The First Sunday in Lent 22 February 2015

Transcription

1 Old Greenwich, THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL United Church Connecticut CHURCH OF GREENWICH of Christ Founded in 1665 The First Sunday in Lent 22 February o clock in the morning

2 Love is the motive, but justice is the instrument. ~ Reinhold Niebuhr The First Congregational Church of Greenwich declares itself to be open and affirming; open to all for participation, membership, leadership and employment, and affirming of all who wish to join us as children of God. We continue to give thanks for God s guidance in our journey of faith.

3 W elcome to worship this morning at The First Congregational Church of Greenwich on this first Sunday of Lent. May this pilgrimage of 40 days have special meaning for you and us, that we may grow in grace and wisdom as a worshiping and witnessing community of faith. Thank you for joining us this morning. PREPARING FOR WORSHIP Please silence all cell phones and other electronic devices. *All who are able please stand. PRELUDE CALL TO COMMUNITY Please sign and pass the red book. Dr. Craig Scott Symons, organist Rev. Richard S. DenUyl, Jr. PRAISING GOD CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: God of wilderness and water, your Son was baptized and tempted as we are. People: Guide us through this season, that we may not avoid struggle, but open ourselves to blessing. Leader: Through the cleansing depths of repentance and the heavenrending words of the Spirit, may we find ourselves made new. People: As new people, may we set about our journey a resurrected people. Leader: May we be open to adopting your ways of compassion as our own. People: We have gathered to worship you, giving thanks for the ways you have already given us new life. Leader: Allow this time together to shape us further into vessels through which your work is made flesh. All: Amen. * HYMN In the Cross of Christ I Glory Pilgrim (red) Hymnal 157

4 CALL TO CONFESSION Rev. Avery C. Manchester PRAYER OF CONFESSION Most holy and merciful creator, we confess to you and to one another, that we have sinned against you by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart and mind and strength. We have not fully loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not always had in us the mind of Christ. You alone know how often we have grieved you by wasting your gifts, by wandering from your ways. Forgive us, we pray. Renew in us the grace and strength of your Holy Spirit so that when we lose our way, we may find ourselves immersed in the prayer taught to us by Jesus Christ LORD'S PRAYER 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. ASSURANCE OF PARDON *GLORIA Pilgrim (red) Hymnal 513 Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen. Amen. CHILDREN S MESSAGE (As we begin singing Go, My Children, the children and teachers will go to the Daniels Center which is on the lower level of the building; please ask for directions if needed for their Rotation Workshops.)

5 CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Go, My Children (to the tune All Through the Night) Go, my children, with my blessing, never alone. Waking, sleeping, I am with you; you are my own. In my love s baptismal river I have made you mine forever. Go, my children, with my blessing you are my own. FIRST LESSON F HEARING GOD'S WORD 1 Peter 3:18-22 Stuart McCalley or Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him. From New Revised Standard Version ANTHEM The Chancel Choir The Lord is My Light and My Salvation John Rutter (b. 1945) Peter Russell, clarinet The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid? Though an host of men were laid against me, yet shall not my heart be afraid: and though there rose up war against me, yet will I put my trust in him. One thing have desired of the Lord, which I will

6 require; even that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the fair beauty of the Lord, and to visit his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his tabernacle: yea, in the secret place of his dwelling shall he hide me, and set me up upon a rock of stone. Therefore will I offer in his dwelling an oblation with great gladness: I will sing, and speak praises unto the Lord. Hearken unto my voice, O Lord, when I cry unto thee: have mercy upon me and hear me. My heart hath talked of thee, Seek ye my face: thy face, Lord, will I seek. O hide not thou thy face from me, nor cast thy servant away in displeasure. Thou hast been my succour: leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, the Lord taketh me up. Be strong, and he shall comfort thine heart; and put thou thy trust in the Lord. (from Psalm 27) SECOND LESSON I Mark 1:9-15 n those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased. And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news. From New Revised Standard Version * HYMN Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days New Century (black) Hymnal 153 SERMON All Kinds of Hallelujahs Rev. Mark D. Montgomery

7 PASTORAL PRAYER CALL TO OFFERING RESPONDING TO GOD OFFERTORY ANTHEM The Chancel Choir This is Thy Temple Richard Shephard (b. 1949) This is thy temple; here thy presence chamber; here may thy servants, at the mystic banquet, humbly adoring, take thy Body broken, drink of thy chalice. Hallowed this dwelling where the Lord abideth, this is none other than the gate of heaven; strangers and pilgrims, seeking homes eternal, pass through its portals. Lord, we beseech thee, as we throng thy temple, by thy past blessings, by thy present bounty, favor thy children, and with tender mercy hear our petitions. *DOXOLOGY Pilgrim (red) Hymnal 515 Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen. *PRAYER OF DEDICATION GOING FORTH TO SERVE GOD * HYMN Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross New Century (black) Hymnal 197 *BENEDICTION *CHORAL RESPONSE

8 POSTLUDE Psalm 19 Benedetto Marcello ( ) * * * Directly following the service, one of our pastors will remain in the Chapel to be available to anyone who has a pastoral care concern. Please join us for Fellowship Hour in the Auditorium following the worship service. We have child care for babies and toddlers every Sunday in the Preschool classrooms. Your children are always welcome in child care for the entire worship service or for a respite time if needed. On Church School Sundays we also have a class for 3 and 4 year olds during the entire 10:00 am service. Please see an usher if you need directions to child care or Church School. The 10:00 am Service is broadcast live each week on WGCH 1490 AM Radio. In addition, the service is available through the church s website: A bulletin can be found there as well as a link to the live broadcast. Previous sermons may also be found there. Calendar TODAY Church School This week we complete our experience with the story of Joseph and his 11 brothers; his father, Jacob, who considered Joseph special, and Joseph s dreams. Room assignments are: Kindergarten & 1 st graders in the Preschool Red Door; 2 nd & 3 rd graders in Room 104; 4 th & 5 th Graders in the Daniels Center. Next Sunday we will begin our new series on Lent and Holy Week. What s more fun than eating pancakes on Fat Tuesday (which of course we just missed)? This will help us explain some of the traditions and meaning of Lent. This will be our cooking workshop. Then there will be craft workshops for the Cross and the events leading up to Good Friday. Why did it even

9 happen? Finally, we will plant some seeds and bulbs of new life to signify the Resurrection. Alleluia! Before you know it, Holy Week will be here and our children will be prepared! Bible Study Please join us at Bible Study today at 11:20 am in the Lounge. All are welcome. Parish Nurse Sue Asselin, R.N. is available for blood pressure screenings and health consultations in Room 203 following today s Worship Service. Choir Rehearsals Choir rehearsals today are: Cherub Choir from 11:15 to 11:45 am in Room 104, Children s Choir from 11:15 am to 12 Noon in Room 303 (Craig s office) and Youth Choir from 11:15 am to 12:15 pm in the Choir Room. Sunday Afternoons Live Wraps Up this Afternoon! Our ever-popular Sunday Afternoons Live concert series wraps up its 2015 season this afternoon at 4:00 pm in the acoustical splendor of our Auditorium. Admission is $20 per person and light refreshments will be served. Tickets are available at the door and all school-aged youth are free. Join us TODAY for Asylum Quartet. Asylum Quartet is comprised of Joseph Abad, Tony Speranza, Max Schwimmer, and Andrew Barnhart, four classicallytrained saxophonists who met as graduate students at The Hartt School in West Hartford. They will be performing works by Gershwin, Barber, Bernstein, and a number of new compositions to delight your senses. For more information about this program, visit the church website: Youth Groups JPF and SPF will be meeting this evening from 6:00-8:00 pm (6:00-7:00 in the Daniels Center kitchen and 7:00-8:00 in the auditorium for the Youth Mission Team Presentation).

10 Youth Mission Team Presentation TONIGHT 7:00 pm Come and hear (and see!) all about the Youth Mission Team s trip to Nicaragua. It was an exciting and rewarding trip and the team is looking forward to sharing their experiences with the congregation! Join us at 7:00 pm this evening in the auditorium for this very special program. NEWS AND NOTICES * Do You Have a Favorite Hymn? Share it with us! * Many folks have asked to sing a favorite hymn of theirs over the past few months, so we came up with a new way to help get your favorite hymn in the service. When you sign the red attendance pad, put your favorite hymn on the line under your name (hymnal and hymn number) and we will include it in worship, where appropriate, beginning after Easter. The hymn will be designated in the bulletin by CC" after the hymn, which means Congregational Choice. The Mask You Live In Film Screening First Congregational Church and First Church Preschool are partnering with the Greenwich YWCA and The Junior League of Greenwich to present a new documentary film by Jennifer Siebel Newsome, director of Miss Representation. The Mask You Live In is an exploration of young American masculinity and asks the question, Are we failing our boys? One-time-only showing on Tuesday, March 3 (inclement weather date: March 31) at Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas, 2 Railroad Ave., Greenwich. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Tickets $10 in advance at $15 at the door. $5 for 18 and under (film not suitable for children under 13 years). News from The Rummage Room 191 Sound Beach Avenue, Old Greenwich Monday, February 23-Wednesday, February 25: To make way for Spring merchandise, we will have a three day 50% off Winter Clearance Sale.

11 Thursday, February 26: 1st day of Maria's 'Famous Bag Sale'... Everything you can 'cram' in one bag: $12. (Bags provided at The Rummage Room) Friday, February 27: 2nd day of Bag Sale... Everything you can 'pack' in one bag: $8. Saturday, February 28: Final day of Bag Sale... Everything you can 'stuff' in one bag: $1. (Shop closes at 1:00 pm; reopens Monday, March 2 at 1:00 pm) Maria's Wish List for March: St. Patrick's Day clothing and decorations; spring clothing for adults and children; shoes, handbags, spring hats, jewelry and men's ties. Last but not least; bric-a-brac (includes chinaware, goblets, glasses, cups, pitchers etc.) Shop Hours: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday & 10:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturday. Donation Hours: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Thursday & 9:30 am to 12:30 pm on Saturday (clean/sale-able merchandise only, please). Question: Have you ever noticed that some people always want to sit in the same pew every Sunday... whether it's up front, in the middle, or in the back? Well, as long as you are in church so Richard, Mark, Avery, Craig and our wonderful Choir, and God have listeners, it really doesn't matter, does it? Tai Chi Classes Come and experience the many wonderful benefits of Tai Chi and Qi Gong exercises. Classes are held on Wednesdays at 8:00 am and Thursdays at 9:00 am. Only $10 per class. Drop-ins welcome. Neighbor to Neighbor Food Collection Please don t forget those in need. Items especially needed are canned meats, such as Spam, chili, etc. Tuna is not needed at this time. Other items include cereal, canned fruit, pasta, peanut butter (regular sized jars please) and jelly. Also, sheets and towels are always needed. Where to find us: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram

12 Next Week at First Congregational Church 10:00 am Worship Service Meetinghouse March 1, 2015 Communion Music by: The Chancel Choir: Haste Thee, O God by Adrian Batten Drew Seigla, tenor: The Holy City by A. F. Gaul Jon Hunt, guest organist/director Rev. Richard DenUyl, preaching The First Congregational Church of Greenwich 108 Sound Beach Avenue, Old Greenwich, Connecticut, ; Ministers: The Members of The First Congregational Church of Greenwich Senior Pastor: Rev. Richard S. DenUyl, Jr. Associate Pastor for Youth Ministry: Rev. Mark D. Montgomery Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care: Rev. Avery C. Manchester Director of Music: Dr. Craig Scott Symons Director of Family Ministries: Rosemary Lamie Director of Church Administration & Finance: Steve Summerton Director of Membership: Ginny Breismeister Director of Communications: Barbara Wilkov Parish Nurse: Susan Asselin, RN Director of Preschool: Darla Kohler Steiner Pastors Emeriti: Rev. Dr. Thomas L. Stiers and Rev. Sally Colegrove Director of Music Emeritus: Dr. John Stansell