Welcome & Announcements
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!
[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 to worship together!
All: You are welcome here!
[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 to worship together!
Call to Worship
One: We know that where two or three are gathered, God is in that place. How then, shall we respond?
All: With words that proclaim God’s inclusive love, with works that bring forth God’s powerful justice, and with thanksgiving that rejoices in God’s peace that surpasses all our understanding!
One: Let our hearts be glad and our spirits strengthened for the journey.
All: Let us rise in body or in spirit and sing together!
All: With words that proclaim God’s inclusive love, with works that bring forth God’s powerful justice, and with thanksgiving that rejoices in God’s peace that surpasses all our understanding!
One: Let our hearts be glad and our spirits strengthened for the journey.
All: Let us rise in body or in spirit and sing together!
Hymn
[Please rise in body or in spirit.]
We Praise You, O God, Hymn 420
New Century Hymnal
We Praise You, O God, Hymn 420
New Century Hymnal
Pass the Peace of Christ
Greeting: "May the peace of Christ be with you."
Response: "And also with you!"
Response: "And also with you!"
Anthem
anthem
Joys + Concerns
For the joys of this congregation, let the people say, "Thanks be to God."
The Lord's Prayer (a translation by this congregation)
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.
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
Pastoral Prayer
Rev. Walke
Scripture: Revelation 1:4-8
Our scripture lesson comes from the Book of Revelation, chapter 1, verses 4-8:
John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.
Sermon: The Unapocalyptic Apocalypse
Rev. Walke
Hymn
[Please rise in body or in spirit.]
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. Let us go in peace, pray for peace, wage a little peace, and love one another . . .
ALL: …every single other.
ALL: …every single other.
Benediction Response
What Does the Lord Require?
Jim Strathdee
[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.