FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
Rev. Dawn Garrett-Larsen, Pastor
Holy Communion
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Jim DeMay, Lay Reader
August 2, 2020 Worship 9:30 AM
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE “Come O Thou Traveler Unknown” arranged by Dale Wood c.1995 The Sacred Music Press
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: God, you see us. You see our struggles, you see our difficulties.
People: You see our possibilities, you see our promise.
Leader: Connect the dots for us, O God. Soften the hard spots with your blessing.
People: Call us in our wandering to hear you say our names.
Satisfy our longings as with loaves and fishes and manna from heaven.
Leader: For you are a good God, a God present in the scramble, and in the end, you
always, always have a blessing.
People: For this and so much more, we give you thanks, through Jesus Christ.
Amen.
*HYMN Lord of All Hopefulness – Slane
INVOCATION (in unison)
O God, hear our cries: for those who hunger, and those who are full; for those who need you desperately, and those who feel no need for you; for those who wrestle with the impact of being your blessed children; for those who are unaware of your offered blessing; and for concerns that are too difficult to express. Gracious God, provider of all we need, we are often content to rely on our own devices, our creativity, our cleverness. We congratulate ourselves for our accomplishments, yet we find that these achievements and acquisitions do not fill the deep hunger inside of us. We long for the Spirit bread you alone can provide. Forgive us, merciful God. Help us receive the blessings you offer, that we may be your bread for the world — blessed, broken for all. Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER (trespasses)
GLORIA PATRI
HEBREW BIBLE LESSON Genesis 32: 22-31
MORNING PRAYER
GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 14: 13-21
SERMON Wrestling for a Blessing Rev. Dawn Garrett-Larsen
OFFERING OF SPECIAL MUSIC “Prelude” from Suite No. 1 by J.S. Bach; International Music Co.; Chris Ieda, cello
The Doxology
PRAYER OF DEDICATION (in unison)
O God, we will continue to ask for your healing presence, for we are needy people.
We will continue to request blessings from your hand, to call forth the resources you have given us. But we will also increase our thanksgiving and our grateful sharing. You have made us more than conquerors through Christ who loved us. Nothing will separate us from that love as we seek to live it every day. Amen.
COMMUNION HYMN Let us Break Bread Together – Chamber Singers Gunn High School
SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Invitation to the Table
Sharing of the Bread and Cup
*HYMN Spirit of the Living God – Studio Musicians
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE “He Leadeth Me” arranged by Charles Callahan c 2005 Birnamwood Publishers
Call to Worship written by the Rev. Kaji S. Douša, Senior Minister of Park Avenue Christian Church, New York City. Copyright 2020 Justice and Local Church Ministries, Faith INFO Ministry Team; Invocation adapted and reprinted from The Abingdon Worship Annual, edited by Mary J. Scifres and B.J. Beu, Copyright © Abingdon Press; Unison Prayer of Dedication reprinted from Refreshing Rains of the Living Word
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Aug. 2 Cecelia Harris-Maxwell Aug. 6 Pat Curchin
Aug. 3 Jim Malone & Matt Bond Aug. 8 David Marsh & Rhonda Nyerges
Aug. 4 Marlies Raw, Alyssa Maxfield & Linda Whalen
Prayer List
Muriel Allemand (Jim & Connie Malone’s friend); Steve Beck (Heidi Schwarz’s brother); Keith Blaker; Brad Bliss; Ruth Bundy (Cheryl Bootes’ friend); Marjorie Case; Kira Casellas; Cathy Coots; Peggy & Bob DeSantis (Dorice & Don Raw, Sr.’s friends); Julie English (Janet & Kim Tenreiro’s friend); Brian Fuscaldo (Mara Huberlie’s nephew); Jerry Gomez (Kathi Nacca’s friend); Hannah Morgan and Family; Gayle Henry; Carin Herren; Jeff Johnson (Jim & John Johnson’s brother); Carol Kober (Debbie Lyon’s neighbor); Jim Kolesar (George & Carin Herren’s friend); Sue Kotalik; Family of Melanie (Dennis Maxfield’s niece); Michelle List (JoAnn Reed’s friend); Loren (Meg & Jack Radley’s friend); Lynn (Joan Ryan’s friend); Eileen McCarthy (Carla DeMeco & Betsy Dresser’s friend); Sally Mueller; Liz Nelson (Kathy Ward’s friend); Claude Peters; Chris Pritchard (Rick, Cindy Mullen & George Herren’s friend); Jack and Meg Radley; Sara (Meg & Jack Radley’s granddaughter); John Paul and Pat Smith; Smith/Dworetsky Family (Okke & Kathy Postma’s friends); Sally Stowell (Alice Berry’s mother); Walker (Don & Dorice Raw’s friend); Kathy Ward; Gordon Wenner (George & Carin Herren’s friend); Merle Winn (Amy Ogden’s friend); Robin Wisniewski (Alicia’s mom); Josh Yeo (Barb Stahl’s friend); Jason Zeller (Kathy Ward’s son); Linda Zeller (Kathy Ward’s daughter in law)
GLEANER’S UPDATE
Gleaner’s Kitchen continues to hand out bagged lunches every day and bags of food for families twice a week. Although volunteers cannot be there, hungry people come to the door every day. Gleaner’s still needs our help. If you are able, please send a check to help them continue. Tom Carter can make money go a long way by using Foodlink. The address is Gleaner’s Community Kitchen, Attn: Tom Carter, manager, c/o St. John’s Episcopal Church, 183 North Main St., Canandaigua, NY 14424. Thank you and God bless you.
Calendar
Tues. 8/4 Men’s Group @ Gateway 8:00 AM; Nominating Committee 9 AM zoom
Wed. 8/5 Small Group, Mickey Ely’s porch 10:00 AM
Thurs. 8/6 Zoom Staff Mtg 9:00 AM
Sunday 8/9: Worship 9:30 AM In Person and online
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
United Church of Christ
58 N. Main St., Canandaigua, NY 14424 (585) 394-2184
Website: www.canandaiguachurch.org
E-mail: office@canandaiguachurch.org
We’re a Different Kind of Church
We value and respect diversity in the ways we express our faith.
We enjoy thoughtful dialogue about faith issues.
We encourage each other to work for justice and to care for people in need in our community and in our world.
