We are an open and affirming member of the United Church of Christ and no matter who you are or where you are in life's journey, you are welcome here. Contact the Pastor, the Rev. Dr. Murray at 631-727-2621 for more information.
Announcements:
We are pleased to announce that Sunday School is available for children on Sundays at 10:00 AM. Please call the church at 631-727-2621 for
The May/ June Beacon Light is now available.
The Alley Cat Thrift Shop is open Tuesdays and Thursdays 10-2 and Saturdays 9- Donations only accepted when the shop is open. Volunteers always welcome.
The March 2024 edition of the Beacon Light is available on our website. If you would like a paper copy, please call the church office at 631-727-2621.
If you would like to join us on Zoom , please follow the link
Join Zoom Meeting:
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pwd=a0FZcDg5MnRqKz-JMQXRLVzIBTGZFQT09 to start or join a scheduled Zoom meeting.
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Sixth Sunday of Easter
SERVICE OF WORD AND SACRAMENT
MAY 5, 2024 10am
OPENING WORDS:
We open our hearts to the presence of God and worship together.
PRELUDE: Pastorale Purvis
(Once the music begins, we ask that you would, please maintain respectful silence)
*CHORAL INTROIT:
We are here this day to share God's love;
We have come with burdens and cares,
For within this place, we are bound as one
In this fellowship, we share.
*CALL TO WORSHIP:
One: Come all who are born of God;
Abide in the love revealed in Jesus Christ.
Many: We come in response to the one who calls us friends.
We are here in obedience to Christ’s command.
One:: Remember God’s steadfast love and faithfulness.
Let hands and voices echo God’s praise.
Many: Let our lips pour out a joyful noise.
Let our hands reflect a serving Savior.
One: Sing a new song to God who does marvelous things.
Obey God’s commandments which are not burdensome.
ALL: We clap our hands and sing for joy.
We live by faith that conquers the world.
*HYMN: O’ My Soul, Bless Your Creator #13
https://youtu.be/-fH8Z6f_siQ
WELCOME
PRAYER OF INVOCATION
…Come, Holy Spirit, to lift us from empty routines to the surprising joy of your love. Loosen our tongues to praise you with sincere delight. Open our hearts to trust your leading through times of difficulty and days of despair. Calm our doubts and guide us through the mires of fear. You have called us together for mutual support
in a time of worship that unites our spirits. We remember that we have been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Teach us to follow where Christ leads….
CHILDREN’S TIME
PASSING OF THE PEACE
ANNOUNCEMENTS, CELEBRATIONS & CONCERNS
Mother’s Day, Next Sunday: We are planning a special service for
Mother’s Day that will be led by the women of our church. Plus, the men will host a Mother’s Day brunch after worship. Please join us.
Riverhead Rotary Garden Festival: Riverhead Rotary’s Garden Festival opens tomorrow May 6 and runs through Sunday May 12, 9 am-6pm at Tanger 3.
A TIME OF PRAYER:
❖ Pastoral Prayer
…Creator of friendships, whose love lifts us from mindless servitude to caring community, we thank you for the guidance of your commandments and the promise of joy in Jesus Christ. We seek to love as we have been loved, to risk life itself for the sake of our sisters and brothers, and to bear fruit that will last. Grant us the strength and courage we need….
❖ Silent Prayer
❖ Lord's Prayer:
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. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, the glory, now and forever. Amen.
OFFERING & OFFERTORY ANTHEM:
The Artist Martin
*DOXOLOGY AND BLESSING OF GIFTS:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, you heavenly host:
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS:
❖ Acts 10:44-48 NT Page 113
❖ Psalm 98 Hymnal Page 686
❖ 1 John 5:1-5 NT Page 213
❖ John 15:9-17 NT Page 96
*GLORIA:
Glory to the Creator, the Christ, the Holy Spirit,
Three-in-one; as it was in the beginning
Is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen. Amen.
SERMON: “Alive in the Spirit, Abiding in Love”
Our readings lead us to consider spheres of influence and intimacy. The sphere of influence includes the people we count as respectable and noteworthy. Too often it's not wide enough as we close ourselves off to others so different from ourselves. The sphere of intimacy is made up of those who define our heart. We're reminded
about the importance of pulling them closer, of letting them know that they are indeed dear to us. And with our lessons, we are reminded of fluid lines as the borders which separate us dissolve. The lessons actually consider three jewels of our religious tradition: faith, friends and family. The moral of the story as captured by the reading is that the more we understand our faith, the more love we will have in our lives as we open ourselves up to embrace the other children of God as friends and family. If and when humankind really takes to heart the lesson of true depth of love that God has for us along with our call to love others, much of the woes of our world can be corrected with the unifying power of God's grace. And that’s what being alive in the spirit and abiding in love is all about.
With our Gospel lesson Jesus continues to prepare his disciples for his physical departure from them, and as in last week's gospel, he continues to build on the concept of abiding in God. Jesus has told the apostles that he is the “true” (v. 1) vine, and that they are “the branches,” who by abiding in God will bear fruit -- the words and actions that reflect true loving-kindness, fruit to the glory of God. But here Jesus goes yet another step farther. He focuses squarely on the importance of love: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." What's more, Jesus tells them he no longer considers them just servants but friends.
It's easy, I think, to skip over this detail because our English word friend, especially in light of Facebook and the like, has lost some of its true significance; consequently "friend" can be considered as just a notch above acquaintance. But the word friend, in its ancient and Biblical meaning was clearly tied to love, a love that binds and unites so that acquaintances-become-friends are those who are understood to be part of one's extended family -- family we're called to love and honor. But when we consider our world "friend" we don't readily see or hear clear love in it. It's not until we go way back to the proto- Germanic root of the word that we learn that
friend comes from "to love, to favor." The word for friend in Biblical Greek is philos; one can see a clear tie to philia signifying a virtuous and loyal love that binds people together. This is true too in Latin: friend is amicus clearly built on amare, and so we
have the Spanish and French words of amigo, and ami. When we really honor Jesus commandment "to love one another as I have love you" it comes down to truly
making an effort to build up true friendship based on deep respect that embraces others. This embrace transforms the once-strangers into extended family members by a shared bond of love. This represents a radical movement, for it takes the outsiders, those who thought to be less-than us because of a lack of understanding, a lack of love, and moves them into the community of our hearts. From friendship, family can be built. That's something that I believe many of us can attest to, as even some of our friends can become every bit as close to us as our blood relatives (and in some cases even more so). We see this in the Bible. When Jesus hangs on the cross, he looks to his mother and then says to John, the beloved disciple, "Behold thy Mother." Paul writes in Romans: "Greet Rufus chosen in the Lord, and greet his mother --a mother to me also." And in 1st and 2nd Timothy, Paul refers to Timothy as his son. The movement from acquaintance to friend to family is the way of faith, a gift of God made possible by love. If we were to truly abide in love that love would extend to other children of God. We would embrace them as friends, and then quite possibly as family. That would certainly go a long way to counter hatred and prejudice, war and acts of terrorism, for although we might not always agree with or, especially as young children, even always like our brothers or sisters, we certainly wouldn't seek to put them to death.
Growing up with a twin sister wasn’t always easy. But such is true for many who have a sibling close to their own age. In the childhood years, there are sure to be disagreements and fights. Yet for me and for many, as we grow, we find that those with whom we once fought are now the closest ones of the heart.
OUR ORDER OF COMMUNION
THE INVITATION AND TIME OF CONFESSION:
❖ Call to Confession
❖ Silent Confession
❖ Unison Prayer of Confession:
Ever-present God, we confess to you our unloving thoughts
and deeds. We live by standards that we bend and break
in our own favor, while ignoring the commandments you
have given. We find it hard to love everyone, for so many act
in unloving ways. It is easier to treat people as things than
listen for their needs. We withhold ourselves rather than
offer our lives, even for our friends. We hoard the gifts you
entrust to us instead of letting them bear fruit for you. Cleanse
us from these destructive ways, freeing us to love as you have
loved us, we pray in Jesus’s name. Amen.
❖ Words of Assurance
THANKSGIVING:
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Pastor: Let us give thanks to God Most High.
People: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Pastor: We give you thanks, God of majesty and mercy,
for calling forth the creation and raising us from dust
by the breath of your being.We bless you for the beauty and bounty of the earth and for the vision of the day when sharing by all will mean scarcity for none.
We remember the covenant you made with your people Israel, and we give you thanks for all our ancestors in faith.We rejoice that you call us to reconciliation with you and all people everywhere and that you remain faithful to your covenant even when we are faithless.We rejoice that you call the entire human family to this table of sacrifice and victory.We come in remembrance and celebration of the gift of Jesus Christ, whom you sent, in the fullness of time, to be the good news.
Born of Mary, our sister in faith, Christ lived among us to reveal the mystery of your Word, to suffer and die on the cross for us, to be raised from death on the third day, and then to live in glory.We bless you, gracious God, for the presence of your Holy Spirit in the church you have gathered. With your sons and daughters of faith in all places and times, we praise you with joy as we say together:
All: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts,
Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory,
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION AND COMMUNAL PROCLAMATION:
Pastor: We remember that on the night of betrayal and desertion,
and on the eve of death, Jesus gathered the disciples for a shared meal of preparation.Jesus took bread, and after giving thanks to God, broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying:
“This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way, he took the cup after supper.
Again he gave God thanks and praise and said:
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as
often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
Therefore, we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
All: Christ’s death, O God we proclaim.
Christ’s resurrection we declare.
Christ’s coming, we await.
Glory be to you, O God.
PRAYERS OF CONSECRATION:
Pastor: Eternal God, we unite in this covenant of faith, recalling Christ’s suffering and death, rejoicing in Christ’s resurrection, and awaiting Christ’s return in victory. We spread your table with these gifts of the earth and of our labor. We present to you our very lives, committed to your service on behalf of all people. We ask you to send your Holy Spirit upon this bread and wine, upon our gifts, and upon us. Strengthenyour universal church that it may be the champion of peace and
justice in all the world. Restore the earth with your grace that is able to make all things new.
ALL: Be present with us as we share this meal,
and throughout all our lives, that we may know you as
the Holy One, who with Christ and the Holy Spirit,
lives forever. Amen.
SHARING THE BREAD AND CUP:
Pastor: Allelujah! Christ our Passover is offered for us.
People: Therefore, let us keep the feast.
Pastor: The gifts of God for the people of God.
We celebrate the grace of God in our midst.
(Please wait until all have been served and we’ll ingest together)
UNISON PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING:
We give you thanks, Almighty God, that you have refreshed us at your table through the body and
blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Continue to heal us, we pray, and strengthen our faith. Increase our
love for one another, and send us forth into the world in courage and peace, rejoicing in the power of
the Holy Spirit; we ask these things in the Name of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
*HYMN: Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ #347
https://youtu.be/7aGWmCan-40
*PASTORAL BENEDICTION
CHORAL BENEDICTION:
Fifth Sunday of Easter
A Service of the Word
April 28, 2024 10am
OPENING WORDS:
We open our hearts to the presence of God and worship together.
PRELUDE: The Abundant Life Parker
(Once the music begins we ask that you would please maintain respectful silence)
*CHORAL INTROIT:
We are here this day to share God's love;
We have come with burdens and cares,
For within this place, we are bound as one
In this fellowship, we share.
*CALL TO WORSHIP:
One: Come to worship God whose love was revealed in Jesus.
Let all the ends of the earth turn to our God.
Many: We will worship the Almighty and sing praises.
We will proclaim good news to others.
One: Beloved, we are called to love as God loved us.
We are to love one another as sisters and brothers.
Many: Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
We seek to let God’s love be perfected in us.
One: Remember that you have been baptized.
God claims you and has high expectations of you.
ALL: Christ is the vine; we are the branches.
We will bear fruit when we abide in the vine.
*HYMN: For the Beauty of the Earth No. 28
https://youtu.be/3pO7MIiICG0
WELCOME
PRAYER OF INVOCATION
…Open our senses to your direction, amazing God, so we may be alert to opportunities you give us. Fill us with good news to share with those who seek meaning for their lives. We are here because we need the good news ourselves. There is much in life that we do not understand. We seek to know your word and to be led by it. Renew within us the vows of baptism, reconfirming in us the covenant promises that
link us to you and to one another. As we meet you here, our hearts are lifted up in praise. May our worship glorify your name and be pleasing to you….
CHILDREN’S TIME
PASSING OF THE PEACE
ANNOUNCEMENTS, CELEBRATIONS & CONCERNS
Call to Meeting: The Trustees are calling a congregational meeting to be held Sunday, May 5, 2024 immediately after our worship service for the sole purpose of voting on a company applying siding to the parsonage.
Mother’s Day, May12: We are planning a special service for Mother’s Day that will be led by the women of our church.Plus, the men will host a Mother’s Day brunch after worship.
Please join us.
A TIME OF PRAYER:
❖ Pastoral Prayer:
…Loving God, whom we praise and glorify as disciples of Jesus Christ, cleanse us today by your word so we may rejoice once more in our baptism and aspire to the perfection of love among us and throughout our world. Prune away the dead debris of our fears and failures so we may become productive branches in the church, reaching out to feed a world starving for genuine love and yearning for community….
❖ Silent Prayer
❖ Lord's Prayer:
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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, the glory, now and forever. Amen.
OFFERING & OFFERTORY
*DOXOLOGY AND BLESSING OF GIFTS:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
raise God above, you heavenly host:
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS:
❖ Acts 8:26-40 NT Page 110
❖ Psalm 22:25-31 HYMNAL Page 633
❖ 1 John 4:7-16 NT Page 213
❖ John 15:1-8 NT Page 95
SERMON: “Nourished”
With thanks to the lessons of the day, I was moved to contemplate two of my favorite topics. The first, as led by the gospel lesson, was gardening and then through that (perhaps because I was a bit hungry when I started) I got to food -- more specifically to nourishment, which given today’s after-worship offering, is also nicely appropriate.
As Jesus teaches about the vine and the non-productive branches, I thought about what I hope to get growing in my garden. Admittedly, I don’t grow a lot of vines. There are no grapes, sour or otherwise, at pastor’s place. However, the vine I do grow is clematis. If they, or really any of my plant, gets to suffering, my first consideration is often the soil. Any lackluster growth, I figure, is likely because the plants aren’t getting the vitamins they need, so I get out the plant food. That regularly brings good help,
but clematis, and even tomatoes for that matter, sometimes need a bit of pruning in addition to the proper nourishment. The weaker bottom sprouts need to get snipped, so the good nourishment can reach the higher branches which will bring the fruit and flowers. The pruning, in addition to the feed, helps insure that growth is promoted for the unneeded shoots can rob the plant of its vigor. And so we prune and deadhead. It’s an apt metaphor for things in our own lives that need some snipping.But as you heard, that’s the only reading of the day with a ready tie to gardening. Yet it didn’t take
much to find a ready tie to nourishment in the first two lessons. The first lesson about the Ethiopian eunuch who needs help to understand scripture, and the second lesson about the indwelling of God that comes when we love others, are also about being fed. But those fruitful considerations are about spiritual nourishment which is, after all, what we’re all about here. My standard prayer after reading the scripture lesson here in church, is for god to bless us with a renewed understanding of God’s living Word that proves nourishment to our souls. And with the rain, I regularly thank God for the rain that nourishes the earth and for God's spirit that nourishes us. Nourishment for the soul is the heart of the first lesson. Phillip, directed by an angel of God, comes
across a man, hears him reading scripture, and asks him if he understands it. I love the honesty of the response: “How can I unless someone guides me.” And so the eunuch invites Phillip to join him, and Phillip takes the time to tutor the one striving to learn. As it turns out, this lesson is so effective, so lifechanging, that the eunuch even requests to be baptized at its conclusion. Both men here provide sound examples for us of ways that we too can feed our soul and promote the growth in us and around us. First, in spite of his limited ability to fully understand the text, the eunuch actually picks up scripture, all by himself, while he’s not even in church, and reads it. Then he welcomes, even invites, another to help him gain some understanding; that is, he recognizes his own weakness and unabashedly seeks the help he needs.
I know the folks in our Bible Study class regularly find nourishment for the soul through our scripture study. I encourage you to give that a try. We’re currently studying the book of Psalms, and there’s lots of good food in that collection.
For me, it’s not just the study that brings nourishment, but the teaching does too. There’s much to be said about the gift of God’s nourishment when we teach and help others. As we share and give what God has given us, we too, are blessed. There’s nourishment for the soul through helping, through the charity of our time and talents. If you were to ask the volunteers in our soup kitchen or in our thrift shop about that, I’m quite certain they, too, will speak of finding nourishment for their souls in the work –although it’ll likely be expressed a bit differently.
Prayer, scripture, and teaching are all key to the nourishment of the soul for me. Yet the biggest spiritual nourishment I know comes from the gift of family and friends. I am really blessed, soulfully nourished, by a loving family and some truly wonderful friends. That my German friends are here for my birthday celebration is a wonderful gift. Those relationships are clear evidence to me that the Spirit of God abides within and around me. And I give thanks to God for them. Nourishment. In addition to the good foods you eat, how are you fed? How are you blooming and growing, and even bearing fruit? How are things with your soul? Consider pruning or deadheading that which is robbing you of God’s good nourishment for you soul. Consider, too, what feeds you spiritually from within. We do well to make more time for those things.
And cultivate love and friendships, for God will certainly nourish you through those things, too.
*HYMN: I Sing a Song of the Saints of God #295
https://youtu.be/tFIy-iUZKhU
*BENEDICTION
CHORAL BENEDICTION:
May the light of God shine on us today.
May the light of God shine on us today.
May it show us where to travel.
Lead us back if we should stray.
May the light of God shine on us today.
POSTLUDE: More Love to Thee O’Christ Doane
…