Money may not buy happiness, but it can darn well

(Used with permission by Matt McGee.) Money may not buy happiness, but it can darn well give it! -Freddie Mercury www.colonialucc.org 913-362-7735 10:15 a.m. May 11, 2014

2 The Colonial Church in Prairie Village United Church of Christ Buying Happiness Mother s Day Sunday Worship Service in the series The Cost of Being Priceless Please silence your mobile phone in preparation for worship. * Please rise in body or spirit. WE GATHER AS GOD S PEOPLE ORGAN PRELUDE Prayer from "Hansel and Gretel" -Humperdinck BELL CHOIR PRELUDE Amazing Old Time Religion -arr. by Jim Niehart WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS (Please sign and pass pew pads and fill out Prayer Request cards you may have. You can place the Prayer Request cards in the offering plates later in the service.) MOMENT TO LAY YOUR BURDENS DOWN * OPENING HYMN #427 God Made from One Blood * CALL TO WORSHIP BEYOND THE SURFACE OF MOTHERING Leader: Forgive us when we assume that what we see on the surface is all there is to your story. We know in our midst there are women and mothers who: People: Like Eve, have children with serious rivalry. Leader: Like Hagar, have been discarded for a new family and are mothering alone. People: Like Naomi, have tasted the bitterness of a child s death. Leader: Like the mother of Leah and Rachel, knows what it s like to have one child favored over another by society. People: Like Hannah, have been separated from your child at a young age. Leader: Like Mary, have a complicated pregnancy story or People: Like Tamar, have tried multiple ways to become a mother or Leader: Like Rachel, have counted the months and years while other women in your family and circle of friends become pregnant. People: Who like Rebekah, are drawn to one of your children more than the others. Leader: Like David s mother, is raising children after God s heart and though you rejoice in watching them, don t want to rub it in friends faces. People: Like Ham s mother have children whose substance abuse can cause problems.

3 Leader: Like Bathsheba, have sick children who may die. People: Like Joseph and Benjamin, experienced the death of their mother. Leader: Like Mary, have children with public legal situations and all you can do is watch. People: Like many, who watched their mothers age and decline before their eyes. Leader: Like Moses mother, reluctantly gave up her child because it wasn t safe for you to bring her child up herself. Or People: Who like Pharaoh s daughter, were called to love and nurture children that weren t yours by birth. Leader: Like Timothy s mother and grandmother, are steadily and without much fanfare or recognition teaching your children about the truths of God, sowing seeds for eternity. People: Like the many women who never quite fit into the norms of society, either never marrying or having children. You are in our midst. Leader: We are called to be a community that rejoices with those who rejoice and mourns with those who mourn. Today our worship is big enough to do both. People: For the seen and known joys of motherhood, we rejoice and smile and celebrate with you. Leader: For the seen and known suffering in motherhood, we ache with you. People: For the private unseen and unknown joys of motherhood, like Mary, may you treasure them in your hearts. Leader: And for the private unseen and unknown sorrows and suffering of motherhood, may you know you don t always have to be happy in our midst. People: Both the seen and unseen, you are written on the heart God. (based on a prayer by Amy Young) * SONG OF PRAISE GLORIA #759 ADAPTED Glory to the Creator, and to the Christ, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen. Amen. * SHARING GOD S WELCOME (Greet everyone in the hope of peace and friendship.) CHILDREN S CONVERSATION (Children of all ages are welcome to come forward to the chancel steps. Following the Conversation, children are welcome to remain to worship or to attend our Sunday School.) This little light of mine, I m gonna let it shine, this little light of mine, I m gonna let it shine, this little light of mine, I m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

4 WE HEAR GOD S WORD THE WORD IN MUSIC The Gift of Children -McGuire/Larson Pastor Aaron Roberts Ecclesiastes 2:3-11 I asked myself: What is really worth doing in the few days that human beings have under heaven? I took on great projects: I built houses for myself, planted vineyards for myself. I made gardens and parks for myself, planting every kind of fruit tree in them. I made reservoirs for myself to water my lush groves. I acquired male servants and female servants; I even had slaves born in my house. I also had great herds of cattle and sheep, more than any who preceded me in Jerusalem. I amassed silver and gold for myself, the treasures of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers for myself, along with every human luxury, treasure chests galore! So I became far greater than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. Moreover, my wisdom stood by me. I refrained from nothing that my eyes desired. I refused my heart no pleasure. Indeed, my heart found pleasure from the results of my hard work; that was the reward from all my hard work. But when I surveyed all that my hands had done, and what I had worked so hard to achieve, I realized that it was pointless - a chasing after wind. Nothing is to be gained under the sun. THE WORD PROCLAIMED Luke 12:16-21 [Jesus] told [his followers] a parable: "A certain rich man's land produced a bountiful crop. He said to himself: What will I do? I have no place to store my harvest! Then he thought: Here's what I'll do. I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. That's where I'll store all my grain and goods. I'll say to myself: You have stored up plenty of goods, enough for several years. Take it easy! Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself. But God said to him, 'Fool, tonight you will die. Now who will get the things you have prepared for yourself?' This is the way it will be for those who hoard things for themselves and aren't rich toward God." Express your thoughts by Tweeting to #ColonialPriceless.

WE RESPOND WITH THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER 5 * HYMN #451 Be Now My Vision CALL TO OFFERING AND OFFERTORY Reap What You Sow -Choplin Sung by Lori Jackson, Alba Cancel, Jennifer Logbeck, Matt Marx, Chris Carbin * Doxology (#780 adapted; tune Old Hundredth) Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, you heavenly host: Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One. Amen. * Prayer of Dedication Here I am, Lord body, heart, and soul. Grant that with your love, I may be big enough to reach the world, and small enough to be at one with you. Amen. (prayer by Mother Teresa) TIME OF PRAYER Prayers of the People Believing that each joy and/or concern expressed is indeed a prayer, after each expression, the pastor will say: Lord, in your mercy. And the people may respond: Hear our prayer. Praying in Silence Our 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 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.

6 WE DEPART TO SERVE * HYMN #359 O God, Who Teaches Us to Live * RENEW OUR COVENANT (Turn towards the center aisle as we bless one another with the promise of our covenant.) We covenant with the Lord and with one another and do bind ourselves in the presence of God to walk together in Christian Love. We seek to worship God in spirit and in truth and to love our neighbors as ourselves. With God s help we will honor Colonial Church in our conduct, support its program, and extend the influence of Christ throughout the world. * CONGREGATIONAL SONG OF BLESSING #809 God Be With You God be with you, God be with you, God be with you till we meet again. O God be with you, God be with you, God be with you till we meet again. * BENEDICTION AND POSTLUDE Sent Forth by God's Blessing -arr. by Behnke Liturgist: Marion Taylor Children s Conversation: Darren Carpenter Greeters: LaVonne and Richard Grossman Head Ushers: Jane and Jim Whiles Ushers: Marilyn Uppman, Elizabeth Uppman, Howard Lee, Jim Whiles

7 Colonial Church Study Guide Jesus said, Don't worry and say, 'What are we going to eat?' or 'What are we going to drink?' or 'What are we going to wear?' Gentiles long for all these things. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them. (Matthew 6:31-32) People living in extreme poverty without food, clothing, and shelter are absolutely in need. Christ s church is commanded to help all who are in such need. However, beyond those basic needs, there is a great deal to be learned about the relationship between money and happiness. That is what our study focuses on this week. Monday Gift to an Individual You Know Read Matthew 5:42 and Proverbs 22:7 Michael Norton, a professor of Business Administration at Harvard University, did a comprehensive study on the effect of giving and social relationships. Often a person who loans money to someone they know ends up damaging the relationship. "When you become the rich person, who other people look to, it can actually erode the social bond that you have with people, because it changes your relationship from friendship into almost like a transaction," Norton said. Jeses encouraged people to share with people they know, but to share without conceit or wish to control the person or organization you give to. What has your experience with loans between friends and family been like? How could it have been different? Always value your relationships more highly than money lest you head down a painful path. Tuesday When is it Enough? Read John 10:1-21 Jesus said, I came so that they could have life indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest. People who live life fully also tend to be happier than people who live materialistically. So, how do you know when you have enough? It is very easy to accommodate extra income into a household without a measurable increase in contentment. Studies show that living life to the fullest has very little to do with how much stuff you have. Instead, it is about what you experience. What is the most memorable time you received some unexpected money? What happened with it? At a certain point, having more money increases a person s fear of losing. Jesus taught that fear of wolves and thieves can take away a person s ability to live to the fullest. What level do you think that is?

8 Wednesday Grab a Cup of Coffee with Someone Read Phillpians 4:5-11 Studies show that spending $500 on going to to coffee with someone increases a person s life satisfaction much more than spending $500 on an item. Each coffee visit is a new experience with conversation and sharing. The Apostle Paul had grown spiritual mature when he wrote this letter. He came to realize that the people around him even the guards who held him in prison were more valuable than selfishness. Are you investing your life in relationships real relationships that matter? Why? Wednesday mornings, from 9:30-11am Pastor Aaron will be over at the Starbucks across from the church to grab a cup of coffee with anyone. Stop by. Thursday Microloans Read Luke 11:1-13 Sometimes a little money can go a long way. In the global economy, $25 in U.S. currency can help change someone s life. Microloans are one of the huge innovations of the past decade. Microfinance is also the idea that low-income individuals are capable of lifting themselves out of poverty if given access to financial services. Colonial Church has encouraged people in its community to participate in microfinance through Kiva. The purchase of a sewing machine can mean a world of difference for a person living in poverty in Bolivia. The capital to buy some goods for a new store in India can change a family s situation. You can help. If you go to Colonial Church s Facebook site today, you can join our Kiva team and make loans to be part of changing lives. Or, go to http://www.kiva.org/team/colonial_church and be a friend to a neighbor in need. Friday Church as Charity of Choice Read 1 Corinthians 16:1-3 Christ s Church has been an organization promoting healing and help throughout the world. Early churches took a collection to help with famine relief in Jerusalem. Hospitals around the world have been setup by donations by church communities. Even a small community makes a huge difference with our financial donations being augmented by huge number of hours of donated service and by God s Spirit of love. The money donated to church can dollar for dollar outperform any charity, and yet churches don t always tell their story. Each month, Colonial Church highlights one of the many missions we support with our time and money. Should churches talk about the positive difference they make beyond their own community? If so, how? What has Colonial Church done that you think is most amazing?

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