Ringing of the Hour

Prelude & Bringing in the Light of God

Welcoming

All who are able, please stand

Call to Worship
Leader: We gather this day to worship our God, whose words and ways challenge
us.
People: God invites us to lose our selfishness to find ourselves.
Leader: God calls us to be fools in the world to show forth the wisdom of Christ.
People: God urges us to empty ourselves to discover life’s fullness.
Leader: God bids us to be obedient to a divine will, so we might know true
freedom.
People: We come to worship our Creator, seeking God’s touch that will challenge our faith to grow.

Prayer of Invocation
Great and gentle God, we thank you for this hour of worship. Deepen our prayer.
Teach us to understand ourselves, to be reconciled with one another, and to love
you with profound joy. Lead us into simplicity of faith and honesty of spirit. Give
us strength, as individuals and as a congregation, that we may be strengthened in
temptation and renewed in grace. This we ask in the name of your Son our Savior,
Jesus Christ. Amen.

Opening Hymn: “Sing Praise to God, Who Reigns Above” RED 20

Words of Assurance
All: This is the good news. By Christ’s word and example we learn that divine
love has no bounds. Grace is unending. Those who hunger and thirst will be
satisfied. Those who mourn will be comforted. Those who are lost will be
found. In Christ we are forgiven, and our lives and hopes are renewed. Thanks
be to God.

Scripture Reading(s) Psalm 91:1-2; 9-16 Lynda Overlock
Luke 4:1-13 Ed Lynch

Sermon Title: “With a Few Little Words” Rev. Elva Merry

Hymn:  “Lord, Jesus Who through Forty Days” NCH 211

Sharing Time – Our Joys and Concerns

Time of Silent Reflection & Lord’s Prayer

Offertory Message
Thank you for sharing your gifts for the ministry with
The United Congregational Church of Holyoke

Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above ye heavenly host;
Praise the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen!

Prayer of Dedication
Faithful God, bless the gifts we bring to your altar today. We give in gratitude for
your abundant gifts to us. As we give gratefully, we reach out to offer hope of
wholeness to our fragmented world. Use us in ministry, we pray, to bring goodness
to the world and glory to your name, Amen.

Closing Hymn: “Lift High the Cross” NCH 198

Benediction
Pastor: People of God, our service of worship has ended. Let us go forth to carry
on our service of love, knowing that our God goes before us. And may the blessing
of God Almighty: Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit, be upon you this day, and for all
the days that are to come. Amen.

Postlude

Ringing of the Hour

Prelude & Bringing in the Light of God

Welcoming

All who are able, please stand

Call to Worship
One: Come and see what God has done
ALL: Once we were no people but now we are God’s people
One: Come and see what God is doing
ALL: As God’s own, we gather today as Christs body
One: Come and be part of what God will do
ALL: Whether in joy or in sorrow, we will proclaim God’s steadfast love.

Prayer of Invocation
Holy One, we thank you that in Jesus Christ you have built a house not made with
hands, a people among whom you live. We thank you that you have called us and
that we belong to you. We gather now to know the touch of your Spirit, that we may
be impowered to serve you serve you in the world . Hear us now as we sing your
praise.

Opening Hymn: “When Morning Gilds the Skies” FOG 322

Words of Assurance
Holy One, loving mother and father of us all, you promise to be with us whenever
two or three are gathered in your name. You offer your unending presence among
us, in our lives and in the beauty of creation that surrounds us. We give you thanks
for your forgiving and unending love.

Scripture Reading Luke 9:28-36 Rev. Sue Tarantino

Sermon Title: “Even Jesus Had to Go Back to Work”

Hymn: “We Have Come at Christ’s Own Bidding” NCH 182

Sharing Time – Our Joys and Concerns

Time of Silent Reflection & Lord’s Prayer

Offertory Message and Second Offering Margaret’s Pantry
Thank you for sharing your gifts for the ministry with
The United Congregational Church of Holyoke

Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above ye heavenly host;
Praise the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen!

Prayer of Dedication
*Communion As we gather at table this morning, may this bread and cup remind
us of Jesus’ table fellowship and of his healing relationship with us. May our
fellowship with one another and our care for one another become for us the real
presence of Jesus in our midst. (Everyone and anyone is welcome to this
table…God’s table. You don’t have to be a member of this church or any church to
share the bread and drink of the vine).

One: We remember that the night before Jesus would be betrayed and crucified, he
sat among his friends and took bread, blessed it, broke it, and said, “Take and eat,
for this is my body given for you. As often as you do it, do it in remembrance of me.”
After the supper had ended, Jesus took the cup, blessed it, and said, “Drink from it,
all of you, for this, is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for
the forgiveness of sins.” Whenever we share this bread and cup, my friends, we
remember the compassion and love Jesus taught and the call to follow Christ in all
we do.
After distribution:
One: Let us pray. Holy Creator, we remember the sacrifice of Jesus and all who
follow to bring love and justice to the world. May this bread and drink nourish us as
they symbolize Christ’s essence in all of us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn “God be with you ‘til we meet again” FOG 523

Benediction
As we gather at table this morning, may this bread and cup remind us of
Jesus’ table fellowship and of his healing relationship with us. May our
fellowship with one another and our care for one another become for us
the real presence of Jesus in our midst.

Postlude

Ringing of the Hour

Prelude & Bringing in the Light of God

Welcoming

All who are able, please stand

Call to Worship from Psalm 37
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who
prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices.
Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath. Do not fret—it leads only to evil.
The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their refuge in the time of
trouble.
The Lord helps them and rescues them; he rescues them from the wicked, and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

Unison Prayer of Invocation
Lord, open our hearts and our minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that as
the scriptures are read, as the hymns are sung, as our prayers are shared, and
as your Word is spoken that we may hear with joy what you say to us today.
Amen.

Opening Hymn:  “How Great Thou Art” FOG # 2

Words of Assurance – Psalm 121 Rev. Bill Ault

Scripture Reading(s)
Deliverance Genesis 45: 3-11,15 Tim Damon
Do Not Judge Luke 6: 27-38 Paula Thouin

Sermon Title: Do Not Judge Rev. Bill Ault

Hymn: “Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart” FOG #147

Sharing Time – Our Joys and Concerns

Time of Silent Reflection & Lord’s Prayer

Offertory Message
Thank you for sharing your gifts for the ministry with
The United Congregational Church of Holyoke

Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above ye heavenly host;
Praise the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen!

Prayer of Dedication
Closing Hymn “Come Holy Spirit, Dove Divine” FOG #559

Benediction

Postlude

Ringing of the Hour

Prelude & Bringing in the Light of God

Welcoming

All who are able, please stand
Call to Worship
Let us come with open hearts and minds to recognize that as we share our
communion meal as Jesus and the disciples did in that upper room, we, too are called to be disciples. May we share God’s love with each other

Unison Prayer of Confession
We confess to you, almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, that we
have sinned in thought, word, and deed. Make us truly contrite. Fill us with a holy awareness of our sin and give us grace to amend our lives according to your Word, for the glory of your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Opening Hymn: “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” FOG 118

Words of Assurance

Scripture Lessons The Gift of Love 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Ed Lynch

Gospel Lesson Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth Luke 4: 21-30 Lynda Overlock

Sermon Title: Faith, Hope & Love Pastor Bill Ault

Hymn: “Fairest Lord Jesus” Crusader’s hymn FOG 240

Sharing Time – Our Joys and Concerns

Pastoral Prayer

Time of Silent Reflection & Lord’s Prayer

Offertory Message and Second Offering Margaret’s Pantry
Thank you for sharing your gifts for the ministry with
The United Congregational Church of Holyoke

Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above ye heavenly host;
Praise the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen!

Prayer of Dedication

Communion (Everyone and anyone is welcome to this table…God’s table. You don’t have to be a member of this church or any church to share the bread and drink of the vine).
One: We remember that the night before Jesus would be betrayed and crucified, he sat among his friends and took bread, blessed it, broke it, and said, “Take and eat, for this is my body given for you. As often as you do it, do it in remembrance of me.”
After the supper had ended, Jesus took the cup, blessed it, and said, “Drink from it, all of you, for this, is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Whenever we share this bread and cup, my friends, we remember the compassion and love Jesus taught and the call to follow Christ in all we do.

After distribution:
One: Let us pray. Holy Creator, we remember the sacrifice of Jesus and all who follow to bring love and justice to the world. May this bread and drink nourish us as they symbolize Christ’s essence in all of us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn “God of Grace and God of Glory” FOG 528

Benediction

Postlude

Ringing of the Hour

Prelude & Bringing in the Light of God

Welcoming
All who are able, please stand

Call to Worship
Leader: Come, let us worship the Holy One, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Let us worship in song, in silence, in listening, in prayer, and in action.
People: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be
acceptable to You, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Leader: Come, let us listen and consider the sacred story, the law of the Lord, and the poems of praise. By these we are warned and made wise.
People: The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The instructions of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple. The decrees of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.
Leader: A word from the Holy One is more precious than gold and sweeter than honey. Come, listen. Come, worship. Come, pray and praise.

Prayer of Invocation
All: Holy and gracious God, awaken us this hour to the glory of Your presence. Shine among us, so that the dullness within and without may be pushed back to reveal what is true and life-giving. Enable us to see the world as You created it to be, as You created us to be. May the light of Christ shine within us this day and all days. Amen.

Opening Hymn: “Arise your Light is Come” NCH 164

Scripture Reading Psalm 19 Myra Cardona – Grammo

I Corinthians 12: 12-31a Robert Grammo

Sermon Title: United or Un-tied ?

Hymn: “God of Change and Glory” NCH 177

Sharing Time – Our Joys and Concerns

Time of Silent Reflection & Lord’s Prayer

Offertory Message
Thank you for sharing your gifts for the ministry with
The United Congregational Church of Holyoke

Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above ye heavenly host;
Praise the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen!

Prayer of Dedication
All: Creating God, all that we have comes from You and Your creation. Help us to be humble and grateful for Your gifts. Receive our simple gifts in response for we bring them with thanksgiving and hope for a shared future with our neighbors and continuing mission with Christ our savior. Amen.

Closing Hymn “Called as Partners in Christ’s Service” NCH 495

Benediction
Leader: Let us go forth into the new seasons of our lives.
People: We go to share our gifts and to celebrate the gifts of others.
Leader: Let us go with caring awareness for the world and all that is in it.
People: We go to discover the needs and opportunities around us.
Leader: Let us go forth in Christ’s peace and be led out by the Spirit’s joy.
All: We go in God’s continuing presence, with the power to love and the strength to serve. Amen

Postlude