at the Heart of Bloomfield

at the Heart of Bloomfield

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 wing our fait h a s p e o p le of God 8 : 00 & 10 a. m. Sunda y, April 9, 2 017 PALM SUNDAY WE GATHER TOGETHER PRELUDE Vexilla Regis -The Royal Banners Forward Go Everett Titcomb WELCOME PLEASE fill out the Ritual of Friendship pads LIFE OF OUR CHURCH WELCOME GUESTS 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 In silence be at peace! Hosanna! Today We Join Centuries Of The Faithful In Praising Jesus, Who Comes Among Us As A Humble Servant. PALM PARADE: Hosanna in the Highest! Led by the children WE WORSHIP GOD (+ indicates that those who are able may stand) INTROIT Sing Hosanna Jamaican Folk Song - Carrie Wilson with Refrain sung by Congregation Refrain: Sing Hosanna, sing Hosanna, sing Hosanna to the King of Kings! CALL TO WORSHIP One: All: We gather to worship as a welcoming and inclusive community of Faith. Knowing that God will inspire and renew us! Come join me in worship Sisters and Brothers in Christ. Come, let us praise our God together. Let us praise God with integrity and in harmony! Let us invite God s revelation, Jesus the Christ to enter our lives and renew us! GOD has been among us. GOD S Spirit does renew us. GOD S love and compassion inspires us to serve others. To be present in today s world to invite other to be fully alive. Yes let us praise GOD who challenges us to be fully human! Glory be to GOD! +HYMN OF PRAISE All Glory, Laud and Honor # 178

PRAYER OF CELEBRATION & CONFESSION (UNISON) Compassionate God, we celebrate your presence among us! Present in difficult and challenging times as in joyful ones. Your Spirit has been with us before we gathered together as a community. We now come to you, GOD of love and compassion, aware that you are our common strength and our inspiration. We are aware of your invitation to see with spiritual eyes and with eyes of love. We are also aware that many times our actions do not reflect love and compassion. And still, we trust that you will continue to be our strength and inspiration showing us new ways to build community. New ways to express compassion and new ways of promoting love and justice Let this our common prayer be acceptable to you 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 The Palms - Jean-Baptiste Faure Carrie Wilson, soloist A TIME TO SHARE GOD S GOOD NEWS WITH OUR CHILDREN Dorine DeCarli GOD IS STILL SPEAKING! God s revelation is not sealed, God is still speaking in many creative ways. Allow space for God s revelation to touch your soul through nature, poetry, a hymn, a reading, a sharing moment with a friend or a stranger, an experience. Be open to God s Spirit, listen to the word of God. FIRST LESSON PSALM 31: 11-16 SECOND LESSON John 12: 9-19 OT p.622 in black Bible, p.506 in red NT p.129 in black Bible, p.106 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 WELCOMING GOD INTO OUR WORLD: REAFFIRMATION OF LIFE Pastor Ayala +HYMN A Cheering, Chanting, Dizzy Crowd # 180 WE RESPOND TO GOD S LOVE OFFERTORY PRAYER ~ Blessed by Grace...Our financial support builds community OFFERTORY Ride On, King Jesus! Negro Spiritual 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) Gracious and Merciful God In a spirit of gratitude and blessed by your grace, we present these offerings with joy and hope. May they be used to strengthen our ministries of service, of caring and of promoting justice for all! May these financial resources facilitate life and help us be welcoming and inclusive. We pray as one as we have also shared as one! AMEN! SHARING EXPRESSIONS OF JOYS AS WELL AS CONCERNS PASTORAL PRAYER CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE 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. WE GO FORTH TO SERVE +HYMN Ride On, Ride On in Majesty! # 179 Pastor (Please join hands as an expression of Community Love) People of GOD PEACE SALAAM ArDievu Vayan con Dios SHALOM +BENEDICTION Go with God s Blessing! MAY THE INSPIRATION OF JESUS CHRIST, THE LOVE OF GOD, AND THE COMMUNION AND POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BE WITH US ALL AS WE USE THE GIFTS THAT GOD HAS BLESSED US WITH TO BE A BLESSING TO GOD S CREATION, PROMOTING LOVE, PEACE AND JUSTICE CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE LET S GO AND BE A RAINBOW IN SOMEONE S LIFE! A RAINBOW OF HOPE, COMPASSION AND JUSTICE! GO WITH GOD S BLESSING! Amen, Amen, Amen +POSTLUDE Solemn Melody Walford Davies

THOSE IN OUR THOUGHTS & PRAYERS (AMONG MANY): *Prayers for Sharon Goetjen and family on the passing of her father Lawrence Bosse. *Prayers for Paul Wilson who is in rehab at Bloomfield Center & Rehab. Visits are welcome, cards can be sent to P.O. Box 396, Bloomfield, CT 06002-0396 *Prayers for Shantel Bremmer and family on the recent loss of her aunt Sharon Walker. *Prayers for Grayson Rose, infant granddaughter of Michelle Alves who is dealing with health issues. *Prayers for Logan Vernale, infant son of Sue Laiuppa and Steve Vernale who is recovering from oral surgery. *Prayers for Juris (George) Zars. *Prayers for Trudy Barnard who will be having eye surgery next Wednesday 4.12.17. Cards and calls would be appreciated. * Prayers for Julie Cato who will soon be the recipient of a kidney transplant. *Keep Calvin and Estelle Cole in your thoughts and prayers. Calvin is at Bloomfield Center for Nursing and Rehab, Estelle is at home, cards and calls would be appreciated. * Michael Edwards, praying for release. *Prayers that God will speak to us and through us as we seek God's leading and vision for our Church. *Family & Friends of All Soldiers Who Have Fallen In Iraq & Afghanistan. *Our friends at Community Solutions, Inc., that God will support them as they find new opportunities and hope for the future. Trudy Barnard David Berg Sue Davis Gladys Dunbar Carol Johnson Bonnie King Charles Miles Charlotte Babcock Julie Cato Jane Doble Madge Edwards Elaine Nelson Hicksbert (Lloyd) Grant Faye Smith Carol Wolcott Adelle Wright Betty Willis Please Remember These Connecticut Conference Churches in Your Prayers Goshen Granby Church of Christ Congregational First Congregational Church of Granby, UCC Granby Greenwich South Congregational Church, UCC Second Congregational Church, UCC Griswold First Congregational Church of Griswold UCC ANNOUNCEMENTS Welcome Guests! We are so glad you are here and invite you to join us after Worship for Coffee Hour. The Coffee Hour Hosts this morning are Jane Koley & Mary Laiuppa Today s Head Ushers: Oz Gibbs and Priscilla McCatty. Today s Lay Readers: Allan Thompson and Maurise Benson. 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.

This Week at a Glance Looking Ahead: Lectionary possibilities for next week include: (Liturgy of the Palms) Matthew 21: 1-11; Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29; (Liturgy of the Passion) Isaiah 50: 4-9b; Psalm 31: 9-16; Philippians 2: 5-11; Matthew 26: 14-27:66 Sunday, Apr 9 8:00 am Bible Discussion Metzger Chapel 10:00 am Worship Meeting Room 12:30 pm New Birth Community Church Metzger Chapel Monday, Apr 10 6:00 pm Bell Choir Music Suite 12:30 pm Loaves & Fishes prepare meal Kitchen 7:00 pm Narcotics Anonymous Fellowship Hall Tuesday, Apr 11 9:15 am Exercise Fellowship Hall Wednesday, Apr 9:30 am Jump Bunch Fellowship Hall 12 Thursday, Apr 13 Friday, Apr 14 Saturday, Apr 15 6:30 pm Church Council Living Room 7:00 pm Alcoholics Anonymous Counting Room 7:00 pm New Birth Community Church Metzger Chapel Maundy Thursday 10:00 am Bible Study Living Room 7:00 pm Foot Washing Service & Metzger Chapel Communion 8:00 pm Prayer Vigil starts Church/Home Good Friday 12:00 pm Prayer Vigil ends Church/Home 9:15 am Exercise Fellowship Hall 9:30 am New Birth Community Church Metzger Chapel 7:30 pm Alcoholics Anonymous Counting Room Holy Saturday 9:00 am Flower Club Meeting Room The altar flowers this Sunday are given by the family of the late Carol Ann Rivers

Holy Week Services April 9 Palm Sunday ~ 8 am Bible Discussion & 10 am Worship April 13 Maundy Thursday ~ 7:00 p.m. Foot Washing Worship Service and Communion. April 13-14 Prayer Vigil ~ Beginning after Maundy Thursday worship & lasting until noon on Good Friday. Sign-up sheet at the kiosk.. April 14 Good Friday ~ Prayer Vigil until noon. April 16 Easter ~ 6:00 a.m. Worship in the Memorial Garden, followed by a light breakfast. 10 a.m. Worship in the Meeting Room * * S i g n U p f o r t h e P r a y e r V i g i l A p r i l 1 3-14** B eginning after worship & lasting until noon on Good Frid a y. S i g n u p a t t h e k i o s k. Next Sunday, April 16, 2017 Easter Pastor Ayala s reflection Easter People in Today s World Scriptures ~ John 12: 44-47 & John 20: 24-31 COME AND INVITE OTHERS TO PROMOTE HEALTH AWARENESS SHARE GOD S WELCOMING SPIRT

On Sunday, April 23, during our 10 am worship service we will receive New Members who will enter into a covenantal relationship with our community of faith! We are hoping that you will invite family and friends to share in this wonderful celebration here at FCCB SAVE THE DATE!!! WOMEN S FELLOWSHIP NEWS THURSDAY MAY 18 TH 6:30 PM We look forward to a fun, relaxing evening! Dessert and coffee will be served while Penny Goejten joins us to talk about her latest mystery, The Empty Chair. PLEASE JOIN US!

Music Sunday will be celebrated on Sunday, May 21 at the 10am service. Sopranos, altos, tenors and basses are invited to join the Cantata Singers for this service. Members, friends and guests are all welcome. Rehearsals will be held after Easter Sunday on scheduled Wednesdays from 6:30pm-7:30pm in the Music Suite and on scheduled Sundays from 9am-9:45 am in the Metzger Chapel. It is extremely important that you attend as many rehearsals as possible. A signup sheet will be on the Music Ministry bulletin board. You may also email me at straepipes@yahoo.com or you may contact any member of the Music Ministry Team whose names are on the Music Ministry bulletin board. 2017 Spring Action When Friday, May 5, 2017 at 7:00 PM to Sunday, May 7, 2017 at 2:00 PM Where Silver Lake Conference Center 223 Low Road Sharon, CT 06069 Catch up with old friends, make new friends, and work hard to prepare YOUR conference center for the winter. From chopping wood to repairing buildings, moving picnic tables to raking leaves, there s a project for everyone, high schoolers through adult. Join us Friday, May 5, at 7 p.m., to get your hands dirty. Work ends Sunday, May 7, at 2 p.m. Spring Action is open to students in grades nine through twelve and costs $45. All Silver Lake rules apply. Alumni and adults are welcome! Whether you re a skilled laborer or a pair of willing hands, we rely on you to make Action a success. To register an adult, email our Administrator, Jennifer Kronholm Clark, at jennc@ctucc.org. Please note any special skills you can contribute. There is no charge for adult volunteers to attend Action; donations to offset the cost of food are welcome.

The Maundy Thursday service will be held April 13 th at 7 pm and will include foot washing and the sacrament of communion. Foot washing has biblical roots in the Old Testament as well as many references in the New Testament. Historically, in Eastern cultures, foot washing was a sign of welcome and hospitality. The Gospel of John 13: 1-15 describes Jesus washing the feet of his beloved disciples at the Last Supper and his instruction in verses 14 and 15: Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you should also wash one another s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done. This act of foot washing symbolizes God s call to humility and service important tenets of our Christian faith. For those who prefer, hand washing in lieu of foot washing will also be offered. One of our traditions is to hold a prayer vigil which will begin at 8 pm immediately following the Maundy Thursday service. The vigil is held in the Metzger Chapel and offers an opportunity for quiet reflection and prayer as we symbolically keep watch with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane on His last night. There is a sign-up sheet on the kiosk outside the church office. Those who cannot be physically present in the chapel can still participate by contacting Andrea in the church office to select a time. There are one hour slots beginning at 8 pm on Thursday evening and ending at 12 noon on Good Friday. Please consider participating either from home or in the chapel.

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 Nursery School can be reached at 860-242-0183 or preschool@firstchurchbloomfield.org. Pastor Edwin O. Ayala: In the event of an emergency (death, serious illness, deep spiritual or emotional need) please feel free to call Pastor Ayala at 860-242-0776 x 201, 860-836-6651 or email him pastor@firstchurchbloomfield.org or eoaintersections33@yahoo.com Visit our church's website: www.firstchurchbloomfield.org