Weekly Order of Service
Work To Do
Sunday, September 6, 2026
Our Service Participants this week are:
Rev. Viola Abbitt, Minister
Wayne Cochran , Worship Associate
Marian Bigelow, Care Team
Carol Ann Elze, Choir Director
A special thank you to our Tech and Hospitality Teams.
CHIMES
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE
Music: “Morning Has Broken “ arr. by Jose- Daniel Martinez : public
domain ; “Prelude in F” by Kasper Cornish, copyright 2015
Kasper Cornish used by permission
OPENING WORDS AND LIGHTING THE CHALICE
“On the Loom: a Prayer for the Work of the People” by Joy Berry
OPENING HYMN
“We Give Thanks” by Wendy Luella Perkins
Oh, we give thanks for this precious day,
For all gather’d here, and those far away;
For this time (food) we share with love and care,
Oh, we give thanks for this precious day.
OUR COVENANT
An adaptation of No. 471 in the hymnal
Love is the doctrine of this faith,
The quest for truth is its sacrament,
And service is its prayer.
To dwell together in peace,
To seek knowledge in freedom, to serve human need,
To the end that all souls shall grow into harmony with the Divine.
Thus do we covenant with one another and love beyond belief.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
No. 1058 in the hymnal
Be ours a religion which like sunshine goes everywhere,
Its temple all space, its shrine the good heart,
Its creed all truth, its ritual works of love.
STONES AND WATER RITUAL
No. 123, “Spirit of Life”
Spirit of Life, come unto me.
Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion.
Blow in the wind, rise in the sea;
move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice.
Roots hold me close; wings set me free;
Spirit of Life, come to me, come to me.
JOYS AND SORROWS
The words of Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker
Response: There is a love holding you.
All: There is a love holding me,
There is a love holding you,
There is a love holding all.
We rest in this love.
A TIME FOR ALL AGES / MIDDLE MESSAGE
OFFERING
Music: “Adagio” by Soren Bebe : copyright 2017 Soren Bebe Music :
used by permission
The Giving Away the Plate recipient for September is SNACpack.
All of this morning’s collection will go to provide backpacks full of
child-friendly, non-perishable, easily consumed foods directly to the
children of Saratoga Springs. You can donate throughout the month by
specifying “GATP” on your donation.
READING
“The Holy Work of Showing Up” by Ashley Horan
SERMON
“Work To Do”
CLOSING HYMN
“We Will Carry Each Other” by Soren Austenfeld
I am looking for shelter in a friend.
We can build a beginning but I do not know the end
I am scared of breaking when I bend.
We will carry each other on the way:
My courage is your courage
when the journey is only getting longer.
My strength is your strength:
we will carry each other on the way.
There are prayers I don’t know how to say.
But I still find solace when I close my eyes to pray
What I’ve lost and what I hope can stay
We will carry each other on the way:
My courage is your courage
when the journey is only getting longer.
My strength is your strength:
we will carry each other on the way.
I am full and I am running out,
I’m a flooding river and I’m living through the drought,
I have firm conviction and my heart is full of doubt.
We will carry each other on the way:
My courage is your courage
when the journey is only getting longer.
My strength is your strength:
we will carry each other on the way.
There are people I have never met,
There is something special, and I haven’t found it yet,
There’s abundance, given freely, taken with no debt!
We will carry each other on the way:
My courage is your courage
when the journey is only getting longer.
My strength is your strength:
we will carry each other on the way.
My courage is your courage
when the journey is only getting longer.
My strength is your strength:
we will carry each other on the way.
CLOSING WORDS
Our Work Has Just Begun by Emily Richards
EXTINGUISHING THE CHALICE
No. 456 in the hymnal
We extinguish this flame, but not the light of truth,
the warmth of community or the fire of commitment.
These we carry in our hearts until we are together again
PASS THE PEACE