September 12, 2021
THE FIRST CHURCH OF DEERFIELD
The Brick Church / The Brick-less Church
Whoever you are, wherever you may be on life’s journey, you are welcome here.
We ask that all members and guests wear masks throughout the service.
We ask also that you refrain from singing; humming is permitted during hymns.
ORDER OF WORSHIP
September 12, 2021 – “creationtide”
We welcome today our friend and guest musician, Yu-Mei Wei. Yu-Mei has kindly given us permission to record today’s music for this virtual service. (Your pastor/videographer apologizes for the missing Prelude.)
Our organist Thomas Pousont returns next Sunday.
PRELUDE
J. S. Bach
The Well-Tempered Clavier Book I, Prelude in c-sharp minor
Yu-Mei Wei, piano
WELCOME
CALL TO WORSHIP
We gather for worship this morning,
as if this were the first morning.
We gather for worship this morning,
as if this were the last morning.
We gather for worship this morning,
in gratitude and in wonder.
We gather for worship this morning.
in love with all the world.
HYMN #409
Morning has broken, like the first morning;
blackbird has spoken, like the first bird.
Praise for the singing, Praise for the morning,
Praise for them springing, fresh from the Word.
PRAYER
Creator God, we give thanks
that we have heard the Spirit of God
in the freshening leaves
and the rush of water.
So we pray for the creation
which nourishes and sustains all that lives.
Renew in us the sense of its value
that we may not squander its riches,
or so bend it to our will
that we find we have destroyed it. amen.
(by Kathy Galloway, Iona Community)
READINGS
from Genesis 1: 1-25, translated by Stephen Mitchell
from Journey to the Universe by Brian T. Swimme and Mary Evelyn Tucker
REFLECTION
“Let there be…”
Rev. Liza B. Knapp
INTERLUDE
F. Mendelssohn
Song without Words in g minor, Op. 19 No. 6
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
deacon Mary Dancer
SHARING OF GIFTS
Today we offer and bless gifts for Franklin County Community Meal Program.
OFFERTORY
J. Brahms
Klavierstück Op. 118 No. 2 Intermezzo in A Major
DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise God all creatures here below,
God’s praise ye host on high proclaim, who doth create, redeem, sustain.
PRAYER
God of all the world, we give thanks for the Earth and for the diversity of life which flourishes upon it. We offer these small gifts to you, aware that you are the source of all our gifts. May we neither hoard nor waste, but faithfully tend and generously share the abundance of your creation. amen.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
HYMN # 227
For the fruits of all creation, thanks be to God.
For the gifts to every nation, Thanks be to God.
For the plowing, sowing, reaping,
silent growth while we are sleeping,
future needs in earth’s safekeeping, thanks be to God.
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
W.A. Mozart
Sonata in B-flat Major, K. 576, Mov III: Allegretto
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Please wear your mask until you have exited the building.
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Photo credits: Fish Photo by Johnny Chen on Unsplash; Bird Photo by Shaueel Persadee on Unsplash
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Brick Church Music Series resumes next Sunday, September 19, at 3pm, with a performance by the New World Trio, featuring works by Mozart, Dvorak, and Piazzolla. Free: suggested donation of $10-20. (Masks required)
The First Church of Deerfield will be offering a Blessing of the Animals on Sunday, October 3, at noon. We will gather outside the church at 71 Old Main Street in Old Deerfield.
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The First Church of Deerfield is an inclusive, inquisitive, open-and-affirming congregation
of the United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalist Association
PO Box 276, Deerfield, Massachusetts 01342
office@firstchurchofdeerfield.org / (413) 773-5323
Rev. Liza B. Knapp, Pastor – deerfieldpastor@gmail.com / (413) 768-9412
Dr. Thomas Pousont, Organist and Director of Music Ministry
Pat Auchard, Administrator – Tom Mershon, Sexton – Rev. Ann Hallstein, Pastor Emerita
If you wish to make a donation in support of our ministry,
text “GIVE” to (413) 307-3730 or click below:
https://fcd.breezechms.com/
