Village Church. United Church of Christ

Transcription

1 Village Church United Church of Christ April 6, 2014

2 ORDER OF WORSHIP April 6, :00 AM PRELUDE WELCOME AND CALL TO WORSHIP *HYMN NO. 400 Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation New Century Hymnal (Black) REGENT SQUARE *PRAYER OF PRAISE CALL TO CONFESSION Softly and Tenderly Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, Calling for you and for me; See, on the portals He s waiting and watching, Watching for you and for me. Pam Emslie Will L. Thompson Refrain Come home, come home, You who are weary, come home; Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, Calling, O sinner, come home! PRAYER OF CONFESSION Merciful and compassionate God, our need for you is deep, as deep as life. We have wounded others and have ourselves been hurt. We have felt grief and caused others to grieve. We have left many chances for good go by. We have lost ourselves in worry and fear. Our need for you is deep, as deep as life. Do not leave us in the night, the valley, or the grave, but abide with us in our frailty, bestowing healing, pardon, holy breath, and peace as deep as life.

3 SILENT PRAYER *WORDS OF ASSURANCE *PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST *RESPONSE IN SONG My Shepherd Is the Living God ANTHEM Ave Verum Corpus W. A. Mozart Hail, true Body, born of the Virgin Mary, who having truly suffered, was sacrificed on the cross for mankind, whose pierced side flowed with water and blood: May it be for us a foretaste [of the Heavenly banquet] in the trial of death. Amen. SCRIPTURE Excerpts from Ezekial 37:1-14 Psalm 130 John 11:1-45 (Page 704, pew Bible) (Page 500, pew Bible) (Page 873, pew Bible)

4 HYMN From Deepest Depths SURSUM CORDA Please remain seated for the hymn. Choir and congregation sing alternate verses, beginning with the Choir. From deepest depths I cry to you, my Lord, my sigh too great for human words to say, a sigh like seed entombed beneath the earth, a hope like hidden seed awaiting day. In deepest depths the heart awakes, my Lord, and keeps a vigil through the shade of night. Like watchers searching for a sign of dawn, it waits for you to kindle morning light. In deepest depths I hope in you, my Lord. In lifeless valleys and in graves of death, I know that even there your love abides, abiding love bestowing living breath. And when in deepest depths you give me life and even there provide me lovely bread, my heart will join the wonder song of every creature you raise from the dead. Students may now leave for classes. SERMON Out of the Depths Mary Luti MUSICAL MEDITATION PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Kristin Mawhinney, Deacon LORD S PRAYER (sung responsively)

5 THE OFFERING Chris Braudaway-Bauman Our donations for the Wellesley Food pantry are being brought forward this morning as part of our regular offering. During the offering, please sign and pass the fellowship book, which is located at the end of each pew. Invitation Offertory Jesus, So Lowly Harold Friedell Jesus, so lowly, Child of the earth: Christen me wholly, Bring me new birth. Jesus, so lonely, weary and sad; Teach me that only Love maketh glad. Jesus, so broken, Silent and pale; Be this the token Love will not fail. Jesus, victorious, mighty and free; Teach me how glorious death is to be. *Doxology and Presentation Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below Praise God for all that love has done, Creator, Christ, and Spirit One. Amen. *Dedication SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION Invitation to Communion Communion Prayer Leader: Holy God, our loving creator, close to us as breathing and distant as the farthest star Gifted by the presence of your Holy Spirit, we offer ourselves to you as we unite our voices with the entire family of your faithful people everywhere: People: Holy, holy, holy God of love and majesty, the whole universe speaks of your glory, O God most high. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of our God! Hosanna in the highest! Words of Institution Prayer of Consecration Leader: Come, Holy Spirit, come. Bless this bread, and bless this fruit of the vine. People: Bless all of us in our eating and drinking at this table that our eyes may be opened, and that we may recognize the risen Christ in our midst, in each other, and in all for whom Christ died.

6 The Gift of the Bread and Cup (Gluten free bread is available.) The Prayer of Thanksgiving *HYMN NO. 18 Guide Me, O My Great Redeemer New Century Hymnal (Black) CWM RHONDDA *BENEDICTION POSTLUDE Choral Joseph Jongen *Those who are able, please stand.

7 TODAY S NOTES Pastoral Care If you have any pastoral needs or know of any in the Village Church family, please call Diane Anderson at x14. Care Kits If during the worship service you find you need a tissue, cough drop, or a drink of water, please ask an Usher to help you. Hearing Devices amplify sound anywhere in the Sanctuary. They are available at the back of the church. For assistance, please speak with an Usher. The Chancel Flowers this morning are given in honor of our Interim Minister, Reverend Mary Luti, as we bless her and welcome her to our congregation this week. Fellowship Hour 11:15 am, Village Common Please join us for coffee and fellowship. Information for visitors is available at the Welcome Table. Providing hospitality today are members from the Board of Finance. Please take a moment to thank them. Healing Prayer Service 11:15 am, Burtt Chapel One of the pastors will be there for a laying on of hands, and anointing with oil, if you like. You may use this time of quiet and music to pray silently, or write your prayer, to be prayed by the pastors. Join us to experience the gift of healing prayer. Presentation of Church s Energy Audit Report 11:30 am, Upper Room Colby May from Massachusetts Interfaith Power and Light will be here to present the results of the energy audit. Join us for a fascinating look at how our church building is wasting energy and what we can do about it. Complete with thermal photographs and statistics based on current church energy usage, this report begins a dialogue aimed at reducing our church s carbon footprint and inspiring our congregants to do the same. Junior Choir Rehearsal 11:15 am, Youth Choir Room For information, Kevin McDonald at mcdonaldkevin23@yahoo.com. Cherub Choir Rehearsal 11:15 am, Cherub Choir Room on the 2nd floor For children in Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grades. For information, Linda Harding at hardinglr@gmail.com. NWW Ecumenical Fellowship The Newton Wellesley Weston Committee for Community Living is Village Church's partner in ministry to adults with developmental disabilities. Fellowship gatherings including worship, craft projects, and dinner are schedule several times a year. The final date for this spring is today from 4:30-6:30 in Village Common. All are welcome to this joyful community gathering.

8 Middle School Youth Group Workshop 5 pm, Youth Room High School Youth Group 7 pm, Youth Room For information about youth programs, contact Pam Emslie at x15 or pam@wellesleyvillagechurch.org. BULLETIN NOTES From the Senior Pastor Search Committee This week the Search Committee sent the Leadership Expectations Survey to those with addresses on file with the church. Surveys are also available in the Central Street lobby. Please take a few minutes to complete a survey, your feedback is most important to us as we begin the search process. We ask that you complete these by Tuesday, April 22nd. Walk with the Village Church Team at the Family Promise Walkathon Saturday, April 12, Natick Common (intersection of Rt. 27 and Rt. 135) Registration at 7:30 am. Walk begins at 8:30 am, wrap up and prizes at 10:30 am. Raffles and refreshments. A 3.1 mile walk around Natick. Join the Wellesley Village Church Team by signing up at Contact: Margaret Taylor at taylorcpa@hotmail.com or Ruth Breden at ruthbredon@aol.com. Easter Offering - One Great Hour of Sharing Easter Sunday, April 20 In addition to our morning offering, the Service Ministry is sponsoring a special offering to One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS). One Great Hour of Sharing, the refugee, relief and development offering of the United Church of Christ, transforms lives through health, education, agricultural and emergency relief initiatives in 138 countries. Please place your cash or check donations in the OGHS envelopes found in the pews and at the doors on Easter Sunday. Make checks payable to Wellesley Congregational Church and indicate "OGHS" in the memo section. Easter Plant Donations If you would like to donate an Easter plant that will be used to decorate the Sanctuary and First Worship spaces for Easter, donations forms can be found at the back of your bulletin. Donation forms are due by Monday, April 7 at 9:00 am. Following services on April 20, the plants will be taken to those in need of encouragement or support. Volunteer Opportunity The Village Church Wedding Committee is looking for volunteers to serve at weddings that take place in our church. If you'd like to learn more about this joyful ministry, contact Jade Hargrave at (617) or jmh@zug.com.

9 Christian Service Scholarship The Village Churchwomen offer a scholarship each year to a member of the congregation who is pursuing graduate studies in preparation for a religious vocation. Anyone wishing to apply for this scholarship should do so by writing to Betty Seaborn at 4 Framar Road, Wellesley, MA 02481, or by ing Betty at eseaborn@comcast.net before April 30. Youth Choir Rehearsal Wednesday, April 9, 6:15 pm, Youth Choir Room For information, Kevin McDonald at mcdonaldkevin23@yahoo.com. Sunday Morning Offering Counters Needed Beginning last Fall, in an effort to improve our financial controls, we implemented a simple two-person counting of Sunday morning collections after the 10 am Worship Service. Two church members count the cash donations received, as well as listing the number (anonymous/no names) of checks and adding up the totals received in the offering. The process takes minutes after the 10 am worship service. We employ six teams that rotate the work, so Counters are only on duty every sixth week. The Church is currently looking to expand its list of substitutes (who fill-in when the regulars need help), as well as to form teams of Counters that will start a rotation next Fall. If you are available and willing to serve, either as a periodic substitute or as a team member, please Barbara Kucich (Barbara@wellesleyvillagechurch.org) or call her at , x18. As a reminder, your financial contributions to the church can also be made through your online banking or checks can mailed directly to the church, attention Barbara Kucich. Parking Please remember to park in the nearby lots and on the side streets if you can, on Sundays and in the evening, and reserve the church spots for those who truly need to park very close to the building. On Sundays, there is parking available immediately behind the Church Square stores (E. A. Davis, Blue Ginger only). We are welcome there. However, please do NOT park in the back lot, off Abbott St. as it contains assigned spaces for store tenants. Thank you!

10 Worship Schedule Palm Sunday April 13 9:00 am First Worship 10:00 am Worship & Church School Maundy Thursday April 17 8:00 pm Tenebrae Worship with Communion Good Friday April 18 12:00 noon & 8 pm Worship These services are very similar Holy Saturday April 19 8:00 pm Easter Vigil Worship, Communion & Renewal of Baptismal Vows Please bring a bell! April 20 Easter Sunday April 20 7:30 am Sunrise Worship Intergenerational Service w/ Communion 8:30 am Easter Breakfast 9:00 & 11:00 am Easter Worship Childcare for infant-5s provided. 10:00 am Fellowship Hour 10:20 am Easter Egg Hunt

11 Easter Plant Donation Return this form with your payment to the Easter bag on the table in the Central Street Lobby by Please print clearly! April 7, 9 am. Given In (check only one) Loving memory of Celebration of By By (your name) Cash $ Check $ Plants are $15 each, payable to Wellesley Congregational Church. Please note Easter Plant on your check. Following services on April 20, the plants will be taken to those in need of encouragement or support.

12 What s happening in Church School today? Kindergarten students and younger will be welcomed in their classrooms before 10 am worship begins. The Infant/Toddler Room is located on the main floor just outside the Sanctuary to the left of the Chancel. 2 year olds through Kindergarten classrooms are located on the upper floor. Children should be picked up promptly at the conclusion of worship. Grades 1-8 will worship with their parents until it is time for class, as indicated in the bulletin. At that time, Grades 1-8 meet at the signs downstairs in Village Hall and proceed to the following classrooms for a special activity. This Week Grade 1:Fishes and Loaves Café Grade 2: Storyteller s Tent Grade 3: Science Room Grade 4: Games in Village Hall Grade 5: Artisans Market Grades 6, 7 & 8 will meet in Miriam s Retreat (the room behind Village Hall). Classes for Grades 1-8 conclude at 11:15 or the end of worship whichever is later. Students in Grades 3 and below should be met by their parents at their classrooms. The Family Room is available for parents who aren t quite ready to leave their infants and toddlers in childcare. In this room, parents will be able to listen to the worship service while their child naps or plays. This room is located upstairs beyond the library. VILLAGE CHURCH STAFF The Rev. Mary Luti Interim Senior Pastor The Rev. Pamela H. Emslie Associate Pastor Diane E. Anderson Interim Minister of Pastoral Care The Rev. Christina L. Braudaway-Bauman Pastor at Large The Rev. John C. Allen Pastoral Resident Audra C. Teague Mackey Pastoral Resident Linda C. Smith Pastoral Residency Coordinator Michaela F. McDonald Director of Children s Ministries David R. Carrier Director of Music Dr. Kevin J. McDonald Director of Youth Music Jodi M. Hitzhusen Music Director of First Worship Erin I. Donato Church Administrator Leslie W. Petzing Controller Barbara P. Kucich Church Accountant Tricia T. Kibbe IT and Administrative Coordinator Felicia R. Nadel Administrative Assistant Christy L. Cadigan Administrative Assistant Donald S. Banks Sexton Dolphe Richard Assistant to the Sexton Gerardo Ortiz Assistant to the Sexton 2 Central Street, Wellesley, MA wellesleyvillagechurch.org