https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rGWnk76LWOn7SWLdv27JdEGtedOdA5Tq/view
Above is the internet link to our recording of worship from Sunday 7/6, led by Pastor Bill Watson.
To view the recording, please copy the link and place it into your browser.
Thanks to all who came out to the Rushton’s Farm for Hot Dog Night on Sunday!
Next Sunday we do NOT have morning worship, rather we have Evensong at 5:30
featuring Tricia Suriani and David Naughton singing inspirational music
with music and arrangements provided by Music Minister Ken Olsson.
Simple dinner to follow downstairs.
ALL are welcome
Order of Worship, Grafton Community Church, 07-06-25
Bill Watson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Grafton Community Church Worship
Time: Meeting – 9:45 a.m. July 06, 2025
Join Zoom Meeting
*Password: 099540
*You may need to enter this to join. Write it down; so, you have it when/if your computer/phone asks you to enter it. It may keep you out of the “waiting room.”
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.
**In the sanctuary, masks and a safe social distance are suggested, especially when singing or responding in prayer!!!
Order of Worship, Grafton Community Church, 07-06-25 – Season of Pentecost
Prelude (Ken Olsson, Music Minister)
(After entering Zoom or the Sanctuary, please use mute or observe silence to allow all to prepare for worship. Thank you & Blessings)
Meditation on “Beach Spring” (Jason W. Krug)
It Is Well with My Soul (Joel Raney)
Für Elise (Ludwig von Beethoven)
America, the Beautiful (Mark Hayes)
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (Jason W. Krug)
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 #720 “American, the Beautiful”
1 O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain;
for purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed full grace on thee,
and crown thy good with servanthood from sea to shining sea.
2 O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife,
who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine,
till all success be nobleness, and every gain divine.
3 O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years
thine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God mend thine every flaw,
confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law.
* 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, we know we are commanded to help heal the world. Grant us, by the power of the Spirit, the zeal to proclaim the good news of peace and justice that allows all Creation to gather into life with You. Amen!
* Response Hymn #720, (tune) Verse is from the original version of the poem
O beautiful for glory-tale of liberating strife,
When once or twice, for all’s avail, we lavished precious life!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain, the banner of the free!
Scripture:
Isaiah 66:10 – 14
Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her–
that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast, that you may drink deeply with delight from her glorious bosom.
For thus says the LORD: I will extend prosperity to her like a river and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing stream, and you shall nurse and be carried on her arm and bounced on her knees.
As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice; your bodies shall flourish like the grass, and it shall be known that the power of the LORD is with his servants, and his indignation is against his enemies.
Galatians 6: 7 – 10 & 16
Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow.
If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh, but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit.
So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest-time, if we do not give up.
So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all and especially for those of the family of faith.
As for those who will follow this rule--peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
*Hymn # 461 “Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service”
1 Lord, whose love in humble service bore the weight of human need,
who upon the cross, forsaken, worked your mercy’s perfect deed:
we, your servants, bring the worship not of voice alone, but heart;
consecrating to your purpose ev’ry gift which you impart.
2 Still your children wander homeless; still the hungry cry for bread;
still the captives long for freedom; still in grief we mourn our dead.
As you, Lord, in deep compassion healed the sick and freed the soul,
by your Spirit send your power to our world to make it whole.
3 As we worship, grant us vision, till your love’s revealing light
in its height and depth and greatness dawns upon our quickened sight,
making known the needs and burdens your compassion bids us bear,
stirring us to tireless service, your abundant life to share.
4 Called by worship to your service, forth in your dear name we go,
to the child, the youth, the aged, love in living deeds to show;
hope and health, good will and comfort, counsel, aid and peace we give,
that your servants, Lord, in freedom may your mercy know and live.
Reflection: “Our God – One Law” Pastor Bill Watson
Synopsis: From Moses to Isaiah to Jesus and to Paul, the scripture repeats one lesson over and over: Do unto others, care for the poor and the weak. We know the lesson, but find it difficult to live into it fully. The good news is: The more we try, the closer we come to knowing fully our God.
*Hymn # 2 “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”
1 Joyful, joyful, we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
hearts unfold like flowers before thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive our fear and doubt away;
giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day.
2 All thy works with joy surround thee, earth and heaven reflect thy rays,
stars and angels sing around thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
chanting bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in thee.
3 Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blest,
well-spring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou the Father, Christ our Brother, all who live in love are thine;
teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.
4 Mortals, join the happy chorus; stars of morning, take your part;
love divine is reigning o'er us, binding those of tender heart.
Ever singing, move we onward, victors in the midst of strife,
joyful music lifts us sunward in the triumph song of life.
Holy Communion
(Ken Olsson Music Minister)
Let Us Break Bread Together (Mark Hayes)
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. You will not run afoul of Martin Luther’s edicts on indulgences.)
Offertory: (Music Minster Ken Olsson)
Peaceful Piano #16 (Mark Hayes)
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: (Music Minister Ken Olsson)
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (Mark Hayes)
Please greet your neighbors on Zoom or at a “Safe Social Distance” in the sanctuary, as the postlude ends. On Zoom unmute your mikes, share greetings and the peace of this virtual space.
Masks are optional but suggested in the sanctuary!
Grafton Prayer List:
Our Planet Earth * Immigrants experiencing or facing detention or deportation in their loneliness and fear *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 *Arthur Park) *Pastor Harold Noyes *Sylven Lang *Norm Robertson *Robert Johnson (Ken Olsson’s father-in-law) *Nancy Merrill *Dick Warren *Dave Robinson *Michelle Dufort *Joyce Olsson (Ken’s mom) *Cecile Fisher Smith *Dennis Scharback *Todd Baker (Pastor Watson’s friend) *Linda Preziosi *Paul Nolan (Steve Nolan’s cousin) *Debbie Wright *Christine Tattersall *Gayle Arbuckle *JoAnn Supple (Sherry Brown’s mother) *Jeremiah Olmas (Mary Feder’s friend’s grandson) *Jessica Tragellis (Dear Nolan Friend) *Karen Knight *Stephan Fitzsimmons (Caidin Domeracki’s grandfather) *Jim Webb (Angela Moulton’s Father) *Gloria Rynders (Pastor Watson’s step granddaughter) *Karen Hunt
Those Who Have Lost Loved Ones
*Irene Rice & family *Family & friends of Bill Brown *Family & friends of Luann Ward *Family & friends of Helene Delaney (Steven Humes’ mother-in-law) *Family & friends of Ron Metzger (Pastor Watson’s cousin) *Family & friends of Simon Kimber (Christine Tattersall’s brother-in-law) *Family & friends of Peggy O’Keefe Lafave *Family & friends of Liam Parker (Michele Chickering’s son) *Family & friends of Jerry Goldlust (Christine Tattersall’s close friend) *Family & friends of Bob Wright *Family & friends of Barbara Andrews (Meg Gonzalez’ mom) *Family & friends of Bob Haseltine *Family & friends of Donald F.M. Bolton *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 Clint Lee *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
Extended Care:
*Dottie Royal, Bromley Manor, 2595 Depot St., Manchester, VT 05255
*Rev. Catherine Cadieux, Sterling House, 33 Atkinson Street, Bellows Falls VT 05101
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
The Holy Spirit Awaits You!
at Grafton Community Church