ROCKY HILL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Established 1727 ~ An Open and Affirming Community November 12, 2017 ~ 10:00 a.m. Thirty-Second Sunday after Pentecost Consecration Sunday
~ORDER OF WORSHIP~ We welcome all and extend a special greeting to our guests; our service is enriched by your presence! Please join us in Chapin Hall for fellowship time after worship. The Welcome Table in Chapin Hall offers information about the church and members who can answer your questions. Hearing devices are available for worship ask an usher. Nursery care is available down the hall in Room 4. WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Please include your full address and phone number as you sign our friendship registration pads, and please wear your nametags. All announcements should be written down and given to the ushers or pastor prior to worship. If you have a prayer request you would like read aloud for today s prayers, please fill out one of the prayer cards found in the friendship registration pads (your name is optional) and be prepared to pass it to the aisles at the time of the offering, when the cards will be collected. INTROIT I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say The Choir CALL TO WORSHIP Wisdom of Solomon 6: 12-16 Candy Smith L: Call upon God s wisdom All: God will answer! L: Seek God s wisdom All: God dwells in the midst of life. L: Follow God s wisdom All: God leads in the paths of light and generosity. *HYMN God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending NC (Black) 565 * P l e a s e r i s e i n b o d y o r i n s p i r i t. B o l d t y p e d e n o t e s c o l l e c t i v e r e s p o n s e
*GATHERING PRAYER AND THE LORD S PRAYER Holy God, We hear echoes of your wisdom in Christ Jesus, The one you sent to dwell in our midst and lead us to abundant life. Keep us alert to the call to follow, ready to respond with justice and joy in your holy moment, which is always now. Help us to always be in the present with you, that we might follow in Jesus way. We pray this in Jesus name, who taught us to pray, saying, 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
*SUNG RESPONSE Such Perfect Love My Shepherd Shows (v. 1) NCH 248 MESSAGE FOR ALL AGES BAPTISM
CHILDREN S RECESSIONAL (Children are invited to depart for S.P.I.R.I.T. Church School) We Will Keep a Place For You by John Corrado ANTHEM Amazing Grace Gramann from American Folk Hymn Sampler Bell Choir SCRIPTURE READING Joshua 24: 1-2, 14-18 Pew Bible OT p215 SERMON We also will serve the Lord, for he is our God. Victoria Grace Bower DEDICATION OF OUR 2018 PLEDGES At this time we will dedicate our pledges for financial support of our church for 2018. Barry Wilcock will distribute pledge cards for those who do not have them. *HYMN Take My Gifts NC (black)562 OFFERING OF GIFTS Following the receiving of offerings by the ushers, they will collect the prayer request cards. Invitation to the Offering For those who have already given their offering, Giving Cards are available in your pew so that all may participate in the act of the offering. Offertory Anthem Song of Peace Sibelius The Choir
*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 *Prayer of Dedication PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH Joys & Concerns Sung Call to Prayer
Pastoral Prayer *HYMN Take My Life NC (black)448 BENEDICTION *POSTLUDE Jubilation on "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow" Larry Visser LITURGIST USHERS HOSPITALITY Candy Smith Kim Burghoff, Christopher Sheehan, Wendy Ware Ruth Jensen Today s Altar Flowers are donated In Loving Memory of James and Ida Tennyson, and Carl and Rose Neumann, by Joan Tennyson. Consecration Sunday Congregations that approach financial stewardship from a biblical perspective do not view the money Christians give to their church merely as a way to pay its bills. Rather, such congregations see financial contributions as a way to help people grow spiritually in their relationship with God by supporting their church s mission and ministry with a percentage of their incomes. Today we will receive a special message and offer our pledge cards. We look forward to your enthusiastic participation in our Consecration Sunday Service. Sincerely, The Stewardship Committee
Turkey and a Thirty to benefit families served by Foodshare Sunday, November 19, 2017 Drop-off 9 AM to 12 Noon (in front of the church) Donate a frozen turkey and $30, or any donation (checks payable to Foodshare ) Help us reach our goal: 100 turkeys and $3,000 for Foodshare! ICON OF THE MONTH NOVEMBER The icon of the month for November is a copy of a ca. 1300 icon painted in Constantinople. The original is at the Monastery of St. Catherine at Mt. Sinai. This icon depicts the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3), Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who refused to worship the golden statue made by King Nebuchadnezzar. This scene has become an archetypal image of God delivering the faithful from trials. The text around the icon describes the scene. Visit anytime for prayer and contemplation in the Weil Chapel. It s ba-a-ack: The Baked Potato Fundraiser! Sunday, November 19 after worship $5 per potato freshly baked with all the fixings Proceeds to benefit the High School Youth Group mission trip to repair homes in West Virginia in July 2018 Country Fair Raffles! Family 4 Pack Springfield Thunderbirds New York Jets Autographed Leonard Williams Poster New York Giants Autographed Eli Manning Poster 2010 Microsoft Office Home & Business Weber Grill Tickets: $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00 Drawing Sunday November 19 th, After Service, during Coffee Hour
The Middle School Youth Group will go bowling (Nov. 12) and will bake cookies (Nov. 26) for the Cookie Walk. 2017-2018 Confirmation Class Lesson Schedule Classes and meetings are held with Rev. Craig in the Parlor. Sun Nov. 12 5-7 PM Ch 4 The Bible Sun Nov. 26 5-7 PM Ch 5 The History of Christianity/UCC Sun Dec 10 No class (Lessons and Carols) Soon you will be receiving a Thanksgiving offering appeal letter in the mail from the Diaconate. This year, the Diaconate is collaborating with our Board of Missions and will be directing our offering to Foodshare s Turkey & a $30. Our Board of Missions has set of goal of collecting $3000 for Foodshare this year. With your financial support and the collaboration of our two Boards, we truly want to exceed that goal. Let s work together to help feed our hungry neighbors. SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR: FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10TH AT 4:00 P.M. HELD IN THE SANCTUARY WITH FULL CHOIR, PIPE ORGANIST, AND INSTRUMENTALISTS. A TRULY UNIQUE AND MOVING EXPERIENCE! RECEPTION FOLLOWS THE SERVICE. ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND.
SCRIP-SURE What is it? Scrip-sure is a fundraising program for our church, which allows the regular shopping we do at a variety of retailers to generate income for the church. How? Participating retailers sell gift certificates or gift cards to our church at a discount. Church members buy the certificates for full face value and redeem them for full face value, and our church keeps the difference as revenue. Everybody wins! The retailers get our business, and our church gets a regular source of revenue that involves nothing other than what we would all be doing anyway shopping/spending at grocery stores, drugstores, restaurants, gas stations, and many other businesses, including online retailers We have most of the usual cards in inventory for immediate purchase this morning. Here is a partial list of cards typically available: Coffee: Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks Fast food: Boston Market, Chipotle, McDonalds, Panera, Subway, Wendy s Gas: Exxon/Mobil, Shell, Sunoco Grocery: Big Y, Stop & Shop, Trader Joe's, Westside Marketplace, Whole Foods Pharmacy: CVS, Walgreens Restaurants: Bertucci's, Bonefish Grill, Buffalo Wild Wings, Denny's, Olive Garden, On the Border, Outback Steakhouse, Red Lobster Shopping: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bed Bath & Beyond, Home Depot, Kohl's, itunes, L.L. Bean, Lowes, Michaels, Payless Shoes, Target, Toys R Us, Walmart Today is a special ordering deadline for cards that are not kept in inventory. Orders may be turned in at the scrip table in Chapin Hall. Cards ordered today will be available for pickup on Sunday, November 19. The next pre-holiday ordering deadline will be in two weeks on Sunday, Nov. 26 (delivery on Dec 3). Did you know that you can donate to the Rocky Hill Food Pantry and "Covenant-to-Care for Children" through our scrip program? Your cash/check donations are used to buy gift cards to local groceries (food pantry) or other retail stores (CC). For these donations, we do not retain any profit, so a $1.00 donation effectively buys about $1.07 in groceries or clothing. You may donate at the scrip table in Chapin Hall. Stop by the scrip table in Chapin Hall this morning for a complete listing of available cards, or to have all of your questions answered. Think SCRIP!
THIS WEEK AT RHCC N o v e m b e r 1 2 S u n d a y 10:00am Worship Sanctuary 9:30am Childcare Room 4 10:00am Church School Rms 24,25,26 11:00am Coffee Hour Chapin Hall 11:20am Lessons & Carols Rehearsals 4:00pm Piano Recital Sanctuary 5:00pm Confirmation Meeting Parlor 5:30pm MS Youth Bowling N o v e m b e r 1 3 M o n d a y 9:30am Monday Mailers! Fiorilli 7:00pm Women s AA Chapin Hall 7:30pm Bell Choir Sanctuary N o v e m b e r 1 4 T u e s d a y 7:00pm Council Fiorilli 7:00pm Hearing Voices Room 22 N o v e m b e r 1 5 NEWSLETTER DEADLINE 7:00pm L&C Choir 7:30pm Choir W e d n e s d a y Sanctuary Sanctuary N o v e m b e r 1 6 T h u r s d a y 9:30am Music Together Room 25 7:00pm Tibetan Bowl Meditation Weil Chapel 7:30pm Men s AA Chapin Hall N o v e m b e r 1 7 F r i d a y 4:00pm Tamil School Rms 22,23,25,26,27 13 Donna Rowland 13 Kari McCaw 15 Roland Lataille 19 Robert Simmons 19 Sheila Elliot Monday Morning Mailers will gather in Fiorilli room for coffee and chat while prepping the Thanksgiving Offering Mailing. Join us at 9:30am on Nov. 13. Thursday, November 16, 7pm - Sound Healing with Tibetan Singing Bowls Held in the Weil Chapel. During this meditation hour, Rev Craig Cowing will use the healing vibrations of the singing bowls to uplift the spirit, relax the body and quiet the mind. Come and see what it can do for you, and bring a friend! Bring a yoga mat or blanket, and non-perishable food or hygiene item for the town food pantry.
Rocky Hill Congregational Church, United Church of Christ 805 Old Main Street Rocky Hill, CT 06067 Church Office: office@rhccucc.org / 860 529-4167 Church Website: rhccucc.org Visit us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/rhccucc O f f i c e H o u r s Monday Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Friday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Open and Affirming Statement Because we believe that all people are created in God s image and thus are blessed and loved equally by God, and because love is a unifying and strengthening force within our Christian Faith, We, the members of the Rocky Hill Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, hereby declare ourselves an Open and Affirming Christian community, actively expressing Jesus inclusive embrace of all people. We welcome all who seek to follow Jesus, including persons of every age, gender, race, national origin, faith background, marital status and family structure, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, mental and physical ability, economic and social status, and educational background, to share in the life, leadership, ministry, fellowship, worship, sacraments, responsibilities, blessings and joys of our church family. Jesus teaches us to welcome all God s children into God s covenantal community. As we grow together in faith and love, we will strive to celebrate the diversity in which God has created us. Approved by congregational vote June 2009 Ministry Team Ministers: All the members of the church Pastor: The Rev. Craig L. Cowing ccowing@rhccucc.org Minister for Children and Youth: Georgette L. Huie ghuie@rhccucc.org Minister of Music: Mary DeLibero mary@rhccucc.org Office Manager: Theresa E. Cleary office@rhccucc.org Webmaster: Dave Hall webmaster@rhccucc.org Child Care Provider: Liz Pulling