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Image for Sunday Morning Worship
Program

Robert Wilson-Black
Presider

The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton
Preacher

Kyle Keogh
Reader

The Chautauqua Choir

Sonya Subbayya Sutton 
Interim Director of Sacred Music & 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

Fugue, BWV 552b (“St. Anne”) 

J.S. Bach 

Welcome & Announcements

Call to Worship*

Isaiah 12:3-6 

Give thanks and call upon the name of the Lord! 
Make known his deeds among the nations. 

Sing praises, for God 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.

Prayer of Confession

Let us now confess who we really are before God and our neighbors. 

Gracious God, we pray that our hearts desire what Your heart desires; 
instead of being blinded by the lights of success, 
by the perceived safety of money, 
by the need to always attain more and more; 
Lord, have mercy. 
Lord, have mercy. 

Help us to instead pursue the deeper things of Your Kingdom. 
Forgive us for our failure to value what You value. 
Forgive us for living self-centered lives that aren’t surrendered to Your purposes. 
Christ, have mercy. 
Christ, have mercy. 

Remove our relentless pursuits of this world 
so that we can pursue abundant life with You, 
and be reconciled with our neighbors. 
For You alone are the One 
that can fill the deepest places of our hearts. 
Lord, have mercy. 
Lord, have mercy. 

Assurance of Pardon

May the God of all mercies release us of the weight of wrongdoing, heal us from scars of guilt, restore us in God’s image, and guide us along pathways of righteousness and shalom. 

Amen. 

Blessed be the Merciful One who has heard the voice of our prayer! 

To God be the glory. Alleluia! 

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

The Road Home 

Southern Harmony, 1835, 
arr. Stephen Paulus, 2005 
Text: Michael Dennis Browne 

Tell me where is the road I can call my own, that I left, that I lost, so long ago? 

All these years I have wandered, Oh, when will I know there’s a way, there’s a road that will lead me home? 

After wind, after rain, when the dark is done, as I wake from a dream in a gold of day, through the air there’s a calling from far away, there’s a voice I can hear that will lead me home. 

Rise up, follow me, come away is the call, with the love in your heart as the only song; there is no such beauty as where you belong, rise up, follow me, I will lead you home. 

A Prayer For Our Common Humanity

Cameron Bellm (adapted) 

When our lofty words of love have been emptied of their meaning, 
When our borders and computer screens have erected impenetrable walls, 
When our minds are so quick to conflate “other” with “enemy,” 
How will we find our common humanity? 

It’s never too late to make an earnest and tender start. 
May we remove from our pockets the stones we intended to throw 
And cement them together to build a home that welcomes all. 

May we repent of our indifference and move into genuine encounter. 
Instead of drawing battle lines. 

May we draw our chairs up to a communal table, 
Where we can feast in the knowledge of our shared dignity. 

May God grant us the holy vision 
To see every human being as a sacred mystery 
May we love each person 
not only abstractly, but concretely. 
May we be unafraid to touch the wounds of our suffering neighbor. 

May we lay down our arms and offer our outstretched hands, 
Until there is no “them,” but only “us”. 
Until we are at last, sisters, brothers and siblings all. 
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*

Softly and Tenderly 

Will L. Thompson 

Invitation to the Offering

Offertory Anthem

God is Here 

Abbott’s Leigh, arr. John Ferguson

All: 
God is here! As we your people meet to offer praise and prayer, 
May we find in fuller measure what it is in Christ we share. 
Here, as in the world around us, all our varied skills and arts 
Wait the coming of the Spirit into open minds and hearts. 

Choir: 
Here are symbols to remind us of our lifelong need of grace; 
Here are table, font, and pulpit; here the cross has central place. 
Here in honesty of preaching, here in silence as in speech, 
Here, in newness and renewal, God the Spirit comes to each. 

Choir: 
Here our children find a welcome in the Shepherd’s flock and fold, 
Here as bread and wine are taken, Christ sustains us as of old. 
Here the servants of the Servant seek in worship to explore, 
What it means in daily living to believe and to adore. 

All: 
Lord of all, of Church and Kingdom, in an age of change and doubt, 
Keep us faithful to the gospel, help us work Your purpose out. 
Here, in this day’s dedication, all we have to give, receive; 
We who cannot live without you, we adore you, we believe. 

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

“The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree”

Kyle Keogh, Reader
Luke 13:6-9 

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the man working the vineyard, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good, but if not, then you can cut it down.’ ” 

Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people. 

Thanks be to God. 

Sermon

Just Cut it Down 

The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton

Hymn*

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty 

Lobe den Herren 

Benediction For a Chautauqua Season

Lord, you have entrusted Chautauqua to us this summer season for our recreation, learning, creative expression, and journeys of faith. Help us to use what we have learned, seen, done and experienced here for the enrichment of our lives, and for the healing of your world. Amen. 

Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit. 

Thanks be to God! 

Postlude

Toccata, Symphony 5 

Charles-Marie Widor, 1879


You are invited to remain seated for the postlude.

Announcements

This program is made possible by the generous support of the Marie Reid-Edward Spencer Babcox Memorial Fund.


Flower Dedications

The flowers are given in memory of Jared Jacobsen by the Reeve Family.

Happening Today

8 p.m. Sacred Song Service: Remembrance & Closing 3 Taps, Amphitheater

Join the Chautauqua Choir

Consider joining The Chautauqua Choir in 2027. Watch for announcements in The Chautauqua Daily when you return next summer.

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


Image for Sunday Morning Worship
Program

Robert Wilson-Black
Presider

The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton
Preacher

Kyle Keogh
Reader

The Chautauqua Choir

Sonya Subbayya Sutton 
Interim Director of Sacred Music & 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

Fugue, BWV 552b (“St. Anne”) 

J.S. Bach 

Welcome & Announcements

Call to Worship*

Isaiah 12:3-6 

Give thanks and call upon the name of the Lord! 
Make known his deeds among the nations. 

Sing praises, for God 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.

Prayer of Confession

Let us now confess who we really are before God and our neighbors. 

Gracious God, we pray that our hearts desire what Your heart desires; 
instead of being blinded by the lights of success, 
by the perceived safety of money, 
by the need to always attain more and more; 
Lord, have mercy. 
Lord, have mercy. 

Help us to instead pursue the deeper things of Your Kingdom. 
Forgive us for our failure to value what You value. 
Forgive us for living self-centered lives that aren’t surrendered to Your purposes. 
Christ, have mercy. 
Christ, have mercy. 

Remove our relentless pursuits of this world 
so that we can pursue abundant life with You, 
and be reconciled with our neighbors. 
For You alone are the One 
that can fill the deepest places of our hearts. 
Lord, have mercy. 
Lord, have mercy. 

Assurance of Pardon

May the God of all mercies release us of the weight of wrongdoing, heal us from scars of guilt, restore us in God’s image, and guide us along pathways of righteousness and shalom. 

Amen. 

Blessed be the Merciful One who has heard the voice of our prayer! 

To God be the glory. Alleluia! 

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

The Road Home 

Southern Harmony, 1835, 
arr. Stephen Paulus, 2005 
Text: Michael Dennis Browne 

Tell me where is the road I can call my own, that I left, that I lost, so long ago? 

All these years I have wandered, Oh, when will I know there’s a way, there’s a road that will lead me home? 

After wind, after rain, when the dark is done, as I wake from a dream in a gold of day, through the air there’s a calling from far away, there’s a voice I can hear that will lead me home. 

Rise up, follow me, come away is the call, with the love in your heart as the only song; there is no such beauty as where you belong, rise up, follow me, I will lead you home. 

A Prayer For Our Common Humanity

Cameron Bellm (adapted) 

When our lofty words of love have been emptied of their meaning, 
When our borders and computer screens have erected impenetrable walls, 
When our minds are so quick to conflate “other” with “enemy,” 
How will we find our common humanity? 

It’s never too late to make an earnest and tender start. 
May we remove from our pockets the stones we intended to throw 
And cement them together to build a home that welcomes all. 

May we repent of our indifference and move into genuine encounter. 
Instead of drawing battle lines. 

May we draw our chairs up to a communal table, 
Where we can feast in the knowledge of our shared dignity. 

May God grant us the holy vision 
To see every human being as a sacred mystery 
May we love each person 
not only abstractly, but concretely. 
May we be unafraid to touch the wounds of our suffering neighbor. 

May we lay down our arms and offer our outstretched hands, 
Until there is no “them,” but only “us”. 
Until we are at last, sisters, brothers and siblings all. 
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*

Softly and Tenderly 

Will L. Thompson 

Invitation to the Offering

Offertory Anthem

God is Here 

Abbott’s Leigh, arr. John Ferguson

All: 
God is here! As we your people meet to offer praise and prayer, 
May we find in fuller measure what it is in Christ we share. 
Here, as in the world around us, all our varied skills and arts 
Wait the coming of the Spirit into open minds and hearts. 

Choir: 
Here are symbols to remind us of our lifelong need of grace; 
Here are table, font, and pulpit; here the cross has central place. 
Here in honesty of preaching, here in silence as in speech, 
Here, in newness and renewal, God the Spirit comes to each. 

Choir: 
Here our children find a welcome in the Shepherd’s flock and fold, 
Here as bread and wine are taken, Christ sustains us as of old. 
Here the servants of the Servant seek in worship to explore, 
What it means in daily living to believe and to adore. 

All: 
Lord of all, of Church and Kingdom, in an age of change and doubt, 
Keep us faithful to the gospel, help us work Your purpose out. 
Here, in this day’s dedication, all we have to give, receive; 
We who cannot live without you, we adore you, we believe. 

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

“The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree”

Kyle Keogh, Reader
Luke 13:6-9 

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the man working the vineyard, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good, but if not, then you can cut it down.’ ” 

Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people. 

Thanks be to God. 

Sermon

Just Cut it Down 

The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton

Hymn*

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty 

Lobe den Herren 

Benediction For a Chautauqua Season

Lord, you have entrusted Chautauqua to us this summer season for our recreation, learning, creative expression, and journeys of faith. Help us to use what we have learned, seen, done and experienced here for the enrichment of our lives, and for the healing of your world. Amen. 

Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit. 

Thanks be to God! 

Postlude

Toccata, Symphony 5 

Charles-Marie Widor, 1879


You are invited to remain seated for the postlude.

Announcements

This program is made possible by the generous support of the Marie Reid-Edward Spencer Babcox Memorial Fund.


Flower Dedications

The flowers are given in memory of Jared Jacobsen by the Reeve Family.

Happening Today

8 p.m. Sacred Song Service: Remembrance & Closing 3 Taps, Amphitheater

Join the Chautauqua Choir

Consider joining The Chautauqua Choir in 2027. Watch for announcements in The Chautauqua Daily when you return next summer.

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