THE GATHERING. PRELUDE Make Glad the City of God, op. 640 Carson P. Cooman

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "THE GATHERING. PRELUDE Make Glad the City of God, op. 640 Carson P. Cooman"

Norma Higgins
6 years ago
Views:

November 9, 2014 Consecration Sunday 11:00 am Warning! To enter into the life of this people of God is to encounter God s soul-challenging, life-changing, radicalizing love. Will you join us?

1 November 9, 2014 Consecration Sunday 11:00 am Warning! To enter into the life of this people of God is to encounter God s soul-challenging, life-changing, radicalizing love. Will you join us? Do you dare? THE GATHERING PRELUDE Make Glad the City of God, op. 640 Carson P. Cooman Take My Life, and Let It Be Rebecca O Brien, soloist Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord to Thee. Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise. Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of Thy love. Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee. Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King. Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee. Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold. Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose. Harry L. Huff Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine. Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne. Take my love; my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store. Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee. Frances Havergal, 1874

2 *HYMN 558 O How Glorious, Full of Wonder In Babilone *CALL TO WORSHIP Anthony T. Livolsi One: Beautiful are the works of God! Many: Beautiful also are the skins of God s people! One: Beautiful is the mind of God! Many: Beautiful also are the hopes of God s people! One: Beautiful is the heart of God! Many: Beautiful also are the souls of God s people! One: God made the heavens and the earth! Many: To God be the glory for the things that God has done! *A SIGN OF OUR UNITY AND RECONCILIATION WORDS OF WELCOME We invite you to greet those around you, wishing them peace or the peace of Christ. ANTHEM O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee Harry L. Huff O Master, let me walk with Thee In lowly paths of service free; Tell me Thy secret; help me bear The strain of toil, the fret of care. Help me the slow of heart to move By some clear, winning word of love; Teach me the wayward feet to stay, And guide them in the homeward way. Teach me Thy patience; still with Thee In closer, dearer company, In work that keeps faith sweet and strong, In trust that triumphs over wrong, In hope that sends a shining ray Far down the future s broadening way, In peace that only Thou canst give, With Thee, O Master, let me live. Amen, amen. Washington Gladden, 1879 * Indicates all who are able may stand 2

3 THE GIFT OF THE WORD SCRIPTURE Matthew 9:35-38 Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. *HYMN 532 Come, Labor On Ora Labora (At this time, children may leave for choir and care.) SERMON I Am a Rising Christian Deborah Washington *HYMN 309 We Are Your People Whitfield OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS *CALL TO PRAYER One: God be with you. Many: And also with you. One: May the peace of Christ dwell in your hearts. Many: Christ is our peace, our light and our hope. One: Let us pray. (The congregation may be seated.) John M. Edgerton PASTORAL PRAYER AND SILENT PRAYER THE LORD S PRAYER (unison) 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. 3

4 PRAYER RESPONSE One Hand, One Heart Leonard Bernstein Make of our hands, one hand, Make of our hearts, one heart. Make of our prayers, one sweet prayer God will bless the gifts we share. Make of our lives, one life. Day after day, one life. Now it begins, now we start; One Hand, one Heart. God will bless the gifts we share. Stephen Sondheim (alt.) INVITATION TO GENEROSITY Nancy S. Taylor MUSICAL REFLECTION Give Thanks Henry Smith Give thanks with an open heart, Give thanks unto the Holy One, Give thanks, because we re given Jesus Christ, God s Son. And low let the weak say, I am strong! Let the poor say, I am rich! Because of what the Lord has done for us. CALL TO THE OFFERING In thanksgiving to God and giving witness to generous hearts, our financial gifts support ministries of mercy, justice, and beauty. 4

5 OFFERTORY ANTHEM Walk with Me Leon Roberts Refrain I want Jesus to walk with me, walk with me, Lord; All along my pilgrim journey, Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me. Refrain Walk with me, Lord; All around my pilgrim journey, walk with me, Lord, walk with me. *PRAYER OF DEDICATION Refrain *HYMN 565 God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending Austrian Hymn *BIDDING TO MISSION AND BENEDICTION Nancy S. Taylor POSTLUDE Now Thank We All Our God Sigfrid Karg-Elert Following worship, those interested in a tour of the Sanctuary are invited to meet docent Lucy Costa at the front of the Sanctuary. 5

Consecrating Our Giving to God and to the Work of This Church I count it a great privilege and an honor to serve God.

Joyce Akintola (OSC member for 18 years) Each year Joia and I deepen our relationship with all of you at Old South and offer more of

6 Consecrating Our Giving to God and to the Work of This Church I count it a great privilege and an honor to serve God. All of us can be good stewards, whether it be through financial giving, time and talent, or whatever it is that God lays on our hearts to be of service. As a senior on fixed income I deem it honorable to tithe and serve God because of the blood that Jesus shed for us on Calvary. Joyce Akintola (OSC member for 18 years) Each year Joia and I deepen our relationship with all of you at Old South and offer more of our time, talents, and money to help strengthen the organization. When we discuss our giving plan, we set a goal to increase the total dollars and percentage of our income that we donate. Over the years, OSC has become the #1 priority in our giving plan. Laura Fleming 6

7 WELCOME TO OLD SOUTH CHURCH Welcome to Old South Church in Boston. We are a progressive Christian church first gathered in The Church played a significant role in early American history. Today, Old South Church continues to outfit itself for mission and ministry in the 21st century as a thriving urban church in the heart of Boston. Join us immediately following worship for fellowship and refreshments in the Gordon Chapel. Our preacher today is Deb Washington, PhD RN, MSN. In almost three years of membership at Old South Church, Deb has served on The Two Ministers Search Committee, The Faith at the Crossroads Task Force, The Restored Vision Project, and The Christian Service and Outreach Committee. During the week, she is Director of Diversity Patient Care Services at Massachusetts General Hospital. The flowers today are given by Karin Wetmore in memory of her parents. Name tags facilitate community and help newcomers feel welcomed. If you don t see a tag with your name on it, let us know. Audio of the service is available across the Narthex in the Gordon Chapel for those who would like a place to take restless children. For LARGE print bulletins or hearing assistance devices ask an Usher. Visit OldSouth.org for audio and a transcript of today s sermon. GARAGE PARKING VALIDATIONS We have arrangements for discounted parking with two nearby garages for Old South Church worship or church business (excluding weddings and concerts): 1. Park at the Garage@100 Clarendon (behind Back Bay Station), have your ticket validated at our Front Desk, and you pay the discounted rate of $7 for up to 3 hours. Old South bears no cost. 2. Park at the Prudential Garage for up to 5 hours on Saturday or Sunday, have your ticket validated at our Front Desk, and the Prudential Garage will bill Old South (costing us $15k - $20k per year). 7

8 NOTES ON TODAY S MUSIC Today is Consecration Sunday, a day set aside by this community to give thanks for God s rich and abundant blessings, and to pledge ourselves for a new year of service to God. We celebrate this commitment by offering music of Thanksgiving. One of the most beautiful hymns of consecration and dedication is the poem Take My Life and Let it Be, penned by Frances R. Havergal in The New Century Hymnal states that she wrote her hymn following a visit to Areley House in Worcestershire, England. Among the ten persons at the house were some unconverted some converted but not rejoicing. Before she left, everyone had got a blessing. The musical setting heard this morning was written for the late James Shaffer on the occasion of his ordination to the Diaconate in 1988 at Calvary Church in New York City. Another beloved hymn text of commitment is O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee, written in 1879 by Washington Gladden, a Congregational minister who wrote extensively on civic and social affairs of his day. The musical setting heard as the first anthem was written for the Rev. Eugene Y. Lowe, Jr. on the occasion of his ordination to the Priesthood in 1983 at St. George s Church in New York City. The prayer response will be familiar to many as a song from Leonard Bernstein s masterpiece, West Side Story. In that musical theater work it serves as the clandestine wedding vows between the star-crossed lovers Tony and Maria. With apologies to lyricist Stephen Sondheim, the original lyrics have been tweaked to create a gentle prayer as we prepare our hearts to make pledges of resources and service in the coming year. During the prayerful consideration and writing of pledges, the accompanying music is the contemporary Christian song, Give Thanks, written in 1978 by Henry Smith. Leon C. Roberts incorporation of jazz-blues-gospel fusion transformed liturgy in the Roman Catholic Church and revolutionized Black Catholic worship. The offertory anthem today is his setting of the spiritual I want Jesus to walk with me in bossa nova style. Sadly, his life was cut short at the age of 49 in 1999 by the AIDS virus. The postlude is a festive rhapsody on the Thanksgiving tune Nun Danket (Now Thank We All Our God) by German composer Sigfrid Karg-Elert ( ). Harry L. Huff, Minister of Music 8

9 CALENDAR Consecration Sunday Sunday, November 9 9:00 am FIRST Worship, Deborah Washington preaching 9:45 am Old South Café in the Gordon Chapel 10:00 am HEALING Worship 10:00 am Epidemic of Fear: A Discussion 10:00 am Sunday Morning Bible Study 11:00 am FESTIVAL Worship, Deborah Washington preaching 12:15 pm Fellowship Hour in the Gordon Chapel 12:30 pm Consecration Celebration Lunch 3:00 pm Renaissance Men Concert 6:00 pm EVENING Worship, reflection by John Souza Monday, November 10 6:00 pm Theological Book Group 6:30 pm Congregational Care and Support Committee 7:00 pm Finance Committee Tuesday, November 11 5:30 pm Old South Ringers Rehearsal 7:15 pm Veterans Day Silent Film The Big Parade Wednesday, November 12 7:00 pm Music Committee Thursday, November 13 6:00 pm JAZZ Worship, Anthony T. Livolsi preaching 6:30 pm Old South Choir Rehearsal 7:00 pm Young Adult Book Group 7:00 pm Current Events and Our Faith Group Friday, November 14 6:00 pm Parents Night Out (until 10 pm) 7:00 pm North of Boston Potluck, North Reading Sunday, November 16 9:00 am FIRST Worship, Anthony T. Livolsi preaching 9:45 am Old South Café in the Gordon Chapel 9:45 am Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser 10:00 am Sunday Morning Bible Study 11:00 am FESTIVAL Worship, Anthony T. Livolsi preaching 12:15 pm Fellowship Hour in the Gordon Chapel 12:30 pm Gospel Choir Rehearsal 12:30 pm Community Building Conversations 6:00 pm EVENING Worship, reflection by Erik Gustafson 9

10 OLD SOUTH CHURCH IN BOSTON MINISTERS, OFFICERS AND STAFF Nancy S. Taylor, Senior Minister Harry L. Huff, Minister of Music John M. Edgerton, Associate Minister Anthony T. Livolsi, Associate Minister James W. Crawford, Senior Minister Emeritus Kate Nintcheu, Director, Children and Family Ministries Donald A. Wells, Theologian in Residence June Cooper, Theologian in the City Calvin Genzel, Wedding Outreach Minister Ken Orth, Healing Worship Minister Kate R. Rogers, Youth Leader Liz Williams, Field Education Intern Carolyn Davis, Director, Old South Preschool George Sargeant, Associate Organist & Choirmaster Laurel Leslie, Choir Director, First Worship Willie Sordillo, Music Coordinator, Jazz Worship Peter Coulombe, Director, Old South Ringers Amy Budka, Children s Music Director Linda O Donnell, Director, Children s Choirs Mark Schueppert, Moderator Lisa Mahnke, Clerk David Vogan, Treasurer Phil Stern, Chair, Board of Trustees Emily Click, Historian Debbie Leonard, Senior Deacon Vicki A. Newman, Pledge Secretary Helen McCrady, Senior Church Administrator Amy Perry, Communications Rosemary Clarke, Director, Accounting & Human Resources Janet Butler, Wedding Coordinator Elias Perez, Senior Sexton Ozo Nwodo & Robert Blenman, Sextons Corey Spence & Rubia Reyes, Receptionists CCLI License # A NOTE ON THE INCLUSIVE DIMENSIONS OF GOD S GRACE Old South Church in Boston, in the name of its host, Jesus Christ, and in the spirit of Christ s invitation carved into the stone of this church s portico, Behold I Set Before You an Open Door, welcomes all who seek to know God. Following the One who we believe is Sovereign and Savior, we affirm that each individual is a child of God, and recognize that we are called to be like one body with many members, seeking with others of every race, ethnicity, creed, class, age, gender, marital status, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression to journey together toward the promised realm of God. We invite everyone to join in the common life and mission of our reconciling community through participation and leadership in this congregation, and by fully sharing in the worship, rites and sacraments of this church. As we all move forward with the work of this church, we commit ourselves to making justice and inclusivity a reality in this congregation and in the world. On the threshold of Christ s open door, we rely upon the healing, unconditional nature of God s love and grace to be our help and guide. 10

11 ANNOUNCEMENTS TODAY AT OLD SOUTH: November 9, 2014 Study and reflect on today s preaching text (Matthew 9:35-38) at Sunday Morning Bible Study at 10 am in the fourth floor Sam Johnson Room. Community Hour from am boasts offerings for children, youth, and adults, including Godly Play and Adult Formation. Details inside. Today we joyfully consecrate to God our financial giving for Our Celebration Lunch follows Festival Worship on the second floor. SMALL GROUPS North of Boston Potluck will gather Friday, November 14 at 7 pm at the home of John and Mary Ann Lape in North Reading. All are invited. Bring a dish for six to share and a beverage. RSVP to northofboston@oldsouth.org. Theological Book Group will begin a new book on Monday, November 17: Walter Brueggemann s Reality, Grief, Ho pe: Three Urgent Pro phetic Tasks. From the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 BCE to 9/11, Brueggemann explores the theological tasks before us. Sign up at the Front Desk. Books $12. Join Current Events and Our Faith for discussion Thursdays from 7-8 pm through December 11th. Come as you can. Facilitated by Lucy Costa and Bev Hanna with guest speakers from the church. Next topic: Restorative Justice. DCF TOY DRIVE Old South Church is partnering with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to collect toys for children in DCF custody this Christmas. Old South Church has committed to 40 children. If you are interested, you will be paired with a child and purchase one essential item (clothing, etc.) and at least one toy. You will be given the child s first name, age, and wishes. You may sponsor more than one child. The gifts need to be wrapped and tagged and collection starts November 30th. Sign ups begin today during Fellowship Hour. Foster care can be a lonely place, especially around the holidays. You can make it feel not so lonely. For questions, Robert Higgins at ToyDrive@oldsouth.org.

12 MUSIC OPPORTUNITIES The Old South Choir rehearses Thursdays at 6:30 pm and Sundays at 10 am to prepare for Festival Worship each week. The Old South Children s Choir, open to grades 3-8, rehearses Sundays at 11:15 am. childrenschoir@oldsouth.org First Worship Choir rehearses Sundays at 8:30 am to learn a simple song. Come-asyou-can. lleslie@tuftsmedicalcenter.org Gospel Choir for third Thursday Jazz Worship rehearses the Sunday before at 12:30 pm. tharbold@wheatoncollege.edu The Old South Ringers rehearse Tuesdays at 6 pm. handbells@oldsouth.org Joyful Noise, a multi-age children s group, gathers Sundays at 9 and 11:30 am. children@oldsouth.org Kinder Choir, a fun first-choir experience for age 5 through grade 2, gathers Sundays at 9 am. Children are returned to parents during First Worship. SERVICE Help support the Allston-Brighton Food Pantry... eat pancakes! The ever popular Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser returns Sunday, November 16 from 9:45-10:45 am. Bring a box of wholesome cereal, hot or cold. Or donate $5 per person ($10 for the whole family). Help the Allston-Brighton Food Pantry stock food for Thanksgiving baskets. Our Rolling Food Drive is collecting cranberry sauce and boxed stuffing mix thru next Sunday. Old South Church has partnered with City Mission Society to help keep Boston kids warm this winter. Donate new coats (for ages 4-18) through November 30th. Coats accepted during Sunday Fellowship Hour and after Jazz Worship. kwetmore@post.harvard.edu. Help prep and serve a community hot lunch for people who are unhoused and have low income on November 30 from 12:30-4 pm at Sunday s Bread on Beacon Hill. To join the OSC Team, sundaysbread@yahoo.com. Our Bread Ministry gathers on third Saturdays from 3-6 pm to bake loaves of bread to be distributed to first-time Sunday visitors. Come-as-you-can! dupuy.meg@gmail.com

13 COMMUNITY HOUR, Sundays am FOR CHILDREN Infants through grade 2 are welcome in our childcare ministries beginning at 8:40 am. Care is available uninterrupted through First Worship, Community Hour, and Festival Worship. Our Montessori-style Godly Play program invites children to see themselves as active participants in the story of faith. Today s story for all three classes: Ark and Temple. FOR YOUTH The Youth Group explores issues of life and faith. For November: Christian countercultural movements and their use of power to create justice. kate@oldsouth.org. Today, Confirmation Class for grades 7-8 will meet with Rev. Anthony Livolsi to ask, Who is God? anthony@oldsouth.org. FOR ADULTS Today, Dr. Maren Batalden will lead a discussion titled Epidemic of Fear. Next week, we will gather during the Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser for conversation. PARENTS NIGHT OUT Parents Night Out is open to any family who might need a night off and out! Our professional staff and church volunteers provide a fun, safe, and sound night of activity for children age 6 weeks through grade 6 once a month from 6-10 pm. Next Up: November 14th. Cost: 1 child $20; 2 children $30; 3 children $40; 4th child and up $5 each. FAMILIAR FACES AROUND TOWN Former OSC Associate Minister Quinn Caldwell will read from his new book, All I Really Want: Readings for a Modern Christmas, on Saturday, November 15 at 3:30 pm at Wellesley Village Church. Book signing will follow. On Thursday, November 20 at 7 pm at the Walker Center in Auburndale, former OSC Associate Minister Lael (Murphy) Atkinson will lead Getting Ready for the Holidays: An Interfaith Perspective, a workshop about reflecting on new ways to enjoy the season. Free.

COOKIE WALK The Christmas Craft Fair (mark your calendars for December 6th) would not be complete without the famous Cookie Walk - made famous of course by you and your baking!

14 COOKIE WALK The Christmas Craft Fair (mark your calendars for December 6th) would not be complete without the famous Cookie Walk - made famous of course by you and your baking! Consider donating your homemade cookies this year. Cookies can be dropped off on December 5th, or before 9 am on December 6th. Please label your treats 'nuts' or 'no nuts' and wrap them well or place them in a tin or plastic ware. (They ll be sold individually.) If you can participate, zuzus-petals@juno.com as soon as possible. WORSHIP SAVE THE DATE Old South Church will make our annual pilgrimage to our ancestral home, the Old South Meeting House, for Festival Thanksgiving Worship on Sunday, November 23. Preludes begin at 10:45 am. Worship begins at 11:15 am. First Worship: Sundays, 9 am. Informal and vibrant. Festival Worship: Sundays, 11 am. Our signature service - grand and expressive. November 16th: Rev. Anthony Livolsi preaching at First and Festival Evening Worship: Sundays, 6 pm. Ancient, timeless, and alive. November 16th: Reflection by Erik Gustafson Jazz Worship: Thursdays, 6 pm. With soul and sax. November 13th: Rev. Anthony Livolsi preaching Healing Worship: 2nd Sundays, 10 am. Gentle and tender. NOTICES 1) Worship services and events at Old South Church are sometimes photographed and videotaped to document the vibrant life of our church. If you do not wish to be included in these recordings, please notify an usher. 2) Please do not leave bags unattended in the building, including in the Sanctuary, for any length of time. Old South Church in Boston Boylston & Dartmouth Sts. at the Copley T (617) OldSouth.org

GATHER. January 6, 2019 EPIPHANY 11:00 AM

GATHER. January 6, 2019 EPIPHANY 11:00 AM Warning! To enter into the life of this people of God is to encounter God s soul-challenging, life-changing, radicalizing love. Will you join us? Do you dare? GATHER January 6, 2019 EPIPHANY 11:00 AM PRELUDE