# St. John's United Church of Christ — May 17, 2026 ## Liturgical Context ### Christian Liturgical Calendar - **Season:** Easter (50-day Easter season, sometimes called Eastertide) - **Specific Sunday:** Seventh Sunday of Easter — the Sunday after Ascension Day - **Lectionary Year:** A (Matthew-focused; current cycle began Advent 1, 2025) - **Liturgical Color:** White (Easter season continues until Pentecost) - **Position in the season:** This is the last Sunday before Pentecost (May 24, 2026). Ascension Day was Thursday, May 14. We are in the brief, contemplative "Ascensiontide" — the in-between space when the Risen Christ has departed and the Spirit has not yet been poured out. ### Jewish Calendar - **Hebrew Date:** 1 Sivan 5786 — Rosh Chodesh Sivan (the new moon marking the start of the month of Sivan) - **Counting the Omer:** Day 46 of the 49-day Omer count between Pesach and Shavuot - **Shavuot:** Begins evening of Friday, May 22, 2026 (6 Sivan) — commemorates the giving of Torah at Sinai - **Connection note:** Christian Pentecost (May 24) and Jewish Shavuot (May 22-23) fall in the same week this year. Both celebrate the descent of divine presence onto the gathered community — Torah at Sinai, Spirit at Jerusalem. ### Ecumenical & Global Observances - **May 17 — IDAHOBIT** (International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia). Established in 2004 to mark the 1990 WHO decision to remove homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases. Particularly resonant for UCC congregations given the denomination's Open and Affirming stance. - **May 17 — World Telecommunication and Information Society Day** (UN, ITU) - **May 18 — International Museum Day** ### Lectionary Readings (Revised Common Lectionary, Year A — Seventh Sunday of Easter) The bulletin departs from the RCL this week to focus on the Christ Hymn. For reference, the RCL readings for today are: - **Acts 1:6-14** (Ascension and waiting for the Spirit) ![[Acts 1#6]] ![[Acts 1#7]] ![[Acts 1#8]] ![[Acts 1#9]] ![[Acts 1#10]] ![[Acts 1#11]] ![[Acts 1#12]] ![[Acts 1#13]] ![[Acts 1#14]] - **Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35** - **1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11** - **John 17:1-11** (Jesus' high priestly prayer) ### Connection to Today's Message The bulletin's choice of Philippians 2:1-13 — the Christ Hymn — fits beautifully with Ascensiontide. The hymn traces Christ's kenosis (self-emptying) downward into incarnation and death, then upward into exaltation: the same pattern the church remembers between Good Friday and Ascension. Pairing it with Psalm 150 (a hymn of unbridled praise with every instrument imaginable) and a congregational hymn-sing creates a service shaped by song — Christ as the song the church sings, and the church as a community that sings Christ back. The "hymn sing" format also makes space for the congregation's own voices to choose what gets sung. That's a quietly democratic theological move — fitting for a UCC service and one Courtney is helping lead. ## Order of Worship ### Gathering - **Gathering Song:** "This is the Day" - **Unison Welcome:** "No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here" - **Announcements** - **Passing of the Peace:** "The peace of Christ be with you" / "And also with you" - **Chiming of the Trinity & Prelude** - ***Call to Worship** (responsive, drawing on Psalm 100 imagery) - ***Hymn #27 — "Morning Has Broken"** - ***Prayer of Invocation** — written by Rev. Leah Lyman Waldron - **Call to Confession** - **Prayer of Confession** - **Kyrie** (Hymnal Companion C-4) - **Assurance of Pardon** (from the UCC Book of Worship) - ***Glory Be to the Father #704** ### Word - **Scripture Reading:** Philippians 2:1-13 - **Responsive Reading:** Psalm 150 (The Inclusive Bible) - **Special Music:** "Lord I Lift Your Name on High" (Maranatha! Music) - **Children's Message** — Roxanne Davenport - *Children's Corner offered following the Children's Message* - **Hymn Sing** — two verses each of 13 congregation-requested hymns (see Hymns section) - **Apostles' Creed: An Affirmation of Faith** (Hymnal Companion C-10) ### Response - **Sharing of Joys and Concerns** - **Prayers of the People and the Lord's Prayer** (debts version) - **Invitation to Giving** - **Offertory** - ***Offertory Response #706 — "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow"** - ***Prayer of Dedication** — written by Rev. Leah Lyman Waldron - ***Hymn #C-37 — "Jesus, I Live to Thee"** ### Sending - ***Commission & Benediction** - **Postlude** (seated) *\*Please stand in body or in spirit* ## Scripture and Sermon ### Scripture Reading — Philippians 2:1-13 The Christ Hymn — Paul's quotation (likely of an early Christian liturgical hymn) tracing Christ's descent into humility and ascent into exaltation. Central to today's theme. ![[Philippians 2#1]] ![[Philippians 2#2]] ![[Philippians 2#3]] ![[Philippians 2#4]] ![[Philippians 2#5]] ![[Philippians 2#6]] ![[Philippians 2#7]] ![[Philippians 2#8]] ![[Philippians 2#9]] ![[Philippians 2#10]] ![[Philippians 2#11]] ![[Philippians 2#12]] ![[Philippians 2#13]] ### Responsive Reading — Psalm 150 (The Inclusive Bible) The bulletin uses The Inclusive Bible's rendering, which preserves the divine name YHWH rather than substituting "LORD." Reproducing the responsive structure as printed: > **Alleluia! We praise you, YHWH, in your sanctuary;** > *we praise you in your mighty skies!* > **We praise you for your powerful deeds;** > *we praise you for your overwhelming glory!* > **We praise you with the blast of the trumpet;** > *we praise you with lyre and harp!* > **We praise you with timbrel and dance;** > *we praise you with strings and flute!* > **We praise you with clashing cymbals;** > *we praise you with resounding cymbals!* > **Let everything that has breath praise YHWH!** > *Alleluia!* The traditional Hebrew text (for Bible Linker reference): ![[Psalm 150#1]] ![[Psalm 150#2]] ![[Psalm 150#3]] ![[Psalm 150#4]] ![[Psalm 150#5]] ![[Psalm 150#6]] ### Reflection on the Christ Hymn (Philippians 2:1-13) > Note: This service is structured as a hymn sing rather than a traditional preached sermon. The "message" emerges through the Christ Hymn, the Children's Message, and the congregation's sung response. Notes below are scaffolded for whatever shape reflection takes. #### Notes from the Service ##### Children's Message (Roxanne Davenport) - ##### Christ Hymn — Themes that surfaced in worship - **Kenosis / self-emptying** (v. 7): - **Mind of Christ** (v. 5): - **Every knee, every tongue** (v. 10-11): - **Working out salvation with fear and trembling** (v. 12-13): ##### Illustrations / Stories - ##### Scripture Connections - ##### Key Quotes - #### Personal Reflections ##### What spoke to me: - ##### Questions raised: - ##### Challenges / Convictions: - ##### Liturgical Context Reflections: - *Ascensiontide as the in-between:* Christ has gone, the Spirit has not yet come. What does it mean to sing in that gap? - *IDAHOBIT on the same Sunday as a UCC welcome service:* the "no matter who you are" welcome is not abstract today. - *Day 46 of the Omer:* the counting toward Sinai/Shavuot runs parallel to the counting toward Pentecost. Both faiths counting toward an outpouring. #### Applications ##### This week I will: - ##### People to pray for: - ##### Follow-up study: - The early hymnic structure of Philippians 2:6-11 (pre-Pauline Christology) - Kenosis as a theological category (and its critics — feminist theology has pushed back on uncritical self-emptying) - The function of congregational singing as theological formation (cf. Brian Wren, Don Saliers, *Voicing God's Psalms*) #### Connections - Last Sunday's themes: - Liturgical season arc (Easter → Ascension → Pentecost): - Worship team conversations leading into this service: ## Hymns > The hymns sung today span 8th-century Irish ("Be Thou My Vision"), 16th-century Reformation ("A Mighty Fortress"), 17th-century English doxology, 18th-century evangelical revival ("Amazing Grace," "Glorious Things"), and 20th-century devotional and global hymnody. For copyrighted hymns, lyrics are not reproduced here — please consult the *Hymnal Companion* or the church's hymnal during worship. Public-domain hymns are noted as such. ### Hymn: "This is the Day" (Gathering Song) - **Note:** Multiple hymns share this title. The most commonly sung short praise chorus by this title is by Les Garrett (1967), based on Psalm 118:24, and is under copyright. Confirm which arrangement St. John's uses. - **Scripture basis:** Psalm 118:24 ![[Psalm 118#24]] ### Hymn: "Morning Has Broken" (No. 27) - **Words:** Eleanor Farjeon, 1931 — *under copyright* (Oxford University Press, by permission of Harold Ober Associates, Inc.) - **Music:** Traditional Gaelic melody (BUNESSAN); arr. Mark Edwards, 2007 (© 2010 Celebrating Grace, Inc.) - **Meter:** 5.5.5.4 D - **Themes:** creation, new morning, blackbird's song, Eden, gratitude for the renewed day - **Three stanzas:** morning/blackbird/creation → rain/dew/grass → sunlight/garden/recreation - **Liturgical fit:** A creation hymn that opens worship by treating each morning as a participation in the original "morning" of Eden. Pairs well with Easter-season themes of new creation. ### Hymn: "Kyrie" (Hymnal Companion C-4) The bulletin includes two settings on C-4: - **"Lord, Have Mercy on Us"** — Traditional 6th-century text; music by John Ylvisaker, 1971 (© 1985 John Ylvisaker) — *under copyright* - **"Lord, Have Mercy"** — CCLI Song #7065, © 1985 Birdwing Music (EMI Christian Music Publishing) — *under copyright*; CCLI License #2603973 - **Function:** Response to the Prayer of Confession; ancient Greek prayer "Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison" preserved across nearly all Christian traditions. ### Hymn: "Lord I Lift Your Name on High" (Special Music) - **Author/Composer:** Rick Founds, 1989 - **Publisher:** Maranatha! Music — *under copyright* - **Themes:** praise, the descending/ascending pattern (heaven → earth → cross → grave → sky) - **Liturgical note:** The descent/ascent structure of this song parallels the Christ Hymn structurally — possibly a deliberate pairing today. ### Hymn: "Glory Be to the Father" (Gloria Patri) (No. 704) - **Text:** Traditional doxology, dating to early Christian liturgy (4th century or earlier) - **Status:** *Public domain* - **Function:** Trinitarian doxology, typically sung after readings or psalms. ### Hymn: "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow" (Doxology) (No. 706) - **Words:** Thomas Ken, 1674 (final stanza of "Awake, My Soul, and with the Sun") - **Tune:** OLD HUNDREDTH (Genevan Psalter, 1551), often attributed to Louis Bourgeois - **Status:** *Public domain* - **Function:** Offertory response — sung as gifts are brought forward. ### Hymn: "Jesus, I Live to Thee" (No. C-37) - **Words:** Henry Harbaugh, 1850 - **Music:** Isaac B. Woodbury, 1856 (LAKE ENON, S.M.) - **Scripture basis:** Romans 14:8 - **Status:** *Public domain* - **Themes:** living and dying as belonging to Christ, devotion, surrender, eternal home ![[Romans 14#8]] ### Hymn Sing Selections The following 13 hymns were requested by members of the congregation. Each will be sung in two verses as noted. #### "Here I Am, Lord" (No. 482, v. 1 & 3) - **Author/Composer:** Dan Schutte, 1981 — *under copyright* (OCP Publications) - **Scripture basis:** Isaiah 6:8 ![[Isaiah 6#8]] - **Themes:** vocation, response to call, sending #### "Be Thou My Vision" (No. 71, v. 1 & 2) - **Text:** 8th-century Irish hymn ("Rop tú mo baile"); translated by Mary E. Byrne, 1905; versified by Eleanor Hull, 1912 - **Tune:** SLANE (traditional Irish folk melody) - **Status:** *Public domain* - **Themes:** Christ as vision, wisdom, ruler, treasure; whole-life devotion #### "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" (No. 409, v. 1 & 2) - **Words:** Joseph M. Scriven, 1855 - **Music:** Charles C. Converse, 1868 (CONVERSE / ERIE) - **Status:** *Public domain* - **Themes:** prayer, friendship with Christ, casting burdens #### "The Old Rugged Cross" (No. 185, v. 1 & 4) - **Author/Composer:** George Bennard, 1913 - **Status:** *Public domain* (pre-1928 publication) - **Themes:** the cross, atonement, suffering, exchange #### "In the Garden" (No. 200, v. 1 & 2) - **Author/Composer:** C. Austin Miles, 1912 - **Status:** *Public domain* - **Themes:** personal communion with the risen Christ, drawing on John 20 (Mary Magdalene at the tomb) #### "Great is Thy Faithfulness" (No. 48, v. 1 & 3) - **Words:** Thomas O. Chisholm, 1923 - **Music:** William M. Runyan, 1923 (FAITHFULNESS) - **Scripture basis:** Lamentations 3:22-23 ![[Lamentations 3#22]] ![[Lamentations 3#23]] - **Status:** *Public domain* (US, as pre-1928 publication) - **Themes:** God's covenant faithfulness, mercies new every morning #### "At Calvary" (No. 589, v. 1 & 4) - **Words:** William R. Newell, 1895 - **Music:** Daniel B. Towner, 1895 (CALVARY) - **Status:** *Public domain* - **Themes:** grace, redemption at the cross #### "Amazing Grace! How Sweet the Sound" (No. 587, v. 1 & 2) - **Words:** John Newton, 1779 (*Olney Hymns*) - **Tune:** NEW BRITAIN (American folk melody, first paired with these words c. 1835) - **Status:** *Public domain* - **Themes:** grace, conversion, blindness/sight, lostness/being found - **Note:** Newton was a former slave-ship captain whose later abolitionist work, alongside William Wilberforce, is part of the hymn's complicated and important history. #### "Go, Tell It on the Mountain" (No. 143, v. 1 & 2) - **Text:** African American spiritual; compiled/arranged by John Wesley Work Jr., 1907 (*Folk Songs of the American Negro*) - **Status:** *Public domain* - **Themes:** Christmas proclamation, the shepherds' announcement, witness - **Note:** A spiritual emerging from the African American Christian tradition — important to name its origin in any worship context. #### "This is My Song" (No. 697, v. 1 & 2) - **Words:** Lloyd Stone, 1934 (v. 1-2); Georgia Harkness later added a third stanza - **Tune:** FINLANDIA (Jean Sibelius, 1899) - **Status:** Text *under copyright*; tune public domain - **Themes:** love of one's own country alongside love for all nations; peace, shared humanity, a non-jingoistic patriotism - **Liturgical note:** A pointed hymn for the IDAHOBIT-adjacent context — its insistence that other lands have their own beauty and people is a quiet rebuke to exclusivist nationalism. #### "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" (No. 14, v. 1 & 4) - **Words:** William Whiting, 1860 - **Music:** John B. Dykes, 1861 (MELITA) - **Status:** *Public domain* - **Themes:** the "Navy Hymn"; prayer for those in peril on the sea, the air, and the land; Trinitarian invocation #### "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken" (No. 282, v. 1 & 2) - **Words:** John Newton, 1779 - **Tune:** Most often AUSTRIAN HYMN (Franz Joseph Haydn, 1797) or sometimes ABBOT'S LEIGH - **Status:** *Public domain* - **Scripture basis:** Psalm 87, Isaiah 33:20-21 - **Themes:** Zion, the city of God, the church as community #### "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" (No. 418, v. 1 & 4) - **Words:** Martin Luther, 1529 ("Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott") - **Translation:** Frederick H. Hedge, 1853 (most common English version) - **Music:** Martin Luther, 1529 (EIN' FESTE BURG) - **Scripture basis:** Psalm 46 ![[Psalm 46#1]] - **Status:** *Public domain* - **Themes:** the Reformation hymn par excellence; God as refuge, the cosmic struggle, the Word standing fast ## Worship Leadership | Role | Person | |------|--------| | Pastor | Rev. Caroline E. Saxton | | Organist | Barbara Motichka | | Choir Director | Gary Crum | | **Worship Team** | Roxanne Davenport, Neath Ham, **Courtney Robertson**, Swann Kongkeattikul, Diana Kongkeattikul, Chris Willman-Bunge | | Deacon in Charge | Peg Bryner | | Lector | Erin Hartman | | Children's Corner | Melinda Orndorff | | Media Coordinators | Calvin Frantz and Neath Ham | | Bulletin Cover Art | Edd Scheer | **Pastor Emeritus:** Rev. Stephen W. Hoffman **Director of Children & Youth:** Roxanne Davenport **Office Administrator:** Tonya Schwartz ### Contact - Pastor Caroline: [email protected] / (641) 260-1868 (cell) - Office: [email protected] / (717) 263-8593 ## Flowers at the Foot of the Cross The flowers are given in thanksgiving for the life and love given to all of us from God's love and care, and **in memory of LaRoy "Bud" Evans** by Connie Evans and daughters Amy and Becky. ## Birthdays This Week - **5/18** — Zoe Dereef - **5/20** — Rafael Cuesta, Jared Reichelderfer - **5/23** — James Patterson II, Vera Reber - **5/24** — Reed Zeger ## Personal Worship Team Notes > Courtney's space — leading from inside the service. - **What worked musically:** - **What I'd refine for next time:** - **Congregational energy on the hymn-sing:** - **Hymns that landed hardest:** - **Conversations sparked afterward:** - **Theological alignment check (esp. Christ Hymn + IDAHOBIT context):** ## Church News & Announcements ### Today (May 17) - **Q&A Session on Habitat for Humanity proposal** — Room 116 after worship - **Sunday Night Bible Study** — Letter of James, chapter 4, 8 pm via Zoom (Meeting ID: 836 0593 5961, Passcode: 277938; link in Friday e-blast) ### Exploring Expanded Partnership with Habitat for Humanity Congregational conversation/Q&A today in Room 116 about developing a portion of the church's land for housing through Habitat. A letter from Pastor Caroline and Council was sent via e-blast and is available in hard copy at the Welcome Center and in the Narthex. **A special congregational meeting will be held Sunday, May 31, to formally vote on this proposal.** ### Pentecost Picnic — Sunday, May 24 After worship (around 11:15 am), weather permitting. Menu: hot dogs, chips, drinks, dessert. Held outside on church grounds. ### Bible & Beer — Monday, May 18 3rd Monday of the month at Trojan Diner, 6:30 pm. An opportunity to talk about faith in public. ### Monday Afternoon Book Study Reading Adam Hamilton's *The Walk: Five Essential Practices of the Christian Life*. Chapter 1 discussion on Monday, May 18, 1:30 pm in Conference Room 111. ### Camp Cooks Needed — June 22-26 Sign-up sheet on the welcome center counter in the front lobby. Volunteers help under the direction of camp cook Kirk Johnson at St. John's Camp. ### Summer Special Music Sign-up posted on the choir room door for those willing to provide special music (singing or instrumental) in worship this summer. Contact Gary Crum to learn more. ### Peace Pole Installed Now installed outside, thanks to Jim Wood and Mary Lynn Cate for providing the pole, and Tom Kinton and Tom Harrison for installation expertise. **Special prayer gathering at the peace pole on Sunday, June 14, at 8:45 am.** More on the global peace pole initiative in the May *Spirit*. ### Harrisburg Gay Men's Chorus — Saturday, May 30 The HGMC presents their spring concert **"For All Who Dared"** at St. John's, 7 pm in the Sanctuary. The concert is free. ### Sunday Night Bible Study — Letter of James Pastor Caroline leads, Sundays at 8 pm via Zoom. May 17 covers Chapter 4. Pausing May 24, resuming May 31 with Chapter 5. ### Race Against Poverty St. John's is a sponsor of the 16th Annual Race Against Poverty, held the first weekend in June. Contact the Church Office for one of the sponsor codes. ### Keystone Conference Annual Meeting — June 5-7, 2026 At Millersville University. Theme: **"Joy at the Table Together!"** Two lay delegate slots — contact Pastor Caroline if interested. ### Summer Quarter First Fruits May, June, and July offerings support: Race Against Poverty (RAP), Maranatha Ministry, and United Way's Stuff the Bus. More in the *Spirit*. ### Strengthen the Church Offering Special UCC denominational offering received May 24 & 31. Supports planting new churches, awakening new ideas in existing congregations, and developing the spiritual life of youth and young adults. ### Upper Room Devotionals May/June editions available at the Welcome Center. Suggested donation: $1 (small print) / $2 (large print). Mailed copies available — contact the church office. ## Vision & Mission ### St. John's Vision > We are called to love, to learn, to worship and to witness in Christ as a congregation that welcomes everyone, and seeks service that will advance God's realm on earth. ### St. John's Mission > To grow in love of God and neighbor. ## Calendar & Upcoming Events ### Sunday, May 17 (Today) - After worship: Q&A on Habitat for Humanity — Room 116 - 8:00 pm: Bible Study on James ch. 4 — Zoom ### Monday, May 18 - 1:30 pm: Monday Afternoon Book Study (ch. 1) — Conference Room 111 - 6:30 pm: Bible & Beer — Trojan Diner - 7:00 pm: Boy Scouts — Fellowship Hall ### Tuesday, May 19 - 10:00 am: Summer Singers Practice — Fellowship Hall - 5:30 pm: **NO YOGA** (resumes May 26) - 6:00 pm: Ladies' Bible Study — Zoom ### Thursday, May 21 - 6:00 pm: Dance Class — Fellowship Hall - 6:00 pm: Bell Choir Practice — Bell Room 117 - 6:15 pm: Girl Scouts — Room 201 - 7:15 pm: Choir Rehearsal — Choir Room 103 ### Sunday, May 24 — Pentecost - **NO Children/Youth School Classes** - 8:45 am: Wired Word Church School Class — Room 116 - 8:45 am: Upper Room Church School Class — Conference Room 111 - 10:00 am: Sunday Worship — Sanctuary - 11:15 am: Pentecost Picnic — Outside Church Grounds (weather permitting) - 8:00 pm: **NO Bible Study** on James ch. 5 (resumes 5/31) ### Looking Ahead - **May 30** (Sat): Harrisburg Gay Men's Chorus concert — 7 pm, Sanctuary - **May 31** (Sun): Special congregational meeting on Habitat for Humanity vote - **June 5-7**: Keystone Conference Annual Meeting — Millersville University - **June 14** (Sun): Peace Pole prayer gathering — 8:45 am - **June 22-26**: St. John's Camp (cooks needed) - **First weekend in June**: 16th Annual Race Against Poverty ## Worship Resources - Prayer of Invocation and Prayer of Dedication: written by Rev. Leah Lyman Waldron - Assurance of Pardon: UCC Book of Worship - Psalm 150 translation: The Inclusive Bible - Kyrie: Hymnal Companion C-4 (John Ylvisaker, 1971) - Apostles' Creed: Hymnal Companion C-10 (ecumenical/traditional)