Village Church United Church of Christ March 23, 2014
ORDER OF WORSHIP March 23, 2014 9:00 am Welcome to First Worship! We extend a welcome as broad as the outstretched arms of God, who calls us to be here together to rejoice in God s glorious presence. Welcome to children of all ages to all the children of God, each one of us. If you are an old friend or here for the first time, we welcome you. Our worship is an intergenerational experience and we want children to feel fully included. Children are welcome to pick up an activity bag and to bring snacks to their seats. We remember that worship offers us all a special place to be with God. In this space we talk a little more softly and walk a little more quietly. We are listening for God. PRELUDE RINGING AND LIGHTING CANDLE WELCOME AND CALL TO WORSHIP John Allen OPENING HYMN HYMN I Want Jesus to Walk With Me
CALL TO CONFESSION PRAYER OF CONFESSION ONFESSION By Night We Hasten in Darkness WORDS OF ASSURANCE AND REMEMBERING OUR BAPTISM
*S *SUNG RESPONSE What Ruler Wades Through Murky Streams PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
SUNG RESPONSE RESPONSE Lord, Let My Heart Be Good Soil SCRIPTURE CRIPTURE Psalm 19 SCRIPTURE RESPONSE RESPONSE Lord, Let My Heart Be Good Soil SERMON Audra Teague Mackey
SERMON RESPONSE God, We Thank You for Our People OFFERING Invitation Offertory
SETTING THE TABLE ABLE Eat This Bread INVITATION TO THE TABLE *C *COMMUNION PRAYER AND THE LORD ORD 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, and the power and the glory forever. Amen. *W *WORDS OF INSTITUTION *S *SHARING THE GIFTS OF BREAD AND CUP
*P *PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING HANKSGIVING What Ruler Wades Through Murky Streams Refrain Water, River, Spirit, Grace, sweep over me, sweep over me! Recarve the depths your fingers traced in sculpting me. *B *BENEDICTION
TODAY S NOTES Pastoral Care If you have any pastoral needs or know of any in the Village Church family, please call Diane Anderson at 781.235.1988 x14. The Chancel flowers this morning are given in celebration of Reverend Martin Copenhaver with thanksgiving for his twenty years as Senior Pastor of Village Church. Fellowship Hour 11:15 am, Village Common Please join us after worship for cake, coffee and lemonade as we celebrate the ministry of Martin Copenhaver and wish him well in his new endeavors. Junior Choir Rehearsal 11:15 am, Youth Choir Room For information, email Kevin McDonald at mcdonaldkevin23@yahoo.com. Cherub Choir Rehearsal 11:15 am, Cherub Choir Room on the 2nd floor For children in Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grades. For information, email Linda Harding at hardinglr@gmail.com. Middle School Youth Group 5 pm, Youth Room High School Youth Group 7 pm, Youth Room For information about youth programs, contact Pam Emslie at 781.235.1988 x15 or pam@wellesleyvillagechurch.org. BULLETIN NOTES Service Ministry Fair Sunday, March 30, during Fellowship Hour Please join the Service Ministry in welcoming several organizations supported by Village Church. Representatives will be available to talk about their work and discuss service opportunities available. Sunday Morning Offering Counters Needed Beginning last Fall, in an effort to improve our financial controls, we implemented a simple two-person counting of Sunday morning collections after the 10 am Worship Service. Two church members count the cash donations received, as well as listing the number (anonymous/no names) of checks and adding up the totals received in the offering. The process takes 20-30 minutes after the 10 am worship service. We employ six teams that rotate the work, so Counters are only on duty every sixth week. The Church is currently looking to expand its list of substitutes (who fill-in when the regulars need help), as well as to form teams of Counters that will start a rotation next Fall. If you are available and willing to serve, either as a periodic substitute or as a team member, please email Barbara Kucich (Barbara@wellesleyvillagechurch.org) or call her at 781-235-1988, x18. As a reminder, your financial contributions to the church can also be made through your on-line banking or checks can mailed directly to the church, attention Barbara Kucich. Youth Choir Rehearsal Wednesday, March 26, 6:15 pm, Youth Choir Room For information, email Kevin McDonald at mcdonaldkevin23@yahoo.com.
Walk with the Village Church Team at the Family Promise Walkathon Saturday, April 12, Natick Common (intersection of Rt. 27 and Rt. 135) Registration at 7:30 am. Walk begins at 8:30 am, wrap up and prizes at 10:30 am. Raffles and refreshments. A 3 1/2 mile walk around Natick. Join the Wellesley Village Church Team by signing up at www.familypromisemetrowest.org. Contact: Margaret Taylor at taylorcpa@hotmail.com or Ruth Breden at ruthbredon@aol.com. Presentation of Church s Energy Audit Report Sunday, April 6, 11:30 am, Upper Room Colby May from Massachusetts Interfaith Power and Light will be here to present the results of the energy audit. Join us for a fascinating look at how our church building is wasting energy and what we can do about it. Complete with thermal photographs and statistics based on current church energy usage, this report begins a dialogue aimed at reducing our church s carbon footprint and inspiring our congregants to do the same. Power To Choose In the spirit of the UCC s Lenten Carbon Fast, the Environmental Ministry encourages all Wellesley homeowners to visit the town s new website: http://www.wellesleypowertochoose.com. For information on the following: obtain a free thermal image report of your home; sign up for a no-cost in-home energy assessment; contact a townapproved contractor to complete energy-related improvements to your home; get a free Solar Suitability screening and special town discount on solar installations, or instead purchase your electricity through the MLP s renewable energy program, where you choose how much of your electricity comes from renewable sources. For His Children Annual Fundraiser FHC is holding its annual fundraiser in April. They are looking for donations of a vacation week or weekend in summer/vacation homes. If you have a summer/vacation home and are willing to donate one week or a weekend, please contact Susan Warren at smwarren2011@gmail.com at your earliest convenience with the property location/ description, the available time(s) and the approximate market value of the rental cost would be. Thank you! Women of Means Donations There is a box in the cloister hallway marked for donations for Women of Means. Women of Means is asking for the following items to be donated: small bottles of hand and body lotion, Chapstick lip balm, small bottles of sunscreen, Men s white cotton crew socks and CVS Gift cards small denominations $5 (given to women to purchase pharmacy items). They have been limited in their ability to distribute non-medically related items such as clothing which is handled by their shelter partners, please do not put clothing in the collection box. Volunteer Opportunity The Village Church Wedding Committee is looking for volunteers to serve at weddings that take place in our church. If you'd like to learn more about this joyful ministry, contact Jade Hargrave at (617) 816-4123 or jmh@zug.com. Artwork in Central Street Lobby Through the End of March Paintings in the Central Street lobby and hallway are recent works by Village Church member, Bobbie Suratt. A price list is on the table in the Central Street Lobby. All proceeds will be donated to Communities Without Borders/Friends of Fumbelo.
Easter Plant Donation Return this form with your payment to the Easter bag on the table in the Central Street Lobby by April 7, 9 am. Please print clearly! Given In (check only one) Loving memory of Celebration of By By (your name) Cash $ Check $ Plants are $15 each, payable to Wellesley Congregational Church. Please note Easter Plant on your check. Following services on April 20, the plants will be taken to those in need of encouragement or support.
What s happening in 10 am Church School today? Kindergarten students and younger will be welcomed in their classrooms before 10 am worship begins. The Infant/ Toddler Room is located on the main floor just outside the Sanctuary to the left of the Chancel. 2 year olds through Kindergarten classrooms are located on the upper floor. Children should be picked up promptly at the conclusion of worship. Grades 1-8 will worship with their parents until it is time for class, as indicated in the bulletin. At that time, Grades 1-8 meet in Village Hall for combined Church School class. Classes for Grades 1-8 conclude at 11:15 or the end of worship whichever is later. Students in Grades 3 and below should be met by their parents at their classrooms. The Family Room is available for parents who aren t quite ready to leave their infants and toddlers in childcare. In this room, parents will be able to listen to the worship service while their child naps or plays. This room is located upstairs beyond the library. VILLAGE CHURCH STAFF The Rev. Martin B. Copenhaver Senior Pastor Diane E. Anderson Interim Minister of Pastoral Care The Rev. Pamela H. Emslie Associate Pastor The Rev. Christina L. Braudaway-Bauman Pastor at Large The Rev. John C. Allen Pastoral Resident Audra C. Teague Mackey Pastoral Resident Linda C. Smith Pastoral Residency Coordinator Michaela F. McDonald Director of Children s Ministries David R. Carrier Director of Music Dr. Kevin J. McDonald Director of Youth Music Jodi M. Hitzhusen Music Director of First Worship Erin I. Donato Church Administrator Leslie W. Petzing Controller Barbara P. Kucich Church Accountant Tricia T. Kibbe IT and Administrative Coordinator Felicia R. Nadel Administrative Assistant Christy L. Cadigan Administrative Assistant Donald S. Banks Sexton Dolphe Richard Assistant to the Sexton Gerardo Ortiz Assistant to the Sexton 2 Central Street, Wellesley, MA 02482 781.235.1988 wellesleyvillagechurch.org An Open and Affirming Congregation of the UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST