Today’s service will be held outdoors at the woods stage.  The service will NOT be live-streamed as this is not yet possible outdoors.   The service will be recorded and posted at this link afterwards at                                                                                                                             https://www.youtube.com/@NorthAndersonCCP/streams

Bring a chair.   Join us!   

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Gathering Music                                    Polly Dunford

Welcome and Announcements           Karen Manley                                 

Call to Worship

Leader:  Come, friends, gather together—
open your eyes to the world around you.

People:  We come to see with the eyes of our hearts.

Leader:  At the gates of our neighborhoods and cities,
neighbors wait—hungry, hurting, and too often unseen.

People:  We will not look away. We choose to notice.

Leader:  Together we imagine a world where walls are lowered,
where every person is named, valued, and cared for.

People:  We come to renew our vision,
to practice compassion, to live with courage.

Leader:  So let us enter this time with open eyes and ready hearts.

All:  We gather to see clearly, to act justly,
and to walk together in Divine Love.

Opening Hymn           “Spirit, Open My Heart” Hymnal #692

Refrain  —  Spirit, open my heart to the joy and pain of living. 

      As you love may I love, in receiving and in giving.

              Spirit, open my heart.

 

1)  God, replace my stony heart with a heart that’s kind and tender.

All my coldness and fear to your grace I now surrender.      Refrain

 

2)  Write your love upon my heart as my law, my goal, my story.

In each thought, word, and deed, may my living bring you glory,Refrain

3)  May I weep with those who weep; share the joy of sister, brother.

in the welcome of Christ, may we welcome one another.Refrain

Scripture Lesson                  Luke 16:19-31

             

Sermon                                    “Divine Vision”                                       Dr. Keith Ray

Thoughts to Ponder:  This week we’ll hear Jesus’ parable of the rich man and Lazarus—a story not about the afterlife, but about how we see (or fail to see) one another here and now.  Lazarus lay at the rich man’s gate every day, yet went unnoticed.  In our own world, where neighbors are overlooked at the edges of our communities, Jesus’ parable challenges us to put on new lenses of compassion.  Together we’ll explore what it means to see with the eyes of the heart, to notice the “Lazaruses” around us, and to live with courage and justice in a world of great divides.

Joys and Concerns 

Prayers of the People 

Closing Hymn and Offertory                  “I Am Standing Waiting”                Handout

Words by Shirley Erena Murray; Music by Joy F. Patterson

Words-1992. Hope Publishing Company.  All rights reserved.

Music-1994. Hope Publishing Company.  All rights reserved.

1)  I am standing waiting, waiting at your door,

one of hunger’s children from a billion poor,

though you cannot see me, though I am so small,

listen to my crying, crying for us all.

2)  I stand at your table asking to be fed,

holding up my rice bowl begging for your bread,

I stand at your school room longing just to learn,

hoping that you’ll teach me ways to live and earn.

3)  I stand at your clinic begging for vaccine,

I stand at your wash place where the water’s clean,

I stand at your office, beg the Heads of State,

I am just a child, so I must hope and wait.

4)  I stand in your churches, listen to your prayers,

long to know a God who understands and cares.

If there is a God, a God who loves the poor,

I’m still standing waiting, waiting at your door.

             

Benediction        

Discussion 

Shalom  (meaning - “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 -  

October 5 - Keith Ray; World Communion Sunday; Potluck meal; Undie Sunday begins

October 12 - David Johnson  (Outdoor service)

October 19 - Keith Ray; Blessing of the Animals  (Outdoor service)

October 26 - Worship and lunch at South Main Chapel and Mercy Center

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It’s time to start seasonal choir practices. We’ll have one choir practice on Sunday, October 5 and then resume practices on Sunday, November 2 to continue through the month of November and most of December until Christmas Eve. Practices begin at 9:25 AM.  Contact Polly at (864) 940-0640 with questions.

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During the month of September, we will have a clothing drive for the teens at New Foundations.  Requested items in sizes medium and large (mostly for boys) are: sweatshirts, hooded sweatshirts, t-shirts for outerwear (colorful and fun), underwear and socks.

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The next Meet and Eat gathering with be on Wednesday, October 1, at 5:30 pm.  Meet at Chili’s in Anderson.  All are welcome! (Remember — 1st Wednesday of every month.)

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NACCP is conducting a love offering to benefit WorldCentral Kitchen in their efforts to alleviate starving in Gaza.  We will accept donations through the middle of October.

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October’s Keenager Event will be a A Who-Dunnit Murder Mystery; you may be part of the cast or a guest.  It will be held at the Red Shutter Bed & Breakfast in Starr, SC, on Saturday October 25, 11:30 am-2:30 pm.  David Sanders and Michael Crump are hosting the event and serving a lasagna lunch.  Sign up at church for this fun event!

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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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