Rangeley Congregational Church, United Church of Christ An Open and Affirming Church Second Sunday of Easter April 8, 2018 10:00 AM Meditation: Harboring anger and resentment is like a glass of poison that a man drinks; then he sits down and waits for his enemy to die. - Nelson Mandela, when asked why he was not resentful for his imprisonment ORDER OF WORSHIP COMING INTO GOD S PRESENCE RINGING OF THE BELL PRELUDE Blessing and Honor Paris Antiphoner 1681 WORDS OF WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS Liturgist PRAYER OF INVOCATION (Unison) Breathe into this place your Spirit, Risen One. May your sacred breath open our minds, unlock our hearts, and quicken our faith, so that we may welcome you into our lives with gladness. Amen. CALL TO WORSHIP (adapted from Psalm 133) Liturgist 1
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! How good it is and how pleasant, When kindred dwell together in unity. It is like refreshing dew, Like dew that falls upon the mountains. Let us worship God, our peace and our joy! *GATHERING HYMN #230 (NCH) Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain CALL TO CONFESSION PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Unison) Merciful God, we know that you love us and that you call us to fullness of life, but around us and within us we see the brokenness of the world and of our own lives. Forgive our neglect of your word, our insensitivity to the needs of others, and our failure to nurture your Spirit within us. Heal and renew us through your love, so that we may delight in your will and follow in your ways, to the glory of your name TIME FOR SILENT CONFESSION WORDS OF HOPE AND ASSURANCE TIME WITH THE YOUNG AT HEART SERVICE OF THE WORD 2
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION SCRIPTURE LESSONS Acts 4:32-35 John 20:19-31 SERMON *HYMN OF RESPONSE #292 (NCH) Breath on Me, Breath of God SERVICE OF PRAYER PRAYER FOR GOD S PEOPLE (As you name a joy or concern later in the prayer, please finish by saying This is my prayer. The church family responds by saying This is our prayer. ) We pray for: Carol Ellinwood as she undergoes therapy for salivary gland cancer during May and June; Janice Schum, friend of June Aleck; Christine, niece of Chuck and June Aleck and her daughter Jada; Jac Mageles, Cyndy Egan s nephew; Beck Blythe; Kris Nozal (Marcia Baker s niece); Karen Lantz; Haelyn Vorous; John and Martha Bicknell; our law enforcement personnel and the communities they serve; our military personnel worldwide; and all those who serve our country. OUR LORD S PRAYER ( forgive us our sins ) 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 sins as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen. 3
CHORAL AMEN #812 (NCH) Threefold Amen SERVICE OF GIVING INVITATION OFFERTORY The King of Love My Shepherd Is Ancient Irish Melody *DOXOLOGY Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below; Praise God above ye heavenly host; Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost. Amen. *PRAYER OF DEDICATION (Unison) Holy one, your heart abounds with gifts. Receive this offering as a sign of our trust in you and our intention to live surrounded by your mercy, inspired by your Spirit, open to the joy of your presence, hospitable to one another, and generous toward your world. Amen. *CLOSING HYMN #238 (NCH) Now the Green Blade Rises *BENEDICTION Special Thanks to all who helped with the service today: Sandy Moore, Liturgist Dick Moore, Ushers Chuck & June Aleck, Coffee Hour 4
W e welcome you with joy in the common life of this church. ~ This Week: Rangeley Ringers Monday, 4/9, 8 am, Sanctuary Men s Breakfast Monday, 4/9, 8 am, Keep s Café Christian Ed Tuesday, 4/10, 9 am, Pastor s Office Women s Fellowship Friday, 4/13, 10 am, Barn ~ Next Week: Rangeley Ringers Monday, 4/16, 8 am, Sanctuary Prayer Shawl Monday, 4/16, 2 pm, Barn Walking toward God, we the members of the Rangeley Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Rangeley, Maine, seek to be a congregation which includes all persons who desire to have a relationship with God and to live God s love, as shown to us through the teachings and examples of Jesus Christ. from our Open and Affirming Statement 5
I AM A LITTLE CHURCH Author: E.E. Cummings i am a little church(no great cathedral) i do not worry if briefer days grow briefest, i am not sorry when sun and rain make april my life is the life of the reaper and the sower; my prayers are prayers of earth s own clumsily striving (finding and losing and laughing and crying)children whose any sadness or joy is my grief or my gladness around me surges a miracle of unceasing birth and glory and death and resurrection: over my sleeping self float flaming symbols of hope, and i wake to a perfect patience of mountains i am a little church(far from the frantic world with its rapture and anguish)at peace with nature i do not worry if longer nights grow longest; i am not sorry when silence becomes singing winter by spring, i lift my diminutive spire to merciful Him Whose only now is forever: standing erect in the deathless truth of His presence (welcoming humbly His light and proudly His darkness) Rangeley Congregational Church, www.rangeleyucc.com Pastor Annette Mott 864-5966 (Office) 737-9979 (Cell) Church Office rangeleyucc@gmail.com 864-5966 Secretary Ethna L. Thompson 864-5966 Council President Kathy Brittain 864-2694 Chair of Deacons Scott Hatfield 864-2053 Deacon of the Month Linda Jones 864-2612 Conference Deacon Dick Waddell riwad36@gmail.com 6