Melissa Spas
Presider
The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton
Preacher
Kyle Keogh
Reader
The Chautauqua Choir
Joshua Stafford
Director & Organist
Owen Reyda
Organist
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
Festal Prelude
Thomas Dunhill, 1914
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship*
O Sun beyond all suns,
O Light of the world, full of grace and beauty:
Yours is the day, O God, yours also the night.
Let the daylight and the shadows praise you.
Let the fertile earth and the swelling seas praise you.
Let the winds and the rains, the lighting, and the thunder, praise you.
Let winter and summer, autumn and the springtime, praise you.
Let all that has breath praise the name of the Lord!
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.
Prayer of Confession
Howard Thurman (1899–1981) was an African American author, philosopher, theologian, mystic, educator and civil rights leader. He played a leading role in many social justice movements and organizations of the twentieth century and mentored many in the civil rights movement, including Martin Luther King, Jr.
Let us pray:
Open unto me, light for my darkness.
Open unto me, courage for my fear.
Open unto me, hope for my despair.
Open unto me, peace for my turmoil.
Open unto me, joy for my sorrow.
Open unto me, strength for my weakness.
Open unto me, wisdom for my confusion.
Open unto me, forgiveness for my sins.
Open unto me, love for my hates.
Open unto me, thy Self for my self.
Lord, Lord, open unto me.
Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Matthew 11:28–30
Hear these words from Holy Scripture: “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Believe this good news and live in peace.
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
"Unless the Lord build the house"
Alfred V. Fedak, 1999
Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. But built on the strong foundation of the apostles and the prophets, the household joins and rises, a holy temple in the Lord. With Christ Jesus himself the cornerstone, blessed are they that dwell in the house, they will praise the Lord and sing. His mercy endures for ever.
Prayers of the People
The Book of Common Prayer
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 *
"My hope is built on nothing less"
Solid Rock, William Batchelder Bradbury, 1863
Edward Mote, c. 1834, alt.
Invitation to the Offering
Offertory Anthem
"Dear Lord and Father"
C.H.H. Parry, 1888, arr. H. A. Chambers, 1941
John Greenleaf Whittier, 1872
Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
forgive our foolish ways;
reclothe us in our rightful mind,
in purer lives thy service find,
in deeper reverence praise.
In simple trust like theirs who heard,
beside the Syrian sea,
the gracious calling of the Lord,
let us, like them, without a word,
rise up and follow thee.
Drop thy still dews of quietness,
till all our strivings cease;
take from our souls the strain and stress,
and let our ordered lives confess
the beauty of thy peace.
Breathe through the heats of our desire
thy coolness and thy balm;
let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still, small voice of calm.
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
Kyle Keogh, Reader
Matthew 7:21‒29
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Abba in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’
Anyone who hears my words and puts them into practice is like the wise person who built a house on rock. When the rainy season set in, the torrents came and the winds blew and buffeted the house. It didn’t collapse because it had been set solidly on rock. But anyone who hears my words but does not put them into practice is like the foolish builder who built a house on sandy ground. The rains fell; the floods came; the winds blew and beat against the house, and it fell — and great was its fall!”
Now when Jesus had finished saying these words, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, not like their religious scholars.
The Word of God for the People of God.Thanks be to God.
Sermon
"When Being Right is Wrong"
The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton
Hymn*
“O for a world”
Azmon, Carl Gotthelf Gläser, 1828
Miriam Therese Winter, 1987
Blessing and Dismissal
John 15:13, 17
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of Jesus Christ our Savior; and the blessing of God the Creator, Redeemer, and Giver of Life, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.
Let us go forth rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.
Thanks be to God.
Postlude
Final from Symphony No. 1
Louis Vierne, 1899
You are invited to remain seated for the postlude.
FLOWER DEDICATIONS
The flowers on the stage are given in gratitude to and for the Chautauqua Board of Trustees and Institution Staff for the successful accomplishment of the 2025 Summer Assembly, as well as to and for all those who came or attended on CHQ Assembly.
HAPPENING TODAY
3 p.m. Massey Organ Movie: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
Amphitheater Stage
Sponsored by The Reverend Noel A. Calhoun, Jr., D.D. Fund
8 p.m. Sacred Song Service and Closing of the 152nd Assembly
Amphitheater
WALKING THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO
May 3–12, 2026
Join Chautauqua Travels Expert Melissa Spas for an unforgettable week on the Camino de Santiago, a powerful way to reconnect to simple pleasures and the joy of journeying. One of the most important Christian pilgrimage routes during the Middle Ages, the Camino de Santiago (or St. James’ Way) has endured for centuries as a “bucket-list” journey for those seeking a deeper spiritual connection, either religious or personal. Traveling paths traversed by pilgrims for one thousand years provides a shared connection and sense of purpose not often experienced in the modern world. As Chautauqua’s Vice President of Religion, Spas will provide daily reflections to help enrich your experience. Spain’s mighty Basque region unfurls through picturesque mountains and ancient villages, where nature and history are revered, and local wine and cuisine are cherished.
ABRAHAMIC ANDALUSIA
Exploring the Confluence of Christian, Islamic and Jewish Cultures
Oct. 30–Nov. 6, 2026
Join Chautauqua Travels Expert Bishop Eugene Sutton on a transformative journey through Spain’s autonomous region of Andalusia. The Iberian Peninsula has been a bridge between Europe and Africa for centuries — ruled by Romans, Greeks, Byzantines and Phoenicians — though Judaism, Islam and Christianity have left most of the marks. As part of Chautauqua’s commitment to exploring the intersection of religion, culture and society, discover the historical influence these three religions have had on this prosperous and vibrant region and explore sites where all three of the Abrahamic religions lived and thrived together. Engage in thought provoking discussions on interfaith understanding and gain insights with Chautauqua’s Senior Pastor, Bishop Sutton on how these three great cultures achieved convivencia (coexistence) for hundreds of years, and how and why the area changed and what led to the region’s transformation.
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
Annie Leech
Coordinator of Religious Education
Alicen Roberts
Student Minister