THANKSGIVING SUNDAY NOVEMBER 18, THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 184 Cherry Brook Road, PO Box 133, Canton Center, CT

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1 THANKSGIVING SUNDAY NOVEMBER 18, 2018 THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 184 Cherry Brook Road, PO Box 133, Canton Center, CT

2 THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CANTON CENTER November 18, 2018 THANKSGIVING SUNDAY 10:00 a.m. ORDER OF WORSHIP CHIMES Karen Needham WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Brief announcements from the congregation are welcome. Those wishing to make Announcements are asked to be in the front pews at the start of the announcements period. There will be opportunity to share prayer requests at the time of the Prayers of the Church. If you wish to offer a prayer request in written form, please fill out one of the yellow prayer request cards found in the pews and place it in the offering plate at the time of the offering. Large print editions of the bulletin and Chalice Hymnal are available at the back of the sanctuary. Nursery Room is available in the lower level of the Parish House. Children ages Birth-3 years may visit the Nursery with a parent at any time. *All who are able, please stand. Bold denotes unison voice. PRELUDE Praise to the Lord, the Almighty Kevin McChesney Cherry Brook Chimes Handbell Choir CALL TO WORSHIP Come, all thankful people and praise a bountiful Creator! For God s steadfast love endures forever. Come praise the God of seedtime and harvest, for God s steadfast love endures forever. Bringing the thanks of our hearts and the gifts of our lives, today we remember the Source of all our blessings.

3 *HYMN 718, Chalice (blue) Come, Ye Thankful People, Come *GATHERING PRAYER AND THE LORD S PRAYER Thanks be to you, God of every goodness, for gathering us in this place, for setting us in this time, for giving us daily the gifts of life. Thanks be to you, God of all our stories, for families, friends, and the community of faith, for love that holds us and hope that sustains us, in everything. May our waiting hearts be awakened hearts, and may they be filled once more with the daily bread of your peace. This we ask in Christ s name and spirit, as we also pray together: 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. *SUNG RESPONSE (Tune: We Gather Together) We gather together to ask for God s blessing, to turn to a wisdom surpassing our own; the pow rs that oppress us now cease to distress us. O God, be present with us and make your will known. MESSAGE FOR ALL AGES Sarah Pradhan Following this, children may go to church school classes.

4 READING FROM SCRIPTURE Matthew 6:25-33 SERMON Looking Twice *HYMN 714, Chalice (blue) For the Fruit of All Creation OFFERING OF GIFTS Invitation Offertory Sing to the Lord of Harvest Healey Willan Senior Choir *Doxology

5 *Prayer of Dedication God of abundant love, you have given us abundant gifts. Help us to use them wisely and generously, lovingly and wholeheartedly, so that through them and through us, your love will be evident in this world. Amen. PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer *HYMN 717, Chalice (blue) Let All Things Now Living *BENEDICTION *BENEDICTION RESPONSE From Whose Abundant Stores Franz Joseph Haydn Senior Choir (The Seasons) *POSTLUDE Hymn of Grateful Praise Pierpoint/Fettke All are invited to stay and enjoy our Thanksgiving potluck luncheon after the service today. Please join us! Thank you to Polly Rice for creating the Thanksgiving display on our Communion table today.

6 ANNOUNCEMENTS WELCOME We re glad you ve joined us for worship today. Please know that whoever you are, wherever you are on life s journey, you are welcome here! If you are visiting today, please help us get to know you better by filling out one of the visitor cards in the pews and placing it in the offering plate. Questions? Please feel free to ask the pastor, or call the church office during the week. The flowers today are given by Cora Mutch for Blessings of Thanksgiving. INTERFAITH CELEBRATION OF THANKSGIVING - Today at 4 pm, there will be an Interfaith Celebration of Thanksgiving at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 27 Lawton Road, in Canton. There will be a collection of canned goods to be donated to the Canton Food Bank. CHERUB CHOIR - We will have cherub choir practice this morning in the music room at 11:15 am and continue through December under the direction of Judy Robinson. We will be rehearsing a song to be sung at Christmas. This choir is open to ages 4-3rd grade. Come and have fun! NEXT SUNDAY, NOV. 25 MY FAITH AND MY WORK - Next Sunday is our second annual My Faith and My Work service, where members of our congregation reflect on how their faith and their work speak to & challenge each other. We are grateful to our two speakers, Jerry Alonzy (web designer) and Stacey Cote (an attorney and Director of the Teen Advocacy Project, with the Center for Children s Advocacy in Hartford, providing legal representation to homeless children and youth). FOOD COLLECTION SUNDAY - NEXT SUNDAY Next Sunday will be our Fourth Sunday of the month which is our Food Collection Sunday. Please remember to bring non-perishable food items to church next Sunday. The school children will gather the donations from the congregation, right in the sanctuary. TIS THE SEASON FOR SCRIPPING - Sleep in on Black Friday and avoid the crowds you know everyone wants gift cards anyway! Get a jump start on your Christmas shopping today at the scrip table - we ll be located in the back of the parish hall. There may not be any 75% off ugly sweater deals, but a portion of every dollar you spend comes right back to our church. Stop by to see what we have in stock today, available to order or to learn more about the program. Thanks for your support!

7 OPEN AND AFFIRMING ~ SECOND HOUR CONVERSATION - Anyone who missed the lively discussion concerning becoming an ONA Church but wishes to hear it, we have recorded it! Please Jerry Alonzy at Webmaster@Cantoncenterchurch.org and he will send you a link to it on our website. The ONA Committee will receive any additional input about the proposed ONA statement until Wed., Dec. 5. You may either the church office (office@cantoncenterchurch.org, subject line ONA ) or leave written input in a large marked envelope on the literature table in the vestibule. MISSIONS & OUTREACH COLLECTIONS -The Missions & Outreach Committee is collecting bath soaps and toothpaste for Hands of Grace. We are also collecting warm clothing, such as hats, gloves, coats, sweaters, blankets, towels, and twin bed sheets which will be given to the Friends in Service to Humanity. FINAL INFORMATION FOR THOSE MAKING AND DELIVERING GREEN BEAN CASSEROLES TO MASONIC HALL THANKSGIVING DAY - A huge thank you to all of you who have volunteered to make one of the double casseroles for the town wide Thanksgiving Dinner. Casseroles should arrive at Masonic Hall just around 10:30 Thanksgiving morning. Beans for said casseroles can be found on a cart in the back storage room of large Fellowship Meeting Hall. Canned ones are on the cart; frozen ones are in portioned controlled bags of 4.5 cups each. Either take 4 cans of beans or one or two of the portioned bags and you should be set (I have not yet portioned out all of the frozen beans and am not sure how many bags the required amount will be.) You are responsible for the other ingredients of the casseroles. The doubled recipe will hold the doubled recipe I have made out for you. Extra recipes are on the mission s board. Again, Thank you and have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Any questions, call Carole PRIME TIMERS - ANNUAL CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON & CONCERT ~ FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21 PRIME TIMERS annual Christmas Potluck Luncheon will be held on FRIDAY, December 21 at 11:30 am in the Parish Hall. The Canton High School Chamber Singers will join us for lunch, weather permitting and present a concert following lunch. If school is canceled then the luncheon and concert will be canceled. Note the change of day to FRIDAY to accommodate the schedule of the chorus. Please note that due to the early arrival of the Chamber Singers, we are requesting that Prime Timers arrive at 11:00 am with a casserole of your choice. You do not have to belong to Prime Timers to attend. All are welcome. If you re not a member and wish to attend or have questions, please contact Donna Hammond at Sunday 18 Monday 19 Tuesday 20 Wednesday 21 Thursday 22 Friday 23 Saturday 24 Thanksgiving Sunday 10 am & Potluck Cherub Choir 11:15 am Interfaith Service 4 pm Latter Day Saints Memorial 4:00 pm Choir 6:45 pm Choir/Guest 7:30 pm ACA 7 pm AA 7 pm AA 11 pm

8 OUR MISSION STATEMENT We gather as a welcoming community in worship, learning, service and fellowship, to embody Christ s message of love, compassion and justice. Joining faith with action, both within and beyond our church, we strive to build a community that serves all. Pastor: The Rev. Dr. Brenda Pelc-Faszcza Director of Music: Mary Lou Keefe Interim Dir. of Faith Formation: Sarah Pradhan Duty Deacons: Andy Kerr & Darryl Haberern Ushers: Deb Poleyestewa & Art Mauger Ministers: Every Member Office Manager: Kristen DiMattia Sexton: Walt LeGeyt Duty Trustee: Phil LeGeyt Greeters: Jeff & Kathy Smith God is still speaking!!!,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Visit our website at Listen to recorded Sermons and Music from worship services! THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 184 Cherry Brook Road, PO Box 133, Canton Center, CT Office: office@cantoncenterchurch.org