VTCUCC AM 2016
In April 2016, and for the 221st time, the Vermont Conference, United Church of Christ met for its Annual Meeting. The meeting was held from Friday morning, 4/29 through Saturday afternoon, 4/30 at the Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, VT. Our theme was, “Be The Church” which was borrowed from the national setting of the UCC. Below you will find the orders of worship for three services that took place during plenary sessions. Our musicians for these services were Peter and Mary Alice Amidon and our preacher/keynote was Bishop Dwayne Royster of the Living Water, UCC in Philadelphia, PA.
Vermont Conference, United Church of Christ – Annual Meeting 2016
An Order of Worship with Holy Communion
Friday, April 29, 2016 @ 11:00am
* Please stand as you are able
Prelude
Introit – Peter & Mary Alice Amidon
Call to Worship – The Reverend Katelyn Macrae
One: We come together this weekend to celebrate who we are as God’s people. We are known, claimed and called by God to…
Many: Be the church!
One: God delights when we…
Many: Enjoy this life
One: Scripture tells us…
Many: To love God
One: God delights when we…
Many: Embrace diversity.
One: Scripture tells us…
Many: We are to share our earthly and spiritual resources
One: Jesus showed us how to…
Many: Fight for the powerless
One: God delights when we…
Many: Reject racism
One: Jesus taught us to…
Many: Forgive often
One: Scripture speaks often about
Many: Caring for the poor
One: God delights when we…
Many: Protect the environment
One: All of this means we are called to:
Many: Be the church!
*Hymn: “Gather Us In (Here in This Place),” by M. Haugen
*Prayer of Invocation
Scripture Reading: Luke 5:1-11 (NRSV) – Bishop Dwayne Royster
Sermon – Bishop Dwayne Royster
*Hymn: “I Will Come to You (You Are Mine),” by D. Haas
Sacrament of Holy Communion – Celebrants The Reverend Dr. Lynn Bujnak & Bishop Dwayne Royster
The Lord’s Prayer
Sharing the Bread & Cup
Prayer of Thanksgiving (unison) – Bountiful God, thank you for feeding us at this table where we have met you in the broken bread and poured out cup, where our hunger for you has been satisfied and our call to feed others in your name has been heard. Send us out now to do the work you have given us to do, to be the Church, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of the Risen Christ. Amen.
*Hymn: “In the Midst of New Dimensions,” by J. B. Rush
*Benediction – Bishop Dwayne Royster
Postlude
Vermont Conference, United Church of Christ – Annual Meeting 2016
An Order of Worship with Holy Communion
Saturday, April 30, 2016 @ 8:45am
Keynote Address – Bishop Dwayne Royster
SONG – “We Are the Church,” by Avery & Marsh – Rev. Katelyn Macrae & Rev. Amy Pitton
Litany
WHEN INVITED, PLEASE SHARE WHAT YOU OR YOUR CHURCH CAN DO, OR IS ALREADY DOING TO BE THE CHURCH IN THIS AREA.
One: Holy God, from rivers and forests, mountains and valleys, you call us together as the Body of Christ to…
MANY: BE THE CHURCH.
One: Great Creator, who shaped each Green Mountain peak, tree and leaf, and each creature including each human form, today you call us to protect the environment…
CONGREGATIONAL SHARING: PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT
One: We follow your son Jesus who implores us to…
MANY: BE THE CHURCH.
One: Spirit of Love, your prophets of old urged us to care for the poor and vulnerable, for orphans and widows, and to welcome the stranger…
CONGREGATIONAL SHARING: CARE FOR THE POOR
One: We follow your son Jesus who asks us to…
MANY: BE THE CHURCH.
One: Gracious One, help us to forgive frequently and fervently, as we have been forgiven…
CONGREGATIONAL SHARING: FORGIVE OFTEN
One: We follow your son Jesus who guides us to…
MANY: BE THE CHURCH.
One: To the One whom all lives matter, help us to reject implicit and explicit racism, and work to change the structures that perpetuate it.
CONGREGATIONAL SHARING: REJECT RACISM
One: We follow your son Jesus who helps us to…
MANY: BE THE CHURCH.
One: Omnipotent One, pour out your spirit upon us and equip us with courage and spiritual audacity to fight for the powerless by…
CONGREGATIONAL SHARING: FIGHT FOR THE POWERLESS
One: We follow your son Jesus who empowers us to…
MANY: BE THE CHURCH.
One: God of abundance, spur us to share our earthly and spiritual resources with the fullness of your creation…
CONGREGATIONAL SHARING: SHARE EARTHLY AND SPIRITUAL RESOURCES
One: We follow your son Jesus who equips us to…
MANY: BE THE CHURCH.
One: Three-in-one, you call us to embrace the diversity inherent in your own being and in all the beings you created. Help us celebrate the blessings of God-given diversity by…
CONGREGATIONAL SHARING: EMBRACE DIVERSITY
One: We follow your son Jesus who leads us to…
MANY: BE THE CHURCH.
One: Holy God, we give thanks for the many ways we enjoy this life you have blessed us with…
CONGREGATIONAL SHARING: ENJOY THIS LIFE
One: We follow your son Jesus, who taught us to…
MANY: BE THE CHURCH.
One: You are our Alpha and Omega, our beginning and our end. We love you God, and seek to show this love in all that we are and in all that we do…
CONGREGATIONAL SHARING: LOVE GOD
One: We follow your son Jesus, who knits us together as sisters and brothers in faith to…
MANY: BE THE CHURCH!
SONG – “We Are the Church,” by Avery & Marsh
Vermont Conference, United Church of Christ – Annual Meeting 2016
An Order of Worship
Saturday, April 30, 2016 at 2:15 p.m.
* Please stand as you are able
Prelude – Peter & Mary Alice Amidon
Choral Introit: “Give us a Song,” dir. Jonathan Edwards & sung by Annual Meeting Choir
Call to Worship
*Hymn: “O Holy Spirit Root of Life,” arr. Janzen
Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession
One: Loving God, you have called us to be the church but we confess that we have struggled to do so.
MANY: We have not lived in harmony with your creation, but sought to use up all its resources.
One: We have not cared for the poor, but exploited cheap labor, left the hungry unfed and the sick infirmed.
MANY: We have not forgiven others, but hold grudges against our neighbors and friends.
One: We have not rejected racism, but have treated people differently according to their outward appearance.
MANY: Lord have mercy. Forgive us and correct us.
One: Teach us how to fight for the powerless in our towns, communities, and wider world.
MANY: Convict us to share our earthly and spiritual resources.
One: Help us to embrace the diversity of all your creation.
MANY: Challenge us to love you as you love us.
One: For it is in your love that we find abundant life.
MANY: Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
*Passing of the Peace
Anthem: “Make Me A Channel of Your Peace,” dir. Peter Amidon & sung by Annual Meeting Choir
Scripture Reading: John 21:1-19 – Bishop Dwayne Royster
Sermon: Bishop Dwayne Royster
Anthem: “I Corinthians 13,” dir. Peter Amidon & sung by Annual Meeting Choir
Prayers of the People – The Reverend Jared Hamilton
One: For the world… for peace and for the end of violence everywhere. Lord, in your mercy,
MANY: Hear our prayer.
One: For this nation… for those that lead well and for all in authority. Lord, in your mercy,
MANY: Hear our prayer.
One: For our local communities… for teachers and firefighters, police officers and town administrators. Lord, in your mercy,
MANY: Hear our prayer.
One: For the church… for strength and power, for celebration and comfort, for transparency and accountability. Lord, in your mercy,
MANY: Hear our prayer.
One: For the sick and suffering… for the ill and dying and for their families. Lord, in your mercy,
MANY: Hear our prayer.
One: For each of us… for health and support and for the clear call to do your will. Lord, in your mercy,
MANY: Hear our prayer.
One: For our future… for civility and faithfulness, for justice and passion, for grace and long suffering. Lord, in your mercy,
MANY: Hear our prayer.
Commission
One: We have gathered this weekend as the church, God’s people. We have heard testimony of the many ways we can
Many: Be the church!
One: We have been inspired with new ideas and new vision for how we might
Many: Be the church!
One: We have heard the voice of our Still-speaking God encouraging us to go forth and
Many: Be the church!
One: We remember, God delights when we…
Many: Protect the environment
One: We remember, scripture speaks often about
Many: Caring for the poor
One: We remember, Jesus taught us to…
Many: Forgive often
One: We remember, God delights when we…
Many: Reject racism
One: We remember, Jesus showed us how to…
Many: Fight for the powerless
One: We remember, scripture tells us…
Many: We are to share our earthly and spiritual resources
One: We remember, God delights when we…
Many: Embrace diversity.
One: We remember, scripture tells us…
Many: To love God
One: We remember, God delights when we…
Many: Enjoy this life
One: Let us go out into the world in joy and thanksgiving and
Many: Be the church!
*Hymn: “Sent forth By God’s Blessing,” by O. Westendorf
*Benediction – Bishop Dwayne Royster
Postlude
© Vermont Conference, United Church of Christ 2017
