https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-Dz8ikEUGvKI7T2MbSsOi6TX35JtDbot/view
Above is the internet link to the recording of Communion Worship from Sunday 2/2/25 led by Pastor CJ King and with special music from Ken Olsson and his daughter Jessie.
Copy the link and place it into your browser so you can view the recording.
Order of Worship, Grafton Community Church, 02-02-25
Bill Watson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Grafton Community Church Worship
Time: Meeting – 9:45 a.m. February 2, 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 optional. We recommend care and consideration, especially when singing or responding in prayer!!!
Order of Worship, Grafton Community Church, 02-02-25 — Fourth Sunday After Epiphany with
Holy Communion
Prelude (Ken Olsson, Music Minister)
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (Lloyd Larson)
Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart (Janet Vogt)
Intermezzo in A (Johannes Brahms)
Come Down, O Love Divine (Don McAfee)
They’ll Know We Are Christians (Mark Hayes)
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 #494 “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” ©
(written by Pastor Peter Scholtes of Chicago, inspired by the 1960s Civil Rights Movement)
1 We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord, We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,
And we pray that all unity will one day be restored:
[Refrain] And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
2 We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand, We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand,
And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land:
[Refrain]
3 We will work with each other, we will work side by side, We will work with each other, we will work side by side,
And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride:
[Refrain]
4 All praise to the Father, from whom all things come, And all praise to Christ Jesus, God’s only Son,
And all praise to the Spirit who makes us one.
[Refrain]
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
Gracious God, You have called us to share the good news of Your love. We know that Your love makes the impossible possible, not through magic, but by transforming the human heart. Teach us again the great message of love, and let us know that You are with us in these times. Give us courage to be your faithful witnesses. We ask this in Jesus' Name. AMEN..
*Response: ( Hymn #494 Refrain)
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
Scripture:
1 Corinthians 13: 1 – 13
If I speak in the tongues of humans and of angels but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give away all my possessions and if I hand over my body so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant
or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs;
it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.
For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part,
but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end.
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways.
For now we see only a reflection, as in a mirror, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.
And now faith, hope, and love remain, these three, and the greatest of these is love.
Matthew 22: 34-40
When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together,
and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.
“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”
He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
This is the greatest and first commandment.
And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
*Hymn #517 “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”
1 Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven, to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling, all thy faithful mercies crown;
Jesus, thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation, enter every trembling heart.
2 Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit into every troubled breast;
let us all in thee inherit, let us find the promised rest;
take away the love of sinning, alpha and omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning, set our hearts at liberty.
3 Come, almighty to deliver, let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return and never, never more thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray and praise thee without ceasing, glory in thy perfect love.
4 Finish then thy new creation, pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee;
changed from glory into glory, till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love, and praise.
Reflection: “ All We Need is Love? ” Pastor C.J. King
Synopsis: In his first public address, Jesus said that he had been anointed to proclaim good news to the poor. Today, he and St. Peter proclaim that love should be the foundation of all of our words and actions. What message are we called to proclaim, and is it grounded in love?
*Hymn #582 “Come Down, O Love Divine”
1 Come down, O Love divine, seek now this soul of mine,
and visit it with your own ardor glowing;
O Comforter, draw near, within my heart appear,
and kindle it, your holy flame bestowing.
2 O let it freely burn, till earthly passions turn
to dust and ashes in its heat consuming;
and let your glorious light shine ever on my sight,
and clothe me round, the while my path illuming.
3 And so the yearning strong, with which the soul will long,
shall far outpass the power of human telling;
for none can guess its grace, till love creates the place
wherein the Holy Spirit makes its dwelling.
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: (Ken Olsson, Music Minister)
Peaceful Interlude (Teresa Wilhelmi)
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: (Ken Olsson, Music Minister)
Let All Things Now Living (Lloyd Larson)
Please greet your neighbors on Zoom or at a “Safe Social Distance” in the sanctuary, as the postlude ends. Unmute your mikes, share greetings and the peace of this virtual space.
Grafton Prayer List:
Our Planet Earth *Those with PTSD & their families *Those enduring times of stress * *Beloved pets of Grafton *Mary Karam, & the Humes family *Arlene & Ron Carey *Gaelle McLoud *The Rowley family *Carol Bason *Arthur Park *Galen Pinkham *Michael Brown (Matt Brown’s brother) *Pastor Harold Noyes *Sylven Lang *Kenny King (Pastor King’s brother) *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) *Anita Bean *Henry Feder *Jason Roger (Wren’s tenant & friend)
Those Who Have Lost Loved Ones
*Irene Rice & family *Family and friends of Richard Geist (Franklin Geist’s- brother) *Family & Friends of Marion Tenney *Family and friends of Patricia Hastings (Nelson Cooley’s sister.) *Family & friends of Philip Rowley *Family & friends of Doug Wright *Family & friends of Cathy Hallock *Family & friends of Michelle Brown (sister of Carol Wright) *Family & friends of Stan Mack *Family & friends of Frank Ryan *Family & friends of Peter Preziosi *Family & friends of Charles “Tim” Goodwin (Kirk’s brother) *Family & friends of Raymond Gregory *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
Extended Care:
*Dottie Royal, Bromley Manor, 2595 Depot St., Manchester, VT 05255
*Rev. Catherine Cadieux, Sterling House, 33 Atkinson Street, Bellows Falls VT 05101
*Estelle Pieth, Crescent Manor, 312 Crescent Blvd, Bennington, VT 05201
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
Seek the Light of Faith at
Grafton Community Church