Hampstead Congregational Church UCC

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Hampstead Congregational Church

September 8, 2024

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Imagine Together:  A World Made Whole

Order of Worship

Prelude                                                                                                           Herb Tardiff  

Greetings and Announcements

Passing of the Peace of Christ 

Call to Worship

One: We, who are thirsty, long for water.

All:   God will cause water to spring up for us.

One: We, who are weak, long for strength.

All:   God will strengthen our hearts and bodies.

One: We, who are broken, long for restoration.

All:   God will bring the pieces of our world together. 

One: Let us Imagine Together: 

All:   A World Made Whole

Gathering Prayer:   (unison)                                                                     Linda Tilden

God of healing and hope, we hear your challenge to Imagine Together. But, Imagining can be a difficult task for those over the age of six; and together is even more challenging. We don’t do much together in our society right now. Without imagination and without togetherness, we are lost and broken. Holy One, we need your radical strength, so that miracles may happen in our midst; that people may come together across divides, and that the very earth itself may be made whole. Amen.

Opening Hymn:                                                                                                                 Ch #56

Scripture Readings:  (NSRVUE)                                                             Linda Tilden

Isaiah 35: 1-10

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
    the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus ² it shall blossom abundantly
    and rejoice with joy and shouting.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
    the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
    the majesty of our God.]]

³ Strengthen the weak hands
    and make firm the feeble knees.
⁴ Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
    “Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God.
    He will come with vengeance,
with terrible recompense.
    He will come and save you.”

⁵ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
    and the ears of the deaf shall be opened;
⁶ then the lame shall leap like a deer,
    and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness
    and streams in the desert;
⁷ the burning sand shall become a pool
    and the thirsty ground springs of water;
the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp;
    the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

⁸ A highway shall be there,
    and it shall be called the Holy Way;
the unclean shall not travel on it,
    but it shall be for God’s people;
    no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.
⁹ No lion shall be there,
    nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
    but the redeemed shall walk there.
¹⁰ And the ransomed of the Lord shall return
    and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
    they shall obtain joy and gladness,
    and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Children’s Message

Sermon:  "Imagineers"                                                       Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin

Special Music

Call for Concerns & Celebrations

Pastoral Prayer                                                                     Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin

The Lord’s Prayer:

     Our Father, 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.  Amen.

Call to Offering

Prayer of Dedication                                                              Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin

God of repair and restoration, we are so grateful for all the miracles that you have given us- our lives, our livelihoods, and this community of faith. We pray that you would use these gifts to continue making miracles. Amen. 

Hymn of Going Forth:                                                                                                     Ch #668

Benediction                                                                             Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin

One day the wilderness will blossom with flowers;

and the desert wasteland will come alive with new growth.

And God’s glory and splendor will be on full display.

With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands,

and encourage those who have weak knees.

Say to those with fearful hearts,

“Be strong, and do not fear,

for your God is coming to save you.”

So go with confidence into the days ahead.

And may the love of God,

the grace of Jesus Christ,

and the presence of the Holy Spirit,

be among you and within you.  Amen.

Music Usage permitted through OneLicense HCC License # A-730412 and CCLI License Number 2927783. All rights reserved.

Announcements…

Exploring Our Faith Program for 2024/25 -- We are organizing a program for youth and adults to explore the basics of Christian Faith through discussion, activities, and experiences. This will function like a Confirmation Class for those who have never confirmed their baptism vows. But it will also be open to those who took Confirmation years ago and would like to explore again or for those considering becoming a Christian. It will be a place to ask big questions.

To provide the most flexibility for those with busy schedules and the most chance to personalize exploration to participants own interests, this program will gather monthly for an overview of the theme of the month. Then small groups will have the chance to select and schedule activities around that theme that most interest them and to work together on those activities.

There will also be the opportunity for a mission trip and a retreat as the group has interest. There will be an informational/organizational meeting in early September. This program is open to those in high school and older.

If you are interested in more information, please sign up in the book in Hadley Hall.

Please see Rev Paige if you have questions!

September 9^th Church Weekly Calendar