Pride Sunday 

Today’s service may be viewed on Facebook Live Stream at this link, hear it in the church parking lot at 107.1 FM, or join us in person outdoors at the woods stage. 

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Gathering Music           Polly Dunford                     Welcome and Announcements     Rob Gentry

                   

Call to Worship Dr. Keith Ray

One: We gather as one across many lands, in many sacred spaces we set our own tables of welcome.

All: Thanks be to God for places of welcome.

One: We are united by the past struggles of our community and ones to come in the future.

All: Thanks be to God for places of struggle.

One: We look toward a future as bright as the many colors of the rainbow.

All: Thanks be to God for places of dreaming.

One: We imagine a world filled with the strange, the sacred, the queer, the peculiar, and the awe-filled – and everywhere we turn, from the spotless lady bug, to the four leaf clover, to our own hearts we find the wonder-ful.

All: Thanks be to God for places of wonder.  Thanks be to God.

Opening Prayer Dr. Keith Ray

Opening Hymn     “Make Spaces for Spirit”               Handout

Words by Shirley Erena Murray, Music by Jean Strathdee, Arranged by Jim Strathdee

2001-Words. Hope Publishing Co.  2005-Music. Desert Flower Music.  All rights reserved.

1)  Make spaces for Spirit!  For energy rising, for Pentecost presence,

the wind and the fire, a new kind of language,

a voice and a vision to shift and uplift us, to rouse, rouse, and inspire.

2)  Make spaces for action by spirited people: the leader, the teacher

the healer of ill, the builder, the artist, the bringer of laughter,

the melding and welding of spirit, spirit and will.

3)  Make spaces for graces the gifts of the Spirit, the fruit of the garden

where love is the spring, the water of blessing, the incense of worship,

the wine poured for sharing, the hope, hope that will sing.

4)  Make spaces for Spirit by changing of systems, by opening prisons,

by debtors’ release, the flaming of courage, the firing of justice,

the Spirit of Jesus, the coming coming of peace.

An invitation to PRIDE Dr. Keith Ray

Words of Witness  Rev. Jason Harding

A Litany for Pride

Blessed are your children, God.
Blessed are the sacred weird ones.
Blessed are the holy and wholly different.
Blessed are the ones who are too loud, too bold, too wild, too much.

Blessed are your children, God.
Blessed are your gay, lesbian, and bisexual children.
Blessed are your trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming children.
Blessed are your children who we are all learning to name, describe, and know.

Blessed are your children, God.
Blessed are those who have come out.
Blessed are those who cannot.
Blessed are those who are still finding their way.

Blessed are your children, God.
Blessed are those who feel boxed in.
Blessed are those who feel shackled by tradition.
Blessed are those who are suffocated by the roars of expectation.

Blessed are your children, God.
Blessed are those who struggle with self-harm and self-hatred.
Blessed are those who strive to accept the person they see in the mirror.
Blessed are those who strain each day just to survive.

Blessed are your children, God.
Blessed are those who persist.
Blessed are those who persevere.
Blessed are those who prove to the world each day that diversity is divine.

Blessed are your children, God.
Blessed are the chosen families who have taken in the lost and forgotten.
Blessed are the friends and family who have helped rewrite the stories of lives.
Blessed are the allies who have loved those unable to love themselves.

Blessed are your children, God.
Blessed are those whose ancestral queer footsteps we walk in.
Blessed are those who marched and marched and marched before us.
Blessed are those who have dared to dream and dared to demand justice.

Every single one of them.

And blessed are we as we
Tirelessly,
Courageously,
Imaginatively,
Co-create with you
A world where all people know and feel and have love.

All sexualities.
All genders.
All gender expressions.
All families.
All bodies.

Holy One, guide us toward your strange, boundless, undefinable love. And when we are met with the sneers, side-eye, and shame of the world, remind us who walks this journey with us. You: the One who has shattered every norm, every box, every shackle that holds us down and calls us to do the same.

Amen.

Prayers of the People       

Closing Hymn/ Offertory           “Stand for What is Right”        Handout

              Words and Music by Jim Strathdee

      2006. Desert Flower Music.  All rights reserved.

1)  When injustice harms our friends, stand for what is right.

When the violence never ends, stand for what is right.

Yes, stand and speak, work and pray and keep your courage strong.

The Spirit of God will be leading us through our whole life long.

2)  When the children have no voice, speak for what is right.

When the mothers have no choice, speak for what is right.

Yes, stand and speak, work and pray and keep your courage strong.

The Spirit of God will be leading us through our whole life long.

3)  When we hurt our mother earth, work for what is right.

When we deny each other’s worth, work for what is right.

Yes, stand and speak, work and pray and keep your courage strong.

The Spirit of God will be leading us through our whole life long.

4)  When the world seems most unfair, pray for what is right.

When we’re lost in deep despair, pray for what is right.

Yes, stand and speak, work and pray and keep your courage strong.

The Spirit of God will be leading us through our whole life long.

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

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

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Calendar of Service 

June 25 - Keith Ray; Outdoor service.

July 2 - Dr. Ed Yokley; Indoor service.  1st Sunday Potluck meal

July 9 - TBD; Outdoor service

July 16 - TBD; Indoor service

July 23 - Elaine Nocks; Outdoor service

July 30 - TBD; Outdoor service

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We will begin the following schedule for Sunday services, weather permitting:

• 1st and 3rd Sundays will be indoors in the sanctuary.

• 2nd and 4th Sundays will be at the outdoor stage in the woods. (Also 5th Sundays if applicable.)

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Market Theatre presents “The Tempest” for Shakespeare in the Park at Carolina Wren Park.  Performances Saturday, 6/17, Sunday, 6/18 and Monday, June 19 at 8:00 pm and it’s free!  Come to the Pavilion at Wren Park if it rains.
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The Anderson County Pride Day will take place downtown on Saturday, June 17 from 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm. This will be a day filled with love, acceptance, and vibrant festivities to uplift spirits and bring our community closer together.
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Come walk the Labyrinth for Summer Solstice, June 21 at 7 pm. Hope to see you there!
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The Keenager event planned for July is a game day (or night) and a volunteer is needed to coordinate this event! Let Sharon know if you are interested in taking the lead on this one.
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Food donations continue to be needed for AIM (Anderson Interfaith Ministries). They are especially in need of peanut butter and jelly but don’t forget to keep re-filling our basket designated for the AIM pantry to cover all of their needed items.
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The Worship Committee is made up of Sharon Fowler, Laurie Gentry and Karen Manley.  They meet regularly to make sure all parts of each service are in place and discuss special events that arise.  Each of them is responsible for certain months to secure guest ministers.  Their months are as follows: May/June - Sharon, July/ August - Laurie, September/October - Karen, November/ December - Sharon.  If you have questions or concerns about the worship services, please talk to Sharon, Laurie or Karen.

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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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If you are interested in a class on Advanced Directives and/or the “Stop the Bleed” program, let Barb Barham know so that she and Rosie Thompson can plan accordingly for future programming.

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Sarah Shumpert shared the Westside Community Center needs a new roof. They are asking folks to donate $40 in honor of the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King Day being signed into legislation as a national holiday. Donations can be made online through the United Way of Anderson County.  Use the “Donation Description” box to designate your donation for the Westside Community Center roof.

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Remember in prayer: Pat Bell; Patti Pitts; Bonnie Marsden and son Michael; Glennie Burns; Mary Alice Mundy; Jason Harding; Linda McFall; Mike Johnston; Madison Bishop (Whitney’s niece); Jackie Moore; Latha and Cheryl Semones; Immigrant families; Victims of all violence, oppression, and injustice; People of Ukraine. 

NACCP is an inclusive Faith Community that values questions

and the journey to the answers.

Ministry Leader: Dr. Keith Ray
keithdray@gmail.com

Pianist and Choir Director: Polly Dunford

Mailing address: P.O. Box 4346, Anderson, SC 29622

Phone: 864-225-3575

Website:  naccpchurch.org

Church News:  naccpnews@yahoo.com

Instagram:  northandersonccp

Facebook:  NorthAndersonCommunityChurchPresbyterian