Morning Worship

September 20th, 2026 - Poetic Justice Sunday
The Distinguished Pulpit Series

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.

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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!

Call to Worship

Type your new text here.

Hymn

O God, Who Teaches Us to Live, Hymn 359
New Century Hymnal

[Please rise in body or in spirit.]

Pass the Peace of Christ

One: "May the peace of Christ be with you."
All: "And also with you!"

Anthem

Fairest Lord Jesus
arr. Richard Willis
Glenda Stansbury

Joys + Concerns

For the joys of this congregation, let the people say: “Thanks be to God!”
Share your Joys + Concerns Here

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.

Anthem

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Pastoral Prayer

God the Spirit, Guide and Guardian, Hymn 355--Verse 1

God the Spirit, guide and guardian, windsped flame and hovering dove,
Breath of life and voice of prophets, sign of blessing, power of love:
Give to those who lead your people fresh anointing of your grace;
Send them forth as bold apostles to your church in every place.

Sermon: Poetic Justice

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Commendation

Rev. Walke

Hymn

Christian, Rise and Act Your Creed, Hymn 537
New Century Hymnal

[Please rise in body or in spirit.]

Announcements

  • Please support the work and mission of this congregation with your tithes and offerings using the giving link in our app or on our website or by putting your gift in the giving box located just outside the sanctuary.
  • We have been so fortunate to learn from Poetic Justice this morning in worship, and that opportunity continues after worship, as they’ll lead us in a poetry workshop in Milligan Hall. Childcare is provided.
  • Later this evening at 6pm, we are hosting folks from Vote Common Good, an organization inspiring, energizing, and mobilizing people of faith to make the common good their voting criteria. Sunday night is a gathering for everyday people of faith, local clergy, public servants, and neighbors, including a screening of Who is We? a documentary that shares the stories of the people most impacted by America’s immigration practices and policies. This is free and open to the public, please invite your friends and enemies.
  • Students in 6th-12th grade meet this Wednesday, September 23rd, from 6:30-8:30pm. If you need more information about SOLACE, our youth group, please reach out to our youth director, Amanda Girdler.
  • A gentle reminder that our All Governing Boards meeting is next Sunday, September 27th, after worship, both online and in-person. If you are someone considering nominating yourself to serve (or have nominated yourself already), you are welcome to stick around and join us to see what it’s all about. Childcare is provided.
  • The Events tab in our app and on our website can give the most up-to-date information on what is going on around here, so be sure to check it out!

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.

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.]