OPENING HYMN – “Like a Mother Who Has Borne Us”

TIME WITH CHILDREN AND BIRTHDAYS – Rev. Chad McGinnis                       

PRAYER        

INTERLUDE AND OFFERING – Children 3 years-5th grade may leave for Activity Time. Our nursery for babies and toddlers is available until 12:30 p.m. Parents who wish to keep their small children with them are encouraged to use the parents’ room in the back of the Sanctuary.

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HYMN – “Won’t You Let Me Be Your Servant”

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Rev. Sandy Reimer

CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE – “Invocation” by Christopher Grundy – Phillip Herr-Klepacki

Hear us, God, for we are praying
Hear us, God, for we are laughing in our joy
Hear us, God, for we are crying out to you
Wondering what will be, what will be

Speak to us, God, for we are listening
Speak to us, God, for we are waiting for your voice
Speak to us, God, in our hearts and all around
Show us what can be, what can be

SCRIPTURE – Ecclesiastes 4:1-12 – Rev. Sandy Reimer

“Again I saw all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun. Look, the tears of the oppressed—with no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power—with no one to comfort them. And I commended the dead, who have already died, more than the living, who are still alive, but better than both is the one who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from one person’s envy of another. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind. Fools fold their hands and consume their own flesh. Better is a handful with quiet than two handfuls with toil and a chasing after wind.

Again, I saw vanity under the sun: the case of solitary individuals, without sons or brothers; yet there is no end to all their toil, and their eyes are never satisfied with riches. “For whom am I toiling,” they ask, “and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.

Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other, but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

SPECIAL MUSIC – “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from Carousel by Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein – offered by Adriane Isenberg, vocals; Phillip Herr-Klepacki, piano

SERMON – “Finding Our Village” – Rev. Chad McGinnis

CLOSING SONG – “Here We Are”

Chorus: Here we are, all together
As we sing our song joyfully.
Here we are, joined together
As we pray we will always be.

Join we now as friends, and celebrate
The community we share, all as one.
Keep the fire burning, kindle it with care,
And we’ll all join in and sing:
        Chorus

Glorify the Lord with all your voices,
Show Him we’re sincere by all our deeds.
Shout the joys of freedom everywhere,
And we’ll all join in and sing:
Chorus

Happy now are those who do their best
To free the troubled world from all its pain.
Let us join with them to free the troubled world
As we all join in and sing:
        Chorus

Let us make the world an Alleluia
Let us make the world a better place.
Keep a smile handy, lend a helping hand
Let us all join in and sing:
        Chorus

BENEDICTION – Rev. Chad McGinnis

BENEDICTION RESPONSE – “O Lord, Hear My Prayer”

O Lord, hear my prayer; O Lord, hear my prayer. When I call, answer me. O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my prayer. Come and listen to me.

POSTLUDE – Phillip Herr-Klepacki