PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP

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1 THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST IN HARTFORD An Open and Affirming Congregation of The United Church of Christ THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY LESSONS AND HYMNS IN CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. January 19, 2014 Welcome ~ Bienvenidos 10:30 AM WELCOME TO WORSHIP AT CENTER CHURCH. We are glad you have joined us for this service of worship and the fellowship of this congregation. We hope that you will be both comforted and challenged by the Word of God for us today. If you are new to our community, we hope you will consider making this your church home. Any of our worship leaders or ushers will be able to help with your questions. If you are already a member, be sure to extend a friendly greeting to those around you, starting with someone you don t know yet. Please turn off all cell phones and other electronic devices before the service of Worship begins. A comfortable nursery is available in the basement of the Meeting House where parents may take young children who are restless. The service can be heard through a speaker system in the nursery. PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP We shall overcome because the arc of a moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice. ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. PRELUDE River in Judea Garrett Rapsilber, soloist CHIMING OF THE HOUR and GREETING 1

2 COMING BEFORE GOD INTROIT Oh Freedom Lisa Williamson and Jermaine Woodard, Jr., vocalists Oh freedom, Oh freedom Oh freedom all over me, after a while And before I'll be a slave I'll be buried in my grave And go home to my lord and be free. *CALL TO WORSHIP based on Psalm 40 All: I waited patiently for God; who turned to me and heard my cry, who lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; and set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. We sing a new song! Our mouths are full of the praise of God. Blessed are we when we make the Lord our trust; when we do not turn aside to false gods. We sing of all your many wonders, O God, too many to declare them all. Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but our ears you have pierced and a body you have prepared for us. We sing, "Here I am, I have come I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is in my heart." PASTORAL PRAYER and 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 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. (* = traditional wording but you may use alternative wording, such as God, Creator, or Mother, as seems fitting.) * Those who are able are invited to stand. 2

3 THE FIRST LESSON Tribute to Dr. King Poem by Sabas Whittaker HYMN We Shall Overcome No. 570 WE SHALL OVERCOME THE SECOND LESSON (responsive) I Have a Dream Speech Ileia Belton There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, When will you be satisfied? We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating for whites only. I say to you, my friends, that even though we must face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, sons of former slaves and sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day, even in the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today! I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dropping with the words of interposition and nullification, that one day, right there in Alabama, little black boys and little black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and little white girls as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today! 3

4 All: I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places shall be made plain, and the crooked places shall be made straight and the glory of the Lord will be revealed and all flesh shall see it together. *HYMN Free At Last traditional African-American spiritual, arranged by John W. Work Lisa Williamson and Jermaine Woodard, Jr., vocalists Free at last, free at last, Thank God almighty I m free at last. Way down yonder in the graveyard walk Thank God almighty I m free at last Me and my Jesus goin to meet and talk Thank God almighty I m free at last. On-a my knees when the light pass d by Thank God almighty I m free at last Tho t my soul would rise and fly Thank God almighty I m free at last. Some of these mornings bright and fair Thank God almighty I m free at last Goin to meet King Jesus in the air Thank God almighty I m free at last. CHILDREN S SERMON Jana Priestley, Director of Faith Formation Church School Students and Teachers will leave the Meeting House during the singing of We Are Marching in the Light of God in order to walk to the Church House for their classes. *HYMN for Faith Formation No. 526 We Are Marching in the Light of God SIYAHAMBA We will sing this South African song twice, as printed in the hymnal: the first time in Swahili, the second time in English. Church School Students and Teachers will leave the Meeting House during the singing of We Are Marching in the Light of God in order to walk to the Church House for their classes. 4

5 THE THIRD LESSON Letter from Birmingham Jail Alvin Thompson Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection. HYMN Come Sunday Duke Ellington from Black, Brown and Beige Lisa Williamson and Cedric Mayfield, vocalists Come Sunday, oh come Sunday, that's the day. Lord, dear Lord above, God Almighty, God of Love Please look down and see my people through. I believe that God put sun and moon up in the sky. I don t mind the gray skies 'cause they re just clouds passing by. Heaven is a goodness time, a brighter light on high. Do unto others as you would have them do to you And have a brighter by and by. I believe God is now, was then, and always will be. With God's blessing we can make it through eternity. THE FOURTH LESSON Excerpt from: Why We Cannot Wait (book) Ruth Fortune We did not hesitate to call our movement an army. But it was a special army, with no supplies but its sincerity, no uniform but its determination, no arsenal except its faith, no currency but its conscience. HYMN Life Every Voice and Sing No. 593 LIFT EVERY VOICE THE OFFERING OF GIFTS AND TITHES 5

6 Music for Offering Simple Song Leonard Bernstein from Mass, Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz Jermaine Woodard, Jr. and Cedric Mayfield, vocalists Sing God a simple song: Lauda, Laude Make it up as you go along: Lauda, Laude Sing like you like to sing. God loves all simple things, For God is the simplest of all. I will sing the Lord a new song To praise Him, to bless Him, to bless the Lord. I will sing His praises, while I live All of my days. Blessed is the man who loves the Lord, Blessed is the man who praises Him. Lauda, Lauda, Laude And walks in His ways. I will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help. I will lift up my voice to the Lord. Singing Lauda, Laude. For the Lord is my shade, Is the shade upon my right hand, And the sun shall not smite me by day Nor the moon by night. Blessed is the man who loves the Lord, Lauda, Lauda, Laude And walks in his ways. Lauda, Lauda, Laude, Lauda, Lauda di da di day... All of my days. 6

7 *Presentation Doxology OLD HUNDREDTH text: Thomas Ken, 1674; alt. music: Louis Bourgeois, 1551 UNISON PRAYER OF DEDICATION Small and large gifts, we give back to you, O God of All Given Things. May they be blessed. May we use them to keep our promises to you; promises given from us who are given, uniquely designed for your calling. Amen. THE FIFTH LESSON The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr.: The Violence of Desperate Men Cheryl Thomas The dawn will come. Disappointment, sorrow, and despair are born at midnight, but morning follows. Weeping may endure for a night, says the Psalmist, but joy cometh in the morning. HYMN Were You There traditional African-American spiritual, arranged by Moses Hogan Lisa Williamson, vocalist Were you there when they crucified my lord? Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble. THE SIXTH LESSON I ve Seen the Promised Land The Reverend Damaris D. Whittaker But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land. And I m happy, tonight. I m not worried about anything. I m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord. *HYMN Precious Lord, Take My Hand No. 472 PRECIOUS LORD 7

8 *BENEDICTION GOING FORTH INTO GOD S WORLD *HYMN This Little Light/This Joy I Have No. 524 THIS JOY HIGHLIGHTING OUR MINISTRIES *THE PASSING OF THE PEACE The love of God, the Peace of Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you always. And also with you. Since in Christ we have been reconciled, let us share his peace with one another. 8

THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST IN HARTFORD An Open and Affirming Congregation of The United Church of Christ THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER

THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST IN HARTFORD An Open and Affirming Congregation of The United Church of Christ THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER Welcome ~ Bienvenidos May 14, 2017 10:30 AM WELCOME TO WORSHIP AT