Order of Worship, Grafton Community Church, 10-04-26 FINAL
Bill Watson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Grafton Community Church Worship
Time: Meeting – 9:45 a.m. October 04, 2026
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Meeting ID: 235 223 715
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** 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, 10-04-2026 — Autumn Worship with Holy Communion
Note: Gathering Music will begin at 9:50 with the Prelude to follow
Musician Amy Cann
Gathering Music— “In Christ There Is No East Or West”
Two versions of this hymn: the traditional New England one, by Alexander Reinagle c. 1830,
and the traditional spiritual arranged by Black composer Harry Burleigh (1866-1949)
Prelude — “Build Us A Table” music Jim Strathdee, words Ruth Duck
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 # “O God, By Your Mercy We Come To This Place” Words Carolyn Winfrey Gillette
Tune: Chalice Hymnal #66 “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise” ST.DENIO
1 O God, by your mercy we come to this place
We feast at your table on gifts of your grace.
We taste your forgiveness, then learn what to do: "Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly" with you.
2 O Christ, we're not strangers or enemies here
For we're at your table, and you've made it clear:
We all are God's children, and blessed from above – we're global, connected, and shaped by your love.
3 Lord, we look around and see hate everywhere.
Yet, you've shown us grace! It's a gift we're to share.
May we share this grace till your blessings increase through justice and dialogue, kindness, and peace.
4 O Spirit, we pray that you'll move through the church,
till peace, love and unity cover the earth.
O God, bless these gifts with your grace from above, till others find joy in the feast of your love.
* 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 every nation and generation, gather us into the great company of your people— those who have gone before us, those who worship beside us, and those we have never met. Until the day when all people are gathered into Your eternal feast, keep us faithful to one another and to You. One body. One Spirit. One Lord. One faith. One hope. One table. Amen!
*Response: (Hymn “O God, By Your Mercy We Come To This Place”, Verse 4)
O Spirit, we pray that you'll move through the church,
till peace, love and unity cover the earth.
O God, bless these gifts with your grace from above, till others find joy in the feast of your love.
Scripture:
Exodus 20: 1-4, 7-9, 12-17
Then God spoke all these words,
"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery;
you shall have no other gods before me.
"You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth.
"You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.
"Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy.
Six days you shall labor and do all your work.
"Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
"You shall not murder.
"You shall not commit adultery.
"You shall not steal.
"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
"You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, male or female slave, ox, donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
1 Corinthians 12: 12-27
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.
If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.
And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.
If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19If all were a single member, where would the body be?
As it is, there are many members, yet one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect;
whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member,
that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another.
If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
*Hymn #683 “O, For a World,” — M.T. Winter (Pastor King’s Mentor) ©
1 O for a world where everyone respects each other’s ways,
where love is lived and all is done with justice and with praise.
2 O for a world where goods are shared and misery relieved,
where truth is spoken, children spared, equality achieved.
3 We welcome one world family and struggle with each choice
that opens us to unity and gives our vision voice.
4 The poor are rich, the weak are strong, the foolish ones are wise.
Tell all who mourn; outcasts belong, who perishes will rise.
5 O for a world preparing for God’s glorious reign of peace,
where time and tears will be no more, and all but love will cease.
Reflection: “All for One” Pastor C.J. King
Synopsis: Today, we celebrate World Communion Day, a day for unity among all Christians. In a world in conflict, what intention can we set for ourselves to promote that unity?.
*Hymn #284 “Gather Us In” ©
1 Here in this place new light is streaming, now is the darkness vanished away.
See in this space our fears and our dreamings, brought here to you in the light of this day.
Gather us in, the lost and forsaken; gather us in, our spirits inflame.
Call to us now and we shall awaken; we shall arise at the sound of our name.
2 We are the young, our lives are a mystery; we are the old, who yearn for your face.
We have been sung throughout all of history, called to be light to the whole human race.
Gather us in, the rich and the haughty; gather us in, the proud and the strong;
Give us a heart so meek and so lowly; give us the courage to enter the song.
3 Here we receive new life in the waters; here we receive the bread of new birth;
Here you shall call your sons and your daughters, call us anew to be salt for the earth.
Give us to drink the wine of compassion, give us to eat the bread that is you;
Nourish us well, and teach us to fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are true.
4 Not just in buildings small and confining, not in some heaven, light years away,
here in this place the new light is shining now is God present, and now is the day.
Gather us in and hold us forever; gather us in and make us your own;
Gather us in, all peoples together, fire of love in our flesh and our bone.
All lyrics © 1995 Chalice Press
Used by Permission. CCLI License
#21383697
Holy Communion — “In The Singing, In The Silence” - Shirley Erena Murray, New Zealand
(NOTE: no one is expected to sing, the words are here to be read/followed along)
In the singing, in the silence, in the hands expectant, open,
in the blessing, in the breaking, in the Presence at this table—
Jesus Christ, be the wine of grace; Jesus Christ, be the bread of peace.
In the question, in the answer, in the moment of acceptance,
in the heart’s cry, in the healing, in the circle of your people—
Jesus Christ, be the wine of grace: Jesus Christ, be the bread of peace.
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
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: — “An Upper Room” Tune trad “O Waly Waly”, words Fred Pratt Green
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
Build Us a Table
Walls mark our bound’ries and keep us apart, walls keep the world from our eyes and our hearts.
Tables are round, making room for one more, welcoming friends we had not known before.
So build us a table and tear down the wall! Christ is our host, here is room for us all!
Walls make us sure who is in and who’s out; walls keep us safe from all question and doubt,
But at a table in open exchange new ties are formed as our lives rearrange.
So build us a table and tear down the wall! Christ is our host. There is room for us all!
An Upper Room
An upper room our Lord prepared for those he loved until the end:
and we disciples still gather there to celebrate our risen friend.
A lasting gift he gives his own: to share his bread, his loving cup.
Whatever burdens bow us down, he by his cross has lifted up
No end there is! We depart in peace, he loves beyond the uttermost:
in every room in our Father's house, Christ yet is there, as Lord and Host.
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 *Frances Alford *Conrad Delia
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 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 *Family & friends of Susan Hadden *Family & friends of Ross & Ginger Ludeman *Family & friends of Christine Kent (daughter of Jean & Galen Johnson)
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, Vernon Green Nursing Home, 61 Greenway Dr. Vernon, VT 05354
*Conrad Delia, Charles Meadows, 125 Dover Rd. Millis, MA 02054
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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