First Parish Church, Congregational On the Village Green Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts - Awaken to the Light and Love of God; Be a Joyful ...

First Parish Church, Congregational
         On the Village Green
  Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts

     Awaken to the Light and Love of God;
        Be a Joyful Beacon to the World

         Rev. Dr. Mark Boyea, Minister
Dr. Herman Weiss, Director of Music and Organist

First Parish Church, Congregational
                       United Church of Christ
                         Worship Celebration
                     Sacrament of Communion
                        Sunday, July 11, 2021
                                   9:00 am

Prelude                        "Adagio Cantabile"       Beethoven
                             (from Sonata in C Minor)

Welcome

Hymn                       “Praise to the Living God”
                                    (on last pages)

Opening Prayer

Holy One, we gather together this day to thank You, to hear You
speak to us, to embrace Your presence, and to better understand
the kind of life You call us to.

A life of hope, joy, strength and wisdom. A life of service to You
and Your ways through kindness, forgiveness, generosity and
hospitality offered to others.

Move us to seek that life. Empower us to act and speak in ways
that lead us there. Inspire us to take hold of that life and refuse to
let it go.

We pray this and all things in the name of the One You send to
show us and teach us that life – our brother, teacher and leader,
Jesus – the One who gave us the words we say to You now…

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 trespasses, as we
forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and
the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Solo                               “Let It Be”       Lennon/McCartney
                               Paul Knox, soloist

When I find myself in times of trouble Mother Mary comes to me
speaking words of wisdom: Let it be.
And in my hour of darkness She is standing right in front of me
speaking words of wisdom: Let it be.

Refrain: Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be. Whisper words of
wisdom Let it be.

And when the broken-hearted people living in the world agree
There will be an answer: Let it be.

Refrain

For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see
there will be an answer, Let it be.

Refrain

And when the night is cloudy there is still a light that shines on me;
Shine until tomorrow: Let it be. I wake up to the sound of music,
Mother Mary comes to me speaking words of wisdom: Let it be.

Refrain

Prayer Intentions
Time of Silent Prayer and Music Meditation
                                 "Sarabande"                 Handel
                          Dr. Herman Weiss, piano

Prayer of the Morning

Solo                “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel?”
                           spiritual, arr. Burleigh
                            Paul Knox, soloist

Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel, deliver Daniel, deliver Daniel?
Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel, and why not every man?

He delivered Daniel from the lion's den, Jonah from the belly of
the whale, and the Hebrew children from the fiery furnace, and
why not every man?

Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel, deliver Daniel, deliver Daniel? Didn't
my Lord deliver Daniel, and why not every man?

The wind blows east and the wind blows west – it blows like the
judgment day, and every poor soul that never did pray will be glad
to pray that day.

Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel, deliver Daniel, deliver Daniel?
Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel, and why not every man?

I set my foot on the Gospel ship, and the ship it begin to sail. It
landed over me on Canaan’s shore, and I’ll never come back
anymore.

Didn't my Lord deliver Daniel, deliver Daniel, deliver Daniel? Didn't
my Lord deliver Daniel, and why not every man?

The Hebrew Scriptures                Genesis 18:22-33
                              (Common English Bible Translation)

22
     The men turned away and walked toward Sodom, but Abraham
remained standing in front of the LORD.

23
     Abraham approached and said, “Will you really sweep away the
innocent with the guilty?      24
                                    What if there are fifty innocent people
in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not save the place
for the sake of the fifty innocent people in it?         25
                                                              It’s not like you to
do this, killing the innocent with the guilty as if there were no
difference. It’s not like you! Will the judge of all the earth not act
justly?”   26
                The LORD said, “If I find fifty innocent people in the city
of Sodom, I will save it because of them.”

27
     Abraham responded, “Since I’ve already decided to speak with
my Lord, even though I’m just soil and ash,         28
                                                         what if there are five
fewer innocent people than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city
over just five?”The LORD said, “If I find forty-five there, I won’t
destroy it.”

29
     Once again Abraham spoke, “What if forty are
there?”The LORD said, “For the sake of forty, I will do nothing.”

30
     He said, “Don’t be angry with me, my Lord, but let me speak.
What if thirty are there?” The LORD said, “I won’t do it if I find thirty
there.”

31
     Abraham said, “Since I’ve already decided to speak with my Lord,
what if twenty are there?” The LORD said, “I won’t do it, for the
sake of twenty.”

32
     Abraham said, “Don’t be angry with me, my Lord, but let me
speak just once more. What if there are ten?” And the LORD said, “I
will not destroy it because of those ten.”

33
     When the LORD finished speaking with Abraham, he left; but
Abraham stayed there in that place.

Message

The Sacrament of Communion

Closing Hymn        “Christian, Rise and Act Your Creed”
                              (on last pages)

A Word from Hal Stryker

Blessing

Song                     “God Be in My Head”                  Davies

God be in my head, and in my understanding;
God be in mine eyes and in my looking;
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in my heart, and in my thinking;
God be at mine end, and after my departing

 TODAY - Sunday, July 11, Harold (Hal) Stryker is once again
  with us at First Parish Church during our 9am Worship time. Hal
  is the man who served with Vin Terrill in WWII, and whose
  reunion we were a part of the first week of January 2020.

Hal will be presenting a framed memento to us this morning
  from his reunion weekend with Vin. It is so good to have Hal
  back with us!

 If you are worshiping at home this morning you are invited to
  prepare and have ready a piece of whatever kind of bread you
  wish, as well as any kind of juice you have available
  (or if you wish, coffee or tea). Then at the appropriate time you
  will be invited to consume those.

 We encourage all members and friends of First Parish watching
  elsewhere to remain with us immediately after the conclusion of
  our Worship this morning for our Virtual Friendship Time on
  Zoom.

  You can join the meeting by computer, tablet, iPad, or smart
  phone by clicking this link https://zoom.us/j/720983063
  Password- 244108

 Dial in with your phone and join using just audio at this number
    1-301-715-8592 (Meeting ID- 720 983 063, Password- 244108).
    We welcome you for this time of additional community
    connection.

   Sunday Morning Regathering Update:

    As of June 20, we no longer require masks or social
    distancing for those fully vaccinated. Those who wish, of
    course, are fully welcome and encouraged to continue to
    mask and distance according to their comfort level. In
    addition:

      o Contact info for attendees will still be taken in the event
         contact tracing becomes necessary
      o Hand sanitizer will be available in the narthex should you
         wish to use it
      o There will continue to be no formal Offering, but attendees
         are invited to place any offering they wish as they leave
         Worship in a plate which will be placed at the back of the
         Sanctuary

o For Communion Sundays until Fall, the Deacons have
       obtained individual Communion packets which will be
       available as you enter the Sanctuary.

  At the same time, remember that “Virtual Worship” is also
  here to stay so that we can continue to be one in Worship
  wherever you may be on any Sunday.

 New or fairly new to First Parish Church – come to our
  question-and-answer session…
  When: Sunday, July 18 after Worship (approximately 10:15 am)
  Where: Front of the Church
  Who: Rev. Mark, the Vitality Team and anyone who wants to get
  to know us better.
  Questions: Call Mary Ellen 978-500-0018, Allison 617-935-3362,
  or Rev. Mark at the Church Office at 978-526-7661.

  In the Fall there will be a New Member Sunday for anyone
  interested.

 “Deacon Fund” Support and Assistance – the “Deacon Fund”
  remains a vital means of assistance to FPC members in need,
  especially in this difficult and uncertain time. Contributions can
  be made “First Parish Church” with “Deacon Fund” in the memo
  section, and mailed to First Parish Church P.O. Box 187
  Manchester, MA 01944. In addition, if a member of our spiritual
  community is need, please contact Rev. Mark to discuss
  available support.

 You can contribute to the work of First Parish Church or pay
  your pledge @PayPal.Me/FPChurchManchester

 Click to read The Church Bell Newsletter of First Parish Church
  Congregational

 Book Group will not meet in July. We meet August 30 at 6:30
  PM at Wendy Hiller Clark’s home to discuss “The Book of
  Belongings” by Sue Monk Kidd and on September 27 at 6:30
  PM at Susan Harrington’s home, to discuss “The Four Winds” by
  Kristin Hannah. More information will follow, enjoy your
  Summer Reading!

 Spiritual Exploration
  Our most recent unit, “Widows to Warriors”, is now complete.
  Enormous thanks to the many who participated in all our units
  this past program year (6 in all). Spiritual Exploration units will
  return in late September/early October in hybrid form, with
  all having the option to participate either in person or
  through Zoom.

 Manchester Affordable Housing Trust Announces Emergency
  Rental Housing Payment Assistance - The Manchester
  Affordable Housing Trust (MAHT), in collaboration with Action,
  Inc., a Gloucester-based human and social services agency, is
  offering short-term rental housing payment assistance to
  income eligible Manchester residents in response to job and
  income loss related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  Consistent with its mission to support and promote community
  affordable housing, the MAHT is reaching out to income eligible
  residents who are experiencing housing rent payment issues.
  The MAHT can and wants to help during this difficult and
  uncertain time.

For further information please contact Action, Inc. at 978-282-
  1000 or live chat at www.actioninc.org

 In July Breakfast Buddies will be offered on July 12 - 16,
  Monday - Friday, 8 - 9:30 AM. Designed for children, ages 2 - 4
  years and an adult. This is a free event for our youngest seekers
  and their parent or guardian. Each day a new Bible character
  will be presented over breakfast, with an activity and craft
  included.

  Pre-registration is required food allergies/ sensitivities will be
  accommodated Invite your friends and family for fun, laughter,
  learning and food! Register with Sign Up Genius.

 Art Show Submissions wanted in July. The Christian Education
  Committee is seeking art submissions for a judged Art Exhibit.
  Art will be displayed and judged from July 26- August 8.

  First and Second place winners will be announced between July
  26-30 and awarded prizes in the following age range categories:
  The Matisse Group: Ages 3-6 years
  The Van Gogh Group: Ages 7-10 years
  The Picasso Group: Ages11-14 years
  The Renoir Group: Ages 15- 18 years

The DaVinci Group: Ages 19- and over

  Painting, drawing, mixed media, collage, sculpture and nature
  items art are sought.

  Submissions will be accepted daily outside the Chapel building
  from July 5 - July 16. Look for specially marked drop bins.

  For questions or more information, contact Jeanne
  @jeanne.fpchurch@gmail.

 Save the date for our Bible Arts Program, August 16 – 20 for
  children ages 4-12. Free, all materials included. Pre-register by
  July 16, space is limited, Sign Up Genius. More details to come.

The Missions collection continues
            for The Open Door and Grace Center:

Baking Mixes - Cake, Brownie, Cookie, Muffin, Pancake
Peanut Butter
Canned Tuna, Chicken, and Turkey
Healthy Snack Items
100% Juice/Juice Boxes
Breakfast Cereal
Hearty Soups
Canned Vegetables and Fruits
Spaghetti Sauce
Macaroni and Cheese
Rice, Noodles, Pasta

Gift Cards from local grocery markets so they can purchase
butter, cream and other perishables.

Drop to the Chapel building, a bin is located to the right of the
Office Door and in the Chapel Hall.