Order of Service                           June 15, 2014

 

 

*** Gathering Hymn                                  Oh, I woke up this morning with my mind stayed on freedom…

                                                                      Hallelu, hallelelu, halleluia.

                                                                      I was walking and talking with my mind stayed on freedom…

                                                                      Hallelu, hallelelu, halleluia.

 

*** Please stand in body or spirit.

 

Call to Worship                                           Rev. Rebecca Benefiel Bijur

 

Prelude                                                        “Lord, How Come Me Here?”                                        arr. Sylvia Olden Lee

 

Chalice Lighting                                         Mark Christiansen

 

*** Opening Hymn                                     #1045 There is a Balm in Gilead

 

*** Covenant                                                Love is the doctrine of this church.

                                                                      The quest for truth is its sacrament,

                                                                       And service is its prayer.

                                                                      To dwell together in peace;

                                                                       To seek knowledge in freedom;

                                                                       To serve humankind in fellowship;

                                                                       Thus do we covenant with each other.

 

*** Hymn of Praise                                      From all that dwell below the skies

                                                                        Let songs of hope and faith arise

                                                                        Let peace, goodwill on earth be sung

                                                                        Through every land, by every tongue.                   – based on Isaac Watts

 

Offering for the Westside Food Bank

 

Story for All Ages                                          All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom

                                                                                                                         by Angela Johnson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis

 

Song of Blessing                                        Go now in peace, go now in peace,

                                                                       May the spirit of love surround you

                                                                       As you go, as you go

                                                                       On your way.                                                                               – Natalie Sleeth

 

A Time for Community

 

Offertory                                                        “Roun’ About de Mountain”                                                  arr. Roland Hayes

 

Devotional Time

        Pastoral Prayer

        Silence

        Sung Response                                   #1015 I Know I Can

 

Responsive Reading                                  #586 The Idea of Democracy Abraham Lincoln

 

Music for the Morning                                   “I Am Seeking for a City”                                         arr. Jacqueline Hairston

 

 

*** Closing Hymn                                          #156 Oh, Freedom

 

Please remain standing in body or spirit and hold hands for the benediction.

 

*** Benediction

 

Please be seated for the postlude.

 

Postlude                                                        “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”                                                arr. H.T. Burleigh

 

Extinguishing the Chalice

 

 

Greeters:                                                        Dwight Flowers & David Olson

Ushers:                                                           Ned Wright & Dan Patterson

Coffee:                                                            Alicia Van Ooyen & Kirk Attebury

Bookstore:                                                      Nancy Babbitt

Backyard Bounty:                                          Sue Bickford

 

 

This morning's flowers are dedicated to Annaliva Martin-Straw and Sophia Martin-Straw by their very

proud mother. Annalivia has graduated from 8th grade, and Sophia has graduated from 5th grade, and

they will be moving up to high school and middle school in September. I celebrate your successes, and I

love you more than words can ever say.

 

Our guest musician this morning, Gertrude Bradley, is a lyrico-spinto soprano with an extensive

background in the performance of opera (particularly Puccini), musical theater, art song, and spirituals.

She has appeared in concerts in premiere venues throughout The United States, Taiwan, Spain, Israel,

Switzerland, Germany, and elsewhere. She is a featured soloist at Crenshaw Christian Center in Los

Angeles, has sung numerous recitals for African Americans for Los Angeles Opera, and is a former

member of the world-renowned Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers.

 

This month, 50% of the non-pledge offering will go to Common Ground: The Westside HIV Community

Center. Now housed within the Venice Family Clinic, Common Ground is the only HIV agency on the

Westside of Los Angeles and is committed to helping everyone know their HIV status and making sure that people living with the virus find - and stay connected to - medical care.