August 26, 2018
Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Prelude: Andante from Sonata # 4 Felix Mendelssohn
Chiming of the Hour
*Hymn: #269 Lead On, O King Eternal!
Welcome
Joys and Concerns
Introit: #406 We Are Standing on Holy Ground
Call to Worship
One: With profound happiness, we welcome one another. How good it is to approach the courts of our God!
All: Happy are those who live in God’s house! Singing our praise to God fills us with joy.
One: Here we welcome both friend and stranger. All peoples of the earth are God’s children.
All: We greet one another by name in Jesus’ name. Together we extol the name of our God.
One: Open your hearts to receive new strength. Open your lives to renewed understandings.
All: Surely God will equip us to face our world. We will be ambassadors for God wherever we go.
One: Come, let us worship God together!
Prayer of Invocation (in unison)
We come together in this house of prayer, trusting you O God, to give us everything we need. As you provide for the birds of the air, you supply life’s necessities for your children to share. We choose to respond to your promises by identifying ourselves as your servant people who seek to be guided by your word. We gather to remember and reclaim your covenant with us. Fleeing from tents of wickedness, we gather to do the tasks you entrust to us here, praying for strength to do our daily work as a ministry in your name. Amen.
Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession
Alert us now, eternal Spirit, to your presence among us in this place. Together, we confess that we have been busy with so many things that we have often forgotten you. We have made little gods out of buildings and furnishings and programs. Sometimes our pet beliefs and interpretations have been all-consuming as we do battle to correct and presume to defend you. We have forgotten that your love is stronger than any force on earth. Forgive our mistrust of its power, and draw us back into the company of disciples who are learning and growing in love. Hear us now as we turn to you with our silent confessions, seeking your mercy, forgiveness and grace.
Moment of silent prayer
Assurance of God’s Love
Gloria Patri: #583 Glory to God, glory to God, glory in the highest! Glory to God, glory to God, alleluia, alleluia!
Responsive Reading – Psalm 84
(Page 667 HS in the pew bible)
Reading from the Hebrew Scriptures –
1 Kings 8:22-30
(Page 387 HS in the pew bible)
*Hymn: #846 Fight The Good Fight
Offering of our Gifts
Anthem: His Eye Is On The Sparrow Martin & Gabriel
Jordan Rose Lee, soprano
*Doxology: #607 Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise Christ, all people here below; praise Holy Spirit ever more; praise Triune God whom we adore. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication
Gospel Reading – Ephesians 6:10-20
(Page 238 NT in the pew bible)
Sermon: “No Shortcuts to Heaven”
Reverend Dr. Diane Monti-Catania
Pastoral Prayer, Silent Prayer & Lord’s Prayer
Response: #469 Lord, Listen to your Children Praying
(sung by all) Lord, listen to your children praying; Lord, send your Spirit in this place. Lord, listen to your children praying. Send us love; send us power; send us grace.
*Hymn: #838 Standing On the Promises
Benediction
Response: Standing on the Promises
Postlude: Allegro from Sonata # 4 Felix Mendelssohn
(* Please stand if able.)
Welcome Statement
We, the Salisbury Congregational Church, seek to love God with all our hearts, souls and minds and love our neighbors as ourselves.
This Church declares itself to be Open and Affirming to all for participation, membership, leadership and employment regardless of race, ancestry, class, gender identity, physical/mental ability or sexual orientation.
We further declare ourselves to be Affirming of each individual as a child of God, celebrating the total identity of each person.
As a declared Open and Affirming Congregation, we commit ourselves to work toward ending ignorance, fear, hatred, prejudice and discrimination against any person.
No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!
If you are visiting us today, Welcome!
Please sign our guest book and introduce yourself to our Pastor or to one of the Deacons. Fill out a welcome card in the pew to be put on our email list!
Please see an usher if you would like to use a hearing device. Please join us in the Parish Hall for refreshments and fellowship following worship. All are welcome. Today’s hosts are Linda & John Estabrook.
Many thanks to:
Clare Rashkoff for serving as our lay reader
Stephanie Tierney & Roger Crain for ushering
Jordan Rose Lee for providing beautiful music
Prayer List
Salvo Family, Tristan Sorensen, Tom Splaine, Joe K., Linda & Peter Davis, John & Jan Hazard, Stan & Pam Brown, Sal Accardo, Bob “Bullet” Sherwood, Mary O’Neill, Laura Hawks, Debbie Merwin, Jessica Whelton, Keith Grant, Jack Ritchie, Marian Ferguson, Libby Bishop, Miles Bishop, Andrew Gunderson, Gail Weigel, Paula & Herman Blumberg, Harriet, Emily, Anne, Bill, Peter, Connie, Cheryl and those among us who struggle with anxiety, depression and addiction
The family & friends of Shirley Rogers, Nancy Tuckerman, Ann Kaufman and Jane Fitting
CALENDAR
Monday: 3:30 pm Parish Hall Library in use
Wednesday: 9 am Staff Meeting
OPPORTUNITIES
Rising Strong: Women’s Retreat to be held with United Congregational Church, Bridgeport from Friday, September 7 – Sunday, September 9 at Silver Lake Conference Center. Saturday, September 8 will feature a mini ‘Mindfulness Retreat’ led by Kathy Voldstad.
Come for part or all! See Pastor Diane for more info.
PRAYER LIST
On Sunday, September 2nd, we will be beginning a new prayer list. Please contact the office if you would like to add a name to the prayer list. Names may be added at any time by calling the office 860-435-2442 or emailing [email protected]. Please make sure you have permission from someone to add their name to this public list.