ORDER OF WORSHIP September 30, 2018 Hymns may be found in the New Century (black) hymnal. *Please stand as you are able. PRELUDE RINGING OF THE BELL AND LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE WELCOME & PRAYER OF INVOCATION *OPENING HYMN NO. 388 Help Us Accept Each Other 10:00 am Sarah Sarchet Butter Children are invited to come forward on the last verse to join the pastor on the Chancel steps. TIME FOR YOUNG DISCIPLES Children may leave for Children s Church with Michaela. Children and youth may be picked up at 11:15: grades 1-5, 2 nd floor; grades 6-8, lower level. PRAYER OF CONFESSION One: God of covenant community, All: You have made us members of a very diverse body of Christ; yet we separate ourselves into sides and segments. We confess the deep divides among Christians, and in our families, communities, and country. When our convictions create conflict, too often we choose to live in separate camps rather than come together. One: How different are your ways from ours. You accept all of us into your family, and you gift all of us with talents to use for the common good. You ask us to be a people of reconciliation. All: All: Forgive our shortsightedness and our stubbornness. Help us to learn to value those with whom we differ. Help us to trust that you are present in the relationships we develop. Grant us courage to risk reconciliation in the church, that the church may be a beacon of hope for the world that you so love. (silence) In Jesus name, Amen. ASSURANCE OF GOD S GRACE One: In Christ, God binds us together into one body, and with Holy Spirit, God calls us to nurture unity and seek peace. Friends, be assured, God s grace is abundant for you, for us, and for this time and place. All: Thanks be to God for the hope and new life found in Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God for the Holy Spirit who fills us with gifts to use for the common good. Thanks be to God for the joy and challenge of being church together. 1
*PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST One: The peace of Christ be with you, All: and also with you. Please stand and share a greeting of peace with one another. *HYMN RESPONSE NO. 393 Blessed Be The Tie That Binds verses 1 & 2 Blessed be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; The sharing of a common life is like to that above. Before our God we come and pour our ardent prayers; Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares. ANTHEM Ubi Caritas Maurice Durufle Where charity and love are, God is there. Love of Christ has gathered us into one. Let us rejoice in Him and be glad. Let us fear, and let us love the living God. And from a sincere heart let us love one. Where charity and love are, God is there. At the same time, therefore, are gathered into one: Lest we be divided in mind, let us beware. Let evil impulses stop, let controversy cease. And in the midst of us be Christ our God. Where charity and love are, God is there. At the same time we see that with the saints also, Thy face in glory, O Christ our God: The joy that is immense and good, Unto the World without end. Amen. SCRIPTURE Jeremiah 29:4-7a pew Bible p. 639 John 17:20-23 p. 880 SERMON Imagine Rev. Dr. Allen Hilton HYMN NO. 396 Where Charity and Love Prevail 2
OUR VILLAGE LIFE AND OFFERINGS Please sign and pass the fellowship book, which is located at the end of each pew. In the blue folders are prayer request slips, connection cards, and offering cards for your use; please place them in the offering plate. Offertory All People That on Earth Do Dwell Thomas Tallis *Doxology and Presentation 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. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE THE 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. *CLOSING HYMN NO. 397 Thank Our God for Sisters, Brothers *BENEDICTION POSTLUDE We Believe in One True God J.S. Bach ALL ARE INVITED to share in coffee and conversation in Village Common, located through the doors nearest the pulpit. And please join Allen Hilton in the Sanctuary at 11:30am for our Going Deeper Conversation. If you're searching for a church home, we would like to greet you! Please stop by and visit us at our Welcome Table in Village Common. 3
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TODAY 9:00am 10:00am 10:00am 11:15am 11:15am 11:30am 1:00pm 7:00pm All day Worship, Rev. Dr. Allen Hilton preaching, Chapel Speaking Christian Adult Learning Series, Parlor Worship, Rev. Dr. Allen Hilton preaching, Sanctuary Childcare, Family Worship Room Children s Church & Joyful Noise, start in Sanctuary, pick up Upper Level at 11:15am Middle School Youth Group, start in Youth Room, pick up at 11:15 am Coffee & Conversation, Village Common Welcome Table, Village Common Going Deeper Courageous Conversations & Lunch, Sanctuary Wellesley Chinese Language School, Upper Level NO High School Youth Group, Youth Room Family Promise Host Week begins, Lower Level Thank you for donating diapers for A Place To Turn. Diapers may be left in Village Common. COMING UP Confirmation Class Confirmation Class for 9 th graders & older who have not been confirmed, begins this Wed., Oct. 3, at 7pm in the Upper Room with an informational meeting for Parents and Youth. Please contact Pam Emslie at pam@wellesleyvillagechurch.org. 5
COMING UP (continued...) Monday, Oct. 1 +Wellesley Assemblies Social Dance Program, 3:30pm, Village Common Tuesday, Oct. 2 +Kripalu Yoga - Gentle, 9am, Upper Room +Tuesday Bible Study, 2pm, Parlor (first session only the rest will be in the Library) +7 th & 8 th Grade Gathering, 6:30pm, Youth Room + Church Council, 7pm, Room 215, Upper Room Wednesday, Oct. 3 +Wednesday Morning Bible Study, 9am, Library +Knitting Ministry, 9:30am, Seminar 1 +Youth Choir, 6:15pm, Youth Choir Room B6 +HR Subcommittee, 7pm, Seminar 2 +Confirmation Information Meeting for Parents & Youth, 7pm, Upper Room, Village Common +Village Church Parents Group, 7pm, Parlor Thursday, Oct. 4 +Nominating Committee, 7pm, Seminar 1 +Interfaith Panel Series, 7pm, Wellesley Free Library Sunday, Oct. 7 +9am Worship, Chapel +10am Worship, Sanctuary +10am Speaking Christian Adult Faith Formation Class, Parlor +10am Children s Church & Joyful Noise (Gr. 1-5) +10am Middle School Youth Group, Youth Room +11:15am Coffee & Conversation, Village Common +7:00pm NO High School Youth Group Tonight 6
Family Promise Guests are at Village Church today through Oct. 7 Thank you to volunteers who help with set-up, meals, overnights and hospitality. Please keep the families in your prayers. Want to help on your own time? Linen launderers are needed. We have a small army of loyal launderers and are looking to expand our ranks with new volunteers. It s a lovely way to support Family Promise at Village Church. Please contact Caroline Johnson Hodge (cejh47@gmail.com) for more info. and to sign up. Thank you! Village Church Parents Group (VCPG), Wed., Oct. 3, 7-8:30pm Our theme for this first meeting is the Holy Spirit: where have you seen it working in your family life over the summer and how would you like to invite it in this fall? Our group aims to create a faithful community of parents to support each other as we shepherd our kids through challenges related to anxiety, depression, social media/screen use, and other stresses. We warmly welcome all interested parents (moms and dads) to attend. Please feel free to contact Caroline (cejh47@gmail.com) or Kerstin (kerstin.r.allen@gmail.com) with questions. The Village Churchwomen Meeting, Oct. 9, 12pm The VCW and the Women of St. Andrew s Parish will gather for their annual combined luncheon/program to be held in St. Andrew s Parish Hall. The guest speaker will be Charlene Smith, a member of the parish. Her presentation and discussion will be entitled Making Friends of Your Enemies: The Hero s Journey, The Task of the Ordinary. Charlene is a multi-award winning author, writer, documentary film maker and the authorized biographer for Nelson Mandela, Nobel Peace Prize winner. To make reservations sign up on the Central St. lobby bulletin board by October 5, 2018. An Early Christmas Gift is provided by Janice Meisenhelder-Heyn and Bob Heyn in memory of their daughter, Melissa Bell Meisenhelder, 9/27/84 6/9/04. The Case for Christmas, written by award-winning legal editor of the Chicago Tribune and New York Times bestselling author, Lee Strobel, presents a compelling case for celebrating Christmas. Please help yourself to a copy in the Village Common lobby or the Central Street reception area. 7
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