The Congregational Church

of

 North Stonington, U.C.C.

89 Main Street

North Stonington, CT 06359

  860-535-0379

NoStoUCC@comcast.net

www.northstoningtonucc.com

July 25, 2021

TENTH SUNDAY OF PENTECOST                                                                                       10 am

“As an Open and Affirming church:

      We respect the worth and dignity of all persons who come into our church family regardless of race, age, marital standing, gender, economic status, mental or physical challenges, nationality or sexual orientation.  We promise to support one another in our personal struggles, to understand and accept differences in one another, and pray to strengthen our love and acceptance.”

      *indicates those who are able are invited to stand

WELCOME AND THE WORK OF THE CHURCH

PRELUDE                   “For the Beauty of the Earth”  - C. Kocher, arr. C. Rice          

SILENT MEDITATION IN PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP

*CALL TO WORSHIP                                                            Psalm 145:10-19,  adapted

                        All your works praise you, Lord;

                         And tell of the glory of your kingdom.

We are witnesses to the mighty acts, and glorious splendor. 

                        The Lord is trustworthy in all that is promised,

                        And  faithful in all deeds.

The Lord upholds all who fall, lifting the bent and broken. 

                        All eyes look to you, and are blessed in their needs. 

You open your hand and satisfy the desires

of every living thing.  The Lord is near to all who call! 

*HYMN #566                        Heaven and Earth . . .                                          Gott Sei Dank

*Invocation and lord’s prayer   (debts – debtors)

Generous God from whom comes every morsel we eat and every gift we are moved to share: test us, challenge us, feed us, that our eyes see and our minds realize the bounty that is all around us.  May our ears be able to hear and recognize the prophet’s word.  May we be strengthened to follow where Christ leads.  In His name we pray: Our Father. . .

*GLORIA PATRI  (#759)

Glory to the Creator, the Christ, the Holy Spirit

Three in One; As it was in the beginning,

Is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. 

*PASSING OF THE PEACE

            May the peace of Christ be with you.

                        And also with you.

(We greet one another with a sign of peace)

SCRIPTURE LESSONS          (NT page 97)                                                 John 6:1-21

                                               (NT page 193)                  Ephesians 3:14-21

TIME FOR CHILDREN

SERMON                                              Do You Believe Miracles?

MOMENTS OF SILENCE

*HYMN #542                        Born of God, Eternal Savior                 Weisse Flaggen

OFFERING OF OUR TITHES AND GIFTS

OFFERTORY       “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing – arr.  C. Rice

*DOXOLOGY

            Praise God from Whom all blessing flow;

            Praise God all creatures here below;

            Praise God above, you heavenly host;

            Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  Amen.

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

*HYMN #410            If You But Trust in God to Guide You                 Neumark

*BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE                  “All Creatures of Our God and King”  - arr. C. Rice

Welcome to worship.   Thank you for worshiping with us today!   Social distancing is requested but it is your choice, mask or no mask.  The service is available at www.northstoningtonucc.com, posted on Sundays and available all week.

We light one white candle each Sunday to remember and pray for military and civilians serving our country and in harm’s way.

The flowers area given to the glory of God by the Thaxton Family in honor of David Thaxton. 

The Steeple To honor or remember someone by lighting the steeple, please contact the church office. 

We welcome guest pianist, Carolyn Bennet who was a music teacher at Wheeler High School for 14 years, including a one-year sabbatical at the Library of Congress.  She is now an Instructional Coordinator for VHS Learning. She has earned degrees from Messiah College, the University of Hartford, and is currently studying at Sacred Heart University.  She lives in North Stonington and is excited to serve the congregation this morning.  She has participated with us in numerous ecumenical Thanksgiving Services and we thank her for her music ministry with us today. 

Serving in worship today:  Amy Foster, deacon.

We Pray For:   those affected by the CoVID-19; the grieving; those serving overseas; all battling cancer; all struggling with financial crisis; those working to bear the burdens of others, and the healing of:  Stephanie Murray; Anita Ames; Larry; Grace (Teddy) Graber; Seya Bishop, Janet Allen; Joyce Cook; Duane Witter; Deb Janda; George McCullen (and wife Arline); George Danley; Mark Ball (Pat Danley’s son); Marj Misovich; Dave Larson; Mike Laing; David Roode; Quinn, Melanie Ouellette's 6 year-old niece; Claire Whitney (Sue Pianka’s

mom); Karen Clarke; Susan Eldridge; and the Bliven family. 

Office Hours:  Office hours are 9 am to 1 pm Monday through Thursday. 

Church School In-person and On-line 10:30 a.m. Sundays. 

Join Miss Kay and others for lessons and prayers.  It will be good to see you face to face.   

The Hunger Awareness for PNC is usually in June, but we will extend it through the summer. Monetary donations can either be given in the offering plate using the memo, PNC or a green envelope OR send it directly to the PNC Center. Food items can be brought to church.

Rosemary will be on vacation starting July 19, returning to the office August 2.

Worship Notes:
Hymn #566, Heaven and Earth, and Sea and Air, J Neander; Gott Sei Dank, Johann Freylinghausen.  NCH

Hymn #542, Born of God, Eternal Savior, Somerset T. C. Lowry;

Weisse Flaggen, Tochter Sion.  ©1995 Pilgrim Press.

Hymn #410, If You But Trust in God to Guide You; Neumark.  Words and Music Georg Neumark.  Trans. C. Winkworth.  Public Domain

All Hymns from the (NCH) New Century Hymnal; © 1995 The Pilgrim Press, have been granted permission for this one-time use.      

Permission to reprint, podcast, and / or stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #735340-A. All rights reserved.  Permissions granted under CCLI License # 11212116

Prayer of Invocation adapted from “Led By Love”, Lavon Baylor, p 125

[During the storm at sea] the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose. … And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land. - Acts 27:42-44 (KJV)

      Had it not been for a Roman centurion named Julius, the Christian faith might never have made it to Rome and spread throughout the Empire. AS well as Paul, he saved the lives of Silas and the other prisoners. Yet after Acts 27, his name is never mentioned again.

        The debt that Christians owe the centurion makes me wonder about other people to whom I owe my life.  The church community, family and friends, yes, but there are many others. Perhaps you’re indebted to them, too: public health workers, hospital staff, aides and housekeepers; people who stock shelves at grocery stores and harvest the crops; truck drivers and ambulance drivers. The list goes on and on.

Global Ministries Prayers for China   Almighty God, You have blessed us and provided for our needs, especially during this pandemic. As the disciples were confused by the problem of how to feed the thousands until they offered all that they had to Jesus. Lord, we open minds and hearts seeking a new vision in this difficult time to serve.   We pray for the people in China, especially those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and earthquakes in Yunnan province. Comfort the families of those who are deceased and give strength to those who are recovering. Lord, we pray for the people who are living in poverty in China.  And we pray for the churches, seminaries, our mission partners, church leaders, and workers in China. God, help us to hear what you are still speaking and calling for our total commitment to caring and sharing your love with the people today and forever. 

In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

Michael G.  Noonan, Director of Music

Kay Lautzenheiser, Christian Education Coordinator

Rosemary Kuemper, Church Secretary

Charlotte Melia, Sexton

Office hours:  Monday –Thursday, 9AM - 1 PM