The Prelude
Words of Thanksgiving for Reflection
Beloved One, you know my heart through and through. Your gaze penetrates to the core of who I am, where the truest and deepest of my desire dwells. When I knock on your door with my requests, grant what will most influence my love for you. May I ever seek that which you long for me to be. I open the door of my heart to you. I open the door. Amen.
The Welcome, News and Announcements
The Introit
The Call to Worship The Ericksons
Leader: Trusted Companion, at certain times the door to my heart squeaks with willful resistance.
Youth: It also gets rusty from lack of use,
Leader: Refuses to budge and won’t loosen.
Youth: Come with your oilcan of grace-filled love.
Leader: Release what keeps me from being true to you.
Youth: We open the door of our hearts to you.
Leader: We open the door. Let us be church. Let us worship God. Amen.
The Confession and Assurance Unfolding the Rose
Leader: A young believer was walking with an older, more seasoned believer in the garden one day. Feeling a bit insecure about what God had for her to do, she was asking the older preacher for some advice.
Youth: The older believer walked up to a rosebush and handed the younger one a Rosebud and asked her to open it without tearing any of its petals.
Leader: The young one looked in disbelief at the older one and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with her wanting to know the will of God for life and ministry.
Youth: But because of her great respect for the older believer, she proceeded to try and unfold the rosebud while keeping every pedal intact.
Leader: It wasn’t long before she realized how impossible this was. Noticing the young one’s inability to unfold the rosebud without tearing it, the older one began to recite the following poem:
Leader: It is only a tiny rosebud, a flower of God’s design;
Youth: But I cannot unfold the petals with these clumsy hands of mine.
Leader: The secret of unfolding flowers is not known to such as I.
Youth: God opens this flower so sweetly, then, in my hands, they die.
Leader: If I cannot unfold a rosebud, the flower of gods design,
Youth: Then how can I have the wisdom to unfold this life of mine?
Leader: So then, I’ll trust in God for leading each moment of my day.
Youth: I will look to God for guidance with each step of my pilgrims way.
Leader: The pathway that lies before me, only my heavenly God knows.
Youth: I’ll trust in God to unfold a moment, just as God unfolds the rose.
The Hymn #804, “Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart”
Rejoice, ye pure in heart, rejoice, give thanks and sing; your festal banner wave on high, the cross of Christ your King. Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice, give thanks and sing. Yes, on through life’s long path, still chanting as you go, from youth to age, by night and day, in gladness and in woe. Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice, give thanks and sing
The Peace of Christ
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. To this peace we were called as members of a single body. The peace of Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.
The Hebrew Scripture Reading Daniel 7:13-14
13-14 “I saw a human form, a son of man,
arriving in a whirl of clouds.
He came to The Old One
and was presented to him.
He was given power to rule—all the glory of royalty.
Everyone—race, color, and creed—had to serve him.
His rule would be forever, never ending.
His kingly rule would never be replaced.
The New Testament Lesson Mark 2:10, 28; 8:31
“The Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”
“Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.”
The Hymn “The Old Rugged Cross”
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame; and I love that old cross, where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain. So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown. To the old rugged cross I will ever be true, its shame and reproach gladly bear; then he’ll call me some day to my home far away, where his glory forever I’ll share. So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown
We Proclaim God’s Word
Prayer of Illumination
The Sermon “You’re A Poet and You Didn’t Know It: Words to Use Like an Oar”
Music for Meditation
We Respond to God’s Word
The Call to the Offertory
The Offertory
The Offertory Anthem
The Doxology # 606 Old Hundredth
The Unison Prayer of Dedication
For life-sustaining gifts that we so often take for granted – for shelter, food, and meaningful tasks to do; for your steadfast love that awakens us and raises us from our sinful ways; for your word that guides and heals us – we give you thanks, gracious God. As we invest a part of all you entrust to us to further the ministries of the church, may we show to others the immeasurable riches of your grace in Jesus Christ. Make this church a beacon of hope for the world. Amen.
The Joys and Concerns
The People’s Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer
…Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your 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
We Go Forth in God’s Name
The Charge and Benediction
The Sending Hymn “Go Now in Peace”
Go now in peace. Never be afraid.
God will go with you each hour of every day.
Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true.
Know He will guide you in all you do.
Go now in love, and show you believe.
Reach out to others so all the world can see.
God will be there watching from above.
Go now in peace, in faith, and in love.
**Postlude
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Leaders for today’s Service of Worship
Many thanks to our liturgists, the Ericksons, Amy, Rylan and Emery.
Thanks also do our tech team, Videographer, Stephen Little, Audiographer- Larry Beckwith, Recorder, Joe Pepper, Zoom Co-host, Marvin Pritts, Webmaster, Kristin Parry, and Projectionist – Rylan Erickson.
Call to Worship adapted and reprinted from Psalms and Prayers for Congregational Participation by B. David Hostetter; Unison Offertory Prayer by Breathing New Life into Lent by Pritchard, McKinstry & Powers. The first hymn for today is from our hymnal “Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal.” The second hymn is from the United Church of Christ Hymnal, Hope Publishing, 2003.
Do You Have Ideas You Would Like to Share with the Session? Comment cards are in the pews. Please fill them out and place in the offering box. One convenient way to get in touch with any Session member is to go to your e-news and click on the hyperlinked email address.
Helpful Information:
• Need a hearing device for Worship? – You can get one at the rear of the Sanctuary at the sound booth
• Prayer Requests and announcements for the Bulletin/FPCU Family News should be sent to Administrative Assistant Kristin Parry at FPCUlysses@gmail.com
• Reservations for the Chapel should be made through Kristin Parry at 315-283-3137 or FPCUlysses@gmail.com
• Contact Information changes should be sent to Clerk of Session Kris Alling at krisalling56@gmail.com
Helpful Information (Continued)
• Birthday Calendar Updates should be sent to Linda Andrew at lka@ottcmail.com
• To sign up to be a liturgist, usher, or greeter, please see the sign-up sheets in the Chapel.
Kristin Parry, Administrative Assistant
Joseph Pepper, Music Director and Keyboardist
The Rev. Dr. Daniel J. Russell, Interim Pastor
69 East Main Street, P.O. Box 597, Trumansburg, NY 14886
Web Address: www.fpcu.info
Email Address: FPCUlysses@gmail.com
Telephone: 607-387-8185
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