THE CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER UCC THE TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2017

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1 THE CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER UCC THE TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2017

2 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 UCC. 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 UCC 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). 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. There are also large print Bibles and hymnals for those with vision challenges. 2

4 THE CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER UCC The Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time Sunday, September 3, 2017 PRELUDE Johann Pachelbel Werde munter, mein Gemüte ANNOUNCEMENTS AND WELCOME CALL TO WORSHIP please stand Leader: Let love be genuine; People: hate what is evil, Leader: hold fast to what is good; People: love one another with mutual affection; Leader: outdo one another in showing honor. People: Do not lag in zeal, Leader: be ardent in spirit, People: serve the Lord. Leader: Rejoice in hope, People: be patient in suffering, Leader: persevere in prayer. People: Contribute to the needs of the saints, Leader: extend hospitality to strangers. People: Bless those who persecute you; Leader: bless and do not curse them. People: Rejoice with those who rejoice, Leader: weep with those who weep. People: Live in harmony with one another; Leader: do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; People: do not claim to be wiser than you are. Leader: Do not repay anyone evil for evil, People: but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. Leader: If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, People: live peaceably with all. Leader: Do not be overcome by evil, People: but overcome evil with good. 3

5 PROCESSIONAL HYMN God is here see page 9 CENTERING PRAYER ANTHEM Henry Smart The Lord is my Shepherd CHILDREN'S MESSAGE Reverend Mobley PASSING OF THE PEACE Let us welcome one another with the traditional Christian greeting Peace be with you." "And also with you." HYMN OF PREPARATION please stand To be your presence see page 11 INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTURE SCRIPTURE Exodus 3:1-15 SCRIPTURE RESPONSE Leader: People: God is still speaking. Thanks be to God. SERMON Seeing into the Middle of Things Reverend Mobley MOMENT FOR SILENT REFLECTION 4

6 OFFERTORY OFFERTORY ANTHEM Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart I Will Call Upon the Lord arr. Ruth Heller 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! PRAYER OF DEDICATION COMMUNION HYMN I come with joy to meet my Lord see page 12 SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION At Redeemer, we welcome all people to our table for Holy Communion, including children. If your children have not been in the practice of receiving the Sacrament, we leave to your discretion whether or not to invite them to receive. By way of explanation, we encourage you to tell your children that we do this because Jesus asked us to remember him when we eat and drink, and that Jesus promised to be present with us in a special way when we eat and drink together as the church. It is a quiet time, for praying and remembering all we know about Jesus. It is a joyous time, for we celebrate that the risen Christ is with us always! INVITATION 5

WORDS OF INSTITUTION COMMUNION PRAYER Leader: O, Great Sower, whose wild dispersal of life-seeds brings forth bread from the earth, fruit from the vine, and humanity from clay; grant that in the

7 WORDS OF INSTITUTION COMMUNION PRAYER Leader: O, Great Sower, whose wild dispersal of life-seeds brings forth bread from the earth, fruit from the vine, and humanity from clay; grant that in the breaking of this bread and in the drinking from this cup our eyes would be opened to recognize your presence in and among us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. SANCTUS All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense.net. A PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION 6

8 LORD'S PRAYER Mark Miller PRAYER OF CONSECRATION 7

9 SHARING OF THE ELEMENTS Communion is being served this morning by the method of intinction. Please approach the Communion table by going down the center aisle to either side of the Communion table. The chalice near the piano contains wine. The opposite side has a chalice with (low in sugar) grape juice. The bread today is gluten-free. Take a piece of the bread, dip it in the cup and take and eat. Then return down the outer aisles to the rear of the sanctuary and back to your seat. If you would like the elements brought to you in the pew, please let an usher know. PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Leader: Let us pray. All: Refreshed by a familiar ritual that made weary pilgrims feel like their feet had been tenderly washed, nourished by simple elements that made hungry prodigals feel like they had returned home to a feast, inspired by ancient words that made even skeptical know-it-alls feel hopeful, like children again, we exhale in gratitude, lost in wonder, love and praise. Amen. RECESSIONAL HYMN please stand Come, live in the light see page 13 BENEDICTION POSTLUDE Anon. Fugue in d minor 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. 8

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15 THANK YOU TO THOSE PARTICIPATING IN THIS MORNING S WORSHIP SERVICE We welcome The Rev. Gregory Mobley as preacher and worship leader this morning. Deacon Shepherd: Tony Forman Reader: Carol Nardini Hospitality: Ian Skoggard Ushers: Nancy Chapman and Bob Parker Nursery: Grace Halsey Communion Servers: Kathy Taylor, Tony Forman, Twila Harper and Wes Poling We thank Julia Blue Raspe, soprano and her sister, Ruth Anne Blue, alto for volunteering their musical gifts this morning. Flowers today are given by Georgia and Carleton Erickson in honor of their 63rd wedding anniversary. Gregory Mobley is an ordained American Baptist minister and professor of Hebrew Bible at Yale Divinity School. He currently lives in East Rock after moving here in the summer of 2016 from Andover Newton seminary in the Boston area. He holds a doctorate from Harvard, is a native of Kentucky, and his latest book was entitled The Return of the Chaos Monsters and Other Backstories of the Bible (2012). Next Sunday Hospitality: Bring Something to Share For Fall Together Sunday Ushers: Bill and Julie Moore, and Alan Kendrix 14

16 ANNOUNCEMENTS FALL TOGETHER SUNDAY IS SEPTEMBER 10 Next Sunday, September 10, we will celebrate "Fall Together Sunday." Coffee hour will take place under our new tent on the lawn along Cold Spring Street. Please bring something to share. Be sure to invite new neighbors and friends as this will be a great opportunity to share fellowship at Redeemer. MINISTRY PRIORITIES MEETING SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 13 The third Ministry Priorities Meeting is scheduled for September 13 from 7-9pm in the parlor. In this meeting, we will look at FAITH FORMATION and SOCIAL JUSTICE OUTREACH. The Work Teams that considered these ministries as part of our vision for a new church found many areas where Faith Formation and Outreach could reinforce each other, so it seemed both effective and efficient to consider these two ministries in one meeting. Drinks and sweets will be provided. Please join us. NEW SIGN-UP SHEETS Readers for Sunday worship and Nursery Assistants to help in tending to our youngest are needed for fall. New sign-up sheets have been posted in the Tower Lobby. Stop by and select a date to serve. SUNDAY SCHOOL Look for more information in upcoming bulletins and in the September newsletter from Jordan about volunteer opportunities for Sunday School which will officially start on September

17 THE NOON BOOK GROUP The Noon Book Group will meet for the first time this fall on September 12 at 12 Noon in the Phillips room. The summer read that was chosen last spring is Hope in the Unseen: An American Odyssey by Ron Suskind. Bring your lunch and join in the discussion. All are welcome. THE EVENING BOOK GROUP The Evening Book Group begins its fall season by discussing A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Klein on September 25 at a location yet to be determined. New members are always welcome. FRIENDS IN FAITH KAYAKING Sunday, September 17 at 2 pm all are welcome to join in kayaking. Come: with or without kayak, with or without experience! A great community event! CHURCH MEETINGS AND EVENTS Sunday, September 3, :00 am Worship and Holy Communion Monday, September 4, 2017 Labor Day Church office is closed Tuesday, September 5, :30 pm Leadership Council, Phillips Wednesday, September 6, :45 pm Senior Choir, Sterling Sunday, September 10, :55 am Senior Choir, sanctuary Fall Together Sunday 10:00 am Worship 4:00 pm Columbus House Please contact the church office by Wednesday to have your announcement placed in the Sunday bulletin. 16

18 SAFE CHURCH POLICY The Church of the Redeemer UCC 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. 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. 17

Rev. Susan Murtha, M.Div, is an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ and the interim senior minister of First Church of Christ in Farmington, CT.

19 Rev. Susan Murtha, M.Div, is an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ and the interim senior minister of First Church of Christ in Farmington, CT. Over the past 19 years she has served diverse congregations as a pastor and consultant. She has particular gifts for strengthening the spiritual, organizational and mission life of churches. Problem-solving skills from her first career as a mechanical engineer at United Technologies Corporation building the world s largest wind turbines, complement Susan s gifts for spiritual leadership, preaching and pastoral care. Susan loves family, hearth, community, gardens, cities, music, theology, conversation and good food. Her son works at Cruise of General Motors in San Francisco developing the autonomous car. East-west travel is a regular and joyous part of their family life! 18

The Church of the Redeemer United Church of Christ 185 Cold Spring Street New Haven, CT 06511 Phone: 203-787-5711 redeemer@uccredeemer.org http://uccredeemer.

20 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 Jordan Rebholz, Minister for Faith Formation Robert Parker, Moderator of the Church Henry Sykes, Treasurer Kay Comendul, 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 19

THE CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER UCC THE TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SUNDAY, AUGUST 20, 2017

THE CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER UCC THE TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SUNDAY, AUGUST 20, 2017 VISION STATEMENT We are the Church of the Redeemer, United Church of Christ, an inclusive community committed