26th sunday in ordinary time - rockspringucc.org · altar flowers today’s flowers are from sarah...
TRANSCRIPT
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 27, 2020
11:00 a.m.
Welcome to Rock Spring Congregational
United Church of ChristNo matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey,
you are welcome here!
Rock Spring is a progressive Christian community – welcoming, compassionate, and joyful. We love and care for one another. We strive to discern God’s still-speaking voice through worship, study, fellowship, and service. We work for peace and social, economic, and ecological justice. We seek a greater understanding of others, and thus ourselves, recognizing that all persons are members of our one human family. Our community prepares and sustains us as we work together to bring about the world that we believe God intends.
Join Us In Virtual Worship On:• Our website: https://www.rockspringucc.org/worship-music/worship-services-0• Streamspot: https://bit.ly/RSlivestream • Facebook: www.facebook.com/rockspringucc• YouTube: http://bit.ly/RockSpringYT • Amazon Fire TV (search for “Rock Spring UCC” on the Apps menu)• Roku (search for “Rock Spring UCC” on the Apps menu)
Our services are livestreamed and archived on our website for future viewing. All copyrighted material is licensed through One License (A-709021: Annual License) and WORSHIPcast (Annual License #12732) and may not be reproduced without permission.
Have a prayer request during the service? Text Ashley (703-447-0873). Online Giving – Your continued generosity is greatly appreciated. • To give online, please go to www.rockspringucc.org/giving and click on Give Today. • To give via text, text the word “Give” and the amount you wish to donate
to 1-703-783-2642.
“If not us, then who? If not now, then when?”
~John Lewis
PRELUDE --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NETTLETON Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing Recorded by Gail Howell, soprano and Lisa Wenger, mezzo soprano
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
LIGHTING OF THE CANDLE
CALL TO WORSHIP One: Take heart, beloveds. We are not an aimless people! All: It is the Kindom of Heaven we desire. The path does not need to be clear. We need not fear if we wander or we stray. Love will be an ever-present guide, calling us with patience and truth. As we go, we practice healing. We keep learning and unlearning. We right our wrongs. We set down our defenses, our power, our closed-minded thinking. The practice of justice will be our north star. Thanks be to God, our way in the wilderness.
HYMN #86 (NEXT PAGE) ------------------------------------------------------- FAITHFULNESS Great is Thy Faithfulness
Order of Worship
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (UNISON) Holy God, we open our hearts to you this day, and offer the truth of our lives: The fear that stifles us, The prejudice that blinds us, The ignorance that hobbles us, The doubt that plagues us. Help us, we pray, that we will Find courage in unlikely places, See the world with new and gracious eyes, Move to those places where love is needed, and Have faith that you are with us. Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
PASSING OF THE PEACE The Peace of Christ be with you all. And also with you.
A TIME FOR CHILDREN
WITNESS OF SCRIPTURE ----------------------------------------------------------- Wayne Limberg Exodus 17:1-7
SERMON ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Laura Martin
WORSHIP THROUGH MUSIC -----------------------------------------------------------Craig Courtney Sometimes a Light Surprises Elizabeth Kluegel Niblock, soprano
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Have a prayer request during the service? Text Ashley (703-447-0873).
THE LORD’S PRAYER (UNISON) Holy One*, 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen. *May use Creator, Father, Parent, Abba
HYMN #622 (NEXT PAGE) ------------------------------------------------------ CWM RHONDDA Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
SERVICE CREDITS: The cover image is “Do Not Wait” by Church Goin Mule (https://www.churchgoinmule.com). The Call to Worship is from Enfleshed, Liturgy That Matters, and the Prayer of Confession was written by Beth Merrill Neel.
ALTAR FLOWERSToday’s flowers are from Sarah Gilmour to celebrate the arrival of Fall
and a month of wonderful birthdays...Harper, Kathy, Ashley, and more! Happy 11th to my sunshine!
NEXT WEEK’S SCRIPTUREEsther 4:6-17
ANNOUNCEMENTSBlessing of the Animals Last call - submit your pet’s photo today! This year’s Blessing of the Animals will include a photo pet parade during our online worship service. Please send a photo of your beloved animal — living or remembered with love — to Laura at [email protected] today to be included in the slideshow.
Volunteer Opportunity — Cooking for Safe Haven Day Shelter Join Rock Springers in cooking for 200+ community members who receive a free lunch through the Safe Haven program. You’re invited to prepare sandwiches or pasta salad in your own home, and then we will pick everything up and deliver it to Safe Haven for you. We are scheduled to provide meals twice in October — October 1 and October 8 — and in future months. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Laura Martin at [email protected] or Don Johnson at [email protected].
All Hands on Deck/Green Accelerator Project Stream Clean-Up Sunday, October 11 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. — Sign Up Required Gather for our 3rd annual stream cleanup sponsored by the Green Accelerator Project (GAP) and led by our partner EcoAction Arlington. Join us as we work to make Four-Mile Run habitable for the small critters whose survival we support. Even during this pandemic, with care we can enjoy a fall afternoon outdoors and support clean waters in our community. In order to keep everyone safe and minimize risk, you must register to attend. To sign up, fill out this form https://forms.gle/ap1S7eADKy3uRZQF8 or call or email Laura Watchman (703-538-2645 or [email protected]) specifying how many people you are registering for and your preferred time slot. She will confirm space availability and provide you with the required release form to fill out ahead of the event.
Save the Date: Budget Goals Sunday, October 25 after worship (via Zoom) Our Budget Goals meeting will be held (via Zoom) following worship on October 25, 2020. Watch for a full call to this meeting that will include voting on a proposal for Rock Spring to become a Net Zero congregation. In addition, we will give an update on our finances, the proposed budget for 2021, and the launch of our Giving Campaign, “For Such a Time as This.”
For Such a Time As This For Such a Time As This is Rock Spring’s theme for the 2020-2021 program year. The phrase comes from the story in the Bible of Esther when Mordecai challenged Esther to take some risk and act in order to try to save her people. Today we find ourselves in an unprecedented time with a global pandemic, racial and political unrest, the reality of climate change, and more.
Men’s Covenant Group Attention men: the Men’s Covenant Group that normally meets on the second Monday evening of each month has just completed a series of conversations and is going to begin a new focus on scripture and current issues. In October, we’ll focus on the fall sermon theme: For Such a Time as This. We have room for one or two additional men. The current seven are continuing. Interested? Have questions? Get in touch with Bob Harris ([email protected]).
Neighbors in Need Neighbors in Need (NIN) is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. These grants fund project work that ranges from direct service to community organizing and advocacy to addressing systemic injustice. This year, special consideration will be given to projects focusing on serving our immigrant neighbors and communities. The offering will be collected on Sunday, October 4, but contributions can be made any time in October online via Rock Spring’s website, via check with “NIN” designated in the memo line, or via text-to-give using the code “NIN.”
Volunteer Opportunity — Produce Bagging and Delivery Mondays and Thursdays from 12:00-2:30 p.m. in Carpenter Hall Volunteer to help bag and deliver garden-fresh produce at Rock Spring. Since June 1, we have bagged and delivered more than TWO TONS of home-grown goodness to area food pantries. We limit participation to 8 people, and we wear masks, gloves (provided), and hats. We maintain social distancing and all work stations are at least 6 feet from others. Family members can work at the same station, if desired. Becky Halbe is the lead volunteer and is there at every shift. If you have questions, feel free to email Becky at [email protected].
Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904054da5af2fa1f58-victory And before attending, please read over these slides and/or watch this video: https://video.vt.edu/media/Victory+Bagging+Training/1_bbqu4xzw
Faith & Democracy Please take a look at the updated Faith and Democracy page on the Rock Spring website. It has information on the UCC’s Our Vote Our Voice and Faith and Democracy 2020 campaigns, along with information on how to vote in Virginia, how to get out the vote, key issues in the November election, and how to help increase participation in the 2020 Census. It is located under the website’s Service & Justice tab: https://www.rockspringucc.org/service-justice/faith-and-democracy
Fall 2020 Schedule & Rock Spring News Check out the latest edition of the Rock Spring News for more information about what’s going on at Rock Spring this fall. Join Rock Spring staff and your fellow Rock Springers of all ages in a variety of activities starting mid-September.
Fall 2020 Choir Schedule for All Ages (via Zoom)
Sanctuary Choir Thursdays @ 7:30-9:00 p.m.
Join via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89867225931?pwd=U1BPV1kwWGNkQ2hZYVFyaUhGN3ZOZz09
Youth Choir 1st & 3rd Sundays @ 12:15-1:00 p.m.
Join via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84112677237?pwd=YWFwOFFBNmk1OUR3Q0R3cTl1Zkk0dz09
Choristers 2nd & 4th Sundays @ 12:15-12:45 p.m.
Join via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81321373927?pwd=QkQxbGZEUjZveEozM2huRG9MWC9uZz09
Fall 2020 Faith Formation for All Ages (via Zoom)
Adults:
Religions in the Ancient Mediterranean World Sundays @ 10:00 a.m.
Video course facilitated by Dwight Rodgers. Join via Zoom:
http://bit.ly/RSVideoClass
Adult Bible Study (Lectionary) Tuesdays @ 10:00 a.m.
Explore the focus text for the coming Sunday’s worship service. Facilitated by the preaching pastor and/or participants. Join via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81687251753
Reading the Bible in Pandemic Thursdays @ 3:00 p.m.
Join Laura for an interactive discussion on understanding Scripture in context. Join via Zoom: http://bit.ly/PandemicBible
Youth:
Middler YoRS (Grades 6-8) 2nd & 4th Sunday of each month @ 12:15-1:15 p.m.
(Begins Sunday, September 13 and ends Sunday, June 13, 2021) Join via Zoom: http://bit.ly/RSMiddlerZoom
HS YoRS (Grades 9-12) 2nd & 4th Sunday of each month @ 7:00-8:00 p.m.
(Begins Sunday, September 13 and ends Sunday, June 13, 2021) Join via Zoom: http://bit.ly/RSHSYoRSZoom
Children:
Play & Pray 4:00-4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays 9/23, 10/7, 10/21, 11/4, 11/18, 12/2
Movement & Story time with Ashley for Rock Springers Preschool-1st grade. Will also be recorded and posted to YouTube for later viewing (http://bit.ly/RockSpringYT).
Join via Zoom: http://bit.ly/RSPlayPray
Present (un)Tense 4:45-5:15 p.m. on Wednesdays 9/23, 10/7, 10/21, 11/4, 11/18, 12/2
Engage your body and relax your mind while exploring wisdom stories from a variety of traditions through yoga and mindfulness. Led by Ashley and Suzy Lohmeyer.
Will also be recorded and posted to YouTube for later viewing (http://bit.ly/RockSpringYT). Join via Zoom: http://bit.ly/PresentUnTense
To Donate By Text:
• Text the word “Give” and the amount you would like to donate to 1-703-783-2642.
• If you have donated by text before, you will receive a text in response confirming that your gift has been received successfully.
• If this is the first time you are donating by text, you will be sent a message that says, “It looks like you are a new giver,” and it will provide a link to the church’s online giving page.
• After clicking the link, you will be asked to supply a payment method (credit card, debit card, or bank account). This payment source will then be linked with your phone number so that, in the future, all you will need to do is text the amount (you will not need to re-enter your payment information each time).
Rock Spring Congregational United Church of ChristThe Congregation, The Ministers
Kathryn N. Dwyer, Senior Pastor [email protected]
Laura Martin, Associate Pastor [email protected]
Ashley Martinage, Director of Faith [email protected]
Elizabeth Kluegel Niblock, Director of [email protected]
Edward Roberts, Assistant Director of Music, [email protected]
Administrative Staff:
Kathryn Grams, Office Administrator [email protected]
Sarah Lengyel Steel, Operations [email protected]
Leigh Ann Gaskins, [email protected]
Custodial Staff:Brian Davis
Childcare Staff:Fern Lawrence & Blanca Cespedes
5010 Little Falls Road, Arlington, Virginia 22207tel: 703-538-4886 • fax: 703-538-6891
www.RockSpringUCC.org