The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme 2 Ferry Road Old Lyme, Connecticut (860) 434-8686 Website: www.fccol.org
April 7, 2019 Prelude Lighting of the Candle SUNDAY WORSHIP Steven R. Jungkeit, Senior Minister Laura Fitzpatrick-Nager, Senior Associate Minister Carleen R. Gerber, Associate Minister Simon D. Holt, Director of Music *Processional Hymn: #33 When in Our Music God Is Glorified *Call to Worship: (from Psalm 98) 9:00 AM Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises. Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody. With trumpets and the sound of the horn (and the piano!) make a joyful noise. Let the seas roar, and all that fills it; let the hills sing together for joy. Let us worship God, with music in our hearts. *Invocation *The Lord s Prayer Welcome and News of the Church Sacrament of Baptism *Hymn: #327 I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry Scripture: John 3: 1-8 (NT, pg. 89) Offertory Invitation Let Them Talk, Tom McDermott *Doxology: Praise God from whom all blessings flow; *Offertory Prayer Time for Children Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God for all that love has done; Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One. Amen Laura Fitzpatrick-Nager
Hymn: #364 This Little Light of Mine (First verse only, as children leave. Congregation can remain seated.) Jesus Is On the Mainline, Tom McDermott Solo Piano, with Commentary by Ned Sublette Pastoral Prayer Pastoral Prayer Response: As We Are Gathered Carinhoso, by Tom McDermott Solo Piano, with Commentary by Ned Sublette *Hymn: #68 Though I May Speak (The Gift of Love) Benediction Postlude Tom McDermott *Congregation Standing
We thank you for worshipping with us. Following the life and teachings of Jesus, we are a church that strives to be a place of grace, welcoming all regardless of theological expression, age, race, gender, sexual identity, national origin or financial means. In our Church Constitution we recognize that each member shall have the undisturbed right to follow the word of God according to the dictates of his or her own conscience, under the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, established in 1665, cherishes this proud Pilgrim tradition. We are honored by your presence among us, and we invite you to help us become what we endeavor to be. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This morning we are pleased to celebrate the baptism of Tessa Elyse Hildner, daughter of Kaitlin and Michael Hildner, and granddaughter of Emily and Tim Hildner. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We thank Carleen Gerber our organist this morning and The Rev. Paul Verryn, our theologian-in-residence. The memorial flowers this morning are given by Steven Ames in loving memory of all who have died at war. The additional flowers are in remembrance of Irene Lofgren Avery. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The deacon on duty is Mark Bond. The host for fellowship hour this morning is Cari Blanchard. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Childcare is available this morning in the nursery downstairs at the 9:00 am service. If you need help finding it, please ask the ushers to assist you. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you are visiting us for worship this morning, we welcome you, and invite you to join us in Fellowship Hall for fellowship and refreshments. We invite you to pick up a Welcome packet, which can be found in the vestibule. We hope this information will be helpful in acquainting you with our church and its activities and programs. Quiet Activity Bags for young children are in the vestibule. They are colorful bags with quiet projects for our youngest members. Please feel free to offer these bags to your children. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Rev. David W. Good serves as our Minister Emeritus. The Rev. Rebecca T. Crosby is our Minister for Haitian Outreach. Rebecca A. Francisco, a recent graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, serves as minister to the South Lyme Union Chapel. Save the Date. Yoga and Meditation for Peace class on Sunday, April 28th at 2:00 in Fellowship Hall. This yoga class is for people of all ages and skill levels. There is no charge, but donations are welcome. Proceeds will go towards funding the FCCOL s Immigrant Assistance Committee Fund.
This morning we welcome New Orleans musicians Tom McDermott and Ned Sublette. McDermott is an internationally recognized pianist and composer, and a fixture in the world of New Orleans music. His work was featured in the HBO series "Treme - where he played himself several times throughout the series. He has released 17 albums, including 90 original songs - in styles ranging from jazz to Brazilian choro, to ragtime, to swing, to classical compositions. He s played Carnegie Hall, the 92 nd Street Y, most states in America and a couple dozen countries abroad. He s been reviewed a half-dozen times by the New York Times, as well as the Wall Street Journal, Rolling Stone and other media; and has lectured at Harvard on New Orleans, American music and his unique house. Ned Sublette is an American composer, musician, record producer and author. His books include "The Year Before the Flood: A Story of New Orleans and The World That Made New Orleans: From Spanish Silver to Congo Square. His most recent book, published with his wife Constance, is "The American Slave Coast," which documents the slave-breeding industry that flourished in the 19th century US. Musically, he is known for fusing country-western and afro-caribbean styles in his albums "Cowboy Rumba" (which reached Number 1 on the World Music Charts Europe) and Kiss You Down South. His music label, Qbadisc, releases Cuban music in the US. In 2006, Willie Nelson released Sublette's song "Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other" in the wake of the success of Brokeback Mountain. For the past several years, Sublette has organized and led "Postmambo" tours of Cuba and Haiti, exploring the intersections of music, dance and ritual, and how those expressions have shaped our world. Adult Forums TODAY: Carbon Offsets What to do about climate change can seem like an insurmountable challenge or it can serve as a springboard for channeling creative energies into identifying practical and achievable solutions. One option that has gained considerable attention is that of carbon offsets. This approach will be addressed by our speaker this morning, David Gonci (not to be confused with a member of this Church). Please stop by. No Forums April 14, Palm Sunday, and April 21, Easter Sunday. LBS April Luncheon April is a time of growth. Roots and new connections are forming. Please join us for a lunch made with love. Come and make connections with friends and new people. Our presenter, Patricia Horn O'Brien, will share with us her journey of healing, growth and courage in the aftermath of giving her son up for adoption and later reconnecting with him. In 2018, Pat and her son, Rich Manders, wrote a book together, entitled The Laughing Rabbit: A Mother, A Son, And The Ties That Bind. Making an uncharted reach may lead to new opportunities- if we watch and listen. The luncheon will be held on Tuesday April 9th at 12:00 PM. The cost is $5 with a contribution of canned goods or a gently used dish towel. (Our kitchen towels are a bit worn these days.) The Ladies Who Stitch will display their creations with us so you may enjoy perusing their crafts. Please make reservations by calling the church office at 860-434-8686. We hope to see you!
News From the Immigrant Assistance Committee - Dinner at Pizza Corner, Tuesday, April 9th 6:00 PM For those who are missing Malik, Zahida and Roniya, we will carpool to Pizza Corner on Tuesday, April 9th, leaving from FCCOL at 5:00 pm. We will have dinner at Pizza Corner, 36 Broad Street, New Britain, visit with our dear friends and support their business! All are welcome. Please contact Lina (860-680-8825) if you would like to join the carpool. Contemplative Prayer Circle Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you. Anne Lamott. We ll explore different prayer practices over the weeks including lectio divina, centering prayer, music and meditation. Contemplative Prayer group will resume April 10th, 17th and the 24th at 6:30 pm in the Hoag Parlor. June 22nd - June 29th / Cheyenne River Reservation, SD / Join us! Join our annual journey to the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota. This year, as we visit our friends in the small community of Green Grass, we will learn to reconnect with nature and gain a deeper understanding of Native American Spiritually and its role in the environment. Please stop by the church Library at 12:30 pm TODAY to learn more. If you are interested in coming but can t make the meeting, please email Stephanie Kenny at stephanieckenny@gmail.com. Hope to see you there! Stock Transfer Please call Teri at 860-434-8686, our bookkeeper at the church office, if you transferred Wells Fargo stock to FCCOL. Ladies Who Stitch Come shop with us! Today during coffee hours and Tuesday at the LBS luncheon. Some new items include our colorful beach bags, girls sundresses, and our handy Simple Bags - just the right size to carry in your purse or back pocket to help reduce use of single-use plastic bags. Also we welcome shoppers during our Monday work hours - 10:00-2:00 in the Sheffield Auditorium. Occasionally we are able to handle requests for mending and minor alterations. Questions: Contact Eunice via email at eunicetaylor@me.com. God s Neighborhood Today in God s Neighborhood Laura will be helping us learn more about The Last Supper and will lead us in Communion. Please Join us! Everybody Welcome! April 12-17, Civil Rights Trip for Pilgrim Fellowship. April 19, Fourth Annual Good Friday Walk for Hunger, Carrying the Cross of hunger. Meet at 9:45 am at St. Ann s, 82 Shore Road, Old Lyme. 1.5 mile round trip walk. Donations of canned goods and checks to Shoreline Soup Kitchen and Pantries will be appreciated and collected at event. ALL ARE WELCOME! April 20, Pilgrim Fellowship will meet at church at 3:00 p.m. to carpool to set up for Sunrise Service at Griswold Point. RSVP to Lisa.
International Community Supper The Old Lyme Refugee Resettlement Committee invites you and your friends to our 3rd annual International Community Supper on Saturday, April 27th, at 6:00 p.m. at Christ the King Church, 1 McCurdy Road in Old Lyme! The supper will be hosted this year by the Kazadi family, from the Democratic Republic of Congo: Joseph, Martine, Miriam, Drysille and Joe. We will also be honoring our community friends: the Hamou and Colon families. African music and a silent auction will help us celebrate the occasion. Our supper this year will be a delicious, international meal! All donations at the door will support the Old Lyme Refugee Resettlement Committee's work.. Please join us! Madagasikara- The Real Madagascar Come see the award-winning documentary that follows the lives of three women struggling in the face of extreme poverty and political indifference in an often misunderstood island nation. Where: Lyme-Old Lyme High School Auditorium. When: 7:00 pm on April 11th, 2019. Admission: Free Donations will be gratefully accepted to aid the children of Madagascar. Thank you! Presented by the Amnesty International Club of Lyme-Old Lyme High School. All are welcome! Bible Study In April we will continue our study of the book of Psalms. The Psalms are a collection of prayers and songs composed through Israel's history from the time of David to the post-exilic period (roughly 1000 to 500 BCE). We will study the different Psalm types and their historical significance and meaning. We will also spend time exploring how they are helpful in our lives today. Led by Becky Crosby. Bring your Bible, but if you don't have one, we have one for you! All are welcome! Classes are scheduled in the Library at 10:45 am for April 11, 18, and May 9, 16, 23, 30. Book Group Robin Diangelo s new book, White Fragility. Join us in the Hoag Parlor on Tuesday, April 9th and 30th at 10:30 am. White Fragility is a non-fiction book which addresses the role and dimensions of white privilege and racism in our society. Join us as we learn together how to develop racial awareness and challenge our own assumptions. Calendar of Events and Meetings for This Week Sunday School TODAY at 9:00 am. Green Grass Trip Meeting TODAY at 12:30 pm in the Library. Ladies Who Stitch Monday, April 8th at 10:00 am in the Sheffield Auditorium. Book Group Tuesday, April 9th at 10:30 am in the Library. LBS Luncheon Tuesday, April 9th at 12:00 pm in Fellowship Hall. Board of Trustees Tuesday, April 9th at 7:30 pm in the Library. Writing Group W ednesday, April 10th at 4:00 pm in the Hoag Parlor. Children s Choir W ednesday, April 10th at 5:00 pm in the Sheffield Auditorium. Prayer Group W ednesday, April 10th at 6:30 pm in the Hoag Parlor. Senior Choir W ednesday, April 10th at 7:30 pm in the Sheffield Auditorium. Bible Study Thursday, April 11th at 10:45 am in the Library. Pilgrim Fellowship Group Depart Friday, April 12th at 3:30 pm at FCCOL.
EASTER SEASON SCHEDULE Maundy Thursday Traditional Service of Tenebrae April 18, 7:30 pm Good Friday April 19 Meetinghouse open for prayer and meditation. Walk for Hunger at 9:45 am. We will meet at St. Ann s Episcopal Church and walk past Christ the King Church to FCCOL and back again -- about 3 miles. Please join us and walk. All ages are welcome. Easter Sunrise Service April 21 6:30 am at Griswold Point (if you need directions, call the church) Easter Sunday 9:00 am & 11:00 am Worship Services Join us in Fellowship Hall for a light breakfast/coffee hour between the 9&11 services. No Sunday School. One Great Hour of Sharing This year we will once again dedicate our Easter offering to the work of One Great Hour of Sharing, a fund collected through the United Church of Christ and dispersed through the National Council of Churches. This fund can be accessed for any emergencies world-wide, such as relief in times of natural disaster or critical health or social crises. Last year we received word from the UCC that, in terms of the OGHS collection, we were among the 100 most generous churches in the nation! That is a testimony to the generosity of our congregation, and a real honor. We have set our goal for the 2019 collection at $10,000 once again. Please help as much as you are able. Easter Memorial Music As in years past, you can make a donation to our Easter Memorial Music by calling or stopping by the church office. Any amount would be appreciated, but it is important to call 860-434-8686, and to be specific about the names you wish to have listed. We will need all information by Friday, April 12, in order to print the Easter bulletins. Easter Flowers This year we will have a collection of Easter lilies and spring flowers as our altar arrangement (rather than all lilies). These flowers will be distributed to those who are homebound or in nursing homes following Easter morning. If you would like to make a contribution to this effort in honor of a loved one, please make a donation of $10.00 and call us to let us know the name you would like in the memorial list. As with Memorial Music, we must finalize this list of names on Friday, April 12. Thank you.