ORIENT CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, U.C.C. July 26, 2020 – Posted on YouTube
As you prepare for this morning’s service this morning, you are invited to hum or sing along to: I Saw the Light by Ransomed Bluegrass. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0oEq0bMnyA
Welcome
No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.
Call to Worship:
Leap and dance with joy—
The showers have ended, the sun has come out again.
Splash through the puddles! Roll in the grass!
Let laughter rise in the air like flights of sparrows.
This is God’s world!
God made it, God made us—and it is good.
Let us continue in worship together.
Taken from Everyday Psalms- Jim Taylor, Psalm 100
Hymn Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise (NBA UK)
Prayer of the Day
We give thanks to our God, and call on God’s name; all wonderful works, God’s glory
proclaim. Let hearts who are seeking God’s presence rejoice, for God gives the strength for our hands and our voice.
We give thanks to our God, God’s miracles stand; God’s Judgments are true. God chooses to work through me and through you; and, just as our ancestors followed God’s call, we too are committed to giving our all. Amen.
Sharing with the Young at Heart
Hymn:
Time of Silence
Listening People
edited from Lavon Baylor prayer
(CMP)
Pastoral Prayer and Lord’s Prayer
2
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. Offering Sentences
Anthem: Always We Begin Again Breaking Open the Word with Scripture:
Matthew 5:13-16
Matthew 13:31-33
(SCM)
(CMP)
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how will it become salty again? It’s good for nothing except to be thrown away and trampled under people’s feet . 14 You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand, and it shines on all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you
do and praise your Father who is in heaven.
31 He told another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and planted in his field. 32 It’s the smallest of all seeds. But when it’s grown, it’s the largest of all vegetable plants. It becomes a tree so that the birds in the sky come and nest in its branches.” 33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in a bushel of wheat flour until the yeast had worked its way through all the dough.”
Reflection:
Hymn
Benediction Congregational Response:
The Stories We Tell… I Love to Tell the Story
God Be With You
Rev. Mary Larson (SCM)
(SCM)
(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 Lead, Kindly Light
3
*****###########################*****
With Thanks:
(NBA UK) Thanks to Northern Baptist Association UK for their permission to use their music and videos:
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
(SCM) Thanks to Small Church Music for their permission to use their music:
Hear Our Prayer, O Lord I Love to Tell the Story God Be With You
Lead, Kindly Light
(CMP) Thanks to Convergence Music Project for their permission to use their music:
Listening People Always We Begin Again
Inspiration from the Worship Design Studio and Marcia McFee.
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.
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
4
Announcements
Birthday Blessings
Happy Birthday to Ruth A. Foster who celebrates on August 2. May God bless you abundantly on your birthday, Rth!
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.
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.
5
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.
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.
6