Wellesley Congregational Church United Church of Christ Linda Post, Solstice "then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth" Isaiah 58:14a March 11, 2012
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. 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.
ORDER OF WORSHIP March 11, 2012 9:00 am PRELUDE RINGING THE HOUR CALL TO WORSHIP Kathy Musser OPENING PRAYER God of Sabbath, You clothe this day with beauty and call it a delight. This day itself is uttering praise and inspires us to join. We praise you for this present moment, the gift of time and eternity entwined. In our souls and in our seeing, help us be alive to this hallowed, holy, blessed day. Amen
PRAYER OF CONFESSION One Voice: In this season of Lent, we come now to this time of confession. Just as Christ retreated to the desert and fasted for forty days, so we walk with Christ into the wilderness. Christ be with us. Sung Response One Voice: Here in the desert, we are stripped of our illusions and see a glimpse of truth. We remember the ways that we have strayed from God. We are not always what God has called us to be. Christ be with us. Sung Response Help us to hear your still small voice through the noise of a broken world. Forgive us God for all of our failings. Give us compassion and forgiveness for all those we meet each day. Guide us as we walk your path of wisdom. Christ be with us. Sung Response
WORDS OF ASSURANCE AND CELEBRATING THE WATERS OF BAPTISM *S *SUNG RESPONSE *P *PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary Pure and holy, tried and true. With thanksgiving I'll be a living sanctuary for you SCRIPTURE CRIPTURE Isaiah 58:13-14 SERMON ERMON "Delight!" Pam Emslie
SERMON RESPONSE "Remember the Sabbath" Women's Village Voices, John Hargrave, bass OFFERING Invitation Offertory Laura and Doug Wilkins SETTING THE TABLE 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 Shalom my friends, God s peace my friends go with you now, And stay with you in all you do, Shalom shalom *B *BENEDICTION *Those who are able may stand.
TODAY S NOTES We are grateful to Laura and Doug Wilkins, Kaity Schwartz, and Matthew Hornung for sharing their music with us today. Please Welcome New Members Who Are Joining Us Today at 10 am Worship: Kirk and Mariko Neureiter, 8 Royalston Road, Wellesley, MA 02481 781-237-1520 Mariko grew up in Japan and Kirk grew up in Poland, Washington, DC and Dallas, TX before moving to Japan. They moved to Wellesley over 3 years ago after living in Tokyo for many years. Kirk works in investments and enjoys sports of any kind, but soccer is passion. Mariko is a Japanese foody and enjoys tennis. They have 2 children, Lisa, age 10 and Kent, age 7. Pastoral Care If you have any pastoral needs or know of any in the Village Church family, please call Kathy Musser at 781.235.1988 x14. Chancel flowers are given in memory of Lois and Mark Wheeler, Grant Wheeler and Mark Wheeler, Jr., by the Wheeler family. Blood Pressure Clinic 11:15 am, Kathy Musser s Office Trained nurses from our congregation will take your blood pressure and provide you with helpful handouts from the American Heart Association. Fellowship Hour 11:15 am, Village Common Please join us for coffee and fellowship. Information for visitors is available at the Welcome Table. Providing hospitality today are members from Church Council. Please take a moment to thank them. Church School Family Brunch and Wellesley Green Schools Program 11:15 am Please join us for light food and fellowship with each other and with our pastors for brunch downstairs in Village Hall following 10 am Worship from 11:15am 11:45am. Then, following brunch, please come to an Environmental Ministry sponsored event for parents and children in the Parlor from 11:50 am 12:20 pm. Mary Gard, Wellesley Green Schools Council Co-Chairman and member of our congregation, will lead a discussion about the importance of being a good steward of our precious resources here on earth; how Wellesley students, parents, teachers and administration are working together to reduce the schools ecological footprint and some simple ways each of us can help. Childcare will be provided to enable parents to come to this event with or without their children. Cherub Choir No rehearsal today. Junior Choir Rehearsal 11:15 am, Music Room B6 7th & 8th Grade Youth Group 5 pm, Youth Room High School Youth Group 7 pm, Youth Room For information about youth programs, contact Pam Emslie by email at pam@wellesleyvillagechurch.org or by phone at 781.235.1988 x15.
BULLETIN NOTES Spire Deadline Wednesday, March 14, 9 am Please email your submissions to Erin Donato at erin@wellesleyvillagechurch.org. The Crisis of Homelessness in Massachusetts: Together We Can Help Rep Byron Rushing, Co-Chair of the Mass. Commission to End Homelessness, will be the keynote speaker at The MetroWest Homelessness Forum to be held here at Village Church on Sunday, March 18 from 2:30 5 pm. Attendees will hear about successes, innovations, and future plans of local and regional programs which focus on avoiding homelessness through prevention and also about rapid re-housing of families from shelters. Participants can meet with a number of homelessness direct service and advocacy organizations following the formal program. Come and learn how you can help. For more information contact Rev Joan Murray at murray.joanb@comcast.net or George Ebbs at ghebbs@gmail.com. Village Church Moms Group This casual, come-as-you-are group welcomes moms of all ages for monthly get-togethers away from the family, usually for a dinner in a home or restaurant, or perhaps for a service opportunity. Join the email list to hear about upcoming events. Newcomers are warmly welcomed. If interested in being added to the email list, please email Donna Volpe Strouse at volpestrouse@gmail.com. Special Joint Meeting/Lunch with Pastoral Residents Village Churchwomen and Village Churchmen Tuesday, March 20, Noon, Village Common Where else can you get lunch AND up-close and personal time with our Pastoral Residents Jocelyn Gardner Spencer and Daniel Cooperrider for only $5.00 per person? Please join this special gathering of both the Village Churchwomen and Village Churchmen on Tuesday, March 20, and get the insider scoop from our Pastoral Residents. We definitely need a head count to buy the food so PLEASE use the Sign-up sheet in the Central Street Lobby to rsvp by Friday, March 16 and plan on joining us for this great event. Family Fun Night BINGO Friday, March 23, 6 pm Save the date! Tea with Lauren Winner Sunday, March 25, from 4 5:30 pm, Village Common The author of Mudhouse Sabbath will be with us to talk about Sabbath and about her new book, Still: Notes on a Mid- Faith Crisis. When Lauren Winner converted from Orthodox Judaism to Christianity, she brought with her a reservoir of rich spiritual practices from which we can all learn. Chancel Flower Dates Available There is an opportunity to sponsor flowers on Sunday, April 15, the very Sunday of the beginning of the Youth Group Service Project. This would be a great way to offer blessings for safe travels for the group. We also have April 22, April 29 and May 13 available. Please contact Erin Donato at 781.235.1988 x11, if you are interested. The cost of the flowers is $75. Thank you!
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 worship with their parents until it is time for class, as indicated in the bulletin. At that time, Grades 1 8 will meet at the signs downstairs in Village Hall and proceed to the following classrooms for a special activity. This week... Grade 1: Games Grade 2: Artisan s Market Grade 3: Storyteller s Tent Grade 4: Science Grade 5: Fishes and Loaves Café Grades 6, 7 & 8 will meet in the Art Studio for art mural workshop. Classes for Grades 1 6 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. WELLESLEY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH STAFF The Rev. Martin B. Copenhaver Senior Pastor The Rev. Kathleen E. Musser Associate Pastor The Rev. Pamela H. Emslie Associate Pastor The Rev. Christina L. Braudaway-Bauman Associate Pastor The Rev. Daniel P. Cooperrider Pastoral Resident The Rev. Jocelyn B. Gardner Spencer Pastoral Resident 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 Fred H. Edling Financial Administrator Tricia T. Kibbe IT and Administrative Coordinator 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