July 13th, 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: The lights are on, the doors are open, and the coffee is as good as it’s going to get!
All: So come, all who want to work for peace through justice for all of creation. Come, all who are weary and need rest. Come, all who want to learn of love and grow in grace.
One: There is a place for you here. There is room for your whole entire self. This is a community of plenty.
All: Let us rise together in body or in spirit to lift our hearts with song!
All: So come, all who want to work for peace through justice for all of creation. Come, all who are weary and need rest. Come, all who want to learn of love and grow in grace.
One: There is a place for you here. There is room for your whole entire self. This is a community of plenty.
All: Let us rise together in body or in spirit to lift our hearts with song!
Hymn
Take My Life, God, Let It Be, #448
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
Come Christians Join to Sing
arr Victor Labenski
Glenda Stansbury
arr Victor Labenski
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
Simple Gifts
arr. Russel Widmar-Schulz
Carolyn Sargent
arr. Russel Widmar-Schulz
Carolyn Sargent
Pastoral Prayer
Rev. Dr. Lori Walke
Scripture: John 11:32-37 & John 2:6-12
John 11:32-37 - When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
John 2:6-12 - Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the person in charge of the banquet.” So they took it. When the person in charge tasted the water that had become wine and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), that person called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee and revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him. After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples, and they remained there a few days.
John 2:6-12 - Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the person in charge of the banquet.” So they took it. When the person in charge tasted the water that had become wine and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), that person called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee and revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him. After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples, and they remained there a few days.
Sermon: Our Sacred Tears
Rebecka Peterson
2023 National Teacher of the Year Rebecka Peterson is a math teacher who loves stories. Rebecka is in her 17th year of education and has called Union High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, her home school since 2012. Rebecka’s message as National Teacher of the Year highlighted teachers’ stories of the good that is happening in education. She believes that when we learn each other’s stories, we carry a piece of each other with us. This helps us to authentically advocate for our students, teachers, and their communities. Rebecka is a proud immigrant of Iranian-Swedish descent and lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with her husband, Brett, and their son, Jonas.
2023 National Teacher of the Year Rebecka Peterson is a math teacher who loves stories. Rebecka is in her 17th year of education and has called Union High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, her home school since 2012. Rebecka’s message as National Teacher of the Year highlighted teachers’ stories of the good that is happening in education. She believes that when we learn each other’s stories, we carry a piece of each other with us. This helps us to authentically advocate for our students, teachers, and their communities. Rebecka is a proud immigrant of Iranian-Swedish descent and lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with her husband, Brett, and their son, Jonas.
Hymn
Every Time I Feel the Spirit, #282
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. Those who are in-person can also contribute by placing your tithes and offerings in the giving box located just outside the sanctuary.
- Our 363 Summer Shoe Drive continues all month long - we’re collecting new and gently used shoes for our friends at the Homeless Alliance and Joe’s Addiction. We need all sizes of lightly worn, street-worthy footwear. No dress shoes, please. Get those shoes out of your closet, tie the laces together, and bring them to church. You can also use 363’s Amazon Wish List to donate new shoes, or you can always make a financial gift to 363 and we’ll do the shopping for you.
- This Wednesday, July 16th, the deacons invite everyone for our monthly summer dinner in Milligan Hall. The theme is "Ballpark and Homemade Ice Cream!" Use the giving link in the events tab to sign up to bring something for this potluck. The dinner bell rings at 6pm.
- The last Sunday of Vacation Bible School begins after worship! Gather with us in Milligan Hall for lunch, and then stay to play, pray, study, and serve. All ages and stages are welcome!
- 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.]