October 24, 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
October 24, 2021
PRELUDE
Elevation – Tierce en Taille François Couperin
Thomas Pousont, organ
CALL TO WORSHIP
(From Psalm 146)
Happy are those whose hope is in the Lord their God:
who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry;
who sets the prisoners free;
who opens the eyes of the blind;
who lifts up those who are bowed down;
who loves the righteous;
who watches over the strangers;
who upholds the orphan and the widow;
who frustrates the ways of the wicked;
who reigns forever, for all generations.
Praise the Lord!
HYMN (642)
(to hear the tune, click here)
Be thou my vision, O joy of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night;
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;
I ever with thee, and thou with me, Lord.
Thou and thou only, first in my heart,
Great God of heaven, my treasure thou art.
READING
As Jesus and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When Bartimaeus heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way. (Mark 10: 46-52, NRSV)
PRAYER
(by Richard of Chichester, 1197-1253)
O most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother, may I know you more clearly, love you more dearly, follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen.
A Prayer of St. Richard of Chichester L.J. White
Karen & Liz, sopranos
Rev. Liza B. Knapp
(Bartimaeus casting off his cloak – sculpture by Gordon Brewster)
HYMN (642, continued)
Great God of heaven, when vict’ry is won,
may I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heav’n’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be my vision, O Ruler of all.
Mary Dancer
SHARING OF GIFTS
(to make a gift to the First Church of Deerfield, click here)
DOXOLOGY
(to hear the tune, click here)
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
We offer these gifts, and with them this prayer:
That those who receive, and those who give,
might be one. In Christ’s/ Love’s name, Amen.
HYMN
(to hear the tune, click here)
Live into hope of captives freed,
of sight regained, the end of greed.
The oppressed shall be the first to see
the year of God’s own jubilee!
Live into hope of liberty,
the right to speak, the right to be,
the right to have one’s daily bread,
to hear God’s word and thus be fed.
BENEDICTION
May God bless you and keep you
May God’s face shine upon you
and be gracious unto you
May God look upon you with kindness
and give you peace.
Amen.
Trumpet Tune Henry Purcell
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
