Bulletin

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

SEPTEMBER 21 ORDER OF WORSHIP

PRELUDE

WELCOME

CALL TO WORSHIP *                                                      
One: God of our fathers and mothers—of all the generations who have come before us—holy is your name.
All: We gather in your presence with praise and thanksgiving for the faithful love you have shown toward your people, for the many blessings you have given to us.
One: Thank you for your faithful presence among us, even when we are not fully aware of it.
All: Continue to reveal yourself to us.
One: Open our eyes to see you here among us; open our ears to hear your Word.
All: For surely, you are with us in this place.

OPENING SONG (#369) *
“Blessed Assurance”
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

Refrain: This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love. [Refrain]

Perfect submission, all is at rest;
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love. [Refrain]

CALL TO CONFESSION *

PRAYER OF CONFESSION *
All: We confess that, like Jacob, we have sinned against you. We, too, are often preoccupied with our own plans and anxieties, running from the consequences of our actions rather than turning to you. We get lost in our journey, so focused on our earthly troubles and desires that we fail to recognize you in our midst. Forgive us for being spiritually blind and for not knowing you are with us in unexpected places and moments of desperation.
One: Thank you God, for loving us in spite of who we have been and who we are. Thank you for seeing in us the people that we could become. Thank you for unrelenting love that pursues us, apprehends us and, if we let it, transforms us.
All: We are awed when we consider that the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob has asked to be our God. May we respond in faith by aspiring to be the people  you have called us to be, your people. 

WORDS OF FORGIVENESS *
One: Hear the good news. The same God who appeared to Jacob in a desolate place is with us today. God's grace and blessings flow from an overflowing cup, a testament to God's love for us. Even when we feel unworthy, God's love endures.
All: Thanks be to God! In Christ, we are set free—forgiven, loved, and made new. 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 Christ, all people here below;
praise Holy Spirit evermore;
praise Triune God, whom we adore.
Amen.

CHILDREN’S TIME

SONG
“Open the Eyes of My Heart”

SCRIPTURE (Genesis 27:1-4; 15-23; 28:10-17)

SERMON

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
One: God of promise, you met Jacob in a barren place and gave him a vision of your steadfast love. Awaken your Church to your presence in every place.
All: Like Jacob, may we recognize holy ground in the midst of ordinary life. Help us to proclaim your promises clearly, live as your covenant people, and offer welcome to all who seek your grace.
One: God of all the earth, you stand above the nations and yet come close to every land. Grant wisdom and humility to leaders, and may justice roll down like water.
All: Where there is conflict, bring peace. Where there is injustice, bring righteousness. And where there is fear, bring hope grounded in your justice and truth.
One: God who met Jacob as he fled into the unknown, be near to all who feel lost, afraid, or alone. We pray for refugees and migrants, for the unemployed and unhoused, for the grieving and the sick.
All: Surround them with your care and show them that you are with them and will not leave them.
One: God of this place, open our eyes to see that you are here among us. May our homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, and schools become places where your love is made known.
All: Teach us to treat every person we meet as someone standing on holy ground.  Strengthen us to be faithful witnesses—serving our neighbors, praying for one another, and walking humbly with you.
One: God of dreams and promises, you are nearer than we know. Open our eyes to your presence, stir our hearts to respond to your call, and lead us in your faithfulness, now and always.
All: Strengthen us to walk in your promises. By your Spirit, guide us until we too can say with Jacob: "Surely the Lord is in this place."
One: We lift this prayer in the mighty name of Jesus, 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 *
“We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder” (#418)
We are climbing Jacob’s ladder;
we are climbing Jacob’s ladder,
we are climbing Jacob’s ladder;
soldiers of the cross.

Every round goes higher, higher;
every round goes higher, higher,
every round goes higher, higher;
soldiers of the cross.

Sinner, do you love my Jesus?
Sinner, do you love my Jesus?
Sinner, do you love my Jesus?
Soldiers of the cross.

If you love him, why not serve him?
If you love him, why not serve him?
If you love him, why not serve him?
Soldiers of the cross.

We are climbing higher, higher;
we are climbing higher, higher,
we are climbing higher, higher;
soldiers of the cross.

CLOSING MESSAGE
One: Our worship is ended. The stories have been told.
All: God heard us, and now God calls us out, to live and love and be God’s people today and always.
One: As we go from here, hear again the promises of God, made long ago to our ancestor Jacob, and still true for us today:
All: I am the Lord your God, the God of Abraham and Isaac. Know that I am with you, and will keep you wherever you go. I will not leave you until I have done everything that I have promised.
One: Let’s go from here in the assurance that our faithful God goes with us…Amen.

RESPONSE
“Sevenfold Amen”

POSTLUDE

*Rise in body or spirit