Maple Street Congregational Church United Church of Christ

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1 Maple Street Congregational Church United Church of Christ No matter who you are or where you are on your faith journey, You are welcome here! April 15, 2018 Third Sunday of Easter 10:00 a.m. We share God s love, hope, and healing and serve our neighbors Childcare is offered for 3 and under during Worship at Kid s Korner in the hall behind the Sanctuary. PRELUDE The Faithful Shepherd G. Handel (A time for meditation in preparation for worshipping God) WORDS OF GATHERING AND WELCOME CALL TO WORSHIP One: Give thanks for the presence of the risen Lord Jesus with us. People: We give thanks with joyful hearts. One: Jesus, source of our faith, we praise you with wonder for caring for us so deeply. People: We praise you, O God, for resurrections, and for this great assurance of your love for us. With joy over prophecies fulfilled, and promises carried out, we join with faithful people of every time and place to give glory to you. Amen. --Adapted, Moira Laidlaw *OPENING HYMN In the Bulb There Is a Flower Black No. 433 *INVOCATION OF GOD S PRESENCE (IN UNISON) We cry out in praise and thanksgiving in response to God's eternal lovingkindness, holding us, guiding us, enfolding us with grace. And, as we gather here as people of God, we pray that our worship will reflect that divine love. We offer our worship today with the remembrance of Easter still filling us with joy, and with the anticipation of Pentecost firing our devotion. Let our praise for all that God has done, is doing and will do, truly resound within our hearts and our homes, within these walls and beyond. *Please stand as you are able.

2 In the name of the one with whom we share the light of God and who teaches us how to plant seeds of hope and love, and who taught us to pray, saying *THE LORD S PRAYER (IN 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 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. *RESPONSE Black No. 253, v. 2 Yours is the glory, Resurrected One! Endless is the victory you o er death have won. ANTHEM I Am the Lord of the Dance Sydney Carter, arr. Joel Raney CHILDREN S MESSAGE Rev. Pam *HYMN I Come to the Garden Alone Black No. 237 (At the beginning of the hymn, Pre-K through 7th graders are invited to the Cuvatent room for fun activities where we blend story, art, and play for all ages. Youth grades 8 through 12 are welcome as helpers.) PASTORAL PRAYER Rev. Kevin OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD You are invited to complete the Connection Card if you are new, need to update information or have special requests Offertory Angel Rolled the Stone Away Traditional arr. Peter Amidon

3 Maple Street News Today is the Third Sunday of Easter Today is also Congregational Meeting following Worship 9:50 am Joys and Concerns 10:00 am Morning Worship. Babycare is offered for children 3 and under. Feel free to use the rocking chairs in the back of the Sanctuary. 11:30 am Congregational Meeting in the Social Hall The Investment Committee has invited Appleton Partners to meet with the congregation. Coffee and light refreshments will be served. Rev. Dr. Charles Gross Scholarship applications are available on the wall rack next to the mailboxes or in the office. Applications must be submitted by Sunday, May 6. Don t forget the Prayer & Table Service this Tuesday at 6 pm in the Chapel. If you are interested in joining Maple Street Church, please see either Rev. Kevin or one of the Deacons. Know that All are Welcome Here! This coming Friday, April 20 at 6 pm, is MSC Movie Night presenting The African Queen, starring Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart. Light refreshments will be available. It s time to gather material for the May/June inspire! Please have a committee representative write a short article and it to Linda in the office by this coming Thursday, April 19.

4 If you or someone you know is marking their 50th year of membership in Maple Street Church and have not yet been honored, please contact the office. Committee Chairs: Please put together your one-page reports for the Annual Report and them to Linda by or before April 30. Thank you! Bartlett. Church Growth is forming a group for members in their forties and fifties who want to do a service project in our community once a quarter. If you wish to participate, lease contact Gayla The new edition of These Days is now available in the Narthex. Save the Date: On May 6th we will have a celebration lunch for our beloved church admin Linda. She is retiring and we want to show our love and thanks for all the great work she has done. She has been an important part of the Maple Street Church family for over 7 1/2 years. The sit-down lunch will have fun and fellowship for all. Linda has requested no gifts, but if you would like to make a donation to St. Albans Hurricane Relief Fund that would be appreciated. We will have a box for guests to place cards and well wishes for her to read when she misses us. On Saturday, June 23, The Church Growth Committee will hold a build day with Habitat for Humanity Northshore, working on the new project on Loraine Road in Danvers. Contact Gayla if you wish to help. If you requested Pledge Envelopes, you can pick them up on the table beneath the mailboxes. Saturday, April 28, The Artist Series presents A Gift of Song Concert dedicated to the memory of Robert Honeysucker.

5 April 15: Agape Meal and God s Finger Painting April 22: Postcards and Letters, special Mission Sunday Hospitality April 29: Vision Congregational Meeting following worship May 6: DIP First Sunday Gathering 12:30 2 at Maple Street Church May 9: Light the Night Purple. This Week The Nursery School is on Vacation Tuesday 9:15 am A New Day Yoga in the Reception Room 6:00 pm Prayer and Table Service in the Chapel 6:30 pm Boy Scouts in the Social Hall 7:00 pm World Service Committee at the Phinney home Wednesday 7:00 pm Vision Team meeting in the Reception Room Thursday 7:30 pm Chancel Choir in the Music Room Friday 6:00 pm Movie Night in the Social Hall showing The African Queen, starring Hepburn and Bogart Sunday Worship at 10 am; Mission Sunday Reminder Your old eyeglasses can change another person s life! If you have used eyeglasses you no longer need, please put them in the collection box located on the shelf in the Social Hall near the Lost and Found board. Children s eyeglasses are particularly needed.

6 Rev. Kevin Smith Senior Minister Rev. Pamela Cochrane Associate Minister for Youth and Family Ministry Ms. Kathy Gross Director of Music Ministry Ms. Ji-Hye Jung Asst. Director of Music Ministry Ms. Linda Blair Office Administrator Mrs. Lynne Hathaway Nursery School Director Ms. Marj Simpson Council Member at Large Ms. Lori Dupont Council Member at Large Maple Street Congregational Church United Church of Christ 90 Maple Street, Danvers, MA , ext 3 Cell , ext. 4 Cell revkevmsc@gmail.com revpammsc@gmail.com , ext. 5 candk144@gmail.com , ext. 1 jihye87@gmail.com , ext. 1 info@maplestreetchurch.org , ext. 6 lynne.hathaway@verizon.net helochanana@aol.com nanadupont@verizon.net Our Worship Services are recorded each week aired on Danvers Comcast Channel 99 and Verizon Channel 36, Sunday 10:00 am and 7:00 pm (one week delay) OFFICE HOURS: Monday 10 am-2 pm; Tuesday-Thursday 9 am-2 pm; Friday 9 am-12 pm Pastor Kevin Smith is available for home visitation, member weddings, funerals, memorial services, baptisms, and pastoral counseling. Pastor Pam is also available. Feel free to contact Pastor Kevin or Pastor Pam if you need a listening ear, if you want to discuss the work of the congregation, or if you would like to join Maple Street Church! Office schedules can vary for ministers as they attend meetings, attend to church business, write and prepare for Sunday worship away from the office, visit members of the congregation, and more, so it s always wise to call or to make an appointment if at all possible. Pastor Kevin s day off is Friday. Pastor Pam s day off is Monday. Pastor Kevin s worship preparation times are Tuesday morning and Thursday afternoon when he will be out of the office. You can contact both at the Church Office phone listed above, the s listed above, or you can contact Pastor Kevin at

7 *Doxology Lyrics: Thomas Ken, Tune: Red No. 64 Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below; Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise God the source of all our gifts! Praise Jesus Christ whose pow'r uplifts! Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! *Prayer of Thanksgiving and Dedication SCRIPTURE LESSON John 12:24-26 pew Bible pg. 939 [Jesus said] Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor. SERMON God Plants Seeds Pastor Kevin *HYMN OF RESPONSE All My Hope on God is Founded Black No. 408 BENEDICTION BENEDICTION RESPONSE Amen, Alleluia John L. Bell POSTLUDE The Trophy F. Couperin Our Worship together concludes with the Benediction Response. The Postlude is transitional music which inspires us as we go forth as disciples to serve God and one another. Worship has ended. Our Service Begins....

8 Sunday s Servants: Welcome to Maple Street Congregational Church, United Church of Christ. If you are here for the first time, please fill out the Connection Card and pass it on to an usher or put it in the collection plate. Our ushers and greeters are happy to answer any questions. Our Sunday School Program for children and youth takes place following the beginning of the second Hymn except on First Sundays. The church of disciples who welcome you! Visit our web page at Deacons of the Month: Gisela Turner and Phyllis Boyd Desmond Acolytes: Michaela Bartlett and Grace Lawler Ushers: Donna Mandriota, Peggy Coyne, Donna Eovacious, and Linda Matthews Special Assistant to the Deacon: Bob Wilkinson The flowers in the Chancel are in memory of Thomas, Susan, and Robert Mullen Given by Julie Macsata and Family The Chancel Basket is in honor of their 51st Wedding Anniversary Congratulations to Lew an Marge Hathaway Donating flowers for the altar is a wonderful way to honor a loved one. If you wish to donate flowers, please contact Priscilla Curda at Our lighted steeple is an important symbol of our presence in the community. Your contributions in memory of loved ones and friends or to commemorate a special event help keep the steeple lighted. If you would like to have the steeple lighted for one or more weeks, please fill out the form below and send it with $15 per week to the church office. I would like the steeple lighted in memory of: I would like the steeple lighted in honor of: Requested date (if available) to light: (signed) Telephone Number: