The United Church of Clinton
Artwork by Liz Boston Oakdale
October 4, 2026
Minister, Rev. Marilyn Wilcox
Musician, Kate Lyczkowski
Lay Reader, Mike MacInnis
Ministers, The People of God
WELCOME TO WORSHIP
Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost
World Wide Communion Sunday/Neighbors in Need Collection
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
RINGING of the BELL/TIME of CENTER
*CALL to WORSHIP (Japan)
One: In a world that remains divided and in conflict, God is inviting us, to make us one.
Many: Today we gather around one table, in answer to God’s will.
One: What do we find at today’s table?
Many: God’s love, which endures all things and connects all things.
One: What is not at today’s table?
Many: The many powers of the world, which seek to stand over others.
One: Let us repent, and give thanks to God’s power to bring salvation to all who believe.
Many: Thanks be to God! Make us witnesses of Your love.
All: Let us worship together the true God, who makes us one.
*SONG of PRAISE and SUPPORTING HUMAN JUSTICE
“We Are The World”
1. There comes a time
When we heed a certain call
When the world must come together as one.
There are people dying
Oh, and it’s time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all.
2. We can’t go on
Pretending day-by-day
That someone, somewhere’ll soon make a change.
We’re all a part of God’s great big family
And the truth, you know, love is all we need.
Refrain
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let’s start giving.
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day, just you and me.
3. Oh, send them your heart
So they know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free.
As God has shown us by turning stones to bread
And so we all must lend a helping hand.
Refrain
4. When you’re down and out, there seems no hope at all
But if you just believe there’s no way we can fall.
Well, well, well, well let us realize
Oh, that a change can only come
When we stand together as one.
Refrain x2
Just you and me.
“We Are The World” -words and music by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie
*PRAYER of the DAY (Australia)
We gather today as the people of God, as a community of Christ’s followers. We gather to share Word and sacrament, to discern the ways of faithful service. We serve our God in this community and throughout every land. Let us serve by working toward justice where there is oppression, by offering comfort where there is pain, by sharing love where there is hatred. The Spirit beckons us, because Jesus calls us to enact our faith. Let us now worship the one who calls us! Amen.
*AFFIRMING and CONNECTING (Passing of the Peace) We sing: “Peace be with You”.
* GLORIA PATRI
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. (Be seated)
Moment for All God’s Children
Lord’s Prayer #308
*SONG “When the Poor Ones” #662
SCRIPTURE Psalm 19: 1-4, 7-10 (The Message Translation)
1-2 God’s glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon. Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening. 3-4 Their words aren’t heard, their voices aren’t recorded, But their silence fills the earth: unspoken truth is spoken everywhere. 4-5 God makes a huge dome for the sun–a superdome! The daybreaking sun an athlete racing to the tape. 7-9 The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes. God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree. 10 God’s Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries.
PRAYER OF TRANSFORMATION and NEW LIFE (South Africa)
One: For our failure to feel the suffering of others, and our tendency to live comfortably with injustice.
Many: God forgive us.
One: For the self-righteousness which denies guilt, and the self-interest which strangles compassion,
Many: God forgive us.
One: For those who live their lives in careless unconcern, who cry ‘Peace, peace’ when there is no peace,
Many: We ask for mercy.
One: For our failings in community, our lack of understanding,
Many: We ask for mercy.
One: For the times we are too eager to be better than others, when we are rushed to care, when we are too tired to bother, when we don’t really listen, when we are too quick to act from motives other than love,
All: God forgives us.
WORDS of GRACE (Bangladesh)
Know that God loves you. From the very beginning God’s loving mercy has been poured out upon you. God loves you like a parent embracing you. God watches over you, guiding you each day. On behalf of Jesus Christ, our Savior; you are forgiven; forgive others. You are restored; restore others. You are reconciled with God; be reconciled with others, in the name of the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.
Prayer Concerns and Joys Lifted Up
PASTORAL PRAYER
SCRIPTURE Acts 4: 5-12 (The Message Translation)
5-7 The next day a meeting was called in Jerusalem. The rulers, religious leaders, religion scholars, Annas the Chief Priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander–everybody who was anybody was there. They stood Peter and John in the middle of the room and grilled them: “Who put you in charge here? What business do you have doing this?” 8-12 With that, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, let loose: “Rulers and leaders of the people, if we have been brought to trial today for helping a sick man, put under investigation regarding this healing, I’ll be completely frank with you–we have nothing to hide. By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you killed on the cross, the One God raised from the dead, by means of his name this man stands before you healthy and whole. Jesus is ‘the stone you masons threw out, which is now the cornerstone.’ Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one.”
Meditation – Rev. Marilyn Wilcox
PRAYER OF THE PEOPLE
One: We pray for the people of Africa.
Many: May they be strengthened in faith, justice, and hope.
One: We pray for the people of Asia.
Many: May they be strengthened in faith, justice, and hope.
One: We pray for the people of the Pacific.
Many: May they be strengthened in faith, justice, and hope.
One: We pray for the people of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Many: May they be strengthened in faith, justice, and hope.
One: We pray for the people of Europe.
Many: May they be strengthened in faith, justice, and hope.
One: We pray for the people of the Middle East.
Many: May they be strengthened in faith, justice, and hope.
One: We pray for the people of North America.
Many: May they be strengthened in faith, justice, and hope.
One: We pray for people of every place whose names we know–and those we do not.
All: May they be strengthened together as one body of Christ.
Musical Meditation
INVITATION to GENEROSITY
One: Praise be to God who calls us to imagine and believe that another world is possible.
Many: We praise the One who calls us into a covenant with one another.
Passing of the Plate
DOXOLOGY (Use whatever words are comfortable for you)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise God all creatures here below; praise God above ye heavenly host. Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost (Creator, Christ, and Spirit One/Father, Son, and Holy Ghost). Amen. (turn over)
PRAYER of THANKSGIVING and DEDICATION
Deliver these our gifts to the work of bringing hope and wholeness to all our neighbors. God of all times and all places, remind us of the world as You intend it: free from hunger, poverty, violence, and oppression. Embolden us, O God, to imagine and believe that another world is possible! Amen.
*COMMUNION (found in insert)
*COMMUNION HYMN “I Come with Joy” #420
CALL TO COMMUNION
One: From every corner of the earth, Christ calls us to the table.
Many: We come from many peoples, many places, many traditions.
One: We come with the songs of our ancestors and prayers of those who came before us.
Many: We come caring stories of faith, struggle, hope, and joy.
One: From the villages of Africa and the islands of the Pacific, from the mountains of Asia and the cities of the Americas, from the churches of Europe and the Middle East–
Many: We come as one people, gathered in Christ.
One: Some come to this table with abundance. Some come with longing for daily bread.
Many: Christ welcomes us all.
One: Some come singing. Some come grieving. Some come with questions. Some come with gratitude.
Many: Christ welcomes us all.
One: Today, the walls that divide us do not have the final word. Language does not divide us. Geography does not divide us. Culture does not divide us.
Many: At Christ’s table, there is room for all.
One: Come, people of God. Come with open hands and open hearts.
All: We come to receive. We come to remember. We come to share. We come to be made one.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
On the night before he was betrayed, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and shared it with his friends. He took the cup and shared it as a sign of a new covenant– a promise of love stronger than violence, hope stronger than despair, and life stronger than death. Holy Spirit, breathe upon this bread and this cup and upon all who receive them. As Christians around the world gather today, make us mindful of one another: of those who worship in crowded churches and those who gather in small communities; of those who celebrate with joyful music and dancing and those whose worship is quiet and contemplative; of those who have enough to eat and those who cry out for bread; of those who worship in freedom and those who gather amid conflict, displacement, or persecution. Make us one in the love of Christ. As this bread is broken and this cup is shared, teach us that communion is more than what happens here. Make us people who share what we have, who welcome the stranger, who seek reconciliation, who stand with those who suffer, and who work for the peace and flourishing of all creation.
SHARING OF THE MEAL
The bread and cup shared.
One: The bread of life, given for all.
People: We receive with gratitude.
One: The cup of blessing, shared for all.
People: We receive with gratitude.
Partaking of Communion Elements
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
One: God of every nation and generation, gather us into the great company of your people– those who have gone before us, those who worship beside us, and those we may never meet in this life. Until the day when every people and every nation are gathered into your eternal feast, keep us faithful to one another and to you
Many: Send us from this table as people of Christ’s peace.
All: One body. One Spirit. One Lord. One faith. One hope. One table. Amen.
*SONG “Let There Be Peace” #677
BENEDICTION
May God prosper you. May your days be long and your nights serene. May your friendships honor you, and your family love you. May you eat at your table, and may you be gathered into God’s embrace with a smile.
SUNG “Amen”(feel free to clap along!)
Postlude
* Please stand if you are able.
Bold– Words in bold are said in unison.
Our worship has ended ~ Let our service begin!
Warm Birthday wishes go out to:
Eric Lidstone October 6th William Pane October 6th
Heidi Furman October 8th Regan Bodak October 11th
Wanda Pane October 12th Dianne Cummins October 14th
Jamie McNamara Jr. October 24th Jamie McNamara October 25th
Pamela Dobeck October 31st
Happy Anniversary go out to:
Heather & Jamie McNamara October 5th
Debora & David Wheeler October 13th
We shared Worship Prayers and World Wide Communion Service this Morning with the Wachusett Cooperative Parish UMC (the UMC churches in the area). Prayers were taken from the World Communion Sunday Worship Service from the World Global Ministries–Disciples in Christ and the United Church of Christ.
During the First Hymn we have a collection for the Neighbors in Need. Thank you for your generosity!
Happenings at United Church
(Please notify the church office with any events or meetings.)
Important Deadlines!
Bulletin Announcements are due to the office by the end of day each Wednesday.
Any items submitted after the deadline may not be included in the publication.
Support Our Church’s Local Community Meal Mission!
The United Church of Clinton is committed to nourishing our community through a monthly pizza meal at the WHEAT Community Cafe. Each month, our congregation generously provides a delicious dinner featuring pizza, Caesar salad, and cookies – all at a cost of over $200!
How You Can Help
Your donation can make a real difference in supporting this vital local outreach program. By contributing, you help ensure that neighbors in need receive a warm, nutritious meal on the third Monday of the month.
Why It Matters
WHEAT Community Connections serves residents in Clinton and surrounding towns, providing critical food support and community connection. Every contribution helps sustain this important mission of care and compassion through our donation of a monthly meal.
Call to Action
Please consider giving to this meaningful local outreach and help keep our part in providing these community meals going strong!
Online Giving Did you know that you can process your weekly contribution
or any other donation supporting The United Church of Clinton go back to our website home page? Click the blue button on the right that says “online giving.”