An open and affirming congregation

Transcription

1 An open and affirming congregation Second Sunday of Easter April 8, 2018 OUR MISSION Responding to God s Call, our mission as The First Congregational Church in Bloomfield, United Church of Christ, is to go out into the world proclaiming God s love for all creation, working for justice, bringing Christ s peace and growing in love and faith through service to others. We are a safe and sacred community that welcomes all people and supports each individual journey of faith.

2 T h e F i rst Congregationa l C h u r c h i n B l o o m f i e l d, UCC 1 0 W in t onbury Av e n u e, B l oomfield, CT G a thered a s Wintonbury Parish Februa r y 14, 1738 R e n e w ing our faith a s p e o p l e o f G o d 1 0 a.m. Sunday, April 8, 2018 Second Sunday of Easter WE GATHER TOGETHER PRELUDE Christ Is Arisen! J. S. Bach (Please use this time for quiet reflection) WELCOME LIFE OF OUR CHURCH WELCOME GUESTS Please fill out the Ritual of Friendship pads PASSING OF THE PEACE CENTERING MOMENT Doubt isn t the opposite of faith; it is an element of faith. - Paul Tillich, Theologian, 20th Century WE WORSHIP GOD INTROIT Prelude from Holberg Suite Edvart Grieg Isabella Wang, pianist CALL TO WORSHIP (RESPONSIVE) Leader: Christ our Savior is risen from the dead! Alleluia! People: Break forth into joy! Sing together! God comforts those whose hearts are broken in sorrow. Leader: We who once suffered in death, we who once cried in despair People: Now we know victory over death! Now we know joy over despair! All: For God has raised Christ from the grave! The tomb is empty and death has been defeated for all the earth. * +HYMN OF PRAISE Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain # 204 PRAYER OF INVOCATION (UNISON) God of Resurrection, we cry out to you as empty people in a fractured world. We live in a world of Good Fridays: where the innocent suffer and die, where midday shadows smother the light, where hopes and dreams dissolve, where evil seems to triumph. God of Resurrection, we long to discover your presence, we long to feel the rhythm of your power, we stumble toward the tombs in our lives and long to find them empty. Bring Easter to our hearts, to our eyes and ears, to our lives this morning. In the name of Christ, whose life and love could not be stamped out, whose resurrection hope is the

3 hope which plants love and laughter in our lives and lures them to sprout and bloom and blossom like spring flowers in the morning sun, we say, Amen. CALL TO CONFESSION (UNISON) O God, forgive us when we fill up every minute with something to do, complain or boast about how busy we are, waste other people s time by making them wait for us. God, forgive us when we forget how sacred every minute is, waste our own time in unimportant details or watch the clock in our daily prayer. Hear us in the name of Jesus of Nazareth who always had time for work and rest and called his disciples to be attentive to every day. Amen. * ASSURANCE OF PARDON AND 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, forever, Amen! MUSICAL OFFERING Allegro from Sonata in D Major Joseph Haydn Angelina Wang, pianist CHILDREN S INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT Dorine DeCarli GOD IS IN OUR MIDST, GOD IS PRESENT, GOD IS STILL SPEAKING! LET S OPEN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS TO GOD S GOOD NEWS. GOD IS STILL SPEAKING! FIRST LESSON ~ Psalm 133 NT p.706 in black Bible, p.575 in red SECOND LESSON ~ John 20: NT p.141 in black Bible, p.115 in red CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Write These Words in Our Hearts # 298 Write these words in our hearts, we beseech you, O God. REFLECTION DOUBTING THOMAS AND THE CHRISTIAN LIFE Rev. Joseph Tobin +RESPONSIVE HYMN We Walk by Faith and Not by Sight # 424 WE RESPOND TO GOD S LOVE OFFERTORY PRAYER ~ OFFERTORY Improvisation on Joy Dawned Again on Easter Day PRESENTATION OF OFFERING DOXOLOGY # 44 Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above ye heavenly hosts; Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen. PRAYER AND DEDICATION OF OFFERINGS (UNISON) God, you have given each of us gifts to use as members of the body of Christ. Here are our gifts the work of our hands, our hearts, and our lives. We pray that they may help to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to our world, today and always, here and everywhere. Amen. - Daniel Hayward

4 EXPRESSIONS OF JOYS AND CONCERNS PASTORAL PRAYER CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Hear Our Prayer, O God # 278 Hear our prayer, O God, hear our prayer, O God; Incline your ear to us, and grant us your peace. WE GO FORTH TO SERVE + HYMN The Day of Resurrection # 216 +BENEDICTION CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE +POSTLUDE (Please link arms as an expression of Community Love) Amen, Amen, Amen Improvisation on The Day of Resurrection Rev. Tobin *Reprinted by permission of the publisher from Touch Holiness, ed. Ruth C. Duck and Maren C. Tirabassi. Copyright 1990 by The Pilgrim Press Music Sunday will be celebrated on Sunday, April 29 th, at the 10am service. Calling all Singers and Ringers. We have an ongoing need for singers for our Adult Choir. You may join on a part time basis or full time depending on your availability. With Music Sunday (April 29), service in the near future, members, friends or long-time visitors are needed. If you are interested or have any questions, please contact Eustace B. Straker, Minister of Music, straepipes@yahoo.com Our rehearsals are on Mondays at 6pm. If you have an interest or know someone who can help us, be it member, friend or visitor, please let us know.

5 THOSE IN OUR THOUGHTS & PRAYERS (AMONG MANY): *Prayers for Rev. Tamara Moreland, Regional Minister for the Northwest Central Region, whose godfather Robert Blake died on March 31. *Prayers - Anne Clark is at McLean Nursing Home and would appreciate visits and cards mailed to her at: 75 Great Pond Road Simsbury, CT She is in Skyview Rm 234. *Prayers for Elizabeth Von Eisengrein struggling with health issues. Cards and calls are welcome *Michael Edwards, praying for release. *Prayers that God will speak to us and through us as we seek God's leadership and vision for our Church. *Family & Friends of All Soldiers Who Have Fallen In service to our country. *Our friends at Community Solutions, Inc., that God will support them as they find new opportunities and hope for the future. *Our nation, that it may continue its difficult work to end the practices of racism and misogyny and prayers for those serving or living in war or conflict zones around the world, or where terrorists have struck. *Update Carol Wolcott s new address: Middlewoods of Farmington 509 Middle Rd. # 209 Farmington, CT Please call office for phone #. Trudy Barnard Charlotte Babcock David Berg Estelle Cole Julie Cato Sue Davis Madge Edwards Al Forster Bonnie King Charles Miles Leslie Mills Erie Pinney Carol Wolcott Adelle Wright Betty Willis Please Remember These Connecticut Conference Churches in Your Prayers Hebron Higganum Gilead Congregational Church UCC Higganum Congregational Church Kensington Kent Kensington Congregational Church The First Congregational Church of Kent Killingworth Congregational Church in Killingworth, UCC Angelina Wang currently attends the Noah Wallace Elementary School in Farmington CT. Angelina started her music studies on the piano at six years and started playing violin since her 2nd grade. Isabella Wang currently attends the West Woods Upper Elementary School in Farmington, CT. and has served in the school chorus since 4th grade. Both are students of Lan-Ya Huang.

6 This Week at a Glance Looking Ahead Lectionary possibilities for this week include: Acts 4: 32-35; Psalm 133; 1 John 1: 1-2:2; John 20: Sunday, Apr 8 10:00 am Family Worship Service Meeting Room 12:30 pm New Birth Community Church Metzger Chapel Monday, Apr 9 6:00 pm Bell Choir Music Suite 6:30 pm Search Team Living Room 7:00 pm Narcotics Anonymous Fellowship Hall Tuesday, Apr 10 9:15 am Exercise Fellowship Hall 1:30 pm Wounded Healers Library 6:30 pm NAMI Family to Family Fellowship Hall Wednesday, Apr 11 9:30 am Jump Bunch Fellowship Hall 7:00 pm Alcoholics Anonymous Counting Room 7:00 pm New Birth Community Church Metzger Chapel Thursday, Apr 12 10:00 am Bible Study Living Room Friday, Apr 13 9:15 am Exercise Fellowship Hall 7:30 pm Alcoholics Anonymous Counting Room BLOOMFIELD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH COMMUNITY FOOD KITCHEN EVERY SATURDAY 11:30 AM 1 PM ~ Saturday, April 14, School Street, corner of Wintonbury Ave & School St. Children and Families and ALL are welcome. For information please call or ANNOUNCEMENTS Welcome Guests! We are so glad you are here and invite you to join us after Worship for Coffee Hour. Our Coffee Hour Hosts: Lucy Hurston & Sydney Halsall. Today s Head Usher: Ozma Gibbs. Today s Lay Reader is Angela Maine. Our Nursery is open every Sunday during the 10 a.m. worship. Please see one of our ushers and they will be happy to direct you.

7 to the 8 th Annual CTUCC YOUTH REVIVAL Sunday, April 22 at 3:00 PM Faith Congregational Church 2030 Main Street Hartford, CT Revival Preacher, Rev. Edwin Perez, Jr. The Youth Revival is a Racial Justice Ministry event Contact Debby Kirk, CTUCC Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries at debbyk@ctucc.org for more information.

8 The First Congregational Church in Bloomfield U N I T E D C H U R C H O F C H R I S T Welcome to the First Congregational Church in Bloomfield We hope that you find comfort, joy & inspiration in this time of worship; and renewed energy for your journey of faith. You are invited to remain after the service this morning for refreshments and informal conversation. SCHEDULE Worship is held at 10 am each Sunday STAFF Andrea Davey-Mercer, Office Manager Dorine DeCarli, Director of Faith Formation Eustace Straker, Minister of Music Shantel Bremmer, Director of Child Development Center Building Management is provided by Michelle Alves and JEM Services. CHURCH OFFICE Monday Friday 8:30 am 4:30 pm Phone: Fax: office@firstchurchbloomfield.org All Staff can be reached by contacting the Church Office. The Child Development Center can be reached at or preschool@firstchurchbloomfield.org. Visit our church's website: