Graduation Recognition Sunday Fourth Sunday after Pentecost 8 June o clock in the morning

Transcription

1 Graduation Recognition Sunday Fourth Sunday after Pentecost 8 June o clock in the morning

2 W elcome to this Service of Worship at First Congregational Church. May the beauty of this day and this place, along with our worship, inspire you in your Christian journey such that you are equipped for faithful living in all your futures. PREPARING FOR WORSHIP *All who are able please stand Seating of latecomers PRELUDE Scherzo (from Symphonie improviseé) CALL TO COMMUNITY Please sign and pass the red book. Mark Swicegood, organ Pierre Cochereau Dr. David D. Young RECOGNITION OF THE GRADUATES PRAISING GOD CALL TO WORSHIP Taylor Griffin * OPENING HYMN AND PROCESSION Morning Has Broken Pilgrim Hymnal 38 OPENING PRAYER Through a little postern gate to the castle of our souls We would enter to your presence, O God. In a moment, in the turning of a thought, We are where you are. Now life has new meaning. Our fever is gone. Our troubles are but mere pebbles on the way. Our joys are like the everlasting hills. Big things become small; small things become great; That which is lovely and despised is shot through with glory. Amen. Adapted, Walter Rauschenbusch

3 CONFESSING TO GOD CALL TO CONFESSION PRAYER OF CONFESSION O God of hidden presence, who has yet revealed yourself to the eyes of faith, we confess that we have too easily neglected the day of small things. Concerned with the well-being of humanity, we have often failed to recognize you in the near-at-hand in the closeness of a neighbor s need for human affirmation. Caught up in the consuming drive to succeed, we have failed to interpret the prodding voice of failure, which suggests that a fresh perspective might be your intention for us. Forgive us for confusing bigness with best for substituting spoken ideal for caring action for embracing personal achievement as a god which stills your inner voice. For we would seek to grow towards that model of simplicity and humanness which is Jesus the Christ. Amen. WORDS OF ASSURANCE Congregational Response Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. HEARING GOD'S WORD FIRST LESSON Alex Pugliese Mark 4:30-32 He also said, With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and

4 becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade. SCRIPTURE ANTHEM The Summer Choir Simple Gifts Shaker Song, Adapted by Aaron Copland, Arranged for chorus by Irving Fine Tis the gift to be simple, tis the gift to be free, Tis the gift to come down where you ought to be, And when we find ourselves in the place just right, Twill be in the valley of love and delight. When true simplicity is gained, To bow and to bend we shan t be ashamed. To turn, turn will be our delight Till by turning, turning we come round right. SECOND LESSON Kate Phyfe Luke 21:1-4 e looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the Htreasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on. * HYMN We Plant a Grain of Mustard Seed Sung to the tune of Awake, Awake to Love and Work We plant a grain of mustard seed, and in our faith we find the proof of God is love, indeed, which blossoms from its kind; the proof of God is love, indeed, which blossoms from its kind. Our actions, more than words, define how love s example feeds a greater love, for love divine bursts forth from smallest seeds; a greater love, for love divine bursts forth from smallest seeds. When stooped to lend a helping hand, we find a touch that heals, for love invested will expand to bear the fruit love yields; for love invested will expand to bear the fruit love yields. Our lives will be fulfilled and blessed if through the seeds we ve sown and by the love that we profess the love of Christ is known; and by the love that we profess the love of Christ is known. As the hymn begins, the children will go with Rosemary Lamie to the undercroft for Summer Church School.

5 SERMON The Little Things Dr. David D. Young RESPONDING TO GOD *AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The world needs all of our power and love and energy, and each of us has something we can give. The trick is to find it and use it, to find it and give it away, so there will always be more. We can be lights for each other, and through each other s illumination we will see the way. Each of us is a seed, a silent promise, and it is always spring. Let it be. Amen. Merle Shain *Gloria Patri (Pilgrim Hymnal 513) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen. CALL TO PASTORAL PRAYER Rev. Daniel B. England PASTORAL PRAYER AND QUIET MEDITATION 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. CALL TO OFFERING

6 OFFERTORY ANTHEM The Summer Choir A Gaelic Blessing John Rutter Deep peace of the running wave to you, Deep peace of the flowing air to you, Deep peace of the quiet earth to you, Deep peace of the shining stars to you, Deep peace of the gentle night to you, Moon and stars pour their healing light on you, Deep peace of Christ, the light of the world to you. (words adapted from an old Gaelic tune) *Doxology (Pilgrim Hymnal 514) Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen. *PRAYER OF DEDICATION GOING FORTH TO SERVE GOD *CLOSING HYMN AND PROCESSION Called by Christ to Love Each Other Hymn printed on opposite page *CLOSING SENTENCES Leader: I am only one, People: But still I am one. Leader: I cannot do everything. People: But still I can do something. Leader: And because I cannot do everything, People: I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. *BENEDICTION *BENEDICTION RESPONSE Edward Everett Hale POSTLUDE Fugue á la gigue Johann Sebastian Bach

7 Called by Christ to Love Each Other From A Singing Faith, Words 1980 Jane Parker Huber, Used by permission

8 The flowers in the Meetinghouse are given in loving memory of Donald Freeman by his family. First Congregational Church of Greenwich declares itself to be open and affirming; open to all for participation, membership, leadership and employment, and affirming of all who wish to join us as children of God. We continue to give thanks for God's guidance in our journey of faith. The 10 am Service is broadcast live each week on WGCH 1490 AM Radio. In addition, the service is available through the church s website, A bulletin can be found there as well as a link to the live broadcast. Previous sermons can be found there as well. Calendar TODAY Summer Church School continues today. Children attend the beginning of worship in the Meetinghouse with their families and then leave with Church School teachers Rosemary Lamie and Debbie Bocchino Crawford during the service. Children may be picked up in the Red Door Classroom in the Undercroft after the service. Child Care is available. Please see an usher if you need directions. Blood Pressure Screening A member of the Wellness Committee is available to check blood pressures in room 203 following the Worship Service. SPF / Senior Pilgrim Fellowship (9-12 grade) SPF final picnic NEXT SUNDAY Beach Services have begun at Greenwich Point. Please join us at 8 am for worship. In the event of bad weather, a white paper will be taped to the sign board in front of the church indicating that the service has been cancelled. JPF / Junior Pilgrim Fellowship (6-8 grade) JPF final picnic

9 NEWS AND NOTICES Nights Off will meet at Kathy Riley's house for a pool party and fellowship on Monday, June 16, starting as early as 5 pm for those who would like an early swim. Please RSVP (with appetizer or salad?) to Karen Young at or klyct1@aol.com. We hope to see you there! Summer Choir - All who would like to sing are invited to come on Sunday mornings for a 9 am warm-up/rehearsal in the Meetinghouse. Adults and youth are welcome. It s a great time to see if choir is right for you. You can even come just to the rehearsal, if you feel you re not quite ready for prime time. Church School Teachers still needed for ALL classes except the Fourth Grade. Please contact Rosemary Lamie if you would like to explore this opportunity. Share your name We invite you to make a name tag as you enter the Meetinghouse each Sunday. As a welcoming, vital, and caring church, we want to get to know each other better. Please wear your name tag when you are in church and at coffee hour so we can greet each other by name.

10 Call to First Special Congregational Meeting A special meeting of the congregation is hereby called for Sunday, June 22 following the 10 am Worship Service. The meeting will be held in the Meetinghouse: to hear and act upon the recommendation of the Associate Pastor Search Committee to call a new Associate Pastor of Christian Education and to transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting. Phoebe Griffith, Church Clerk Call to Second Special Congregational Meeting A special meeting of the congregation is hereby called for Sunday, June 29 following the 10 am Worship Service. The meeting will be held in the Meetinghouse: to hear and act upon the recommendation of the Associate Pastor Search Committee to call a new Associate Pastor for Youth Ministry and to transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting. Phoebe Griffith, Church Clerk

11 High School Graduates Lara Bennett Kate Bonnell Christopher Ghaffari Taylor Griffin Holly Hanbury-Brown Tom Fraser Anne Johnson William Johnson Emma Kramer Lauren Lovallo Megan Lovallo Kate Phyfe Alexander Pugliese Jenny Riddell Jonny Rogers Kristen Sotzing Tucker Stafford Sarah Vandermeer Jennifer Wheaton Julia Wilfert College and Graduate School Degrees Craig Breismeister, M. Div., Pacific School of Religion Mark Swicegood, MBA, University of Connecticut Tom Oppedisano, Colgate Jack Davidson, Colby Julie Seymour, Trinity F ield Garthwaite, Pomona

12 First Congregational Church of Greenwich 108 Sound Beach Avenue, Old Greenwich, Connecticut, Ministers: The Members of The First Congregational Church of Greenwich Senior Pastor: David D. Young Minister of Communication and Adult Education: Daniel B. England Minister of Pastoral Care: Ronald E. Halvorsen Director of Music/Senior Organist: John Stansell Associate Organist/Director: Terence J. Flanagan Directors of Youth Ministries: Steve and Debbie Crawford Director of Church School: Rosemary Lamie Director of Membership: Ginny Breismeister Parish Nurse: Susan Asselin Pastors Emeriti: Thomas L. Stiers and Sally Colegrove