september 27,2026
Guest Preacher: Abigail Hastings
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: Letting Go by Jay Wolin
Are we a people of holding on or of letting go?
Holding on to rigid ideas or
Letting go and opening our minds and our hearts, to something new;
Holding on to certainty of how things should be or
Letting go and living with the uncertainty of new ways of being in the world;
Holding on to what makes us comfortable or
Letting go so we may grow, which can be uncomfortable;
Holding on to what makes us safe or
Letting go to make room to help others feel safe?
With this flame, this symbol of our religion,
let it be a symbol of burning up the ties that hold us back
from being our true self and reaching our true potential;
let it be a symbol of lighting a new way for us into a better tomorrow;
and let it be a symbol of letting go—because holding on too long
and too tightly is never good for the soul.
Opening Hymn: “Holy Spirit, Come With Power”
Welcome and Announcements
Call to Worship: Psalm 78: A Prayer for Our Nation (see page 3) by Christine Robinson — Psalms for a New World— https://doubterpsalms.blogspot.com/
One: Here is a story, to tell our children— a cautionary tale to help them understand:
All: We have been blessed, our nation, by abundant resources, by wise leaders, by resourceful people.
One: We have also been greedy and selfish— taking land that did not belong to us, enslaving the African making war on nations which displeased us.
All: We have accomplished much, been a light to the nations. We have used our strength for good.
One: We also have been decedent— Worshiped ourselves, Forgotten the people.
All: Grant a healing of our hearts, o God; help us to choose life, to do good, and to use our power well in the world.
Prayer of Invocation
Sacred Reading in Song: MOSES words and music by Ken Medema (see page 4)
Passing of the Peace Sharing of our Joys and Concerns: Open to the Congregation Prayers of the People/Pastoral Prayer
Offering Doxology: “Tis a Gift to Be Simple” SLT 16
Reading: Forget about enlightenment by John Welwood
Sit down wherever you are
And listen to the wind singing in your veins.
Feel the love, the longing, the fear in your bones.
Open your heart to where you are, right now,
And who you would like to be,
Not the saint you are striving to become
But the being right here before you, inside you, around you.
All of you is holy, You are already more and less / than whatever you can know.
Breathe out,
Touch in,
Let go.
Hymn of Reflection: “Once When My Heart Was Passion Free” SLT 335
Sermon: Holding On & Letting Go Abigail Hastings
Closing Hymn: “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” SLT 199
Benediction:
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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