Norfield Congregational Church Rev. Dr. Bernard R. Wilson, Senior Minister Homecoming Sunday

Transcription

1 Norfield Congregational Church Rev. Dr. Bernard R. Wilson, Senior Minister Homecoming Sunday September 13, 2015

2 Ringing of the Church Bell Gathering Songs Call to Worship September 13, 2015 Homecoming Sunday (Let the bell s sound call your heart to worship.) Let s Get Singing! Join in when you can. Leader: In every one of us there is a longing for home. People: It s a longing for a place where we are known, accepted and loved for who we are. Leader: It s a longing for a place where we are nurtured, guided, and challenged to become more than we are. People: It s a longing to belong, and to create a home where God s children know they belong. Leader: God calls to us, You can come home now. There is a home for you in my forgiving love. There is a home for you in my living Word. There is a home for you in my church, the fellowship of my servant people. All: And our hearts respond, We are coming. Open the door wide. We are coming home. *Hymn No. 464 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee HYMN TO JOY Welcome Call to Prayer Teach Me (Songbook #165) (Sing as an echo of the leader.) Pastoral Prayer The 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. Children s Sermon Children will stay in worship with their families. *Hymn No. 145 Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart MARION

3 Scripture Readings 1 Timothy 3: (NLT) 14 I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, 15 so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16 Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory. Mark 8: (NRSV) 31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things. 34 He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37 Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38 Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. Sermon Homecoming: Celebrating God s Gift of the Church Rev. Dr. Bernard R. Wilson Invitation to Giving Offertory Anthem All Good Gifts from Godspell Stephen Schwartz *Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Christ, all people here below; Praise Holy Spirit evermore: Praise Triune God, whom we adore. Amen. OLD HUNDREDTH Prayer of Dedication

4 *Hymn All Creatures of Our God and King (No. 455) LASST UNS ERFREUEN Lyrics stanza 4 by Rev. Dr. Bernard R. Wilson and Ellen Dickinson All creatures of our God and King, Lift up your voice and with us sing, Alleluia! Alleluia! Thou burning sun with golden beam, Thou silver moon with softer gleam! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Thou rushing wind that art so strong, Ye clouds that sail in Heaven along, O sing ye! Alleluia! Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice,ye lights of evening, find a voice! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Thou flowing water, pure and clear, Make music for thy Lord to hear, Alleluia! Alleluia! Thou fire so masterful and bright, That givest us both warmth and light. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! O Norfield, sing God s praises, too; Tell all of God s love ever true; Lift your voices, Alleluia! Share Gospel news in every place, To every nation, every race. Tell the story of God s glory; Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Benediction Response Postlude Allegro Maestoso from the Water Music G.F. Handel *Asterisk indicates standing for those who desire

5 Welcome Visitors! We are delighted to have you joining us here at Norfield today! Please let us know if you have additional questions, or require further assistance. Do not hesitate to ask one of our greeters or ushers, a deacon (identified by name badges), or one of our ministers. Please also take a moment to fill out a nametag for yourself so we can greet you by name. Infant and toddler care is available in the lower level of the Christian Education Building. An usher can direct you. You can also see and hear the service in the Greene Room if you need to. A Children s sermon is shared most Sundays and all children are invited to come to the front of the altar and join us. Norfield s Church School, called Discovery Hour, meets during the service. Children leave after the Children s Sermon, accompanied by their teachers. All children are welcome and encouraged to attend. Pre-registration is not necessary. Children can then be picked up following the service at the Christian Education Building. Please ask us for directions. Hearing Assistance System amplifiers are available. Please speak with an usher if you would like to use one. Large Print Bulletins are available, including all hymn texts and responsive readings. Please speak with an usher if you would like to use one. Prayer Cards are located in the pew racks. If you have a prayer request, please fill one out and place it in the offering plate or give it to a minister. We pray over these concerns each week. Please fill in your address and any questions you might have on the back of one of the Prayer Cards in the pews, and then put the card in the offering plate or give it to a minister. Please join us, following the service, for coffee hour in the Parish Hall so we can welcome you personally and introduce ourselves. Please visit our website at for more information, and for updates on church activities and service schedules.

6 P a ri sh Note s September 13, 2015 Norfield Congregational Church Office Hours: Monday Friday 9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Senior Minister Office Hours: Monday Thursday 10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Welcome! Thank you for joining us today! We hope that the hour spent in this sacred space will draw you closer to God, and an awareness of God s love. Name Tags! In an effort to maintain and nurture our Norfield family we ask that everyone please put on a name tag. They can be found in the pew box in front of you! Leaders of Worship Senior Minister Rev. Dr. Bernard R. Wilson Associate Minister of Children, Youth and Families Rev. Kelly Hough Rogers Pastoral Associate for Wholeness Ministries Rev. Diane Stevenson Director of Music & Worship Arts Dr. David H. Connell Deacon of the Day Dan Klein Ushers Laura Casellas & Adrienne Wallace Greeters The Bos Family Our Prayer List (September) I lift up my eyes to the hills from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1-2) Concerns: For those on our Prayer List. Joys: Answered Prayers (If you would like to put a name, concern, or joy on the prayer list, please call the church office at Your prayer concern will remain on the list for the month; if you would like to extend that time please call the church office.) The altar flowers are given on behalf of Norfield as they celebrate Homecoming! Welcome Home Norfielders! Discovery Hour Children will stay in the Sanctuary for worship today.

7 Announcements Youth Group and Confirmation News! We're gearing up to kick off another awesome year at Norfield! Our Confirmation Parents meeting will be today from 6:00-7:00pm in the Parish Hall. Parents and 9th graders should plan on attending if you want your child to be Confirmed in May of 2016! Also, 3-5th grade Youth Fellowship will start Sept. 16th! Please join us after MMM or come to the community dinner at 5:30 and stay for Youth Fellowship from 6:00-7:00! 6-8th grade Youth Group will kick off on Sunday September 20th with a combined event with the Confirmation Class and the Youth Groups from the Redding, Bridgeport and Newtown Congregational Churches. There will be tons of kids here for serious fun! Please plan on joining us! Also - Rev. Kelly is looking for some Youth volunteers to help with the CLASP dance at Norfield's Giving Day on Sept. 26th. RSVP to Rev. Kelly at kellyhrogers@gmail.com There are two ways to be involved: On Saturday September 26, Norfield will host its 4th Annual Day of Giving. This is our chance to come together as a church family and give our time, talent or treasure to others in the community that are in need of our support. The list of service projects will be available soon. 1) Volunteer with a Service Project You and/or your family will spend 2-4 hours either in the morning or afternoon on the Day of Giving, working on a service project along side our beneficiaries. We all meet at Norfield on the morning of September 26 for a quick breakfast and a high spirited send off. You will meet with other volunteers and you ll head off to work! We will organize where you will be working, so leave the details to us. If you are not available on the actual day of the event but would like to volunteer on a project at other time, that s great! Please go ahead and sign up in the Parish Hall or online at and we will get in touch with you. 2) Donate to the Day of Giving If you are unable to volunteer on the Day of Giving, we completely understand. We hope you will consider making a modest donation to the event that will help with purchasing supplies, food for the volunteers and other critical costs of the event. Checks can be made out to Norfield Church with Day of Giving in the memo. Thank you in advance for your generosity. Need to chat further? Please feel free to contact us at Outreach@norfield.org and we will get back to you asap! Spread the Word. See You There!

8 C h u rch Calendar Day Date Time Event Place Sunday 9/13 10:00am Homecoming Sunday Sanctuary 6:00pm Confirmation Parents Meeting Parish Hall Monday 9/14 7:00pm Boy Scouts Parish Hall 7:30pm Council Meeting Norfield Room Wednesday 9/16 9:30am Open Door Bible Study Banks Room 11:00am Senior Lunch Parish Hall 4:00pm Music Makers Ministry CE Bldg 5:30pm Community Supper Parish Hall 6:00pm Youth Fellowship (Grades 3-5) Parish Hall Saturday 9/19 8:30am Kiwanis Parish Hall Sunday 9/20 10:00am Worship Sanctuary 4:00pm Youth Fellowship (Grades 6-8) Parish Hall Interested in Small Groups? Were you involved in Norfield s Small Group Ministries in the past or are you interested in learning more? Small Groups meet regularly to study and connect deeply to new friends, to deepen our spiritual practice and clarify matters of faith and theology. Please contact Deacon Carol Hamilton chhamilton@optonline.net or Seminary Intern Christiane Kinseley at Christiane.Kinseley@yale.edu to learn more. BOARD AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS: Moderator Don Gary Church Clerk Kerri Meredith Assistant Treasurer Pam LaFontaine Board of Trustees Britta Lerner Human Resources Walter McCullough Senior Shepherds Arlene Pitts Board of Christian Education Eric Braun Prayer Shawl Ministry Jacqueline Pike Board of Christian Outreach David MacWilliams Vice Moderator Rob Sanders Nominating Committee Gaitrie Bos Altar Committee Bobbie Sassano & Gaitrie Bos Board of Deacons Carol Hamilton Board of Music Andrew Bunger Board of Fellowship Kim Gautier Prayer Requests Jackie Troxell Shepherds Lois Bechtel & Missy Dorsey Treasurer Herb Cotter