THE GATHERING. Holy Manna, Nettleton, Softly and Tenderly, Jesus Loves Me Dale Wood

Transcription

1 October 16, 2016 Hymn Festival Sunday 11:00 am Warning! To enter into the life of this people of God is to encounter God s soul-challenging, life-changing, radicalizing love. Will you join us? Do you dare? THE GATHERING PRELUDE Holy Manna, Nettleton, Softly and Tenderly, Jesus Loves Me Dale Wood *MEDLEY * Indicates all who are able may stand Singing Our Faith HYMN 6 Sing Praise to God, Our Highest Good Mit Freuden Zart HYMN 17 To You, O God, All Creatures Sing Lasst Uns Erfreuen HYMN 42 O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing Azmon *CALL TO WORSHIP One: Many: One: Many: All: Nancy S. Taylor Our hearts are ready, O God, our hearts are ready! We will sing, we will sing praises! O God, awaken our souls! Wake up, O harp and lyre! We will awaken the dawn! We will thank you, O God, among all people! Let us praise and adore the God of creation! Vilma M. Machin; adapted Rev. James W. Crawford (NCH #823)

2 *A SIGN OF OUR UNITY AND RECONCILIATION WORDS OF WELCOME MEDLEY We invite you to greet those around you, wishing them peace or the peace of Christ. A Church of Witness and Service in the World HYMN 539 Won t You Let Me Be Your Servant? Servant Song HYMN 543 Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life Gardiner HYMN 587 Through All the World, a Hungry Christ De Tar THE MORNING LESSON Psalm 100 turn to hymnal pg. 688 Joseph Ragan, cantor (The congregation sings antiphon at beginning and end; cantor sings verses.) *MEDLEY Celebrating and Protecting the Divine Creation HYMN 558 O How Glorious, Full of Wonder In Babilone HYMN 563 We Cannot Own the Sunlit Sky Endless Song HYMN 569 Touch the Earth Lightly Tenderness A MOST PROSAIC REFLECTION James W. Crawford Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever *MEDLEY What If God Truly Blessed America? HYMN 581 Lead Us from Death to Life World Peace Prayer HYMN 594 How Beautiful, Our Spacious Skies Materna HYMN 570 We Shall Overcome We Shall Overcome OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS *CALL TO PRAYER One: God be with you. Many: And also with you. One: Lift up your hearts. Many: We lift our hearts to God. One: Let us pray. (The congregation may be seated.) John M. Edgerton 2

3 PASTORAL PRAYER AND SILENT PRAYER 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 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. MEDLEY By Whatever Name We Dare Call You: You Find Us! HYMN 11 Bring Many Names Westchase HYMN 177 God of Change and Glory Katherine HYMN 560 By Whatever Name We Call You Ogontz CALL TO THE OFFERING In thanksgiving to God and giving witness to generous hearts, our financial gifts support ministries of mercy, justice, and beauty. Visit our secure online giving page to donate. OFFERTORY ANTHEM Sing to the Lord a New Song Samuel Adler Alecia Batson, soprano; Rob Woodin, baritone Sing to the Lord a new song! Sing, break forth and sing for joy, Sing praises to God, Sing praise with the harp, Sing praise with the trumpet. Shout before the King our Lord. Sing, for God has done marvelous things, God will judge the world with righteousness And the people with equity. All the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God! Sing! Shout! Sing! Psalm 98 3

4 *HYMN OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Christ the Word in flesh made low; Praise Holy Spirit evermore; One God, Triune, whom we adore. Amen. Old Hundredth *PRAYER OF DEDICATION Nancy S. Taylor *MEDLEY Sent Out with Grace and Purpose HYMN 82 Go, My Children, with My Blessing Ar Hyd Y Nos HYMN 76 Sent Forth by God s Blessing The Ash Grove *BIDDING TO MISSION AND BENEDICTION POSTLUDE Now Thank We All Our God Sigfrid Karg-Elert Close-Up, a 20-minute tour of the Sanctuary, begins following worship at the front of the Sanctuary. Led by docent Mary Hunter. 4

5 WELCOME TO OLD SOUTH CHURCH Welcome to Old South Church in Boston. We are a progressive Christian church first gathered in The Church played a significant role in early American history. Today, Old South Church continues to outfit itself for mission and ministry in the 21st century as a thriving urban church in the heart of Boston. Join us immediately following worship for fellowship and refreshments in the Gordon Chapel. Today s flowers are given in loving memory of Catherine Dauber by her grandchildren, Pam and Ian Holland, and her great-grandchildren, Nolan and Aine Holland. Name tags facilitate community and help newcomers feel welcomed. If you don t see a tag with your name on it, let us know. Parents are free to wander when restless. Audio of the service is available across the Narthex in the Gordon Chapel. For LARGE print bulletins or hearing assistance devices ask an Usher. GARAGE PARKING VALIDATIONS We have arrangements for discounted parking with two nearby garages for Old South Church worship or church business (excluding weddings and concerts): 1. Park at the Garage@100 Clarendon (behind Back Bay Station), have your ticket validated at our Front Desk, and you pay the discounted rate of $7 for up to 3 hours. Old South bears no cost. 2. Park at the Prudential Garage for up to 5 hours on Saturday or Sunday, have your ticket validated at our Front Desk, and the Prudential Garage will bill Old South (costing us $15k - $20k per year). 5

6 NOTES ON TODAY S MUSIC The Old South congregation is a community that loves its hymns and sings them lustily! This has been the case for over three centuries, ever since the Third Church of Christ in Boston was formed by dissidents from the First Church of Christ in In those days the psalms of David, as ordained by John Calvin, would have been sung using the Bay Psalm Book, which had been created in Cambridge in 1640 the first book ever published in North America. Old South still owns one of the eleven extant copies of this precious book, which is currently held in trust by the Boston Public Library. In 1977, General Synod XI of the United Church of Christ directed the Executive Council to create a new official hymnal using language that is inclusive. Thus begins the Introduction to The New Century Hymnal, ultimately published in It is nothing short of a radical document, which has served to inspire thousands with its language that stretches the dimensions of justice and helps reveal the unfathomable depths of the God of biblical faith. As Old South Senior Minister Emeritus James W. Crawford served as Chair of the committee to form this hymnal, this church can be said to be the provenance and springboard for its development and propagation. On this ninth annual Hymn Festival Sunday we celebrate this unique contribution to faith-building through song. The service today includes six hymn medleys, drawn from particular sections of The New Century Hymnal. The congregation is encouraged to be conscious of the genius of presentation for each hymn: under the main title there are listings for the poet of the text, as well as the Scriptural inspiration for the text; underneath the music there is brief biographical information on each hymn, as well as the tune name and composer/adapter of the music. Additionally, this hymnal is as rich as any across denominational lines with indices for cross-reference. Pages 888 through 934 include Copyright Acknowledgments; Author, Composer, and Source Index; Metrical Index (very useful for matching texts with different tunes); Tune Index; Scriptural Index; Lectionary Index; Topical Index; First Line Index; and Descant Index. A Psalter and Worship Resource (orders of service) sections are also included. Today we will sing Psalm 100 from the Psalter, found on p It is the sincere hope of the Music Ministry at Old South Church that the congregation will gain a new appreciation for this superb resource to edify our worship, as our hymns of praise ascend heavenward. Harry L. Huff, Minister of Music 6

7 CALENDAR Sunday, October 16 8:30 am First Worship Choir 9:00 am FIRST Worship, Rebecca Bowler 9:45 am Old South Café in the Gordon Chapel 10:00 am Community Hour 10:00 am Lectionary Bible Study 11:00 am FESTIVAL Worship, James W. Crawford preaching 12:30 pm LGBTQ Brunch 12:30 pm Gospel Choir Rehearsal Monday, October 17 6:00 pm Theological Book Group 6:00 pm Small Group: Faith and Everyday Life 7:00 pm Small Group: Readings to Spiritually Refresh Tuesday, October 18 5:30 pm Trustees 5:30 pm Old South Ringers Rehearsal Wednesday, October 19 6:00 pm (G)RACE TALKS Book Group 6:00 pm Mary Norton Society 6:15 pm Young Adults Small Group: Study of the Psalms Thursday, October 20 6:00 pm JAZZ Worship, Nancy S. Taylor preaching 6:30 pm Old South Choir Rehearsal 7:00 pm Through the Whole Bible Study 7:00 pm Young Adults Small Group: Imagining Redemption 7:00 pm Small Group: Study of Jesus Parables 8:00 pm Small Group: Faith and Politics Saturday, October 22 10:00 am Youth Group Apple Picking 3:00 pm Lifting 200 Voices in Celebration Concert Sunday, October 23 All Church Celebration 12:30 pm 7

8 OLD SOUTH CHURCH IN BOSTON MINISTERS, OFFICERS AND STAFF Nancy S. Taylor, Senior Minister Harry L. Huff, Minister of Music John M. Edgerton, Associate Minister Anthony T. Livolsi, Associate Minister James W. Crawford, Senior Minister Emeritus Kate Nintcheu, Director, Children and Family Ministries Donald A. Wells, Theologian in Residence June Cooper, Theologian in the City Calvin Genzel, Wedding Outreach Minister Ken Orth, Healing Worship Minister Carrie Swayne-Gerrish, Youth Leader Rebecca Bowler, Seminarian Intern Carolyn Davis, Director, Old South Preschool George Sargeant, Associate Organist and Choirmaster Laurel Leslie, Choir Director, First Worship Willie Sordillo, Music Coordinator, Jazz Worship Peter Coulombe, Director, Old South Ringers Amy Budka, Children s Music Leader Linda O Donnell, Director, Children s Choirs Timothy Harbold, Director, Gospel Choir Deb Washington, Moderator Rob Gabler, Clerk Lauren Berk, Treasurer Phil Stern, Chair, Board of Trustees Emily Click, Historian Debbie Leonard, Senior Deacon Vicki A. Newman, Pledge Secretary Helen McCrady, Senior Church Administrator Amy Perry, Communications Kelsey Walck, Administrative Assistant Linda Van Praet, Accounting and Human Resources Janet Butler, Wedding Coordinator Elias Perez, Senior Sexton Ozo Nwodo and Oppong Serebour, Sextons Corey Spence, Rubia Reyes, and Lena Rojas Receptionists CCLI License # A NOTE ON THE INCLUSIVE DIMENSIONS OF GOD S GRACE Old South Church in Boston, in the name of its host, Jesus Christ, and in the spirit of Christ s invitation carved into the stone of this church s portico, Behold I Set Before You an Open Door, welcomes all who seek to know God. Following the One who we believe is Sovereign and Savior, we affirm that each individual is a child of God, and recognize that we are called to be like one body with many members, seeking with others of every race, ethnicity, creed, class, age, gender, marital status, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression to journey together toward the promised realm of God. We invite everyone to join in the common life and mission of our reconciling community through participation and leadership in this congregation, and by fully sharing in the worship, rites and sacraments of this church. As we all move forward with the work of this church, we commit ourselves to making justice and inclusivity a reality in this congregation and in the world. On the threshold of Christ s open door, we rely upon the healing, unconditional nature of God s love and grace to be our help and guide. 8

9 ANNOUNCEMENTS COMMUNITY LIFE Our Faith. Our Time. Our Future. All Church Celebration Lunch Join us next Sunday, October 23rd, at 12:30 pm, to break bread together and hear the exciting ways we are shaping our future now. To attend, please RSVP at the Front Desk or Halloween Party All are invited to an all-church, all-ages monster mash Friday, October 28th, at 7:30 pm on the second floor. We ll have dancing, food, a costume competition, children s activities, and more. Admission: a new winter coat (for ages toddler to teens) or a donation to support City Mission s COAT BOSTON drive, which provides coats to local at-risk children and youth. Party volunteers are needed. katiemaytucker@yahoo.com. Your Vote Counts. Make Sure It s Counted! COMMIT TO VOTE: Whether you know your precinct captain by name or have never cast a ballot before, make sure your vote is counted this election. For the first time ever, Massachusetts is hosting early voting. On Wednesday, October 26th at 6:30 pm, an Old South Church group of Boston residents, along with The Greater Boston Interfaith Organization, will cast early votes at Boston City Hall. john@oldsouth.org to join early voting on October 26th. YES ON 5: Old South Church believes Boston should be a city where everyone rich or poor can afford to live and thrive. Old South Church is urging Boston residents to strongly consider voting yes on question five in support of the Community Preservation Act. john@oldsouth.org to commit to vote Yes on 5. And on Sunday, October 30th, at 12:30 pm, Rev. John Edgerton will present his philosophy of faith and politics, and why it informs his work to support Yes on 5.

10 ADULT EDUCATION SUNDAYS at 10 am between First and Festival Worship COMMUNITY HOUR: Today, Rev. James Crawford will present on the creation of a radical Christian document, The New Century Hymnal, for which he served as committee chair. Jim will be joined by his daughter, Betsy Ragan, and Rev. Ansley Coe Throckmorton, the first woman president of Bangor Theological Seminary in Maine. Beginning next week Christianity and Civic Life October 23, 30, and November 6 and 13th Is there a more faithful and productive way for Christians to further our moral commitments than through the political process? Is there a difference between legislating our values and living them? Is voting any greater a civic duty than volunteering for community service? Is the latter any less po litical? Is there justice we can enact ourselves, or is our time better spent electing others to do it for us? Must we choose between the two? In this fraught season, discover new ways that people of faith from different traditions have related their ideals to public life. LECTIONARY BIBLE STUDY: Engage the preached scripture text for the week in depth and detail and enjoy the lively discussion facilitated by our Boston University School of Theology Seminarian Rebecca Bowler. WEEKDAYS FUN-AND-NOT-SCARY, AT-A-SNAIL S-PACE READ THROUGH OF THE WHOLE BIBLE STUDY: Thursdays, 7 pm. Study and savor the scriptures (currently Leviticus) as we take them chapter by chapter, book by book. Led by Rev. Anthony Livolsi. LGBTQ BRUNCH GROUP TODAY, the LGBTQ Brunch Group will meet in the main lobby immediately following Festival Worship and then head out to City Table located in the Lenox Hotel.

11 CHILDREN + FAMILIES CHILDCARE: Infants through grade 2 are welcome in our childcare ministries beginning at 8:40 am. Care is available uninterrupted through First Worship, Community Hour, and Festival Worship. CHURCH SCHOOL: Our Montessori-style Godly Play program invites children to see themselves as active participants in the story of faith. Today: Noah (Preschool); Exodus (Early Elementary); and Jacob (Older Elementary). Meet the Ancestors programming for middle school students will gather for synthesis week. YOUTH GROUP: Students in grades 8-12 explore issues of life and faith on Sundays with Youth Leader Carrie Swayne-Gerrish. HELP OUR YOUTH HELP THE HOMELESS Beginning TODAY, and through November 18th, the Youth Group is collecting items for blessing bags for our unhoused neighbors. The weather is growing exceedingly cold at night, please help keep our brothers and sisters comfortable. A complete list of requested items is included in today s bulletin. THE GREAT SPIRITUAL MIGRATION On Friday, November 4th, from 1-4:30 pm, prominent Christian theologian and activist Brian McLaren will make a stop at Old South Church on his The Great Spiritual Migration Book Tour for a leadership-oriented gathering with clergy and laity, followed by an open-to-the-public book signing. Tickets for the afternoon event can be found at

12 MUSIC ART & JUSTICE CONCERTS Lifting 200 Voices in Celebration - Next Saturday, October 22, 3 pm A choral festival celebrating 200 years of the good works of City Mission, featuring the Boston Children s Chorus as well as community choirs, including our very own Gospel Choir, under the direction of Donnell L. Patterson from the New England Conservatory. Songs for Syria - Sunday, November 13, 3 pm Old South Church is co-sponsoring a concert for humanitarian relief featuring the music of Klezperanto and Layaali Arabic Music Ensemble. An offering will be taken for the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) whose volunteer physicians provide medicine and medical services to Syrian civilians and refugees in neighboring countries. SERVE ROLLING FOOD DRIVE: Collecting peanut butter for the Allston-Brighton Food Pantry. Collection is in the stone entryway. NOTICES 1) Worship services and events at Old South Church are sometimes photographed and videotaped to document the vibrant life of our church. If you do not wish to be included in these recordings, please notify an usher. 2) Please do not leave bags unattended in the building, including in the Sanctuary, for any length of time. Old South Church in Boston (617) OldSouth.org