No matter who you are or where you are on life s journey Come, experience God slove Go, serve God s world Main Street Congregational Church United Church of Christ 145 Main Street Amesbury, Massachusetts 01913 978.388.0982 www. main-street-church.org office@main-street-church.org
Main Street Congregational Church United Church of Christ At 145 Main Street, Amesbury, MA 01913 978-388-0982 www.main-street-church.org The Congregation The Reverend Joan MacPherson Danny Smith Ministers Pastor and Teacher Music Minister 25th Sunday after Pentecost 10:00 A.M. November 11, 2018 Prelude Ancient of Days, Come Let us Bow Down, Glorify Thy Name, Come, Now is the Time to Worship Introit How Majestic is Your Name Call to Worship One: What does the Lord require of you? Many: On this day of all days as we remember men and women who lost their lives in the violence of war and in mass shootings. One: What does the Lord require of you? Many: On this day of all days we come seeking peace for all in a world that cries out for it. One: What does the Lord require of you? Many: On this day of all days we come seeking to love the unloved and to live humbly with our Lord. One: we come to God in worship and praise. Many: Let us worship the God of love and peace. *Hymn Spirit of the Living God Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me *Unison Prayer (prayer written by a anonymous Veteran) Great and Holy Spirit, As I begin my walk out of the darkness and turmoil of conflict, give me the strength to find a lasting, gentle existence. Give me the desire to treat all living creatures with respect. Help me to do no harm for the rest of my life. To accept who I am now.not who I have been in the past. To remember the good and to dim not forget.the tragic past. Take my experiences and teach me to use them to understand others wherever I go. To ban fear, hate and violence from my brain. Let me understand how one person can make the world a better place. Show me the reasons I am still here and what it is I am to do. Give me the strength to face the time I have left here and to reconnect with humanity. To feel, accept and give love. Make me whole again.o God, give us courage to walk humbly in the path of the one who taught us to pray...
Lords 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, 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 A Time for Children 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 Anthem Let There be Worship, Let There be Praise Martin Speaking of Stewardship Jim Smith Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer *Hymn O Little Town of Bethlehem Vss. 1, 3,4 Insert Hebrew Scripture Micah 5:2-5a; 6:6-8 Sermon A Bigger Table Rev. Joan MacPherson Offertory Come Let Us Worship Tomlin/Reeves *Doxology Prayer of Dedication Praise God from whom all blessings flow Praise God All creatures here below, Praise Him ye above ye heavenly host. Creator, Savior, Holy Ghost *Hymn For the Healing of the Nations Insert Ringing of the Bell - Commissioning Arlyn Weieneth Commissioning and Benediction Response *Those who are able, please stand Carry your candle, run to the darkness Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn. Hold out your candle, for all to see it Take your candle, go light your world Take your candle, go light your world.
Welcome to worship at Main Street Church - During this time of worship we seek to open our full lives to the gift of God s radical and inclusive love. We are honored that you are worshipping with us today. If you are new in our midst, please fill out the welcome card in the pew so that we may stay connected. Please make a point of speaking with the pastor, she would welcome the chance to get to know you. Each week there is nursery care available in the Parish House for those four and under. Sunday School (grades k-8) begins after the time for Children and is held in the Parish House. Our music ministry begins with 10-15 minutes of pre-service praise and worship music every Sunday morning. You are welcome to join in words in three ring binders in the pew - or center yourself silently. Coffee Hour following worship is located in the vestry (the building to the right of the sanctuary). The vestry can be accessed by going outside turning right and using the back entrance by the kitchen or by following the crowd through the swinging door at the front of the church and to the left of the choir. The vestry is located past the bathrooms through the kitchen. Financial Giving at Main Street Church - Offerings are received in worship each week for support of our ministries. Gifts can also be given through simple give from our web page main-street-church.org or with automatic bill pay from your bank. We are grateful for you support and for what your generosity enables. LARGE PRINT BULLETINS ARE AVAILABLE, PLEASE ASK THE GREETER. If you are visiting from another church: Please ask one of our Deacons for a Peace Candle to bring back to your home church. Please take our greetings and prayers with you and ask your home church to burn the candle during worship. Worship Ministry this week: Deacon: Sharlene Price Greeters: Betty Vitale Neal & Pat Ruebel Coffee hour: Connie & Arlyn Weieneth
Sometimes I have to step out of the Kindergarten classroom because I am laughing so hard. Who do you think is smarter Edwin s cat, mused one child, or Jesus Christ? Well, came the second child s answer, Edwin s cat IS pretty big. And a boy, whose mother had apparently had him in vitro, asked a girl to marry him. His mother must have told him frankly about his conception, because he paused. But wait, he asked his would-be, five-year-old bride, if we have kids, who will be the perm donor? Once in a while, kids let slip bits of information the parents would rather not share. When practicing prepositions of place, a boy offered, My mom sleeps IN the bed and my dad sleeps ON the couch. Another time, after I took off my glasses, a little girl confided to me in Spanish, When you take your glasses off, you look a little uglier. To keep my mind from straying, I have been retelling myself these one-liners on the eve of this Tuesday s election, when our school s funding, laws regulating access to the guns that can get inside a school, and the possibility of some children being permanently separated from their parents, all hang in the balance. Not to mention health care, social security, human rights for transgender people, immigration reform, the right to marry and a woman s right to choose. After we vote on November 6th, we have no control over the way our country sways. What we do have control over is our church budget and the two are very much related. We give weekly to offset the costs of the building, salaries, and music ministry, to name a few. But Main Street Church is also active with the social justice issues on the ballot. We can only survive with the church s healthy giving. And we can only know how we will survive with the plans you tell us about your giving. So please consider the church prayerfully and fill out your stewardship cards. Thank you. TODAY IS STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY AT MAIN STREET CHURCH E-mail your pledge promise to our treasurer, Kay Weiner at msccpledge@gmail.com.
Micah 5:2-5a; 6:6-8 The Ruler from Bethlehem 2 * But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. 3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labour has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; 5 and he shall be the one of peace. What God Requires 6 With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt-offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with tens of thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
PRAYER LIST & CLIPBOARD A Prayer List clipboard is available as you enter the church. We invite you to list those who will be added to our prayer list. If there is a person who you feel would benefit from pastoral care, please let a deacon know. PLEASE KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS Family & friends of Harry Hanson, Stella Chase, Les Weiner, Roberta, Tommy McLane, Michelle Costa, Mr Barnaby, families of Lawrence/Andvoer/North Andover. According to the Northeast Area UCC Prayer Calendar, we pray for the First Church in Wenham in Wenham, MA and the Rev. Michael Duda and the Rev. Christine Hribar. This Months communion offering During the month of November the communion offering will go towards the hurricane relief mission trip to Florence, NC. Weekly Calendar Today 10:00 a.m. Worship & Stewardship Sunday Monday-Friday 9-1 pm Office Hours Monday Veterans Day observed-office closed 12:30-3 Knitting in Webster Room Tuesday 9-11 a.m. volunteers sort bags at Steppe Up In 10:30-Noon Joan is at the Bakehouse for conversation Wednesday 7 a.m.-7p.m. Our Neighbor s Table 11 am MSCC service on Cable 12 12:30-1:30 p.m. Intentional Spirit Community 3-6:00 p.m. Steppe Up In Open 6:30 pm Board of Fellowship 6:30 pm Trustees meet Thursday 2:30 p.m. MSCC service on Cable 12 7 pm Choir Friday 9:30 p.m. NA Vestry 7-10pm Sanctuary in use Saturday 9-Noon Steppe Up In open 2:30pm Pettengill meal assembled and delivered
DIRECTORY Rev. Joan MacPherson, Pastor 978-388-0982 (o), 978-388-1419 (h) joan.macpherson@main-street-church.org Korty Church, Moderator 978-808-3605, kc.church@comcast.net Marie Roy, Treasurer 978-346-9900 Kay Weiner, Collector 978-388-9028, yak385@gmail.com Lee Ford, Chair-Worship & Music 978-388-3750, lee4d1972@gmail.com Betty Vitale-Neal, Chair-Fellowship 617-529-0198, bigbrat1974@hotmail.com Brian Cressey, Chair-Trustees 978-388-5010, bcressey@yahoo.com Dee Morse, Pastoral Relations 603-380-0929, tedanddee@hotmail.com Evelyn Olson, Clerk 508-577-7257, luckyduck98_81@yahoo.com Jennifer Stinson, Director Sunday School Jennifer_nordwall@hotmail.com 508-560-1093 Lee Ford and Deb Rider, Co-chairs Sanctuary Team 978-388-3750, lee4d1972@gmail.com 603-490-7054, dcranberry@comcast.net. Robin Schell, Call to care rschell@jjwpr.com Danny Smith, Music Minister 603-642-5262/danlgee@comcast.net Stacy Lamson, Church Admin. M-F 9am-1pm Office@main-street-church.org Sue Ranshaw, Prophet 978-346-9940, suzispof@comcast.net Nancy Noseworthy, Manager, Steppe Up In 978-462-1318, jazvan1@netzero.net Maryanne Hatfield, Volunteer Coordinator, Steppe Up In 603-974-2795, mhseashell@aol.com Nancy Paradis, Nursery Care / 978-388-9554 Lori Belleville, Sexton 978-417-0745 /loribell82@yahoo.com Steppe Up In 978-388-9061
Special Congregational Meeting December 9th following worship there will be a special congregational meeting held at MSCC. Mailings have been sent to all the congregation. If you haven t received the information, there are copies in the back of the church. Armistice/Veterens Day Veterans for Peace is calling on churches to ring their bells at today at 11 AM to recognize Armistice Day - in recognition of the futility of war and to show our commitment to world peace. This year is the 100th anniversary of the original Armistice Day, a day of celebration marking the end of fighting during World War I (the Great War). Today, Armistice Day is a call to Americans, in recognition of the horrors and futility of that war, to rededicate themselves to world peace. Arlyn Weieneth will be ringing the Main Street Church bell at the conclusion of worship/11 am that day. Pettengill is the 17th! The 21st season of providing a hot meal for our neighbors is well underway. The next opportunity to help is Saturday, November 17th. Wendy Brennan and Cathy Young, coordinators of the Pettengill meals for MSCC, invite you to prepare lasagna or provide milk and/or help to prepare and deliver meals on the afternoon of November 17th. Please let Wendy or Cathy know if you will be able to help this month. We can provide you with the lasagna recipe. All meals will be prepared for delivery at the East Parish United Methodist Church in Salisbury. Thank you! ceyoung62@gmail.com and wbrennan65@gmail. Pettengill Meal Booklet If you would like to receive the Pettengill meal booklet including dates and recipe s on line-please contact the office. There a few at the back of the church as well. Operation Bundle Up Details and plans/process are not totally yet in place however, there is a good chance that if you had some new, unwrapped boots (size 12 and up), jackets, mittens hats, gloves, scarfs in the 4t -6T range (mostly 5T) - that Nicole Rodriguez would have kindergarten students that could use them. She has many kids newly in the US from Central America and the Caribbean and our temperatures are a bit shocking. More information to come next week.
BOOK BIN The book bin is in place and being used! This box is used for collecting books, cds and dvds that you no longer want or need and are not appropriate for donation and sale at the Steppe Up In or public library. We are trying to keep any and all products possible out of landfills, while raising a small amount of money for our church. There are questions regarding what is to be deposited where. Here are some answers: Please continue to donate clothing, shoes, purses, and small household goods in the Steppe Up In drop box on the side of the shop, as you normally would. Please deposit books, CD s, and DVDs in the blue drop box labeled as such. Please do not leave items on the ground around those areas. IF you have textile items you know are NOT appropriate for the Steppe Up In, you may deposit them in the book bin. NURSERY COVERAGE NOTICE Unfortunately, Nancy Paradis has given her notice. Her last day in the church nursery will be November 18, 2018. The Board of Worship/Music would like to thank Nancy for her many, many years of dedication to the families and children of Main Street Church, and to wish her well. She will be sorely missed! The board will be looking to find a replacement for Nancy. If anyone knows of someone who is a certified day care provider who might be interested in providing nursery coverage, please let one of the deacons know. In order to provide nursery care in the interim, we will need to have a parent from two families volunteer on Sunday mornings. A calendar will be provided in the vestry for sign-up. The board will do its best to fill this position with a qualified candidate as quickly as possible. Wreaths & Poinsettias Forms for donating a wreath for the decorating of the sanctuary are available at the back of the church. Donate one in honor or memory of someone during the holiday season. Question? Please call the office or speak with Donna Jones.