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ORDER OF WORSHIP
Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 14, 2023
PRELUDE O wie selig seid ihr doch, ihr Frommen - J. Brahms
OUR LIFE TOGETHER
INTROIT Children of the Heavenly Father - Traditional Swedish
CALL TO WORSHIP responsively
Leader: Beloved, we have met to worship
Congregation: With the Lord, our God
Leader: Let us pause before our maker
Congregation: And in silence hear God’s voice
L: Here God meets us, and in God’s truth we rejoice.
*GATHERING HYMN #595 “Come, Come Ye Saints”
Come, come, ye saints, no toil nor labor fear,
but with joy, wend your way;
though hard to you this journey may appear,
grace shall be as your day.
God's hand of love shall be your guide,
and all your need he will provide;
his power shall every foe dispel,
all is well, all is well!
What though the path you tread be rough and steep?
Have no fear, he is near!
His mighty arm unto the end will keep,
soon his call you shall hear.
Then follow on, fresh courage take,
for God his own will ne'er forsake,
Till in his presence they shall dwell!
All is well! all is well!
God has prepared a glorious home above
round his throne, for his own,
where they may rest forever in his love,
toil and tears all unknown.
There they shall sing eternal praise
to him who saved them by his grace;
through heaven's courts the song shall swell,
"All is well! all is well!"
*PRAYER OF THE DAY in unison
Gracious God, this could be our finest hour, if it be your will. Awaken in us the healing power of your Spirit, which gives us strength to do all we can to witness to your hope for this world. Help us take what we hear, what we say, and what we once again, learn, what it is to be part of this gathering of empowered disciples Amen
*THE PASSING OF PEACE (greet each other with “the peace of Christ be with you.” Children are invited to Sunday School or nursery care at the time of the passing of the peace).
RESPONSE – Hymn ”Baptized in Water” No. 758
Baptized in water, sealed by the Spirit,
cleansed by the blood of Christ, our King;
heirs of salvation, trusting his promise,
faithfully now God's praise we sing.
Baptized in water, sealed by the Spirit,
dead in the tomb with Christ, our King;
one with his rising, freed and forgiven,
thankfully now God's praise we sing.
Baptized in water, sealed by the Spirit,
marked with the sign of Christ, our King;
born of one Father, we are his children,
joyfully now God's praise we sing.
THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
This morning we are honored to bestow The Sacrament of Baptism upon Darren David Gallup, son of Samantha and Barry.
THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES Psalm 69:13-18a, reading by Peter Hoey
MORNING PRAYER AND LORD’S PRAYER debts
CALL TO OFFERING
OFFERTORY The House You Live In - G. Lightfoot
*DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT READING Luke 5:17-26, reading by Linda Hoey
MESSAGE “Reluctantly Well” The Rev. Dr. Tom Richard
MUSICAL REFLECTION
PRAYER OF CONSECRATION
PRAYER OF INTERCESSION AND THANKSGIVING (In unison)
We give you thanks, O God, that you have refreshed us through the healing power of this gift of life. In your mercy strengthen us through this gift in faith toward you and in fervent love toward one another, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
*SENDING HYMN #377 "We Praise You, O God, Our Redeemer"
We praise you, O God, our Redeemer, Creator;
in grateful devotion our tribute we bring;
we lay it before you; we kneel and adore you;
we bless your holy name: glad praises we sing.
We worship you, God of our fathers and mothers;
through life's storm and tempest our guide you have been;
when perils o'ertake us, you never forsake us,
and with your help, O Lord, our battles we win.
With voices united our praises we offer,
our songs of thanksgiving to you we now raise;
your strong arm will guide us, our God is beside us,
to you, our great Redeemer, forever be praise!
GOD BE WITH YOU
Please turn and face the center aisle as we sing the response.
God be with you till we meet again, by his counsels guide, uphold you,
with his sheep securely fold you; God be with you till we meet again.
POSTLUDE
SERVING YOU THIS MORNING
The Rev. Dr. Tom Richard
Jeffrey Cutts, Minister of Music
FCC Choir: Laine Cutts, Jennifer Ahlborn,
Holly Gordon, Benton Killion, Kathy Richen, Penny Snow and David Taylor
Ushers: Sharron and Peter Chalke
Readers: Linda and Peter Hoey
SUNDAY SCHOOL
We warmly invite your children to participate either in our Sunday School, open for ages 4-12, or our Nursery, open for babies to 4 year olds. All are welcome! For more information, please contact Jeanne Caspe on 508-633-9376 or email her at
caspeack@verizon.net. We are delighted for children to be a vibrant and
well loved part of our church family!
VOLUNTEERS REQUESTED FOR READERS AND USHERS
Our Deacons warmly invite anyone who would like to volunteer as a reader or usher for our Sunday morning worship services to speak with them after this morning service or by signing up at the entrance to the church.
UPCOMING EVENTS AT FCC
Please plan to join the LUC at Bartlett’s Farm on Sunday, June 4, from 12 noon to 4 p.m.—weather permitting!—for traditional activities, including sack races, archery, kite flying, and a classic Maypole. Chase the last of those winter blues away and support LUC’s mission work at the same time!
From My Heart To Yours…
Dear Friends,
There was a teenager who didn't want to be seen in public with her mother, because her mother's arms were terribly disfigured.
One day when her mother took her shopping and reached out her hand, a clerk looked horrified. Later, crying, the girl told her mom how embarrassed she was. Understandably hurt, the mother waited an hour before going to her daughter's room to tell her, for the first time, what happened.
“When you were a baby, I woke up in the middle of the night to a burning house. Your room was an inferno. Flames were everywhere. I could have gotten out the front door, but I decided I'd rather die with you than leave you to die alone. I ran through the fire and wrapped my arms around you. Then I went back through the flames, my arms on fire. When I got outside on the lawn, the pain was agonizing but when I looked at you, all I could do was rejoice that the flames hadn't touched you.”
Stunned, the girl looked at her mother, started weeping., and she kissed her mother's marred hands and arms.
When I was a little boy here on Nantucket, there were countless times I would run to my mother (who had, by the way 14 children to care for) with a wounded hand or scrape on my arm, and, usually, amid tears, would lift my arm up. And, without a word, she would kiss my wound, and ask "Is that better?” and I would whimper for a moment and say, Uhuh.” the hurt stopped.
From my earliest recollection of these times, it became more and more clear to me that she had the power to heal.
The power to heal! Wow! And you, my friends, have that power as well! You have the power to love others to health. Don’t hesitate for a moment to use it. Your loved ones, your neighbors, and this world, needs, and yearns for your healing touch!
Bless you,
Tom
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FURNISHINGS FOR THE PARSONAGE
In anticipation of our eventual hiring of an Interim Minister, we are seeking donations of furnishings for the Parsonage. Please email Brooke Mohr ackmohr@gmail.com with a description of any items you would like to offer and whether they would be a
permanent donation or if you would like them returned when no longer needed.
Suggested items:
Linens - Queen Size bedding/Towels
Bedside Tables
Desk & Desk Chair
Side Tables
Lamps
Rugs
Silverware
Dishes
Pots/Pans and other Kitchen Items
Small Appliances (NOT Microwave)
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