Sunday Order of Service

AUGUST 17, 2025

PRELUDE & PROCESSIONAL     Mazurka in F, Op. 68, No. 3               by Frédéric Chopin

Tristan Strelitzer, piano

INTRODUCTION OF PULPIT GUEST                           Nancy Spransy, Worship Associate

OPENING WORDS                                                                                Rev. Gretchen Haley

CHALICE LIGHTING                                                                                                               

*OPENING HYMN 112                      “Do You Hear?”

SPOKEN MEDITATION                               “Shantideva Prayer”

adapted by Rev. Karen G. Johnston

SILENCE

CENTERING HYMN 123                            “Spirit of Life”

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS                                                                               Nancy Spransy

UNISON AFFIRMATION OF OUR MISSION (CONGREGATION)

We gather to nurture the spirit, engage the mind, and inspire action.

OFFERING AND THE CHILDREN’S RECESSIONAL

HYMN 131                                    “Love Will Guide Us”

Children and teachers join in singing verse 1, then proceed to religious education as the congregation continues to sing you on your way!

Share the Plate Offering this week will go to the Ministers’ Discretion Fund, which the ministers can use to directly support those impacted by the recent storms in our community. To contribute, put cash or checks made out to FUSM with memo Ministers’ Discretion Fund in the offering plate. Or text 73256 with message give2uu. To contribute to First Church, give cash or checks made out to FUSM in the offering plate or text to give.

READING                      from “Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander”      by Thomas Merton

INTERLUDE                                  It Is Well With My Soul                               by Ron Loree

based on Ville Du Havre

by Phillip P. Bliss

SERMON                      “Pointless Piety or Purposeful Practices?”                Rev. Jim Foti

INTERLUDE                                                   

Oppression/Get Up, Stand Up                       By Ben Harper,

Bob Marley & Peter Tosh

Tristan Strelitzer, piano/vocals

CLOSING WORDS                                                     Rev. Scott Tayler with Richie Norton

EXTINGUISHING THE FLAMING CHALICE                                                   Nancy Spransy

*RECESSIONAL HYMN 6              ” Just As Long As I Have Breath”