Second Congregational Church of Boxford United Church of Christ

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1 Second Congregational Church of Boxford United Church of Christ November 10, 2013 No matter who you are, or where you are on life s journey, you are welcome here.

2 Order of Divine Worship Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost The Reverend Laura A. Gronberg, Pastor Sandi Nason, Director of Music Ken Littlefield, Organist PRELUDE Songs of Thanks and Praise Bell Choir WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS CONGREGATIONAL INTROIT AND LIGHTING OF CANDLES Surely the Presence of the Lord Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place; I can feel God s mighty power and God s grace. I can hear the brush of angels wings, I see glory on each face; Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place. WOLFE *CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The God who is greater than we will ever understand, People: is humbled to become one of us. Leader: The God who is more loving that our hearts dare imagine, People: gives us more grace than we ever realize. Leader: The God who is wiser than we will ever know, People: teaches us all we need to become God's children. *GATHERING HYMN God of the Ages, Who with Sure Command No. 592 SHARING OUR PRAYER REQUESTS GATHERING PRAYER Holy God, you have commanded us to not be afraid and assured us of your presence. In the midst of trials and joys, sorrows and dreams may we know your presence and rejoice. Grant us courage, O God, to take delight in your spirit in all times and all places. Grant us faith, O God, to see the myriad of ways you give life. Grant us hope, O God, to participate in your work in the world. Grant us love, O God, to welcome, respond, and act with compassion in all we say and do. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray together... *We invite everyone who is able, to please stand.

3 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. *HALLELUJA ANTHEM In the Season of Our Plenty PARKER AND PATTERSON CHILDREN S MESSAGE Holiday Weekend Sunday School: Thankfulness Grades K-6 meet in the Park House sunroom Younger children are welcome in the Nursery Senior High Youth who made reservations, may leave for Breakfast with Betsey *HYMN Pues Si Vivimos (In All Our Living) No. 499 Opening verse in Spanish will be sung by Kimberly Robertson. Please join in singing the verses in English. SCRIPTURE READING Luke 20: Pages SERMON What? No Bridge in Heaven? SERVICE OF PRAYER Pastoral Prayer Silent Prayer Sung Prayer Response Hear our prayer, O Lord, Hear our prayer, O Lord, Incline thine ear to us, and grant us thy peace. Amen. WHELPTON

4 OFFERTORY Call to Offering Offering our Gifts *Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God for all that love has done; Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One. Amen. *Prayer of Dedication For the gifts offered this day and every day we give thanks, O God. Make us good stewards of all you have entrusted to our care. May these gifts be used to serve your beloved creation, and sustain your children throughout the earth. Amen. *CLOSING HYMN Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise No. 1 *BENEDICTION *BENEDICTION RESPONSE For the harvest of the Spirit, thanks be to God. For the good we all inherit, thanks be to God. For the wonders that astound us, for the truths that still confound us. Most of all that love has found us, thanks be to God. GREEN POSTLUDE Please keep in your prayers For Loss: For Healing: Paul and Chris Johnson & Family for the loss of Chris sister, Kathy Alice Wheelock & Family, friends of Karen Kasper, for the loss of her husband, George Enza, Sandi Nason s friend and chemo buddy Mary Maclean, Karen Kasper s mother as she recovers from a broken shoulder Sandi Nason as she faces surgery Jerry Nissenbaum as he recovers from open heart surgery For all those searching for work

5 The flowers on the altar this morning are given by Grace Johnson in celebration of Wally s birthday. If you are visiting with us today, please take a moment to fill out a Welcome Card and place it in the offering plate at the time of the collection. Also make yourself known to the newcomer greeters so that they can tell you more about Second Church. Today s newcomer greeter is Martha Clark. Our Lay Reader this morning is George Hildebrand. Pam Moline is our Flutist. Our Hospitality Committee invites you to join us for great food and fellowship in the Parish Hall after Worship. Our Parish Hall is found by exiting the sanctuary through the door to the left of the pulpit. Today are hostesses are Amy Figelski, Jane Messenger and Barbara Was. Due to allergy concerns, no unwrapped food items may be taken out of the Parish Hall. The language of our worship service is intended to be inclusive to all people. However, we realize that this goal is not always possible. Therefore, we invite you to use wording that is most meaningful to you. Worship Notes: Our Call to Worship is written by Thom Shuman of Lectionary Liturgies. Our Gathering Prayer and Prayer of Dedication are from Feasting on the Word: Worship Companion, edited by Kimberly Bracken Long. AUDIO SERMONS Weekly sermons are available at LARGE PRINT BULLETINS We have large print hymnals and bulletins for your use. If you would like to use one, please ask the ushers. HEARING ASSISTED DEVICES Please see one of the ushers to determine which of the two devices offered are applicable to your needs. Please return the devices to the ushers at the end of service. CHAIR LIFT Access to the Sanctuary is available in the lower vestibule. CHILDREN S BULLETINS There are children s bulletins and crayons available in the Narthex for our little ones to use during worship. Please ask the ushers. NURSERY CARE below the sanctuary. We welcome your children to our staffed nursery. The nursery is located From the Sanctuary: From the parking lot: Use the back stairway in the Narthex to go directly to the Nursery below. Enter the church through side door to the lobby. Turn left towards the Village School classrooms. The nursery is he last room on the left. A special thank you this morning to our Senior and Bell Choirs Senior Choir: Dan Bruns, Larry Dodge, Sharon Glass, Ron Holmgren, Beverly Killam, Liz Kretsch, Martha Law, Ken Littlefield, Archie Messenger, Pam Moline, Kimberly Robertson & Jim Sterio Bell Choir: Chris Barensfeld, Dan Bruns, Jean Bruns, Martha Clark, Lori Fahrner, Rachel Fahrner, John Hagerman, Ginny Keilty, Beverly Killam, & Pam Moline

6 ANNOUNCEMENTS DIRTY SUNDAY It's Dirty Sunday time again!! Join us to rake up some of New England's pride and joy. Everyone is welcome, come dressed in your worst, don't forget gloves and your favorite garden tools, baskets, tarps, leaf blowers, You will be photographed in action!! If you are more inclined to kitchen duties, we are going to prepare a feast for all to say thank you. And we will then attend church in all our glory!! Date: November 17th, Sunday Time: 7:30 am until 9:30am Start at the Park House kitchen for coffee and doughnuts; hot cocoa for kids. You will be given your assignment, and be joined by many others. Our most valuable players, Charlie Killam and Stev Knowles, will be manning the trucks that will haul away all of our produce. We especially welcome our teenagers and Confirmands. Thankfully, Your Trustees and the Landscape Committee. SECOND CHURCH KEY CODE Recent events have caused us to examine our security around the church campus. As a result, we must change the key code to the church building next week. Please contact Stefanie Nolan at the church office, by phone (978) or by office@secondchurchboxford.org, if you need access to the building code. Stefanie will be keeping a record of who has the key code, so please do not distribute the information to fellow church members; instead direct them to get the code directly from Stefanie. Please note, the Village School, which meets in our church building Monday Friday from 9am- 3pm, has also examined their security needs. Limiting visitors to the church building during school hours is helpful to them. Therefore, if you are able to accomplish your business in the church building during hours the school is not in session, it would be greatly appreciated. LADIES CHARITABLE SOCIETY JEWELRY & BAKE TABLES It s that time of year! Ladies Charitable is busy planning their Christmas Boutique, which is part of West Boxford s Winter Festival to be held on Saturday, December 7, Once again the Boutique is featuring a jewelry table. If you have any jewelry to donate, we welcome it. Feel free to drop off your donations at the Park House during office hours. We also will have our annual bake table. We would greatly appreciate any baked goods donations such as cookies, breads, candy, etc. They may be left at the Park House kitchen on Friday, December 6 between 9-11am where they will be wrapped and priced. If you have any questions, please call Grace Johnson at We hope that you will stop by the boutique and take a look at all of the special items that we have to offer. Thank You! NO ATTIC TREASURES Ladies Charitable will not be running an attic treasures tablet this year. Please DO NOT drop off items at the church office. We are continuing to have a jewelry table so you may drop off jewelry items at the office. Please plan to save the date of December 7 to come to the Holiday Boutique / Yuletide Marketplace and join us for a fun day with the whole family.

7 CALENDAR Sunday November 10 Monday November 11 Tuesday November 12 Wednesday November 13 Thursday November 14 Friday November 15 Sunday November 17 10:00 am Worship, Holiday Sunday School for K - Grade 6 10:20 am SHYG Breakfast with Betsey (if you have previously registered) 11:30 am Junior Choir Practice Sanctuary 3:30 pm SHYG to volunteer at Cor Unum Meal Center in Lawrence, MA Veteran s Day Office Closed Leave church parking lot after the Children s Message approx.10:20am Leave church parking lot at 3:30pm. Return at 7:30pm. 7:00 pm Council Meeting Park House Living Room 9:30 am Women s Bible Study (WBS) Susan Young s House 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Ladies Charitable Society (LCS) Annual Stone Soup/Craft Workshop Park House 7:30 pm Pastor Parish Relations Committee Pastor s Parlor/Library 7:00 pm New Member Gathering Parsonage 7:30 pm Choir Practice 8:00 pm AA Meeting Park House Living Room 7:00 pm Middle School Youth Group to gather for games & activities. Also to create posters for Heifer Project Sale in December Parish Hall 7:00 am Dirty Sunday Second Church Grounds 10:00 am Worship, Thanksgiving In-Gathering, Sunday School for all, 11:30 am Junior Choir Practice Sanctuary 4:15 pm Senior High Youth Group trip to Laser Craze in North Andover Leaving church parking lot at 4:15pm and will return at 7:15pm.

8 CORE BELIEFS We, the members of the Second Congregational Church of Boxford, United Church of Christ, believe in a loving, forgiving and merciful God who is creator and sustainer of all. Although we believe that full knowledge of God is beyond human understanding, we believe that God is revealed to us in many ways through scripture, worship, community and personal revelation. We believe Jesus is God manifest in human form, and is a healer, leader and teacher who welcomes all. We believe Jesus is our way of both better understanding God, and of developing a permanent and loving connection to God. We believe the Holy Spirit of God permeates all life. We believe the Holy Spirit is the nature of God that challenges, empowers, encourages and nurtures us. We believe the Church is a community of people who covenant with God and with one another to provide a safe, loving and caring environment to worship together, to grow in faith, to support and encourage one another, and to extend support to those in need both locally and globally. We believe it is our responsibility to share God s blessings with others through our financial resources as well as our time and abilities, and to work to provide justice and compassion for all God s children. We believe we must reach out to all who are interested and welcome them into our church home. VISION STATEMENT We, the Second Congregational Church of Boxford, are a family of faith gathered together to worship and serve our loving God. Christ is our example and teacher. We strive to imitate his life by loving, respecting and caring for one another. Our future lies with our children. We will nurture them and guide them by personal example, sound Biblical teachings, and a spiritual education that affirms God s love. It is our responsibility to educate ourselves as well as our children so that we, like Christ may understand God s will for our lives. God has given each individual unique and diverse gifts. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to use these gifts in the service of God, ministering to those in need for the benefit of all creation. We covenant with God and with one another to live this vision through our words and by our deeds. ****************************************************************** We welcome you to Second Congregational Church and hope that you found inspiration in your worship experience with us. If we may be of assistance in any way, please do not hesitate to call or write. The Rev. Laura A. Gronberg, Pastor Betsey Guest-Natale, Youth Director Tina de la Cruz, Sunday School Superintendent Stefanie Nolan, Office Administrator Bob Was, Moderator Martha Maysek, Communications Administrator Betty Obernesser, Treasurer Sandi Nason, Director of Music Ken Littlefield, Organist Kimberly Robertson, Sexton Pastor@secondchurchboxford.org Youth@secondchurchboxford.org Sundayschool@secondchurchboxford.org Office@secondchurchboxford.org Moderator@secondchurchboxford.org Communications@secondchurchboxford.org Treasurer@secondchurchboxford.org Music@secondchurchboxford.org Organist@secondchurchboxford.org Sexton@secondchurchboxford.org Mailing Address: P.O. Box 508, West Boxford, MA Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 9am - 2pm