THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH CANTON CENTER, CT UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Transcription

1 THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH CANTON CENTER, CT UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST March 4, 2018 ~ 10:00 a.m. Third Sunday in Lent

2 ORDER OF WORSHIP CHIMES Kim Treadwell WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Brief announcements from the congregation are welcome. Those wishing to make Announcements are asked to be in the front pews at the start of the announcements period. There will be opportunity to share prayer requests at the time of the Prayers of the Church. If you wish to offer a prayer request in written form, please fill out one of the yellow prayer request cards found in the pews and place it in the offering plate at the time of the offering. Large print editions of the bulletin and Chalice Hymnal are available at the back of the sanctuary. Nursery Room- Childcare is provided for ages 3 and under, in the lower level of the Parish House. *All who are able, please stand. Bold denotes unison voice. PRELUDE My Shepherd arr. Roger Wilson CALL TO WORSHIP The sinners, the saints, the broken, the whole: all come together in this sacred place. The doubters, the devout, the wonderers, the wanderers: all are gathered in by the same Spirit. The eager, the fearful, the hesitant, the heroic: all are invited to God's table. Come, people of God, let us center again in the great Love, until we are one......until we are one. *HYMN 250, Chalice (blue) O Breath of Life

3 *GATHERING PRAYER O God whose heart is love, whose love is everywhere, may we come with attentive spirits today to remember that you call us away from inattentive lives and unworthy devotions, from living that forgets its purpose. As we gather in this place, mindful of our strength and our need, may we experience again the word that renews and the grace that redeems, the love that welcomes and the peace that centers. In Christ's name and spirit we pray, Amen. *SUNG RESPONSE: READING FROM SCRIPTURE John 12:1-8 SERMON Staying Present OFFERING OF GIFTS Invitation Offertory Speak, O Lord Townsend /Getty Senior Choir

4 *Doxology *Prayer of Dedication PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer *HYMN 386, Chalice (blue) We Come as Guests Invited THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION This church practices open Communion; all are welcome to participate, including children, at the discretion of their parents. As the elements are passed, please wait until all have been served and all will partake together. The bread in the small paper cup is gluten-free. The cups contain non-alcoholic grape juice. The cup in the center of the tray contains water, for anyone unable to have the grape juice. Invitation As we come to Christ s table, we remember that we are one body, that God s love makes us one -- whoever we are, whatever our journey, whether we have been here many times before or never before. We remember that we are gathered in the spirit of the Risen Christ, who sees not our differences but our oneness.

5 As the many grains of wheat become the one loaf and the many grapes become the one cup, so do we become the one Body of Christ. Let this sacrament renew us in faith, hope and love, binding us is covenant with God and with all others. Prayer of Preparation and the Lord s Prayer...This we ask in Christ's name and spirit, as we also say together: 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. Recalling the Story: The Words of Institution Sharing the Bread and the Cup Prayer of Thanksgiving We give thanks to you, O God, for the gifts of your table, reminders of all that feeds us in body and soul and of all that makes us one. As we go out into the world, we pray that today and tomorrow we might learn to see the world through Christ s eyes and love the world with Christ s heart. Amen. *HYMN 445, Chalice (blue) Go in Peace *BENEDICTION *BENEDICTION RESPONSE Bread of the World Senior Choir *POSTLUDE Lord, Enthroned in Heavenly Splendor arr. Michael Burkhardt

6 ANNOUNCEMENTS The flowers today are in celebration of my family here and gone, given by Casey Levine. WELCOME We re glad you ve joined us for worship today. Please know that whoever you are, wherever you are on life s journey, you are welcome here! If you are visiting today, please help us get to know you better by filling out one of the visitor cards in the pews and placing it in the offering plate. Questions? Please feel free to ask the pastor, or call the church office during the week. MESSY CHURCH - MARK YOUR CALENDARS! - Messy Church will be held on Friday, March 16th at 5:30, dinner at 6:30 here in the parish hall. Come get messy and share and express the real you. Christ centered for all ages. Explore what makes you and others unique with, crafts/activities. Celebrate with story/song. Come and bring your friends, sign up at ce@cantoncenterchurch.org or call LILY SALE - MARCH 18 & 25 - Easter Lilies will be on sale during coffee hour to decorate our sanctuary for Easter Sunday. Each plant will be $18. this year due to the fires and floods in California - where the bulbs for lilies come from. Congregational Second-Hour Forum Sunday, March 18 ~ 11:30-12:30 a.m. From a Line to a Circle: Reimagining Our Church's Structure Following our congregation's adoption of an updated Mission Statement last October, the Church Council has been reviewing our church's organizational structure (committees, other working bodies, lay leadership and staff positions) to consider how our structure can best be imagined and implemented in order to serve our core ministry purposes as a church. The Council would like to present to the congregation the current distillation of its thinking about this and a plan to try out this spring.

7 Conversations for Lent 2018 "PRAY THE WAY YOU THINK GOD LISTENS:" THE LANGUAGE OF PRAYER Wed., March 7, 7:00-8:30 p.m. or Thurs., March 22, 10:00-11:30 a.m. Facilitated by Hollace Bristol and Rev. Brenda Pelc-Faszcza How do we shape the language of prayer, whether that language is spoken aloud or silently? Why do we form prayer in one way rather than in another way? What do we understand to be happening when we pray? As we think about the meaning(s) of prayer, we'll consider how our basic understanding of God determines how we pray, and what we think is happening when we do. MOVIE NIGHT: "BROTHER SUN, SISTER MOON" FRI., MARCH 9, 6:30 P.M. Hosted by Hollace Bristol This Academy Award-nominated film (1973) focuses on the early life of St. Francis of Assisi ( ), one of the seminal figures in Christian history. Francis was born into wealth and renounced it in order to seek a spirituality and communion with the world, especially the world of nature, unencumbered by material possession. The film is 2 hours in length. (Please use sign-up sheets on the church bulletin boards or contact the church office.) MARCH MISSIONS & OUTREACH - We will be collecting Easter items for needy families who are clients of Wellmore Behavioral Health in Torrington, CT. Wellmore provides social services to many families in Western Connecticut with service locations in Danbury, Waterbury, Naugatuck and Torrington and covering families in geographical areas from Cheshire to Kent. Please consider taking a paper egg from the Easter Tree in Parish Hall with a wish list item to donate by Sunday, March 25 th in time for Easter basket delivery on Easter morning April 1. ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING - Next Sunday we will have a special collection for One Great Hour of Sharing. (OGHS) is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ for disasters, refugee/ immigration and development ministries throughout the world. Please make your checks payable to First Congregational Church and we will send one check. Sunday 4 Monday 5 Tuesday 6 Wednesday 7 Thursday 8 Friday 9 Saturday 10 Missions 9 am Worship/Communion 10 am Cake Auction Cherub Choir 11:15 am Cantana 6:45 pm Choir 7:30 pm ACA 7 pm Deacons 6:30 pm (offsite) AA 7 pm Language of Prayer 7-8:30 pm Search Committee 7 pm Handbell Choir 7 pm Lenten Movie Night 6:30 pm AA 11 pm

8 OUR MISSION STATEMENT We gather as a welcoming community in worship, learning, service and fellowship to embody Christ s message of love, compassion and justice. Joining faith with action, both within and beyond our church, we strive to build a community that serves all. God is still speaking!!!,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Visit our website at Listen to recorded Sermons and Music from worship services! Pastor: The Rev. Dr. Brenda Pelc-Faszcza Director of Faith Formation: Sarah Pradhan Secretary: Kristen DiMattia Duty Deacons: Bev Sealand Greeters: Phil LeGeyt & Craig McAllister Coffee Hour Host: Karen Needham Ministers: Every Member Director of Music: Mary Lou Keefe Sexton: Walt LeGeyt Duty Trustee: Sue Lampros Ushers: Andy & Katha Kerr. THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 184 Cherry Brook Road, PO Box 133, Canton Center CT Church Office office@cantoncenterchurch.org