July 29 th, 2018 Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

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1 July 29 th, 2018 Tenth Sunday after Pentecost Welcome to this service of worship at Norfield Congregational Church on this Sunday morning. Please join us after worship for Fellowship in the Parish Hall. PREPARING FOR WORSHIP Please silence all cell phones and other electronic devices. *All who are able, please stand in body or in spirit. Ringing of the Bell Jim Miller Call to Worship Leader: People: Leader: People: Leader: Invocation God s glory flows through all generations. God s peace is deeper than our greatest emptiness. God s love spans the abyss of death. God s hope stretches through all eternity. The wideness of God's mercy, the range of God's forgiveness, the infinite love of God, the heart of hope which is never empty: all these gifts are ours. All: When our lives bottom out, your grace is still our bedrock; when our spirits run dry, you fill us with your joy; when we falter in our faith, you strengthen us to serve with hope and peace. God in Community, Holy in One, we come to you this day. Amen. *Hymn No. 469 Morning Has Broken BUNESSAN Welcome Announcements

2 Pastoral Prayer 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Children in Grades K 6 will leave at this time for an activity with Florence Deverman in the Norfield Room. *Hymn No. 322 Spirit of the Living God LIVING GOD HEARING GOD S WORD Scripture Reading 2 Samuel 11: 26; 12: 15(NRSV) 26 When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was dead, she made lamentation for him. 15 Then Nathan went to his house. The Lord struck the child that Uriah s wife bore to David, and it became very ill. Sermon An Undeserved Gift Rev. Dr. Bernard R. Wilson Invitation to Giving Offertory Hymn *Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Christ, all creatures here below: Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise God, the source of all our gifts! Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts! Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! LASST UNS ERFREUEN Prayer of Dedication

3 *Hymn No. 281 Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah CWM RHONDDA Benediction Response Postlude The Prue Bliss Memorial Bell Installation Norfield Congregational Church Banks Room Cupola - July 31 st The Prue Bliss Memorial Bell will be installed in Norfield Congregational Church s Banks Room cupola on Tuesday July 31 st. The purchase of the new bell is being made possible through the generosity of former First Selectman and long-time Norfield Church member Woody Bliss in honor of his late wife, Prue. Prue loved music. She was the keyboardist for Norfield s Steeple People and served on the Music Committee for years. This is a great way to honor her memory. - Woody Bliss. The old bell was discovered to be beyond repair and was removed from the Banks Room cupola on January 12, 2018 as part of a project to repair and/or replace both of Norfield Congregational Church s steeple bells. The steel bell in the Banks Room cupola is being replaced with a new bronze bell cast by the Verdin Company of Cincinnati, Ohio in their foundry in Eijsbouts, the Netherlands. It can be run, remotely, from across the Norfield Church campus. The original bell is of historical significance to the town. The Banks Room was originally a one-room school house, erected in the early 20 th Century. The bell was rung to assemble students and also to call the fire brigade serving central Weston at the time, inasmuch as the Weston Town Hall was located behind the church beginning in In addition, the almost 200-year old, 800-pound bell in the Church Sanctuary is receiving a new frame, yoke, wheel and clapper from the Verdin Company on the 31 st. The Sanctuary steeple bell was cast by James Allaire around 1832 when the sanctuary was built. Allaire s metalworks had cast the fittings for Robert Fulton s steamship Clermont and he would go on to supply engines for steamships owned and operated by Cornelius Vanderbilt. Refurbishment of the Sanctuary steeple bell was made possible by private donations from Norfield Congregational Church members and supporters.

4 Welcome Visitors! We are delighted to have you joining us here at Norfield today! Please let us know if you have additional questions, or require further assistance. Do not hesitate to ask one of our greeters or ushers, a deacon (identified by name badges), or one of our ministers. Please also take a moment to fill out a nametag for yourself so we can greet you by name. Infant and toddler care is available in the lower level of the Christian Education Building. An usher can direct you. You can also see and hear the service in the Greene Room if you need to. A Children s sermon is shared most Sundays and all children are invited to come to the front of the altar and join us. Norfield s Church School, called Discovery Hour, meets during the service. Children leave after the Children s Sermon, accompanied by their teachers. All children are welcome and encouraged to attend. Pre-registration is not necessary. Children can then be picked up following the service at the Christian Education Building. Please ask us for directions. Hearing Assistance System amplifiers are available. Please speak with an usher if you would like to use one. Prayer Cards are located in the pew racks. If you have a prayer request, please fill one out and place it in the offering plate or give it to a minister. We pray over these concerns each week. Please fill in your address and any questions you might have on the back of one of the Prayer Cards in the pews, and then put the card in the offering plate or give it to a minister. Please join us, following the service, for our Fellowship Hour in the Parish Hall so we can welcome you personally and introduce ourselves. If you are interested in becoming a member of our church family, please contact Teri Gaberman, NCC Administrative Assistant at tgaberman@norfield.org. Please visit our website at for more information, and for updates on church activities and service schedules, view our online Google calendar also located on our website.

5 Parish Notes July 29 th, 2018 Norfield Congregational Church Office Hours: Monday Friday 9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Senior Minister Office Hours: Monday Thursday 10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Welcome! Thank you for joining us today! We hope that the hour spent in this sacred space will draw you closer to God, and an awareness of God s love. Name Tags! In an effort to maintain and nurture our Norfield family we ask that everyone please put on a name tag. They can be found in the vestibule of the church. Leaders of Worship Senior Minister Rev. Dr. Bernard R. Wilson Associate Minister of Children, Youth & Families Thomas C. Burke, Jr. Transitional Associate Minister Rev. Diane Stevenson Director of Music & Worship Arts Dr. David H. Connell Deacon of the Day Lorenzo Wyatt Ushers Woody Bliss & Carol Hamilton Greeter Woody Bliss Fellowship Hour Host Dave MacWilliams Our Prayer List (July) I lift up my eyes to the hills from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1-2) Prayer Concerns: Travel Mercies for all our Norfielders during these summer months as they take time to enjoy friends and family! The Altar Flowers are given by the Hartman Family in loving memory of Dean Hartman. (If you would like to put a name, concern, or joy on the prayer list, please contact the church office at # Your prayer concern will remain on the list for the month; if you would like to extend that time, please contact the church office. Thank You!) D is c o v e r y H o u r Penny Anderson, Christian Education Director Ellen Dickinson, Children s Church Children in Grades K 6 will participate in an activity with Florence Deverman in the Norfield Room.

6 Announcements Rediscover Your Faith at Norfield in 2018! 2019 Confirmation Class Sign-Ups! All High School Freshmen are invited to join the 2019 Norfield Congregational Church Confirmation Class led by Senior Minister, Rev. Dr. Bernard R. Wilson and Associate Minister of Children, Youth & Families, Mr. Thomas C. Burke. The decision to be confirmed on May 5 th, 2019 is the culmination of a journey that will begin in September and last throughout the year in the form of weekly meetings, an overnight retreat, monthly worship, and other related activities and outings, including both outreach and inreach projects. If your son or daughter is interested in joining the 2019 Confirmation Class, please contact Teri Gaberman, Administrative Assistant at tgaberman@norfield.org to be included on the class roster. A Summer Reminder from the Stewardship Committee! Join the families of Norfield that are benefiting from the convenience of Online Giving! Within minutes, you can schedule recurring pledge payments for the summer months or the rest of Sign up today! No need to catch up on your pledge after your summer travels! Follow the links at: THANK YOU!! Music on the Hill Concert August 2 nd The Music on the Hill Summer Chorus, under the direction of Kaitlin Lazere, hearkens back to a simpler time in America with the poetry of Robert Frost set to music by Randall Thompson, plus Copland s The Promise of Living and more American music by Bernstein, Barber, and contemporary composer Morten Lauridsen. The concert takes place on Thursday, August 2 nd, at 8 p.m. at St. Matthew s Episcopal Church, 36 New Canaan Road in Wilton. The concert is free as a gift to the community, however donations are greatly appreciated!

7 Please join your fellow Norfielders on Sunday, August 19 th at 8:30am at beautiful Compo Beach in Westport for worship service! Rev. Diane Stevenson will be delivering the sermon and Kimberly Wilson will be the musical guest performer. It s a BYOC event Bring your own Chair. Everyone can park for FREE, even if you don t have a Westport beach sticker- just tell the gate attendant that you re attending the church service and look for us near the cannons. The dress code is casual flip flops and nice shorts are fine! Please note that worship service will also take place in the Sanctuary at 10:00am for those unable to attend the beach service. A Celebration of Life Service will take place for Michael Mich Zeman on Saturday, September 8 th, 2018 at Talmadge Hill Community Church in Darien. Additional details of the service to follow. Mich served as Norfield s Associate Youth Minister for several years and was revered by all. Please continue loving prayers for strength, comfort, and peace for the Zeman Family as they mourn the loss of their beloved Mich. Cards of condolence may be sent to Mary Zeman, 10 Cudlipp Street, Rowayton, CT Join Us for Homecoming Sunday Sunday, September 9 th, am A Special Homecoming Celebration will take place on the front lawn following worship service with Sal s Verona Pizza Fire-truck! All are welcome!

8 C h u r ch Calenda r Day Date Time Event Place Sunday 7/29 10:00am Tenth Sunday after Pentecost Sanctuary Monday 7/30 7:30pm Support Group CE Building Tuesday 7/31 Installation of the Bells Banks Room & Norfield Steeple Friday 8/3 Joe Lametta Retirement Party Parish Hall Saturday 8/4 10:30am Kiwanis Meeting Norfield Room Sunday 8/5 10:00am Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost Sanctuary A Special Welcome Back to Norfield to our beloved Director of Music, Dr. David H. Connell! BOARD AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS: Moderator Tracy Pennoyer Church Clerk Shivanthi Edwards Assistant Treasurer Pam LaFontaine Board of Trustees Calvin Mew Human Resources Jean Davis-French Senior Shepherds Carol Hamilton Board of Christian Education Christa Gross Prayer Shawl Ministry Jacqueline Pike Board of Christian Outreach Robert Smits Vice Moderator Mary Crawford Nominating Committee Will Lewis Altar Committee Bobbie Sassano & Gaitrie Bos Board of Deacons Dan Klein Board of Music Bayard Dodge Board of Fellowship Anne Troxell Prayer Requests Jackie Troxell Shepherds Lois Bechtel & Missy Dorsey Treasurer Kurt Schreder