CHRISTIAN CHURCH (Disciples of Christ)

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

August 16, 2020

2647 CHILI AVENUE ROCHESTER, NEW YORK 14624 585.247.2494

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COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN CHURCH (Disciples of Christ and United Church of Christ)

August 16, 2020 10:00 AM The Reverend Steven Price Pastor

GATHERING Words of Welcome

As we begin our service, just some notes of preparation: 1. For Communion: get a cracker/bread/juice/beverage. 2. Prayer requests – type into the chat function – Our thanks to Beth Fulkerson for

reading them. 3. After the Benediction we’ll have Announcements then Virtual Coffee Hour.

Prelude “My Jesus I Love Thee” Ms. Janet Herman

Call to Worship With Open Arms

With open arms You welcome all who call on Your name—

who acknowledge You as Yahweh God, and look to You in faith.

No one stands outside the circle of Your mercy and love.

And so we come to offer You our worship—

to declare that You are our God,

and that we are Your people.

Through the presence of Your Holy Spirit

open our eyes to see You here;

open our minds to receive Your truth,

open our mouths to speak and sing Your praise.

For You alone are God—

worthy of all praise and worship,

now and to the end of time.

Amen.

Opening Song For Everyone Born, A Place at the Table lyrics within video

As a community that celebrates communion every week the concept of an open table, a place for everyone, is good news indeed.

Sharing with Children “Flat Jesus” The Children of CCC Jesus is With Us at Our Homes!

Painted red, white and brown Are the doors on our houses and doors in our town

When we leave doors wide open on our way out “Close that door!” our mom hollers to us with a shout! (continued)

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As darkness falls, we shut them real tight To keep us all safe while we sleep through the night.

Behind all our doors there’s a family within Our sisters and brothers, our parents, our kin.

This is our HOME built with concrete and wood We live here together, and we think it’s good!

God lives in each home, yes that’s what I’m told. No matter its age, no matter how old.

So let us be grateful for floors, sink and wall For the God who lives with us, and our God who loves all.

PRAYER: Thank you God for loving us and for living with and within us – always. Amen

Special Music “Abide With Me” ~ sung by Eclipse Since Jesus is with us, he abides in our homes; I thought we would listen to a clip

of this beautiful acapella arrangement of “Abide With Me.”

ENGAGING Scripture Reading Isaiah 56:1-8 Lector: Jen Kann

In the first 39 verses of Isaiah, known as “First Isaiah,” the problem of Israel’s relationship with God is diagnosed: lack of trust and faith. In “Second Isaiah,” God promises to restore God’s people. In today’s reading, which introduces us to “Third Isaiah,” the theme is “Now what?” What is expected of God’s people as they return to Jerusalem after years of Exile. The answer to “now what?” might surprise you!

56Thus says the LORD: Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed. 2Happy is the mortal who does this, the one who holds it fast, who keeps the sabbath, not profaning it, and refrains from doing any evil. 3Do not let the foreigner joined to the LORD say, “The LORD will surely separate me from his people”; and do not let the eunuch say, “I am just a dry tree.” 4For thus says the LORD: To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, 5I will give, in my house and within my walls, a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. 6And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it, and hold fast my covenant— 7these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. 8Thus says the Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, I will gather others to them besides those already gathered.

Meditation The Reverend Steven Price

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RESPONDING Song of Preparation “If That Isn’t Love” as sung by The Isaacs HearthisoldgospelsongassungbyTheIsaacs.Note:Itstartsverysoftlybutgraduallygrows.

THE LORD’S SUPPER

Feel free to grab a cracker or slice of bread and small cup of juice before the reading of these words of preparation

and institution of the Lord’s Supper.

Blessing the Bread, the Cup Elder 1: Elaine Page This morning you are invited for Holy Communion in the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ is not the loaf of bread you might see on your screen. The Body of Christ is not even the bread or cracker on your table. The Body of Christ is us; we are strengthened by sharing together this meal of hope and grace and presence.

Elder 2: Fred Brown As the Body of Christ, we recall anew these words and acts of Jesus. Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it and gave it to his disciples saying: “Take and eat, all of you: This is my body, surrendered for you.” The bread of life. TAKE AND EAT.

Elder 1: Jesus also took a cup, and after giving thanks, gave it to his disciples and said: “Take and drink, all of you: This is the seal of a new covenant, my life poured out. I will drink this cup with you again at the table of God’s joy. Whenever you do these things, remember me.”

The cup of blessing. TAKE AND DRINK.

Prayer of Thanksgiving Elder 2: In thanksgiving for this meal of grace, celebrated virtually, we claim that Christ’s love is not limited by buildings made with human hands, nor contained in human ceremonies. Our tongues have tasted the good news and our lives are filled with the Spirit that hovered over creation and blew fresh hope on Pentecost. Amen.

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Prayers for Our Community and the World

For healthcare providers we love: Bethany Akins, Heather Egloff Allen, Amy Benjamin, Ashleigh Brooks, Cindy Cannon, Christopher Foote, Emily Strong Freedman, Beth Gobeli, Julia Hickman-Himes, Kathleen Iannone, Don Lyke, Margo Markesteijn, Rachel Schur Marsala, Erin Mast, Wende McNaney, Mark Ott, Marsha Reed, Feng Shi, Bethany Thompson, Michael Underwood, Gene Ver and Amy Wanck.

Hear now our community prayers read by Beth Fulkerson of the requests noted in our chat function. After request… God in your goodness, grace or mercy… People: Hear our Prayer.

Let us say together the prayer Jesus taught those he loved . . .

The Lord’s Prayer Our Father (or Creator) which 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.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Invitation and Dedication of our Offering (Unison) What we have received from you, O God, we now offer back to you: our treasure, our time, and our lives. Amen

If you are able to give at this time, then your gifts can be received via US Mail, using our new Tithe.ly giving “app,” or sending checks through your bank. Thank you.

GOING FORTH Closing Song Draw the Circle Wide lyrics within video

Let’s join this virtual choir and sing this song of inclusion, reminding us that no one stands outside the circle of God’s mercy and love.

Blessing (based on Psalm 67) God’s blessings have been poured into our lives. God’s light has kissed our faces. Let us go now and share our blessings and reflect God’s light so that others would know God’s love and justice in this world. Amen

Announcements

Virtual Fellowship Time

Elders for the month of August – Elaine Page and Fred Brown

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Today’s ZOOM service was recorded. To access the recording, visit our website at Cccooentoall.org. It should be posted early this week.

1. From the GVA Congregational Life Team: The advent of Covid-19 has pushed us to learn and adapt to new ways of being the Church. At the same time, it has forced each congregation to look at its values and examine what is important. This pandemic will pass but life in our congregations probably will not return to the way it was before. This is a time of great learning and we are interested in what you are learning. The Spirit is at work in our midst. We would like you to briefly respond to six open ended questions noted below:

Steven will facilitate a ZOOM conversation with whoever shows up on Monday, August 17 at 6:30 p.m. An invitation will come from Sandy either Sunday evening and/or Monday.

Questions: 1. What have you liked and what do you not like concerning church life now during this time of Covid 19 as compared to before the pandemic began?

2. As a congregation, have your values changed (or been clarified) as a result of the pandemic?

3. Could you tell us five learnings, marks or insights about your values as a congregation that have emerged during this time as essential?

4. How might these shape your mission and ministry once this time is over?

5. Could you tell us what you have done or learned during this time that surprised you in a good way?

6. How has this time shaped your understanding of what it means to be a community of faith?

2. Brief Board Meeting via ZOOM Sunday, August 23 following virtual coffee hour.

3. VIRTUAL ANIMAL BLESSING: August 30 at 10 a.m. Let us officially bless all of those animals we see filling ZOOM screens every Sunday! Make sure your pet is nearby on Sunday, August 30 to receive a special blessing for their partnership during this pandemic.

4. Fall Schedule – Reminder: Beginning Sunday, September 6 worship will start at 10:30 AM!

News You Can Use at

Community Christian Church

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5. CONFERENCE-WIDE ZOOM BOOK STUDY (Join us for a time of stimulating study and

discussion. Open to clergy & laity.)

RaceTalkand theConspiracyof Silence is a book for a wide range of people—Whites and People of Color, parents, teachers, church members, pastors, small group facilitators, and allies—anyone who seeks constructive conversation about issues related to race. As we study this book, we will learn what it means to be an instrument for change, and what it will take to move from silence and inaction to dialogue and engagement on issues of racial disparity. Join Rev. Dr. Marsha Williams and Rev. Gary Smith for this engaging six-week book study that will give you the practical tools needed to engage in difficult conversations about racism, while working for change within your community. Books are available through Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Wednesdays, August 19 to September 23 12-1:30 p.m. OR 6-7:30 p.m. Pick the time that’s best for you!

PLEASE REGISTER TO RECEIVE THE LOG-IN INFORMATION at: https://bit.ly/UCCNYRaceTalkFlyer

6. Celebrating this week: Anniversaries Birthdays August 17 Alex & Sara Kuehl August 17 Dave Inglis August 18 Bob & Holly Phillips August 20 Angela Homer August 19 Pat & Penny Cannon August 21 Ron Hubbell August 20 Chad & Mandy Kirby August 22 Lisa & Shelly Downing-Forget

¿ OUR CHURCH AT WORK ¿

READY TO SERVE: The Reverend Steven Price, Pastor Pastor Steven can be reached at 733-7121 or RevStevenCCC@gmail.com.

Sandy Hubbell, Office Administrator Sandy can be reached at turkielegs@aol.com or if you need immediate assistance, call her at 617-4009 and leave a message.

COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN CHURCH 2647 Chili Avenue † Rochester, NY 14624 † (585) 247-2494

e-mail address: cccopentoall@aol.com web page: www.cccopentoall.org

The Reverend Steven Price, Pastor (585) 733-7121