A Welcoming and Affirming Church A Safe Space for All First gathered in 1812 ORDER OF WORSHIP

Transcription

1 A Welcoming and Affirming Church A Safe Space for All First gathered in 1812 ORDER OF WORSHIP October 14, :00 am The Sixth Sunday of Celebrationtide Thoughts on Worship As we continue to explore our theme of Brave Conversations, Bold Congregation, we do so with an eye toward what it means to be a Christian today. Often times it begins with listening. Are we set in our ways like the rich young ruler, or are we open to changing our minds, even if it requires drastic action? Do we have the courage to be curious and the strength to change? We also celebrate our 50-year members this week. Our church is strengthened by your faithfulness to the work of God in and through this congregation. Prelude * Indicates that you are invited to stand in body or in spirit. Hearing devices are available from the ushers for those needing assistance. * Prayer of Illumination O Lord our Sovereign, How majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens, And written it on our hearts, That even from the mouths of babes and children, We can hear your Wisdom. Unlock the doors our hearts keep sealed, And open our minds that we might hear, See, Know, That you are real, That you are good, That you are near. * Processional Hymn 541 Church of God, Elect and Glorious...Nettleton

2 * The Lord s Prayer (debts) * Gloria Patri 734 Glory Be to the Father...Greatorex Welcome From the Church The Reverend Brent Newberry In the pew rack should be an FBC Connection Card. If you are visiting with us, and if you would like to learn more about our church or ways you can connect more deeply within the life of our church, please fill out the card and place it in the offering plate later on in the service. * Greeting One Another in the Peace of Christ You are invited to share the grace of Christ with one another. * Gathering Hymn 398 O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus...Ebenezer The First Reading Hebrews 4:12-16 Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account. Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. One: May the Spirit of Wisdom lead us to understanding. Many: Thanks be to God. Choral Orison George Wallace Briggs The Second Reading Mark 10:17-31 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother. He said to him, Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth. Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me. When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. They were greatly astounded and said to one another, Then who can be saved? Jesus looked at them and said, For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.

3 Peter began to say to him, Look, we have left everything and followed you. Jesus said, Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. One: May the Spirit of Wisdom lead us to understanding. Many: Thanks be to God. Offering of Our Gifts The ministries of our church are possible because of the generous gifts you pledge in support. At this time, you are invited to give your offering, as you are able. Offertory To My Old Brown Earth, Pete Seeger, ( ) Arr. by Paul Halley * Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God above ye heavenly host; Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost. Amen. * Prayer of Dedication Moment of Wonder Choral Anthem Earth Song, Frank Ticheli (1958- ) Children are invited to go upstairs with their teachers to Sunday School. Sermon The Reverend Brent Newberry Prayers of the People Choral Amen Greek Liturgy, Russian Church Recognizing Our 50 Year Members * Susan Beauregard Partnering in Church Life Just as we arrived this morning in faith, so too, we depart to be faithful partners in the work of God. Listen now for opportunities to connect more richly in the life of First Baptist. * Congregational Hymn 521 Abide With Me...Eventide

4 Departing Grace Pastor: As we depart this safe and sacred space, Congregation: We go in God s unending grace, Pastor: Marching sacred paces to every corner of our community, Congregation: Becoming safe spaces for every need in our city, All: Recognizing the brave faces of every soul in our world. Amen. Postlude Who We Are Praying For Marilyn Sibley; Jo, Sydney s Mom; Betty B.; Donna K.; Jess G.; Bette S.; John Torrisi If you or a loved one would like to be prayed for, please fill out a prayer card and drop it in the offering plate or prayer box. Sundays at First Baptist Bibles and Bagels 9 am Worship Service 10 am Fellowship 11 am Adult Forum 11:30 am First Sunday of the Month: Celebration of Communion Wednesdays at 6 pm: Rewind Sermon Discussion Program From the Pastor Our FBCWoo Small Groups are back! I m grateful to our latest batch of leaders who have committed their time, energy, and creativity to cultivating spaces of mutual learning and friendship. I hope you engage these opportunities. I know how busy all of you are but I think slowing down will help each of you enjoy the beauty and wonder of the world around us. Check out the announcements for more details. As we continue to foster and deeper our sense of community and kinship within our congregation, I want to extend one more invitation to each one of you. On Sunday, October 28th, we are asking all First Baptist members and attendees to be present in worship that morning so you can be a part of our family picture. We ve tried this a couple of times on Easter Sunday, but we want this picture to be used for our new directory. So, following worship on Oct 28th and just before we begin our Fall business meeting, we will gather together for this important picture. Now, I keep explaining that we have 350 active participants in our church life. Don t let me caught with egg on my face! Besides, with a full house, I ll lose the bet and have to shave my beard In all seriousness, we really want you here and present, however wide or close your worship attendance orbit is these days. We love you, and we want to be together as a family. Brent

5 ANNOUNCEMENTS TODAY Scrogin Great Issues Forum The Bible: A Biography, Karen Armstrong Following worship in the Roy Room 50 Year Member Reception Join us in Gordon Hall after worship to celebrate our members! FBCWoo Small Groups Below is a list of the Fall Series of Small Groups. Facilitators will be available in Gordon Hall after worship with sign-up sheets and further details! Smorgasbord, Brent Newberry, Monthly Youngish Adults, starting Oct. 14, join Brent every second Sunday for a smorgasbord at his house. We ll gorge on whatever food you bring, and we ll feast on rich conversations about life, God, and the Scriptures. Photography, Tom Grisso, Monthly This group seeks to visually discover God s world in many ways through nature, people, animals, architecture, you name it. We share our digital photos together on screen, talk about what they mean to us, and share tips on enhancing our photo skills. No pros here, just amateurs having visual and spiritual fun. This year we will engage in a project, seeking out photo-targets on a theme. We will meet on Saturdays once a month for about six months. Start date to be scheduled sometime in October after we learn who s interested in joining us. The Book Corner, Lynne Carroll, Monthly Not your traditional book club. No compulsory reading! Just bring a book each month that you love, or which holds a special place in your heart! Novel, non-fiction, graphic novel, poetry, short stories...we will marvel at the variety of genres, tell our book stories, express our delight in all things bookish and most of all, be inspired to read the books others hold dear! Beginning Wednesday Oct. 24 at 7 pm at Lynne s home (second meeting Nov. 21) Limit of 10 participants. Refreshments will be served! All the Cool Things Your Mac Can Do That You Were Never Told, Richard Wolfe, Monthly or Bi-Weekly Do you want to easily find lost files? Are you familiar with all of the Mac shortcuts? Do you know how to make custom emojis or edit videos? Depending on interest, this group will meet once or twice per month at the church (room TBD) on Thursday evenings for an hour to an hour and a half. We ll utilize our big TV.

6 Knitting for the Community, Donna Grisso, Weekly Knitters will meet on Wednesdays at 2:00 pm for an hour to an hour and a half in the Krueger Room. Our project will be to knit and donate mittens, scarves, etc. to those at the Mustard Seed! The first meeting will be October 10. Please bring your own yarn and needles. Six weeks plus! Adventures in Worcester County, Courtney Stevens, Weekly Field trips! Please note that Adult Ministries has offered partial funding so if you need financial assistance, reach out to Courtney (stevens.courtneyann@gmail.com). We want these adventures accessible to all! Saturday, October 13: 11-2ish Hike up Mt. Wachusett with picnic lunch at the top! Saturday, October 20: 11 am Corn Maze (followed by ice cream) at West End Creamery in Whitinsville ($12.95 pp) Friday, October 26: 6 pm Rail Trail stroll in West Boylston Saturday, November 3: 10 am Old Sturbridge Village ($28 pp - many options for 50% off tickets- MTA members, library passes, etc.) Saturday, November 10: 1 pm Tower Hill ($15 pp - some discounts available and library passes) Pups and Pastries, Joseph Zuniga, Weekly We will meet at Beaver Brook Dog Park Fridays at 5:00 pm with treats for ourselves and our furry friends. We may also venture into local cafes that are pet friendly! Trivia Night, Annika Dixon, Weekly Do you think you can go head to head with Worcester s best and brightest, know a lot of random facts, or simply enjoy getting food and drink with friends? If so, this might be the small group for you! Open to everyone, regardless of experience, this small group will attend various trivia nights around Worcester. Times and locations will vary slightly from week to week (though all will be evenings Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday), so if you can t make one time, you can always come the next week. Lectio Divina, Jana Yeaton, Weekly Mondays at 7:00 pm. Contemplative engagement with scripture through reading, listening, silence and prayer. Contact Jana for more information or to sign up: jana.yeaton@gmail.com or Trick-or-Canning at Briarwood Saturday, October 27, 11 am - 2 pm Please join the youth ministry team for Trick-or-Canning at Briarwood (the senior living center with strong ties to FBC and where several FBC members are in residence!). Kids will come in costume with their parents to Briarwood for 11 am. Together we will stroll to some of the cottages asking for canned goods that we will donate to a local food bank. After trick-or-canning, we will head back to the Auditorium in the main building at Briarwood for pizza with some of the FBC members in residence! We are also inviting kids from the Salem Covenant Church, located near Briarwood, to join us! Please RSVP to fbcyouth@fbc-worc.org by October 22nd. Rewind Each week the sermon is intended to serve as the beginning of a conversation. Join us on Wednesdays at 6pm to continue the dialogue together. What questions and insights do you want to share with the pastor and one another? What do you need to hear again?

7 Yes on 3 Join us Tuesday evenings in October, anytime between 6-9 pm as we work with Freedom Massachusetts to make calls in support of Yes on 3--a ballot initiative that protects the rights of trans persons in Massachusetts. Interfaith Hospitality House The Outreach Team is looking for volunteers for the Interfaith Hospitality House on June Street from Nov. 4 - Nov. 11. The shifts are 5:308:30 pm and 8 pm-6:30 am. Please contact Lyn Stevens, Facilitator of Outreach. Contra Dance Friday, October 26, 7:30-10 pm Gordon Hall Worcester Folk Orchestra, featuring Myra MacLeod, will provide music and caller Rich Sbardella will lead the dancers. $5/pp, $10 max/family (of any size), free for college students (with ID). LGBTQ+ Asylum Gala A Place to Call Home, to be held on Saturday, October 27 at the DCU Center from 5:30-9:30 pm. The goal this year is to raise funds for a down payment on a house for their asylum seekers. They will again have drinks, dinner and great entertainment. Please see Barbara Ward or Lyn Stevens to reserve a seat. Fall Business Meeting October 28 After Worship Save the Date 10/14 Sun 10:00 am Anniversary of 50 Year Members Sanctuary and Gordon Hall 10/14 Sun 11:30 am Scrogin Great Issues: The Bible: The Biography by Karen Armstong Roy Room 6:00 pm Rewind Sermon Discussion Pastor s Study 10/17 Wed 10/21 Sun 11:00 am Youth: Apple Crisp Making for the Mustard Seed 10/21 Sun 11:30 am Adult Forum: Conversation with Brent Gordon Hall 10/24 Wed 6:00 pm Rewind Sermon Discussion Pastor s Study 10/26 Fri 7:30 pm Contra Dance Gordon Hall 10/27 Sat 11:00 am Youth: Trick or Canning and Pizza Party Briarwood 10/27 Sat 5:30 pm 10/28 Sun 11:00 am Fall Business Meeting Sanctuary 10/28 Sun 11:00 am FBC Family Photo Sanctuary 10/30 Tue 12:00 pm Mustard Seed Meal Preparation 5:00 pm Mustard Seed Serving Meals 10/31 Wed 6:00 pm LGBTQ+ Asylum Gala DCU Center Rewind Sermon Discussion Pastor s Study Attention Knitters! The Mitten Tree is in Gordon Hall. Hang preschool/child size mittens on the tree in October. We will distribute them in November to Head Start. Family Photo Sunday, October 28 After Worship Service

8 Thanks for Being Here! We are so glad you worshipped with us this morning! Thank you for being here. Each of you matters to us, and we hope to get to know you better. We are a Welcoming & Affirming Church, and a Safe Space for all people. What that means: Who you are, and how you re created is a gift to this world and this faith community, and we celebrate the ways your life gives witness to the way of Christ in both. Maybe it s your race or nationality, your age or vocation, your sexual orientation, your gender identity, your faith background, your political affiliation or personal aspirations, you are celebrated here. You are safe here, to fully be who God has created you to be. And if you would like to partner in ministry with us, we have no doubt that your participation will make us a better faith community. We have weekly opportunities for learning and friendship. Check out our Announcements or subscribe from our website s home page ( to our weekly e-newsletter on the happenings of our church. Following our services each week, we invite you to join us in Gordon Hall for coffee and refreshments, our treat! If you re new, we d love a chance to get to know you, and if you re a regular, well, you know what to do--make a new friend! Gordon Hall is located through the exit to your right (the pulpit side). All-Gender Restrooms are available in the rear of the sanctuary or to the exit to your right, near Gordon Hall. If you still aren t sure of their location, ask a new friend--they ll be happy to show you the way! Last but not least! We have connection cards. Fill one out and drop it in the offering plate, and our Pastor will be happy to reach out during the week to answer any questions or give you any more information about our great church! Contact Us The First Baptist Church of Worcester 111 Park Avenue, Worcester, Massachusetts info@fbc-worc.org Facebook Phone: (508) The Reverend Brent A. Newberry, Pastor Derek Henson, Associate Pastor of Administration & Communication Wesley Harrison Hall, Minister of Music and Arts