Main Street Congregational Church

Transcription

1 No matter who you are on where you are on life s journey Come, experience God s love Go, Main Street Congregational Church United Church of Christ 145 Main Street Amesbury, Massachusetts www. main-street-church.org office@main-street-church.org

2 Main Street Congregational Church United Church of Christ At 145 Main Street, Amesbury, MA The Congregation The Reverend Joan MacPherson Danny Smith Ministers Pastor and Teacher Music Minister Last Sunday after Epiphany 10:00 A.M. March 3rd, 2019 Prelude Introit Come Let us Bow Down, Let it Be Said of Us, The Summons, Come, Now is the Time to Worship I Have Decided to Follow Jesus Call to Worship Jayden Davis One: We were born to make real the glory of God that is within us. Many: It s not just in some of us; it s in everyone. One: And as we let our own light shine, Many: we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. One: So let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life. Many: By your powerful Spirit, turn our fear to courage One: And our confusion to confidence. Many: Speak to us in our worship God, for we are listening. *Hymn Leaning on the Everlasting Arms Insert *Confession Connor Olson Still Speaking God, we come with mixed thoughts and uncertain dreams. We can not live without others; yet we often take them for granted. Forgive us, God, for accepting mediocrity in your name and calling it good enough. Forgive us, God, for demanding exclusive expressions of faith even in the face of your expansive vision. Forgive us, God, for silencing the voice of the other and drowning out our transforming love. Amen. Assurance of Grace *Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, Amen.

3 Anthem Come Follow Me Martin Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer *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. *Hymn I Have Decided to Follow Jesus Insert Gospel Matthew 16:24-17:8 Insert Meditation Listen to Him Rev. Joan MacPherson Offertory I Stand Before Almighty God Alone Collins/Riddle *Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God above ye heavenly host, Creator, Savior, Holy Ghost. Amen. Prayer of Dedication

4 Sacrament of Communion Invitation Blessing of the Elements Words of Institution Distribution of the Elements - All are welcome at the table. We eat the bread as we receive it as a sign that we are called as individuals to the table. We hold the cup and drink it together when all have been served as a sign that we are all one in Christ s body. You may choose between juice or water from the communion. (There are gluten free crackers on the plates.) Prayer of Thanksgiving *Hymn Lo I Am With You Insert Commissioning and Benediction Response Carry your candle, run to the darkness Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn. Hold out your candle, for all to see it Take your candle, go light your world Take your candle, go light your world. *Those who are able, please stand. The steeple will be illuminated at Main Street Church this week In memory of Elinor & Donald Walden and in honor of her 100th birthday and 75th anniversary By Donna & Roger Jones

5 Welcome to worship at Main Street Church - During this time of worship we seek to open our full lives to the gift of God s radical and inclusive love. We are honored that you are worshipping with us today. If you are new in our midst, please fill out the welcome card in the pew so that we may stay connected. Please make a point of speaking with the pastor, she would welcome the chance to get to know you. Each week there is nursery care available in the Parish House for those four and under. Sunday School (grades k-8) begins after the time for Children and is held in the Parish House. Our music ministry begins with minutes of pre-service praise and worship music every Sunday morning. You are welcome to join in words in three ring binders in the pew - or center yourself silently. Coffee Hour following worship is located in the vestry (the building to the right of the sanctuary). The vestry can be accessed by going outside turning right and using the back entrance by the kitchen or by following the crowd through the swinging door at the front of the church and to the left of the choir. The vestry is located past the bathrooms through the kitchen. Financial Giving at Main Street Church - Offerings are received in worship each week for support of our ministries. Gifts can also be given through simple give from our web page main-street-church.org or with automatic bill pay from your bank. We are grateful for you support and for what your generosity enables. LARGE PRINT BULLETINS ARE AVAILABLE, PLEASE ASK THE GREETER. If you are visiting from another church: Please ask one of our Deacons for a Peace Candle to bring back to your home church. Please take our greetings and prayers with you and ask your home church to burn the candle during worship. Worship Ministry this week: Deacon: Eveyln Olson Greeters: Jane & Korty Church Coffee Hour: Bill & Nina Buxton & Sandy Jennings Lay Reader: Andrea Ratner

6 PRAYER LIST & CLIPBOARD A Prayer List clipboard is available as you enter the church. We invite you to list those who will be added to our prayer list. If there is a person who you feel would benefit from pastoral care, please let a deacon know. PLEASE KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS Michelle & George Dodier (friends of Robin Schell), Ted Bailey, Carlos and Katie Hernandez, Donna Stone, Don Nash, John Cote (Jonathan s father), Roger Jones s father, Michelle, Tommy McLean, family & friends of Bob Roy and family & friends of Troy Marden. According to the Northeast UCC Prayer Calendar, we pray for the Christ Church United of Dracut and the Rev. Carra McFadden. This Months communion offering This morning s communion offering will be going towards Salisbury Habitat Build sponsored by the Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity. Weekly Calendar Today 10:00 a.m. Worship Monday 9am-10 am Bible Study in Parish House Tuesday 9-11 a.m. volunteers sort bags at Steppe Up In 10:30-Noon Joan is at the Bakehouse for conversation 7 pm Adult Faith Wednesday 7 a.m.-7p.m. Our Neighbor s Table 11 am MSCC service on Cable 12 12:30-1:30 p.m. Intentional Spirit Community 3-6:00 p.m. Steppe Up In Open 7 pm Ash Wednesday service Thursday 2:30 p.m. MSCC service on Cable 12 7 pm Choir Friday 9:30 p.m. NA Vestry Saturday 9-Noon Steppe Up In open Sunday 2 pm Sanctuary Network meeting

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10 Monday Morning Bible Study 9-10 am in the Parish House. Join us to read the sacred story for the week to come and consider what God might be saying to you, to us, to the church. This is time of exploring and not dependent on scholarly biblical backgrounds. All are welcome. For more information talk to Rev. Joan or show up on Monday morning Steeple Lighting What nicer way to honor a loved one who has passsed, a birthday, anniversary or other special occasion by helping us keep the Steeple lit throughout the year. Members and friends are invited to sign up for a commemorative lighting of the Steeple, a list is available on the bulletin board in the Vestry. Listings are included in the Sunday bulletin and in this space of the monthly newsletter. A donation of $25 is requested. Please the church office for details regarding the date you wish to reserve and simply drop a payment in the collection plate with Steeple written in the memo. The Steppe Up Inn Bargain Shoppe Please continue to donate clean, wearable, winter clothing for men, women and children to the shop. We continue to need volunteers for Wednesday 3-6pm and Saturdays noon-3pm. We need help to keep this ongoing mission well supported into the year ahead. Please see the shop manager, Nancy Noseworthy for questions, suggestions or volunteering. The Steppe Up In is on Facebook! If you haven t heard already, The Steppe Up In has a new Facebook page at or you can also search for Steppe Up In Thrift Shop while on Facebook and find it that way. Please Like our new page and share posts to help spread the word about our thrift store and the wonderful items available for sale. The money raised is donated to the church and its ministries. Imagine how many people we could reach if everyone reading this share s a post!

11 DIRECTORY Rev. Joan MacPherson, Pastor (o), (h) Korty Church, Moderator , Arlyn Weieneth, Treasurer Kay Weiner, Collector , Lee Ford, Chair-Worship & Music , Betty Vitale-Neal, Chair-Fellowship , Brian Cressey, Chair-Trustees , Dee Morse, Pastoral Relations , Evelyn Olson, Clerk , Jennifer Stinson, Director Sunday School Lee Ford and Deb Rider, Co-chairs Sanctuary Team , , Robin Schell, Call to care Danny Smith, Music Minister Stacy Lamson, Church Admin. M-F 9am-1pm Sue Ranshaw, Prophet , Nancy Noseworthy, Manager, Steppe Up In , Maryanne Hatfield, Volunteer Coordinator, Steppe Up In , Lori Belleville, Sexton Steppe Up In Sophia Clark-Nursery Care Attendant

12 Reverend Dr. Traci Blackmon in Wenham March 24th at 1:30pm The First Church in Wenham UCC is delighted to announce that the Rev. Dr. Traci Blackmon will be joining them in celebrating their 375th Anniversary on Sunday March 24. She will speak at a special program at 1:30 p.m. The afternoon will include a Question & Answer Session. Friends and colleagues are cordially invited. Rev. Dr. Minister Ministries for The United Church of Christ and Senior Pastor of Christ The King United Church of Christ in Florissant, MO. Registration for the event is at MACUCC.org - speak with Rev Joan about car pooling. The Knitting baskets are here! To quote an article from the UCC Feed Your Spirit, "We sometimes say "when you sing, you pray twice." Maybe as they knit one, they pray twice?" Just as some of my students need focus tools to help them through the day; it has been pointed out that perhaps some of us need to keep our hands busy to help focus in church. After some discussion following a sharing of another church's knitting program it was obvious that some members were looking for just such an offering. The Board of Worship and Music made arrangements to have baskets of knitting materials available every Sunday. Please find them in the back of the church as you enter. There are two! We will begin with scarves. Each scarf is in a ziplock bag. Each scarf has been started, all you need to do is knit. The directions are on the bags. Most are straight knitting, although, we can arrange for more complicated patterns if you like. For the moment there is only one crochet option. The basket team is available to help, encourage and take suggestions. We will plan to arrange for a knitting demonstration in the future. Date yet to be determined. Until then, If you have a question, need help or want to donate supplies, please speak to Shirley Maynard, Betsy Morin, Joanne Mansur or Jen Prince-Moughan. Ash Wednesday Worship March 6th at 7 pm there will be an Ash Wednesday service at MSCC. We gather together to begin our Lenten journey with worship in the sanctuary.

13 Conversation about Membership-Sunday March 17-11:45 am There are many ways to be on a spiritual journey. There are many ways to be connected to the a congregation. One of those ways includes covenanting in membership. Wondering what that it? Wanting to know more about this particular community of hope called Main Street Church? Come talk with others seeking, some current members and Rev Joan following worship on March 17th. Please let her or the office know if you are coming - or if you are interested but can t make that date. Save the Date for our next Women's Retreat Our next retreat will be October 4th and 5th, 2019 with Laura Biddle at Rolling Ridge Retreat and Conference Center In North Andover, MA. More information will be coming soon. Questions-see Carmen Weisensee. Missions News The Salisbury Habitat project has begun and MSCC is taking part! It's all about helping to build a home for someone who has great need for one. Often stated: any and all kinds of talent is welcome to make this house a reality; people who know what to do with a hammer and people who do not. And, people who have a few hours and people who have many; ask Steve Horhota about his weekly attendance there. For the rest of us, several build dates have been offered - April 27 and June 1 to start with (fall dates will be announced soon). Gratefully, the April date is now fully staffed (to those who have signed up, stay tuned for further info from Jane Ansaldo Church). For those who missed the first time around, June 1 is right around the corner - see Anne Bourbeau for more info and signup. As with the April build, we'll need work-site workers as well as support workers; greeting and signing the team in or making lunches. See any Mission committee member for more info. Jane Ansaldo Church, (j.ansaldo@comcast.net), Anne Bourbeau(abourbeau@gmail.com), Laurie Irwin (irwinljb@gmail.com) Nancy Frick (nancyfrick@comcast.net ) We are also seeking interest in a fall trip outside of the local community. As with New Bern NC's hurricane damage, so too did the Florida Panhandle sustain damage - and has stayed well out of the headlines. We are proposing a mid-nov trip of 5-7 days duration with costs only in the several hundred range. Please see Laurie Irwin or Nancy Frick for more details.