Sunday Bulletin
Celebration Service
Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost
August 24, 2025 9:30am
Prelude Voluntary on “Quebec” Wood
(Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts)
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship
Friends, let us worship God today, for God is great –
God has blessed us with life, with faith, and with community.
Let us worship God today, for God is good –
God forgives us, and encourages us, and loves us.
Let us worship God today –
Because we are God’s people.
Let us worship God.
Hymn* “This Is the Day” #286
Unison Prayer
Thank you, God, that when we wonder, we can trust
Jesus; that when we feel alone, we can trust Jesus;
that when we feel powerless, we can trust Jesus; that
when we need hope, we can trust Jesus; that when
we need help, we can trust Jesus. Help us always to
trust Jesus in all things. Amen
The Lord's Prayer #307
Blessing of the Back Packs
Psalm 100 page 552
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his
presence with singing.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his; we are
his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts
with praise.
Give thanks to him, bless his name.
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever, and his
faithfulness to all generations.
The Gloria Patri* #35
Prayers of the People
Special Song from Bible Camp
Message Truth North Bible Adventures Rev. Dan Haugh
Offering
Click here to make an online donation
Offertory “You Are Mine” Adella Perrotti, soloist
David Haas Oliver Giuliani, piano
Doxology* #46
Offertory Prayer*
Hymn “Jesus Loves Me!” #113
Benediction*
Closing: “Go in Peace” #445
Postlude “Open Now the Gates of Beauty” Manz
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Calendar of Events
Monday, 8/25 Noon AA meeting in Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, 8/26 7:30 AA meeting in Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, 8/27 Noon AA meeting in Fellowship Hall
3:30 – 5:30 Auditions for Elf Jr.
Thursday 8/28 3:30 – 5:30 Auditions for Elf Jr.
Happy Birthday this week to:
Bruce Comiskey on 8/25
William Bennett and Susanna Burnham on 8/28
Sue Bennett, Alexis James, Jeremy Kirch, Max Saylor, Eloise Spranger and Anne Steel on 8/30
Happy Anniversary this week to:
F. & Helen Duncan on 8/26
Stephen and Kathleen Rhinesmith on 8/28
Announcements
The usher today is Nancy Money. Thank you for helping today.
Auditions for Elf Jr. The Musical are on Wednesday, 8/27/25 and Thursday, 8/28/25 3:30 – 5:30 here at the church. Show dates are 12/4, 5, 6, and 7. Please contact Taryn@stowecommunitychurch.org.
A big Thank You to so many who made this past Bible Camp so great. Pastor Dan Haugh, Marylou Durett, Heather Stowe, Wendy Jones, Deb Wehe, Sandy Noble, Denise Wentz, Karen Machia, Mary Kay Bushnell, Josh Whitlock, Gabe Whitlock, Adella Perrotti, Cami Cobaugh, Madison Shaw, Nancy Jeffries-Dwyer, Carol Peterman, Ashley Karger, all of our Middle School Youth Group Outreach students, the Lamoille Food Share, Meals on Wheels and to all of our Bible Campers, and their families. Thank you too to our whole Church for supporting and loving these kids so much this whole week of Bible Camp!
Congregational Meeting – September 14, 2026 at 10:30
All members and friends of Stowe Community Church are warmly invited to attend our Congregational Meeting 9/14/25 following worship. For those unable to attend in person, the meeting will be livestreamed so everyone can be part of this important gathering.
Please note: This will be an informational meeting to share updates, celebrate our progress, and look ahead—no votes will take place.
We’ll highlight the many improvements made to our church building, provide updates on our capital projects, and share exciting plans for the second phase of renovations.
This is a celebration of YOU—your generosity, your faith, and the incredible work we’ve accomplished together. We encourage everyone to come, connect, and hear about the future of SCC.
We hope to see you there!
Please mark your calendar for an old-fashioned hymn sing on Sunday, August 31, 2025 at 7:00 pm.
This will be held in our newly air-conditioned sanctuary and led by Pastor Dan, our Musical Director Karen Miller, and song-leader Greg Morrill.
Attendees will get to select which hymns we sing in an evening of music, fellowship and praising God! These events are always better when more people participate, so we’re hoping you’ll come and join the singing!
Please spread the word about this event, and we look forward to seeing everyone on August 31st. If you have questions, contact info@stowechurch.org.
SAVE THE DATE:
September 7, 5:00 cook out and 6:00 service at the Parsonage
September 21, 2025 at 4:00pm at Trapps Meadow for Blessing of the Animals.
Men’s Group at SCC
A new men’s group is forming at Stowe Community Church for friendship, faith, and fellowship.
Activities will range from spiritual, social, and service, and include men from all ages and stages of life.
Our first gathering will be a Saturday morning pancake breakfast in September with details to follow.
To receive information and updates on upcoming events and activities, please email: mensgroup@stowecommunitychurch.org
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Musical Notes
Prelude: The tune that is the basis for this prelude has been given five different names over the years - Hesperus, Whitburn, Quebec, Elin, and Venn. While in current hymnals it is named either Quebec or Hesperus, when it first appeared in print in J. O'Grey's A Hymnal for Use in the English Church, of 1866, it was named "Whitburn". The story is told that in 1861 the Penny Post in London sought a tune for John Keble's text "Sun of My Soul" and, for a year, collected and reviewed submissions from many readers. The most appropriate tune that was chosen was unsigned. In 1871 the tune was published anonymously in Bishop Bickersteth's collection and prompted the true composer, Sir Henry Baker, to step forward and claim authorship. He had written it in 1854 while an undergraduate student at Exetor, Oxford. Baker was the son of an Anglican clergyman, studied civil engineering at Winchester and Cooper's Hill, and then spent many years building railroads in India. John B. Dykes eventually encouraged him to complete a music degree and seek publication for many of his tunes.
Postlude: The tune to the text "Open Now Your Gates of Beauty" was written by Joachim Neander. Neander (1650-1680) lived a short life of 30 years, dying in 1680 of tuberculosis. He was a rebellious youth and part of the German Calvinists. He wrote some 60 hymns, some hymn tunes, and two song books. His texts reveal his love of nature. Mid-western organist, composer, and instructor Paul Manz (1919-2009) was organist at the Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Minneapolis for 37 years and then artist-in-residence at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago. His compositions include many hymn- and chorale-based pieces including nine sets of Ten Chorale Improvisations. His piece based on the Neander tune is from the first volume of these sets. Bold march-like sections alternate with chordal arrangements of the melody phrase by phrase.
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