ORDER OF WORSHIP October 22, 2017 Hymns can be found in the New Century (black) hymnal. *Please stand as you are able. PRELUDE RINGING OF THE BELL 10:00 am Luke Hargrave WELCOME & LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE Sarah Sarchet Butter INVOCATION *OPENING HYMN O God Beyond All Praising 1
CALL TO CONFESSION Let us pray: All: In the beginning, God spoke... and darkness was joined by light bursting forth, and the deep frightening waters were met with warm and moist earth, and the rich dirt gave life to fragrant plant and playful beast. The seas were filled with swimming things and the skies were filled with fluttering wings. The unlivable became livable. Then creation gave life to those made in God s own image. Male and female; they were God s own. God smiled and said, "Behold, This Is Good!" Chaos was mute. Blessing reigned. O God, What has happened to your beautiful creation? You trusted us to be caretakers of the world, and we betrayed your trust. You charged us with dominion of the earth, and we took it to mean control and exploitation. Natural and un-natural destruction and violence overwhelm us. We want to blame others without an inward look. We surrender to powerlessness. We hold onto our habits of destruction. We fail. Forgive us for our part in the destruction of your world. (silence) One: Loving God, your dominion is one of compassion, peace, justice, and righteousness. All: Your desire is for the care of all, creation and creature alike, whether wounded by wind or rain or bullets or shaking earth or empty bellies or disrespect. Your world doesn t know destruction and your kingdom doesn t know violence. (silence) One: Come among us, and open us to your presence in our suffering world. Pulpit side: Come among us, and help us respond to the cries of the wounded. Piano side: Come among us, and inspire us to raise our voices for the voiceless. All: Come among us, and infuse our powerlessness with conviction and courage. In Jesus name, Amen. 2
ASSURANCE OF GOD S GRACE One: Response The earth is the Lord s, and the fullness therein. God s Spirit hovers over creation, everywhere and always present, the giver, renewer and sustainer of life. The assurance of our faith is this: God so loves the world, that in Christ, we become a new creation. The old has past, the new is come. Thanks be to God. For the Beauty of the Earth For the beauty of the earth, For the beauty of the skies, For the love which from our birth, Over and around us lies: God of all, to you we raise This our hymn of grateful praise. *PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST One: The peace of Christ be with you, All: and also with you. Please stand and share a greeting of peace with one another. Children will depart for Children s Church. ANTHEM O Taste and See R. Vaughan Williams Celeste Godin, soloist SCRIPTURE II Corinthians 3:1-6 Pew Bible P. 938 SERMON Defiant Hope - Christian Witness in a Time of Climate Crisis Jim Antal *SERMON RESPONSE NO. 563 We Cannot Own the Sunlit Sky ENDLESS SONG OUR VILLAGE LIFE AND OFFERINGS Please sign and pass the fellowship book, which is located at the end of each pew. Please use the prayer request slips, connection cards, and offering cards found in the blue folders, and place them in the offering plate. Offertory The Heavens Are Telling F.J. Haydn Celeste Godin, Ethan Rowe, Sean Galligan, soloists *Doxology and Presentation Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below; Praise God for all that love has done; Creator, Christ, and Spirit One. *Prayer of Dedication 3
INSTALLATION OF ERIC JOSEPH OGI Presentation Covenant of Installation All: Gary Gillis Wendy Vander Hart We, the members of Wellesley Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, receive Eric Ogi as our Pastoral Resident, promising to serve with him in the ministry of the gospel and to give him due honor and support. We gather with him as a sign of our mutual ministry in Christ s name. Prayer and Declaration PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Liz Garrigan-Byerly 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 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, for ever. Amen. *CLOSING HYMN NO. 558 O How Glorious, Full of Wonder IN BABILONE *BENEDICTION POSTLUDE Carillon de Westminster Louis Vierne A special gratitude for Jim Antal, Conference Minister, and Wendy Vander Hart, Associate Conference Minister for their leadership in worship and presence today. Everyone is invited to coffee and refreshments in Village Common, hosted by the Sharing Ministry. A light lunch will be provided by the Environmental Ministry in the chapel for those wishing to stay for a passionate and engaging conversation about the church and our witness in the world with our Conference President and Minister, Jim Antal. 4
The Chancel flowers today are given in celebration of the UCC Resolution of Witness regarding the urgency of healing the climate of the earth, our home and God s gift for the future of all life, and the work of the Village Church s Environmental Ministry and Energy Committee. Karen and Paul Dale. *Correction: last week's chancel flowers were in honor of the Rev. Newell H. Curtis, Jr., contributed by Cynthia Curtis. We regret not listing his full name. TODAY 9:00 AM First Worship, Chapel Rev. Dr. Jim Antal, preaching 10:00 AM Second Worship, Sanctuary Rev. Dr. Jim Antal, preaching Children s Church Infant Through Threes, Family Worship Room 1 st floor (9:50am) Pre-K / Kindergarten Students, Upper Floor (beginning at 9:50am) Grades 1-5, begin in worship then proceed to Upper Floor Grades 8, begin in worship then proceed to Upper Floor 6 th & 7 th Grade Youth Group, Youth Room 10am 10:00 AM Exploring the Bible III, Parlor 11:15 AM Fellowship and Refreshments, Village Common 11:30 AM Lunch Conversation with Jim Antal, Chapel 1:00 PM Wellesley Chinese Language School, Upper Level, Rm B-14 7:00 PM High School Youth Group (10-12), Youth Room - Lower Level 7:00 PM Christian Practices for High School Parents, Upper room Upper level 5
NOTES A Gift to our Church Family in memory of Melissa Bell Meisenhelder: Please take a copy of the daily devotional by Sarah Young: 40 Days With Jesus: Celebrating His Presence, which are uniquely inspired treasures from heaven. God Makes More of Us Together: Wonderful opportunities await. More information will appear soon from the Board of Nominating about how you can be part of what God is doing at Village Church. Family Promise "Keep the Promise", Saturday, October 28 - tickets are now on sale for this annual event. It's an evening of Fabulous Food Tasting, Fun, and an Auction. For more information contact Diana Carroll at: diana.carroll4@gmail.com. Energy Committee Update, Sunday, October 29, after both services, Chapel This forum will provide a visual and oral presentation about a proposal for installing solar panels on our church s roofs. The solar proposal is the of this committee s many projects moving toward energy independence. Committee members are excited to share the plan, estimated to provide 40% of the church s electrical needs at a considerable savings and at no upfront cost, and answer any questions. Join us for book group of No Innocent Bystanders, Becoming an Ally in the Struggle for Justice, Wednesdays, Nov. 1, 8, and 15th from 7:30-9:00pm in the Parlor by Shannon Craigo-Snell & Christopher Doucot (Author) Erinn Staley will lead this discussion. If you are interested in attending please contact Erinn Staley. The Village Church Mom's Group, Wednesday, Nov. 15 th, Home of Kim Reohr We are a "come when you can" kind of group welcoming moms for monthly gatherings, usually in someone's home for wine, dessert and conversation. This is a great way to meet other moms at our church. This gathering will take place at the home of Kim Reohr. Contact Kerry Evans at: kegevans@gmail.com for more information. Christian Practices for Youth Group Middle School Parents, Tuesday, Oct. 24 th, 6:30-8pm in the Upper Room. 6
The Reverend Dr. Jim Antal has served since 2006 as Minister and President of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ, the largest Protestant denomination in the Commonwealth. In addition to overseeing the extraordinary staff of the Mass Conference UCC, he provides ecumenical and interfaith leadership. Together with the Conference Board of Directors, he is working with the leaders of the CT and RI Conferences to propose coming together as one Conference. Antal is the UCC s national spokesperson on climate change, having authored and championed two national Synod resolutions. Antal served as the Sr. Minister of UCC churches in Shaker Heights, Ohio and Newton, Massachusetts, as well as Executive Director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation (USA), an interfaith pacifist organization. Antal is a graduate of Princeton University, Yale Divinity School and Andover Newton Theological School. His book CLIMATE CHURCH CLIMATE WORLD will be published in March 2018. Follow Jim Antal on Twitter @JimAntal. 7
The 3 Great Loves captures The United Church of Christ s commitment to Love Neighbor, Love Children, & Love Creation as we work together to address the inequities in our current world. God s vision is of a just world for all. In this world all are welcomed, everyone is loved, and justice is inherent. 8