https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SZeCqWS-J-DoxxUtegcPGR_h-FH59fPb/view
Above is the internet link to our recording of worship from Sunday the 24th of May. Copy the link and place it into your browser so you can view.
Order of Worship, Grafton Community Church, 05-24-26 FINAL
Bill Watson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Grafton Community Church Worship
Time: Meeting – 9:45 a.m. May 24 2026
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Meeting ID: 235 223 715
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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, 05-24-26 Pentecost Sunday
Note: Gathering Music will begin at 9:50 with the Prelude to follow
If you please, wear red for Pentecost on Zoom or in the Sanctuary.
Musician Amy Cann
Gathering Music/Prelude — "Kneel Where Our Loves Are Sleeping" Nella L. Sweet 1867
See Music Notes
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 #237 “On Pentecost They Gathered” ©
1 On Pentecost they gathered quite early in the day,
a band of Christ’s disciples, to worship, sing, and pray.
A mighty wind came blowing, filled all the swirling air,
and tongues of fire a-glowing inspired each person there.
2 The people all around them were startled and amazed
to understand their language, as Christ the Lord they praised.
What universal message, what great good news was here?
The Christ, once dead is risen to vanquish all our fear.
3 God pours the Holy Spirit on all who would believe,
on women, men, and children who would God’s grace receive.
That Spirit knows no limit, bestowing life and power.
The church, formed and reforming, responds in every hour.
4 O Spirit, sent from heaven on that day long ago,
rekindle faith among us in all life’s ebb and flow.
O give us ears to listen and tongues a-flame with praise,
so people of all nations glad songs of joy shall raise.
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, Holy Spirit, hear us when we pray. Breathe fire into our flagging spirits today.
Your mighty wind still lives in power. Renew our church; help us respond to this hour. Amen.
*Response: (Hymn #237 Verse 4)
O Spirit, sent from heaven on that day long ago,
rekindle faith among us in all life’s ebb and flow.
O give us ears to listen and tongues a-flame with praise,
so people of all nations glad songs of joy shall raise.
Scripture:
Acts 2: 1-8 and 11b-13
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Now there were devout Jews from every people under heaven living in Jerusalem.
And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.
Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? …
… In our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.”
All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”
John 20: 19-22
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the [Judean authorities], Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
*Hymn: #254 “Breathe on Me, Breath of God”
1 Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew,
that I may love what thou dost love, and do what thou wouldst do.
2 Breathe on me, Breath of God, until my heart is pure,
until with thee I will one will to do and to endure.
3 Breathe on me, Breath of God, till I am wholly thine,
until this earthly part of me glows with thy fire divine.
4 Breathe on me, Breath of God, so shall I never die,
but live with thee the perfect life of thine eternity.
Reflection: “What Does This Mean?” Pastor C.J. King
Synopsis: Today, we consider two times when the disciples received the Holy Spirit. The first occasion was a private one; the second was very public. What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and how are we called to respond?
*Hymn #253 “Spirit, Come, Dispel Our Sadness”
See Music Notes:
1 Spirit, come, dispel our sadness; pierce the clouds of nature’s night;
come, O Source of joy and gladness, breathe your life, and spread your light.
From the height that knows no measure, as a gracious shower descend,
bringing down the richest treasure we can wish, or God can send.
2 Let your fire heal our dissensions, let your flame refine our goals,
let your peace resolve our tensions, send your dove to soothe our souls.
Let your wind flow fresh within us, sweeping clean all hate and strife
from our hearts; O come and win us for a more abundant life.
3 Author of the new creation, come, anoint us with your power.
Make our hearts your habitation; with your grace our spirits shower.
Hear, O hear our supplication, blessed Spirit, God of peace!
Rest upon this congregation with the fullness of your grace.
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: — Veni Sancte Spiritus (Come, Holy Spirit) Fr. Jacques Berthier/ Taizé community Taizé
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: — "Remembrance" Charles Henrywood
Set to the tune "Finlandia", these words were written for a Welsh service of remembrance in 2009
See Music Notes
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
"Kneel Where Our Loves Are Sleeping"
Kneel where our loves are sleeping, dear ones loved in days gone by,
Here we bow in holy reverence, our bosoms heave the heart-felt sigh.
They fell like brave men, true as steel, and pour'd their blood like rain-
We feel we owe them all we have, and can but kneel and weep again.
Chorus
Kneel where our loves are sleeping,
They lost but still were good and true,
Our fathers, brothers fell still fighting,
We weep, ‘tis all that we can do.
Here we find our noble dead, their spirits soar’d to Him above,
Rest they now about his throne, for God is mercy, God is love.
Then let us pray that we may live, as pure and good as they have been,
That dying we may ask of him, to open the gate and let us in.
Hymn #253 “Spirit, Come, Dispel Our Sadness”
Arranger Joshua Leavitt’s (1794-1873) Vermont connection: He was born in Heath, MA; earned a degree from Yale College; practiced law in Putney, VT; then graduated from Yale Seminary, was ordained and served as a Congregational minister at Stratford, CT, for four years; then he moved to New York City to serve as Secretary of the American Seamens’ Friend Society. He was for many years musical advisor to the most famous revivalist of the Second Great Awakening, Charles Grandison Finney
Remembrance
Grant peace, O Lord, across our strife-torn world, where war divides and greed and dogma drive.
Help us to learn the lessons from the past, that all are human and all pay the price.
Grant rest, O Lord, to those no longer with us; who died protecting us and this their land.
And some there be who no memorial have; who perished are as though they’d never been.
For our tomorrows their todays they gave, and simply asked that in our hearts they'd live.
We heed their call and pledge ourselves again, at dusk and dawn - we will remember them!
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 *Arthur Park *Nancy Merrill *Dick Warren *Cecile Fisher Smith *Dennis Scharback *Todd Baker (Pastor Watson’s friend) *Linda Preziosi *Christine Tattersall *Karen Hunt *David Lambert *Sophie Field *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 *Lima Leland
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 Ginger Ludeman *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)
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, 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