THE GATHERING. PRELUDE Resonances and Alleluias Cathy Moklebust Old South Ringers; Peter Coulombe, Director

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1 October 19, 2014 Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost 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 Resonances and Alleluias Cathy Moklebust Old South Ringers; Peter Coulombe, Director *HYMN 558 O How Glorious, Full of Wonder In Babilone *CALL TO WORSHIP Nancy S. Taylor One: Strong Mother God, working night and day, genius at play Many: We stand in awe. One: Warm, Father God, hugging every child, until all are reconciled Many: We stand in trust. One: Old, aching God, grey with endless care, wiser than despair Many: We stand in need. * Indicates all who are able may stand

2 One: Young, growing God, eager, with wide eyes, open to surprise Many: We stand in hope. One: Great, living God, joyful darkness far beyond our seeing, closer yet than breathing Many: We stand in faith. *A SIGN OF OUR UNITY AND RECONCILIATION WORDS OF WELCOME We invite you to greet those around you, wishing them peace or the peace of Christ. RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS Peter T. Koch Karin P. Koch Lauren Marie Montanaro WELCOMING NEW MEMBERS Anthony T. Livolsi LITANY OF INTENT One: Many: One: Many: One: Many: One: Friends in Christ, we are all received into the church through the sacrament of baptism. These people have been led by the Spirit to affirm their baptism and to claim in our presence their covenantal relationship with Christ and the members of the Christian church. They are here, as we are here, to endeavor to love God with all our hearts, and all our souls, and all our minds. God help us. They are here, as we are here, to endeavor to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. God help us. Friends who are joining, we rejoice in your pilgrimage of faith which has brought you to this time and place. We give thanks for every community of faith which has been your spiritual home, and we celebrate your presence in this household of faith. Do you promise, by the grace of God, to continue in your pilgrimage of faith, to be Christ s disciple, to resist oppression and evil, to show love and justice, and to witness to the work and word of Jesus Christ as best you are able? 2

3 Those joining: We promise, with the help of God. Many: Do you promise to walk with us in faithfulness and in Christian love? And do you promise, that so far as able, you will participate in the life of this church, by worshipping God with us, and offering your time, talent and means for the ministry of this church and for the larger church of which this is a part? Those joining: We promise, with the help of God. One: Friends, we then welcome you as partners in the common life of this church and rise to share our covenant of mission with you: *All: (Please rise) I do now in the presence of God and before this assembly give myself to the One whom Jesus called Abba, Father as the God in whose love I am grounded and whose realm I serve; to Jesus Christ, God incarnate, to whom I surrender and who rules my life; to God the Holy Spirit as the One who sustains, recreates, and guides me. I will share God s everlasting covenant by loving and living responsibly in communion with this one God. And I do furthermore engage to walk with my brothers and sisters in the wider Church and the Old South Church secure in God's grace, prepared in gratitude to live by the promise and serve in the hope of the Gospel. *THE RIGHT HAND OF CHRISTIAN LOVE Nancy Kukulan, Deacon ANTHEM Oh Won t You Sit Down Spiritual The Children s Choir; Linda O Donnell, Director arr. Patsy Ford Simms Refrain: Oh, won't you sit down? Lord, I can't sit down. Oh, won't you sit down? Lord, I can't sit down. Oh, won't you sit down? Lord, I can't sit down. Cause I just got to Heaven, gonna look around. Who's that yonder dressed in red? Must be the children that Moses led. Who's that yonder dressed in white? Must be the children of the Israelite. Refrain Who's that yonder dressed in blue? Must be the children that are comin' through. Who's that yonder dressed in black? Must be the hypocrites a-turnin' back. Refrain 3

4 THE GIFT OF THE WORD SCRIPTURE Exodus 33, selected verses Tim Longman *HYMN Deep in the Shadows of the Past Shepherds Pipes (At this time, children may leave for choir and care.) Verse 4 written by Anthony Livolsi SERMON Anthony T. Livolsi *HYMN 459 Come, O Fount of Every Blessing Nettleton 4

5 OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS *CALL TO PRAYER One: God be with you. Many: And also with you. One: May the peace of Christ dwell in your hearts. Many: Christ is our peace, our light and our hope. One: Let us pray. (The congregation may be seated.) John M. Edgerton 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. PRAYER RESPONSE Reverie Judy Phillips Old South Ringers CALL TO THE OFFERING In thanksgiving to God and giving witness to generous hearts, our financial gifts support ministries of mercy, justice, and beauty. 5

6 OFFERTORY ANTHEM The Heavens Are Telling Franz Josef Haydn from The Creation Alecia Batson, Gabriel; James Giessler, Uriel; Matthew Wight, Raphael The heavens are telling the glory of God, The wonder of God s work displays the firmament; The day that is coming speaks it the day, The night that is gone to following night. The heavens are telling the glory of God, The wonder of God s work displays the firmament; In all the lands resounds the word, Never unperceived, ever understood. The heavens are telling the glory of God, The wonder of God s work displays the firmament; PRAYER OF DEDICATION Nancy S. Taylor *HYMN 419 Now Thank We All Our God Nun Danket *BIDDING TO MISSION AND BENEDICTION Anthony T. Livolsi POSTLUDE The Heavens Declare the Glory of God Benedetto Marcello Following worship, those interested in a tour of the Sanctuary are invited to meet docent Mary Hunter at the front of the Sanctuary. 6

7 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 scripture reader, Tim Longman, is Director of the African Studies Center at Boston University. He serves Old South as an at-large member of Council. 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. Today s ASL Interpreter is Old South Church member Chris Breen. Name tags facilitate community and help newcomers feel welcomed. If you don t see a tag with your name on it, let us know. Audio of the service is available across the Narthex in the Gordon Chapel for those who would like a place to take restless children. For LARGE print bulletins or hearing assistance devices ask an Usher. Visit OldSouth.org for audio and a transcript of today s sermon. 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). 7

8 NOTES ON TODAY S MUSIC The word glory is found throughout the Old and New Testaments to denote the manifestation of God s presence. Divine glory is an important motif throughout Christian theology, as God is regarded as the most glorious being, and it is considered that human beings are created in the image of God, and thus can share in divine glory as image-bearers. In Exodus 33:19, Moses is told that no human being can see the glory of God and survive. Instead, God instructs Moses to hide in a cleft of rock. I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen. Each year at Christmas we hear again of the shepherds out in the fields keeping guard over their sheep during the night, when an angel appears to them and the glory of the Lord shone round them. They were terrified. One can glean from these narratives that it is an understatement to say that to encounter God s glory firsthand would be a dazzling, electrifying event! However, the book of Revelation promises that when we die, our bodies will be transformed into one glorious body of light, which will allow us to enter heaven and to at last see God s face. One of the most glorious works in the entire canon of choral music will be sung today as the offertory anthem. The Heavens Are Telling the Glory of God virtually explodes with praise for all the works of Creation. It serves as the centerpiece of the beloved oratorio The Creation by Franz Josef Haydn ( ), with a libretto drawn from the Bible and Milton s Paradise Lost. It premiered in Vienna in 1798, and is considered by many to be his masterpiece. The organ voluntary for the postlude, from the pen of Venetian composer Benedetto Marcello ( ), is an instrumental setting of Psalm 19: The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of God s hands. A glimpse of glory will greet us this morning as we welcome The Children s Choir to Festival Worship to sing the first anthem. It is a charming spiritual arranged by Patsy Ford Simms which is dedicated to the Children s Choir of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Minneapolis. The Old South Ringers will be heard during the prelude and prayer response. Resonances and Alleluias, by Cathy Moklebust, was commissioned in honor of Fred Gramann, the conductor of the handbell choir at the American Church in Paris, where Old South member Megan Staley currently is ringing. The piece opens with a rhythmic fuguing tune in a minor key which appears in a variety of ways throughout the work. It concludes with a joyful allegretto section. Reverie is a contemplative meditation by Judy Phillips. 10 Harry L. Huff, Minister of Music

9 CALENDAR Sunday, October 19 9:00 am FIRST Worship, Anthony T. Livolsi preaching 9:45 am Old South Café in the Gordon Chapel 10:00 am Faith Development Class 10:00 am Sunday Morning Bible Study 11:00 am FESTIVAL Worship, Anthony T. Livolsi preaching 12:15 pm Fellowship Hour in the Gordon Chapel 12:30 pm Gospel Choir Rehearsal 12:30 pm Young Adults Group, Prudential Mall Food Court 12:30 pm Restored Vision Project 12:30 pm Mission Trip Meeting 6:00 pm EVENING Worship, reflection by John Edgerton Monday, October 20 4:30 pm Leadership Committee 6:00 pm Theological Book Group 6:30 pm Communications Committee 7:00 pm Finance Committee Tuesday, October 21 5:30 pm Trustees 5:30 pm Old South Ringers Rehearsal Thursday, October 23 5:30 pm Gospel Choir Rehearsal 6:00 pm JAZZ Worship, John M. Edgerton preaching 6:30 pm Old South Choir Rehearsal 7:00 pm Boston Book Festival 7:00 pm Young Adults Book Group Friday, October 24 7:30 pm Boston Book Festival Saturday, October 25 10:00 am Boston Book Festival (all day) Hymn Festival Sunday Sunday, October 26 9:00 am FIRST Worship, John M. Edgerton preaching 9:45 am Old South Café in the Gordon Chapel 10:00 am Old South Knitters 10:00 am Faith Development Class 10:00 am Sunday Morning Bible Study 11:00 am FESTIVAL Worship, John M. Edgerton preaching 12:15 pm Fellowship Hour in the Gordon Chapel 12:30 pm Sunday s Bread, Saint John the Evangelist 3:00 pm Musicians of the Old Post Road Concert 6:00 pm EVENING Worship, reflection by Bill Ghormley 11

10 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 Kate R. Rogers, Youth Leader Liz Williams, Field Education Intern Carolyn Davis, Director, Old South Preschool George Sargeant, Associate Organist & Choirmaster Laurel Leslie, Choir Director, First Worship Willie Sordillo, Music Coordinator, Jazz Worship Peter Coulombe, Director, Old South Ringers Amy Budka, Children s Music Director Linda O Donnell, Director, Children s Choirs Mark Schueppert, Moderator Lisa Mahnke, Clerk David Vogan, 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 Rosemary Clarke, Director, Accounting & Human Resources Janet Butler, Wedding Coordinator Elias Perez, Senior Sexton Ozo Nwodo & Robert Blenman, Sextons Corey Spence & Rubia Reyes, 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. 12

11 ANNOUNCEMENTS TODAY AT OLD SOUTH: October 19, 2014 Study and reflect on today s preaching text (Exodus 33, selected verses. God s presence (or not?) with the people. ) at Sunday Morning Bible Study at 10 am in the fourth floor Sam Johnson Room. Community Hour from am boasts offerings for children, youth, and adults, including Godly Play and Faith Development. Check out details inside. The Young Adults Group will lunch at the Prudential Mall Food Court following Festival Worship. Meet at 12:15 pm in the Gordon Chapel. Join the Restored Vision Project at 12:30 pm in the Sam Johnson Room to discuss ongoing projects and move forward with new efforts regarding prison issues. Open to all persons wanting to learn more and to engage around Christ s directive that we are with Him when we look after those in prison. SCARED FOR GOOD Oct. 31, 7:30 pm. Doors open 6:45 pm It s been two years of checking under your bed and sleeping with the light on since Horrific Harry Huff s last hair raising performance of Scared for Good. In a night sure to rattle your bones, this creepy crawly concert on Copley will feature everyone s favorite ghoulish tunes, played on the delightfully devilish E.M. Skinner organ. Costumes encouraged. FREE admission. A voluntary offering will support the Allston-Brighton Food Pantry. Children s activities 4:30-6:30 pm. FAITH AND THE BALLOT Attend a ballot initiatives session at Old South Church on Wednesday, October 22 from 6:30-8:30 pm. Learn about all four ballot initiatives, engage in small groups discussion to hear what other people think, and come to your own conclusions about how to vote. On Sunday, October 26 at 3 pm, meet the candidates. Martha Coakley and Charlie Baker will be present for an invitation only event where they will be asked whether they will commit to acting on specific voter concerns. Attendance is very limited, so if you want to attend you will be asked to commit to host two small group meetings among church members to discuss the issues that matter to them. To learn more, john@oldsouth.org.

12 MUSIC OPPORTUNITIES All of Old South s choirs are open to non-members. Some require multi-week commitment, while others are come-as-you-can. The Old South Choir, under the direction of Harry L. Huff, is an organization of over 40 volunteers supplemented by ten professional singers. Rehearsals are held Thursdays at 6:30 pm and Sundays at 10 am to prepare for Festival Worship each week. To join, harry@oldsouth.org. The Old South Children s Choir provides an opportunity for children to participate in the church s Music Ministry. Open to elementary school aged children in grades 3-8. Rehearsals are held Sundays at 11:15 am. To join, childrenschoir@oldsouth.org. And hear them sing today during Festival Worship! First Worship Choir provides music for 9 am worship. This fun and informal choir rehearses Sundays at 8:30 am to learn a simple song. Come-as-you-can. Questions? lleslie@tuftsmedicalcenter.org. Gospel Choir enhances Jazz Worship each third Thursday of the month. Rehearsals are held the Sunday before at 12:30 pm (that s TODAY), and third Thursdays at 5 pm. To join, tharbold@wheatoncollege.edu. The Old South Ringers, our resident handbell choir, rehearses Tuesdays at 6 pm. The Ringers perform in Festival Worship once a month, September through June, as well as for their annual Christmas and Spring concerts. To join, handbells@oldsouth.org. And hear them ring today during Festival Worship! Joyful Noise is an informal introduction to music-making. This multi-age children s group gathers Sundays at 9 and 11:30 am. Questions? children@oldsouth.org. Kinder Choir is a fun first-choir experience for children age 5 through grade 2. The choir gathers Sundays at 9 am. Children are returned to parents during First Worship. Books! Books! Books! The best of the literary world converge on Copley next week for the Boston Book Festival, October Many exciting events will take place at Old South Church including fiction keynote Susan Minot. The majority of events are free.

13 COMMUNITY HOUR, Sundays am FOR CHILDREN 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. Our Montessori-style Godly Play program invites children to see themselves as active participants in the story of faith. Today s story: Preschool class: Sarah and Abraham s Great Family; Early Elementary: Ten Commandments; Older Elementary: Most children will be in rehearsal for the Children s Choir. The rest will have a free day in class. FOR YOUTH The Youth Group explores issues of life and faith; for October, the multi-dimensional settings of the UCC. kate@oldsouth.org. Today, Confirmation Class for grades 7-8 will serve as ushers for worship as part of hospitality week. anthony@oldsouth.org. FOR ADULTS Beginning today through November 2, join us for Faith Development led by Rev. Emily Click. Today, we ll look at how we learn to think, and the ways our faith understandings may also grow and change. Adults of all life stages - young adults, parents, those in the fourth quarter of life - are invited to bring their relational wisdom! SMALL GROUPS Beginning Monday, October 20 at 6 pm, Theological Book Group will read Being Christian: Baptism, Bible, Eucharist, Prayer, by Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury. Sign up at the Front Desk. Books on sale for $10. Led by Theologian in Residence Don Wells, granwell@comcast.net. North of 35 (Old South s 35+ crowd) will gather for a Halloween party in North Quincy on Thursday, October 30 at 7 pm. For directions, RSVP to ekurbatzky@gmail.com. Retired and Ready will visit Carolyn Arrington at her Back Bay home to view her handmade art work on Wednesday, November 5 at 11 am. The group will then lunch at the Met Café on Newbury Street. For directions, RSVP to maryghunter11@gmail.com.

14 SERVICE Old South Church will collect a special offering of the UCC on Sunday, October 26. Neighbors in Need supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the U.S. The Old South Gardeners need help planting our three spring gardens on Saturday, November 1 beginning at 9:30 am. Our gardens are among our most visible ministries of beauty. They matter. Many hands make light work! Please join us. Our Bread Ministry gathers on third Saturdays from 3-6 pm to bake loaves of bread to be distributed to first-time Sunday visitors. Come-as-you-can! dupuy.meg@gmail.com Help the Allston-Brighton Food Pantry stock food for Thanksgiving baskets. Our Rolling Food Drive is collecting cranberry sauce and boxed stuffing mix thru November 16th. WORSHIP First Worship: Sundays, 9 am. Informal and vibrant. Festival Worship: Sundays, 11 am. Our signature service - grand and expressive. October 26h: Rev. John Edgerton preaching at First and Festival Evening Worship: Sundays, 6 pm. Ancient, timeless, and alive. October 26th: Reflection by Bill Ghormley Jazz Worship: Thursdays, 6 pm. With soul and sax. October 23rd: Rev. John Edgerton preaching Healing Worship: 2nd Sundays, 10 am. Gentle and tender. 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 Boylston & Dartmouth Sts. at the Copley T (617) OldSouth.org