Eighth Sunday after Pentecost 

Today’s service may be viewed on Facebook Live Stream at this link in the comfort of your home or in person in the sanctuary.  Join us!

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Gathering Music                                          Polly Dunford

Welcome and Announcements       Sarah Shumpert                                                                 

Call to Worship    

Children of God:  Welcome!

Welcome to this place of love and grace.

Welcome to this place of hope and perseverance.

The Holy One invites all of us to be a part of the beloved community.

The Holy One invites all of us to share in the good news:

We are welcome, just as we are. We are loved, just as we are.

In gratitude for all of this, let us worship.

Opening Hymn          “Let Us Build a House - All Are Welcome”  Hymnal #301

1)  Let us build a house where love can dwell and all can safely live,

a place where saints and children tell how hearts learn to forgive.

Built of hopes and dreams and visions, rock of faith and vault of grace;

here the love of Christ shall end divisions:

all are welcome; all are welcome; all are welcome in this place.

2)  Let us build a house where prophets speak, and words are strong and true,

where all God’s children dare to seek to dream God’s reign anew.

Here the cross shall stand as witness and as symbol of God’s grace;

here as one we claim the faith of Jesus:

all are welcome; all are welcome; all are welcome in this place.

3)  Let us build a house where love is found in water, wine, and wheat;

a banquet hall on holy ground where peace and justice meet.

Here the love of God, through Jesus, is revealed in time and space;

as we share in Christ the feast that frees us:

all are welcome; all are welcome; all are welcome in this place.

4)  Let us build a house where hands will reach beyond the wood and stone

to heal and strengthen, serve and teach, and live the Word they’ve known.

Here the outcast and the stranger bear the image of God’s face;

let us bring an end to fear and danger:

all are welcome; all are welcome; all are welcome in this place.

5)  Let us build a house where all are named, their songs and visions heard

and loved and treasured, taught and claimed as words within the Word.

Built of tears and cries and laughter, prayers of faith and songs of grace;

let this house proclaim from floor to rafter:

all are welcome; all are welcome; all are welcome in this place.

       

Scripture Lesson   Ephesians 1:3-14

 

Sermon                   “I am, after all, only human”   Dr. Keith Ray

Thoughts to ponder:  One of my spiritual heroes is Thomas Merton (1915-1968).  And Merton says, “FOR ME TO BE A SAINT MEANS LEARNING TO BE MYSELF.

Therefore the problem of sanctity and salvation is in fact the problem of finding out who I am and discovering my true self.”

Who are we, at our most authentic?  Perhaps Paul can help us!  Really!

Meditative Chant “You Shall Be Like a Garden”        Cynthia Warner, leader

From “Sounds Of the Eternal - Meditative Chants and Prayers” by John Philip Newell

Words by John Philip Newell; Music by Linda Larkin

2005. Material Media. All rights reserved.

You shall be like a garden, like a deep spring where waters never fail.

 

Prayers of the People

Closing Hymn and Offertory      “Change My Heart, O God”Hymnal #695

Change my heart, O God; make it ever true.

Change my heart, O God; may I be like you.

You are the Potter; I am the clay.

Mold me and make me; this is what I pray.          

 

Benediction

Discussion

Shalom       (“May you be well and whole and in communion with all creation.”)

Shalom, my friends, Shalom, my friends, Shalom, Shalom.

                            Till we meet again, Till we meet again, Shalom, Shalom.

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Reprinted with permission under One License #A-625711. All rights reserved.

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Calendar of Service -

July 21 - Dr. Keith Ray

July 28 - Dr. Keith Ray

August 4 - Rev. Dr. Steve Morgan

August 11 - Dr. Keith Ray

August 18 - Dr. Keith Ray

August 25 - Dr. Keith Ray

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Bible Study will be on a “multi-week pause” for the rest of July and the first part of August.  When the Bible Study resumes, Deuteronomy will be the book of study.

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Coming Soon: Three Nights of Nature program to be held on July 23, 24, 25 at 7 p.m.

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You may have noticed the new glass “tip jar” on the piano at church that serendipitously came about when someone didn’t claim a flower vase. Feel free to drop in a dollar or five when you like the music during the service. Dave and Polly will donate the “tips” to a cause related to music, such as bringing music to schools.
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If you would like to donate to the family of Eric Childs, who was tragically killed in a car accident, please use this link: https://gofund.me/6340eb47.  Eric’s wife Jessicka Spearman heads the PFLAG group that meets at NACCP.

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Women’s clothing is needed for women coming out of incarceration. Good, gently used items please. All sizes.
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Doug Booth encourages everyone to volunteer at PAWS – there is something for everyone, from socializing with the dogs on-site to taking a dog to lunch to hosting weekend visits. There are many dogs at the facility who crave human interaction.  Additionally, don’t forget to bring in any donations of blankets to the church.
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Karen highlighted that the Prayer Tree has been moved into the sanctuary. If you have a prayer request to add to the tree, write it on one of the provided tags and hang it on a branch.
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Joanne reminds us all to keep up the food donations for AIM (Anderson Interfaith Ministries)!  Bring your non-perishable items to the church.  This is an on-going need that can easily become part of everyone’s shopping routine.

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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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