This Sunday

Courage, Friends

January 26, 2025
10:00 AM, In-person and Via Zoom

Rev. Rick Hoyt-McDaniels

Courage, or fortitude, is one of the four cardinal virtues. Allied with wisdom (or prudence), temperance (or restraint) and justice (or righteousness), the ability to endure hardship without faltering and to move toward the good and best without fear encompasses all the other qualities that define the highest path of living.

Order of Worship

January 26, 2025

PRELUDE, 

 WELCOME, Worship Associate

 ANNOUNCEMENTS, Board Member

 BELL

OPENING MUSIC, 

CALL TO WORSHIP, #698 Wayne B. Arnason

Take courage friends.  

The way is often hard, the path is never clear, 

and the stakes are very high.  

Take courage.  

For deep down, there is another truth:  

you are not alone.

*OPENING HYMN, #85, “Although This Life is But a Wraith”

Although this life is but a wraith, 

although we know not what we use,

Although we grope with little faith, 

give me the heart to fight and lose.

Open my ears to music, 

let me thrill with spring’s first flutes and drums – 

but never let me dare forget 

the bitter ballads of the slums.

Ever insurgent let me be, 

make me more daring and devout; 

from sleek contentment keep me free, 

and fill me with a buoyant doubt.

From compromise and things half-done, 

keep me, with stern and stubborn pride; 

and when, at last, the fight is won, 

O, keep me still unsatisfied.

*CHALICE LIGHTING, 

*COVENANT, led by Worship Associate

            Love is the spirit of this church,

            the quest for truth is its sacrament,

            and service is its prayer.

            To dwell together in peace,

            to seek knowledge in freedom,

            to serve humanity in fellowship,

            thus do we covenant. 

*SONG OF HOPE AND FAITH

            From all that dwell below the skies,

            let songs of hope and faith arise.

            Alleluia! Alleluia!

            Let peace, good will on earth be sung,

            from every land, by every tongue.

            Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! 

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE, Rev. Rick Hoyt-McDaniels

CHILDREN’S BENEDICTION, May Love Surround You” by Carole Etzler

May love surround you with warm gentle arms.

May love surround you and keep you from harm.

And may you always continue to grow.

May you find happiness wherever you go.

OFFERING, Rev. Rick Hoyt-McDaniels

            Music:  

RESPONSE, “From You I Receive”

From you I receive

To you, I give

Together we share

And from this, we live.

JOYS & SORROWS, 

            Music:  

            Readers:  

MEDITATION OR SILENCE/PRAYER/READING, Rev. Rick Hoyt-McDaniels

ANTHEM, 

SERMON, “Courage, Friends” Rev. Rick Hoyt-McDaniels

*CLOSING HYMN, #107, “Now Sing We of the Brave of Old”

Now sing we of the brave of old 

who would not sell themselves for gold, 

yet left us riches manifold; Alleluia!

Of those who fought a goodly fight 

for liberty, for truth and right, 

their patient love their chiefest might; Alleluia!

Who, when no gleam did point the way, 

pressed ever on, by night, by day, 

and, spite of pain, did ever say Alleluia!

Who long the world's old sorrows bore 

and toiled and loved and suffered sore, 

and, being dead, live ever-more; Alleluia!

*BENEDICTION, #700 Robert Mabry Doss

For all who see God,

May God go with you.

For all who embrace life,

May life return your affection.

For all who seek a right path,

May a way be found…

And the courage to take it

Step by step

*EXTINGUISHING THE CHALICE, 

CLOSING MUSIC

BELL