https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fO6vW8c6stKVJMfT-LYVjoNM40v1g8F7/view
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Order of Worship, Grafton Community Church, 06-21-26 PRELIM
Bill Watson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Grafton Community Church Worship
Time: Meeting – 9:45 a.m. June 21, 2026
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*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.
** 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, 06-21-26 — Summer Worship —
Note: Gathering Music will begin at 9:50 with the Prelude to follow
Musician Amy Cann
Gathering Music/Prelude — Draw The Circle Wide — Gordon Light
Lyrics in 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 “God of Abraham & Sarah
1 God of Abraham and Sarah, God of Moses, Miriam’s Guide;
God of David and the prophets, God in Jesus glorified;
Up from the dust you raise a people, Breathe in the breath of life of soul;
Down through the years the people praise you Till alleluias make them whole!
2 God who dances in creation, Spinning stars above our heads;
God whose face is scribed in music By whose hand the earth is fed;
Up from the ground you raise the mountains, Raise our spirits lift our eyes.
Down through the years your people praise you Till alleluias flood the skies!
3 God who loves the poor in spirit, God who comforts those who mourn;
Balm for wounds, the friend of sinners Taking the side of earths forlorn;
Up from the depths you raise your people, Giving them courage for the day
Down through the years the people praise you Till alleluias light their way!
4 In our lives from birth to dying, Depth of sorrow, height of joy;
Praising God in every season, Let every key our hearts employ.
Praise is the healing, praise the glory, Praise is the final mystery;
Down through the years let people praise you Till alleluias set them free!
* 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
Faithful God, your love stands firm from generation to generation, your mercy is always abundant.
Give us open and understanding hearts, that having heard your word, we may seek Christ’s presence in
all whom we meet. Amen.
*Response: (Hymn “God of Abraham & Sarah Verse 1 )
God of Abraham and Sarah, God of Moses, Miriam’s Guide;
God of David and the prophets, God in Jesus glorified;
Up from the dust you raise a people, Breathe in the breath of life of soul;
Down through the years the people praise you Till alleluias make them whole!
Scripture:
Genesis 21: 8-21
[Abraham’s son Isaac] grew . . . and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.
But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac.
So she said to Abraham, "Cast out this slave woman with her son [Ishmael], for the son of this slave woman shall not inherit along with my son Isaac."
The matter was very distressing to Abraham on account of his son.
But God said to Abraham, "Do not be distressed because of the boy and because of your slave woman; whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for it is through Isaac that offspring shall be named for you.
As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a nation of [Ishmael] also, because he is your offspring."
So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered about in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.
When the water in the skin was gone, she cast the child under one of the bushes.
Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot, for she said, "Do not let me look on the death of the child." And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept.
And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.
Come, lift up the boy and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make a great nation of him."
Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.
God was with the boy, and he grew up; he lived in the wilderness and became an expert with the bow.
He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
*Hymn: #12 “Source and Sovereign, Rock and Cloud” ©
1 Source and Sovereign, Rock and Cloud, Fortress, Fountain, Shelter, Light
Judge ,Defender, Mercy, Might, Life whose life all life endowed:
[Refrain]
May the church at prayer recall that no single holy name
But the truth that feeds them all is the God whom we proclaim.
2 Word and Wisdom, Root and Vine, Shepherd, Saviour, Servant, Lamb
Well and Water, Bread and Wine, Way who leads us to I AM:
[Refrain]
3 Storm and Stillness, Breath and Dove, Thunder, Tempest, Whirlwind, Fire,
Comfort, Counsellor, Presence, Love, Energies that never tire:
[Refrain]
All lyrics © 1995 Chalice Press
Used by Permission. CCLI License
#21383697
Reflection: “Follow Your Faith” Pastor Bill Watson
Synopsis: In this world there are many faith traditions, and this Sunday we study the foundations of three. In doing this we might gain an understanding of God’s love for all creation. In that, lies a kernel of wisdom, that in seeking a truth beyond our meager understanding; we find the faith that our God desires of us all.
*Hymn #86 “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
1 Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father, there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not; as thou hast been thou forever wilt be.
[Refrain]
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided. Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
[Refrain]
2 Summer and winter and springtime and harvest sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love. (Refrain)
[Refrain]
3 Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! (Refrain)
[Refrain]
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 — Peace, Salaam, Shalom* — Pat Humphries and Sandy Opatow
Words To Offertory: * The music is on last page of bulletin.
Peace, Salaam, Shalom
Peace, Salaam, Shalom
(We believe in peace…)
(We will work for peace…)
(In Jerusalem, in Ramallah, in Tel Aviv, in Washington)
(We can live in peace)
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: — Hymn # 435 God Be With You — Thomas Dorsey
* A note about the Postlude: Thomas Dorsey is best known to us as the writer of "Precious Lord, Take My Hand", often referenced as Martin Luther King Jr's favorite. In honor of Juneteenth, we'll end with his best-known "going-out" hymn.
God be with you, God be with you, God be with you till we meet again,
O God be with you, God be with you, God be with you till we meet again.
till we meet (till we meet,) till we meet, (till we meet,) till we meet our spirits keep,
till we meet (till we meet,) till we meet, (till we meet,) our souls in love do keep,
O till we meet (Till we meet,) keep us humble at thy feet, God be with us till we meet again.
If we never more shall meet you, if we never more shall greet you, God be with you till we meet again,
keep on working for the Master, he’ll be with you here and after, God be with you till we meet again.
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
Draw the Circle Wide
Draw the circle wide, draw it wider still.
Let this be our song: no one stands alone.
Standing side by side, draw the circle, draw the circle wide...
God the still-point of the circle, Round you all creation turns
Nothing lost but held forever in God's gracious arms
Let our hearts touch far horizons, So encompass great and small
Let our loving know no borders Faithful to God's call
Let the dreams we dream be larger Than we've ever dreamed before
Let the dream of Christ be in us - Open every door!
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 *Peter Howard
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) *Family & friends of Dennis Scharback *Family & friends of Arthur Park *Family & friends of Sophie Field
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
Realize Our Hope for Redemption
with Grafton Community Church