SundayWorship - Brecksville United Church of Christ

Loving, Serving, and Accepting All People with God's Life-Changing Power

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.

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday July 25, 2010

Meditation Music
Dear God, the prayer that Jesus taught is our shared prayer that shapes our lives together. So, help us, in partnership, to be fed and feed, to be forgiven and forgive, to choose your ways and turn from ways that separate us from our neighbor. For your reign’s sake. Amen. - Seasons of the Spirit

Gathering in God’s Presence

*Please stand as you are able.

Prelude - Break Forth into Joy - Bach

Bearing in the Light of Peace

Bringing in the Light of Christ - Acolyte

* Call to Worship
L:God comes to us in many different ways:
P:In the beauty of a flower and the laughter of a friend;
L:In the brightness of the sun and the wonder of the stars;
P:Through the eyes of a loved one and the smile of a stranger.
L:The Infinite Love of the Holy One is bound by neither time nor space,
P:Yet is it as close to us as the very air we breathe.
L:As we gather here to connect with the Source of our lives,
P:We remember that God is already reaching out to us!

L:The Holy One is with us, around us, and within us,

All:Let us rejoice and give thanks!

* Hymn of Praise - We Worship You, God - #26 - -

* Prayer of Invocation [Unison] Eternal Source of Life, who created all things out of nothing: teach us to know the strength of silence and power of prayer. Fill our emptiness with your Spirit of peace and joy; fill our darkness with your light and love. Inspire us by your Spirit to respond to your call, to live and work together as One Family. We ask in the name of Jesus Christ, who makes us One. Amen

* The Song of Praise (Sung twice)

The Old Testament - Psalm 85:4-13 - Pew Bible, page 543

The New Testament - Luke 11:1-13 - Pew Bible, page 72

The Continuing Testament from Christianity: A New Look at Ancient Wisdom -
by David Hart

Time with Young Worshipers

Sermon - “Suppose You Have a Friend....” - Pastor Dave Shackle

Hymn of Reflection - O Grant Us, God, a Little Space - #516

The Church at Prayer

Silent Meditation

Prayer of the Church

“Our Common Prayer” - from The New Zealand Anglican Maori Liturgy
Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echoes throughout the universe!
May the way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world;
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings;
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need today, feed us.

In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.

In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us,
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever. Amen

Organ Response -

Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings

The Invitation

Offertory - - - Psalm of Joy - Blake

* 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 remember and give thanks, O God, that you provide for all of our needs. Your love has kept and sustained us. Your bounty enables our giving of self and substance. Lead us now that we may be generous, and that our giving may inspire generosity in others. Employ us and our gifts for your loving service, we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, who lovingly gave himself for us all. Amen.

Going with God’s Love

* Hymn of Departure Every Time I Feel the Spirit - #282

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 - A Joyous Acclamation - Smith

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

July 18, 2010

Meditation Music
Loving God, as people of faith,
May our deeds speak our words;
May our words speak our deeds;
In Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen. - - Seasons of the Spirit

Gathering in God’s Presence

*Please stand as you are able.

Prelude - Jesu, meines Lebens Leben - J. S. Bach
(Jesus, My Life’s Life)

Bearing in the Light of Peace

Bringing in the Light of Christ - Acolyte

* Call to Worship - from Psalm 89
L:I will sing of your steadfast love, O God;
P:With my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.
L:I will declare that your steadfast love is established forever;
P:Your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.

L:The heavens are yours, and the earth as well;
P:The world and all that is in it, for you have founded all things.
L:Happy are those who shout your praises;
All:Who walk in the light of your presence, O God most high!

* Hymn of Praise - From All That Dwell below the Skies - #27

* Prayer of Invocation [Unison] Divine Creator of our world, ourselves, and all that exists - we thank you that you reveal yourself in the events of human history. We thank you that you have shown yourself fully in the person of Jesus Christ, who fully shared his life with others. Help us to follow Christ’s example and be fully present with and for one another today and in all our days to come. Amen.

* The Song of Praise (Sung twice)

The Old Testament - Amos 8:4-12 - Pew Bible, page 856
The New Testament - Luke 10:38-42 - Pew Bible, page 72
The Continuing Testament - from The Bible for Today - by Edward Markquart

Time with Young Worshipers

Special Music - All That I Am - Wright
Jon Thompson, bass

Sermon - That Magic Moment - Pastor Dave Shackle

Hymn of Reflection - There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy - #23

The Church at Prayer

Silent Meditation
Prayer of the Church
Our 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.

Organ Response -

Presenting Our Tithes and Offerings

The Invitation
Offertory - - - Offertory - Prokofieff -
* 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) Accept, O God, these offerings that we present to you, and grant that the causes to which they are devoted may prosper under your guidance and bring glory to your name. Help us also to give ourselves fully and freely to the work of your Realm, that the love of Christ might shine through us and throughout the world. Amen.

Holy Communion

Words of Institution

Prayer of Consecration
The Invitation
Receiving the Bread and Cup

Communion Music - Bread of Life, Feed My Soul - Spencer

“Bread of life, feed my soul,
as the presence of the Spirit makes me whole.
Bread of life, fill my heart
with the grace and mercy you impart.”
Stephen Spencer, 2005

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

* Commission and Benediction

Postlude - Praise the Lord - Sleeth