State Street Church United Church of Christ - August 22, 2021 An Open and Affirming Church
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State Street Church
United Church of Christ
An Open and Affirming Church
August 22, 2021
159 State Street
P.O. Box 4037
Portland, Maine 04101
Tel. (207) 774-6396
E-mail: office@statestreetchurch.org
www.statestreetchurch.org
1State Street Church
United Church of Christ
August 22, 2021
Dear Worship Participant,
Given the recent uptick in COVID cases in Maine, the Reopen Task Force feels a need to once
again adjust our gathering protocols. Responding to recommendations from the CDC, we have con-
cluded that all Sunday morning worshipers should wear a face mask during the service and when
inside the church building. For the time being we will not be serving refreshments but we encourage
you to gather for fellowship outside, maintaining at least six feet of distance, after the ser-
vice. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
During worship, the Unison responses and prayers should be spoken softly; hymns may be hummed
or mouthed, but not sung (*we are invited to praise God by standing).
Thank you!
Gathering Music Three Preludes Hermann Schroeder (1904-1984)
Welcome and Announcements
Prelude Prelude on I Want Jesus to Walk With Me David Maxwell
Call to Worship
One: How wonderful it is to be in a dwelling place for God!
MANY: THE REFRESHING SPRINGS OF GOD’S LOVE CLEANS
AND RESTORE US.
One: There is a place here for everyone. No one is turned away.
MANY: THE LEAST AND THE LOST; THE HOMELESS AND HOPE-
LESS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME IN GOD’S HOUSE.
One: Praise to God who invites and shelters us all.
MANY: PRAISE TO GOD WHO HEALS AND SENDS US FORTH TO
SERVE. AMEN.
2*Hymn No. 69 “Come, God, Creator, Be Our Shield”
©1995, The Pilgrim Press All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-724696
3Invocation (unison)
God, before we put on any armor or defense, let us stop. Let us remember who
we are and where we come from. Let us rest in You, the source of our being;
safe, loved, alive. Help us breathe in the miracle of air, and feel the wind caress
us. May our feet dangle in the water of life as we sit on the earth and know we
are a part of creation. Help us relax and remember that our calling is to peace
and kindness. And so, in this time together, let us bathe in the very peace and
kindness that is our birthright, and yet also, in this world, a privilege. Let us be
grateful for simple gifts and use our energy to create a just world where everyone
can live with dignity, free from fear.
Words of Assurance
Lighting the Peace Candle (spoken quietly in unison)
Let there be peace on earth
and let it begin with me
Let there be peace on earth,
the peace that was meant to be
With God our creator,
All one family,
Let me walk with my neighbor
in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me,
let this be the moment now.
With every step I take
let this be my solemn vow
To take each moment and live each moment
in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth,
and let it begin with me.
4Hymn No. 451 “Be Now My Vision”
©1995, The Pilgrim Press All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-724696
5Scripture
Ephesians 6:10-20
Message “I’ll Take the Shoes, Thanks” Rev. Breault
Invitation to Offering
Offertory Music Theme from Schindler's List John Williams
Played by Ed Mooney, violin
Pastoral Prayer and The Lord's Prayer
Our Mother, Father, Parent, 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.
6*Closing Hymn No. 391 “In the Midst of New Dimensions”
©1995, The Pilgrim Press All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-724696
7Benediction Rev. Breault
Postlude Trumpet Tune in D Major David N. Johnson (1922-1987)
We would like to thank State Street member Ed Mooney for his musical
contribution this morning and Devin Dukes for her singing this morning.
We would also like to thank the Deacon of the Day Margy Soule and Deacon
Assistant Peg Cushman, as well as Denny Barrantes for managing the livestream.
Thank you for joining us for today’s worship service. Please enjoy visiting with
one another in the courtyard or in front of the church steps.
This Week at State Street Church
Office Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Sun. August 22 10:00 a.m. Worship Wed. August 25 7:00 p.m. No More
Service Tears Group of NA Meeting
Tues. August 24 7:00 p.m. Share & Sun. August 29 10:00 a.m. Worship
Live Group of NA Meeting Service
Nursery Care Offered
Infants and toddlers are welcome to stay with their families for the
entire service. As an alternative we have a professionally staffed
nursery (birth through age 2). You are welcome to bring your child to
the nursery prior to the beginning of the service to meet Maryam Darjazi and get
settled or you can visit the nursery at any time during the service.
Joining the church: It is common practice for a new minister to join the church. Wan'a join
with me? If you or anyone you know would like to become formal members of State Street
Church please have them call or email me. I will be in touch to sit down and chat about the join-
ing process and what membership is all about. Then we'll stand up together! And remember,
everyone is welcome. While I encourage you to consider joining, it is not necessary to become
a formal member to be an active part of the community at State Street Church.
Bryan
8Greetings from Pastor Bryan,
First, I offer prayer for our brothers, sisters, and siblings in Haiti, and in Afghanistan.
Yes, we hold in prayer anyone, anywhere, who is a victim of natural disaster, or of
political oppression. But today, I invite you to stop and hold those who are facing fright-
ening new realities, people we may never meet, in the healing presence of God.
----
I'm getting settled in and I'm loving summer in Maine! A few weeks ago I mentioned
that we would soon be talking about ways of communicating and patterns of work. So
here we go:
Email: My new church email is: pastorbryanssc@gmail.com
Phone: I'm now on the church phone system, so if you dial 2 at the greeting you will
either get to me ("Hello!"), or you can leave me a message. Once you are listening to
option 2, you can then press 0 in the event you are calling about a pastoral emergency.
That will transfer your call directly to my cell phone. That function should be used at
times when there is a seriously urgent matter.
Days off: I am taking Fridays off (and when possible Saturday as well). That means
that if you leave me a message (or an email) on Friday, I may not circle back until
Sunday after church, or even Monday morning. I will check my messages before church
Sunday in case anyone has left a prayer request. Please know that I check email and
voice mail regularly on work days, though in an effort to maintain balance, I
do not have notifications go immediately to my phone.
Office Hours: I tend to be at the church often, but I have set aside some specific office
hours when I will be present in case you want to drop by. If you'd like to have a serious
talk, I recommend giving me a call and we can set up a time just for that. But do stop on
by. Starting next week, office hours are:
Tuesday from 1 - 3 pm, and Thursday from 10 am-noon.
Faithfully,
Bryan
9State Street Church United Church of Christ
Tel: (207) 774-6396 website: www.statestreetchurch.org
Rev. Bryan S. Breault, Pastor - pastorbryanssc@gmail.com
Dr. David Maxwell, Minister of Music
Anne Hendrix, Office Administrator - office@statestreetchurch.org
Maryam Darjazi, Child Care Provider
Parking Pass Required
You may park at the Portland Club on Sunday mornings only
AND you must show a State Street parking pass (available at
the visitors’ table) on your dashboard. You must vacate the
spot by 1 p.m. and do not park in “Members Only” spots.”
Where Else You Can Park on Sundays
Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home—unless they have their sign out
that states “Funeral Home Parking Only”
On Street Parking—spaces are often available on State Street and
Winter Street
We want you in church.
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