Order of Service - September 7, 2014 "Love Reaches Out"

Date of Service: 
September 7, 2014
September 7, 2014
 
 
Gathering Hymn                                     Surprised by joy no song can tell, no thought can compass, here we stand
                                                               to celebrate eternal love, to reach for one another’s hand.
 
                                                              When we are lonely and afraid, in need of kindness, here we stand
                                                              to celebrate eternal love, to reach for one another’s hand.
 
Call to Worship                                       #437 Let Us Worship
 
Chalice Lighting                                      Patricia Wright
 
Prelude                                                   Introduction from Porgy and Bess                              George Gershwin
 
Opening Hymn                                        Foundations (words below)
 
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.
 
Offering for the Westside Food Bank and Turning Point
 
Time for All Ages                                         Brave Raven by Aaron McEmrys
                                                                    told by Catherine Farmer Loya, Director of Religious Education
 
Song of Blessing                                          As you leave this friendly place, love give light to ev’ry face.
                                                                     May the kindness which you learn, light your hearts ‘til you return.
 
Life Together
 
Offertory                                                        I Will Be Earth                                                           Gwyneth Walker
 
Devotional Time
 
Anthem                                                          Love from Four Sacred Songs                                 Dominick DiOrio
 
Message                                                        Love Reaches Out                                   Rev. Rebecca Benefiel Bijur
 
Closing Hymn                                                #1015 I Know I Can
 
Benediction
 
Musical Response                                          Love is…                                                                  Marjorie Herman
 
 
Service Notes
 
Foundations
by Cynthia Cottam
 
Like a chalice burning bright,
Many years of sunlight
Shining down on clay and sand
Warm our feet, our souls, our hands.
 
Nestled in this special place
Sharing thoughts and songs
We can feel this building’s grace
Our church home where all belong.
 
Families both far and near
Friends who’ve stayed and friends who’ve gone
All who’ve known a welcome here
Are with us in our song.
 
Here we feel the earth around
And see the sky above
Here we’ve known our heart’s true hope
Here we’ve shared our true heart’s love.
 
Service participants: Denise Helton, Sanna Egan, Tom Foretich, Dave Hallinan, Patrick Meighan, Greg
Wood, Linda van Ligten, Robert Kory, Phyllis Kory, Alicia van Ooyen, Karen Patterson, Peggy Rhoads,
Nancy Babbitt, Rima Snyder
 
Today’s floral dedication is in honor of Robert Runk, beloved brother of Marguerite Spears and uncle of
Diana Spears.
 
Choir: Soprano - Lauren Callendar, Rebecca Crawford, Diane Fletcher-Hoppe, Tonya Hylton, Cindy
Kelly, Kim Miller; Alto - Sue Bickford, Shelly Blaisdell, Teri Bond, Janet Goodwin, Jyvonne Haskin, Karen
Hsu Patterson, Rima Snyder; Tenor - Eric Huang, Liam Mina, Gabriel Paredes, Richard Scher; Bass - Tom
Ahern, Norb Gallery, James Hayden, Larry Howard, Brigham Johnson.
 
Our Community Offering this month will go to the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN).
Founded by a group of Salvadoran refugees whose mission was to secure legal status for the thousands of
Central Americans fleeing civil war, CARECEN received 501C(3) status in 1983. Over the past 30 years,
CARECEN has transformed itself from a small grassroots group to the largest Central American
organization in the country. A current focus of CARECEN’s work is to support unaccompanied immigrant
children with legal representation, health and counseling services, and advocacy.