Gathering Music: Praise the Lord Who Reigns Above, piano by Jan Green [arr. by Dan Forrest]
- We are a community seeking to have open minds, open hearts, and open arms, building community in a fragmented world.
- We want to welcome everyone who is in the house today and everyone online. We are grateful for all the many ways you can join us for worship on this Lord’s Day.
- REMINDER: With the numbers going up in the county and area we are requiring masks for our indoor worship and events.
- Announcements will be on one sheet at the back of the sanctuary. You may have grabbed it as you came in or please grab it on the way out.
- In worship today…we continue our look at the Psalms. The Psalms are ancient scriptures written for use in worship and song. They express the deepest sorrows and joys of life and today’s reminds us of the way God works in the midst of them.
About the Dulcimers
- We want to welcome today our Dulcimer and Psaltery Group led by Jan Green. The Dulcimers…
- Started in approx. 2005 with four members, three of whom used cardboard dulcimers made by the seniors themselves. Mostly self taught. (Does not require ability to read music!)
- First “concert”, second grade music classes — taught by Liz and Paul’s daughter— my grandson in the class. We played folk songs and they joined us, as well as allowing each student a chance to strum.
- Played for luncheons at Aurora Senior Center, especially St. Patrick and Christmas, as the Aurora Strummin’ Seniors. (Currently, one member from Aurora!)
- Have played in nursing homes, for senior luncheons at other locations, the Methodist church .
- Vary in size from original four to 14 at one time. Seem to have settled in to 10. Always welcoming new members, some of whom have added the psalteries to the mix.
- Have relocated to MCCC because of scheduling problems at the senior center.
- Between relocation and addition of psalteries, need to change our name!
Let’s prepare our hearts and minds for worship with our Opening Scripture Reading...
Opening Scripture: Colossians 3:15-17
15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
*Response Song: Weave
Weave, weave, weave us together,
Weave us together, in unity and love.
Weave, weave, weave us together,
weave us together, together in love.
*Call to Worship (Ruth Anne Ruehr)
ONE: Your church gathers, Lord,
ALL: in Mantua and Mozambique, in Brazil and to the ends of the earth.
ONE: Your church gathers, Lord,
ALL: in city and country, in suburbs and slums,
ONE: in sanctuaries and buildings,
ALL: under trees and by streams of water.
ONE: Your people gather to praise you, Lord,
ALL: in English and in Portuguese,
ONE: with organ and guitar and dulcimer, with voices of young and old,
ALL: with song and with silence, with dance and with prayer.
ONE: Your people praise you, Lord, for hope in the midst of despair,
ALL: for strength in times of weakness,
ONE: for justice in situations of oppression,
ALL: for courage in the face of fear, for life in the midst of death.
ONE: We are the people who call you Lord.
ALL: Let everything that breathes, praise you Lord!
~ based on litany by Kristin Holbrook, Brazil 2008
*Opening Hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy #4
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee:
holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
Offering of Praise: Ruth Anne Ruehr
Children’s Moment: Ally Bozeka
Hymn: “Praise the Lord Who Reigns Above” [words by Charles Wesley]
(Dulcimers will play once, then congregation join)
Celebrate th’eternal God with harp and psaltery,
Timbrels soft and cymbals loud in this high praise agree;
Praise him, every tuneful string; all the reach of heavenly art,
All the powers of music bring, the music of the heart.
Pastoral Prayer: Rev. Chad Delaney
Communion
Meditation: Tim Bennett
Communion Hymn: In The Garden #227
(Dulcimers play through once and then the congregation joins)
I come to the garden alone,
while the dew is still on the roses;
and the voice I hear falling on my ear,
the Son of God discloses.
Refrain:
And he walks with me, and he talks with me,
and he tells me I am his own,
and the joy we share, as we tarry there,
none other has ever known.
Prayer & Lord’s Prayer: Tim Bennett
Words of Institution: Rev. Chad Delaney
Distribution of Communion Elements
Scripture Reading:Psalm 150
1 Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty firmament!
2 Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his surpassing greatness!
3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!
4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!
5 Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Sermon: Praise Language (Rev. Chad Delaney)
Closing Hymn: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee #2
Joyful, joyful, we adore thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
hearts unfold like flowers before thee,
opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,
drive our fear and doubt away;
giver of immortal gladness,
fill us with the light of day.
All thy works with joy surround thee,
earth and heaven reflect thy rays,
stars and angels sing around thee,
center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
flowery meadow, flashing sea,
chanting bird and flowing fountain
call us to rejoice in thee.
*Benediction
Go now to love and forgive,
To work for justice and mercy.
Offer your language of Praise to give glory
To the Lord of Life who loves us, surrounds us, and sustains us
Now and always. In the Name of Christ, Go in peace to serve the Lord...
Departing Music: The Great Speckled Bird