NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Transcription

1 Photograph by John Westrock, unsplash.com NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME August 12, 2018, 10:00 a.m. Hancock United Church of Christ, Congregational 1912 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA

2 MOMENT FOR REFLECTION GATHERING TOGETHER TO PRAISE GOD Today s scripture suggests that at times the gift we most desire is not the gift we most need. The ark is returned to the people and a great festival erupts. The hearts of Israel are on fire with joy and thanksgiving and all give glory to God. In the middle of this great celebration, Uzzah is struck dead. His is an act of dedication of faith: keep the ark from falling. It does look like it s slipping off the cart, so we wonder, what is the gift being returned to the people that day? PRELUDE.... Sonata #7...Scarlatti HANCOCK PRAYS If you have come this morning with a joy or concern that you would like to have included in the morning prayers, please fill out a Hancock Prays card that you will find on the back of the pew in front of you. Read it carefully, remembering that our worship services are televised and live-streamed over the internet. Place the card in the offering plate as it passes by later in the service. The cards will be brought to the ministers for inclusion in this morning's prayer. CALL TO WORSHIP One: Nothing worth doing is completed in our lifetime Many: Therefore, we are saved by hope One: Nothing true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history Many: Therefore, we are saved by faith One: Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone Many: Therefore, we are saved by love One: Come, let us worship God! *OPENING HYMN.... Praise My Soul the King of Heaven.... #19 WORDS OF WELCOME Service of Worship PRAYER OF INVOCATION.... Rev. Paul Shupe 2 *Congregation standing some may wish to remain seated

3 GATHERING SONG.... Walk With Me.... Walk with me, I will walk with you And build the land that God has planned Where Love shines through CHILDREN S TIME... Rev. Paul Shupe Grades pre-k to 5 will meet in the Church School commons for classes. There is no Junior Youth Org or Our Whole Lives classes this Sunday. Childcare is always available in the Children's Education (CE) wing. THE MORNING OFFERING GIVING THANKS TO GOD OFFERTORY.... Laudamus te... from Gloria by Antonio Vivaldi Natalia Abbate and Ellen Putnam, sopranos We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, *DOXOLOGY....#S-29 PRAYER OF DEDICATION Service of Worship From North and South and East and West, May God s eternal name be blessed! Alleluia! Alleluia! Til everywhere beneath the sun, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! 3

4 THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE CALL TO PRAYER... There Is a Balm in Gilead.... #400 PASTORAL PRAYER.... Rev. Paul Shupe A TIME OF SILENT PRAYER THE LORD S PRAYER Service of Worship 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. THE GOOD NEWS IS PROCLAIMED THE SCRIPTURE READING Samuel 6:1-11 David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. David and all the people with him set out and went from Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who is enthroned on the cherubim. They carried the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart with the ark of God; and Ahio went in front of the ark. David and all the house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen had stumbled. The anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God struck him there because he reached out his hand to the ark; and he died there beside the ark of God. David was angry because the Lord had burst forth with an outburst upon Uzzah; so that place is called Perez-uzzah, to this day. David was afraid of the Lord that day; he said, How can the ark of the Lord come into my care? So David was unwilling to take the ark of the Lord into his care in the city of David; instead David took it to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months; and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household. 4 *Congregation standing some may wish to remain seated

5 Service of Worship THE SERMON.... "In the Midst of the Party".... David C. Clark CLOSING HYMN....Amazing Grace! How Sweet the Sound... #401 BENEDICTION *PASSING THE PEACE POSTLUDE.... Sonata #12....Scarlatti Special thanks to Natalia Abbate and Ellen Putnam, for lending their talents to this Sunday's service. 5

6 Announcements Today s Flower Offering The flowers this morning are given in loving memory of Viola Foster and Mahlon Allen, by the Bukys family. Hancock Grill August 15 at the home of Meg and Jim Weston Our next Hancock Grill will be held on Wednesday August 15 th at 6:30 p.m. at the home of Meg & Jim Weston (4 Lantern Lane, Bedford). Bring whatever you'd like to grill, a side dish to share, and something to sit on. RSVP at (781) or jrw46@aol.com. The Grill will be held rain or shine. There is plenty of parking. The August 22 nd Hancock Grill will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the home of Barbara and Kate Callaghan (195 Brooks Street, Medford). RSVP to barbara@hancockchurch.org or (336) Hancock Next Podcasts Paul and Barbara have created four 5-minute podcasts explaining more about Hancock Next and hopefully answering any questions you might have. The podcasts address, in this order: 1) why we believe Hancock is at a critical juncture 2) what is strategic leadership and why is it needed now? 3) the mission/vision process we will go through together as a church this fall (the Jeremiah Project) and 4) the questions we will be asking in small groups that will help us discern our mission and vision. Maybe you want to take 5 minutes and listen to the first one now! To do so, visit and click on our featured post, "Hancock Next." Vital Vintage Church As part of the Hancock Next process we are asking the congregation to read the book, Vital Vintage Church by Michael Piazza. A shipment of books should arrive before long and will be available in the narthex before and after worship. A Kindle version is available here for $8.99. We will offer book discussion times in August after worship at 11:00 a.m. on Sundays August 19 and 26. All discussions will be in the Pearson Room. 6

7 Announcements Upcoming Memorial Services: Today: Memorial Service for Ruth Clark A Memorial Service for Ruth Clark will be held Sunday, August 12, at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Brooksby Village, Peabody, MA. Ruth was the wife of former Senior Minister Henry Clark, and died last month at the age of 99. All Hancock members are invited to attend. Memorial Service for Chuck Haldeman on August 18 Chuck Haldeman, longtime Hancock member, passed away quietly in his sleep, surrounded by his family, on July 6. A memorial service will be held at Hancock on Saturday, August 18, at 2 p.m., with a reception to follow. Please contact Margaret and Charlie Freeman (margaretfreeman@msn.com) if you are available before, during, or after the service to help with any of the following: ushers, set-up, hospitality, and clean-up. Memorial Service for Barbara Estey on August 23 We are saddened to report the death of Barbara Estey, a member of Hancock for over 50 years, and a friend of many in our congregation. A memorial service for her will be held on Thursday, August 23, at 10:00 a.m., in the chapel, with a reception to follow. Volunteer Opportunity at Temple Emunah Our friends at Temple Emunah in Lexington are looking for some non-jewish folks to volunteer a couple of hours to help at their registration and orientation tables during their upcoming High Holy Days celebrations. Help is needed September 10, 11, 18 and 19. If you would like to learn more, please contact Paul. 7

8 Whoever you are, or wherever you are on life s journey, you are welcome here! We worship twice each Sunday. On Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. in the sanctuary, our worship is festive, varied, and thought provoking. It is rooted in Congregational tradition, but speaks with a contemporary voice. From September through May, we also worship at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday evenings in our chapel. This is an informal and interactive service, focused on community. Music is important to us. At both our services we sing and play great music from around the world and across the centuries. Our morning service includes music by the Chancel Choir, four handbell choirs, kids choirs, River Rock Band, brass ensembles, and the occasional orchestra! Our Sunday evening service features our River Rock Band. You ll hear a mix of Celtic, bluegrass, jazz, folk, gospel, world and everything in between. Both services include regular appearances by top professional artists in various genres throughout the year. Rev. Dr. Paul Shupe We value thinking and learning. Having questions is not only okay it s encouraged! Come and learn more on Sunday or during the week in a small group. We discuss topics like poetry and spirituality; prayer; the Bible; raising kids today; grief; life in the Sandwich Generation; and aging well. We are convinced that God is still speaking. We try to embody our values. We support each other when we need help. We seek justice, march in the Pride Parade, build houses with Habitat, grow organic veggies for those in need in an interfaith garden, take our high school kids on an annual service trip to Kentucky and support our partners including homeless people in Cambridge, a music program in South Boston and a village in Honduras. M ark M organ, Dir. of M usic Who We Are Barbara Callaghan, Minister We are an open and affirming church, which means we welcome people regardless of sexuality, race or gender identity. We love you, whoever you love. We come from all around the area, not just Lexington. We re also from Acton, Arlington, Woburn, Bedford, Waltham, and Somerville, among other places. Our senior members may live in retirement communities, like the Huntington in Nashua, NH, Brooksby Village in Peabody, Newbury Court in Concord, Carleton Willard in Bedford and Brookhaven in Lexington. 8

9 Marilyn Becker, organist At Hancock we can and do believe in a variety of ways. We take the Bible seriously as a way to understand how God yearns to interact with us but we never read it literally. We celebrate the use of reason, and regard science and faith as equally essential and highly compatible. Each of us is responsible for growing in our understanding of faith and belief, and no member is compelled to agree with any other member. Our ministers do not speak for us, but bear witness to us. We re a growing church. In the past few years, many new folks of all ages and from many different backgrounds have joined us: other Protestants, former Catholics, and those with no prior religious tradition. Many new families find their way to Hancock they are our largest new group. Between morning worship, class time, and youth group in the evening, it is typical to see 50 or more children and youth in our halls on any given Sunday. Hancock Church is alive! From birth to high school graduation and beyond, there is a place for young people to belong here. We offer professional childcare for infants and toddlers along with a robust and dynamic church school for elementary aged children. In middle school we place focus on service, spiritual practice, and the formation of spiritual identity while our high school students explore their faith through friendship, service work, and weekly meetings. For more information on all children and youth programming, contact David C Clark at david.clark@hancockchurch.org. David Clarke, student minister Who We Are Our staff includes four student ministers, a building caretaker, a financial administrator, an administrator and an administrative assistant who ensure that the church offices run smoothly. They assist members of the congregation as needed, and handle a myriad of communications. The church is run by our congregation, who elect the lay leadership team and vote on all important issues, including the budget and the hiring of the ministers. As a congregational church we believe in the priesthood of all believers. We hope you feel the warm Hancock welcome as you spend time with us today! Emelia Att ridge, student minister 9

10 Welcome to Hancock! We are delighted that you chose to worship with us today and are strengthened by your participation in our service! We warmly invite you to coffee and refreshments immediately following worship. Coffee can be found through either of the doors next to the Chancel. If you d like to learn more about our church community and activities, please take the flier hanging in the pew. You may also fill out the Welcome slip in the pew holder, and hand it to one of the clergy or ushers today. We hope that you feel very much at home here and that you will make Hancock Church your church. If you have any questions, our Welcoming Committee would be happy to help: welcoming@hancockchurch.org. Child care is available each Sunday beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the nursery and toddler room. All children and youth are invited to worship with their families, to come forward for the Children s Gathering, and then recess to the Church School for K-5. Older children are invited to stay in worship or help with younger youth. Large print bulletins, hearing assist aids, and an elevator are available at Hancock Church. Please ask an usher for assistance. All services are recorded and cablecast locally by LexMedia Cable TV (RCN 3, Comcast 8 and Verizon 35) Sunday 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., Tuesdays 10 p.m. For more information, please visit the Hancock website at *** Service DVDs Available Just fill out the orange form just outside the television studio on the lower level. The cost is $10.00 which can be paid upon ordering or upon pickup at the church. All proceeds go to support the television ministry. Hancock Church Sermon in HD Online at Watch Service Live Online at from 10 a.m.-11 a.m. 10

11 The Week Ahead Sunday, August 12 9:00am Bible Study with the Preacher 9:30am Infant and Toddler Care Available 10:00am Morning Worship in Sanctuary 10:15am Church School 11:00am Fellowship Hour 2:00pm Memorial Service for Ruth Clark Monday, August 13 7:00pm Immigrant/Refugee Action Group Tuesday, August 14 8:30am Hancock Weekly Submission Deadline 10:00am Staff Meeting 11:00am Staff Worship Planning 4:30pm Lexington Interfaith Garden Volunteer Opportunity 7:00pm HEAT 7:00pm No Endowment Committee 7:00pm No Finance Committee 7:00pm No Giving Committee Wednesday, August 15 6:30pm Hancock Grill Thursday, August 16 7:00pm Hancock Next Meeting Saturday, August 18 10:00am AA Meeting in Dining Room 2:00pm Chuck Haldeman Memorial Service 2:00pm Plaster Posaunes Brass Group Sunday, August 19 9:00am Bible Study with the Preacher 9:30am Infant and Toddler Care Available 10:00am Morning Worship in Sanctuary 10:15am Church School 11:00am Discussion of Vital Vintage Church 11:00am Fellowship Hour 11

12 Hancock Covenant of Welcome We welcome all who seek to know God. We believe that, although we are many members, we are one body in Christ. We have been called as well as challenged by God to respect and reconcile our differences. We recognize and love each individual as a child of God. We welcome, respect, support, and lovingly encourage people of every race, ethnicity, creed, class, gender, sexual orientation, age, and physical and mental ability to join us on our journey of faith. The faith journey indeed calls Hancock Members not to be silent in the face of prejudice, injustice, and exclusion, but to express our faith, in word and deed, for justice and inclusiveness for all humanity. As Paul wrote in Galatians, In Christ there is no longer Jew or Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for all are one... Paul Shupe, Senior Minister paul.shupe@hancockchurch.org Barbara Callaghan, Minister barbara.callaghan@hancockchurch.org David Clark Minister of Children and Families david.clark@hancockchurch.org Genna Beatty Minister of Youth and Young Adults Mark Morgan, Director of Music mark.morgan@hancockchurch.org Marilyn Becker Associate Director of Music marilyn.becker@hancockchurch.org Emelia Attridge Congregational Care Coordinator emelia.attridge@hancockchurch.org Church Office Phone: (781) Hancock Community Prayer: (781) Church Office Hours: M-Th 9:00-3:00, F 9:00-2:00 For Emergency Pastoral Support: Paul: (781) Barbara: (336) For bulletin announcements, corrections, or suggestions, office@hancockchurch.org To conserve trees and your pledge dollars, consider sharing your bulletin. Please recycle.