The United Church of Clinton
August 2, 2026
Pastor, Rev. Marilyn Wilcox
Musician, Kate Lyczkowski
Lay Reader, Paul Cole
Ministers, The People of God
WELCOME TO WORSHIP
Tenth Sunday After Pentecost
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
RINGING of the BELL/TIME of CENTER
*CALL to WORSHIP (inspired by Psalm 17)
One: The Holy One wondrously demonstrates steadfast love. Seek refuge at God’s right hand.
Many: Let God’s love meet us and flow through us.
One: The Holy One attentively hears the just cause. Seek justice and righteousness for God’s name sake.
Many: Let us be steady and vigilant for the kingdom of God.
One: The Holy One faithfully vindicates our lives. Seek the path God paves for us.
Many: Let us worship, honor and praise the God who delivers, redeems, and restores. Praise the Holy One!
*SONG of PRAISE and SUPPORTING HUMAN JUSTICE
“Softly and Tenderly” #340
*PRAYER of the DAY
Faithful and persistent God, we turn to you with who we are, with what we have, and with all we hope. We call upon you because you care and are attentive to our cries of concern and shouts of joy. We come to pray, sing, and wrestle with you, O God. We also come to receive clarity and discernment, to receive and give testimony of your persistent love, and to receive and affirm the beauty of your path. Hold us securely by your Spirit and never let us go. 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 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 and ever. Amen.
*SONG “Kum ba ya” #590
SCRIPTURE Psalm 17: 7, 15
7 Manifest your faithful love in amazing ways because you are the one who saves those who take refuge in you, saving them from attackers by your strong hand. 15 But me? I will see your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be filled full by seeing your image.
PRAYER OF TRANSFORMATION and NEW LIFE
Holy One, we strive to be your people and reflect your goodness in the world. Yet, the way of wickedness is not far from us, and we have not passed every test. Fortify us in your word and drench us with your compassion so that we may find the courage to repent and repair. Help us acknowledge the harm we have allowed and the pain we have caused. Empower us to make things right with our neighbors and ourselves. Let your grace and mercy liberate us to be agents of reconciliation and restoration in our families, communities, and the world. Amen.
WORDS of GRACE
Blessed of God, receive God’s transformative and liberating grace. Be made new in Christ, and make a new way in mending broken relationships and forging new ones. Let the love of God be your guide and assurance that the One who is gracious and merciful, is good to all, and abundant in compassion has planted those seeds in you, upholds all who fall and remains near to you.
Prayer Concerns and Joys Lifted Up
PASTORAL PRAYER
SCRIPTURE John 17: 20-26
“I’m not praying only for them but also for those who believe in me because of their word. 21 I pray they will be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. I pray that they also will be in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me. 22 I’ve given them the glory that you gave me so that they can be one just as we are one. 23 I’m in them and you are in me so that they will be made perfectly one. Then the world will know that you sent me and that you have loved them just as you loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you gave me to be with me where I am. Then they can see my glory, which you gave me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, even the world didn’t know you, but I’ve known you, and these believers know that you sent me. 26 I’ve made your name known to them and will continue to make it known so that your love for me will be in them, and I myself will be in them.”
Meditation – Rev. Marilyn Wilcox
Musical Meditation
INVITATION to GENEROSITY
The Holy One gives good and generous gifts so that creation radiates with abundance. As we share in the blessings and gifts of God, let us give so that all will be filled and all needs will be met to the glory of God.
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.
PRAYER of THANKSGIVING and DEDICATION
Creator, thank you for the opportunity to share in your abundant and renewing work. Use these gifts for the kindom. Sow wisdom and discernment as we support the ministry of this church in your name. Amen.
*COMMUNION SONG “One Bread, One Body” #393
*COMMUNION (found in insert)
*COMMUNION
Invitation (Pastor Marilyn reads)
To paraphrase Mary Oliver, you do not need to be good to receive the gift of this meal. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves. We are animals who need care and feeding. To acknowledge our animal natures and needs is to acknowledge the dignity and worth of every created thing. To take this meal is to take our proper place in the rhythms of our Earth, to acknowledge our right-sized place in the ecosystem. To eat this food is to acknowledge our belonging in the great unrolling dance of Creation from the dawn of the universe until its ending. Come, then, everyone, and be where you belong.
(In Unison) Praise and Thanks: God, through the wonder of photosynthesis, you turn sunlight and soil into fruit of the vine and grain of the field. Add yeast for rising, salt for flavor, water for life, then knead, bake, and ferment until these elements become food for body and spirit. God, you are in all things, and therefore in us. God, we are in all things, atoms sprung from stardust, repurposed for a moment in a too-short human lifespan, then repurposed again. We acknowledge the holiness of this bread and cup, the holiness of you and us and everything in this meal.
Bread and Cup (Pastor Marilyn)
Let us pray: Now, God, we remember on the last night of life, Jesus went back to the most basic need all living things share – to eat. He took a loaf, Brother Bread, and when he had thanked you for it, he shared it among all those gathered, saying, Take this and eat. This is for you. Good bread for healing and joy. Likewise after supper, he took a cup, Sister Wine, a symbol of life and joy, and the wheel of fate. When he had thanked you for it, he said to his disciples, Take this and drink: this cup seals a new covenant. Lifeblood for healing and joy. In eating and drinking, we acknowledge with thanks our covenant with all created things to heal and tend and foster growth, and not to deplete or destroy.
Sharing of Meal
Thanksgiving Prayer for Communion (In Unison)
Thank you, thank you, thank you, God, for making grape and wheat and sun and rain and us ourselves. Thank you for the gift of life! May we tend that life, your life, in all living things and the Earth itself. Amen.
*SONG “Fill My Cup, Lord” #351
BENEDICTION (Inspired by Matthew 13)
Hold fast to the persistent, abiding, and enduring love of God, may it surround and fill you, with hope, courage, compassion, and strength, to bless the world with the blessings you receive, as a tangible testimony and demonstration, that Love prevails.
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:
Sophia Burgos August 6th Samantha Wheeler Jenner August 16th
Haleigh Dobeck August 20th Erin Gilchrest August 20th
Mason Taylor August 21st Guiseppe (Joe) Facendola August 27th
Amy Arpano August 29th
Happy Anniversary go out to:
Christine & Carlos Burgos August 5th
Chrissy & Donnie Dobeck August 5th
Laura & David Taylor August 28th
Wrestling: Service Prayers for the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost Year A was written by the Rev. Dr. Cheryl A Lindsay, Minister for Worship and Theology for the United Church of Christ. Communion Service “In Praise of Earth” is by Molly Phinney Baskette. From the book “Do This: Communion for Just and Courageous Living” Edited by Mary Luti
During the First Hymn we have a collection for our monthly meal at WHEAT Community Cafe. Thank you for your generosity!
For all joys and concerns mentioned in the Pastor’s Tuesday email.
Remember in your prayers our special members: June and Edie K.
THE UNITED CHURCH OF CLINTON
109 Haskell Avenue Clinton, Massachusetts 01510
Website: clintonunitedchurch.org E:Mail: Uccclintonma@gmail.com
rev.marilyn.uccclintonma@gmail.com
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.”