Bulletin

Welcome to United Christian Parish! Use the bulletin as guidance as you worship.
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OCTOBER 11 ORDER OF WORSHIP

PRELUDE

WELCOME

SONG
“Peaceful Day”
John Melnick
Today’s going to be our peaceful day.
Write it down and pray.
Today’s going to be our peaceful day
As we walk our way.
Greet the rising sun,
Prepared for the day to come,
Breathe in, breathe out, let peace in and worries out.
Today’s going to be my peaceful day.
Today’s going to be your peaceful day.
Today’s going to be our peaceful day.

CALL TO WORSHIP
One:  We gather because God has called us together.
All: We come as God’s beloved people.
One: God has carried us, guided us, and brought us into relationship.
All: We come remembering all that God has done for us.
One: God calls us to love God and to love one another.
All: We come ready to listen and to respond.
One: Let us worship the God who calls us into covenant.
All: We are here. We are listening. We are ready to say yes.

OPENING SONG *
“O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee” (#602)
O Master, let me walk with thee
in lowly paths of service free;
tell me thy secret; help me bear
the strain of toil, the fret of care.

Help me the slow of heart to move
by some clear, winning word of love;
teach me the wayward feet to stay,
and guide them in the homeward way.

Teach me thy patience; still with thee
in closer, dearer company,
in work that keeps faith sweet and strong,
in trust that triumphs over wrong.

In hope that sends a shining ray
far down the future's broadening way,
in peace that only thou canst give,
with thee, O Master, let me live.

CALL TO CONFESSION *
One: The commandments remind us that our relationship with God is inseparable from our relationships with one another.
All: We do not always love God wholeheartedly. We do not always treat our neighbors with care. We sometimes allow greed, envy, anger, or self-interest to get in the way.
One: Let us bring our failures honestly before God, trusting in God’s mercy.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION *
One: God of covenant and steadfast love, you have called us into relationship with you, and yet we often turn away.
All: We become distracted by other things. We use words carelessly. We forget to rest. We fail to honor those who have cared for us. We hurt others through our actions and our words.  We take what is not ours. We allow envy to take root in our hearts. Forgive us.
One: Turn our hearts again toward you. Teach us to love more faithfully, to live more generously, and to treat one another with the dignity and care you desire.
All: Renew your covenant with us and make us people who reflect your love.

MOMENT OF SILENCE

ASSURANCE OF PARDON *
One: Before God gave a single commandment, God reminded the people what God had already done: “I brought you out.” God’s commandments begin not with punishment, but with relationship.
All: We belong to a God who has already reached out to us, carried us, and called us God’s own.
One: Receive God’s grace. Return to God with open hearts. And live in the freedom of God’s steadfast love.
All: Thanks be to God. Amen.

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

MOMENT FOR STEWARDSHIP

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
“All Good Gifts”
Music by Stephen Schwartz; Lyrics by Matthias Claudius (1782); Translated by Jane M. Campbell (1861)
We plow the fields and scatter the good seed on the land.
But it is fed and watered by God's almighty hand.
He sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain.
The breezes and the sunshine and soft refreshing rain.
All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above.
So thank the Lord, oh, thank the Lord for all his love

We thank Thee then, O Father for all things bright and good,
the seed time and the harvest, our life, our health, our food.
No gifts have we to offer for all Thy love imparts
but that which Thou desirest: our humble thankful hearts.
All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above.
So thank the Lord, oh, thank the Lord for all his love

I really want to thank you, Lord.
I want to thank you, Lord, thank you for all of your love.
Oh, thank you, Lord.
I want to thank you, Lord,
oh, thank you, Lord.

SCRIPTURE (Exodus 19:3–7; 20:1–17)

SERMON

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
One: God of covenant, you have called us into relationship—with you and with one another. We pray for your church. Help us remember that our faith is not simply about following rules, but about becoming a community shaped by your love.
All: We pray for our families and relationships. Where there is hurt, bring healing. Where there is distance, create understanding. Where there is conflict, give us courage to seek reconciliation.
One: We pray for our neighbors and communities. Where there is violence, bring peace. Where there is injustice, bring courage and change. Where there is poverty or hunger, move us to compassion and action.
All: We pray for ourselves. Help us pay attention not only to what we do, but to the kind of people we are becoming.  Keep us from envy and greed. Teach us honesty and generosity. Help us honor one another and care for the relationships entrusted to us. And when we fail—as we inevitably will—remind us that your love is greater than our failures. Bring us back to you and back to one another. 
One: Faithful God, hear the prayers we offer and the prayers we carry silently in our hearts. Make us a people who not only hear your word, but live it—with love, justice, mercy, and grace. We pray this is the most beautiful 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 *
“Standing on the Promises” (#552)
Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
through eternal ages let his praises ring;
glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
standing on the promises of God.

Refrain:
Standing, standing,
standing on the promises of God my Savior;
standing, standing,
I'm standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
when the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
by the living Word of God I shall prevail,
standing on the promises of God. [Refrain]

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
bound to him eternally by love's strong cord,
overcoming daily with the Spirit's sword,
standing on the promises of God.  [Refrain]

Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
list'ning every moment to the Spirit's call,
resting in my Savior as my all in all,
standing on the promises of God.  [Refrain]

CLOSING MESSAGE *

POSTLUDE

*Rise in body or spirit