April 26th, 2026 - Memorial Marathon Sunday
We offer you a warm welcome, and as is our practice, we remember that the land on which we meet is, was, and always will be native land. We acknowledge those indigenous tribes to Oklahoma: the Wichitas, Caddos, Plains Apaches, and the Quapaws, as the original custodians of the land in this place. We grieve the violence done to native language, culture, and personhood, and seek to honor the sovereignty and dignity of native peoples.
We are so glad you've joined us, whether onsite or online. Please take a moment to tell us you are here by using the sign-in button below.
We are so glad you've joined us, whether onsite or online. Please take a moment to tell us you are here by using the sign-in button below.
Words of Welcome
One: Good morning and welcome from Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ, where no matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey . . .
All: You are welcome here!
We are all online-only this particular Sunday because of the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, a day when we honor those who were killed, those who survived, and those whose lives were changed forever when the Murrah building was bombed in 1995. We are worshiping virtually today so that those who are able can gather with the wider community on this day of significance for our city.
We also know it’s important to have online church only every once in a while to remind each other that our connection to each other does not depend on a building, but on our willingness to be present for each other however we can. For many of us, worship and small groups are always only accessible online - and we want to be clear: online church is real church and this congregation is committed to accessibility.
All: You are welcome here!
We are all online-only this particular Sunday because of the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, a day when we honor those who were killed, those who survived, and those whose lives were changed forever when the Murrah building was bombed in 1995. We are worshiping virtually today so that those who are able can gather with the wider community on this day of significance for our city.
We also know it’s important to have online church only every once in a while to remind each other that our connection to each other does not depend on a building, but on our willingness to be present for each other however we can. For many of us, worship and small groups are always only accessible online - and we want to be clear: online church is real church and this congregation is committed to accessibility.
Call to Worship
One: We gather on this day of grief to lament one another. We gather on this day of remembrance to comfort one another.
All: We gather on this day of hope to encourage one another. We gather on this day of community to remind each other that we are not alone.
One: Let the good news be proclaimed, lived, and shared!
All: Our faces are lifted and our hearts are open! Come, Spirit, and breathe into us the joy of a new day!
All: We gather on this day of hope to encourage one another. We gather on this day of community to remind each other that we are not alone.
One: Let the good news be proclaimed, lived, and shared!
All: Our faces are lifted and our hearts are open! Come, Spirit, and breathe into us the joy of a new day!
Pass the Peace of Christ
One: "May the peace of Christ be with you."
All: "And also with you!"
All: "And also with you!"
Anthem
Fairest Lord Jesus
arr. Victor Lebenske
Glenda Stansbury
arr. Victor Lebenske
Glenda Stansbury
Joys + Concerns
For the joys of this congregation, let the people say: “Thanks be to God!”
The Lord's Prayer
Let us say together the Lord’s Prayer, a translation by this congregation:
All: Our Creator, who is in heaven, holy is your name. Your kingdom come, your 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 you reign in the power that is love, now and always, Amen.
All: Our Creator, who is in heaven, holy is your name. Your kingdom come, your 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 you reign in the power that is love, now and always, Amen.
Anthem
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Pastoral Prayer
Rev. Dr. Lori Walke
Scripture: Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
Sermon
Rev. Dr. Lori Walke
Announcements
- Please support the work and mission of this congregation with your tithes and offerings.
- Next Sunday, May 3rd, we’ll be celebrating communion.
- We are providing a teacher and staff appreciation breakfast for Taft Middle School on Wednesday, May 6th, and we would be so grateful if you would contribute what you can towards the purchase of coffee, pastries, and fruit. You can do so by designating your check or cash to School Support or selecting School Support in the drop-down menu on our giving page.
- We will honor our graduating high school seniors in worship on Sunday, May 17th, in Morning Worship at 10:15am, sending them into their next chapter with our blessing and a gift! If you have a graduating senior who wants to be recognized, please complete this form. Contact our Youth Director, Amanda Girdler, with questions.
- You can find more details about all of these things in the events tab on our app and on our website.
Benediction
One: May God grant to us the grace to never sell ourselves short, the courage to risk something big for something good, and the wisdom to know that the world is too small for anything but love. So let us go in peace, pray for peace, wage a little peace, and love one another . . .
ALL: …every single other.
ALL: …every single other.
Benediction Response
What Does the Lord Require?
Jim Strathdee
Part 1: What does the Lord require of you? What does the Lord require of you?
Part 2: Justice, kindness, walk humbly with your God. Justice, kindness, walk humbly with your God.
Part 3: To do justice, and love kindness and walk humbly with your God. To do justice, and love kindness and walk humbly with your God.
[Sung in a round, Part 1 begins the response, joined the second time by Part 2, then by Part 3, and then a fourth time through. For those in-person, it is our tradition for the congregation to stand and turn towards the center aisle during the benediction response so that we might "send each other forth" to embody what we sing.]
Jim Strathdee
Part 1: What does the Lord require of you? What does the Lord require of you?
Part 2: Justice, kindness, walk humbly with your God. Justice, kindness, walk humbly with your God.
Part 3: To do justice, and love kindness and walk humbly with your God. To do justice, and love kindness and walk humbly with your God.
[Sung in a round, Part 1 begins the response, joined the second time by Part 2, then by Part 3, and then a fourth time through. For those in-person, it is our tradition for the congregation to stand and turn towards the center aisle during the benediction response so that we might "send each other forth" to embody what we sing.]