THE CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER UCC THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2017

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1 THE CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER UCC THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2017

2 VISION STATEMENT We are the Church of the Redeemer, United Church of Christ, an inclusive community committed to the worship of God, the work of justice, and the recognition of our common humanity in the struggles of life. We follow Jesus Christ, who welcomes all people to his table. We celebrate the rich diversity of God s people: in race, gender, age, sexual orientation, physical and mental abilities, marital and economic status and culture. Join us on a journey of the Holy Spirit, where faith and intellect meet, learning never ends, and music and the arts draw us closer to our Creator. 1

3 WELCOME We are pleased that you could join us this morning; wherever you are on your life and faith journey, you are welcome at the Church of the Redeemer. If you have any questions, please speak with an usher at the back of the Sanctuary. If you would like more information about the church, fill out the visitor information form at the back of this bulletin and put it in an offering plate. We hope you will join us after the service at Coffee Hour for a time of fellowship go out the side door and follow the crowds. ABOUT US The Church of the Redeemer is an open and affirming, theologically progressive, mainline Protestant church affiliated with the United Church of Christ (UCC). It was founded as a Congregational church in New Haven in Our identity is summarized by our vision statement. CHILDCARE DURING AND AFTER CHURCH Children are always welcome in church. Activity bags for older children and rocking chairs for adults with babies are available at the rear of the sanctuary. We have a nursery downstairs for children through age 6; you can take your child there at any time (follow the "Nursery" signs in the Tower Lobby or ask the ushers at the back). CHURCH SCHOOL FOR THE OLDER CHILDREN Children in preschool through grade 6 are invited to join their teachers downstairs for Sunday School during the Passing of the Peace. Visitors are welcome to join our classes or remain in worship. LARGE PRINT BULLETINS AND ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES If you are having trouble reading this bulletin or hearing the service, the ushers can provide you with a large-print bulletin or an assistive listening device. 2

4 The Church of the Redeemer UCC The Second Sunday after Epiphany Sunday, January 15, 2017 PRELUDE Dietrich Buxtehude Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern ANNOUNCEMENTS AND WELCOME INTROIT Phil Porter Gathered here Please sing with the choir. All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense.net. A CALL TO WORSHIP please stand Leader: Arise! Shine! The light you have been waiting for is here! All: Darkness has been banished! Leader: God's light of hope floods the earth. All: God's light comes to us all. Leader: Lord, make us ready to journey to this Light. All: Prepare our hearts to receive this Light. Amen. 3

5 PROCESSIONAL HYMN Arise, your light has come #164 New Century Hymnal CENTERING PRAYER ANTHEM F.A. Gore Ouseley From the rising of the sun CHILDREN'S MESSAGE Jordan Rebholz PASSING OF THE PEACE Let us welcome one another with the traditional Christian greeting Peace be with you." "And also with you." Our children and teachers are invited to leave at this time to go downstairs for Church school. Nursery care is available for infants and toddlers through age 6. Parents may accompany new children to get them settled and return to worship at any time. Activity bags are available in the rear of the sanctuary for those children that remain in the worship service. HYMN OF PREPARATION please stand There's a sweet, sweet Spirit #293 New Century Hymnal INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTURE SCRIPTURE Psalm 40:1-11 John 1:29-42 SCRIPTURE RESPONSE Leader: People: God is still speaking. Thanks be to God. 4

6 SERMON "Aha!" Jordan Rebholz MOMENT FOR SILENT REFLECTION PRAYERS AND SILENT MEDITATION Prayer requests may be offered aloud at this time. THE LORD'S PRAYER unison 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. Amen. PRAYER RESPONSE Spirit of the living God see page 8 OFFERTORY OFFERTORY ANTHEM Thomas Attwood O God, who by the leading of a star CONGREGATIONAL DOXOLOGY please stand (Tune: Lasst uns erfreuen) Let all things their Creator bless, And worship God in humbleness: Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise God and Jesus Christ the Son, And Holy Spirit, Three in One: O Praise God, O Praise God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! 5

7 PRAYER OF DEDICATION RECESSIONAL HYMN Lift every voice and sing see page 9 BENEDICTION AMEN Give light Please join the choir. All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense.net. A POSTLUDE G. Winston Cassler O'er the Earth There Shines a Great Light Please be seated during the postlude and use this time for silent reflection. Please join us for refreshments in the Sterling Room following worship this morning. You can get to the Sterling Room by exiting the side door at the front of the sanctuary. 6

8 THANK YOU TO THOSE PARTICIPATING IN THIS MORNING S WORSHIP SERVICE Reader: Matt Taylor Hospitality Servers: Shelly Stackhouse, Gavin Ferriby, Kathy Hagearty and Luis Pagan Ushers: Roz Hamilton, Twila Harper and Peggy Strickler Nursery Assistant: Beth Pellegrino Sunday School Teachers: Carol Nardini, John Bradley, and Lori Fast-Minkema Next Week: Hospitality Servers: Kathryn Gaffney Ushers: Lorenzo, Roslyn and Jennifer Evans 7

9 All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense.net. A

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11 All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense.net. A

12 ANNOUNCEMENTS NOON BOOK GROUP MEETS The next meeting of The Noon Book Group will take place at 12 Noon on Tuesday, January 24th in the Phillips room. Bring your lunch and join in the discussion of A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. THE EVENING BOOK GROUP The Evening Book Group will next meet on Monday, January 23 at the home of Shelly Stackhouse (26 Elgin Street, Hamden) to discuss Commonwealth by Ann Patchett. New members are always welcome! THE BLEAK MID-WINTER SOUP SHARE: FEBRUARY 5 After worship February 5th we will hold our Bleak Midwinter Soup Share, one of the highlights of the season here. We welcome anyone to make your favorite soup and bring it in a crockpot to church. If you can't make soup but could bring bread or cheese, that works, too. If you can't bring either, bring your appetite and readiness for some great conversation and that will be enough. CHURCH MEETINGS AND EVENTS Sunday, January 15, :55 am Senior Choir, sanctuary 10:00 am Worship and CS 11:15 am Children's Choirs rehearse Monday, January 16, 2017 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Church office closed Tuesday, January 17, :30 pm Coordinating Team, Phillips Thursday, January 19, :30 pm Knitting Group, Sterling 7:45 pm Senior Choir, sanctuary Sunday, January 22, :55 am Senior Choir, sanctuary 11:15 am Children's Choirs rehearse 6:00 pm OWL, Youth rm, 2nd flr. 11

13 INSIDE THE BOX: PUBLIC DESPLAY OF REPLICA SOLITARY CONFINEMENT CELL January 30th - February 18th, 2017 Various Locations, New Haven CT What is the experience of being isolated in a cell 10' by 7' for 23 hours a day for days, weeks, in some cases years, and even decades? The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) understands that the experience is a form of torture and has created a replica solitary confinement cell to spread that awareness and to help to educate the public. Their goal? The strengthen advocacy for the abolition of solitary confinement. The NRCAT replica solitary confinement cell will be on display in New Haven for three weeks at the beginning of February and will give people an opportunity to experience for themselves the inside of a solitary cell. Organizers of this project include: the United Church of Christ congregations of New Haven, the New Haven Free Public Library, the Yale Undergraduate Prison Project, the Orville Schell Human Rights Center at Yale Law School, My Brother's Keeper, The Community Foundation of Greater New Haven, among others. The Schedule for the Display is as follows: January 30th - February 4th - New Haven Free Library, 133 Elm Street Monday, January 30: opening press conference (NHFPL) Wednesday or Thursday, 2/1 or 2/2 Judy Dworin Performance Project (NHFPL) Wednesday or Thursday, 2/1 or 2/2 Film: "Worst of the Worst" or "Solitary Nation" (NHFPL) February 5th - February 11th - Yale's Sterling Memorial Library, 120 High Street February 11th - February 18th - Yale Law School Library, 127 Wall Street In conjunction with the cell, a program of speakers, panels, book talks, performances, and films has been organized. In addition resource materials for advocating to limit, and eventually abolish, the practice of isolation, will be available at the cell. More information and updates will be forthcoming through the Redeemer E-news and Sunday bulletins. 12

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15 SAFE CHURCH POLICY The Church of the Redeemer aspires to provide a safe environment for people of all ages; physical and sexual abuse and harassment will not be tolerated in any way. The full text of our Safe Church policy is available on our website. REDEEMER OFFICE HOURS The Redeemer office is open Mondays through Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. You may also contact the office by sending an to redeemer@uccredeemer.org. CONTACT REVEREND STACKHOUSE Shelly is in the Redeemer office Mondays through Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ( ). You may also reach her via at rastackhouse@gmail.com. WELCOME VISITORS TO THE CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER UCC! Please let us know more about you and how we can serve you. Please complete this card and place it in the offering plate or hand it to an usher. Name: Address: Phone: address: I would like to be on your mailing list to receive newsletter ( or USPS) I would like information about Sunday School for my children: Name(s)/Ages(s): I would like a call from the Pastor. 14

16 The Church of the Redeemer United Church of Christ 185 Cold Spring Street New Haven, CT Phone: Join us on Facebook at Church of the Redeemer New Haven The Rev. Dr. Rochelle A. Stackhouse, Pastor Jordan Rebholz, Minister for Faith Formation Robert Parker, Moderator of the Church Henry Sykes, Treasurer Kristen Forman, Clerk Marguerite Brooks, Director of Music Julia Blue Raspe, Chancel Choir Director and Alto Section Leader Paul Berry, Boys' Choir Director and Tenor Section Leader Sarah Reed, Soprano Section Leader Brian Robinson, Bass Section Leader Larry Bishop, Organist Barbara Repetsky, Office Administrator and Financial Secretary Collin Morrissey, Security Lou and Valarie Fanelli, Sextons Margaret Fraser, Nursery Attendant Emily Novicki, Nursery Attendant 15