The First Congregational Church

Transcription

1 The First Congregational Church United Church of Christ Bloomfield, CT An open and affirming congregation Sunday, January 1, 2017 OUR MISSION Responding to God s Call, our mission as The First Congregational Church in Bloomfield, United Church of Christ, is to go out into the world proclaiming God s love for all creation, working for justice, bringing Christ s peace and growing in love and faith through service to others. We are a safe and sacred community that welcomes all people and supports each individual journey of faith.

2 T h e F i rst Congregationa l C h u r c h i n B l o o m f i e l d, UCC 1 0 W in t onbury Av e n u e, B l oomfield, CT G a thered a s Wintonbury Parish Februa r y 14, 1738 R e n e w ing our faith a s p e o p l e o f G o d 8 : 00 &10:0 0 a.m. Sunday, January 1, 2017 C O M M UNION SUNDAY N EW YEAR S DAY WE GATHER TOGETHER PRELUDE The Old Year Now Hath Passed Away... J.S Bach WELCOME please fill out the Ritual of Friendship pads LIFE OF OUR CHURCH WELCOME GUESTS PASSING OF THE PEACE CENTERING MOMENT You are invited to be at Peace and One with GOD s Spirit. Let us prepare ourselves to worship our God. In silence be at peace! WE WORSHIP GOD (+ indicates that those who are able may stand) CALL TO WORSHIP (UNISON) A new day, a new beginning, a new year. A new year begins and we celebrate it with worship. Come as you are, with joy or sadness. Come let us worship our GOD as one. This is the day the Lord has made Let us worship GOD in a spirit of expectation. GOD is always doing a new thing, Glory be to GOD! +HYMN OF AFFIRMATION Now Thank We All Our God # 27 PRAYER OF CELEBRATION & CONFESSION (UNISON) We celebrate GOD S presence among us, we are grateful! In every face around us, we see your presence Creator GOD; In old and young, in strangers and those who are our neighbors. All do reveal GOD your inspirational grace. We are grateful we are at peace! As we start a New Year we ask, Creator God, for you to renew in us a spirit of hope and justice. A spirit of creativity, joy and love. Inspire us to love every moment of our journey. Forgive us when our actions are not consistent with our words. Forgive us for errors of the past, errors of actions or omission of actions. Continue to be our light and our inspiration in this New Year.

3 We pray to you as you have taught us 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. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever, Amen. WORD OF ASSURANCE People of God, trust in our compassionate Creator who forgives us our sins and gives us new strength, inviting us to live fully and at peace. GOD IS STILL SPEAKING! MAY GOD S SPIRIT FILL OUR HEARTS WITH LOVE MAY WE DISCOVER GOD S REVELATIONS IN ALL EXPRESSIONS OF LIFE LISTEN TO THE WORD OF GOD GOD IS STILL SPEAKING! FIRST LESSON Ecclesiastes 3: 1-13 SECOND LESSON Matthew 25: NT p.756 in black Bible, p.616 in red NT p.35 in black Bible, p.29 in red CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet # 297 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path PASTOR S REFLECTION THE INNER RAINBOW: PASSION FOR LIFE Pastor Ayala +HYMN It Came Upon the Midnight Clear # 149 WELCOME TO GOD S TABLE INVITATION TO COMMUNION COMMUNION PRAYER PRAYER OF CONSECRATION SHARING THE SACRAMENTS During communion today please be reminded that there is gluten-free bread available in the cake cup on the communion bread tray. WE RESPOND TO GOD S LOVE OFFERTORY PRAYER ~ Blessed by Grace...Our financial support builds community OFFERTORY Hark! The Herald Angels Sing arranged by Gordon Young PRESENTATION OF OFFERING DOXOLOGY # 44 Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow, Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above ye heavenly hosts; Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

4 PRAYER AND DEDICATION OF OFFERINGS (UNISON) We bring these gifts, O God, because we hope for more in the days ahead. We hope for a stronger church, a more focused nation, a more compassionate world, and a time of peace. Shape us, through our giving and your grace, to be your faithful people. Receive these offerings with our prayers for all who will be blessed by them in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen! SHARING EXPRESSIONS OF JOY AS WELL AS CONCERNS PASTORAL PRAYER CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying Lord, listen to your children praying, Lord, send your spirit in this place; Lord, listen to your children praying, Send us love, send us pow r, send us grace. WE GO FORTH TO SERVE + HYMN OF COMMITMENT TO SERVE Our God, Our Help in Ages Past # 80 +BENEDICTION (Receive the blessing while holding hands) Pastor Ayala People of GOD PEACE SALAAM ArDievu Vayan con Dios SHALOM CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE POSTLUDE Go with God s Blessing! GO AND ENJOY LIFE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS GO BE A GOOD NEWS CHRISTIAN PROMOTE LOVE AND JUSTICE! GO SHARE YOUR MUSIC SHARE YOUR JOY GO BE A RAINBOW IN SOMEONE S CLOUD! GO WITH THE BLESSING OF GOD THE ALMIGHTY CREATOR, JESUS THE INSPIRING ONE, OUR SAVIOR AND WITH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT GO LIVE FULLY AND LET GOD SURPRISE YOU! Amen, Amen, Amen Improvisation on Our God, Our Help in Ages Past

5 THOSE IN OUR THOUGHTS & PRAYERS (AMONG MANY): *Prayers for the family of the late Jean Turek. *Prayers for Guenther Zvaigzne for ongoing healing from recent heart surgery. (Brother of Sylvia Colvin). * Prayers for Julie Cato who will soon be the recipient of a kidney transplant. * Prayers for Bonnie King s healing from recent cancer reoccurrence. *Keep Calvin and Estelle Cole in your thoughts and prayers. Calvin is at Bloomfield Center for Nursing and Rehab, Estelle is at home, cards and calls would be appreciated. * Michael Edwards, praying for release. *Prayers that God will speak to us and through us as we seek God's leading and vision for our Church. *Family & Friends of All Soldiers Who Have Fallen In Iraq & Afghanistan. *Our friends at Community Solutions, Inc., that God will support them as they find new opportunities and hope for the future. Doris Ahrens David Berg Sue Davis Gladys Dunbar Carol Johnson Charles Miles Charlotte Babcock Julie Cato Jane Doble Elaine Nelson Madge Edwards Hicksbert (Lloyd) Grant Faye Smith Carol Wolcott Adele Wright Please Remember These Connecticut Conference Churches in Your Prayers Winchester Center Windsor Winchester Center Congregational Church, UCC First Church in Windsor, UCC Winsted Wolcott First Church of Winsted, UCC Wolcott Congregational Church Woodbridge The First Church of Christ, Woodbridge ANNOUNCEMENTS Welcome Guests! There is no coffee hour this morning. Today s Head Usher is Oz Gibbs. Today s Lay Reader is Mary Laiuppa. Our Nursery is open every Sunday during the 10 a.m. Worship. Please see one of our ushers and they will be happy to direct you. The Sunday Bulletin is now available to read at On Sunday, January 8 th, we will resume 8 am & 10 am Worship Schedule.

6 Sunday, Jan 1 This Week at a Glance Looking Ahead: Lectionary possibilities for next week include: Ecclesiastes 3: 1-13; Psalm 8; Revelation 21: 1-6a; Matthew 25: :00 am Worship Communion Sunday Meeting Room 12:30 pm New Birth Community Church Metzger Chapel Monday, Jan 2 5:30 pm Search Team Living Room 7:00 pm Narcotics Anonymous Counting Room Tuesday, Jan 3 9:15 am Exercise Fellowship Hall Wednesday, Jan 4 9:30 am Jump Bunch Fellowship Hall 7:00 pm Alcoholics Anonymous Counting Room Thursday, Jan 5 Cancelled Bible Study resumes Jan 12 Living Room Friday, Jan 6 9:15 am Exercise Fellowship Hall 7:30 pm Alcoholics Anonymous Counting Room Saturday, January 7, 2017 EVERY SATURDAY 11:30 AM 1 PM BLOOMFIELD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH COMMUNITY FOOD KITCHEN 297 School Street, corner of Wintonbury Ave & School St. Children and Families and ALL are welcome. For information please call or Volunteers are needed to help serve once a quarter. For more information, call Sally Foster Next Sunday, January 8, 2017 epiphany Sunday COME AND INVITE OTHERS SHARE GOD S WELCOMING SPIRT

7 SAVE THE DATE Our next Pastoral Search Listening Circle will be on Sunday, January 8, 2017 after worship in Fellowship Hall. We also hope that all our members will visit our online Pastoral Search Inventory and complete this important survey. Look for the link in our church weekly or type the following into your browser. For members without internet access we have paper copies available too. If anyone needs help completing the survey or has any questions about the search process please contact any of the Search Team members. We would be happy to help. Thanks again, Your Pastoral Search Team NEXT SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, QUEENS WILL VISIT DURING OUR 10:00 A.M. WORSHIP SERVICE They will arrive with Special Musical Guests!

8 The First Congregational Church in Bloomfield U N I T E D C H U R C H O F C H R I S T Welcome to the First Congregational Church in Bloomfield We hope that you find comfort, joy & inspiration in this time of worship; and renewed energy for your journey of faith. You are invited to remain after the service this morning for refreshments and informal conversation. SCHEDULE Bible Discussion is held at 8 am each Sunday Worship is held at 10 am each Sunday Bell Choir Rehearsals will resume in January 2017 Choir Rehearsals will resume in January 2017 STAFF Rev. Edwin O. Ayala, Interim Pastor Andrea Davey-Mercer, Administrative Assistant Dorine DeCarli, Director of Christian Education Eustace Straker, Minister of Music Shantel Bremmer, Director of FCC Child Development Center Building Management is provided by Michelle Alves and JEM Services. CHURCH OFFICE Monday Friday 8:30 am 4:30 pm Phone: Fax: office@firstchurchbloomfield.org All Staff can be reached by contacting the Church Office. The Child Development Center can be reached at or preschool@firstchurchbloomfield.org. Pastor Edwin O. Ayala: In the event of an emergency (death, serious illness, deep spiritual or emotional need) please feel free to call Pastor Ayala at x 201, or him pastor@firstchurchbloomfield.org or eoaintersections33@yahoo.com Visit our church's website: