THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CANTON CENTER It s the heart that gives; the fingers just let go. November 11, 2018 ~ 10:00 a.m. Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost 184 Cherry Brook Road, PO Box 133, Canton Center, CT 06020-0133 Office 860-693-4581 E-mail: office@cantoncenterchurch.org www.cantoncenterchurch.org
~ ORDER OF WORSHIP ~ CHIMES Bob Oswald 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 Hymnals are available at the back of the sanctuary. Nursery Room is available in the lower level of the Parish House. Children ages Birth-3 years may visit the Nursery with a parent at any time. *All who are able, please stand. Bold denotes unison voice. PRELUDE America the Beautiful Buryl Red CALL TO WORSHIP I was glad when they said to me, Let us go into the house of the Lord, where the smallest word can be the Word of God, where the briefest touch can be the touch of grace, where the smallest gift, wholeheartedly given, is building the realm of God. Friends, let us be at worship together, for God s spirit is here, God s presence is now calling us awake, calling us alive. *HYMN 34, Pilgrim (red) Awake, Awake to Love and Work *GATHERING PRAYER AND THE LORD'S PRAYER Giver of Life, as you gather us in once more, we watch for your presence, we listen for your wisdom, we offer ourselves for lives of love.
Teach us again today that we are made with hearts for giving; help us not to squander our gifts or withhold our best, but to live toward life with generous hearts. This we ask in Christ s name and spirit, as we also 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. *SUNG RESPONSE MESSAGE FOR ALL AGES Sarah Pradhan Following this, children may go to church school. READING FROM SCRIPTURE Mark 12:38-44 SERMON *HYMN 381, Chalice (blue) Take My Gifts OFFERING OF GIFTS Invitation Offertory Song for the Unsung Hero Pamela and Joseph Martin Senior Choir
*Doxology *Prayer of Dedication PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer *HYMN 606, Chalice (blue) God Whose Giving Knows No Ending *BENEDICTION *BENEDITION RESPONSE God of the Nations Senior Choir *POSTLUDE O Praise the Lord with Heart and Voice Joseph Haydn The fountain at the front of the sanctuary this morning remains in place from our service last week for All Saints Sunday. The flowing water represents the flow of life from generation to generation. The stones at the base of the fountain were brought forward and placed by our congregation to represent particular loved and remembered ones who have passed on to eternal life.
The First Congregational Church, Canton Center November 11, 2018 NEXT SUNDAY ~ THANKSGIVING POTLUCK Next Sunday, November 18 following the church service, we will have our Annual Thanksgiving Potluck. Please see the sign up sheet on the kitchen door if you would like to bring a dish to share. 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. The flowers this morning are given by Jan Tanner & family in loving memory of Rosalie Bolland, my mom and Gramma Schramm, for whom I will be forever grateful. OPEN AND AFFIRMING ~ SECOND HOUR CONVERSATION LAST SUNDAY... Anyone who missed the lively discussion concerning becoming an ONA Church but wishes to hear it, we have recorded it! Please email Jerry Alonzy at Webmaster@Cantoncenterchurch.org and he will send you a link to it on our website. The ONA Committee will receive any additional input about the proposed ONA statement until Wed., Dec. 5. You may either email the church office (office@cantoncenterchurch.org, subject line ONA ) or leave written input in a large marked envelope on the literature table in the vestibule. CHERUB CHOIR We will have cherub choir practices this morning in the music room at 11:15 am and continue through December under the direction of Judy Robinson. We will be rehearsing a song to be sung at Christmas. This choir is open to ages 4-3rd grade. Come and have fun! NEXT SUNDAY ~ INTERFAITH CELEBRATION OF THANKSGIVING Next Sunday, November 18th at 4 pm, - at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 27 Lawton Road, in Canton there will be an Interfaith Celebration of Thanksgiving. There will be a collection of canned goods to be donated to The Canton Food Bank. All are welcome! MISSIONS & OUTREACH COLLECTIONS The Missions & Outreach Committee is collecting bath soaps and toothpaste for Hands of Grace. We are also collecting warm clothing, such as hats, gloves, coats, sweaters, blankets, towels, and twin bed sheets which will be given to the Friends in Service to Humanity. FALL INTO SCRIP! The leaves are changing, there s a chill in the air, the pumpkin spice lattes are flowing. Stop by the scrip table today to pick up a gift card for Starbucks, Dunkin or Panera and treat yourself to a taste of Fall! Or come see what other cards we have in stock, place an order for any of our 750 available retailers or just find out more about the program. Thanks for your support! Pastor: The Rev. Dr. Brenda Pelc-Faszcza Ministers: Every Member Director of Music: Mary Lou Keefe Director of Faith Formation: Sarah Pradhan Sexton: Walt LeGeyt Office Manager: Kristen DiMattia Duty Deacons: Karen Needham & Charlie Hammond Trustee: Linda Kessler Coffee Hour Hosts: Karen Needham PRIME TIMERS - NOVEMBER 14 Prime Timers will meet in the parish Hall at noon on November 14. Carole Fisher will demonstrate the preparation of crepes and other wonderful food. We get to enjoy the fruits of her labor for lunch. We are grateful to Carole for doing this program for us. Sunday 11 Monday 12 Tuesday 13 Wednesday 14 Thursday 15 Friday 16 Saturday 17 Worship 10:00 am Cherub Choir 11:15 am (Butter Braid pick up) Prayer Shawl 10 am Trustee 7 pm Choir 6:45 pm Choir/Guest 7:30 ACA 7:00 pm AA 7:00 pm Prime Timers 12:00 Parish Hall Council Meeting 7 pm Bell Choir 7:00 pm AA 11:00 pm