february 22, 2026

Guest Preacher: Rev. Dr. Valerie Holly

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

CLICK HERE FOR HYMNS (or scroll to the bottom)

Prelude:    Richard Harper 

Prelude:   Richard Harper

Chalice Lighting:   

Who We Are Called to Be

 Our chalice is a reminder that in hard times, our ancestors in faith acted with courage to bring hope and safety, to bring life itself to threatened people. We light it today (or tonight, etc.) as a reminder of who we are called to be in a world still dangerous

Opening Hymn:  Just As I Am  NCH # 207

Welcome & Announcements

Call to Worship: 

As we gather this day, each of us brings something to worship – We bring the burdens of the week. We bring prayers of hope, and prayers of anguish. We bring our voices, and our offerings, and our questions. We bring our faith, tattered or whole as it may be. We bring all this to each other and to God, whom we worship today.

Beth Merril Neel

Prayer of Invocation: 

First Sacred Reading:  John 1: 43-49 NRSV

43 Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to

him, “Follow me.”

44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom

Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from

Nazareth.”

 46  Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip

said to him, “Come and see.”

 47When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is

truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!”

48 Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I

saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

49 Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of

Israel!”

 Passing of the Peace

Sharing of Our Joys & Concerns/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:

Grateful that my heart still breaks.

Grateful that I can still be moved.

Grateful that joy has not been stolen from me.

Grateful that I belong to a Love larger than bitterness.

Because the truth is this:

The world does not need more certainty.

It needs more tenderness.

It does not need louder outrage.

It needs braver compassion.

And it desperately needs people willing to feel.

So today, if you find yourself weary in a divided world, remember this.

Your capacity for joy is sacred.

Your empathy is a gift.

Your tears are prayer.

Your openness is courage.

And every time you choose love over exclusion, wonder over fear, tenderness over contempt, you are participating in resurrection.

Even in a pharmacy aisle.

Even on an ordinary Monday.

Rev. Allison Burns-LaGreca

Hymn of Reflection:  I’ve Got Peace Like A River NCH 478

Sermon Title:  “No, I’m Not Kidding”

Closing Hymn: We Shall Overcome  NCH 803

Benediction:    Dr. Valerie  H Holly

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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