Stewardship Sunday 12 October 2008

Transcription

1 Old Greenwich, FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH United Church Connecticut OF GREENWICH of Christ Founded in 1665 Stewardship Sunday 12 October o clock in the morning

2 W elcome to this Service of Worship at First Congregational Church. This is Stewardship Sunday, when our hearts and minds begin to meditate on our pledged intentions in support of the church s ministry during the coming year of Theologian Paul Tillich reminds us of a twin truth: Religion is first, an open hand to receive a gift, and second, an acting hand to distribute gifts. PREPARING FOR WORSHIP *All who are able please stand Seating of latecomers PRELUDE Cortège et Litanie; Op.19, No.2 CALL TO COMMUNITY Please sign and pass the red book. Terence J. Flanagan, organ Marcel Dupré Kate S. Forer PRAISING GOD CALL TO WORSHIP * OPENING HYMN AND PROCESSION O How Glorious, Full of Wonder New Century Hymnal 558 OPENING PRAYER Your purposes touch our lives at the growing edge, O God of Encouragement. Be present to us as a faith community in this brief hour of growth and stewardship, that we might be equipped for faithful living in the company of Jesus Christ. Amen.

3 CALL TO CONFESSION CONFESSING TO GOD PRAYER OF CONFESSION You have called us to a life of simplicity, O God of our salvation, but our lives are cluttered with many things, rendering us insensitive to your calling. You have prompted us in the rich ways of sharing, O God of our redemption, but we are skilled at holding tight, pushing us beyond your prompting. You have prodded us toward a lifestyle of service, O God of transformation, but we are more comfortable with being served, distancing us from the influence of your prodding. Forgive us this day for our dimness in seeing and following, for we would be renewed as disciples of Jesus whose simplicity, whose sharing, whose service, marked his life as one which was faithful to your purposes. Amen. WORDS OF ASSURANCE Congregational Response Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. HEARING GOD'S WORD FIRST LESSON Betsy Kreuter Philippians 2:1-11 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God

4 as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. SCRIPTURE ANTHEM The Chancel Choir; Lisa Flanagan, soprano Treasures in Heaven Joseph W. Clokey Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, Where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal, But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Ask, and it shall be given you; Seek, and ye shall find; Knock and it shall be opened unto you, For everyone that asketh receiveth, And he that seeketh findeth, And to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (Matthew 6:19-21, 7:7-8) SECOND LESSON John 2:13-22 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money-changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father s house a market-place! His disciples remembered that it was written, Zeal for your house will

5 consume me. The Jews then said to him, What sign can you show us for doing this? Jesus answered them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. The Jews then said, This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days? But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. * HYMN Take My Gifts and Let Me Love You New Century Hymnal 562 SERMON Money Changers in the Temple Rev. Dr. David D. Young RESPONDING TO GOD *LITANY OF AFFIRMATION Leader: Thou that has given so much to me Give one thing more a grateful heart. People: Not thankful when it pleaseth me, As if thy blessings had spare days; But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise. Leader: Die when I may, I want it said of me by those who knew me best, that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow. People: And so we offer ourselves and gifts of hand and heart, that this place of worship and community life might be enabled and strengthened for continued faithfulness in the ministry of Christ. Leader: The Lord who created must wish us to create and employ our creation again in God s service which is already God s in creating. People: For humankind is joined spirit and body, and therefore must serve as spirit and body. Visible and invisible, two world s meet in humankind; visible and invisible must meet in God s Temple. Leader: Because it is by grace you have been saved, through faith; not by anything of your own, but by a gift from God.

6 People: We are God s work of art, created in Christ Jesus to live the good life as from the beginning God has meant us to live it. George Herbert/Abraham Lincoln/T.S. Eliot/Paul of Tarsus *Gloria (New Century Hymnal 754) Glory to God the Creator, and to the Christ, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. 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 OFFERTORY ANTHEM The Chancel Choir; Hanna Golodinskii, soprano; Vasil Golodinskii, bass Let This Mind Be in You Mrs. H.H.A. Beach Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God. But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross. Wherefore, God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue, every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2: 5-11)

7 *Doxology (New Century Hymnal 776) Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Christ, all creatures here below; Praise Holy Spirit, Comforter; One God, Triune, whom we adore. Amen. Amen. *PRAYER OF DEDICATION GOING FORTH TO SERVE GOD *CLOSING HYMN AND PROCESSION Born of God, Eternal Savior New Century Hymnal 542 *CLOSING SENTENCES Leader: A Christian is someone to whom God entrusts all of humanity. People: Without sacrifice there is no resurrection. Nothing grows and blooms save by giving. Leader: All you try to save in yourself wastes and perishes. How do you know the fruit is ripe? Because it leaves the bush. People: All things ripen for giving s sake and in the giving are consummated. Dwight L. Moody/Andre Gide *BENEDICTION *BENEDICTION RESPONSE POSTLUDE Improvisation Thomas Dahl, organ The flowers in the Meetinghouse this morning are given in remembrance of J. Robert Guy by Louise Guy and daughters, Christina Birkic and Cynthia Slack. 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,

8 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 Child Care is available today during the service for babies and toddlers. Younger preschool children are welcome as well. Please ask the ushers for directions if needed. Church School resumes next week. The Bible Study on the Letter to the Hebrews led by Dan England resumes today at 11:15 in the Lounge. Since we re looking at Chapters 3 and 4, this is a great section for those who are a little fuzzy about people like Moses, Aaron and Joshua (as in Jericho not Bullfrog). Nor does Christopher Columbus come into it (except that his name is From the Late Greek name Χριστοφορος (Christophoros) meaning bearing Christ, derived from Χριστος (Christos) combined with φερω (phero) - to bear, to carry. It was used by early Christians as a metaphorical name, expressing that they carried Christ in their hearts). Hurry so you can get a seat. Blood Pressure Screening A member of the Wellness Committee is available to check blood pressures in Room 203 following the worship service. Our 16 th Annual Organ Oktoberfest continues this afternoon at 4:00 with a recital by German organist Thomas Dahl who has agreed to improvise our postlude this morning to give you a taste of his artistry. His program entitled A Paris Organ Stroll will be an imaginary visit to various Paris churches through compositions by the organists historically connected to those churches and verbal program notes. He will also include an improvisation, this one on the Fontaine Stravinsky. John Stansell will join Maestro Dahl at the encore for a four-footed organ duet. There s no admission charge, just a requested donation. Do take advantage of this wonderful opportunity! THIS WEEK Attention Women of the Church! On October there will be a retreat at Silver Lake Conference Center. This is a wonderful opportunity

9 to connect with other women in the church, to rest in the beauty of God s creation and to explore your own spiritual journey. It will be a time of renewal and spiritual nourishment for all of us! Come for the whole weekend, or for a part of it! If you are interested, there will be sign-up sheets at coffee hour. If you are interested in helping plan and/or lead the retreat please speak with Kate Forer, or her at kforer@fccog.org. NEXT SUNDAY Inviting New Members Our next New Members class will be held on Sunday October 19, 2008 at 11:15 am in the Lounge. It will last approximately two hours and will include lunch. During the class, prospective new members have the opportunity to hear about the history and faith of our denomination, the United Church of Christ, to learn more about our church and meet the clergy as well as the staff. Child care will be provided. Please feel welcome to join us. Flu Vaccine Clinics - Before and After Worship Service On two Sundays, October 19 and 26, from 9:00 to 9:45 am and from 11:00 am to 12 pm, influenza vaccines will be available in Room 203. Vaccines will be administered on a first-come, first-served basis to people 18 years of age or older who bring payment of $25 cash or check (made out to FCCOG). We are unable to bill insurances, but we can provide a receipt. Individuals under 18 should see their primary physician for the vaccine. Pregnant women should discuss vaccine options with their doctor. The Wellness Committee thanks you for your cooperation. NEWS AND NOTICES 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 First Congregational Church of Greenwich 108 Sound Beach Avenue, Old Greenwich, Connecticut, (203) Ministers: Members of First Congregational Church of Greenwich Senior Pastor: Rev. Dr. David D. Young Minister of Communication and Adult Education: Rev. Daniel B. England Minister of Pastoral Care: Rev. Ronald E. Halvorsen Associate Pastor for Christian Education: Kate S. Forer Associate Pastor for Youth Ministry: Rev. Mark D. Montgomery Director of Music/Senior Organist: Dr. John Stansell Associate Organist/Director: Terence J. Flanagan Director of Church School: Rosemary Lamie Director of Membership: Ginny Breismeister Parish Nurse: Susan Asselin Pastors Emeriti: Rev. Dr. Thomas L. Stiers and Rev. Sally Colegrove