Bulletin

Welcome to United Christian Parish! Use the bulletin as guidance as you worship.
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JULY 19 ORDER OF WORSHIP

PRELUDE

WELCOME

CALL TO WORSHIP
One: Let us praise God!
All: Let us sing to the One who has given us life, now and forever.
One: Let us rejoice in the One who calls us by name, who is love incarnate.
All: In gratitude we come to worship the living God.

OPENING SONG *
“Morning Has Broken” (#145)
Morning has broken
like the first morning;
blackbird has spoken
like the first bird.
Praise for the singing!
Praise for the morning!
Praise for them, springing
fresh from the Word!

Sweet the rain’s new fall
sunlit from heaven,
like the first dewfall
on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness
of the wet garden,
sprung in completeness
where his feet pass.

Mine is the sunlight!
Mine is the morning
born of the one light
Eden saw play!
Praise with elation,
praise every morning,
God’s recreation
of the new day!

CALL TO CONFESSION *

PRAYER OF CONFESSION *
based on prayer of Walter Rauschenbusch, 1913
One: From the sins that divide us, from all class bitterness and race hatred, from forgetfulness of You, and indifference to our fellow travelers:
All: Good Lord deliver us.
One: From corruption of the civil government, from greed, and from arbitrary love of power,
All: Good Lord deliver us.
One: From the luxury that debilitates and from the poverty that degrades,
All: Good Lord, deliver us.
One: That it may please You to unite the inhabitants of every city, state, and nation in the bonds of peace and concord,
All: We beseech You to hear us, Good Lord.
One: That your followers may be strong to achieve justice, and bid the oppressed go free,
All: We beseech You to hear us, Good Lord.
One: That the watchword of Christians, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” may become a command with power; and your kingdom may come on earth;
All: We beseech You to hear us, Good Lord.

MOMENT OF SILENCE

One: Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON *

GLORIA *
“Glory to God”
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
“Come! Live in the Light”
Come! Live in the light!
Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!
We are called to be light for the kingdom,
to live in the freedom of the city of God.

Refrain:
We are called to act with justice;
we are called to love tenderly;
we are called to serve one another,
to walk humbly with God.

Come! Open your heart!
Show your mercy to all those in fear!
We are called to be hope for the hopeless
so hatred and violence will be no more. [Refrain]

Sing! Sing a new song!
Sing of that great day when all will be one!
God will reign, and we'll walk with each other
as sisters and brothers united in love.  [Refrain]

SCRIPTURE (Isaiah 44:6-8; Matthew 13:24-30)

HOMILY

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
One: Almighty God, You are the First and the Last, the One who declares, “There is no other Rock.” We come before You with gratitude and trust, lifting our prayers for the world You love. Lord, strengthen Your Church to stand firm in the truth of who You are. In a world of competing voices, may we proclaim with courage that You alone are God. Help us to sow seeds of grace, mercy, and justice, even when the harvest is not yet visible.
All: Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
One: God of all nations, we pray for all leaders and communities facing division, conflict, and uncertainty. Where weeds of injustice threaten to choke out hope, plant in us the will to work for peace, equity, and compassion. We pray for our nation’s President, that You would grant wisdom that is rooted in truth, courage that is anchored in justice, and compassion that reflects Your love for all people. We also pray for the members of Congress. In the midst of differing opinions and complex challenges, give them the grace to listen with respect, to speak with honesty, and to act with fairness.
All: Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
One: Rock of our salvation, be near to those who are weary, ill, grieving, or afraid. Let them know they are not alone, for You search our hearts and hold us in steadfast love. May we be Your hands and feet to comfort and serve.
All: Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
One: Creator God, You sow life abundantly. Teach us to care for the earth with reverence, guarding the good seed You have planted, and resisting the forces that bring harm.
All: Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
One: Holy Spirit, guide us to live faithfully among both wheat and weeds, trusting that the final harvest belongs to You. Give us patience, discernment, and hope until the day when all is made new.
All: Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
One: Eternal God, we entrust these prayers to You, confident in Your power to redeem and restore. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who taught us to pray…

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 *
“O God of Every Nation” (#435)
O God of every nation,
of every race and land,
redeem your whole creation
with your almighty hand;
where hate and fear divide us,
and bitter threats are hurled,
in love and mercy guide us,
and heal our strife-torn world.

From search for wealth and power
and scorn of truth and right,
from trust in bombs that shower
destruction through the night,
from pride of race and station
and blindness to your way,
deliver every nation,
eternal God, we pray.

Lord, strengthen all who labor
that all may find release
from fear of rattling saber,
from dread of war's increase;
when hope and courage falter,
Lord, let your voice be heard;
with faith that none can alter,
your servants undergird.

Keep bright in us the vision
of days when war shall cease,
when hatred and division
give way to love and peace,
till dawns the morning glorious
when truth and justice reign,
and Christ shall rule victorious
o'er all the world's domain.

CLOSING MESSAGE *

POSTLUDE

*Rise in body or spirit