The First Congregational Church United Church of Christ Bloomfield, CT An open and affirming congregation Sunday, December 3, 2017 FAREWELL PASTOR ED OUR MISSION Responding to God s Call, our mission as The First Congregational Church in Bloomfield, United Church of Christ, is to go out into the world proclaiming God s love for all creation, working for justice, bringing Christ s peace and growing in love and faith through service to others. We are a safe and sacred community that welcomes all people and supports each individual journey of faith.
T h e F i rst Congregationa l C h u r c h i n B l o o m f i e l d, UCC 1 0 W in t onbury Av e n u e, B l oomfield, CT 0 6 0 0 2 G a thered a s Wintonbury Parish Februa r y 14, 1738 R e n e w ing our faith a s p e o p l e o f G o d 1 0 a. m. Sunday, December 3, 2017 Communion Sunday ~ First Sunday of Advent WE GATHER TOGETHER PRELUDE Mike Carabello, pianist; Michael Scott, drummer PROCESSIONAL Los Mariachis WELCOME Pastor Ayala LIFE OF OUR CHURCH WELCOME GUESTS ~ Please fill out the Ritual of Friendship pads PASSING OF THE PEACE CENTERING MOMENT You are invited to be at Peace and One with GOD s Spirit. Let us prepare ourselves to worship our God. Let us prepare ourselves to be renewed and inspired by God. In silence be at peace! WE WORSHIP GOD (+ Whether in body or spirit, please stand) INTROIT He Wants It All Forever Jones Liturgical Dancers, Amber McKenzie and Joshua Clarke CALL TO WORSHIP (RESPONSIVE) Worship Leader: God s grace and inspiration is always present. Let us be one in worship and let us celebrate the gift of human leadership that nurtures our Christian growth and helps us build community! Congregation: With open hearts and in a spirit of gratitude we come together to worship and to affirm GOD S grace among us. Grace expressed in the leadership of our Interim Pastor, Rev. Edwin O. Ayala. We are grateful we are at peace! Worship Leader: May our worship this morning be an inspiration that will make us stronger and more faithful to GOD S call to continue to be a good news community of faith! +HYMN OF PRAISE Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee # 7
PRAYER OF INVOCATION & CONFESSION (UNISON) Compassionate and liberating Creator, who has been the God of our past and who we affirm as the God of our present. Come and continue to renew in us the desire to live fully and to be open to share your love and grace with all creation. Renew in us the fire and passion for a new future full of hope and creative ministries. To you be all honor and glory through our common 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, the power, and the glory, forever, Amen. MUSICAL OFFERING Santo Santo Santo Los Mariachis ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING: THE CANDLE OF HOPE Pastor: Scripture describes Jesus as the light of the world. As followers of Jesus we are also invited and challenged to be a blessing, and to also be the light that illuminates others. Christmas is the season of lights, let us affirm Jesus as the light of the world! All: Today we begin a journey toward the Child Jesus who we affirm as the light of the world. Today we also commit ourselves to bring light to God s world. Pastor: Our journey begins with HOPE, our first light declares hope for the world. All: Today we begin a journey toward the Child Jesus who we affirm as the light of the world. Today we also commit ourselves to bring light to God s world by proclaiming HOPE. Pastor May we kindle God s light together by witnessing a message of HOPE as we also become lights of blessings in God s world. All: Restore and renew us O GOD; may our faces shine with your light while proclaiming a message of HOPE! CANDLE OF HOPE IS LIT AS WE SING THE ADVENT HYMN Candle lighters today are Roger & Judi Bunker and great granddaughters Janiah & Jaziah Davis ADVENT HYMN O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL # 114 vs # 1 TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN Dorine DeCarli GOD IS STILL SPEAKING! GOD IS IN OUR MIDST, GOD IS PRESENT, GOD IS STILL SPEAKING! LET S OPEN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS TO GOD S GOOD NEWS. GOD IS STILL SPEAKING! FIRST LESSON ~ Ezekiel 37: 1-14 SECOND LESSON ~ Micah 6: 6-8 THIRD LESSON ~ Acts 1: 6-11 OT p.987 in black Bible, p.806 in red OT p.1060 in black Bible, p.866 in red NT p.143 in black Bible, p.118 in red
CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet # 297 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path PASTOR S REFLECTION FULL OF GOD S SPIRIT GO AND WITNESS Pastor Ayala MUSICAL INTERLUDE WELCOME TO GOD S TABLE INVITATION TO COMMUNION COMMUNION PRAYER PRAYER OF CONSECRATION SHARING THE SACRAMENTS During communion today please be reminded that there is gluten-free bread and apple juice available with the communion elements. MUSICAL INTERLUDE during Communion Mike Carabello, pianist; Michael Scott, drummer RECOGNITION Ron Robinson Chair, Church Council A LITANY OF FAREWELL TO THE PASTOR FOR THE INTERIM (See Insert) +HYMN OF AFFIRMATION AND CELEBRATION We Are Walking # 366 OFFERTORY PRAYER WE RESPOND TO GOD S LOVE ~ Blessed by Grace...Giving out of GRACE OFFERTORY The Holy City Stephen Adams Carrie Wilson, soloist PRESENTATION OF OFFERING DOXOLOGY # 44 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 AND DEDICATION OF OFFERINGS (UNISON) Aware that we have been blessed by GOD S grace we have shared our offering may they be a blessing to this Congregation as we share through ministries of Compassion, Care, Worship and Justice with others motivated by GOD S Love In Jesus name we pray Amen! MUSIC OF THE SOUL: EXPRESSIONS OF JOYS AND CONCERNS PASTORAL PRAYER Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying Lord, listen to your children praying, Lord, send your spirit in this place; Lord, listen to your children praying, Send us love, send us pow r, send us grace. CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE
WE GO FORTH TO SERVE + HYMN Creator God We Sing vs # 1 in Spanish (See insert) vs # 2 in English +BENEDICTION (Please join hands as an expression of Community Love) GO WITH GOD S BLESSING! GO, BE A RAINBOW IN THE LIFE OF OTHERS GO AND PROMOTE LIFE SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL. A GOOD NEWS COMMUNITY OF FAITH GO AND SHARE GOD S LOVE. GO AND WITNESS WITH PASSION AND INTEGRITY GO WITH THE BLESSING OF GOD THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. GO LET GOD SURPRISE YOU! AMEN! Pastor Ayala CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Amen, Amen, Amen +POSTLUDE Improvisation by Musicians on I'm Gonna Live So God Can Use Me We welcome all our guest musicians to this special service for Rev. Ayala this morning. Thank you for joining us in giving thanks for his ministry at First Congregational Church in Bloomfield.
THOSE IN OUR THOUGHTS & PRAYERS (AMONG MANY): *Prayers for Erie Pinney. Cards and calls are welcome. No visits at this time. *Those grieving or suffering after a shooting at a church in Texas where at least 26 were killed and at least 19 more were wounded on Nov. 5. *Prayers for Al Forster recuperating at home. Cards and calls are welcome. *Those grieving or suffering after the effects of hurricanes Irma, Maria Harvey and Jose which caused massive destruction of property and lives; The people of Mexico, still recovering from a massive earthquake. *Prayers for Jasmin Ayala going through a difficult time. * Michael Edwards, praying for release. *Prayers that God will speak to us and through us as we seek God's leadership and vision for our Church. *Family & Friends of All Soldiers Who Have Fallen In service to our country. *Our friends at Community Solutions, Inc., that God will support them as they find new opportunities and hope for the future. *Our nation, that it may continue its difficult work to end the practices of racism and misogyny and prayers for those serving or living in war or conflict zones around the world, or where terrorists have struck. Trudy Barnard David Berg Sue Davis Gladys Dunbar Carol Johnson Bonnie King Charles Miles Charlotte Babcock Jane Doble Madge Edwards Elaine Nelson Faye Smith Julie Cato Estelle Cole Carol Wolcott Adelle Wright Betty Willis Please Remember These Connecticut Conference Churches in Your Prayers Woodbury Woodbury First Congregational Church of Woodbury UCC North Congregational Church, UCC Woodstock Fishers Island First Congregational Church of Woodstock, UCC Union Chapel UCC Abington Abington Congregational Church, UCC Next Sunday, December 10, 2017 Second Sunday of Advent And Christmas Cantata Service Invite Family and Friends to a morning of Music
This Week at a Glance Looking Ahead Lectionary possibilities for next week include: Isaiah 64: 1-9; Psalm 80: 1-7, 17-19; 1 Corinthians 1: 3-9; Mark 13: 24-37 Sunday, Dec 3 8:00 am Bible Discussion Living Room 10:00 am Worship Service Meeting Room 11:30 am Reception for Pastor Ayala Fellowship Hall 12:30 pm New Birth Community Church Metzger Chapel Monday, Dec 4 6:00 pm Bell Choir Music Suite 6:00 pm Search Team Living Room 7:00 pm Narcotics Anonymous Fellowship Hall Tuesday, Dec 5 9:15 am Exercise Fellowship Hall 10:00 am Parish Care Team Counting Room 1:30 pm Wounded Healers Living Room Wednesday, Dec 6 9:30 am Jump Bunch Fellowship Hall 7:00 pm Alcoholics Anonymous Counting Room 7:00 pm New Birth Community Church Metzger Chapel Thursday, Dec 7 10:00 am Bible Study Living Room 11:30 am Board of Deacons Living Room Friday, Dec 8 9:15 am Exercise Fellowship Hall 7:30 pm Alcoholics Anonymous Counting Room Saturday, Dec 9 9:00 am Cantata Rehearsal Meeting Room ANNOUNCEMENTS Welcome Guests! We are so glad you are here and invite you to join us after Worship for Coffee Hour. Reception for Pastor Edwin (Ed) Ayala. Today s Head Ushers: Oz Gibbs & Priscilla McCatty. Today s Lay Reader is Deacon Andrea Mercer. Our Nursery is open every Sunday during the 10 a.m. worship. Please see one of our ushers and they will be happy to direct you. It's Cantata time again! The Cantata Singers of the First Congregational Church of Bloomfield will present the cantata Appalachian Winter on Sunday, December 10 at the10am service. The cantata is composed by the renowned American composer Joseph Martin. Joining us in worship will be the Accidentals Handbell Choir playing seasonal music. Please join us in worship as we celebrate the coming of our blessed Savior, Jesus the Christ.
The First Congregational Church in Bloomfield U N I T E D C H U R C H O F C H R I S T Welcome to the First Congregational Church in Bloomfield We hope that you find comfort, joy & inspiration in this time of worship; and renewed energy for your journey of faith. You are invited to remain after the service this morning for refreshments and informal conversation. SCHEDULE Worship is held at 8 am & 10 am each Sunday STAFF Rev. Edwin O. Ayala, Interim Pastor Andrea Davey-Mercer, Office Manager Dorine DeCarli, Director of Faith Formation Eustace Straker, Minister of Music Shantel Bremmer, Director of Child Development Center Building Management is provided by Michelle Alves and JEM Services. CHURCH OFFICE Monday Friday 8:30 am 4:30 pm Phone: 860-242-0776 Fax: 860-243-8035 Email: office@firstchurchbloomfield.org All Staff can be reached by contacting the Church Office. The Child Development Center can be reached at 860-242-0183 or preschool@firstchurchbloomfield.org. Visit our church's website: www.firstchurchbloomfield.org