The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme 2 Ferry Road Old Lyme, Connecticut (860) 434-8686 Website: www.fccol.org
SUNDAY WORSHIP Steven R. Jungkeit, Senior Minister Laura Fitzpatrick-Nager, Senior Associate Minister Carleen R. Gerber, Associate Minister Simon D. Holt, Director of Music September 2, 2018 10:00 AM Prelude Introit *Processional Hymn: #16 - O Worship the King, All Glorious Above *Call to Worship: (inspired by Psalm 19) All creation proclaims the greatness and love of God. God's love permeates even the deepest darkness. The light of God shines on us, filling us with hope. We are called to be people of compassion and justice. Open our hearts, O Lord, to see your light and live in your hope. Prepare us for service to all your people and to this world. Let us worship God! *Invocation *The Lord's Prayer Welcome and News of the Church *Unison Reading: In the godforsaken quicksand of life, there is a deafening alleluia rising from the souls of those who weep, and of those who weep with those who weep. If you watch, you will see the hand of God putting the stars back in their skies one by one. -Ann Weems *Gloria Patri: (#36 in hymnal) Scripture: Ephesians 3: 14-21 (NT, pg. 182) *Hymn: #97 - He s Got the Whole World
Pastoral Prayer Pastoral Prayer Response: As We Are Gathered Offertory Invitation Offertory Anthem *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 Sermon: DIFFERENT WAYS TO PRAY, Part II STRENGTHENING THE CORE *Hymn: #427 - My Life Flows On in Endless Song Benediction Benediction Response Postlude *Congregation Standing The Rev. Dr. Steven R. Jungkeit Large print versions of the bulletin are available from the ushers.
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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The flowers this morning are given by James Cunningham and Janice Thaxter in loving memory of their daughter, Susan E. Cunningham. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The hosts for Fellowship hour are Sandy and Dave Long. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The deacon on duty is Lee Whitaker. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This morning the nursery at the 10:00 am service is in the Sunday School lower level. 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 outside (weather permitting) 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. We are pleased to have our senior choir with us this morning under the direction of Simon Holt. Thank you for your summer sings this summer! Our fall schedule of two Sunday services, at 9:00 and 11:00 am, will commence next Sunday, September 9th. This will also be the day of our all-church picnic at the church.
News from the Immigrant Assistance Committee Today is day 168 in Sanctuary for Malik and Zahida. As we reach nearly 6 months in Sanctuary, we are working to find ways to bring increased awareness to Malik and Zahida's immigration case. We have started a letter writing campaign to ICE in Hartford. Please consider writing a letter in support of our beloved family. Additionally, Dave Eggers has written a heartfelt piece about Malik and Zahida, which has been published in The New Yorker online (https://www.newyorker.com/news/dailycomment/no-one-is-safer-no-one-is-served). Copies are available in the meetinghouse vestibule. We are also looking for additional volunteers to help with laundry, food shopping and visitation. Please contact Lina Tuck (lina.tuck@gmail.com) or 860-680-8825 to get involved in any and all of these opportunities. 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. The Ladies Benevolent Society begins its 2018 autumn series of monthly Luncheons and programs on Tuesday, September 11 th at noon. Our own Carolyn Wakeman, of the FCCOL History Office, has discovered many surprises, and will share just a tantalizing few from her forthcoming book in an illustrated discussion, History s Surprises: Forgotten Stories from the Meetinghouse! The cost of the Luncheon is $5 plus canned goods for the Shoreline Food Pantry. Please call the Church Office at 860-434-8686 by Friday, September 7, to reserve a place at the Luncheon. Wings of Justice Pre-trip meeting TODAY 11:30 AM in the Library for travelers and anyone interested in being part of the conversation. We will stay with the sisters of the Guadalupe Center, visit with local residents to bear witness to their lives and stories, and weave together an understanding of our neighbors across the divide. The Lyme/Old Lyme Refugee Resettlement Committee, our 3-church initiative, provides shelter and sustenance to families who need support due to traumatic/catastrophic events that have forced them from their homes. Information and volunteer sign-up sheets are available in the vestibule. Host Homes Still Needed We are still in need of a couple of host homes for the choristers from South Africa. Do you have a spare bedroom and some time for fun from September 26 to October 7? Contact Faye Richardson 860-434-3349 or Ellen Calkins 860-912-2393. Tree of Life Planning Meeting Tuesday September 11th at 7 PM in the Hoag Parlor. Volunteers needed for the fall series Rachel s Children. Please join us if you are able!
Ladies Who Stitch We will resume our work meetings from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on Monday, September 10th, in the Sheffield Auditorium. All knitters and sewers are welcome bring a lunch for our noontime break we ll provide the tea and coffee. Also, some of our creations will be available during the first LBS luncheon on Tuesday, September 11th. Questions: Email Eunice Taylor at eunicetaylor@me.com. Channeling our concerns into public consciousness and action Together We Rise CT is a group of people from the Lower Connecticut River Valley who use open communication, art, personal testimony, political advocacy, and education to address issues of economic, racial, and environmental justice. The group holds a vigil every Saturday from 10 to 11 am on the property of Two Wrasslin Cats Coffee Shop in East Haddam. Through these ongoing vigils, participants strive to keep social justice issues in the forefront of our consciousness and to stand in solidarity with marginalized groups. Two Wrasslin Cats is at 374 Town Street, East Haddam, at the intersection of Routes 82 and 151. (Parking is at nearby Miller s Pond.) Feel free to contact Tink Willauer (860-434- 8315) or Patsy McCook (860-581-0535) if you d like more information. La Boheme The Salt Marsh Opera Company, Simon Holt, Executive and Artistic Director, will present the opera, La Boheme, September 21st and 23rd at the Kate and September 22nd in Westerley, R.I. Go to www.saltmarshopera.org for information and tickets. Attention Singers Join the Cappella Cantorum Masterworks Chorus for its first rehearsal of Puccini s Messa di Gloria and Saint-Saens Christmas Oratorio on Monday, Sept. 17th, at 7 pm, John Winthrop Middle School, 1 Winthrop Rd., Deep River. For more information visit www.capellacantorum.org or 860-526-1038. Calendar of Events and Meetings for This Week Wings of Justice Pre-Trip Meeting TODAY, at 11:30 pm in the Library. Senior Choir W ednesday, September 5th at 7:30 pm in the Sheffield Auditorium. Coffee House Friday, September 7th, 7:00-10:00 pm in the Sheffield Auditorium. All-Church Picnic Sunday, September 9th, 1:00 pm, on the church lawn.
ALL-CHURCH PICNIC LOCATION CHANGE! WE RE BRINGING OUR PICNIC HOME! It will be NEXT SUNDAY September 9th On the Church Lawn from 1:00-4:30 p.m. Please bring a dish to share! We will enjoy lawn games, inside games, food and fellowship. Feel free to bring your bikes and trikes. A special treat will be THE BOUNCY HOUSE!! God s Neighborhood September 9 is the beginning day of Sunday School for the fall! Our Sunday School program, God s Neighborhood, will be learning about cultures and traditions around the world as we think about how Jesus befriended others and fostered community throughout his ministry. Please join us to celebrate and learn about our partnerships around the world and the gospel stories that ground our faith! During the month of September please bring an extra school item to be donated to IRIS, The Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services in New Haven for families in need. Please consider bringing your used backpacks to donate to Homeless Hospitality Center. There is a box upstairs near the office. Thank you!
THANK YOU FROM THE LADIES BENEVOLENT SOCIETY The LBS sincerely thanks the more than 200 church and community volunteers who gave their time and talent to ensure the success of this year s White Elephant Sale. And thanks also to the many members of the community who contributed this year s treasures. We also wish to thank Christ the King for their cooperation and support. And, a special thank you to Bob Davis and his team for their outstanding organizational skills and dedication over the many months it takes to prepare for the White Elephant Sale. For those with suggestions on how we can make next year s sale more successful, please email Bob Davis at rdavis7813@sbcglobal.net, as the board will be meeting to review this year s sale sometime in August.