ORIENT CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, U.C.C. July 19, 2020 – Posted on YouTube
No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.
Call to Worship
This is the day that the Lord has made.
On this day, we gather with thanksgiving in our hearts, for God’s love is ever constant in our lives.
This is the day that the Lord has made.
On this day, we gather with praise on our lips, for grace has been poured into our lives.
This is the day that the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it! AMEN
Prayer of the Day
Dearest Jesus, come and sit with us today. Show us the lies that are still embedded in the soul of America’s consciousness. Unmask the untruths we have made our best friends. For they seek our destruction. And we are being destroyed, Lord. Reveal the ways the lies have distorted and destroyed our relationships. They break your shalom . . . daily. Jesus, give us courage to embrace the truth about ourselves and you and our world. Truth: We are all made in your image. Truth: You are God; we are not.
And Jesus, give us faith to believe: Redemption of people, relationships, communities and our nation is possible! Give us faith enough to renounce the lies and tear down the walls that separate us with our hands, with our feet, and with our voices. Amen.
Hymn #86 [see page 5] Great Is Thy Faithfulness FAITHFULNESS
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
Hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord.
Incline Thine ear to us, and grant us Thy peace. Amen.
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Gift of Music: My Faith Has Found a Resting Place / The Solid Rock
Arranged by Brant Adams
LANDAS SOLID ROCK
NRSV
Colin Van Tuyl, trumpet
Scripture Readings Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24
O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away.
You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it.
Where can I go from your spirit?
Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning
and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night,” even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is as bright as the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my thoughts.
See if there is any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Romans 8:12-25
Karen Haley, piano
So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of
NRSV
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adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Sermon
Hymn #640 [see page 6] Benediction
Congregational Response:
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.
NRSV New Revised Standard Version
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; The NY Conference of the UCC; 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.
A Faith for Times Like These Rev. Valerie Ross Leaning on the Everlasting Arms SHOWALTER
God Be With You
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Announcements
Birthday Blessings
Happy Birthday to Paula W. Long who celebrates on July 21, and to Betty Capon who celebrates on July 24. May God bless you abundantly on your birthday, Paula and Betty!
Welcome, Rev. Valerie Ross
This morning, we welcome Rev. Valerie Ross to the pulpit. The Reverend Valerie Anne Ross is currently the pastor of Nazarene Congregational United Church of Christ in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn, NY. Rev. Ross earned the Master of Divinity and Master of Sacred Theology from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, and is currently a Doctor of Ministry candidate at Hartford Seminary with a focus in Church Renewal and Church Growth through the lens of Religion as a Social Phenomenon: the Sociological Study of Religion.
Plans for the Sanctuary Entrance
Members of the Church Council met with Sherry Thomas this week for a consultation about the sanctuary entrance. Soon work will begin; the platform at the entrance will be raised. The
front walk from the street will have two steps up to the new elevation.
The brick walkways on either side will be taken up and securely reset so that they come to the new level. The step into the building will thus be reduced to about four inches, instead of the current seven plus inches. When we return to worship within our beautiful sanctuary, the entranceway should be easily entered. A big thank-you goes to Cheryl Kaiser for arranging for
this consultation and work.
Do You Know Someone Who Needs Garden Space?
The Community Garden Team will not use the church’s garden this summer. But that does not mean that the land should lie fallow. If you, or someone you know, would like to have a space in the garden, please contact Cheryl Kaiser at cak2705@optonline.net.
The Upper Room is in the Office
The July-August issue of The Upper Room is in the church office. Do you normally pick up a copy from the narthex? If so, let the office know – 631-323-2665 or orientcong@optonline.net – and a copy will be mailed to you. The office has also just this past week received this issue as a pdf file to be shared with any congregant who wishes it. Contact the office for this choice too.
Fellowship Goes On
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.
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Don’t Forget Your Pledges and Your Mission Support
Your church needs your support. We are not worshipping in the sanctuary or meeting in Memorial Hall, but the building and property need care and maintenance; the utility bills continue to come in.
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.
Your donations may be dropped off in the mailbox outside Memorial Hall, mailed to PO Box 425, Orient, NY 11957, or sent via PayPal.
Don’t Hesitate to Ask for Help
If there is anything you need, even if it is simply a need for someone to talk to, please don’thesitate to contact Cheryl [cak2705@optonline.net] or Diane [dijohnson970@gmail.com]. There are volunteers available to assist you. Cheryl and Diane are also staying informed about the Corona virus situation and available services. They promise to maintain confidentiality when requested.
Social Distancing and Praying for Others
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.
Giving to Your Church as You Shop Online
You can give to Orient Congregational Church while shopping online. Remember to useGoodsearch.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. You can also activate AmazonSmile in your cellphone settings. Every little bit helps.
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.
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