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New Utrecht Reformed Church

329 Years
1677-2006

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The Feast of Pentecost
Liberty Weekend All Faith Service

We welcome in a spirit of silence as the prelude begins our service. Chaplain George Munkenbeck, 14th Brooklyn Regiment, Company H is co-officiating this morning.

OUR APPROACH TO GOD
Prelude
Introit "Spirit of the Living God"

Welcome and Call to Worship:
A Native American Prayer by Black Elk
Then I was standing on the highest mountain of them all,
AND ROUND BENEATH ME WAS THE WHOLE HOOP OF THE WORLD.
And while I stood there I saw more than I can tell,
AND I UNDERSTOOD MORE THAN I SAW.
For I was seeing in the sacred manner the shape of all things of the spirit
AND THE SHAPES AS THEY MUST LIVE TOGETHER LIKE ONE BEING.
And I saw that the sacred hoop of my people was one of many hoops that make one circle, wide as daylight and starlight,
AND IN THE CENTER GREW ONE MIGHTY FLOWERING TREE
To shelter all the children of one mother and one father.
AND I SAW THAT IT WAS HOLY.

*Hymn 572 "America the Beautiful"

Let us pause in silence before our God.

Prayer in Unison: GRACIOUS GOD, WHEN THE STRUGGLES OF LIFE HEM ME IN ON EVERY SIDE, OPEN ME TO THE FREEDOM OF YOUR PRESENCE THAT CAN HELP ME SEE BEYOND EVERY RESTRICTION, EVERY LIMIT THAT BINDS ME. O GOD, GIVE ME THE WISDOM TO SEE THE SUBTLE WAYS PEOPLE CAN BE ENSLAVED AND THE COURAGE TO SPEAK FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NO VOICE. I ASK THIS FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR LOVE.

O GOD, WHEN WE WAKE TO YET ANOTHER DAY OF WONDER AND JOY IN THE BEAUTY OF YOUR CREATION, GIVE US THE HEART TO KEEP OUR NEEDS SIMPLE, OUR DESIRES SOFT, OUR WILLS PLIABLE, SO THAT WE NEVER PARTICIPATE IN THE EXPLOITATION OF THE EARTH WHICH IS THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS OR THE EXPLOITATION OF ONE ANOTHER, BECAUSE ALL PEOPLE ARE THE WORK OF YOUR HEART.

Kyrie (sung)
LORD, HAVE MERCY ON US.
CHRIST, HAVE MERCY ON US.
LORD, HAVE MERCY ON US.

A Word of Assurance: Micah 4:3
They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; but they shall all sit under their own vines and fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid.

The Summary of the Law (Mark 12:29b-31)
This is the first commandment:
HEAR O ISRAEL, 
THE LORD OUR GOD, 
THE LORD IS ONE.
THEREFORE YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD 
WITH ALL YOUR HEART, 
WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, 
WITH ALL YOUR MIND, 
AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.

This is the second commandment:
YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.
There is no greater commandment than these.

Anthem "Come Holy Spirit" W. Gaither

THE WORD OF GOD
*Responsive Reading: An excerpt from "Liberation is Costly" by Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Liberation is costly. Even after the Lord had delivered the Israelites from Egypt, they had to travel through the desert.
THEY HAD TO BEAR THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND DIFFICULTIES OF FREEDOM.
There was starvation and thirst and they kept complaining.
WE MUST REMEMBER THAT LIBERATION IS COSTLY. IT NEEDS UNITY.
We must hold hands and refuse to be divided. We must be ready.
LET US BE UNITED. LET US BE FILLED WITH HOPE, LET US BE THOSE WHO RESPECT ONE ANOTHER.

All people of Christian faith are welcome to join us as we conclude this prayer of praise:
*Gloria Patri (Hymn No. 623)
GLORY BE TO THE FATHER 
AND TO THE SON 
AND TO THE HOLY GHOST.  
AS IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING, 
IS NOW AND EVER SHALL BE, 
WORLD WITHOUT END, 
AMEN, AMEN!


The Greeting of Peace and Special Greetings
"Soldier" by Robert Frost, read by Elder and Vice President, Susan Hanyen,
Meditation by The Reverend Terry Troia

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD
*Hymn
"This is My Song"
*The Offering 
*Doxology (625) and Prayer
PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW; 
PRAISE GOD ALL CREATURES HERE BELOW; 
PRAISE GOD ABOVE YE HEAVENLY HOSTS; 
PRAISE FATHER (CREATOR), SON (CHRIST) AND HOLY GHOST. AMEN.

(Non-Christians are invited to sing this verse in place of the Triune Doxology above.)
PRAISE GOD, THE LOVE WE ALL MAY SHARE.
PRAISE GOD, OUR BEAUTY EVERYWHERE.
PRAISE GOD, THE HOPE OF GOOD TO BE.
PRAISE GOD, THE TRUTH THAT MAKES US FREE. AMEN!

A Time of Giving Thanks & Praise
The Prayer of the People ending in the
Lord’s Prayer
*Hymn 252 "Sweet, Sweet Spirit"
*Benediction
*Response to the Benediction
Postlude

*Please stand if you are able.

The flowers gracing the sanctuary this morning are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of our beloved parents, Josephine & Henry & grandfathers, Antonio Costarella & Joseph Safay.

The Memorial Wreath commemorating the 223rd anniversary of the
Liberty Pole is graciously donated by the Ruggiero Family of Bath Beach Florist. Thank you for your enduring friendship!

Special thanks and much gratitude is extended to our New Utrecht Liberty Pole Association President, Rose Lood and Friends of Historic New Utrecht President Bob Buonvino, Vice President Edward Paunetto and Angela Sarro, Chairperson of the New Utrecht Liberty Weekend, David Elligers, our cemetery tour guide and trustee, and the Boy Scout Leaders and Scouters for making Liberty Weekend possible! Many, many thanks to Chaplain George Munkenbeck and the soldiers of the Brooklyn 14th Regiment, Company H, N.Y. State Militia. Our hats off to Brian Worsdale for a magnificent concert he conducted last night to a full house! Thank you Brian and the ISO Band! To our own New Utrechters and many Scouting and community volunteers who made this weekend possible: thank you!!! Many thanks also to any volunteers whom I may have inadvertently omitted. We thank you all profoundly. We are graced by your efforts and enthusiasm! God bless you!

If you do not have a church home, we invite you to join us!


 

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