https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nD-a8DUDGsGiD-k8ZuXV7Z_vMffwWLR6/view
Above is the internet link to our recording of worship from Sunday October 18, 2026. To view the recording, copy the link, above, and place it into your browser. Enjoy
Order of Worship, Grafton Community Church, 10-18-26 FINAL
Bill Watson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Grafton Community Church Worship
Time: Meeting – 9:45 a.m. October 18, 2026
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*Password: 099540
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Meeting ID: 235 223 715
It helps to download the FREE Zoom app ahead of time.
Please mute your computer or phone microphone! Make sure there is a red slash through the microphone icon in the lower left-hand corner of your screen.
This will make the service more enjoyable for all.
** For those with health concerns, masks and safe social distance are suggested within the sanctuary, especially so, when singing or responding in prayer! Masks are available at the rear of the sanctuary.
Order of Worship, Grafton Community Church, 10-18-2026 — Autumn Worship
Note: Gathering Music will begin at 9:50 with the Prelude to follow
Musician Amy Cann
Gathering Music—
Prelude — “Somebody's Calling My Name”
Hush, hush, somebody's calling my name (3x)
O my Lord, o my Lord, what shall I do?
Welcome and Announcements (Linda Robertson, Council Chair)
No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!
*Please observe a moment of silence; so we may each offer our prayers and praise to Creator, Christ & Holy Spirit.
*Hymn #4 “Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!
1 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee:
holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty, God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
2 Holy, holy, holy! all the saints adore thee; casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee, God ever-living, through eternity.
3 Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide thee, though the sinful human eye thy glory may not see;
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee, perfect in power, in love, and purity.
4 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! All thy works shall praise thy Name, in earth and sky and sea;
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty, God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
All lyrics © 1995 Chalice Press
Used by Permission. CCLI License
#21383697
* Call to Worship (from “Prayers for the World & Its People,” Iona Abbey Worship Book)
One: Believing that God made and loves the world,
Many: we gather.
One: That it may be reshaped to fulfill God’s purposes,
Many: we pray.
One: To seek a wisdom deeper than our own thinking,
Many: we listen.
One: To honor God who gave us voice,
Many: we worship.
Unison Prayer*
Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit; grant that as we glimpse Your greatness, reflected in Your many gifts, we may always return to You the praise that is Yours alone. We pray for this in Your Names. Amen.
Amen!
*Response: (Hymn # 4, Verse 4)
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! All thy works shall praise thy Name, in earth and sky and sea;
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty, God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
Scripture:
Isaiah 45: 1-7
Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their robes, to open doors before him-- and the gates shall not be closed:
I will go before you and level the mountains; I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron;
I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.
For the sake of my servant Jacob and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name; I give you a title, though you do not know me.
I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides me there is no god. I arm you, though you do not know me,
so that they may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is no one besides me; I am the
LORD, and there is no other.
I form light and create darkness; I make weal and create woe; I the LORD do all these things.
Matthew 22: 15-22
Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap [Jesus] in what he said.
So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one, for you do not regard people with partiality.
Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the Caesar, or not?"
But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites?
Show me the coin used for the tax." And they brought him a denarius.
Then he said to them, "Whose head is this and whose title?"
They answered, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Give therefore to Caesar the things that are the Caesar's and to God the things that are God's."
When they heard this, they were amazed, and they left him and went away.
*Hymn #67 “O God Our Help In Ages Past”
1 O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home!
2 Under the shadow of thy throne still may we dwell secure;
sufficient is thine arm alone, and our defense is sure.
3 Before the hills in order stood, or earth received her frame,
from everlasting thou art God, to endless years the same.
4 A thousand ages, in thy sight, are like an evening gone;
short as the watch that ends the night before the rising sun.
5 Time, like an ever-rolling stream, soon bears us all away;
we fly forgotten, as a dream dies at the opening day.
6 O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
be thou our guide while life shall last, and our eternal home.
Reflection: “Faith, Love & Hope” Pastor Bill Watson
Synopsis: Jesus is asked in this week’s Gospel from Matthew, if it is proper to pay taxes to the emperor? Jesus turns the question on its head and leaves us reason to seek faith, give our love to God and have hope for a brighter future
*Hymn # 618 “How Firm a Foundation”
1 "How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in God's excellent word!
What more can be said than to you God has said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
2 "Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,
for I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
3 "When through deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
for I will be near thee, thy troubles to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
4 "When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
my grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply.
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
5 "The soul that on Jesus still leans for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake!"
Offerings of the People
You can present your offering for the work of Grafton Community Church, using the “Donate Now” button on our Facebook page at The Grafton Church, or on our web site www.graftoncommunitychurch.org (The button may actually say “Shop Now,” but it has the same function.)
Offertory — “Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel?”
Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel, deliver Daniel, deliver Daniel?
Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel, and why not a-every man?
*Response: Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise God all creatures here below – Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise God above the source of gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts.
Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit – Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Offertory Prayer of Dedication
The Benediction & The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who 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, the power, and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen.
Postlude: — “We've Come This Far By Faith”
We've come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord,
Trusting in His holy word, He's never failed me yet
Oh, can't turn around! We've come this far by faith
As the postlude ends, feel free to move about the Sanctuary. Music may continue as you join others for coffee or greet your friends as you exit the Sanctuary. All should feel free to share the peace of this space in the Sanctuary or on Zoom. On Zoom you may unmute your mics and begin virtual coffee hour. (You will temporarily be muted in the Sanctuary.)
In the sanctuary, use appropriate precautions for those with health concerns.*
*Masks are available in the sanctuary for those wishing to use one.
Music Notes
Grafton Prayer List:
Our Planet Earth * Immigrants experiencing or facing detention or deportation in their loneliness and fear *Transgender people and their families *Those enduring times of stress *Those with PTSD & their families *Beloved pets of Grafton *Mary Karam, & the Humes family *Arlene & Ron Carey *Gaelle McLoud *The Rowley family *Carol Bason *Nancy Merrill *Dick Warren *Cecile Fisher Smith *Todd Baker (Pastor Watson’s friend) *Linda Preziosi *Christine Tattersall *Karen Hunt *David Lambert *Irene Rice *Max Brown *Dick Desrochers *Ben Williams (Pastor King’s husband) *Patricia Donatelli *Lorrie Young *Ed Gruelich *Flo & Tim Bosch *Ross Ludeman *The Olsson families. *Candace Damon & the Jacobson family *The Arbuckle family *Christian Rogerson & family *Krista Gay *Lima Leland *Darlene Babbitt (Katherine Gorey’s sister) *Joanne Giel *Frances Alford *Conrad Delia
Those Who Have Lost Loved Ones
*Irene Rice & family *Family & friends of Liam Parker (Michele Chickering’s son) *Family & friends of Barbara Andrews (Meg Gonzalez’ mom) *Family & friends of Bob Haseltine *Family & friends of Denize Schemm *Family & friends of Helen Lanoie (mother of Andre Lanoie) * Family & friends of Bernard “Pete” Haley *Family & friends of Donna Rice *Family & friends of Galen Pinkham *Family & friends of Susan Lathrop *Family & friends of David James Smith (Cecile Smith’s brother in law) *Family & friends of David Fischmann (partner of Katherine Brown) *Family & friends of Estelle Pieth *Family & friends of Dave Robinson *Family & friends of Debbie Wright *Family & friends of Stephan Fitzsimmons (Caidin Domeracki’s grandfather) *Family & friends of Norm Robertson *Family & Friends of Lisa Cashetto (Lorrie Young’s sister-in-law) *Family & friends of Diana Toomey *Family & friends of Jim Webb (Angela Moulton’s Father) *Family & friends of Kenneth Dorko (Pastor Watson’s nephew) *Family & friends of Dennis Scharback *Family & friends of Arthur Park *Family & friends of Sophie Field *Family & friends of Susan Hadden *Family & friends of Ross & Ginger Ludeman *Family & friends of Christine Kent (daughter of Jean & Galen Johnson) *Family & friends of Zoe Schemm
Extended Care:
*Dottie Royal, Bromley Manor, 2595 Depot St., Manchester, VT 05255
*Addie Hall Vogel. Equinox Village, 49 Maple St. Manchester, VT 05255
*Judy & Chuck Dickison, Equinox Village, 49 Maple St. Manchester, VT 05255
*Rev. Catherine Cadieux, Vernon Green Nursing Home, 61 Greenway Dr. Vernon, VT 05354
*Conrad Delia, Charles Meadows, 125 Dover Rd. Millis, MA 02054
Grafton Community Church, 55 Main Street, PO Box 158, Grafton, VT, 05146, United States
(802) 843-2346 Graftonchurch@gmail.com
Our Website: www.graftoncommunitychurch.org
On Facebook: The Grafton Church
Realize Our Hope for Redemption
with Grafton Community Church