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Our worship service is held each Sunday morning at 10:00. It includes hymns, choral pieces and organ compositions, both traditional and contemporary. The scripture readings are the base for the sermon by the Pastor Dave Shackle on subjects vital to our people. Items of concerns and joys are received from our congregation for incorporation into our corporate prayers. Please look at the next column for recent Sunday Orders of Worship. Copies of Pastor Dave's recent sermons are available on the "Hear These Words" page.
Our Director of Music is an acomplished organist, pianist and player of other instruments. His choice of anthems and other music represents a broad spectrum of church music - traditional and contemporary. He organizes Free Concerts for the wider cummunity, held on three Sunday afternoons each year, drawing upon the talents of musicial groups from northeastern and other parts of Ohio.
Music is an important component of our worship and of our church life. The adult choir, Joyful Noise choir (youth) and Melody Makers (children) contribute to our worship services. Sounds of Praise is an instrumental group that also adds to our worship.
BAPTISM Our church welcomes children into the church family by means of the rite of baptism. Our congregation joins the parents and god parents in a pledge to support the nurture of the child as he/she grows into young adults. In our recent rbaptism of Claire, the following prayer was said: Give to Claire, newly baptized, strength for life’s journey, courage in times of trouble, the joy of faith, the freedom of love, and the hope of new life; through Jesus Christ, who makes us one. Amen.
Children participate in our worship in meaningful ways. One of these is by bringing in the "Peace Candle" at the beginning of the worship. The candles on the communion table are also lighted by one of our youth as well as extinguished at the end of worship.
The Joyful Noise Choir makes important contributions to our worship service. The children are an important part of our church family.
Each Sunday, the children come forward to hear a message from our pastor. Pastor Dave discusses topics that match the subject of the scripture and sermon of that day at the children's level. After a brief prayer circle, the kids go to their classes.
 | The Children's Stories have messages for adults and children, alike.
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Fourth Sunday after Epiphany Sunday Janauary 29, 2012 Meditation Music Holy One, we know your call may come as a mighty wind or a still small voice. Help us discern true wisdom in the cacophony of voices that call to us, that we may be drawn to live our lives in ways that truly further the building of your reign. Amen. - - Sandra Rooney in Seasons of the Spirit Gathering in God's Presence
*Please stand as you are able. Prelude - The God of Second Chances - Haas
“Come now, O come now,
O God of second chances;
Open our lives to heal.
Remove our hate, and melt our rage.
Save us from ourselves.” David Haas, b. 1957 Bearing in the Light of Peace
Bringing in the Light of Christ - Acolyte * Call to Worship L:Let us praise the Holy One! P:Let us praise the One who has filled the earth with blessings!
L:Let us sing to the One who has filled our lives with joy!
P:Let us worship the Compassionate One, who became one of us!
L:Let us gather together in hope and joy,
P:To praise the Holy Source of our lives!
L:May the Creator of heaven and earth renew and remake us today!
All:That our spirits may soar to greet our Maker! * Hymn of Praise - Rejoice, You Pure in Heart - #55 * Prayer of Invocation [Unison] Holy Spirit, come among us today and touch us with the fulness of your grace. Enter our lives, free us from our fears, and guide us by your wisdom. Empower us to be your Church, today and every day. Impart to us the strength and courage we need to faithfully serve you in thisplace and in this world. Renew within us all, your abiding gifts of faith, hope, and love, so that we might continue to follow your light and praise you with joy! Amen! * The Song of Praise - Glory to God - Pablo Sosa, 1988
The Old Testament - Deuteronomy 18:15-22 - Pew Bible, page 174 - The New Testament - Mark 1:21-28 - Pew Bible, page35 The Continuing Testament - from Jesus Christ: Exorcist - by Susan R. Garrett Time With Young Worshipers
Reception of New Members Friends in Christ, each of us are received into the Church through the sacrament of Holy Baptism. We find strength and support to live-out our baptism, by connecting with a local faith community. Today, we rejoice that our faith journeys have brought us to this time and place. We give thanks that the Holy Spirit has led us to Brecksville United Church of Christ; and that on this day we can welcome others who desire to officially claim and celebrate this family of faith as their own. Questions to the new members - Pastor I ask you: Do you desire to affirm your faith in the Good News of Jesus Christ? Do you promise, by the grace of God, to follow in the way of Christ, to show love and compassion, and to witness to the work and word of Jesus Christ? Do you promise, by the grace of God, to grow in the Christian faith and to be a faithful member of the Church, by celebrating Christ's presence here and furthering Christ's mission in the world? * Affirming our BUCC Covenant of Membership [in unison] Believing in God as revealed to us in Jesus Christ, our Savior, we dedicate ourselves and our church to the service of God's Realm. Depending as did our fathers and mothers upon the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead us in truth, we covenant with God and with one another to worship, work, and serve together, that we may express through our church and our lives, the love and faith of Jesus Christ. * Words of Welcome Let us, the members and friends of Brecksville United Church of Christ, express our welcome to these new members and affirm our mutual ministry in Christ. P:We welcome you with joy into the life of this church. We promise you our friendship and prayers as we share the hopes and work of the church. By the power of the Holy Spirit, may we continue to grow together in Divine knowledge and love, and be faithful witnesses of the Good News of Jesus Christ. * Prayer [Unison] L:Let us pray. All:Gracious God, we are grateful that you have called us to faith and have welcomed us into the Church, the Body of Christ. We thank you for your people gathered in this place and rejoice that you continue to bless us. Together may we build-up one another in love, share in the life of the Church, and serve the world with joy and thanksgiving. Amen. L:Let us now greet our new members and one another with the Peace of Christ. The Peace of Christ be with you all! All:And also with you! Anthem - Amen, Siakudumisa - Xhosa melody from S. Africa,
Adult Choir; Joyful Noise Choir; - add. music/arr. Hopson -
Youth Percussion Group with Donn Whyte
Translation: Siakudumisa – Sing praises to the Lord
bawo – rejoice; masithi – O sing ye
Sermon - And Definitely No Deviled Ham! - Pastor Dave Shackle Hymn of Reflection - Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling - #59 The Church at Prayer
Silent Meditation
Prayers of the Church
Our Lord's Prayer ...Our Father-Mother 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. Organ Response - Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings The Invitation
Offertory - Kyrie Eleison - Trad. Guarani song (Paraguay)
Translation: Lord have mercy * The Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow Praise Christ the Word in flesh born low;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore;
One God, Triune, whom we adore. Amen. * Prayer of Dedication (Unison) God of all people, we thank you that you have called us together to be your people, the Church. We thank you that you have given us all that we need to serve you. Help us to willingly take our part in your service, by helping one another, by freely giving to those in need, and by sharing with all the greatest gift we have: the gift of your love. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our shining Light. Amen. Going with God's Love * Hymn of Departure Savior, Again to Your Dear Name - #80 [verse 1] Carrying the Light of Christ into the World - Acolyte * Circle of Fellowship As we move to form a circle around the pews, we will sing Halle, Halle, Hallelujah (3 times) Hallelujah, Hallelujah. After the benediction is pronounced, we will sing it through once more. Our circle is open near the door as a symbol of our welcome to new people to our community of faith.
* Commission and Benediction Postlude - Gigue - Young
Third Sunday after Epiphany
Sunday January 22, 2012 Meditation Music Holy one, you call each of us to participate in making this world a better place. But we are often fearful and timid in the face of change. Give us the courage to act boldly when circumstances require it and the wisdom to know when that is. Amen.. - - Sandra Rooney in Seasons of the Spirit Gathering in God’s Presence *Please stand as you are able. Prelude - In A Boat (from “Petite Suite”) - Debussy
Arlene Matsuoka Cole, Dave Debick, piano Introit - Will You Come and Follow Me - Scottish folk melody, arr. Bell Bearing in the Light of Peace
Bringing in the Light of Christ - Acolyte * Call to Worship L:In the darkness and emptiness of life, the Spirit moves among us, calling us into new being.
P:We are here to seek light among the shadows, fulfillment out of our brokenness.
L:From separation and apathy, God calls us to steadfast love and faith.
P:We have come to find healing and peace, to experience forgiveness, acceptance, and purpose.
L:In the midst of the ordinary, God comes to us; in our everyday living, the Divine Spirit speaks to us.
P:The Holy One is our shelter, our strength, and our guide.
L:People of God, let us hope in God and trust in God’s abundant grace,
All:For God is with us, now and forevermore! * Hymn of Praise - O God, Our Help in Ages Past - #25 * Prayer of Invocation [Unison] Creative Source of All, in our time of worship, and throughout the hours of our days, remain at the center of our thoughts and actions. Hold us together as individuals and as a community of faith. In all of our seeking and doing, help us to focus our hopes on you. Be our center, our balance, our source of loving support, through Jesus Christ in whose name we pray. Amen. * The Song of Praise - Glory to God - Pablo Sosa, 1988 The Old Testament - Jonah 1:1-3; 3:1-5, 10 - Pew Bible, page 859
The New Testament - Mark 1:14-20 - Pew Bible, page 35
The Continuing Testament - by Callie Plunket-Brewton - in The Working Preacher Time With Young Worshipers Anthem - To Follow You - de Silva, arr. Debick Sermon - There’s Something Fishy Here! - Pastor Dave Shackle Hymn of Reflection - In Christ There Is No East or West - #394 The Church at Prayer Silent Meditation
Prayers of the Church
Our Lord’s Prayer ...Our Father-Mother 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. Organ Response - Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings The Invitation
Offertory - Sonatina in C - von Weber Arlene Matsuoka Cole, Dave Debick, piano * The Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Christ the Word in flesh born low;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore;
One God, Triune, whom we adore. Amen. * Prayer of Dedication (Unison) We thank you, Gracious Holy One, for the opportunity to share in your creative and healing work in this world. Because you have blessed us in so many ways, we have much to give to others. May these offerings express our gratitude to you, and our desire to reach out to all your people, wherever they may be found. This we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen. Going with God’s Love * Hymn of Departure Sent Forth by God’s Blessing - #76 Carrying the Light of Christ into the World - Acolyte * Circle of Fellowship As we move to form a circle around the pews, we will sing Halle, Halle, Hallelujah (3 times) Hallelujah, Hallelujah. After the benediction is pronounced, we will sing it through once more. Our circle is open near the door as a symbol of our welcome to new people to our community of faith.
* Commission and Benediction Postlude - Voluntary and Fugue in C - Boyce
Second Sunday after Epiphany
Sunday January 15, 2012 Meditation Music Gracious God, we sometimes both await and fear your call. We pray that we may keep our minds and hearts open to the possibilities you offer for serving you. May we have the courage to accept the call to live out your ways of love, compassion and service. Amen. Sandra Rooney in Seasons of the Spirit Gathering in God’s Presence *Please stand as you are able. Prelude - Ricercare - Langlais Introit - I Have Called You by Your Name - Damon Bearing in the Light of Peace
Bringing in the Light of Christ - Acolyte * Call to Worship L:This morning God calls us to come away from the familiar, the usual, the comfortable;
P:We are called to look inward to what is lies dormant, hidden, and undeveloped.
L:Today, we are invited to look for the potential, the possible, the wonderful;
P:We are called to embrace the Holy, and to be embraced by the Holy One in return.
L:Let us open our eyes to the signs of the Divine Life and Love which are all around us;. P:Let us open our ears to the God’s call to be a new and renewed people.
L:In this time of worship, let us seek together the power of God’s transforming grace,
All:So that we might share that power and grace with others, wherever we may go! * Hymn of Praise - Praise to the Living God - #8 * Prayer of Invocation [Unison] We encounter you, O God, in places we might not expect, in people we would never imagine. Sometimes we see you clearly and sometimes we pass by without seeing you at all. Open our eyes to see you here and now: to see you among the people in this congregation, and among the strangers we meet outside these doors. Open our hearts to welcome your Holy Presence among us, through our extravagant welcome to others. Amen. * The Song of Praise - Glory to God - Pablo Sosa, 1988
The Old Testament - I Samuel 3:1-10 - Pew Bible, page 247 The New Testament - John 1:35-46 - Pew Bible, page92 The Continuing Testament - from Sermons by Martin Luther King, Jr. Time With Young Worshipers Anthem - I Have Decided to Follow Jesus - Setting by Carter Sermon - But Is Kevin Bacon Kosher? - Pastor Dave Shackle Hymn of Reflection - Called as Partners in Christ’s Service - #495 The Church at Prayer Silent Meditation
Prayers of the Church
Our Lord’s Prayer ...Our Father-Mother 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. Organ Response - Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings The Invitation
Offertory - Echo - Pinkham * The Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Christ the Word in flesh born low;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore;
One God, Triune, whom we adore. Amen. * Prayer of Dedication (Unison) Eternal and abundant God, the opportunity to share with others is a blessing for which we are truly thankful. Your generous provisions for our lives allow and prompt us to be generous in return. We pray that you would accomplish your loving purposes through these gifts and through our lives. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, who lovingly gave himself for us all. Amen. Holy Communion Words of Institution
Prayer of Consecration
The Invitation
Receiving the Bread and Cup
Communion Music - Give Your Life to Christ - Ross “If you come to Him right now,
He’ll see you through.
He will never fail you.
Give your life to Christ.” Michael Kenneth Ross, 1995 The Blessing Going with God’s Love * Hymn of Departure Guide Me, O My Great Redeemer - #18 Carrying the Light of Christ into the World - Acolyte * Circle of Fellowship As we move to form a circle around the pews, we will sing Halle, Halle, Hallelujah (3 times) Hallelujah, Hallelujah. After the benediction is pronounced, we will sing it through once more. Our circle is open near the door as a symbol of our welcome to new people to our community of faith.
* Commission and Benediction Postlude - You Are Author and Lord - Pradhan (Nepal)
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