Sunday Worship Service
June 29, 2025
Prelude: “The Road Home”, Tune: Prospect, adapted by Stephen Paulus (1949-2014) – Charles Calhoun, keyboardist
Greetings
Announcements
Hymn: “Hope of the World”
Opening of the Word
Responsive Invocation: from Amos 5
This is what the Lord says to Israel: “Seek me and live; do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba.
For Gilgal will surely go into exile,
and Bethel will be reduced to nothing.
He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns midnight into dawn and darkens day into night,
who calls for the waters of the sea
and pours them out
over the face of the land—
the Lord is his name.
There are those who hate the one who upholds justice in court and detest the one who tells the truth.
You levy a straw tax on the poor
and impose a tax on their grain.
There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts.
Therefore the prudent keep quiet
in such times,
for the times are evil.
Seek good, not evil, that you may live.
Then the Lord God Almighty
will be with you,
just as you say he is.
Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts.
Perhaps the Lord God Almighty
will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.”
Invitation to Prayer:
O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our maker.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Amen.
O Lord, our heavenly Creator, whose great love holds a forgiveness for all who desire and seek it: we thank thee for thy gracious assurance that thou art always near and ready to forgive. Pardon and deliver us from all our sins; confirm and strengthen us in all goodness and truth, and bring us into everlasting life; for thy mercy’s sake. Amen.
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 and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
O Lord, open thou our lips:
And our mouths shall show forth thy praise.
Praise ye the Lord!
The Lord’s name be praised!
Sung Response: Sanctuary
Lord, prepare me to be sanctuary, pure and holy tried and true.
With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for you.
Scripture Readings: Psalm 16; Acts 2:29-42; Arcana Caelestia, no. 9809 (Swedenborg)
Children’s Message
Solo: “If I Can Dream” Words and Music by W. Earl Brown – Heather Garland
Spiritual Message: Footstool and Enemies – Rev. Dr. Devin Zuber
Silent Meditation
Affirmation of Faith
Great Spirit, Christ, the Compassionate One, Light of the World, You are that which sustains and nurtures our spirit. You draw us closer to Heaven and to each other. Your Divine Love and Wisdom flows into every living soul. You dwell among us and warm every human heart. We acknowledge our need to be fed by your Sacred Spirit, to share in the beauty of life, and to build a Holy City on Earth by giving of ourselves, yet knowing that all that is good and true flows into us from You. Amen.
Prayer of the People/Pastoral Prayer
Invitation to the Offering
Offertory: Elevation, Dom Paul Benoit (1893-1979)
Doxology
Praise God the Source of life and birth
Praise God the Word who came to earth
Praise God the Spirit, holy flame
All glory, honor to God’s name. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication
Hymn: “This is My Song, O God of All the Nations”
Benediction
Closing of the Word
Sung Response: A Holy Hush
A holy hush is in the air as though the Spirit’s essence here has been distilled, and entered all who stand within these sacred walls. The song is sung, the word is read, the lesson heard, the prayer is said; go now on wings of peace unfurled, and share these blessings with the world.
Postlude: Sortie, Léon Boëllmann (1862-97)