August 29, 2021 – A Service of Hope
THE FIRST CHURCH OF DEERFIELD
“The Brick Church” / “The Brickless Church”
Whoever you are, wherever you may be on life’s journey, you are welcome here.
We ask that you remain masked during our worship time together.
ORDER OF WORSHIP
August 29, 2021
A Service of Hope
Call to Worship
from Isaiah 2:2-4
In days to come
the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it, saying:
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that we may learn the way of God,
and walk in the paths of God.’
Then God shall judge between the nations,
and arbitrate between the peoples;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
Hymn
Make Me A Channel of Your Peace
https://youtu.be/p8Jr2o7oewU
painting by Homer Winslow
Reading
Sea Prayer by Khaled Hossein
https://youtu.be/RKUSr6et3_Q
Pause for Meditation
https://youtu.be/ykA6lBQyW-k
Reading
Matthew 25: 35,36 & 40
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me…I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
Prayers of the People
https://youtu.be/qGJjQoE_xk8
Music
Heal the World*
https://youtu.be/BWf-eARnf6U
(*Note: The above music video contains images of poverty, war, and racial hatred, as well as images of joy, peace, and understanding. While the theme of the video is hope, some may find it hard to watch. For an alternative version with just the music and the lyrics, click here: https://youtu.be/
Offering Prayer
Gracious God, we thank you for gifts that belong, not to us alone,
but to all our siblings on this earth, since they too are created in your image.
Let their need become our need; let their hunger become our hunger;
let their joy become our joy, so that in our common humanity,
we may discover the Christ who walks among us. Amen.
Sharing of Gifts
Send me, Jesus
Thomas Pousont, organ and vocals
https://youtu.be/zfNaVZVqY2E
Closing Blessing: A Prayer for Peace
(Ecumenical Prayer from the Middle East, World Council of Churches)
O Lord Jesus,
Stretch forth thy wounded hands
In blessing over thy people,
To heal and to restore
And to draw them to thyself
And to one another in love.
Closing Hymn
We Are Pilgrims
https://youtu.be/hbnFjAdF1i8
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If you wish to make a donation in support of our ministry,
text “GIVE” to (413) 307-3730 or click below:
https://fcd.breezechms.com/
***
The First Church of Deerfield
is an inclusive, inquisitive congregation of the United Church of Christ
and the Unitarian Universalist Association.
office@firstchurchofdeerfield.org / www.firstchurchofdeerfield.org
Rev. Liza B. Knapp, Pastor / deerfieldpastor@gmail.com
Dr. Thomas Pousont, Director of Music Ministry
Pat Auchard, Office Administrator
Tom Mershon, Sexton
Ann Hallstein, Pastor Emerita
