The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton
Presider
Father Greg Boyle
Preacher
Gina Kudrav
Reader
The Chautauqua Choir
Sonya Subbayya Sutton
Interim Director & Organist
Owen Reyda
Organist
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.
Prelude
Innig, Op. 56
Robert Schumann, 1845
Welcome & Announcements
The Rt. Rev. Eugene Sutton
Call to Worship*
“A Song of the Wilderness”
Isaiah 35:1-6,10a
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing.
They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God.
Strengthen the weary hands and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to the anxious, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God, coming with judgment to save you.”
Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf be unstopped.
Then, shall the lame leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
The ransomed of God shall return with singing, with everlasting joy upon their heads.
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
God of all mercy, we confess that we have sinned against you, opposing your will in our lives. We have denied your goodness in each other, in ourselves, and in the world you have created. We repent of the evil that enslaves us, the evil we have done, and the evil done on our behalf. Forgive, restore, and strengthen us through our Savior Jesus Christ, that we may abide in your love and serve only your will. Amen.
Words of Forgiveness
“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.”
The 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
Chichester Psalms: III
Leonard Bernstein,1965
Prayers of the People
The Hip Hop Prayer Book
“A Prayer for the Hood”
Liturgical Note: the art form known as “hip hop” is now over 50 years old, as historians of the genre cite its birth as August 11, 1973, at a street party in the Bronx, New York. The following prayer, spoken in the style of rap, is found in The Hip Hop Prayer Book, written by a group of urban “messengers” edited by The Rev. Timothy Holder, Founding Priest and Pastor of HipHopEMass, published in 2006 by Church Publishing. We invite you participate fully and energetically in this rhythmic form of spoken prayer, and in a joyous spirit. This prayer rises up from the streets of the urban neighborhood, or “the hood”; composed by the hood’s residents, or “homies”, in the Call and Response worship style of the black church tradition, which is a liturgical conversation between the Caller (or, the “liturgist”) and you, the People, or “the peeps”.
As the preface of the Hip Hop Prayer Book puts it:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was ‘hip hop’
And the Word was God,
It don’t quit, and it don’t stop.”
A Prayer for the Hood
Hey, we know the power of prayer – in our lives, in our community, in our world. With all our heart and all our mind, let us lift up the prayers of all God’s homies and peeps, saying Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer; take us there, take us there!
Refrain:
Lord in your mercy
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer, take us there!
Hear our prayer, take us there!
Let us pray…
for all those down with Jesus Christ
Who walk the walk, talk the talk, and know exactly what it’s like.
For all those who are down with God’s crew
For all those who recognize God in you.
(Refrain)
…for the mission of the Church bringing the Hope,
the Faith, the Love - to all God’s Peeps
in every Hood, for all time, every day, in every way.
(Refrain)
…for this country and our leaders
that we all may live in freedom and peace.
You down with us, and we down with you
cause you got the back of every and each.
(Refrain)
…for good-will between the nations
and your blessing on all your peeps
Let us holla the message ‘cause
all together we can’t be beat!
(Refrain)
…for all those in the House,
for all those in the Hood
for all those who live on the streets,
it’s still all good, it’s still all good.
For all who are in prison
For their families, and for their victims
For the military, victims of violence, and all those who are in need.
We’re down for you. We got ya back. Trust us, you best believe.
…we remember those who have died
For those Founders of Hip Hop gone on to heaven
For the Children of Your Streets no longer here
For the Prophets and Saints gone on before us
Don’t forget us here, give us your blessin’!
(Refrain)
The Prayer that Jesus Taught
(Traditional)
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*
“Gather Us In”
Marty Haugen
Invitation to the Offering
Offertory Anthem
Fresh Fire
Music: Robert Benson, 2007
Text: Michael Hudson, 2004
Fresh fire falls from heaven, a sign from above that now is the moment to burn with God’s love and carry the brightness out into the world, like stars through the vast, spreading universe hurled.
Now Wisdom is calling and gathers her friends, to share in the movement of grace God intends. We come in all colors from faraway lands, yet each hears a language the soul understands.
Praise God for this moment and leap at the chance to join in the Spirit’s great, spiraling dance. One spark lights another until all acquire this bright, blessed, heart-waking Pentecost fire.
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 by visiting https://giving.chq.org/religion.
Doxology*
Reading From Scripture
Gina Kudrav, Reader
Matthew 16:13-20
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist but others Elijah and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people. Thanks be to God.
Sermon
“Christ is Made the Sure Foundation”
Tune: Westminster A
Benediction and Dismissal
Clare McBeath/Tim Presswood (adapted)
May the God who created a world of diversity and vibrancy,
Go with us as we embrace life in all its fullness.
May the Redeemer who teaches us to care for stranger and foreigners,
Go with us as we try to be good neighbors in our communities.
May the Spirit who breaks down our barriers and celebrates community,
Go with us as we find the courage to create a place of welcome for all.
Amen.
Let us go forth rejoicing in the power of the Spirit!
Thanks be to God.
Postlude
Fugue, Op. 12
Maurice Duruflé
You are invited to remain seated for the postlude.
This program is made possible by the generous support of the Lois Raynow Department of Religion Fund and the Daney-Holden Chaplaincy Fund.
Flower Dedications
The flowers on the stage are given …
…in loving memory of Rita Curran by Colleen and Gary Reeve.
Happening Today
7 p.m. Palestine Park Tour Near Miller Bell Tower, Weather Permitting
8 p.m. Sacred Song Service: Migration, Amphitheater
Weekday Morning Worship at 9:15 A.M.
Amphitheater, Father Greg Boyle
Monday, August 24 – A Love That Keeps Us Sane
Tuesday, August 25 – The Table That Has No End
Wednesday, August 26 – The Infinite Moment When Everything Happens
Thursday, August 27 – Chaplain’s Faith Journey, at the Hall of Philosophy
Friday, August 28 – Communion service, at the Hall of Philosophy
Interfaith Lectures at 2 P.M.
Hall of Philosophy, The Importance of Gathering: Cultivating the Beloved Community
Leaders from multiple faith traditions explore how intentional gathering — in sacred spaces and beyond — strengthens bonds of compassion and justice. What practices nurture belonging and mutual care across difference? How can these traditions help heal division, foster civic engagement and build resilience in times of uncertainty? As we reflect on the nation’s semiquincentennial, we consider the Beloved Community as both a spiritual aspiration and a practical framework for a more inclusive future.
Monday, August 24 – Jose Arellano
Tuesday, August 25 – No speaker, so all may join for the Citizenship Ceremony at 1 p.m. in the Amphitheater.
Wednesday, August 26 – Amy Bruton Bluemel
Thursday, August 27 – George Tanabe
Join the Chautauqua Choir
Thu 6:15 p.m. Rehearsal at Fletcher Hall
Fri 6:15 p.m. Rehearsal at Fletcher Hall
Sat 6:15 p.m. Rehearsal at Fletcher Hall
Do you love to sing? Do you have some choral singing experience? We invite you to join us and sing on Sundays with the Chautauqua Choir, whether for one service or the whole season. You must attend at least one out of three weekly rehearsals (though attending more rehearsals are preferred). We ask that you plan to sing both Sunday Morning and Sunday Evening services when possible.
Questions can be directed to choir@chq.org or by calling the choir library at 716-357-6321.
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 716-3576321 to schedule an audition for the 2026 Summer Season.
Chautauqua Institution
Department of Religion
Robert Wilson-Black
Director of Religion
The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton
Senior Pastor
Sonya Subbayya Sutton
Interim Director of Sacred Music
Carolyn Snider
Administrative Assistant
Alicen Roberts
Religion Graduate Fellow
Owen Reyda
Organ Scholar