Bulletin

Welcome to United Christian Parish! Use the bulletin as guidance as you worship.
(download the bulletin as a PDF)

JUNE 29 ORDER OF WORSHIP

PRELUDE
“There Is a Balm in Gilead”

WELCOME

CALL TO WORSHIP *                                                      
One: We are God’s church:
All: We come together to worship.
One: God has called us into God’s family:
All: We come together to share our lives.
One: God has given us his Spirit:
All: We come together to celebrate.
One: God has showered us with riches:
All: We go out to share God’s goodness with others.
One: We are God’s church:
All: We come together to worship.

OPENING SONG *
“The Church’s One Foundation” (#386)
The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ our Lord;
we are Christ's new creation by water and the word;
From heaven Christ came and sought us in love to set us free;
with precious blood Christ bought us for all eternity.

Elect from every nation, yet one o’er all the earth,
one charter of salvation, one God, one faith, one birth,
One name together blessing, one holy food we share,
to one hope we are pressing, at one in work and prayer.

'Mid toil and tribulation, and tumult of our war,
we wait the consummation of peace forevermore,
Till with the vision glorious, our longing eyes are blessed,
and the great church victorious shall be the church at rest.

Yet we on earth have union with God, the Three-in-One,
and mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won.
O happy ones and holy! God, give us grace that we,
like them, the meek and lowly, may live eternally.

CALL TO CONFESSION *

PRAYER OF CONFESSION *
One: Merciful God, we confess that we have not always lived as a loving and united community. 
All: We have been slow to forgive, quick to judge, and have often focused on our own needs rather than the needs of others within our community. 
One: We have sometimes allowed division and discord to take root, and we have failed to be a beacon of your love and grace to those around us. 
All: Forgive us, Lord, for our selfishness, our lack of empathy, and our failure to live up to the high calling you have placed upon us. 
One: Help us to see the needs of those around us, to open our hearts to one another, and to work together to build a stronger and more loving community. 
All: Renew in us a spirit of forgiveness, compassion, and unity, that we may be a testament to your love in the world. 

WORDS OF FORGIVENESS *
One: You are more beloved than you can ever know, and God is working in you and in the world beyond our wildest imagining. The beginning of all that is forgiveness. So know that you are indeed forgiven, and be at peace.
All: In Jesus Christ we are all forgiven! Alleluia, Amen.

GLORIA *
Glory to God, whose goodness shines on me,
and to the Son, whose grace has pardoned me,
and to the Spirit, whose love has set me free.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen.
World without end, without end. Amen.
World without end, without end. Amen.
World without end, without end. Amen.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen.

PASSING THE PEACE

OFFERING

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.

CHILDREN’S TIME

SONG
“O Savior, Hear Me!”
arr. from Gluck, adaptation by Dudley Buck

SCRIPTURE (Acts 2:42-47)

SERMON

INSTALLATION OF NEW OFFICERS

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
One: God of all times and places, this day we are thankful for the joys of community. We give thanks for the gift of community in-person and online. And we celebrate how you are present in both. We see signs of love everywhere—from handshakes and hugs to conversations and praying for one another. We pray for our community, that you continue to be with us in our happiness and weariness, celebrations and struggles. 
All: Merciful God, we pray for our world that faces so much violence. We pray especially for the people suffering war conditions and the threat of war.  May leaders at every level learn to speak in favor of humanity and justice. We pray that all people can walk the path of peace, the path of forgiveness, the path of equality. 
One: Embracing God, we pray for those who suffer in our community and throughout the world. We remember all those who face daily persecution and discrimination. Enfold them in your loving arms.
All: Almighty God, we offer prayers for those voices that have been silenced. We ask for your spirit of reconciliation to be near. We pray that there may be an end to bullying in schools, harassment in homes and workplaces, discriminatory laws and practices.  May we learn the call to be bearers of peace and spread this vision through love and solidarity.
One: In silence now, we offer concerns and prayers of our hearts, knowing you are always there to listen even when we may not have the words.…We pray all these things in the name of your son Jesus Christ who taught us to pray, saying…

LORD’S PRAYER
All: 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.

CLOSING SONG *
“Filled with the Spirit's Power” (#266)
Filled with the Spirit's power, all hearts as one,
the infant church confessed Christ's victory won.
O Holy Spirit, in the church today
so less your unifying power display.

Now with the mind of Christ set us on fire,
that unity may be our great desire.
Give joy and peace; give faith to know your call,
and readiness in each to work for all.

Widen our love, good Spirit, to embrace
in your strong care all those of every race.
Like wind and fire with life among us move,
till we are known as Christ's, and Christians prove.

CLOSING MESSAGE

POSTLUDE
“Jesus! The Very Thought of Thee”
J.B. Dykes, arr. by Wilda J. Auld

*Rise in body or spirit