Preacher: Rev. Dr. Boon Lin Ngeo
Please use this Order of Service to easily follow the service online.
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Prelude: Debbie Deane
Chalice Lighting:
We light this chalice to affirm that new light is ever waiting to breakthrough to enlighten our ways:That new truth is ever waiting to break through to illumine our minds:And that new love is ever waiting to break through to warm our hearts.May we be open to this light, and to the rich possibilities that it brings us.
Opening Hymn: Enter, Rejoice, and Come In SLT 361
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship:
In love and joy God calls us together.And so we meet this day, as friends, as neighbors, as sisters and brothers. Called together by God, we bring our offerings to God:Our songs, our hearts, our prayers, our lives.Grateful for this opportunity to give and receive, let us worship God
Prayer of Invocation:
First Sacred Reading: Acts 6: 1-7
Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. 2 And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Therefore, brothers and sisters, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task,4 while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.” 5 What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.6 They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.7 The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
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: Tao Te Ching chapter 76
When first born, we’re small and weak; The living are soft and flexible.When we die, we become hard and stiff;The dead are rigid, unmoving.The greenery - grasses, plants and treesGrowing are tender and supple,Dead are dry and brittle.And so the strong and hardGo along with dying;The open to change and flexible with living.
When an army becomes inflexible, It suffers defeat.A tree that won’t bendEasily breaks in storms.The hard and strong will fail,The open-hearted prevail.
Hymn of Reflection: This Little Light of Mine SLT 118
Sermon: Let’s Keep Growing and Becoming
Closing Hymn: We are One in the Spirit
Benediction: Rev. Dr. Boon Lin Ngeo
Postlude: Debbie Deane
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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