
ORIENT CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, U.C.C.
May 24, 2020 – Posted on YouTube
Memorial Day and Ascension Sunday
Prelude
As you prepare for this morning’s service, you are invited to click below and listen to “Love is My Religion” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5Wk-7-bLRM
Welcome
No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.
Call to Worship
Come all God’s people! Let us gather to praise our Mighty God!
With joy we celebrate and give thanks for God’s faithfulness.
Come all God’s people! Let us gather to sing to our Glorious God!
With joy, and with all creation, we celebrate the powers of our King.
Come all God’s people! Let us gather to worship and honor God!
With joy we celebrate the wonderful deeds of our God and King,
and in reverent awe, we bow in worship and praise of our God. Amen
Let us continue to worship together.
based on Psalm 46 and Psalm 93
© 2012 Joan Stott – “The Timeless Psalms” RCL Psalm Year B, used with permission.
Hymn I Will Sing of Your Love, Love, Love Christopher Grundy
Prayer of the Day
Gracious God, on this Memorial Day, we pray for those who courageously laid down their lives for the cause of freedom. May the examples of their sacrifice inspire in us the selfless love of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Bless the families of our fallen troops, and fill their homes and their lives with Your strength and peace.
In union with people of goodwill of every nation, embolden us to answer the call to work for peace and justice, and thus, seek an end to violence and conflict around the globe.
We ask this through Your name.
– Author Unknown from Xavier University website
Sharing with the Young at Heart
A Few Things…
(Have your heart stone and candle ready for use.)
Hymn Lord of all Hopefulness (NBA UK)
Time of Silence
Pastoral Prayer and 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.
Congregational Response Hear Our Prayer, O Lord (SCM)
Hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord.
Incline Thine ear to us, and grant us Thy peace. Amen.
Offering Sentences
Breaking Open the Word with Scripture
Ephesians 1:15-23
Since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, this is the reason that I don’t stop giving thanks to God for you when I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Sovereign of glory, will give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation that makes God known to you. I pray that the eyes of your heart will have enough light to see what is the hope of God’s call, what is the richness of God’s glorious inheritance among believers, and what is the overwhelming greatness of God’s power that is working among us believers. This power is conferred by the energy of God’s powerful strength. God’s power was at work in Christ when God raised him from the dead and sat him at God’s right side in the heavens, far above every ruler and authority and power and angelic power, any power that might be named not only now but in the future. God put everything under Christ’s feet and made him head of everything in the church, which is his body. His body, the church, is the fullness of Christ, who fills everything in every way.
Luke 24:44-53
Jesus said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law from Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. He said to them, “This is what is written: the Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and a change of heart and life for the forgiveness of sins must be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. Look, I’m sending to you what my [Abba, God] promised, but you are to stay in the city until you have been furnished with heavenly power.”
He led them out as far as Bethany, where he lifted his hands and blessed them. As he blessed them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. They worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem overwhelmed with joy. And they were continuously in the temple praising God.
Reflection “Open The Eyes Of My Heart” Rev. Mary Larson
Hymn Lord the Light of Your Love is Shining (NBA UK)
(Shine, Jesus, Shine)
Benediction
Congregational Response: God Be With You (SCM)
God be with you till we meet again. Loving counsels guide, uphold you,
With a shepherd’s care enfold you. God be with you till we meet again.
Postlude See There Is a Joy in Heaven (SCM)
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With Thanks:
This series is adapted from www.worshipdesignstudio.com/series by Marcia McFee
(NBA UK) Thanks to Northern Baptist Association UK for their permission to use their music and videos:
Lord of all Hopefulness
Lord the Light of Your Love is Shining (Shine, Jesus, Shine)
Convergence
I will Sing of Your Love, Love, Love Christopher Gundy
(SCM) Thanks to Small Church Music for their permission to use their music:
Hear Our Prayer, O Lord
God Be With You
See There Is a Joy in Heaven
Prayer Concerns: Bob & Leslie Black, Pete Cavallo, Dr. Caroline Gatewood, Liam Goldstein-Cross, Carole Katz, Georgianna Lanza, Diana Latham, Paula Long, Thelma Loper, Carole Miller, Matt Rolle, Sally Tomlinson, Susan Utz, and Carrie Winter; our country and its leaders; our Church; Wading River Congregational Church; the members of our Armed Forces, firefighters, EMTs, those engaged in law enforcement, and people affected by war, hurricanes, and other disasters; those who persevere to provide essential services for us all, the healthcare workers and medical staff on the front lines in this fight against Covid-19, the people of the world who have contracted this new disease, those who have lost the fight, their families and friends, and all who are emotionally isolated through our social distancing efforts to reduce the potential tragedy.
MISSION STATEMENT
Our Church seeks to be faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ by representing Him to our Church family, the Orient community, and the world. We will accomplish this by welcoming all to our membership, by offering worship and learning opportunities for all ages, and by proclaiming and demonstrating God’s love through our interactions with people everywhere. We will support these intentions by providing thought-provoking and challenging worship, celebration of the Sacraments, outreach opportunities, inspiring music, a comprehensive Christian education experience, and responsible and committed stewardship, all within a framework of local Church governance that is responsive to the entire membership.
OPEN AND AFFIRMING STATEMENT
We are an open Church, affirming the dignity and worth of every person as created in the image of God. We welcome into our fellowship and membership persons of every race, language, age, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, economic circumstance, marital status, and faith background, and we invite all people to share and participate fully in the life and ministry of Orient Congregational Church. Adopted April 10, 2005
Announcements
Social Media Updates
OCC website: The church’s website is at www.OrientCongregational.org. Please go to it; check it out; explore the many pages; and let us know what you think. Do you have any suggestions to improve it? Contact Cheryl at cak2705@optonline.net.
Facebook: Claire Smith posts several times a week to our Facebook page. The links for Sunday services, UCC information, and announcements can be found there. If you have photos of church events and can share them with us that would be most helpful.
Don’t Forget Your Pledges and Your Mission Support
Your church continues to need your support. We may not be worshipping in the sanctuary or holding meetings in the Van Tuyl Memorial Hall, but the building and property need care and maintenance; the utility bills continue to come in; the staff continues to work, although either at home or alone in the office.
Mission ministry continues. With the cutbacks, unemployment, and simple uncertainty of global economies, organizations that count on donations find themselves in greater need than ever. Contributions are dwindling while the needs of the people they serve increase. Support our Wider Missions Committee’ s work.
We traditionally collect the Church World Service offerings for Blankets and Tools on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Your donations may be dropped off in the mailbox outside Memorial Hall, mailed to PO Box 425, Orient, NY 11957, or sent via PayPal. Check out the new website for donating via PayPal.
Another reminder, you can give to Orient Congregational Church while shopping online. Remember to use Goodsearch.com and Goodshop.com; simply choose OCC as the recipient, and look for your vendor in their list.
Amazon no longer gives donations to worthy organizations through Goodshop. You now need to log on through Amazon Smile which is at smile.amazon.com. Once you choose OCC as the recipient, logging on this way will send your church a small percentage of your purchase. Every little bit helps.
Social Distancing — Staying at Home
As you practice social distancing, please be mindful of others. Reach out to those who live alone; keep in touch with your neighbors. Pray for the health care workers and the emergency response teams who risk their lives by not remaining at a safe distance. Thank the people whose role in life is considered essential and who therefore are still on the front lines doing their duty and performing their jobs. Pray for God’s children of all lands and races.
Fellowship Goes On
Watch for an email soon inviting you to join the church’s socially-distanced Building and Grounds Workday. Come join the fellowship of working together to care for our church home.
Fellowship is good for the soul and is just plain FUN! Join the weekly Virtual Coffee Hours at noon on Sundays; come and go as you are able. Watch for Diane’s email invitation with the link and the telephone numbers (your choice of which to use). If you are not receiving these invitations, please contact Diane Johnson at DIJohnson970@gmail.com and give her your email.
Don’t Hesitate to Ask for Help
If there is anything you need, please don’t hesitate to contact Cheryl [cak2705@optonline.net] or Diane [dijohnson970@gmail.com]. There are volunteers available to assist you. Cheryl and Diane are also in contact with Drianne Benner of The Orient Association and are staying informed about the Corona virus situation and available services. They promise to maintain confidentiality when requested.
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