THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST IN HARTFORD An Open and Affirming Congregation of The United Church of Christ THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER April 29, 2012 Welcome ~ Bienvenidos 10:30 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. 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. A comfortable nursery is available in the basement of the Meeting House where concerned parents may take young children who are restless and might be seem disruptive to neighbors sitting in the pews. The service can be heard through a speaker system in the nursery. Colorful activity bags are available on a table in the back of the Meeting House for children to use during the service at their parent's discretion. PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP God Through Me God's might to direct me, God's power to protect me, God's wisdom for learning, God's eye for discerning, God's ear for my hearing, God's Word for my clearing. ~ Saint Patrick
COMING BEFORE GOD CHIMING OF THE HOUR and GREETING PRELUDE for Organ Pastoral Symphony from Messiah Georg Frideric Handel, 1741 Pastor is the Latin word for shepherd. INTROIT for Choir Come, with High and Holy Hymning music: Joachim Neander (1650-1680) text: Cecil F. Alexander (1818-1895) Come, with high and holy hymning, hail our Lord s triumphant day; not one darksome cloud is dimming yonder glorious morning ray, breaking o er the purple east, symbol of our Easter feast. *CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: People: We are welcomed into the family of God on this day. Let us worship God together in faith, hope and love. We lift our eyes, thoughts, and hearts to you, O God. Your pastoral care of all of us brings us together. We offer our praise and thanks to you For shepherding our church family And the whole United Church of Christ. We pray for blessings, instructions, and peace Through our Welcoming Shepherd, Jesus. Amen. *HYMN of Praise No. 42 O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing AZMON * Those who are able are invited to stand.
UNISON PRAYER OF INVOCATION and THE LORD S PRAYER Creator God, we gather together to worship you and thank you for our blessings. Your loving son has brought us closer to you, for he is the good shepherd, guiding his flock through the dangers and snares of the world to the fields of plenty. We ask your help. Keep our eyes open to that which gives you pleasure, as we pray 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. (* = traditional wording but you may use alternative wording, such as God, Creator, or Mother, as seems fitting.) CONFESSION AND RESPONSE UNISON PRAYER OF ADORATION AND CONFESSION Gentle God, Remind us that, as a part of your family, No one is unattended, Or considered "less than," Or left outside the fold of your realm. We ask that you help us to recognize The strength we gain from one another. Welcoming Shepherd, May we be ever mindful of the distinctive gifts We bring into our Church family. Forgive us when we forget. Create in us a renewed gratitude For relationships with all your people. Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE Leader: People: Like the Good Shepherd, We can be led to know each other by name, To feed and to be fed by the other. May the Welcoming Shepherd lead us to stand with and up For one another in times of trials and difficulties. May God's mercy reach each of us. Amen. Congregational Response Glory to God the Creator music: Ronald A. Nelson, 1986 text: Gloria patri, 3 rd century, transl. THE PASSING OF THE PEACE Leader: People: Leader: 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.
PROCLAIMING GOD S LIVING WORD PSALTER READING Psalm 23 NRSV: Old Testament, p. 491 NEW TESTAMENT READING 1 John 3:16-24 NRSV: New Testament, p. 1113 GOSPEL LESSON John 10: 11-18 NRSV: New Testament, p. 980 *Scripture Response (sung by the Choir) music: Hugh Porter (1897-1960) text: Psalm 119: 105 Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. SERMON The Life of a Shepherd David Fish, Warburton Urban Resident RESPONDING IN FAITH *HYMN of Discipleship Now Praise the Hidden God of Love DICKINSON COLLEGE
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE text: Fred Pratt Green, 1975 music: Lee Hastings Bristol, Jr., 1962 Choral Response Almighty Father, Hear Our Prayer music Felix Mendelssohn, 1846, adapt. text: unknown Almighty Father, hear our prayer, and bless all souls that wait before thee. Amen. THE OFFERING OF GIFTS AND TITHES Anthem for Choir and Organ The God of Love My Shepherd Is music: Conrad Susa, 1985 text: Psalm 23; para. George Herbert (1593-1633) The God of Love my shepherd is, and he that doth me feed: while he is mine and I am his, what can I want or need? He leads me to the tender grass where I both feed and rest; then to the streams that gently pass; in both I have the best. Or if I stray, he doth convert and keep my mind in frame: and all this not for my dessert, but for his holy name. Yea, in death s shady black abode well may I walk, not fear: for Thou art with me; and Thy rod to guide, and Thy staff to bear. Nay, Thou dost make me sit and dine ev n in my enemies sight: my head with oil, my cup with wine runs over day and night. Surely Thy sweet and wondrous love shall measure all my days, and as it never shall remove, so neither shall my praise. This Center Church Choir and the Chancel Choir of New Britain s South Church will sing this setting of Psalm 23 on the Canticles for Choirs concert program, to be presented this afternoon, at 4:00 p.m., at South Church, New Britain.
*Eastertide Doxology LASST UNS ERFREUEN music: Geistliche Kirchengesäng, Cologne, 1623; harm. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906 text: Thomas Ken, 1674; alt. *UNISON PRAYER OF DEDICATION Lord, how often do we worry about having enough? We worry about tomorrow for tomorrow. When you brought your people out from the land of oppression, you provided for them daily. May we, as beneficiaries of your Blessings, offer these gifts in kind. We exalt you, O God, and ask you multiply these gifts for the good of your people. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.
GOING FORTH *HYMN of Unity in the Good Shepherd No. 387 O Christ, the Great Foundation AURELIA (hymnal, no. 386) stanza 4 harmonization: Noel Rawsthorne, 1991 *BENEDICTION POSTLUDE for Organ Lasst uns erfreuen David A. Schack, 1971 This setting of the tune to which we sing the Eastertide Doxology explores a mixing of musical meters. One could imagine a shepherd moving quickly in order to corral the sheep, or encouraging them in varied ways to move to a new, greener pasture. SHARING OUR LIFE IN CHRIST BEING THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD Our thanks to Deacon Nancy Maclean; Ushers Richard and Sara Markham; Greeters Peter Austin and Cheryl Thomas; and Liturgist Cheryl Thomas. Our thanks to Timothy Otte for providing today s refreshments. The flowers in the Meeting House today are given in loving memory of Rockwell Harmon Potter, who died on May 15, 1967. Following today s Worship service, please stop by the Remembrance Area to sign cards for Chris Jeffers and Harry Sanders. WE HAVE LAUNCHED! Visit our new website at www.centerchurchhartford.org
+ IN OUR PRAYERS Mary BeBisio, Carolyn Bidwell, Hulon Geter, George & Gladys Hernandez, Robert Irving, Yvonne Iuli, Cecelia Jackson, William Jackson, Elsie Kosovich, Pamela Libby, Janice Lombardi, Christine MacDonald, Diana Mateo-Perez, Pat Renfro, Madeline Simonson, Gabriela Smith-Rosario, Norman Stanley, Dana Geter-Walker, The City of Hartford, The Connecticut Conference of The United Church of Christ, The First Church of Christ in Hartford and The State of Connecticut SPEND SOME TIME BEFORE WORSHIP WITH SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORS ON MAIN STREET The Outside Coffee Ministry Coordinator for April and May is Enid Negron. Please see Enid Negron if you are willing to serve as the coordinator for June. Also, please sign up in the Green Book if you are willing to help out during May or June. THE WALK AGAINST HUNGER is Next Sunday, May 6! Let us love one another. And this love, that we walk according to this commandment; this is the commandment just as you have heard it from the beginning - you must walk in it. ~John 2: 6 Center Church walkers must have their registration forms signed and list their sponsors with monetary donations by May 5. We will meet at the Church House in the basement hall after Worship on Sunday, May 6. We need to list all walkers and account for the donations and sponsors, and give that account to the church business office. We will individually hand in our signed registration forms at the Hartford Insurance Company location (140 Garden St.) at 1:00pm. You can fill out and get donations for the walk without participation ~ we call it walking in the spirit. Looking forward to this special day! Your team captain, Enid Negron
SUNDAY MORNING ADULT CLASS 8:45 a.m. in the Church House Parlor Sundays through June 10 A Public Faith: How Followers of Christ Should Serve the Common Good The author of the book we are using for this series is Miroslav Wolf, Professor of Systematic Theology at Yale Divinity School. May 6 Chapter 3 Coerciveness May 13 Chapter 4 Human Flourishing May 20 Chapter 5 Identity and Difference May 27 Chapter 6 Sharing Wisdom June 3 --- No class due to Camp Picnic June 10 Chapter 7 Public Engagement This is an interesting and provocative series. If you have questions, please contact Alvin Thompson. LET THERE BE LIGHT The steeple of the Meeting House will be lighted this week as a memorial: April 29 April 29- May 5 In loving memory of Elsie Howe, by her husband, the late Walter King Howe and their children, Walter III and Gail In memory of Mrs. Horace B. Clark by her cousin, the late Miss Louise Roberts
Sunday - 8:45 Adult Education Class (new series); - 10:30 Worship; followed by refreshments and Special Initiatives Meeting; - 4:00 Canticles for Choir Concert South Church, New Britain Monday - 7:00 Being Open & Affirming in the Context of Sacred Music (ongoing series through May 21) Tuesday - 10:00 Staff Meeting; - 5:00 Community Meals Wednesday - 12:10 Midweek Musical Meditations; - 7:30 Choir Rehearsal (Church House) FOOD PANTRY NEEDED at MANNA! rice beans pasta spaghetti sauce tuna canned soup canned vegetables macaroni and cheese