https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OA_wTnsU8SQCMM1t3bHMJnRK8-heeDS9/view
Above is the internet link to the recording of our worship service from Sunday 11/23.
To view and listen to the recording, copy the link and place it into your browser.
Next Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent. Join us for this exciting season.
Order of Worship, Grafton Community Church, 11-23-25
Bill Watson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Grafton Community Church Worship
Time: Meeting – 9:45 a.m. November 23, 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, 11-23-25 – Christ the King Sunday
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)
For the Fruit of All Creation (Zach Unke)
We Gather Together (John Carter)
Intermezzo in A (Johannes Brahms)
All the Way My Savior Leads Me (Lloyd Larson)
Jesus Shall Reign (Jonathan W. Lee)
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 #95 “Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun”
1 Jesus shall reign where'er the sun doth its successive journeys run;
his love shall spread from shore to shore till moons shall wax and wane no more.
2 To Christ shall endless prayer be made, and endless praises crown his head;
his name like sweet perfume shall rise with every morning sacrifice;
3 People and realms of every tongue dwell on his love with sweetest song;
and infant voices shall proclaim their early blessings on his name.
4 Blessings abound where'er he reigns; all prisoners leap to lose their chains,
the weary find eternal rest, and all who suffer want are blest.
5 Let every creature rise with song; honors and praise to Christ belong;
angels descend with songs again, and earth repeat the loud amen!
* 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 from Psalm 100
LORD God, you have made us, and we are yours. We are your people, the sheep of your pasture. Thank you for caring for us. We enter your gates with thanksgiving and your courts with praise. Thank you. Your steadfast love endures forever. Amen!
* Response Hymn #95 Verse 1
Jesus shall reign where'er the sun doth its successive journeys run;
his love shall spread from shore to shore till moons shall wax and wane no more.
Scripture:
Deuteronomy 26: 1-2 & 8-11
"When you have come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess and you possess it and settle in it,
you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his name [saying] …
‘The LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders;
and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.
So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O LORD, have given me.' You shall set it down before the LORD your God and bow down before the LORD your God.
Then you and the Levites and the aliens residing among you shall rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household.”
Colossians 1: 11-14
May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, so that you may have all endurance and patience, joyfully
giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.
He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
*Hymn #714 “For the Fruit of All Creation” ©
1 For the fruit of all creation, thanks be to God;
for the gifts to every nation, thanks be to God;
for the plowing, sowing, reaping, silent growth while we are sleeping,
future needs in earth's safekeeping, thanks be to God.
2 In the just reward of labor, God's will is done;
in the help we give our neighbor, God's will is done;
in our worldwide task of caring for the hungry and despairing,
in the harvests we are sharing, God's will is done.
3 For the harvests of the Spirit, thanks be to God;
for the good we all inherit, thanks be to God;
for the wonders that astound us, for the truths that still confound us,
most of all that love has found us, thanks be to God.
All lyrics © 1995 Chalice Press
Used by Permission. CCLI License #21383697
Reflection: “ First Fruits ” Pastor C.J. King
Synopsis: : In ancient Israel, the people were instructed to bring the first fruits of harvest to the temple. What fruits of the spirit are we called to bring to Christ the King today?
*Hymn #559 “All the Way My Savior Leads Me””
1 All the way my Savior leads me; what have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt his tender mercy, who through life has been my Guide?
Heavenly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in him to dwell,
for I know, whate’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well;
for I know, whate’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.
2 All the way my Savior leads me, cheers each winding path I tread,
gives me grace for every trial, feeds me with the living bread;
though my weary steps may falter, and my soul athirst may be,
gushing from the Rock before me, Lo! a spring of joy I see;
gushing from the Rock before me, Lo! a spring of joy I see.
3 All the way my Savior leads me; O the fullness of his love!
Perfect rest to me is promised in my Father’s house above;
when my spirit, clothed immortal, wings its flight to realms of day,
this my song through endless ages: Jesus led me all the way;
this my song through endless ages: "Jesus led me all the way."
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: (Music Minster Ken Olsson)
Count Your Blessings (Faye López)
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)
Jesus Shall Reign (Larry Shackley)
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 *Norm Robertson *Nancy Merrill *Dick Warren *Cecile Fisher Smith *Dennis Scharback *Todd Baker (Pastor Watson’s friend) *Linda Preziosi *Christine Tattersall *Gayle Arbuckle *Jeremiah Olmas (Mary Feder’s friend’s grandson) *Jim Webb (Angela Moulton’s Father) *Karen Hunt *David Lambert *Sophie Field *Irene Rice *Max Brown *Dick Desrochers *Ben Williams (Pastor King’s husband) *Patricia Donatelli *Lorrie Young *Sherry Brown & Family *Ed Gruelich
Those Who Have Lost Loved Ones
*Irene Rice & family *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 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 Paul Nolan (Steve Nolan’s cousin)
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