Welcome to this place of seeking… Sayville Congregational United Church of Christ Where you are welcome, long before you arrive.
Prelude To a Water Lily by Edward MacDowell
Call to Worship
Divinity sings this song to our souls: “O lovely rose on the thorn! O hovering bee in the honey! O pure dove in your being! O glorious sun in your setting! O full moon in your course! From you I, your God, will never turn away.” Let us turn to this ever-present God in prayer and song and praise.
Opening Hymn NCH #436 God of Grace and God of Glory
God of grace and God of glory, on your people pour your power; crown your ancient church’s story; bring its bud to glorious flower. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour, for the facing of this hour.
From the evils that surround us and assail the Savior’s ways, from the fears that long have bound us - free our hearts for faith and praise. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the living of these days, for the living of these days.
Cure your children’s warring madness; bend our pride to your control. Shame our reckless, selfish gladness, rich in things and poor in soul. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, make our broken spirits whole, make our broken spirits whole.
Set our feet on lofty places; gird our lives that they may be armored with all Christ-like graces, in the fight to set us free. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, in the quest for liberty, in the quest for liberty.
Save us from weak resignation to the evils we deplore; let the search for your salvation be our glory evermore. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, serving you whom we adore, serving you whom we adore.
Unison Prayer
“May all beings attain happiness. May all beings be free from suffering. May all beings never be separated from joy. May all beings abide in equanimity.”
Immeasurable as these are in the vastness of God, as distant as they may seem in a God whose creation spans the cosmos, there is but one journey towards God, even when it feels as in reverse. The here and now is not a direction, but a presence we are in.
Let us be still now for a moment in this presence of Immeasurable God.
A moment for silence… and the Assurance of God’s Love.
Passing of the Peace Hugging is encouraged but optional!
First Reading James 3:13-4:3; 4:7-8 The Message
Choral Anthem I'm Part of You, You're Part of Me by James Ahrend
Gospel Reading Mark 9:30-37 The Message
Provocation Back-to-School
Hymn NCH #312 We Love Your Realm, O God
We love your realm, O God, all places where you reign. We recognize, with hope and joy, the world as your domain. We love your church, O God, for Christ has given life To form communities of love that seek to heal our strife.
We recognize, with pain, that we have not achieved The faithfulness of our resolve when we at first believed. Yet Christ, our friend and guide, continues to forgive, Delivering us from our mistakes, inviting us to live.
Beyond our brokenness, we seek to know your ways Of deep communion, solemn vows, and hymns of love and praise. We know your truth will last. We trust your reign is sure. Equip us for those daily tasks that help your world endure.
Our Prayers
The Prayer Jesus Taught the Disciples to Pray
Musical Praise Sabbath Prayer by Bock and Harnick
An Invitation for Giving & Offertory Followed by our Doxology
We praise thee, O God, our Redeemer, Creator; in grateful devotion, our tribute we bring. We lay it before thee, we come and adore thee, We bless thy holy name, glad praises we sing. Amen.
Closing Hymn SPP #139 I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me
I'm gonna live so God can use me anytime, Lord, and anywhere. I'm gonna live so God can use me anytime, Lord, and anywhere. I'm gonna work so God can use me anytime, Lord, and anywhere. I'm gonna work so God can use me anytime, Lord, and anywhere.
I'm gonna pray so God can use me anytime, Lord, and anywhere. I'm gonna pray so God can use me anytime, Lord, and anywhere. I'm gonna sing so God can use me anytime, Lord, and anywhere. I'm gonna sing so God can use me anytime, Lord, and anywhere.
Benediction & Sending Forth
Choral Blessing
Postlude Gavotte from Holberg Suite by Edvard Greig
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