Today’s service will be held indoors in the sanctuary as an in-person service and also live streamed at this link. Click on “live” for the live stream. Join us!
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Welcome to any and all who seek abundant life and are on the journey.
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Gathering Music Polly Dunford
Land Acknowledgment – recognizing the Native American original occupants of this land
Welcome and Announcements Ann Miller
LIGHTING OF THE CHALICE CANDLE together
We light this candle to represent our desire and hope:
To be truly welcoming
To grow in mind and spirit individually and as a community,
And to widen and advance the circle of love..…
…By doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly together.
Song of Awakening “Wake, Now My Senses” Handout
Words by Thomas J.S. Mickelson. Music: Traditional Irish melody.
Harmony by Carlton R. Young. 1992. Abingdon Press. All rights reserved.
1) Wake, now, my senses, and hear the earth call,
feel the deep power of being in all,
keep, with the web of creation your vow,
giving, receiving as love shows us how.
2) Wake, now, my reason, reach out to the new;
join with each pilgrim who quests for the true;
honor the beauty and wisdom of time;
suffer thy limit, and praise the sublime.
3) Wake, now, compassion, give heed to the cry;
voices of suffering fill the wide sky;
take as your neighbor both stranger and friend,
praying and striving their hardship to end.
Opening Reading about the Spiritual Journey: What Matters?
If one is white and another is black, it does not matter.
If one is male and another female, it does not matter.
If one is older and another younger, it does not matter.
If one is straight and another gay or otherwise, it does not matter.
If one is a so-called professing ‘Christian’ and another non-religious, it does not matter.
What surely does matter is that we join our hands and hearts...
…in a caring community,
...with a vision of universal equality,
...with mutual respect and a sacred sense of responsibility
Toward the twin goals of:
… social and economic justice for all persons, and
… leaving legacies of compassionate service and loving kindness.
Reading Matthew 9: 35f. The Message Translation
Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages, teaching in their meeting places, reporting kingdom news, and healing their diseased bodies, healing their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd.
We receive this ancient wisdom with spiritual ears.
We listen that we might experience the eternal spirit of Life that sets us free.
Introduction to Message
Musical Contemplation “Imagine” David Johnson
Message “The Talk” Rev. Dr. Steven Morgan
Prayerful Circle of Care Closing with Meditation Words
Recognizing that we are part of a web of life that makes us one with all creation,
we are grateful for the miracle of consciousness that we share,
that gives us the capacity to rise above self in compassion and caring for one another and all others in life-giving ways.
Together we open our hearts toward that possibility. AMEN.
Closing Hymn and Offertory “We Would Be One” Handout
Words by Samuel Anthony Wright. Music by Jean Sibelius.
Arranged from The Hymnal. 1933, renewed 1961.
Presbyterian Board of Christian Education. All rights reserved.
to pledge ourselves anew to that high cause of greater understanding
of who we are, and what in us is true.
We would be one in living for each other to show to all a new community.
2) We would be one in building for tomorrow a nobler world than we have known today.
We would be one in searching for that meaning which binds our hearts and
points us on our way.
As one, we pledge ourselves to greater service, with love and justice, strive to make us free.
Departure
Follow-up Conversation and Discussion
Closing with Circling and Singing of ‘Shalom’:
‘Shalom’, from the root Hebrew word shalam, means to be safe and whole in body, mind, and spirit.
Shalom, my friends, Shalom, my friends, Shalom, Shalom.
Till we meet again, Till we meet again, Shalom, Shalom. *************************************************************************************
Reprinted with permission under One License #A-625711. All rights reserved.
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Calendar of Service -
August 17 - Keith Ray
August 24 - Keith Ray
August 31 - Keith Ray
Outdoor services are being suspended until the weather cools - late summer/early fall. *********************
The next PFLAG meeting will be at the church on Thursday, August 14 at 7:00 pm.
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The next Keenagers event is New Foundations Back to School Bingo party on Friday, August 29, at 6 pm. Set-up begins at 5 pm. Snack Sacks contributions are appreciated - beverages, candy, crackers.
Please contribute Bingo prizes if you can. Here are some suggestions:
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Maggie Miller has made a special request of the congregation to help in wishing her sister Pat a happy birthday on August 30. Pat is in a nursing home in Iowa and loves to have mail. If you are able to send a card, Pat’s address is: Ft. Dodge Health and Rehab, 728 14th Ave North, Ft. Dodge, Iowa 50501, Attn: Pat Worrel. Thank you!
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A special GAMAC fundraising event is Ray McGee’s Jazz Club featuring Willmatic & Friends at The Bleckley Station on September 25, 2025, at 7:00 PM. Table seating with food and drinks is $75/person or $600/table of 8.
For tickets and information about the 2025/2026 GAMAC concert season visit www.gamac.org or call (864) 231-6147.
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Bible Study meets on Mondays at 6:30 pm through Zoom. If you’d like to be added to the Zoom invite list, contact Cynthia at cynthiakwarner@mac.com.
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Please remember to donate non-perishable food items to AIM (Anderson Interfaith Ministries). An extra item when you shop is a great help to others in our community.
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Are you interested in becoming a member of NACCP? Would you like to make this community your spiritual home? Please contact Keith at keithdray@gmail.com or at 864-508-1530.
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