The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme 2 Ferry Road Old Lyme, Connecticut (860) 434-8686 Website: www.fccol.org
April 29, 2018 Prelude SUNDAY WORSHIP Steven R. Jungkeit, Senior Minister Carleen R. Gerber, Senior Associate Minister Laura Fitzpatrick-Nager, Associate Minister Simon D. Holt, Director of Music *Processional Hymn: #12 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise *Call to Worship: 9:00 AM We are the body of Christ The hand clapping, toe tapping, heart pumping, mouth tasting, arms embracing, Justice seeing, hymn singing, love making, bread breaking, risk taking Body of Christ! Baptized in one Spirit, we are members of one body. Many and varied in gender, color, sexuality, age, class, and ability, we are members of Christ s beautiful body. None of us can say to another, I have no need of you. For only together can we find wholeness. We are connected like muscle and bone. If one suffers, we all suffer. If one rejoices, we all rejoice! Thanks be to God who, in Christ, has made us one. Let us worship God! *Invocation *The Lord s Prayer Welcome and News of the Church *Hymn: #393 Out of the Depths, O God. We Call Offertory Invitation Offertory Selection *Doxology: Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God for all that love has done; Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One. Amen *Offertory Prayer
Children s Sermon Laura Fitzpatrick-Nager Hymn: #364 This Little Light of Mine (First verse only, as children leave. Congregation can remain seated.) Pastoral Prayer Pastoral Prayer Response: Eat This Bread Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12: 12-26 (OT, pg. 363) Romans 8: 31-39 (NT, pg. 149) Communion Meditation: BECOMING A FAMILY FOR ONE ANOTHER: SOME WORDS IN APPRECIATION OF JEFF MILLER The Rev. Dr. Steven R. Jungkeit and Rick Strickhart *Hymn: #386 We Are One in the Spirit Sacrament of Communion (back page) *Hymn: #401 Amazing Grace! How Sweet the Sound Benediction Postlude *Congregation Standing
We thank you for worshipping with us. Following the life and teachings of Jesus, we are a church that strives to be a place of grace, welcoming all regardless of theological expression, age, race, gender, sexual identity, national origin or financial means. In our Church Constitution we recognize that each member shall have the undisturbed right to follow the word of God according to the dictates of his or her own conscience, under the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, established in 1665, cherishes this proud Pilgrim tradition. We are honored by your presence among us, and we invite you to help us become what we endeavor to be. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This morning we welcome Rick Strickhart to share in our communion meditation. Rick is a member of our Board of Deacons, and helped to provide pastoral care to Jeff Miller in the final weeks of his life. We're grateful for Rick's leadership in our community, and for his reflections this morning. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "The flowers this morning are given by Julie Kuja in loving memory of William and Helen Prestegaard Lipp. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The hosts for fellowship hour are Mary Kollman and Ellen Calkins. The deacon on duty is Lee Whitaker. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Childcare is available every Sunday morning in the nursery downstairs at the 9 AM service. If you need help finding it, please ask the ushers to assist you. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you are visiting us for worship this morning, we welcome you, and invite you to join us in Fellowship Hall for fellowship and refreshments. We invite you to pick up a Welcome packet, which can be found in the vestibule. We hope this information will be helpful in acquainting you with our church and its activities and programs. Quiet Activity Bags for young children are in the vestibule. They are colorful bags with quiet projects for our youngest members. Please feel free to offer these bags to your children. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Rev. David W. Good serves as our Minister Emeritus. The Rev. Rebecca T. Crosby is our Minister for Haitian Outreach. Thomas Burke (4 th year Yale Divinity School student) serves as minister to the South Lyme Union Chapel. Multifaith Prayer Service and Potluck Dinner May 9th, 6:00 8:00 pm Please join us for a Multifaith Prayer Service for Malik, Zahida and Roniya starting at 6:00 pm in the Meetinghouse. All are welcome as we gather in loving community to pray and share in a feast with our friends living in sanctuary at FCCOL. A potluck dinner in Fellowship Hall will follow the service.
Forums: TODAY: Dr. Richard Jones (Organ Transplant and Donorship). May 6 - Lauren Ashe - HOPE Partnership, affordable housing in SE Connecticut. Book Group TODAY following the 11:00 service. We're reading Doris Kearns Goodwin's No Ordinary Time as we ponder the exemplary leadership of Eleanor Roosevelt at a critical time in our nation's history. (At our last meetings we made the decision that focusing on great national leadership would be an uplifting enterprise.) Please join us for a great discussion - even if you have not had time to finish (or even read!) the book. Indian Taco Dinner TODAY, at 5:00pm in the Fellowship Hall, the Green Grass Partnership Committee will be hosting an Indian taco dinner. $10 at the door gets you a delicious taco with all the trimmings! Made with a fry bread base and stacked with plenty of meat and veggies, it is one of our favorite meals when we visit our friends on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota (vegetarian options will be available). Proceeds from the dinner will benefit the Green Grass Partnership, celebrating 33 years! All are welcome! Care Givers Group If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139.9-10 All caregivers are welcome to join us on Friday, May 11th, as we gather in the Hoag Parlor to listen to one another and offer a supportive presence for the journey. Facilitators: Laura Fitzpatrick-Nager and Mary Kollman. News from the Immigrant Assistance Committee Today is day 42 of Sanctuary for Malik and Zahida. Another week has passed and new activities have been added to help pass their days in confinement. If you'd like to volunteer, please contact Lina Tuck (lina.tuck@gmail.com) or 860-680-8825. You can also support Malik and Zahida by having a meal at Pizza Corner, their restaurant, 36 Broad Street, New Britain. The FCCOL Immigration Committee supports the humane and dignified treatment of Immigrants by providing education on immigration rights, sanctuary for families in threat of deportation, and assistance to secure legal counsel. Donations to the Immigrant Assistance Fund may be sent to FCCOL. Please note this fund in the comment line. Wings of Justice - Immigration, Sanctuary and the Pathways of Faith Through the Guadalupe Experience, a 10 day immersion program in Mexico, we will gain insight on the present day reality of our Mexican neighbors and how it relates to our Immigration and Sanctuary work. Learn more about the Guadalupe Experience at westronpriory.org/ mexico. Dates of the Journey are set for September 18-27, 2018.
God s Neighborhood Senior Pilgrim Fellowship at First Congregational Church of Old Lyme has a long tradition of participating in the Midnight Run every year. This year is no different on May 27 a group of high school students and a few supportive adults who will lead and drive them will journey to New York City to deliver food, blankets, clothing and toiletries to homeless residents. We will think about veterans on this trip thanking them for their service. Although all of this is important, also important are the conversations we have and stories we listen to while we share a cup of drink and a bowl of chili. White Elephant Sale -- Get out your calendars out and mark these dates. Friday, July 13th from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm and Saturday, July 14th from 8:00 am - Noon. This is a good time of the year to sort through the cellar and attic to put aside some of those treasures for this years sale. Hold those goodies until the first intake day, Thursday June 28th. Please call the office 434-8686 and volunteer - it will help us to ensure daily staffing needs. All are welcome for as long as you can stay, even if you just drop in and help. Great way to meet folks and see what the WES is all about. Thank you in advance. Help wanted Books - need help sorting, pricing and on sale days. Baked Goods needs department head - please volunteer. Flowers and Baked Goods all need co-chairs - please volunteer. Knick Knacks - co-chair and help sorting and pricing. Large Furniture - co chair also folks to price and sell. Small Furniture - needs workers - lots of items to sort and price Thursday 7/12 - then sell Fri and Sat 7/13 & 714. Parking - big crew needed to mange two parking lots both days. Call Ken 271-1898 and volunteer. Intake needs a daily staff of 6-8 folks to unload cars and sort donations 6/28 to 7/7 from 9:00-2:00 pm (except for 7/1-7/4). A Tree of Life Homecoming Saturday June 16th, 4:00 PM $30/per person, $20/ students An afternoon of sharing Journey experiences with fellow travelers, hearing thoughts from our Palestinian friends living in the US, and a look at whats to come for Tree of Life. Together we'll enjoy beautiful music, art, delicious foods, a raffle and silent auction, and more. Please contact Nick Westbrook (westbrooknicholas@gmail.com) if you would like to assist with this event. Space is limited, so RSVP to mary@tolef.org. Pay at the door. 33 rd Annual Journey to the Cheyenne River Reservation, South Dakota Explore the beauty of the Black Hills and invest in a mutually beneficial relationship with our Lakota friends in Green Grass, SD. Trip dates are June 24th July 3 rd. We will need a commitment no later than April 22 nd. Please contact Stephanie Kenny at 860-884-3875 or by email Stephanieckenny@gmail.com if you are interested in joining us or if you have any questions.
LBS LUNCHEON ON MAY 8 th at NOON You hear her angelic voice from the choir loft on Sunday mornings. Now you can hear Marcy Conway doing an extended solo performance just for those attending the LBS Luncheon on Tuesday, May 8 th. She will accompany herself on guitar and banjo. Marcy has a broad repertoire and will sing folk, inspirational, and patriotic songs in commemoration of Memorial Day at the end of the month. The Luncheon begins at noon; the program starts around 1:00 pm after dessert. The Ladies Who Stitch sewing group will also have recent work on display and for sale. The cost of the Luncheon is $5 plus canned goods for the Shoreline Food Pantry, or a package of disposable diapers for the Diaper Bank. Please call the Church Office at 860-434-8686 by Friday, May 4, to reserve a place at the Luncheon. Annual Haitian Dinner on Sunday, May 20th at 5:00 pm The Ladies Benevolent Society will once again sponsor a Haitian dinner to benefit the work of The Crosby Fund for Haitian Education. Becky Crosby, our former Associate Minister and co-founder of The Crosby Fund, will offer a 'PowerPoint' presentation of their on-going work in Haiti with a special focus on the work of the Education Center. Vaudy Jean Baptiste, our Program Director in Haiti, and Fednor Sidort, our Program Administrator, will join us on this festive occasion. The presentation will offer several short videos to give you a glimpse of the activities at the Center. Sandra's Next Generation, a fabulous Creole restaurant from New Haven, CT will provide the delicious Haitian meal. Suggested cost per person is $10.00 (donations are gratefully received!). Doors will open at 5 pm for Haitian art and Ladies Who Stitch shopping. Dinner will be served at 5:30 pm, followed by the presentation. Call the church office (860-434-8686) for reservations. The Ladies Who Stitch have only four more Monday meetings before taking a summer break - we will not meet tomorrow, but will meet on May 7, 14, 21, and June 4. Spring projects include replacing some of the red WES aprons, continuing to make large tote bags for the NLHHC and backpacks for Haiti, creating baby blankets and quilts, as well as knitting and sewing many other creations. Our inventory will be available at the May 8th LBS luncheon and the May 20th Haitian Dinner, and we welcome shoppers during our 10:00 to 2:00 Monday work hours. Occasionally we are able to fulfill special requests. Questions? Contact Eunice via email: eunicetaylor@me.com. Puerto Rican Community Meal The Refugee Committee of Christ the King Church, St. Ann s Church and the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme invites you to our 2 nd annual community meal, this year hosted by our Puerto Rican family: Adrian, Lis Marie, Adrian Jr. and Gustavo. Saturday, June 9, 6:00 pm at Christ the King Church. All Donations Welcome.
INVITATION COMMUNION SERVICE GENERAL CONFESSION Merciful God, we have often wandered far from your intention for us. We have lived for our own momentary pleasure, forgetting our kinship with your hurting children and with all of creation. You call us to be a justice-seeking people, bringing light to the world. Instead, Your light is too often extinguished in our hearts because we fear what it might reveal. We become prisoners of our own shortsighted desires. Redeem us, O God, and redirect us in your new and living way. Shine a light in our hearts, and enable us to be a light for others in a fractured and broken world. Amen. ABSOLUTION GIVING OF THE BREAD GIVING OF THE CUP PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING We give thanks, O God, for the sustenance we have been offered in this bread and wine. We give thanks for the ongoing presence in the world of Jesus Christ. Strengthen our faith in you, O God, and help us to keep finding new ways to love one another. We pray these things in the name of our Redeemer. Amen. It is the practice of this church to serve grape juice in our communion service. Bread is gluten-free. Calendar of Events and Meetings for This Week Sunday School TODAY at 9:00 am. Book Group TODAY at 12:00 pm in the Library. Confirmation Class TODAY at 4:00 pm in the Library. Taco Dinner TODAY at 5:30 pm in Fellowship Hall. Ladies Who Stitch Monday, April 30th at 10:00 am in the Sheffield Auditorium. Writing Group W ednesday, May 2nd at 4:00 pm in the Hoag Parlor. Senior Choir Wednesday, May 2nd at 7:30 pm in the Sheffield Auditorium. George McLaughlin Memorial and Reception Saturday, May 5th at 2:00 pm.