Greetings & Announcements

One: Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One, is here.

All: We come before God with praise and thanksgiving, we stand on holy ground.

One: Be still, for the presence of the Lord is shining all around.

All: Holy fire, splendor, radiance are here, lighting our way and setting us on fire with love as we stand on holy ground.

One: Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place.

All: God comes to cleanse and heal, to fill us with grace overflowing,

as we stand on holy ground.

    Source of life, you catch our attention, you pique our curiosity. And we turn from our regular day, we step off the well-worn path, we investigate what is happening. Only to find ourselves on holy ground, standing in your presence.

Creator God, who invites us to stand on holy ground, in this time together, Renew us, we pray, in body and soul. Open our ears and hearts and souls to hear your voice. Feed and strengthen us so that we can go from here refreshed and energized. Then lead us back out to live and serve. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Feel free to pass the peace by shaking hands, offering hugs or waves. Those who would like to share peace without physical contact are invited to place their hands over their hearts in greeting.)

   Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness and came to Mount Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight and see why the bush is not burned up.” When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” He said further, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

   Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. Now go, I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” He said, “I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

   But Moses said to God, “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” God also said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you’:

This is my name forever, 

and this my title for all generations.

Children's Message

Special Music

Call for Concerns & Celebrations

   (Please write joys and concerns on the papers in the baskets in the pews and pass them to an usher. The Congregational Response is: “Hear Our Prayers”)

   The Lord’s Prayer:

   Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

    Holy God, you call ordinary people from unexpected places and send them into hard and holy work. As you met Moses in the fire that did not consume meet us now in these gifts we bring. Shape us by your presence, not by fear; by service, not by power; by love that risks itself for the sake of others. Receive our offering as a sign that we trust your “I AM” to go with us and that we are willing to follow Christ, even when the way is demanding. Use what we give to bring freedom, healing, and hope to your world. Amen

Communion Hymn:

Celebrating Communion

Call to the Table

Communion Prayer

Words of Institution

Sharing of the Elements—All are welcome to the table always

Sharing of the Bread (please come forward and eat once you receive)

Sharing the Cup (served in the pew. Please hold so we can take together.)

Prayer of Thanksgiving 

   We give thanks almighty God, that you have refreshed us at your table by granting us the presence of Jesus Christ. Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one another, and send us forth into the world in courage and peace, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our savior. Amen.

Hymn of Going Forth:

We were called to take a break from the everyday and sit in God’s presence. We have listened for God’s voice. We have eaten at God’s table. Now our worship ends, and our service continues We respond to God’s invitation to share Good News of love and liberation with the world around us.

   Go now to live and love and serve. Go knowing that God who was once revealed in a burning bush, who was made flesh in Jesus of Nazareth, who has blown through Creation since the beginning is with you. Always and everywhere. Hallelujah!

Music Usage permitted through OneLicense HCC License #A-730412 and CCLI License Number 2927783. All rights reserved

Announcements

Want to get the word out about what’s happening at HCC? If you want to publicize your event or remind the congregation about something, please email the office (hcc1752@gmail.com) by Wednesday at noon so that your information can be included in that week’s Weekly Word. Feel free to send in information up to three weeks in advance of an upcoming event. We want all of the congregation (not just the Team leaders) to be empowered to get the word out about all the activities that are happening at Hampstead Congregational Church!

Our Mailing address:

61 Main Street

Hampstead, NH 03841

Church Office hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9:00am to 3pm