Wellesley Congregational Church United Church of Christ F I R S T W O R S H I P November 11, 2012
Welcome to First Worship! We extend a welcome as broad as the outstretched arms of God, who calls us to be here together to rejoice in God s glorious presence. Welcome to children of all ages to all the children of God, each one of us. If you are an old friend or here for the first time, we welcome you. Our worship is an intergenerational experience and we want children to feel fully included. Children are welcome to pick up an activity bag and to bring snacks to their seats. We remember that worship offers us all a special place to be with God. In this space we talk a little more softly and walk a little more quietly. We are listening for God.
ORDER OF WORSHIP November 11, 2012 9:00 am PRELUDE RINGING THE HOUR OPENING SONG You Are Here You are here in our midst How we ve waited for moments like this. Have your way in this place Holy Spirit come do as you wish We are changed as you move in our midst. WELCOME AND CALL TO WORSHIP Kathy Musser PRAYER OF CONFESSION Let My Prayer Be Set Forth WORDS OF ASSURANCE AND CELEBRATING THE WATERS OF BAPTISM
SUNG RESPONSE The Spirit of the Lord is Here The Spirit of the Lord is here (repeat) I feel it in the atmosphere The Spirit of the Lord is here (repeat) The presence of the Lord is here (repeat) I feel it in the atmosphere The presence of the Lord is here (repeat) *P *PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST *S *SUNG RESPONSE Song of Hope SCRIPTURE CRIPTURE Luke 6: 21
SERMON ERMON The Gospel of Desire Daniel Cooperrider SERMON RESPONSE As the Deer OFFERING Invitation Offertory
SETTING THE TABLE Gather Us In INVITATION TO THE TABLE
*C *COMMUNION PRAYER AND THE LORD ORD 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen. *W *WORDS OF INSTITUTION *S *SHARING THE GIFTS OF BREAD AND CUP *P *PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING HANKSGIVING O Give Thanks O give thanks, O give thanks, O give thanks unto the Lord God is gracious, God s mercy endureth forever. *B *BENEDICTION
TODAY S NOTES Cantor Peter Halpern of Temple Shalom, Newton will be singing today at the 10 am service. Peter has had previous positions in Amsterdam, New Jersey and Arizona. We are delighted to have him singing with us this morning. Welcome back, Peter! Pastoral Care If you have any pastoral needs or know of any in the Village Church family, please call Kathy Musser 781-235-1988 x14. The Chancel flowers are given in loving memory and celebration of the life of Steve Harrington, by Charlotte Harrington and Steve s family. Cherub Choir Rehearsal 11:15 am, 2 nd floor Cherub Choir Room Rehearsal today for all children in Kindergarten, First and Second grades. Fellowship Hour 11:15 am, Village Common Please join us for coffee and fellowship. Information for visitors is available at the Welcome Table. Providing hospitality today is the Board of Finance. Please take a moment to thank them. Harvest Fare 11:15 am, Village Common All are invited to purchase baked goodies, just in time to pop in the freezer in preparation for the holidays. Ministry of Last Things Forum: Stewardship of Last Things, Part Two Following 10 am worship, our new Ministry of Last Things will share their work, offering help and guidance to our church members in the important decisions to make at the end of life, and support in times of grief and bereavement. We invite you to join us in the Upper Room for Part Two of a forum called "Stewardship of Last Things." Part One covered the sorts of planning that is helpful for end of life, and resources the church has for you. Part Two will focus on how to have such end-of-life conversations with a loved one, practical checklists, more resources, and the opportunity to ask questions and reflect on these matters. You are welcome to attend today s conversation whether or not you attended Part One last week. Please join us. Members of the Ministry of Last Things are Kirk Smith, Nancy Smith, Jim Thistlethwaite, Nancy Calderwood, Roxy Leeson, Charlotte Harrington, Jocelyn Gardner Spencer and Kathy Musser. Contact any of us for more information.
Thanksgiving Potluck Sign up during Fellowship Hour Please put the date SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18 on your calendar and sign up at the Community Ministry Table, today and next Sunday in Village Common. All are welcome! That Sunday you may bring food to Village Hall anytime from 9:15 am on. If your last name begins with A-G, please bring a salad or side dish; H -Q, a main dish; and R-Z, a dessert. The items should serve 10-12 people. The dishes will be reheated as needed. Label any dishes you would like returned, and if possible, provide a serving utensil. If you or your family have a food allergy please mark if the item is vegetarian, gluten free or peanut free and a special table will be designated for these dishes. Serving a crowd is fun, but it takes many hands. If you are interested in helping out on that day, please let us know at sign up or email Susan Hoffman, sghhoffman@comncast.net, or Zozie Porter, z.porter@verizon.net,. Stewardship Reminder For those who have submitted their pledges, we want to extend our sincere thanks. For those who have not yet had a chance to do so, please note that everyone's involvement and commitment is vital in order for the Church to have a successful year going forward. If you wish to pledge online, it is easy to do so by going to http://www.wellesleyvillagechurch.org/about-us/stewardship and clicking on the Make A Pledge button. If you wish to fill out a pledge card, please contact Barbara@wellesleyvillagechurch.org or 781-235-1988 ext 18, and she will take the information from you. Please give generously so that we can continue to support all the wonderful programs that the church has to offer. 7th & 8th Grade Youth Group No Meeting Tonight. High School Youth Group No Meeting Tonight For information about youth programs, contact Pam Emslie at 781.235.1988 x15 or pam@wellesleyvillagechurch.org. Veteran s Day Monday, November 12 The Church Office will be closed for the holiday. Early Morning Prayer Tuesdays, 8 am Weekly renewal in Burtt Chapel. All are welcome. BULLETIN NOTES Village Church Youth & Junior Choirs Performances: November 18: Junior and Youth Choir, 10 am service Rehearsal Dates: Youth Choir: November 14, 6:15 pm; November 18, 8:45 am; November 28, 6:15 pm Junior Choir: November 11, 11:15 am; November 18, 8:45 am
Family Promise Training November 15 St. Andrew s Episcopal Church will be hosting the next Family Promise Metrowest training on Thursday, November 15. Training is required for all volunteers twelve years of age and older to ensure an understanding of the program and sensitivity to our guests. The training is also valuable for returning volunteers to brush up on policies and procedures and ask any questions you ve developed since your time of service. This is a good opportunity to train locally. Village Church s next Host Week will be next year. For more information, contact Margaret Taylor taylorcpa@hotmail.com or Ruth Breden at ruthbreden@aol.com. Family Fun Bingo Night Friday, November 16, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm All families are invited to a night of fellowship, pizza, bingo & prizes for all! RSVP to Michaela@wellesleyvillagechurch.org. Caps For Kids Saturday, November 17 at 9 am We invite you to join us in sorting and packing 3000 caps that will be distributed to the Boston elementary schools, medical and health centers, Head Start Programs, and Home for Little Wanderers. Please contact Ruth Breden at ruthbreden@aol.com for more information. Sponsored by Village Churchwomen. Cookies and Milk with Martin and Michaela Sunday, November 18, 10:45 am to 11:15 am Children ages 4 through 2nd grade will have cookies and milk with Martin and Michaela during part of Church School for a time of wondering and asking questions about God. 4 pm Family Christmas Eve Service Pageant Sign-Ups Sunday, November 18 Sign-ups for will begin on Sunday, November 18. Sign-up sheets will be posted in the rotation and preschool hallways or you may feel free to sign up via email to Michaela@wellesleyvillagechurch.org. All children are invited to participate. There is one mandatory rehearsal on Saturday, December 15 from 10 am to Noon. Village Churchmen Tuesday, November 20, Noon The Village Churchmen is a group open to all men of the church, their friends and visitors. We meet at Noon on the third Tuesday of each month. No reservations are necessary; just come, even if it is a last minute decision. Please bring your own bag lunch. Beverages will be provided. See you there.
The Church Needs Your Gifts and Talents This is the season of Thanksgiving. It is a time when we thank God for all the gifts and talents that we have been blessed with. What better way to use these gifts and talents than to share them with the church. This is the time of the year when we are seeking out members to fill the many open slots in all the Ministries, Boards and Committees. We have openings in the ministries of Worship, Community, Service, Sharing and Learning. There are opportunities in Finance, Properties, Human Resources and Nominating. If you would be interested in serving this coming year please contact the Board of Nominating for more information at wccnominating@gmail.com or Ken Chaulk at 781-237-2594. Our Renovated Parlor Many thanks to the Village Churchwomen, the Mom's Group, the Churchyard Committee, the Board of Finance and all church members who so generously donated to the Parlor Renovation Project and made it a reality! It not only looks beautiful but is so functional that it is now being used on a daily basis for meetings, meals and other gatherings. All of the vendors involved in the project provided significant discounts to our church and we would like to acknowledge them here: **McGeough Furniture Boston **Steven King Decorative Carpets **Brad Watts Carpet Installation **MWI Fiber Shield fabric treatment. And finally, gratitude to church members Jim Thistlethwaite and Christina Oliver, who shared their decorating expertise and skills and hours of their time At this point, we have almost completed Phase I of the project and feel that we have accomplished the major goals of the renovation. We are still welcoming donations. We have a wish list for Table Lamps ranging from $150 - $300. Website Acknowledgements Our beautiful new church website would not have been created without the countless hours and personal skills shared by Terri Hupalo, Jocelyn Gardner-Spencer, Tricia Kibbe and Erin Donato. THANK YOU! Our website contains a wealth of information and is very user friendly. We hope that church members will spend some time exploring it at www.wellesleyvillagechurch.org.
Childcare During First Worship Childcare is available during First Worship for Infants through Age 5 in the Infant Room located upstairs just outside the sanctuary on the main floor. What s happening at 10 am in Church School today? Kindergarten students and younger will be welcomed in their classrooms before 10 am worship begins. The Infant/ Toddler Room is located on the main floor just outside the Sanctuary to the left of the Chancel. 2 year olds through Kindergarten classrooms are located on the upper floor. Children should be picked up promptly at the conclusion of worship. Grades 1-8 will worship with their parents until it is time for class, as indicated in the bulletin. At that time, Grades 1, 3, 4 & 5 meet in Village Hall for a combined class. Grade 2 Storyteller s Tent Room Grades 6 8 will meet in Art Mural Studio. Classes for Grades 1-6 conclude at 11:15 or the end of worship whichever is later. Students in Grades 3 and below should be met by their parents at their classrooms. The Family Room is available for parents who aren t quite ready to leave their infants and toddlers in childcare. In this room, parents will be able to listen to the worship service while their child naps or plays. This room is located upstairs beyond the library. WELLESLEY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH STAFF The Rev. Martin B. Copenhaver Senior Pastor The Rev. Kathleen E. Musser Associate Pastor The Rev. Pamela H. Emslie Associate Pastor The Rev. Christina L. Braudaway-Bauman Associate Pastor The Rev. Daniel P. Cooperrider Pastoral Resident The Rev. Jocelyn B. Gardner Spencer Pastoral Resident Linda C. Smith Pastoral Residency Coordinator Michaela F. McDonald Director of Children s Ministries David R. Carrier Director of Music Dr. Kevin J. McDonald Director of Youth Music Jodi M. Hitzhusen Music Director of First Worship Erin I. Donato Church Administrator Leslie W. Petzing Controller Barbara P. Kucich Church Accountant Tricia T. Kibbe IT and Administrative Coordinator Felicia R. Nadel Administrative Assistant Donald S. Banks Sexton Dolphe Richard Assistant to the Sexton Gerardo Ortiz Assistant to the Sexton 2 Central Street, Wellesley, MA 02482 781.235.1988 wellesleyvillagechurch.org