Prelude Recit de Nazar N. Clerambault (1676-1749)
Welcome, Welcome Back
Call to Worship
*Hymn (insert) God of Abraham and Sarah
*Unison Prayer of Gathering and New Life
One Voice: In the Gospel of John, Jesus says “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” With Jesus’ peace, let us pray:
All: Good and gracious God, come gather us for worship together in Jesus’ name. Uplift our spirits, engage our intellects, and guide our convictions. For some days our hearts are troubled and, sadly, across the world many are understandably afraid. We know we have not kept the world as you would prefer. But we know, too, that all humankind is in your image, so draw out that image today and tomorrow and always: draw us in your Spirit’s tether, and we will follow Her mission and Her way. Amen.
*Assurance of God’s Grace
*Response in Praise
Christ is risen! Shout Hosanna! Celebrate this day of days!
Christ is risen! Hush in wonder; All creation is amazed.
In the desert all-surrounding, see, a spreading tree has grown.
Healing leaves of grace abounding, Bring a taste of love unknown.
The Early Church Acts 16: 9-15
The Children’s Time
Go, my children, with my blessing, Never alone. Waking, sleeping,
I am with you; You are my own. In my love’s baptismal river I have made you mine forever. Go, my children, with my blessing – You are my own.
Our Early Church NHCC turns 150 James Harper on Stained Glass
The Gospel Reading John 5: 1-9
The Vocal Trio Make My Life an Alleluia Ruth Elaine Schram
The Offerings Kenneth Baily
Pastoral Prayer and Lord’s Prayer (Our father and mother… trespasses…)
*Hymn No. 205 All Hail to God’s Anointed (based on Ps. 67)
*Benediction
Postlude Caprice N. Clerambault
* Those who are able please stand
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
During this time of covid caution we welcome all to safe, cautious congregational assembly. It is good to worship together. To care for one another we wear masks
(except for worship leaders at times) and our leaders are vaccinated.
We have a touch-free offering today. Please leave a gift in the basket, deliver an envelope after worship, go online, or any touch-free method you wish.
Thanks to worship leaders Kenneth Baily, Yevgenia Semeina, Wendy Donnell, Melissa Dietrich, Amanda Ketchpaw, Ted Palés and Samantha Whitbeck
NHCC is an Open and Affirming, Still Speaking congregation where all are welcome regardless of the divisions or separations that some in society would impose: whoever you are, you are welcome in God’s house. “In Christ we are a new creation,” so we are blessed to be together in Christ’s name.
Newton Highlands Congregational Church, UCC
54 Lincoln Street, Newton, MA
www.nhcc.net 617 527 3898
The Morning Meditations:
“Memory is the soil in which hope survives.”
— Fred Craddock
“The worst disloyalty to the past is to mistake it for the future.”
— Robert E. Spear
“The central task of ministry is the formation of a community
with an alternative, liberated imagination that has the courage and
the freedom to act in a different vision and a different perception of reality.”
— Walter Brueggemann