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WELCOME TO WORSHIP!

No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome in this United Church of Christ congregation.

Large-print bulletins, hearing devices, and cough drops are available from the ushers.

Nursery and pre-school care is available during worship if you wish.

God is calling you today, but probably not on your cell phone! Please remember to put it on vibrate if you are expecting an emergency call.

ALL are welcome to this time and place of worship. Know that in this space you are welcome as you are, for who you are.

Together we celebrate all of God’s children – young, old and in-between; male, female and in-between; gay, lesbian, straight and in-between;

the assured, the doubting, and the in-between; the optimistic, the cynics, and the in-between;

the foolish, the wise, and the in-between.

The Reverend Dr. Laurinda Hafner, Senior Pastor The Reverend Megan Smith, Associate Pastor

The Reverend Aaron Lauer, Associate Pastor for Emerging Generations The Reverend Dr. Richard J. Bailar, Pastor Emeritus

Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ

3010 De Soto Boulevard Coral Gables, Florida 33134-6317

Phone: 305.448.7421 ~ www.gablesucc.org

CCLI License # 11282912

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ORDER OF WORSHIP July 2, 2017 Our faith is over 2000 years old 11:00 a.m.

Our thinking is not.

FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Why, when the world is so large, would you choose

to lie down in a prision of all places? ~Rumi

GATHERING MUSIC

Dr. Greg Taylor, piano WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS The Rev. Megan Smith

Thank you for signing and passing the red hospitality pad found in the pews.

Please use your smart phone to check in on Facebook; let your family and friends know that you are at Coral Gables Congregational UCC.

Invite your family and friends around the world to worship with us online

each Sunday at www.Gablesucc.org/live.

Be sure to “like” us at www.facebook.com/gablesucc. *THE PRAYER OF INVOCATION Seth Patterson

One: Move among us, God; give us life; Many: let your people rejoice in you. One: Give us again the joy of your help; Many: with your spirit of freedom sustain us. One: Holy One, make our hearts clean, Many: restore us in body, mind and spirit. One: Quench our parched souls with baptismal waters, O God; Many: that we may live anew, devoted to following your way. Amen.

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*OPENING HYMN I Woke Up This Morning

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AN AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Iona Community ALL: We believe that God is present in the darkness before dawn, in the waiting and uncertainty where fear and courage join hands, conflict and caring link arms, and the sun rises over barbed wire. We believe in a with-us God who sits down in our midst to share our humanity. We affirm a faith that takes us beyond the safe place into action, into vulnerability, and into the streets.

We commit ourselves to work for change, and put ourselves on the line, to bear responsibility, to take risks, live powerfully and face humiliation; to stand with those on the edge; to choose life and be used by the Spirit for God’s new community of hope. Amen *PASSING OF THE PEACE One: Friends, let us live fully, love wastefully, and have the courage to be all

that we can be. Let us extend that blessing to one another as we offer the peace of Christ by saying, “The peace of Christ be with you.”

Many: And also with you.

You are invited to share greetings of welcome and peace with those around you.

All children through 5th grade wishing to attend Sunday School are invited to go to the Fellowship Hall during the passing of the peace.

MUSICAL INTERLUDE

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THE EPISTLE READING

Romans 6:1-11 Jorge Casas

So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? I should hope not! If we’ve left the country where sin is sovereign, how can we still live in our old house there? Or didn’t you realize we packed up and left there for good? That is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace—a new life in a new land!

That’s what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we’re going in our new grace-sovereign country.

Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life—no longer at sin’s every beck and call! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That’s what Jesus did.

Friends, listen. God is still speaking. Thanks be to God. SUNG RESPONSE TO THE WORD Bless the Lord We will sing several times.

Bless the Lord, my soul, and bless God’s holy name. Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life.

THE EPISTLE REFLECTION

The Rev. Megan Smith INVITATION TO PRAYER Born Again Third Day

Greg Jackson, vocalist

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THE MORNING PRAYERS The Rev. Aaron Lauer

Quiet Prayer ~ Spoken Prayer

THE LORD’S PRAYER (spoken)

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, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

THE RECEIVING OF OUR GIFTS

Invitation/Offertory Music All Things New Hillsong Greg Jackson, vocalist

*PRESENTATION OF GIFTS AND THE SINGING OF THE DOXOLOGY

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below. Praise God above, ye heavenly host,

Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost. Amen.

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION ALL: Living One, bless these gifts with your Spirit. Transform them as you have

transformed us, that they may bring new life to persons and situations in need this day. Though these gifts, we share our love with the world. Amen.

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*CLOSING HYMN Go, My Children, with My Blessing

*BENEDICTION

One: May our new life in Christ fill us and infuse all those we meet with love. Go now to love and serve the Lord. Amen

*POSTLUDE

Dr. Greg Taylor, piano

Following the service, please join us in the Fellowship Hall for some refreshments and conversation with others. Visitors, we would LOVE to have you join us!

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A WARM AND CORDIAL WELCOME TO ALL GUESTS If you are visiting with us for the first time this morning, we welcome you. We are grateful we have found each other. And, if somehow, there is something in you, some still small voice seeking a place to live out your faith, to ask important questions, and to serve beyond yourself, we invite you into our community. For more information about the church or membership, please contact Pastor Laurie at 305.448.7421, ext. 116 or at LaurieH@gablesucc.org.

EACH SUNDAY: WORSHIP WITH US ONLINE Invite your family and friends around the world to worship with us online

today and each Sunday at gablesucc.org/live.

THANK YOU TO OUR USHERS: Lois Legge, head usher; Janet Copeland, Tom Carney, and Dawn Thompson

STAY IN TOUCH

Once a week or so, Pastor Laurie e-mails a pastoral letter, Laurie’s Lines, to all members and friends, filling them in on the week’s events, any special concerns that have arisen, and general church business. If you would like to be included, contact Ron Morgan at RonM@gablesucc.org.

SPANISH LANGUAGE SERVICES

Each Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel Led by the Rev. Yoli Izquierdo-Yglesias and Danny Morales

If you are part of a Spanish-speaking family or seeking to worship and sing in Spanish, come and join us for a service bridging the Latin experience with a progressive theology.

FAIR TRADE MARKETPLACE Your purchases empower artisans to work

and build strong families and villages globally.

Marketplace Hours: Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday-Saturday: Closed

Friday: 11:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Sunday: 12:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m.

Thursdays, July 6 and July 20: 12:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Located outside the Fellowship Hall

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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED ON JULY 4 Fireworks on the Biltmore Hotel golf course on the Fourth of July bring by far the biggest crowds of the year to the Gables UCC neighborhood. This presents a unique opportunity to support the mission of the church by collecting parking fees from motorists who may wish to park in the church parking lots. What we need are several volunteers to assist our Business Manager, Dennis Rodrigues that day. If you will be in town and are willing to help, please e-mail Dennis at dennisr@gablesucc.org or call him at (305) 431 1340.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the July Fourth holiday, Prayer Shawl Ministry and Back on Track will not meet this week. Both groups will return to their regular schedules in two weeks.

THE ELEPHANT RETURNS!

Sundays, July 9, 16, 23, and 30

Has there ever been something you wanted to know about your faith, but were afraid to ask? You know, the kind of question that puzzles, annoys, or keeps you awake at night? Pastor Laurie has invited folks to ask her anything, even a topic or issue that we tend to sweep under the rug or ignore in the church in order to keep peace, avoid disagreement, or even change…like that proverbial elephant in the room or, in this case, the pew. Laurie promises an honest and personal answer describing where she sits on these questions, and how she connects the questions to her own personal faith.

E-mail, write, or call Pastor Laurie, or go to the Gables UCC Facebook page and leave your question. She just might preach on it! Then join us after worship for the Sermon Feedback Café. Have a little lunch and a conversation with Pastor Laurie about her sermon for the day. We will meet in Havighorst Lounge at 12:15 p.m.

THE CHURCH AND MENTAL ILLNESS

We have been meeting and discussing plans for developing the mental health ministry of our church and working toward becoming a W.I.S.E. (Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive and Engaged with those who are affected by mental health challenges) congregation of the United Church of Christ. The group is working on creating a church covenant and planning a fall weekend of events that will include information, training, and support. If you are interested in being part of this group, please let Lisa LeSueur or Pastor Laurie know. This is open to all members and friends of the church.

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W.I.S.E. CARETAKERS TEA Saturday, July 15 from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon in the Church Library

For all individuals who tend to or support family and friends who live with mental illnesses and/or brain disorders. Come discover some support and care from folks who can help answer some questions and who will lovingly care for you and for the caretaking you provide. Refreshments will be served.

HELP THE HUNGRY

Did you know that we have a food panty that is used countless times during the week? So many families come to us in need of food. Your donation of food as listed below is greatly appreciated. Please place your donation on the receptionist desk.Thank you.

Meals in a can (soup, stew, chili); tuna, canned chicken, Spam; peanut butter; canned foods with pop-top lids; canned fruit in its own juice or water; canned vegetables.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH?

If you know that God’s love embraces all people, no matter who they are… If you want religion with relevancy…

If you’ve wished for an open and embracing community of faith to nurture your spirit, grow your faith, and raise your children…

Then we warmly invite you to help us build the family of Gables UCC.

Contact Pastor Laurie at LaurieH@gablesucc.org or 305.448.7421 ext. 116.