THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF WESTBOROUGH UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST March 27, 2016 9:00 AM Easter Morning We are a church of the Holy Spirit! Whatever your spiritual disposition-skeptic, seeker, follower - we welcome you and pray that you might hear something of the Good News today! *The Congregation is invited to stand. PRELUDE Jesus Christ Is Risen Today Robert Hobby WELCOME *CALL TO WORSHIP Pastor Paul Leader: The stone was rolled aside. The mouth of the tomb was open! The angelic announcers delivered their message: People: Jesus is not here! Women: The women bearing spices, followers of the One who had been crucified, turned from their troubled trembling to question with hopeful hearts, Children: Is it possible that Jesus lives? Men: God s answer offered the boldest affirmation of life ever given. Jesus is Risen! All: Risen to proclaim God s power! Risen to proclaim God s Love! Leader: Christ is Risen! People: Christ is Risen Indeed! *OPENING HYMN # 234 Crown Him with Many Crowns DIADEMATA *UNISON PRAYER Awesome God, we are gathered with joy to celebrate Christ s resurrection, the fulfillment of your love and grace. One this Easter Sunday, help each of us to recognize your freeing power over the limiting circumstances of our own lives. Awaken us with joy this morning that we may receive the good news and may proclaim it by the living out of our faith. We pray all this in the Name of the One who gathers us up in New Life, saying together in Jesus name, *THE LORD S PRAYER (Debts) 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. SHARING OF PEACE (Let us greet one another! Then we may be seated.) SONG Celebrate Jesus Gary Oliver Led by JoySpring He is risen, He is risen and He lives forevermore He is risen, He is risen come on and celebrate the resurrection of our Lord TIME OF PRAYER Rev. Elaine S. Gaetani CHOIR ANTHEM Easter Alleluia Jay Althouse OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS Invitation: Let us bring our gifts before God! Linda Hartley In each of our pews today is a black friendship book which we encourage you to fill out and pass to the person next to you during the offering. If you have been with us before, just put down your name, but if you are new today, please let us know who you are. If you would like a pastor to be in touch, you can note that too. Thanks! Offertory Anthem Overcome Jon Egan JoySpring *DOXOLOGY (unison) Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts: Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost. Amen. *PRAYER OF DEDICATION God of Resurrection, may You remind us that all that we possess comes from You. May these gifts and offerings serve as a token of our love and gratefulness. May they be used to further God s justice and love in the world, Amen. EASTER SCRIPTURE Luke 24:1-8 (Taken from Biblica Bible) This is the story of Jesus rising again! EASTER MESSAGE Wendy Reardon 1
*CLOSING HYMN #216 Christ the Lord Is Risen Today EASTER HYMN *BENEDICTION Leader: We are a community of: PEOPLE: OPEN DOORS-AND GROWING FAITH! *CHORAL BENEDICTION *POSTLUDE Symphony V Charles-Marie Widor v. Toccata We are grateful to the members of the Brass ensemble: Trumpets: Warren Anderson and Mike O'Donnell Trombones: Steve Ruzich and Jeff Schiebe Zach Walker serves as liturgist. David Ruberti and Roy Rogers are Deacons of the day. OPEN DOORS GROWING FAITH! This is our vision statement. It speaks to our desire to open our doors to all of God s children, and to have all of the love and acceptance that is in this place flow out of our doors for the community and beyond. Our hope is also to grow faith in kids, youth and adults so that we can walk together in Jesus way, led by the Holy Spirit. Join us! PRAYERS & CELEBRATIONS FOR MAR 27, 2016 Bereavement: Alice Hoogasian and family on the passing of her husband George. Continued Prayers: Julie Harris (Marge Butcher s sister-in-law); George Reimann; Ted Jaworski s mother Gina and his sister Liz; Edwin Heckman (Nancy Uhlman s brother); Nancy Walker; Verna Dwyer in VA (Tom Dwyer s mother); Pat Ainsleigh; Dick Birch; Helena Engberg; Prayer requests: You can place prayer concerns on the church s email distribution list at eprayers@uccwestboro.org. If you would like a prayer request included in today s service, please let a Deacon know prior to the start of worship. Prayers will remain listed for 8 weeks. If you would like a prayer renewed, please call the church office. ANNOUNCEMENTS NEW TESTAMENT CHALLENGE! We as a church are reading through the New Testament in March and April to help us better see God s purpose for our life. This week, we will be reading Romans, Colossians, Ephesians and Philippians. Join us! 2
GROCERY CARDS ON SALE EASTER SUNDAY! Grocery cards will be available for sale on Easter Sunday between services. They will be sold downstairs in the Vestry after the 9:00AM service and before the 11:00AM service. Thank you for your support of this project that supports our church budget! SAVE THE DATE! LUNCH & LECTURE APRIL 10 TH, 11:30am IN THE VESTRY HOSTED by Parish Life, Deacons and Rev. Elaine Hope in Times of Struggle: The Church and Mental Health Chances are you know someone who is hurting. Maybe it s you. Maybe it s a family member or friend, someone in your social circle, someone at work or in your class at school, or someone at church. According to a study conducted by Harvard Medical School, 26% of adults in the United States have an anxiety, mood, impulse control, or substance disorder in a given year. That s one in four adults in the United States. Mental Health America tells us that 1 in 5 American adults will have a diagnosable mental health condition in any given year. It has been estimated that 50 percent of Americans will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition sometime in their life, and half of those people will develop conditions by the age of 14. One in five adults. Not to mention children and youth. And that s in terms of diagnosable mental health conditions, which does not include people who are having mental health issues at any given time that don t meet the severity, complexity, or persistence of being diagnosable mental health conditions. Each congregation is a microcosm of society, Carole J. Wills of NAMI FaithNet has pointed out. It is likely that someone sits in the pews in your congregation feeling alone and overwhelmed by the turmoil of mental illness. Look at the faces seated around you [any Sunday] morning, she said. Someone is probably hurting and they re afraid to tell you. On Sunday, April 10, come to our Public Forum on Hope in Times of Struggle where the Reverend Karyl J. Leslie will share the hope she s found and help us explore information, resources, and perspectives about how issues and factors of mental health relate to the church and our ministry together in Christ's name. BELL RINGERS NEEDED! WHO: Festival Ringers WHAT: 2 Positions open to ring WHY: We need you AGE: High School & up WHEN: Tuesdays from 7:30pm to 9:00pm Speak to Sue Menzel after church or email her at westcongmusic@gmail.com 3
are: WOMEN S FELLOWSHIP YARD SALE APRIL 9 TH Women s Fellowship is having a yard sale April 9th from 8am to 2pm. We will not being taking clothes, just stuff that you need to get rid of. I am looking for people to help set up, work and take down on Saturday. If you can only do an hour that would be great. I am also looking for people to help with set up Friday night. The drop off times Monday from 9:00 am until 1:00pm and 7:00 to 9:00 pm Tuesday from 9:00 am to 1:00 and 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm, Wednesday from 4:00 to 6:00 pm, Thursday from 4:00 to 9:00 pm, Friday all day, and set up Friday night You can drop off during the office hours during the week up to Thursday night. Please clearly label that it is for the yard Sale. I will really need help during the week to go thru all the stuff if anyone would like to help out. Any questions please feel free to e mail me or call lborglund@aol.com 774-245-1425. COFFEE HOUR Would you like to serve by helping out with the coffee hour after church downstairs? Please look for the sign-up downstairs on the coffee hour table. Email Suzanne Arpante at sbarpante@aol.com. Thanks! PASTOR PAUL AT PANERA WED. 4-6PM Pastor Paul is at Panera in downtown Westboro, and will be there from 4-6PM on Wednesdays. Drop by to say hello or for a chat! OUR CHURCH HAS A FACEBOOK PAGE FOLLOW US ON LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! TWITTER TOO! Pastor Paul Sangree, Senior Pastor phsangree@gmail.com Rev. Elaine S. Gaetani, Associate Pastor - revelaineg@aol.com Wendy Reardon, Director of Children s and Youth Ministries - wendysreardon@yahoo.com Clayton Heidbreder, Minister of Music/Organist claytonlh1@gmail.com Linda Hartley, Student Minister - lhartley@ants.edu Office hours: Mon & Fri 9-1, Tues, Wed, Thurs 9-2, Church office phone 508/366-2000 General Church email westboroucc@verizon.net Church website www.uccwestboro.org www.facebook.com/thecongregationalchurchofwestborough 4
EASTER FLOWERS The Arnold families in memory of Kenneth A. Arnold, Jr. and Charles Wojnar Suzanne Arpante in memory of Joe & Gladys Haburay Suzanne, Greg & Allison Arpante in loving memory of Kay & Al Bowman In memory of Catherine Pete Bryan Dorothy Collins in memory of my daughter Linda Lewis Harrison & Nancy Cook in memory of Ann & Phil Purrington, Fran & Charles Cook, and Susan Cook Celeste Chenet-Monte in memory of Patricia Chenet Marples Carol, Daryl, Justin, Nicole and Alex in loving memory of Joan, Tom and Leesa Davenport and Henry & Julia DeMichele Charles & Nancy Gage in memory of Loved Ones Kari Oevermann & children in memory of our loved ones Karen Gavel in memory of her parents, in-laws, brother, former husband & grandson Janet L. & James A. Harvey in memory of Mr. & Mrs. Howard F. McGlory James & Janet Harvey in memory of Mr. & Mrs. Emory L. Harvey The Leblancs and the Bentons in memory of Loleada and William Scheffley The Leblancs and the Bentons in memory of Agnes and Alberic Leblanc Kathy & Gabe Leblanc in memory of Mary Gilson In memory of Grace, Carl & Thom Lawton, love the Menzel & Keeler families Elaine Moore in memory of Wilfred & Florence Cook Chris and Al Mosher in memory of and in honor of our parents and grandparents Eleanor Myers in memory of loved ones John & Laurie Pardee & Family in loving memory of Priscilla Clapp & Richard Clapp Nick & Susan Perron in honor of our Granddaughters: Morgan, Leah, Jillian, Kendall and Olivia Bob and Sally Petersen in memory of our beloved John Adam, Tyler & Benjamin Ridley in loving memory of Hazel & Edgar Ridley Adam, Tyler & Benjamin Ridley in loving memory of Helen & Robert Gay Adam, Tyler & Benjamin Ridley in loving memory of John Petersen The Ridley Family in loving memory of Kathleen Bowman, Mother & Grandmother of Suzanne, Greg & Allison Arpante In loving memory of John Petersen. We missyou. Love, the Sharkeys In loving memory of Rhoda Lehmann, given by Cecilia Temple and family Polly & Jay Thayer in memory of loved ones Nancy Walker in memory of my husband, Thomas Walker Women s Fellowship in memory of past members 5