*SUPPORTING HUMAN JUSTICE

Transcription

1 The United Church Of Clinton 1 Rev. Lee Atherton, Pastor Laura Troisi, Musician March 11, 2018 Fourth Sunday in Lent *An asterisk indicates where those who are able may stand. Bold indicates congregational participation. Please take a moment to turn off phones and pagers. RINGING of the BOWL / TIME of CENTERING Our service of worship begins with the Prelude. We invite you to use this time in silent prayer and preparation for worship. PRELUDE WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS Order of Worship *CALL to WORSHIP Leader: We come into the presence of Love today Left: who calls us into community Right: who calls us God's people Left: to worship Right: to sing All: to pray One: To imagine together All: How God can use us Left: to spread love Right: to spread justice All: to spread peace in the world. Amen. *SUPPORTING HUMAN JUSTICE You are invited to bring forward your gifts to support our outreach and mission opportunities. See announcements for details of this week s highlight. *HYMN of PRAISE #72 To God Be the Glory

2 PRAYER of the DAY (in unison) You reach deep into your pockets stuffed with mercy and fill our empty souls. Refusing to be in the condemnation business, your rebuild our shaky foundations with your everlasting love. You hear our cries of loneliness and lament, and reach down to lift us into your presence. Good and Generous God, we give you thanks! You save us by your grace, so we may joyfully serve our sisters and brothers; you slide over to make room for us at your Table; you step into our shadowed lives to take us by the hand and lead us into the light. Healing Word: we give you thanks! You calm our impatience, so we may tell of God's presence in our midst; you silence our grumbling, to teach us joy's anthems; you shower us with kindness, so we may overflow with love. Spirit of Obedience, we give you thanks. God in Community, Holy in One, we give you thanks for your steadfast love, even as we pray as Jesus has taught us, saying, *THE LORD'S PRAYER 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. *GLORIA PATRI (# 35 in Hymnal) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen. *UNISON PRAYER for FORGIVENESS Leader: O God of Comfort and God of Challenge, we come to you this morning the way the Israelites did, full of complaints and dissatisfaction. Nothing is enough; we do not recognize your blessing at work in our day to day lives. People: Forgive us when we become so comfortable that we moan and groan about the most insignificant details of our lives. Leader: In our complaints, challenge us as you did the Israelites, to consider the bigger picture of oppression, injustice, and inequality around us. People: Forgive us when we close our eyes for fear of what you might show us; keep sending loving and compassionate leaders to open our eyes until we see what you see in our world. ASSURANCE of PARDON *PASSING the PEACE of CHRIST Abiding in Christ s love, let us turn to one another and offer signs of forgiveness, peace, and love. Please be seated when the music sounds. Join us for coffee hour to catch up with others.

3 SCRIPTURE Psalm 107:1-3, ( OT page 619 ) TIME WITH CHILDREN and CHILDREN S OFFERING *HYMN #546 Amazing Grace SHARING JOYS and CONCERNS and GOD SIGHTINGS You are invited to share the person s name and concern or celebration briefly so that all who wish will have time to share. Please consider the privacy of other s information when sharing. SILENT PRAYER PASTORAL PRAYER PRAYER RESPONSE (# 306 in Hymnal) Hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord. Incline thine ear to us, and grant us thy peace. Amen. SCRIPTURE READING John 3:14-21 ( NT page ) PASTOR S MESSAGE MOMENT of SILENT REFLECTION INVITATION to GIVING PRESENTING our TITHES and OFFERINGS #715 Now Thank We All Our God *DOXOLOGY (#46 in Hymnal) Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise Him, all creatures here below; praise Him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. *PRAYER of DEDICATION (in unison) O Generous Creator, we give thanks to you for your steadfast love which endures forever. May these gifts be sued to feed the hunger and satisfy the thirst of all those you love throughout your creation. Amen. *HYMN #200 What Wondrous Love Is This SENDING OUT into the WORLD BELL and POSTLUDE You are invited to remain seated during the postlude. If you need to leave, please do so quietly. Our worship has ended ~ Let our service begin!

4 To The United Church of Clinton If you are visiting with us today, we bid you a warm welcome to worship this morning. Our church is here for you; please let us know how we may serve you. If you'd like to know more about our church, receive our newsletter or request a visit from our pastor, please fill out a Welcome Card or call the Church Office at Please join us after worship for coffee and fellowship in Marquardt Hall. We are so glad you are here and hope you will come again. Flowers and bulletins have been given in loving memory of Augustus F. Schuck by the Clark Family. Our Lay Reader this morning is Dawn Sivert. In Our Prayers We invite you to send a card to those who are in your prayers. Call the office for addresses. Your ongoing prayers are always appreciated. If you know of someone going into the hospital or who has a special need, please call Pastor or the church Prayer Requests and Privacy - It is wonderful so many glimpses of God, joys and concerns are shared each Sunday morning, and that Jennifer sends us prayer updates via . It is important too that we honor everyone's privacy. If you would like your prayer added to the bulletin, or sent via , please let us know that you have gotten permission from the one being prayed for. Thank you!! > Larry Gilman Jr, Who was diagnosed with cancer & is undergoing treatment > Gloria Parkinson s mother-in-law, who continues to recover > Students marching on DC on March 24 > Cindy Stewart, Pastor Scott s wife, who is fighting an infection > Laura Garceau s nephew- remarkable recovery > Linda Wheeler & Family on the passing of Henry Wheeler

5 Continuing Prayers Sara Houghton Michelle Kosar s Dad Laura Taylor & Riley The Turcotte Family Teressa Sontag Tyler Bauman & Family Bill Cummins Dolly Duca Kate Krafsky Gloria Nillson Fred Wheeler Bill Vuilleumier, Donna s husband Gabby Bernardini Delton Rachael Ronnie Nowell Carol Beteau Our Home Worshippers Mary Bisson Corinne Dobeck Ruth Baer Eunice Salmon Corinne Gebhardt Friends and Family in the Military Mike Clark (Mary & Joe Clark s son) Captains Aubrey and Tiffany Sontag (Fred and Teressa Sontag s daughters) Private Alex Apell All who serve THIS WEEK Sunday, March 11 10:00 am Worship, Sunday School One Great Hour of Sharing Collection Youth Council Bake Sale/ after worship Monday, March 12 7:00 pm Deacons Wednesday, March 14 7:30 pm Council Saturday, March 17 Super Saturday Sunday, March 18 9:15 am Confirmation 9:15 am Ensemble Rehearsal (all are welcome) 10:00 am Worship, Sunday School Servants in Faith / after worship THIS WEEK S BIRTHDAYS 12 - Sam Chetwynd 15 - Jake Poulin 17 - Richard Braconnier

6 Collection will be taken this morning. Happenings at United Church (Please notify the church office with any events or meetings.) Important Deadlines! Bulletin Announcements to by Wednesdays at 10 am. Any items submitted after the deadline may not be included in the publication. Want to chat with Pastor Lee? or call any time, or stop in during office hours. Pastor s Coffee Office is every Monday from 10-2 at CoffeeLands on High Street and at church on Tuesdays from 9-2. "What do I call you?" Have you wondered how to address our new pastor? Here's what she said when I asked... "I'm very informal! Call me Lee." Usually in print she refers to herself as Pastor Lee, in formal publications, like listing her name in the bulletin or newsletter, she uses Rev. Lee Atherton. Our kids and youth are invited to call her Pastor Lee. Pastor Lee will be leading a Women's Retreat on March (back in time for worship). Check your newsletter or see Lee. All women are invited! United Church will welcome new members during worship on April 8 th. There will be a short gathering on March 18 th after worship in Marquardt Hall for all who are interested. If you aren t able to attend, and are interested in joining, please let Pastor Lee know. Are you getting our weekly prayer ing? Occasional messages from Pastor Lee? If not, we may not have your contact information. Be sure to fill out an info card which can be found on the table with morning bulletins or by calling the church office. Building Our Future Together!! As we journey together in this time of revitalization, I invite you to pray daily to deepen your relationship with God and listen to God s still small voice. If you would like to be part of the Prayer Team to continue to support, teach and encourage others on this journey, please talk to Lee. We can only become the church we re meant to be when we chat with God about our dreams, visions, hopes and fears; and then listen for God s reply.lee is looking for one or two folks to lead an Intentional Prayer Ministry.It doesn t mean you have to write them!! See Lee if you re interested.

7 The Youth Council will be having a Bake Sale today, after worship to raise funds for a new firepit out back. Watch for Fireside chats to begin again. March 25 - April 1 Worship at 10:00 am with Children participating. Join us as we celebrate Jesus triumphal entrance to Jerusalem and mark the start of Holy Week, the final days of Jesus earthly ministry. We will gather for a seder supper at 6:00 pm commemorating the last supper Jesus shared with his disciples. We ll share communion and worship at 6:30 pm. Spy Wednesday---check your inbox early Wednesday morning, March 28. An ecumenical worship service will be held at The Church of the Good Shepherd at noon. Join us as we remember Jesus crucifixion and death at Calvary. Join Pastor Lee on line for a devotion and reflection of this day Jesus spent in the tomb. A devotion and questions will be posted on our web-site and our church s Facebook page with information for joining a zoom-room for group conversation later in the day. Easter Sunrise Worship at 6:00 am at Coulter s Ledge. We pray for a beautiful sunrise as we gather for worship celebrating Christ s Resurrection Communion will be served, and everyone is invited back to the church for a pot luck breakfast. Easter Celebration Worship Service with Blooming Cross at 10:00 am at the Church.

8 OUR LENTEN SOCIAL JUSTICE EFFORTS Our Spare Change Jar Collection: Starting on February 18 and running throughout Lent, our jars will be supporting Abby's House ( a local organization that provides emergency shelter and affordable housing for women and their children. Our Lenten Quarter Collection Calendar Collection will go to Heifer International ( that helps end poverty and gives families the opportunity to support themselves. THE UNITED CHURCH OF CLINTON 109 Haskell Avenue Clinton, Massachusetts Website: clintonunitedchurch.org Pastor: Rev. Lee Atherton Lee@CoachRev.com Church Office: cu@clintonunitedchurch.org 8