August 24, 2025

Preacher: Rev. Dr. Boon Lin Ngeo

Please use this Order of Service to easily follow the service online.

CLICK HERE FOR HYMNS (or scroll to the bottom)

Prelude:    Richard Harper

Chalice Lighting:    

We light our chalice, symbol of our free Unitarian faithSign of the spark of life in all living beingsFire of commitment to love and justiceAs the chalice cup embraces the flameMay we hold one another in loving communitySharing our gratitude, our pain and our hopes for our worldFor we are co-weavers of the story of the universeA web of intimate connections and infinite possibilities

Opening Hymn:     Come, Sing a Song with Me         SLT 346              

Welcome & Announcements

Call to Worship:  

We worship the God who inhabits our world and indwells our lives.

We need not look up to find God, we need only to look around:

within ourselves, beyond ourselves,

into the eyes of another.

Prayer of Invocation:   

First Sacred Reading:   Matthew  5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he began to speak and taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.  Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.  Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Passing of the Peace 

Sharing of Our Joys & Concerns

Prayers of the People/Pastoral Prayer

Offering & Doxology:    We Give You But Your Own – NCH 785 

We give you but your own, what e'er the gift may be; All that we have is yours alone, we give it gratefully

Second Sacred Reading:    The Dhammapada

Whoever is overcome by this wretched and sticky craving, his sorrows grow like grass after the rains.

One should give up anger, renounce pride, and overcome all fetters. Suffering never befalls him who clings not to mind and body and is detached.

Whatever harm an enemy may do to an enemy, or a hater to a hater, an ill-directed mind inflicts on oneself a greater harm.

Hymn of Reflection:       Spirit of Life           SLT 123 

Sermon:   With Understanding Comes Compassion    

Closing Hymn:                    There is More Love Somewhere    SLT   95

Benediction:                           Rev. Dr. Boon Lin Ngeo

Postlude:                                Richard Harper

All Souls Bethlehem Church

An Open and Affirming Congregation

Pastor: Rev. Dr. Boon Lin Ngeo

Ministers: All Members of ASBC

Minister Emeritus: Rev. Bill Nye 

First Time Visitor?  

Please sign our red Guest Book (located near the entrance)

and be our guest at the gathering following the service!

Interested in “Official” Church Membership?  

Please speak with Council President Raquel Irizarry about our next New Member gathering!  

An All-inclusive, Welcoming Community of Faith

born from the traditions of the:

Disciples of Christ - www.Disciples.org

United Church of Christ - www.UCC.org

Unitarian Universalist Association - www.UUA.org 

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