WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS – Rev. Talia Raymond

PRELUDE – Phillip Herr-Klepacki

Reading – “Long before I wrote stories, I listened for stories. Listening for them is something more acute than listening to them. I suppose it’s an early form of participation in what goes on. Listening children know stories are there. When their elders sit and begin, children are just waiting and hoping for one to come out, like a mouse from its hole.”
– Eudora Welty, short story writer
                                      
OPENING SONG – “The Gift of Love”

(higer voices echo third verse)
Though I may speak with bravest fire,
And have the gift to all inspire,
And have not love, my words are vain,
As sounding brass, and hopeless gain.

Though I may give all I possess,
And striving so my love profess,
But not be giv’n by love within,
The profit soon turns strangely thin.

Come, Spirit, come, ( ) our hearts control ( ),
Our spirits long ( ) to be made whole ( ).
Let inward love ( ) guide every deed ( );
By this we worship ( ), and are freed ( ).
( ) = echo proceeding phrase

TIME WITH CHILDREN AND BIRTHDAYS – “The Velveteen Rabbit,” by Margery Williams, Told by: Talia, Andy, Daniel, Sally, Andrew, and Bromleigh

INTERLUDE 

SPECIAL MUSIC – “Children Will Listen,” by Stephen Sondheim, offered by our choir of Upper Voices

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE                                                    

PRAYER RESPONSE AND OFFERING – “Best Friends” from Cat Dreams by Zach Neece. Offered by Cindy Martin, flute and Phillip Herr-Klepacki, piano

SCRIPTURE – 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a – Lindsey Telg

SERMON – “Loved Into Living” – Rev. Talia Raymond

CLOSING SONG  – “I Came to the Garden Alone”

BENEDICTION

ALLELUIA