Wellesley Village Church United Church of Christ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord s favour. Luke 4: 18-19 First Worship, 9am, Village Hall January 24, 2016
Welcome to First Worship at Wellesley Village Church! We extend a welcome as broad as the outstretched arms of God, who calls us together to pray, sing, and rejoice in God s glorious presence. If you are here for the first time or are an old friend, we welcome you. Feel free to bring coffee, snacks, and juice to your seat. Make sure you take a moment before or after worship to meet those whom you are worshipping with today. We especially welcome children to worship. We welcome their voices, their hands, and their feet to be a part of how we all worship God together. Children are also welcome to use the activity bags to connect with God in this sacred time. This is a special place for us to be with God, and all these people whom God loves. Welcome! All music and words in this bulletin are reprinted by permission under OneLicense.net, License #A-714276 and by CCLI, License #2910233.
PRELUDE ORDER OF WORSHIP RINGING THE HOUR *GATHERING SONG The Summons/Will You Come Will you come and follow me if I but call your name? Will you go where you don t know and never be the same? Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be known, Will you let my life be grown in you and you in me? Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name? Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same? Will you kiss the leper clean, and do such as this unseen, And admit to what I mean in you and you in me? CALL TO WORSHIP LIZ GARRIGAN-BYERLY CONFESSION & ASSURANCE SERVICE OF BAPTISM Invitation The Covenant of Promises Of the Candidates Of the Parent Of the Congregation Deacon: Will you who witness and celebrate this sacrament promise your love, support and care to those who are about to be baptized?
Congregation: We will, with the help of God. Through this act we welcome these beloved ones into the fellowship of Christ s church and invite them to share with us the cost and joy of discipleship. We promise to receive them as fellow pilgrims on the Christian way, to guide them by our precepts and example, that all of us may grow in the knowledge and love of God, according to the measure of the fullness of Christ. Amen. Pouring of the Water Prayer of Blessing The Act of Baptism Congregational Response Deacon: Alysia, with this shawl we wrap our love around you. Congregation: We thank you, God, for Alysia Sainsbury, bless her and keep her now and forever. Deacon: Lena-Marie, with this shawl we wrap our love around you. Congregation: We thank you, God, for Lena-Marie Sainsbury, bless her and keep her now and forever. SUNG ASSURANCE You Are Mine
*PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST *SUNG RESPONSE Cry of My Heart Refrain: It is the cry of my heart to follow you. It is the cry of my heart to be close to you. It is the cry of my heart to follow all of the days of my life. Teach me you holy ways, O Lord, So I can walk in your truth. Teach me your holy ways, O Lord, And make me wholly devoted to you. Refrain Open my eyes so I can see The wonderful things that you do. Open my heart up more and more And make me wholly devoted to you. Refrain SCRIPTURE Luke 4:14-21 SERMON Setting the Agenda Pamela Emslie SUNG RESPONSE What Does The Lord Require of you?
STEWARDSHIP WITNESS Eric and Diane Seaborn OFFERING Invitation Offertory SETTING THE TABLE The Summons/Will You Come (The Cup is grape juice, gluten free bread is available.) Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name. Let me turn and follow you and never be the same. In your company I ll go where your love and foot-steps show. Thus I ll move and live and grow in you and you in me. *COMMUNION 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
*SUNG RESPONSE As With Gladness Men of Old *BENEDICTION
TODAY S NOTES The Chancel flowers this morning are given this morning by Judy and Jim Mongiardo in loving memory of longtime church member and friend, Christine Barnes, whose birthday was January 27. Fellowship Hour 11:15 am, Village Common Following worship, please join us for coffee, conversation. Climate Conference Discussion Today following Second Worship in Burtt Chapel Cynthia Curtis will be leading a talk on the recent climate change negotiations in Paris. The Environmental Ministry invites you to attend this discussion on the results, hopes, and expectations coming out of the recent Paris environmental conference (COP21). Christian Meditation Practice 5-6 pm, Burtt Chapel Even as mindfulness reaches the mainstream, practiced by everyone from corporate CEOs to major league sports teams, Christians are just rediscovering their contemplative tradition. We invite you to join us in developing your own Christian meditation practice. 6th and 7th Grade Youth Group 5 pm, Youth Room High School Youth Group (10-12 grade) 7 pm, Youth Room YOUTH MINISTRY 6th and 7th Grade Youth Group Meets every other Sunday from 5-6:30pm. 8th Grade Youth Group Meets every other Tuesday from 6:30-8pm. Confirmation (9th Grade youth) Meets most Wednesdays from 7:30-9pm. High School Youth Group (10-12 grade) Meets Sunday evenings 7-8:30pm. Please check the Youth Program Calendar on the church website for dates. For more information, contact Pam Emslie, Associate Pastor for Youth, at 781-235-1988, x15; or by email at pam@wellesleyvillagechurch.org.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING AND COMMUNITY All Are Welcome! GIFT: Growing In Faith Together Wednesday evenings, February 24 - April 27 This year's focus will be Courage. Now in its 6th year, those who have participated in GIFT have found it to be a life-changing journey. There are no prerequisites; you need not have been involved in a session. Come as you are. Plan to grow. To sign up for GIFT stop by the Adult Ed Ministry table during Fellowship Hour or contact Tricia Kibbe at 781-235-1988, x17, by email at tricia@wellesleyvillagechurch.org. Contact Josh Fitterling with any questions at 781-235-1988, x23 or by email at joshua@wellesleyvillagechurch.org. Chapel Committee Looking for New Members The Chapel Committee is looking for new members. Our church covenant states that, We are banded together to maintain the worship of God. Your Chapel Committee has been working faithfully and with openness to the Holy Spirit. If you would like to explore what is important to us as a community of God including worship, music, ritual and connection to our lives and if you would like discuss and work toward our renovations we would encourage you to think about joining us as we continue to strive to be a fresh and innovative church that also seeks to maintain connection with tradition and seeks connections with our community and our world, please consider joining us as we seek to be led by God into the days ahead. We would love for you to join the conversation. Please e-mail Susan Sullivan (susansullivan422@aol.com). Church Moms' Group Thursday, January 28, 7pm At the Lemon Thai Restaurant in Wellesley This casual group welcomes moms of children of all ages for monthly get-togethers away from the family, usually for a dinner in someone's home or restaurant, or perhaps for a service opportunity. It's a "come when you can" kind of group and is a great way to meet other moms & new friends at our church. If you know someone who has never been to a Church Mom's dinner or activity, please invite them to come along. We hope you can join us! Please keep your eye out for the Sign-Up Genius where you can RSVP and offer to bring something. If you would like to be on our email list, please let Kerry Evans know at kegevans@gmail.com.
Village Churchmen Lunch Noon on Thursday, January 21, Seminar Room 1 We will gather at this meeting in memory of our member Jay Hammerness. Open to all men of the church, these monthly luncheons have no charge, no advance notice is needed, and each attendee just brings his own lunch and beverage. Snow Days When there is winter weather, our ordinary practice is to proceed with worship as scheduled, unless an official emergency is declared or other factors make it prudent to cancel services. In the rare instance in which it is necessary to cancel worship, notification will be made via announcements on the church website and telephone voice message, as well as on local TV stations. Notice of cancellation or postponement of programs, meetings, and other church events will be made by the leaders of those events via telephone or email. Above all, safety and common sense drive our routine, and we want those same guidelines to drive your own decisions about coming to church during bad weather! Deacons Retreat Saturday, February 6, 8:30 am - 11:30 am All new and returning Deacons should plan on participating in this retreat. Ecclesiastes Bible Study Sundays: January 24, February 7, 14, and 21 at 11:30 am following Second Worship in the library "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." These familiar words from Ecclesiastes feel comfortable and ordered, but did you know that the book begins with the words, "Utter futility! Utter futility! All is futile!" This book of wisdom writing in the Hebrew Bible is existential, cynical at times, utterly devoid of hope in some places, and provocative. Why is it even in the Bible? Alice Polley will lead the conversation as we read together this unusual book in our sacred text. The words may be over 2000 years old, but they will resonate with our world today more than you can imagine! Church School Today: CHILDREN S MINISTRY Kindergarten students and younger will be welcomed in their classrooms on the Upper Level before worship begins: Toddlers, two and three year olds will meet in their classroom located on the upper level at the top of the stairs just outside the Sanctuary; use the door to the left of the piano.
Four year olds and Kindergarteners will meet in the 4/K Room located on the upper level beyond the library. Grades 1-8 will begin in the sanctuary worshipping with their families until it is time for class as noted in the bulletin. At that time, children will receive a blessing and then continue to church school together. Grades 1, 2, 3 and 5 will meet in Village Hall on the lower level. Grade 4 will meet in the Science Room. Grades 6-8 will meet in the Artisan s Market on the lower level. After Worship, Toddlers through 3rd grade should be picked up from class by a parent/guardian immediately after worship. 4th Grade and older will be released from class at the end of worship. Children of all ages are welcome in our sanctuary to worship and be part of our service. Worship bags are available in baskets at each of the entrances. Children s bulletins are available from an usher. The Family Worship Room, located just outside the Sanctuary to the left of the piano, is for families who wish to worship together in a child-centered space. The service is piped in on a live audio feed. Please feel welcome to use this room anytime during worship. For more information, please contact Michaela McDonald, Director of Children s Ministries, by email at Michaela@wellesleyvillagechurch.org or by phone 781-235-1988, x16. MUSIC MINISTRY Cherub Choir for children in Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grades. Come sing! Spring rehearsals will begin February 7. For more information, contact Linda Harding, Cherub Choir Director, by email at hardinglr@gmail.com. Junior Choir: Grades 3-6 Rehearsals after Second Worship, 11:15am-12:00pm Youth Choir: Grades 7-12 Rehearsals Wednesday evenings 6:15-7:00pm Instrumentalists If you play an instrument and would like to share your gifts with our church, please contact Dr. McDonald. For more information on Junior or Youth Choir and being an Instrumentalist please contact Dr. Kevin McDonald, Director of Youth Music, by email at mcdonaldkevin23@yahoo.com. Senior Choir The Senior Choir welcomes new singers and rehearses each Sunday at 8:30-9:30 am. There is no midweek rehearsal. For more information on the Senior Choir, please see Director David Carrier in the choir loft or at coffee hour after Second Worship.
The Annual Meeting of Wellesley Congregational Church is hereby called for Sunday, January 31, 2016 at 11:45 am in Village Common for the following purposes: A. To receive annual reports; B. To take action on the Wellesley Congregational Church budget for 2016; 1. Review of 2015 actual income and expenses; 2. Presentation of and action on, the proposed 2016 budget; 3. Authorization to the Treasurer for emergency borrowing, if necessary; C. To approve an Indemnification and Banking Resolution; D. To elect Officers, Board and Congregational Ministry Deacons, as recommended by the Nominating Committee; E. To act on any other business that may properly come before the meeting. On behalf of Church Council Don Smith, Clerk The Rev. Sarah Sarchet Butter ~ Senior Pastor Associate Pastors Pastoral Residents The Rev. Pam Emslie The Rev. Megan Snell The Rev. Liz Garrigan-Byerly The Rev. Joshua Fitterling Jodi Hitzhusen Director of First Worship Music Wellesley Village Church An Open and Affirming Congregation of the UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 2 Central Street, Wellesley, MA 02482 Office: 781-235-1988 Urgent Pastoral Care Cell : 781-591-7451 www.wellesleyvillagechurch.org