The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton
Presider
The Rev. Dr. Suzanne Wenonah Duchesne
Preacher
Deborah Sunya Moore
Reader
The Chautauqua Choir
James E. Bobb
Director & Organist
Owen Reyda & Laura Smith
Organists
SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP
We invite you to quietly prepare your hearts for worship during the Prelude.
* Denotes that the congregation is invited to rise in body or spirit. It is our custom to sing the first and last verses of hymns in unison; the interior verses may be sung in parts.
Prelude
Prélude à cinque parties
Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens, 1862
Welcome & Announcements
The Rt. Rev. Eugene Sutton
Call to Worship*
Isaiah 12:2–6
Surely, it is God who saves me;
I will trust and will not be afraid.
For the Lord God is my stronghold and my song,
and has become my Savior.
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation,
and in that day you will say:
Give thanks and call upon the name of the Lord.
Make known among the nations what the Lord has done;
proclaim that the name of the Lord is exalted.
Sing praises, for the Lord has done great things;
let this be known in all the earth!
Shout, and sing for joy, O people of God,
for great in our midst is the Holy One!
Hymn*
“Holy, holy holy!”
Nicæa, John Bacchus Dykes, 1861
Reginald Heber, 1827, alt.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty;
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea!
Cherubim and seraphim, falling down before thee,
who wert, and art, and evermore shall be.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea!
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty;
God in three persons, blessed Trinity! Amen.
Canticle
Psalm 27:1, 3–6
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
Though a host encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
and though violence break out against me,
yet I will be confident.
One thing I asked of the Lord;
this I seek:
that I may dwell in your house all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to seek God in the temple.
For on the day of trouble the Lord shall shelter me in safety;
the Lord shall hide me in the secrecy of the holy place,
and set me high on a rock.
Therefore I will offer in the holy place an oblation with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
Hearken to my voice, O Lord, when I call;
Have mercy on me and answer me.
You speak in my heart and say, “Seek my face.”
Your face, Lord, will I seek.
Prayer of Confession and Reconciliation
To you, O God, we turn to have our hearts filled with love.
Give us new wine skins and fill them with new wine.
We remember that your love is for all people,
and that the blood of Christ was shed for all:
For the accepted and for the marginalized
For the poor and the wealthy
For the weak and the powerful
For the ill and the healthy
For the simple and the wise.
We remember that forgiveness does not have regard for the nature of sin; it merely smiles, nods, and sends it on its way; irrevocable, irretrievable. Thus...
We confess our tendency to think we are better than others.
We confess our pride in minimizing our own sins.
We confess our being blindly certain of our limited understanding.
We confess our snatching the right to judge out of the hand of Jesus,
whom we say we trust.
We confess our letting go of our God-given right to love our neighbor.
We confess our worship of our own ideas about Jesus,
rather than the actual person of Jesus.
It is to that Person that we cry now:
Have mercy on us according to your unfailing love, according to your great compassion. Blot out all our iniquity and lead us in the way everlasting. Amen.
Words of Forgiveness and Passing of the Peace
May the peace of God be always with you.
And also with you.
You are invited to greet your neighbor saying, “Peace be with you.”
Anthem
"O for a closer walk with God"
Charles Villiers Stanford, 1910
William Cowper, 1769
O for a closer walk with God, a calm and heavenly frame;
a light to shine upon the road that leads me to the Lamb!
Return, O holy Dove, return! sweet messenger of rest;
I hate the sins that made thee mourn, and drove thee from my breast.
So shall my walk be close with God, calm and serene my frame;
so purer light shall mark the road that leads me to the Lamb.
The Prayers
Let us pray for one another and for the world.
Grant, Almighty God, that all who call upon your Name may be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Guide the people of this land, and of all the nations, in the ways of justice and peace; that we may honor one another and serve the common good.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Give us all a reverence for the earth as your own creation, that we may use its resources rightly in the service of others and to your honor and glory.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours, and grant that we may see your image in them, and love one another as You love us.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit; give them courage and hope in their troubles, and bring them the joy of your peace and wholeness.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
O Lord our God, accept the fervent prayers of your people; in the multitude of your mercies, look with compassion upon us and all who turn to you for help; for you are gracious, O lover of souls, and to you we give glory, now and forever. Amen.
The Prayer that Jesus Taught
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Hymn *
"Jesus, light of joy surround us"
Lauda Anima, John Goss, 1869
David Gambrell, 2009
1 Jesus, light of joy, surround us;
let your splendid glory shine:
source of every earthly blessing,
heaven’s everlasting sign.
Alleluia, alleluia,
we adore you, light divine.
2 Now the shadows fall around us;
now the evening has begun:
still your gracious light is with us,
brighter than the morning sun.
Alleluia, alleluia,
God of glory, Three-in-One.
3 With the saints we lift our voices,
God of power, God of might.
All creation shines with glory,
singing praises day and night:
alleluia, alleluia,
holy, holy, holy light.
1 Jesus, light of joy, surround us;
let your splendid glory shine:
source of every earthly blessing,
heaven’s everlasting sign.
Alleluia, alleluia,
we adore you, light divine.
2 Now the shadows fall around us;
now the evening has begun:
still your gracious light is with us,
brighter than the morning sun.
Alleluia, alleluia,
God of glory, Three-in-One.
3 With the saints we lift our voices,
God of power, God of might.
All creation shines with glory,
singing praises day and night:
alleluia, alleluia,
holy, holy, holy lig
Invitation to the Offering
Offertory Anthem
"The lord is my light"
Thomas W. Jefferson, 2014
Psalm 27
The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Tell me, whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life.
Tell me, of whom shall I be afraid?
One thing have I desired of the Lord:
that will I seek, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
Wait on the Lord; be of good courage,
and he shall strengthen thine heart.
Presentation of the Offering
Our Sunday offering supports not only the ministry of Chautauqua Institution’s Department of Religion, but also a tithe of your contribution is directed to organizations that meet the urgent needs of our neighbors in Chautauqua County. We thank you for your generosity! Gifts and offerings may be made by check payable to the Department of Religion, or you may donate online at giving.chq.org/religion.
Doxology
Old 100th
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Christ, all creatures here below;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore;
Praise Triune God, whom we adore. Amen.
Reading From Scripture
Amy Gardner, Reader
Matthew 5:1–16
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he began to speak and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled underfoot.
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to God.
Sermon
The Rev. Suzanne Duchesne
"This little light of mine"
Hymn*
“I want to walk as a child of the light”
Houston, Kathleen Thomerson, 1966
1 I want to walk as a child of the light.
I want to follow Jesus.
God set the stars to give light to the world.
The star of my life is Jesus.
Refrain:
In him there is no darkness at all.
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God.
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus. (Refrain)
2 I want to see the brightness of God.
I want to look at Jesus.
Clear Sun of righteousness, shine on my path,
and show me the way to the Father. (Refrain)
3 I’m looking for the coming of Christ.
I want to be with Jesus.
When we have run with patience the race,
we shall know the joy of Jesus. (Refrain)
Benediction and Dismissal
As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,
so may the light of your presence, O God,
set our hearts on fire with love for you,
and our neighbors as ourselves. Amen.
Let us go forth in the power of the Spirit.
Thanks be to God.
Postlude
Fiat Lux
Théodore Dubois, 1893
You are invited to remain seated for the postlude.
FLOWER DEDICATIONS
The flowers on the stage are given …
… in memory of our son Tom, and our parents by Dr. & Mrs. R. William Cornell..
… in loving memory of Betty Offutt Wood, W.A. “Jim” Wood, brothers Andy and Arch Wood, husband and brother-in-law Blake DeBoest, and dear friend Polly Bradley by the Wood family. We cherish them as they cherished Chautauqua.
HAPPENING TODAY
10:15 a.m. Sunday School (Ages 3–Grade 6) • Children’s School
4:30 p.m. Blessing of the Animals • Miller Park (weather permitting)
5 p.m. Children's Organ Tour • Amphiteather Stage
5 p.m. Palestine Park Tour • Near Miller Bell Tower (weather permitting)
Sponsored by The Reverend Noel A. Calhoun, Jr., D.D. Fund
8 p.m. Sacred Song Service: Come and Find the Quiet Center • Amphitheater
WEEKDAY MORNING WORSHIP AT 9:15 A.M.
Amphitheater, The Rev. Dr. Suzanne Wenonah Duchesne
Mon 7/7 Fortifications and Family
Tues 7/8 Empty Cases
Wed 7/9 Aliens Among Us
Thu 7/10 Emptying and Embrace
Fri 7/11 Standin’ at the Crossroads
INTERFAITH LECTURES AT 2 P.M.
Hall of Philosophy, Contemplation: Meditation, Prayer, and Silence
Noise inundates us wherever we turn. Commercials on TV and in between YouTube videos. Advertisements on Facebook and Instagram. Blasting music in restaurants and grocery stores. How do we cultivate silence in our lives given how loud our worlds are? What can we learn from the different wisdom traditions on contemplation and meditation? What do we do when we pray? How can we grow in our practices of meditation, prayer, or contemplation, and what is the role of silence in this growth? This week, we will hear from a range of perspectives from artists to scientists on why the contemplative life matters.
Mon 7/7 The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton
Tues 7/8 Omid Safi
Wed 7/9 Chenxing Han
Thu 7/10 Rabbi Marc Margolius
Fri 7/11 TBA
ISLAM 101 AT 3:30 P.M.
Hurlbut Church
Mon 7/7 The Quran and What it Says About Other Faiths
Tues 7/8 Family Life and Women
Wed 7/9 Shia-Sunni Divide
Thu 7/10 Shariah
Fri 7/11 Islam in America
CREATING AN INCLUSIVE CHAUTAUQUA AND BEYOND
Chautauqua Institution, in collaboration with the African American Heritage House (AAHH), invites all Chautauquans to participate in a free, 90-minute workshop this summer to help us collectively develop the awareness, tools and resources to create an inclusive community on the grounds. This workshop was developed in response to reports of unwelcoming or othering behaviors and comments that students, artists, performers and patrons of color have reported to the Institution (for example, see page A6 of The Chautauquan Daily, July 20-21, 2024 edition). Furthermore, many Chautauquans have asked for resources on how they can be helpful in these moments, and this workshop will provide guidance on how to respond in the moment.
The goals of this workshop are to:
Describe the nature and scope of unwelcoming behaviors as they have happened at Chautauqua, particularly around race.
Empower and equip Chautauquans to be able to address those behaviors in the moment
Provide resources for ongoing learning and skills development to work toward a more inclusive experience for all Chautauquans
Logistical Information:
This free workshop will be offered four times weekly during the 2025 season at the following times at the Ida A. Vanderbeck Chapel (former IOKDS Chapel at 39 Pratt).
Mondays, 3:30–5 p.m.
Tuesdays, 9–10:30 a.m.
Wednesdays, 9–10:30 a.m.
Thursdays, 3:30–5 p.m.
Participants need to sign up for only one of these times, not all four.
The workshop will be limited to 15 participants for each session. You can guarantee a spot by registering in advance. Drop-ins will be permitted with any gate pass, as long as there is space available.
Learn more at: https://www.chq.org/about/idea/creating-an-inclusive-chautauqua-beyond/
WEDNESDAY ORGAN CONCERT AT 12:15 P.M.
Amphitheater, Owen Reyda, organist
JOIN THE CHAUTAUQUA CHOIR
Thu 6:15 p.m. Rehearsal at Lenna Hall
Fri 6:15 p.m. Rehearsal at Lenna Hall
Sat 6:15 p.m. Rehearsal at Fletcher Hall
We invite you to join us and sing with the Chautauqua Choir this season. This group is open to anyone who has experience singing in choirs and the ability to read music, and requires members attend at least one out of three weekly rehearsals, though two or more rehearsals are preferred. Our preference is for members to sing both Sunday Morning and Sunday Evening services, though it is possible to sing only one or the other. Questions can be directed to choir@chq.org or by calling the choir library at 716-357-6321. Click here to register ahead of rehearsals.
JOIN THE MOTET CHOIR
The Motet Choir, which leads our weekday worship services, comprises experienced auditioned singers who rehearse and perform a variety of works from the rich heritage of sacred choral music of the past and a diversity of styles from the present. Singers must have a background of choral singing experience with excellent vocal quality and sight-reading ability. Members of the Motet Choir are compensated in the form of a gate pass for the weeks that they sing in the choir. Interested singers should email choir@chq.org or call the choir library at 716-357-6321 to schedule an audition for the 2026 summer season.
CHAUTAUQUA INSTITUTION
Department of Religion
Melissa Spas
Vice President of Religion
The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton
Senior Pastor
Joshua Stafford
Director of Sacred Music & The Jared Jacobsen Chair Organist
Owen Reyda
Organ Scholar
Laura Smith
Organ Scholar
Carolyn Snider
Administrative Assistant
Alicen Roberts
Student Minister