THE CHURCH ALIVE

July 6, 2025

Proclaiming Christ through Faith, Hope and Love

Prelude:                                        

In This Very Room

Words and Music by Ron and Carol Harris
This arrangement by Mark Albrecht

Katrina Glaze, violin; Les Holben, piano

Words and Music: Ron and Carol Harris
© 1979 Ron Harris Music
This arrangement by Mark Albrecht 
© 2002 Augsburg Fortress Co.

Call to Worship     

                                                                                                                                            Andria

Cathedral of Hope, as we gather today we are reminded that we are a community—

Called to experience a God of love,
To embrace the joy and cost of discipleship,
And to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to all the world.

So rise, people of God, in body or spirit. Sing praise to our great God.

**Processional Hymn

Lord, Whose Love through Humble Service

Lord, whose love through humble service bore the weight of human need,
who upon the cross, forsaken, offered mercy’s perfect deed:
we, your servants, bring the worship not of voice alone, but heart,
consecrating to your purpose every gift that you impart.

Still your children wander homeless; still the hungry cry for bread;
still the captives long for freedom; still in grief we mourn our dead.
As, O Lord, your deep compassion healed the sick and freed the soul,
use the love your Spirit kindles still to save and make us whole.

As we worship, grant us vision, till your love’s revealing light
in its height and depth and greatness dawns upon our quickened sight,
making known the needs and burdens your compassion bids us bear,
stirring us to tireless striving your abundant life to share.

Called by worship to your service, may we always, in your name,
to the child, the youth, the aged, love in living deeds proclaim;
hope and health, goodwill and comfort, counsel, aid, and peace we give,
that your servants, Lord, in freedom, may your mercy know and live.

Words: Albert F. Bayly, 1961
© Oxford University Press
Music: B. F. White, The Sacred Harp, Philadelphia, 1844

Welcome and Life of the Church

**Sharing of the Peace

Modern Lesson 

Cathedral of Hope is more than just a progressive church—we are a bold and prophetic voice for love, justice, and inclusion in a world that too often denies them. In a world where many churches still exclude or marginalize LGBTQIA+ people and other communities, we stand as a beacon of hope, proving that faith and full inclusion are not mutually exclusive. But even among progressive churches, Cathedral of Hope is unique. We are not only Open and Affirming; we are open and celebrating, ensuring that every person is embraced, uplifted, and empowered to live authentically. 

Our commitment to vibrant worship, theological exploration, and community action makes us a place where faith is not just believed but lived. We do not settle for inclusion alone—we work for transformation, in our city and beyond, demonstrating that God’s love is not limited, conditional, or selective. Here, faith is a force for justice, and community is built on the radical hospitality of Christ. No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you can find a place here.

Canticle                           

Gathered in the Love of Christ

Words and Music by Marty Haugen, adapted from the Pachelbel Canon

Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra

The refrain is sung first by the choir. The congregation repeats it immediately 
and as indicated below.

God is light, in God there is no darkness. 
Let us walk in the light of life.
If we live in God, then we must love each other, 
ever follow the way of truth and life. 

Refrain

See what love our God has shown to us, 
to call us the children of God.
And as God has loved us, so we must love each other, 
ever follow the way of truth and life.

Refrain

Words and Music: Marty Haugen
Based on Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel, 1680
© 1998 GIA Publications, Inc.

**Scripture Lesson: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13  

One: The Scripture Lesson is from the 13th Chapter of Paul’s Letter to the Church in Corinth. Hear these words:

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, 
I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

One: This is the Word of God for the People of God

All:    Thanks be to God. Amen.

**Gloria 

Glory to God

Glory to God in the highest, and to all creation, peace!

O God Almighty, we thank you and give praise to you for your glory.

Jesus Christ, Lamb of God, you take away our sin;

for you alone are the Holy One; you alone are Most High.

To Jesus Christ, at God’s right hand, and Holy Spirit, evermore

Be blessing and honor and glory; be all blessing and honor and glory.

Amen, Amen, Amen!   

Words adapted from the Latin Mass by Danny Ray
Music: Danny Ray
©1985 Danny Ray

Sermon

Proclaiming Christ through Faith, Hope, and Love

Offering Call       

Offertory  

O Love

Words by George Matheson (1842-1906)
Music by Elaine Hagenberg
Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra

O Love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
that in thy ocean depths its flow may richer, fuller be.

O Joy that seeks me through the pain, I cannot close my heart to thee;

I trace the rainbow through the rain,
and feel the promise is not vain that morn shall tearless be.

O Love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee;

I give thee back the life I owe,
that in thy ocean depths its flow shall richer, fuller be.
That morn shall tearless be.
O Love that will not let me go.

Words: George Matheson (1842-1906)
Music: Elaine Hagenberg
© 2016 Beckenhorst Press, Inc

Communion   

Words of Institution      

Prayer of Consecration  

Let us pray.

Almighty God, send the power of your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of grape and grain. Make them be for us holy food that nurtures us in body and spirit, that by sharing this feast, we may know the presence of the living Christ. By your Spirit, make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all of the world. Through Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory be yours, now and forever. Amen.

Music during Communion

Lord, I Want to Be a Christian

Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart, in my heart;
Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart.
In my heart (in my heart), in my heart (in my heart),
Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart.

Lord, I want to be more loving in my heart, in my heart;
Lord, I want to be more loving in my heart.
In my heart (in my heart), in my heart (in my heart),
Lord, I want to be more loving in my heart.

Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart, in my heart;
Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart.
In my heart (in my heart), in my heart (in my heart),
Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart.

African American Spiritual

Change My Heart, O God

Change my heart, O God, make it ever true.
Change my heart, O God, may I be like you.

You are the Potter, I am the clay;
Mold me and make me, this is what I pray.

Change my heart, O God, make it ever true.
Change my heart, O God, may I be like you.

Words and Music: Eddie Espinosa 
© 1982 Mercy Publishing

How Great Thou Art

O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder 
consider all the worlds thy hands have made,

I see the stars; I hear the rolling thunder, 
thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed.

**Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee; 
How great thou art! How great thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee; 
How great thou art! How great thou art!

Words: Stuart K. Hine
Music: Swedish Folk Song, adapted by Stuart K. Hine
© 1949, 1953 The Stuart Hine Trust

**Prayer of Thanksgiving 

**Recessional Hymn:

Christian Hearts in Love United

Christian hearts in love united: search to know God’s holy will.
Let this love, in us ignited, more and more our spirits fill.
Christ the head, and we the members, we reflect the light he is.
Christ the teacher, we disciples, he is ours and we are his.

Grant, Lord, that with your direction, “Love each other” we comply.
Help us live in true affection, your love to exemplify.
Let our mutual love be glowing brightly so that all may view
that we, as on one stem growing, living branches are in you.

Come, then, living church of Jesus, covenant with Christ anew.
Unto him who conquered for us may we pledge our service true.
May our lives reflect the brightness of God’s love in Jesus shown.
To the world we then bear witness: we belong to God alone.

Words: Nicolas Ludwig, 1723, translated by Frederick William Foster
Music: John Zundel, 1870

**Benediction         

Postlude for Dismissal

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The flowers on the chancel are given by Raul and Mark Goodheart-Velez who are celebrating 25 years of being together.