Village Church United Church of Christ June 14, 2015
ORDER OF WORSHIP June 14, 2015 10:00 AM PRELUDE WELCOME AND CALL TO WORSHIP *HYMN NO. 275 Come Now, Almighty God New Century Hymnal (black) *PRAYER OF PRAISE ITALIAN HYMN Liz Garrigan-Byerly INVITATION TO CONFESSION PRAYER OF CONFESSION Holy One, we confess that we have turned away from you. We have been distracted by our own plans and charmed by our own abilities. We have overlooked the needs of others or worse yet, harmed them. We have forgotten to praise you with every breath. Help us return to you, Gracious God, and receive us again. SILENT PRAYER *WORDS OF ASSURANCE *PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST *HYMN NO. 401 O God in Whom All Life Begins New Century Hymnal (black) NOEL BLESSING OF THE FAMILY PROMISE MINISTRY DEPARTURE FOR CHURCH SCHOOL Children will be invited by a pastor to depart for their classes. ANTHEM To Thee, O Lord Sergei Rachmaninoff To thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul, my God I trust in thee. SCRIPTURE Matthew 13:31-35 SERMON Dandelions (Page 795, in pew Bible) John Allen
MUSICAL MEDITATION PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE David Carrier Audra Teague Mackey THE LORD 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. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen RESPONSE NO. 283 Spirit of the Living God New Century Hymnal (black) IVERSON THE OFFERING During the offering, please sign and pass the fellowship book, which is located at the end of each pew. Invitation Offertory Lord that descendest, Holy Child Eric Gritton Lord that descendest, Holy Child, dwelling amongst us, Word of God, Thee we adore. Jesus our Gospel, Way and Truth, Master and Lover, Light and Life, Thee we adore. Saviour, uplifted, Man for all, shamed and slaughtered Lamb of God, Thee we adore. Christ the immortal Risen Lord, Christ that ascended, King of kings, Thee we adore. Throned in the highest, Very Man, Alpha, Omega, God of gods, Thee we adore. Lord ever blessed, God most high, Lord ever blessed, God with us, Thee we adore, Thee we adore. *Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below; Praise God for all that love has done; Creator, Christ, and Spirit One. Amen. *Dedication *CLOSING HYMN NO. 76 Sent Forth by God s Blessing New Century Hymnal (black) THE ASH GROVE
*BENEDICTION POSTLUDE Dialogue (excerpt) Louis Marchand *Those who are able, please stand. All music and words in this bulletin are reprinted by permission under OneLicense.net, License #A-714276 and by CCLI, License #2910233.
TODAY S NOTES Dolphe Richard has Retired After nearly 35 years of working at Village Church Dolphe Richard has retired, again. After serving as the full-time sexton, Dolphe retired years ago but couldn't stay away and continued to work part-time faithfully and diligently, accommodating any request (and working here long before there was an elevator). This makes him the longest serving sexton in the life of Village Church. The staff will be honoring him at our staff meeting on Tuesday, June 16 and would like to present him with a BIG card signed by the congregation. Please find time to stop at the Welcome table to sign the card for Dolphe. The card will be available in Village Common for signing through Monday, June 15. Fellowship Hour 11:15 am, Village Common Following worship, please join us for coffee and conversation in Village Common. If you are new to Village Church, please stop by the Welcome Table. We are eager to help you find a home with us! Pastoral Care There are many ways that the Pastors and Members of Village Church help one another during the challenges of life. If you have, or know of, a pastoral care need, contact Liz Garrigan-Byerly at 781-235-1988 ext. 14. In case of a pastoral emergency, please call 334-521-2481. If you would like to offer the gift of your care to others in this community, please email care@wellesleyvillagechurch.org. Care Kits and Hearing Devices If during the worship service you find you need a tissue, cough drop, or a drink of water, please ask an Usher to help you. The Ushers are in the back of the sanctuary. Hearing devices amplify sound anywhere in the Sanctuary. They are available at the back of the church. For assistance, please speak with an Usher. Chancel Flowers this morning are given in memory of our daughter and sister Becca, by Bev, Mark, Nicholas and Amelia Lenci. Blood Pressure Clinic 11:15 am, Liz Garrigan-Byerly s Office Trained nurses from our congregation will take your blood pressure and provide you with helpful handouts from the American Heart Association.
Healing Prayer Service 11:15 am, Burtt Chapel Following 10 am worship, we will have our informal Healing Prayer Service in Burtt Chapel. You may use this time of quiet and music to pray silently, or write your prayer, to be prayed by the pastors. A pastor will also be in the service to pray with you and offer the laying on of hands and anointing with oil. Join us to experience the gift of prayer. Partakers Meeting 11:15 am, - 12 noon, Upper Room Meeting with Bob Cadigan, Partakers Board member and former director of the Boston University Prison Education Program for participants and others possibly interested in the Partakers Program mentoring prison inmates getting college degrees. Christian Meditation Practice 5:00-6:00 pm, Burtt Chapel BULLETIN NOTES A Celebration! At the Massachusetts Conference's Annual Meeting on Saturday the Wellesley Village Church was recognized as the top giving church in 2014 for OCWM (Our Church's Wider Mission) Basic Support in the conference. Our giving supports pastoral and lay leadership programs, justice and witness ministries, conference and national staff and so much more. Village Churchmen The Village Churchmen will gather for another of their third Thursday luncheons on June 18, in Village Common at noon. Open to all men of the church, these are unstructured get-togethers with a bring your own lunch and beverage coupled with spirited conversation and fellowship. No advance signup is needed and there is no charge; just come! Calling All Gardeners! Together let s honor God s creation by planting, tending and harvesting vegetables in our Village Church Gardens located on the church grounds and at the Weston Road Gardens. No matter your age, your gardening skills or the color of your thumb, you are welcome to participate for whatever your schedule allows. Harvested vegetables are donated to the Wellesley Food Bank. This is our 5th year in partnership with the Wellesley Food Bank. If you are at all interested in this church ministry, please contact Kathleen Woodward at kathleenewoodward@gmail.com or Pam Emslie at pam@wellesleyvillagechurch.org.
Wonderful Service & Outreach Opportunity for Families! In 1877, the Reverend Willard Parsons, a minister of a small, rural parish in Sherman, Pennsylvania, asked members of his congregation to become volunteer host families for children who were growing up in New York City tenements. This simple idea has remained the same for over a century. By hosting a Fresh Air child, you are opening your hearts and homes to share the joys of summer in our community. On first time visits to host families, Fresh Air children are six to 12 years old and stay for one week. Fresh Air children love simple pleasures like running barefoot through the grass and gazing at star-filled skies. Buses arrive and depart in Natick. Weeks available: July 9 - July 16 and July 30 - August 6. For more information, please call Amy Hille, Fresh Air Volunteer and Host Mom at 508-333-0199 or email amyhille@yahoo.com. You can also visit our website at www.freshair.org. News From the Environmental Ministry Take the Pesticide Pledge from the Environmental Ministry Many Wellesley people have taken the pledge to be pesticide free and added their address to the pesticide free map of un-poisoned yards. Pesticides are dangerous chemicals, and once sprayed on your yard they are picked up on shoes and clothing and carried into your house. Once inside they degrade very slowly and will be absorbed by adults, children and pets. One of the most popular herbicides, Roundup, has been found by the EPA to probably cause cancer. That s something you don t need in your house or yard. Here is the page on the Sustainable Wellesley website where you can take the pledge and see other clean addresses in Town: http://www.sustainablewellesley.com/pledge-to-be-pesticide-free/ Next Environmental Ministry Meetings There will be no meetings of the Environmental Ministry for the next three months (June, July or August). If any of you see that there is a need to meet or would like to know more about the Environmental Ministry, please contact Wil Breden at Wellesley telephone 781-235-0193, New Hampshire telephone 603-332-7245, cellphone 617-549-2396 or email wrbreden@aol.com.
What s happening in 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 meet in Village Hall. 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. Mary Luti Interim Senior Pastor The Rev. Pamela H. Emslie Associate Pastor The Rev. Elizabeth G. Garrigan-Byerly Associate Pastor The Rev. Christina L. Braudaway-Bauman Pastor at Large The Rev. John C. Allen Pastoral Resident The Rev. 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 Shawn Doung Church Accountant Tricia T. Kibbe IT and Administrative Coordinator Felicia R. Nadel Administrative Assistant Donald S. Banks 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