The First Church of Christ in Hartford founded 1632 a member of the United Church of Christ

Transcription

1 The First Church of Christ in Hartford founded 1632 a member of the United Church of Christ Embracing God s Presence, Serving the City, Building Upon Our Heritage Sunday, July 3, 2016

2 THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST IN HARTFORD An Open and Affirming Congregation of The United Church of Christ THE SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION Welcome ~ Bienvenidos July 3, :00 AM WELCOME TO WORSHIP AT CENTER CHURCH. We are glad you have joined us for this service of worship and the fellowship of this congregation, as we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We hope that you will be both comforted and challenged by the Word of God for us today. If you are new to our community, we hope you will consider making this your church home. Any of our worship leaders or ushers will be able to help with your questions. If you are already a member, be sure to extend a friendly greeting to those around you, starting with someone you don t know yet. Please turn off all cell phones and other electronic devices before the service of Worship begins. PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. ~ Viktor E. Frankl, Holocaust survivor, TOLLING OF THE HOUR and GREETING HIGHLIGHTING OUR MINISTRIES

3 COMING BEFORE GOD PRELUDE Be Thou My Vision arr. Jay Althouse PLEASE STAND. CALL TO WORSHIP The Light of Christ is brought into the sanctuary. Leader: All: Here we are, Lord! We believe in your power to change us. Your creating power makes relationships new; Your redeeming power saves us from despair; Your sustaining power gives us courage and strength. In this hour, we sing and praise and listen together. We open ourselves to the seismic power of your kin-dom. Make your Presence known to us as we open our hearts to you. HYMN No. 69 Come, God, Creator, Be Our Shield OLD FIRST PLEASE BE SEATED. UNISON PRAYER OF INVOCATION and THE LORD S PRAYER Creator God, we lift up our souls to you. We offer praise and thanksgiving, and even our very lives. Show us the path on which we should walk, and lead us in your truth, as we pray in the words Jesus taught us Our Father*, who art in heaven, **who was before time, in this time, and in times to come, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. May justice and mercy - Thy will - be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day food, shelter, and companionship, our daily bread. And forgive us when we have been unkind, lied, and not stood up for justice, as we forgive those who have been unkind to us, lied about us, and not stood by us. And lead us not, into temptation, to get even; but deliver us from evil. For You are the way, the light, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

4 (* = traditional wording but you may use alternative wording, such as God, Creator, or Mother, as seems fitting.) ** Alternative reading CALL TO CONFESSION PRAYER OF CONFESSION CONFESSION AND RESPONSE Leader: People: Holy One, there are times when we fail to recognize you in the daily-ness of our lives. Sometimes fear makes us small, and we miss the chance to speak from our strength. Remind us again of your holy Presence near us and in us. We admit we find it hard to view what is happening around us through any eyes but our own. Grant us the grace to grow more and more in your likeness and image, through Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. Amen. SILENCE FOR REFLECTION WORDS OF ASSURANCE Minister: God does not remember our sins or our shortcomings. Often, we stumble and fall; yet, we are always welcomed back into the arms of our loving Creator. May we be given pure hearts, so that we may love and serve the Lord and one another. All: Thanks be to God. Amen. PLEASE STAND. Response (sung by all) Glory Be to God THE PASSING OF THE PEACE Leader: People: Leader: text: Gloria patri, 3 rd century, transl. music: Peter DuBois, 2007 The love of God, the peace of Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you always. And also with you. Since in Christ we have been reconciled, let us share his peace with one another.

5 PROCLAIMING GOD S LIVING WORD PLEASE BE SEATED. NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURE Galatians 5:1, NRSV: New Testament, p For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. 14 For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 15 If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. 16 Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. SERMON Oh, Freedom! The Reverend Michelle Hughes RESPONDING IN FAITH PLEASE STAND. HYMN No. 283 Spirit of the Living God IVERSON PLEASE BE SEATED. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE THE OFFERING OF GIFTS AND TITHES (We encourage you to use offering envelopes when giving.) Offertory for Piano Largo (from Preludes Op 28) Frederic Chopin

6 PLEASE STAND AS THE OFFERING IS BROUGHT FORWARD. Hymn of Presentation OLD HUNDREDTH text: Thomas Ken, 1674; alt. music: Louis Bourgeois, 1551 UNISON PRAYER OF DEDICATION Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, you heav nly host: Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. We offer our gifts to you, Lord, with grateful and cheerful hearts. May your spirit of abundance grace these gifts for your kin-dom, in Jesus name. Amen. PLEASE BE SEATED. INVITATION THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING WORDS OF INSTITUTION Sanctus text: Isaiah 6:3b; para. music: anonymous, Argentina SHARING THE ELEMENTS All are invited to partake in the sacrament. Please come forward via the center aisle and return to your seat via the side aisles. The elements of communion are taken by the process of intinction: Please take a piece of bread, dip it into the chalice, then eat it. Communion Hymn No. 330 Let Us Break Bread Together LET US BREAK BREAD

7 UNISON PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION Gracious God, you have once again shown us your love by bringing us to this meal. We go from here renewed in faith, renewed in courage, and strengthened by your presence. Thank you for loving us so tenderly. Thank you for challenging us to know you better and to receive you more fully. GOING FORTH PLEASE REMAIN STANDING. HYMN No. 594 How Beautiful, Our Spacious Skies MATERNA BENEDICTION Please sing verses 2, 3, & 4. Please enjoy the postlude or exit quietly. The Light of Christ is taken out into the world. Go in peace! POSTLUDE Guide Me Ever, Great Jehovah arr. Dale Wood

8 Our thanks to Deacons Debbye Love, Patricia Anderson, and Sara Markham, Greeters/Ushers Lisa Thomas, Debbye Love, and Andre Keitt, and Liturgist Richard Markham. Our thanks to Patricia Anderson for providing today s refreshments, and to Robin Roy for coordinating refreshments during the month of July. Our thanks to Reverend Michelle Hughes for leading us in Worship this morning, and to Pamela Perry, pianist, for sharing her musical gifts with us today. The flowers on display on the Meeting House today are given in loving memory of my beloved spouse, Edward D. Turner, Jr., and his parents, Margaret and Edward, by Larry Roeming. The flags on display in the Meeting House today are in observance of Independence Day, July 4. After Worship, please stop by the Remembrance Area today to sign a card for Monique Young (sympathy.) The Rev. Dr. Damaris D. Whittaker is on vacation through July 6. If you have a pastoral emergency, please contact one of the deacons or, during regular hours, the church office. Jana Russo-Priestley is on vacation through today. Thomas St. Amant will be on vacation from July 5 through 10. Warburton Resource, Outreach, and Collaboration Center (The WROCC) 60 Gold Street (Church House) ~ Hartford (Please enter through side door on Lewis Street) DROP-IN HOURS: Wednesdays and Thursdays, 1:00pm-6:00pm

9 This Week at Center Church Today - 9:00 Taizé Service (Church House); - 10:00 Worship Service; followed by refreshments Monday - Independence Day ~ Church Office closed Tuesday - 5:00 Community Meals (Christ Church Cathedral) July 2 ~ Amy Salls July 2 ~ Douglas Lombardi July 4 ~ Obed Fonder July 5 ~ Peter Piatti-Rios July 8 ~ Theodore Vietzke + IN OUR PRAYERS + Curtis Anderson, Arline Baum, Paul Bobbitt, Gladys Hernandez, Martha Keitt, Marjorie F. Paust, Michael Plankey, Lita Rathnam, Sally St. Amant, Earl Sanderson, Norman Stanley, Dianna Woodard, the City of Hartford, the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ, the First Church of Christ in Hartford, the State of Connecticut, and all victims of violence and natural disasters

10 SUMMER WORSHIP SERVICE SCHEDULE July: Taizé Service (readings, chant, & silence) at the Meeting House, 9:00am; Traditional Worship Service at the Church House, 10:00am (60 Gold Street, 2 nd -floor parlor [air conditioned]) August through September 4: Meeting House open for prayer and meditation, 9:00am-9:45am; Traditional Worship Service at the Church House, 10:00am (60 Gold Street, 2 nd -floor parlor [air conditioned]) + LET THERE BE LIGHT + The steeple of the Meeting House will be lighted this week as a memorial and tribute: July 3 July 5 July 6 July 7 In loving memory of R. Stewart Esten by the late Dorothy M. Esten In loving memory of Walter Schafer, on the eve of his birthday by several of his friends In memory of L. Annie Meacham; July 6, Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus Fire - Remembering all the victims and survivors, especially Stephen and Freddie and their mother, Alice Boyajian by the late Fred and Elizabeth Boyajian; In loving memory of Rolando Martinez, Jr. by the Martinez family In loving remembrance of Gladys and Harold Newsham by the Rankins 2016 CHURCH MEMBER DIRECTORIES Earlier this month, we ed a copy of the 2016 church member directories to each member on our list. In an effort to be a more green church, we ask that you print as needed. If you would like a printed copy, please Marie (mferrantino@cchartford.org) in the Church Office, and she will leave a hard copy for you to pick up after Sunday Worship. Thank you for helping to protect God s creation!

11 AN OPEN AND AFFIRMING Congregation. "We include into full participation in the life of this church persons of any age, race, economic status, gender, sexual orientation, marital status and physical, emotional and mental capacity" (from the statement adopted October 23, 1994.) In recognition of the richness of backgrounds of our congregation, a DIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES will find expression in our worship services. Center Church offers an OPEN COMMUNION. Adults and children from all religious backgrounds are invited to partake. FREE PARKING is available during Sunday Worship Services at the Travelers Plaza Garage off Prospect Street (next to the Hartford Club.) The garage closes at 1:00pm (12:00pm June through August). Free onstreet parking is also available on Gold Street and on the west side of Lewis Street each Sunday. REST ROOMS are located in the basement of the Meeting House. Please use the stairs in the southeast corner of the building. For safety, please have an adult accompany your child to the restroom. CHURCH SCHOOL is held at the Church House (60 Gold Street) for preschool to 12 th Grade. Children are to remain with their families in the Meeting House during worship until they depart for Church School following the Children s Moment. Please pick your child up promptly at 12:00pm. For their safety, children will remain with their Church School instructor until an adult picks them up. CHILDCARE and NURSERY care are provided by trained, capable, and nurturing staff and volunteers, and is available in the Meeting House basement for infants and toddlers (up to two years of age.) A nursery without staff is also located on the second floor of the Church House. ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION CLASSES are held in the Church House (60 Gold Street) at 8:45am. Announcements regarding Adult Education classes are announced in our publications. HANDICAPPED ACCESS to the sanctuary is via the lift outside at the south end of the portico. If possible, please call the church office in advance for assistance in using the lift. Please feel free to confer with a minister regarding our INQUIRER'S CLASSES for POTENTIAL MEMBERS, BAPTISMS, WEDDINGS or COMMITMENT CEREMONIES. The latest issue of CENTER CHURCH NEWS is available in the literature rack at the back of the Meeting House and at the Church House (60 Gold Street). THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST IN HARTFORD A member of the United Church of Christ (UCC) CENTER CHURCH, 60 Gold Street, Hartford, CT Church Office Hours: Monday thru Friday, 8:30am to 4:00pm Library Hours: Wednesdays, 9:30am to 11:30am, Sunday 9:45am to 10:45am, or by appointment. P F Minister: The Reverend Dr. Damaris D. Whittaker (ext. 202) Minister Emeritus: The Reverend J. Alan McLean Interim Director of Music/Organist: William Ness (ext. 204) Warburton Director of Outreach Ministries: Nathan Fox (ext. 205) Director of Faith Formation: Jana Russo-Priestley (ext. 210) Church Administrator: Marie Ferrantino (ext. 209) Bookkeeper: Charlotte Cardone (ext. 201) Receptionist/Office Assistant: Monique Young (ext. 200) Office Assistant: Frances Burton Sexton: Thomas St. Amant Hymns and Service Music reprinted under OneLicense.net # A LARGE-PRINT BULLETINS ARE AVAILABLE ~ PLEASE ASK A DEACON FOR A COPY.