Order of Worship, Grafton Community Church, 11-09-25
Bill Watson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Grafton Community Church Worship
Time: Meeting – 9:45 a.m. November 9, 2025
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**In the sanctuary, masks and a safe social distance are suggested, especially when singing or responding in prayer!!!
Order of Worship, Grafton Community Church, 11-09-25 – 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)
I Want Jesus to Walk with Me (Mark Hayes)
The God of Abraham Praise (Larry Shackley)
Moonlight Sonata (Ludwig Von Beethoven)
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (Lloyd Larson)
I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord (Ralph Long)
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 #274 “I Love Your Church, O God”
1 I love your church, O God, on earth your blest abode,
the people our redeemer saved with his own precious blood.
2 I love your church, O God, whose walls before you stand,
dear as the apple of your eye, and graven on your hand.
3 In love my tears shall fall, in love my prayers ascend,
to serve your church, my toils be given, till toils and cares shall end.
4 Beyond my highest joys, I prize your people's ways,
the sweet communion, solemn vows, the hymns of love and praise.
5 Sure as your truth shall last, to Zion shall be given
the brightest glories earth can yield, and brighter bliss of heaven.
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
God of life, we praise you, for your abiding presence, with us from generation to generation. Remind us that you abide not in buildings, but in the people who call on your name. Help us to keep your presence at the center of the work of this church, and in the community around us. Amen!
* Response Hymn #274 Verse 3
In love my tears shall fall, in love my prayers ascend,
to serve your church, my toils be given, till toils and cares shall end.
Scripture:
Haggai 1:13-2:5 (Hah-GUY)
Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord’s message, saying, “I am with you, says the Lord.”
And the Lord stirred up the spirit of . . . [the] governor of Judah, and the spirit of . . . the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people, and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God,
on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month.
In the second year of King Darius, [the Second] in the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai, saying:
Speak now to [the] . . . governor of Judah, and to the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, and say:
Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Is it not in your sight as nothing?
Yet now take courage, . . . all you people of the land, says the Lord; work, for I am with you, says the Lord of hosts,
according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit abides among you; do not fear.
*Hymn #25 “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”
1 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, who rules all creation.
O my soul, worship the wellspring of health and salvation.
All ye who hear, now to God's temple draw near.
Join me in glad adoration.
2 Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth,
who, as on wings of an eagle uplifted, sustaineth.
Hast thou not seen? All that is needful hath been
granted in what God ordaineth?
3 Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work, and defend thee.
Surely God's goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
who with great love doth befriend thee.
4 Praise to the Lord, who doth nourish thy life and restore thee,
fitting thee well for the tasks that are ever before thee.
Then to thy need God as a mother doth speed,
spreading the wings of grace o'er thee.
5 Praise to the Lord! O let all of God's peoples and races,
all that hath life and breath, give thanks for manifold graces.
Let the Amen sound from God's people again.
Gladly forever sing praises.
Reflection: “God’s Church: More Than a Building” Pastor C.J. King
Synopsis: The prophet Haggai speaks to the people of Judah about the rebuilding of the Jewish temple after their exile in Babylon. He asks, “Do you remember its former glory?” How can our history inspire us to look forward?.
*Hymn #24 “The God of Abraham Praise”
1 The God of Abraham praise. All praised be the Name,
who was and is and is to be, is still the same;
the one eternal God, ere all that now appears;
the First, the Last, beyond all thought through timeless years!
2 God's Spirit flowing free, high surging where it will--
in prophet's word it spoke of old-- is speaking still.
Established is God's law, and changeless it shall stand,
deep writ upon the human heart, on sea, or land.
3 God has eternal life implanted in the soul.
God's love shall be our strength and stay, while ages roll.
Praise to the living God! All praised be the Name,
who was, and is, and is to be, is still the same!
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 Minister Ken Olsson)
Grafton Community Church Choir
The Spirit of the Lord (Ken Olsson)
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)
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (John Carter)
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 *JoAnn Supple (Sherry Brown’s mother) *Jeremiah Olmas (Mary Feder’s friend’s grandson) *Jim Webb (Angela Moulton’s Father) *Karen Hunt *David Lambert *Sophie Field * Robert Waldron (Sherry Brown’s nephew) *Irene Rice *Max Brown *Dick Desrochers *Ben Williams (Pastor King’s husband) *Patricia Donatelli *Lorrie Young
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
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at Grafton Community Church