Offertory — Summer Ended, Harvest O’er — music continues during collection
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: —
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.
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 *Frances Alford *Conrad Delia
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 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 *Family & friends of Susan Hadden *Family & friends of Ross & Ginger Ludeman *Family & friends of Christine Kent (daughter of Jean & Galen Johnson)
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, Vernon Green Nursing Home, 61 Greenway Dr. Vernon, VT 05354
*Conrad Delia, Charles Meadows, 125 Dover Rd. Millis, MA 02054
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
Realize Our Hope for Redemption
with Grafton Community Church
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yCsFWKge1Dige63jo3N2LXeVhodhdWvS/view
Above is the link to our recording of worship from Sunday 9/27/26.
Copy the link above and place it into your browser so you can view the recording.
Recordings are also available on our Facebook page ‘The Grafton Church’