No matter who you are or where you are on life s journey Come, experience God s love Go, serve God s world Main Street Congregational Church United Church of Christ 145 Main Street Amesbury, Massachusetts 01913 978.388.0982 www. main-street-church.org office@main-street-church.org
Main Street Congregational Church United Church of Christ At 145 Main Street, Amesbury, MA 01913 978-388-0982 www.main-street-church.org The Congregation The Reverend Joan MacPherson Danny Smith Ministers Pastor and Teacher Music Minister 4th Sunday after Epiphany 10:00 A.M. January 29, 2017 Prelude Introit Greeting and Announcements At All Times, My God, You re an Awesome God, Good to Me Come, Now is the Time to Worship I Need A Touch Call to Worship One: Creator of the cosmos, of eternity and time Many: We open to your love and story One: Healer of the nations, restorer of justice Many: Be with us in this place One: Breath of all that lives, all people near and far Many: Stir within our lives One: Wonder beyond label, Spirit that can not be contained Many: Be present in our worship that we may find new ways to be present in your world. *Hymn Come With Me For the Journey is Long Come with me for the journey is long come with me for the journey is long come with me for the journey is long The journey, the journey, the journey is long The journey, the journey, the journey is long The journey, the journey, the journey is long Pray with me for the journey is long Lean on God for the journey is long
*Unison prayer In the peace and bustle of everyday life the wonder of your creation is present o God. In the activity and worship of your church we hear the cries of a broken world - angry and hopeful cries, hungry and unending cries. In the silence and turmoil of our hearts you speak - comfort to the suffering, challenge to the comfortable. We gather in hope. We gather with needs. We gather to join in the way of the one who stilled the storms and who made waves - our brother Jesus who taught us to pray... *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, and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen. *Gloria Patri A Time for Children Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, Amen. Anthem How Great is Our God Tomlin/Reeves/Cash Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer *Hymn Lead Us From Death to Life Insert, vs 1-2 Gospel Luke 6: 1-16 Page 63 Sermon Making Waves Rev. Joan MacPherson Offertory God and God Alone *Doxology Prayer of Dedication Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God above ye heavenly host, Creator, Savior, Holy Ghost. Amen.
*Hymn Lead Us From Death to Life Insert, Vs 3 *Commissioning and Benediction Response Carry your candle, run to the darkness Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn. Hold out your candle, for all to see it Take your candle, go light your world Take your candle, go light your world. *Those who are able, please stand
We welcome you ~ During this time of worship we seek to open our hearts and live in response to the gift of God s abiding and all inclusive love. We are glad you are here. If you are visiting with us, please fill out the welcome card in the pew. Please make a point of speaking with the pastor, she would welcome the chance to get to know you. Deacon: Ruth Trick Greeters: Elaine Goodwin & Irene Finnegan Coffee Hour: Karen & Kevin Welch & Scott & Marissa Mandeville Lay Reader: Mark Sheehan Each week there is nursery care available in the Parish House for those four and under. LARGE PRINT BULLETINS ARE AVAILABLE, PLEASE ASK THE GREETER. ANNOUNCEMENTS - We ask that Sunday bulletin announcements be given to the church office by 8:30 A.M. on Friday mornings. They can be mailed, hand delivered or e-mailed to office@main-street-church.org. Emergency announcements that arise between Friday and our worship can be written on the clip board along with prayer requests (this clip board is available at the back of the church). Please write them legibly. Printed announcements allow the most people to know what is going on and offers a reminder to take home. Please help us communicate better by submitting your announcements to the church office. Thank you. OUR MUSIC MINISTRY Our music ministry begins with 10-15 minutes of pre-service praise and worship music every Sunday morning. You are welcome to join in words in three ring binders - or center yourself silently COFFEE HOUR Coffee Hour following worship is located in the vestry (the building to the right of the sanctuary). The vestry can be accessed by going outside turning right and using the back entrance by the kitchen or by following the crowd through the swinging door at the front of the church and to the left of the choir. The vestry is located past the bathrooms through the kitchen. IF YOU ARE VISITING FROM ANOTHER CHURCH Please ask one of our Deacons for a Peace Candle to bring back to your home church. It is part of a Russian tradition as a reminder that all Christians should pray and work for world peace. Please take our greetings and prayers with you and ask your home church to burn the candle during worship. We also ask that they consider passing this tradition on by offering candles to visitors from your own home church..
NURSERY COVERAGE FOR ANNUAL MEETING NEXT WEEK Will be available following coffee hour / lunch during the meeting on February 5th. PRAYER LIST & CLIPBOARD A Prayer List clipboard is available as you enter the church. We invite you to list those who will be added to our prayer list. If there is a person who you feel would benefit from pastoral care, please let a deacon know. PLEASE KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS Bill & Prudy Morse (Kathy Scholtz s sister), Lenita Miller, Judy Oljay, Louise McRae, DJ Emery, Glady Turnquist, Mary Young and Brian Roy s dad, the people affected by the tornadoes and severe weather in the south, Keith Autio, Marie Roy s mom, Arnie Bornstein, family & friends of Eric Griebling, Chris, Jackie and Agnes. According to the Northeast Area UCC Prayer Calendar, this Sunday we pray for the First Congregational Church in Billerica, MA and the Rev. Katherine Adams. Weekly bulletins and sermons If you are interested in receiving a certain bulletin or copies of a sermon from any given week, please contact the office. These items can be sent by regular mail or e-mailed. Weekly Calendar Today 10:00 a.m. Worship Monday 6:30 p.m. NA Vestry Tuesday 9-11 a.m. volunteers sort bags at Steppe Up In 10:30-12 Joan is at the Bake House for conversation 7 p.m. A Way of Life Meeting Wednesday 7 a.m.-7p.m. Our Neighbor s Table 11 am MSCC service on Cable 12 12:30 p.m. Intentional Spirit Community 3-6:00 p.m. Steppe Up In Open Thursday 2:30 p.m. MSCC service on Cable 12 7 p.m. Choir Friday 8-9:30 p.m. NA Vestry Saturday 9-Noon Steppe Up In open 2:30 pm
STAFF & OFFICER DIRECTORY Rev. Joan MacPherson, Pastor 978-388-0982 (o), 978-388-1419 (h) joan.macpherson@main-street-church.org Steve Horhota, Moderator 978-388-6069, sthorhota@comcast.net Marie Roy, Treasurer marieroy50@gmail.com/978-346-9900 Kay Weiner, Collector yak385@gmail.com, 978-388-9028 Roger Jones, Chairman Trustees 978-465-5132, jones137@comcast.net Donna Jones, Chair-Worship & Music 978-465-5132, jones137@comcast.net Evelyn Olson, Clerk 508-577-7257, luckyduck98_81@yahoo.com Stacy Lamson, Chair-Fellowship 978-388-5368/stacylamson@comcast.net Jim McDonald, Chair-Pastoral Relations 978-834-0495/dogsneck@comcast.net Jennifer Stinson, Director Sunday School Jennifer_nordwall@hotmail.com Robin Schell, Call to care rschell@jjwpr.com Danny Smith, Music Minister 603-642-5262/danlgee@comcast.net Stacy Lamson, Church Admin. M-F 9am-1pm Office@main-street-church.org Sue Ranshaw, Prophet 978-346-9940, suzispof@comcast.net Nancy Noseworthy, Manager, Steppe Up In jazvan1@netzero.net 978-462-1318 Maryanne Hatfield, Volunteer Coordinator, Steppe Up In 603-974-2795, mhseashell@aol.com Nancy Paradis, Nursery Care/978-388-9554 Lori Belleville, Sexton 978-417-0745 /loribell82@yahoo.com Steppe Up In 978-388-9061
Missions Committee News Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity Build (MVHH) Our next short term local mission opportunity is Saturday February 4th in Lawrence 8:30 to 4:00. As you know 6 folks went in October to our first build day and we are hoping for more folks to join in this time. The Wilsons, the Fricks and the Churchs are going join us! We will have more details once you sign up or contact one of us. Look for us at coffee hour to talk more about it. No experience is needed and they are many job opportunities! This spring or summer work will begin at a new build site right in Salisbury. This will be perfect for MSCC to get involved in! You can sign up by just telling us -- Jane Ansaldo Church (j.ansaldo@comcast.net) or Nancy (nancyfrick@comcast.net) or Bonnie Wilson 508 783 5620 and we will answer any questions you may have.*16 to 18 year olds must be accompanied by an adult. MSCC Church Directory A 2017 church directory has been printed. (just the folded paper version) If you have want one, please look for one at the back of the sanctuary. It can also be sent to you on line-just e-mail the office. Faith and Art: Let s Make Ukrainian Decorated Eggs How can we deepen our journey of faith? Whether it is to make Easter eggs or to learn a craft which is enjoyable and soulful, this ancient art form ties together faith, spirituality, and unexpected beauty. Participants will learn how to decorate eggs using a stylus, beeswax, and dyes. Beginners are welcome and no prior artistic talent is needed. It is easy! All materials will be supplied. Let s roll up our sleeves, be surprised, and have some fun! Eliza Goodell has studied art and psychology. She learned how to make Ukrainian Easter eggs in the 1990s and has been giving workshops ever since. A photo of Eliza s decorated eggs is in the July 2013 issue of Northshore Magazine in an article on bees, Hive Talkin. The workshop at Main Street Congregational Church will be March 5 th and 12 th from 1-4PM. Cost is $20 (includes both sessions). Please sign up in the church office and prepay by February 25 th. Questions? Contact Eliza at 508-451-1778 or ewgoodell@msn.com We need 8 participants for the class to run and we can have up to 16. (Participants should plan on attending both classes since the second class builds on the first.)
More news for the upcoming Not Your Typical Annual Meeting February 5th, 11:30 am At our Not Your Typical Annual Meeting on February 5, we will be taking time to ask members of the Congregation and friends for some thoughts and inspirations on our Buildings and Facilities. We want to know more about how you see our structures enabling our individual journeys, help us to experience God s love, and allow us to serve God s world (or not). Everyone will get some sticky notes and be asked to tell us how they feel about a number of topics. Parish House will be one of them. A venerable structure built in 1850, the Parish House had been used as a residence for Church clergy but no longer. Ministers today are opting for a housing allowance to apply to a residence of their choosing. Today we use it for Church offices (minister and administrative assistant), Sunday school, Sunday nursery, meeting space, church archives, and drop off point for Steppe Up Inn donations. The second floor is rented out to a tenant and supplements our operating budget. We have seen some increased usage recently with yoga classes and other activities, but a large part of the building goes unused for most of the week. Because of its age, there have been and continue to be repair & maintenance issues with the building, some of them significant. There are handicap accessibility problems to be overcome. On the positive side, it is a sturdy structure with a large front lawn area. What do you see as opportunities for improving the utilization of the Parish House? Do you think we should investigate selling the building and put the proceeds toward a replacement building? What interior improvements would expand the potential for using the Parish House? Please begin thinking about these questions over the next week and come ready to immerse yourself in this community building exercise. If you would like to read the Annual report before the meeting next week, there are a few copies in the back of the sanctuary. If you take one, please bring it with you next Sunday. It can also be e-mailed to you or found on the website by clicking on the event Annual Meeting on February 5th. There will be a light lunch during coffee hour and Nursery care will be provided during the meeting.