ORDER OF WORSHIP. March 26, 2017 Hymns can be found in the New Century Hymnal (black) unless otherwise indicated. *Please stand as you are able.

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1 ORDER OF WORSHIP March 26, :00AM Hymns can be found in the New Century Hymnal (black) unless otherwise indicated. *Please stand as you are able. PRELUDE RINGING OF THE BELL & LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE Roger Regnier The bell is rung three times to attune us to the presence of the Triune God. WELCOME & INVOCATION Liz Garrigan-Byerly *OPENING HYMN NO 50 I Sing the Praise of Love Almighty ST. PETERSBURG CALL TO CONFESSION AND PRAYER OF CONFESSION One: Piano Side: Pam Emslie Gracious God, we are people who love the shadows rather than the light. We keep shameful deeds secret, but flaunt our occasional acts of virtue. Pulpit Side: We see ourselves as blameless, but pass judgment on others. All: One: Piano Side: We do not stand firmly enough with those who are vulnerable, but step back, protecting ourselves. (silence) Forgive us, we pray. Bring us into your light, that we may see ourselves rightly. Pulpit Side: Bring us into your light that we may know ourselves loved. All: One: All: Bring us into your light that we may live more fruitful lives. (silence) Keep raising us, we pray, from the deadness of sin, and shine upon us with your grace. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Amen. ASSURANCE OF GOD S GRACE 1

2 *BLESSING THE CHILDREN & PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST One: Children of Village Church, All: go with God s love and ours. One: The peace of Christ be with you all, All: and also with you. *SUNG RESPONSE Softly and Tenderly vs.1 Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, Calling for you and for me; See at the portals Christ waiting and watching, Watching for you and for me. Come home, come home, all who are weary, come home; Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling calling, O sinner, come home! SCRIPTURE John 9:1-41 P. 871 (Selected verses) SERMON Unconditional God TIME OF HEALING PRAYER To receive anointing and healing prayer for yourself or another, please go to one of the pastors, leaving space for the person in front of you to have privacy. You can share with us the need for healing or simply say, I ask for Christ s healing. To offer healing prayer, you may come forward to the Communion Table to sign one of the cards. Solo Litanei Franz Schubert Sean Galligan, soloist; Allen Steere, pianist (See page 4 for text) Hymn NO. 227 (Red hymnal) Fairest Lord Jesus SCHÖNSTER HERR JESU THE 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 2

3 OUR COMMON LIFE AND OFFERING During the offering, please sign and pass the fellowship book, which is located at the end of each pew. If you have a prayer to share with the pastors please use the prayer slips found in the blue folders. Offertory For Lo, I Raise Up Charles Villiers Stanford ( ) (See page 4 for text) Prayer of Dedication *CLOSING HYMN No. 582 O God of Earth and Altar LLANGLOFFAN *BENEDICTION POSTLUDE & DISMISSAL Litanies Jehan Alain ( ) When, in its distress, the Christian soul can find no more words to invoke God s mercy, it repeats endlessly the same litany for reason has reached its limit; only faith can take one further Go in peace to shine God s light. 3

4 Litanei Music Translations Rest in peace, all souls who have been filled with anxious torment, who have been filled with sweet dreams who, filled with life yet barely born, have departed from this world: all souls rest in peace! Young souls, filled with love, whose tears cannot be counted, whom a false friend has abandoned, and the blind world has offended; all who have parted from here, all souls rest in peace! And those who never laughed at the sun, kept watch on the thorns beneath the moon, and saw God through clear heavenly light and beheld God s countenance; all who have parted from here, all souls rest in peace! Franz Schubert For Lo, I Raise Up Charles Villiers Stanford ( ) For, lo, I raise up that bitter and hasty nation, which march through the breadth of the earth, To possess the dwelling places that are not theirs. They are terrible and dreadful, Their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves. Their horses also are swifter than leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves. And their horsemen spread themselves, Yea, their horsemen come from far. They fly as an eagle that hasteth to devour, they come all of them for violence; Their faces are set as the east-wind, and they gather captives as the sand. Yea, he scoffeth at kings, And princes are a derision unto him. For he heapeth up dust and taketh it. Then shall he sweep by as a wind that shall pass over, And be guilty, Even he, whose might is his God. Art not thou from everlasting, O Lord, my God, mine Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, thou hast ordained him for judgement, and thou, O Rock, hast established him for correction. I will stand upon my watch and set me upon the tower, and look forth to see what he will say to me, And what I shall answer concerning my complaint. And the Lord answered me and said: The vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hasteth toward the end, and shall not lie: Though it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come. For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. But the Lord is in his holy temple: Let all the earth keep silence before Him. 4

5 Today s Notes Chancel Flowers are given in honor of Jack Colbert from Natalie Colbert. Thank you! Fellowship Hour is hosted by the Village Church Mom s Group. Thank you! INVITATIONS FOR LEARNING AND SERVICE (details at Holy Conversations, 11:15am-12:45pm in Village Hall (Lower Level). Today is our final conversation in this series; if you haven t already participated, join us! Light lunch provided. Bell Ringer Choir Rehearsal: Today! And next Sunday, April 2, 11:15am in the Chapel Christian Meditation a Lenten Journey, Today & Sundays throughout Lent 5-6pm, Parlor & Chapel Join us as we experience our own version of Christ s time in the wilderness. We explore our Lenten journeys through powerful readings that challenge us to evaluate our lives while we walk the Village Church Labyrinth. All ages welcome. Come as you are. Seeking Higher Ground, March 28, 9am, Berenson Hall, Hebrew College A one-day workshop for community leaders to explore the vision of our religious communities as contexts for the discovery of higher ground.. In these highly polarized times how do we turn our religious communities into places where people can find higher ground even when common ground is not achievable in the short term. Register: Bible (Palooza) Sunday! April 2 Our children and youth are receiving Bibles in Second Worship. Celebrate with them by bringing a Bible from home. After worship, children, youth & families will gather on the Upper Level for a light brunch and Bible Jeopardy. Adults will gather in the Chapel for a light brunch and a Bible Panel Discussion led by Rev. Dr. Sarah Butter. Massachusetts Open Mosque Day: Sunday, April 2, 3-6pm 16 mosques across our state are providing radical hospitality by opening their doors so we can learn more about Islam and meet our cousins in faith. See the church website or Enews for more details. Family Promise Walk, April 8 The Village People are off and running, but not so fast that there is not time for you to catch up and join us for the 8th Family Promise Walk. All are welcome, it s a great opportunity for families to walk together or for students to fulfill service hours. The route starts at the Natick Community Center and is only 3 miles long. Family Promise Training in Wellesley, Sunday, April 9th, 6:45 pm., St. Andrews Church This is a great family or individual opportunity to learn more about the program and get tips on volunteering. Everyone age 12 and up needs to attend one of the training sessions before interacting with the families. Contact Caren Parker to register at: carenparker@gmail.com. 5

6 Palm Sunday April 9, 9:00am & 10:00am Maundy Thursday April 13, 7:30pm Good Friday April 14, 12:00pm & 7:30pm Easter Sunday April 16 6:30am Bonfire Vigil & Sunrise Service 7:30am Brunch 9:00am Celebration Service in the Sanctuary 10:00am Fellowship Hour & Easter Egg Hunt 11:00am Celebration Service in the Sanctuary 6

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8 Easter Plant Donation Return this form with your payment to the Easter bag on the table in the Central Street Lobby by: Monday, April 3, 9:00am Please print clearly! Given In (check only one) Loving memory of: Celebration of: By (your name) Cash $ Check $ Plants are $20 each, payable to Wellesley Village Church. Please note Easter Plant on your check. Following services on April 16, the plants will be taken to those in need of encouragement or support. 8