July 27th, 2025 - Season of Pentecost
We offer you a warm welcome, and as is our practice, we remember that the land on which we meet is, was, and always will be native land. We acknowledge those indigenous tribes to Oklahoma: the Wichitas, Caddos, Plains Apaches, and the Quapaws, as the original custodians of the land in this place. We grieve the violence done to native language, culture, and personhood, and seek to honor the sovereignty and dignity of native peoples.
We are so glad you've joined us, whether in person or online. Please take a moment to tell us you are here by using the sign-in button below.
We offer you a warm welcome, and as is our practice, we remember that the land on which we meet is, was, and always will be native land. We acknowledge those indigenous tribes to Oklahoma: the Wichitas, Caddos, Plains Apaches, and the Quapaws, as the original custodians of the land in this place. We grieve the violence done to native language, culture, and personhood, and seek to honor the sovereignty and dignity of native peoples.
We are so glad you've joined us, whether in person or online. Please take a moment to tell us you are here by using the sign-in button below.
Welcome
One: Good morning, and Welcome to Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ, where no matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey . . .
All: You are welcome here!
All: You are welcome here!
Call to Worship
One: We gather this morning as seekers, doubters, believers, heretics, optimists, perfectionists, cynics, pragmatists, conventionalists, and non-conformers!
All: We are here to practice peace and justice, so that we might better embody God’s love in this world.
One: We are listening for and responding to the movement of the Spirit, beloveds, so buckle up!
All: Our hearts are open and our spirits are ready!
All: We are here to practice peace and justice, so that we might better embody God’s love in this world.
One: We are listening for and responding to the movement of the Spirit, beloveds, so buckle up!
All: Our hearts are open and our spirits are ready!
Hymn
Come, O Fount of Every Blessing, Hymn 459
New Century Hymnal
[Please rise in body or in spirit.]
New Century Hymnal
[Please rise in body or in spirit.]
Pass the Peace of Christ
One: "May the peace of Christ be with you."
All: "And also with you!"
All: "And also with you!"
Anthem
Anthem
Composer
Glenda Stansbury
Composer
Glenda Stansbury
Joys & Concerns
For the joys of this congregation, let the people say: Thanks be to God.
The Lord's Prayer
Let us say together the Lord’s Prayer, a translation by members of this congregation:
All: Our Creator, who is in heaven, holy is your name. Your kingdom come, your 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 you reign in the power that is love, now and always, Amen.
All: Our Creator, who is in heaven, holy is your name. Your kingdom come, your 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 you reign in the power that is love, now and always, Amen.
Anthem
Anthem
Composer
Carolyn Sargent
Composer
Carolyn Sargent
Pastoral Prayer
Rev. Sheridan Irick
Scripture
Sermon
Rev. Aly Shahan
Rev. Aly Shahan is an ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church with a passion for building inclusive, life-giving communities rooted in love, justice, and spiritual depth. A proud graduate of Oklahoma City University (B.A. in Religion) and Perkins School of Theology (M.A.C.M.), Aly brings both unconditional love and creative leadership to every role she serves. She currently serves as the Director of University-Church Relations and Religious Life at Oklahoma City University, where she leads campus ministry through the Wesley Center and helps bridge connections between the university and the wider church. Her ministry has included a decade in youth ministry, vital work in Emotional and Spiritual Care for Disaster Response with the Oklahoma Conference of Churches, impactful campus ministry as Associate Director of the Wesley Foundation at Oklahoma State University, and 15 years of leadership in camping ministry. Aly is a three-time delegate to both the General Conference and South Central Jurisdictional Conference of The United Methodist Church, and in 2022, she was honored with the Francis E. Willard Award for her significant contributions to the advancement of women in ministry and leadership. Together, Aly and her husband, Rev. Dr. Adam Shahan, are raising two incredible children, Micah and Peyton, who bring joy, perspective, and lots of laughter into their lives. They are beyond grateful to serve God’s church together. Aly is passionate about equipping the next generation of Christian leaders, preaching messages of hope, grace and inclusion, and creating sacred spaces where all people feel seen, valued, and deeply loved by God exactly as they are.
Rev. Aly Shahan is an ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church with a passion for building inclusive, life-giving communities rooted in love, justice, and spiritual depth. A proud graduate of Oklahoma City University (B.A. in Religion) and Perkins School of Theology (M.A.C.M.), Aly brings both unconditional love and creative leadership to every role she serves. She currently serves as the Director of University-Church Relations and Religious Life at Oklahoma City University, where she leads campus ministry through the Wesley Center and helps bridge connections between the university and the wider church. Her ministry has included a decade in youth ministry, vital work in Emotional and Spiritual Care for Disaster Response with the Oklahoma Conference of Churches, impactful campus ministry as Associate Director of the Wesley Foundation at Oklahoma State University, and 15 years of leadership in camping ministry. Aly is a three-time delegate to both the General Conference and South Central Jurisdictional Conference of The United Methodist Church, and in 2022, she was honored with the Francis E. Willard Award for her significant contributions to the advancement of women in ministry and leadership. Together, Aly and her husband, Rev. Dr. Adam Shahan, are raising two incredible children, Micah and Peyton, who bring joy, perspective, and lots of laughter into their lives. They are beyond grateful to serve God’s church together. Aly is passionate about equipping the next generation of Christian leaders, preaching messages of hope, grace and inclusion, and creating sacred spaces where all people feel seen, valued, and deeply loved by God exactly as they are.
Hymn
Love, divine, all loves excelling, Hymn 43
New Century Hymnal
[Please rise in body or in spirit.]
New Century Hymnal
[Please rise in body or in spirit.]
Announcements
- Please use the giving link above to support the work and mission of this congregation with your tithes and offerings.
- Our 363 Summer Shoe Drive continues all month long - we’re collecting new and gently used tennis shoes for our friends at the Homeless Alliance and Joe’s Addiction.
- We are also collecting clothing donations to help Bram Mischler with his Eagle Scout Project, which will benefit the clothing closet at Open Arms United Church of Christ. The donation box is at the far end of our fellowship hall.
- This Tuesday, July 29th, at 6:30pm, Pastor Sheridan begins a four-week Theology Through Fiction series on Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower. Grab a copy and see what this novel has to tell us! We’ll meet in Classroom 1, or to participate virtually, find the link in the events tab in our app and on our website. Childcare is provided.
- Next Sunday is Men's Choir Sunday! Be sure to come early for one of the most meaningful Sundays of the year.
- If you are interested in learning more about Mayflower UCC, our next Inquirer and New Member Class is next Sunday, August 3rd after worship, both in-person and online. Come to ask questions, learn about how to connect more deeply, and what it means if you want to join as an official member.
- Please sign up for our weekly email updates on our website and download our app so that you can have all of the details of our work and ministry close at hand.
Benediction
One: May God grant to us the grace to never sell ourselves short, the courage to risk something big for something good, and the wisdom to know that the world is too small for anything but love. So let us go in peace, pray for peace, wage a little peace, and love one another.
ALL: Every single other. Amen.
ALL: Every single other. Amen.
Benediction Response
What Does the Lord Require?
Jim Strathdee
Part 1: What does the Lord require of you? What does the Lord require of you?
Part 2: Justice, kindness, walk humbly with your God. Justice, kindness, walk humbly with your God.
Part 3: To do justice, and love kindness and walk humbly with your God. To do justice, and love kindness and walk humbly with your God.
[Sung in a round, Part 1 begins the response, joined the second time by Part 2, then by Part 3, and then a fourth time through. For those in-person, it is our tradition for the congregation to stand and turn towards the center aisle during the benediction response so that we might "send each other forth" to embody what we sing.]
Jim Strathdee
Part 1: What does the Lord require of you? What does the Lord require of you?
Part 2: Justice, kindness, walk humbly with your God. Justice, kindness, walk humbly with your God.
Part 3: To do justice, and love kindness and walk humbly with your God. To do justice, and love kindness and walk humbly with your God.
[Sung in a round, Part 1 begins the response, joined the second time by Part 2, then by Part 3, and then a fourth time through. For those in-person, it is our tradition for the congregation to stand and turn towards the center aisle during the benediction response so that we might "send each other forth" to embody what we sing.]