THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF PLAINVILLE Founded in 1840 A Congregation of the United Church of Christ A God is Still Speaking Church No matter who you are or where you are on life s journey, you are welcome here.
December 31, 2017 The Order of Morning Worship First Sunday after Christmas 10A.M. We offer a warm welcome to all who have come here today. May you receive God s comfort, insight and inspiration through worship, prayer and song. * All who are able may stand ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CELEBRATIONS Thought for the Day No matter the circumstances, we can be bearers of God s promise of redemption. Will we take up this challenge? WE PREPARE TO HEAR GOD S WORD Bringing in the Light of Christ PRELUDE Trumpet Tune Purcell CALL TO WORSHIP When Jesus is born to Mary and Joseph, When Jesus is presented at the temple, When Simeon holds Jesus in his arms, When Anna recognizes Jesus in the temple, This very morning, In the future we cannot see, Let us worship God! God is here. *OPENING HYMN We Three Kings of Orient Are PH #143 *PRAYER OF INVOCATION ANTHEM Angels We Have Heard On High ~ Voices of Praise Trad. French PRAYER OF CONFESSION (responsive) All: Holy God, we know that you have been present to us throughout all of history, even throughout our own histories. We know you will be with us in our future. Yet often we don t live as if we know that. You ask no more of us than what we can provide. Parents: As Jesus parents were asked to give within their means at the temple, you ask us to give of our means. We often fail to do this.
Men of Wisdom: As Simeon recognized in Jesus the salvation of his people, we recognize in Jesus Way our own wholeness and health, yet we often fail to follow. Women of Wisdom: As Anna recognized in Jesus the redemption of her people, we recognize in Jesus God s saving grace for us, yet we often fail to rejoice and to share this good news. All: Forgive us, make us wise and joyful and strong so that we live in the understanding of your never ending love. Amen. ASSURANCE OF GRACE The scriptures promise that God will make all things new. As God makes the year new, may we also be made new by God s love and forgiveness in Jesus. Amen. *GLORIA PATRI PH #513 Glory be to the Father [Creator], and to the Son [Christ], and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen WE HEAR GOD S WORD THE SCRIPTURE READING Luke 2:22-40 p. 59 *CENTERING HYMN In the Bleak Midwinter PH #128 SERMON Anna Living Memory and Savvy Action MOMENT OF SILENT REFLECTION SHARING OUR JOYS AND CONCERNS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND 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. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. RESPONDING TO GOD S LOVE INVITATION TO SHARE THE OFFERTORY Siciliano Purcell
*DOXOLOGY NCH #780 Praise God for whom all blessings flow. Praise [God] all Creatures here below. Praise God above ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father [Creator], Son [Christ], and Holy Ghost. Amen. *PRAYER OF DEDICATION (unison) God of Vision, take these offerings of money and turn them into vision; vision of all people fed, vision of all people safe, vision of all people housed, vision of all people educated. Amen. SCATTERED TO SERVE Carrying Out the light of Christ into the World *CLOSING HYMN God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen PH #122 *BENEDICTION May the God who comes through the child Jesus bless the child in each of you and receive the blessings that we return. Amen. POSTLUDE Trumpet Voluntary Purcell Thank you this morning to: Deacon in charge: Barbara McClellan Trustee in charge: Renny Astolfi Nursery caregiver coordinated by: Donna Blanchard Please remember to help yourself to a line on the sign-up sheets for Ushers, Greeters, Coffee Hour! As a matter of courtesy and welcome to those who may be visiting, please take a moment to pick up your name tag on the wall in the narthex...and put it on.
WEEKLY SCHEDULE Sun (12/31) 9:00 a.m. Choir Rehearsal 10:00 a.m. Worship ~ Family Sunday Mon (1/1/2018) Happy New Year! Church Office Closed 10:00 a.m. Al-Anon Tues (1/2) 10:30 a.m. AA 6:00 p.m. Diaconate Committee Meeting (Library) 7:00 p.m. C.E. Meeting 7:00 p.m. AA Wed (1/3) 7:00 p.m. Music Committee Meeting Thurs (1/4) 1:00 p.m. Coffee Hours (Dunkin Donuts) 6:00 p.m. Amadeus Ringers 7:15 p.m. Choir Rehearsal Fri (1/5) Sat (1/6) 6:30 p.m. NA Sun (1/7) 9:00 a.m. Choir Rehearsal 10:00 a.m. Worship ~ Communion ~ Baptism of Christ 11:30 a.m. Youth Choir Rehearsal 11:30 a.m. New Member Class (Parlor) 6:00 p.m. Plainville Wind Ensemble (Kelsey Hall) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Rev. Donna Cassity, Interim Minister Peter Peluso, Interim Director of Chancel Choir & Organist Karen Hodge, Bell Choir and Children s Choir Director Teresa Talarico, Church Administrator The Congregational Church of Plainville, United Church of Christ 130 West Main Street, Plainville, Connecticut 06062 Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Monday ~ Friday Phone: (860) 747-1901 ~ Email: churchoffice@uccplainville.org Website: www.uccplainville.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Interested in Joining our Church or Learning More About the UCC and CCP? Join Pastor Donna and the EVCG committee on Sunday, January 7 after church for a new member class and light lunch! Please RSVP to Marianne Wright at mares1994@comcast.net or 860-803-3903 (text or call) so we can have the appropriate number of packets and amount of food. Are you interested in participating but can t make that Sunday? Please contact Marianne to make other arrangements. Attending the class does not obligate you to join the church it s a way to learn more about the UCC and the Congregational Church of Plainville.
In our Prayers this week, we remember: Ruth & Al Seeds, Ann Campbell, All Travelers, Ray Simpson (Shelly Johnson s uncle), Charlotte (Lauralee s cousin), those affected by recent train crash, Noreen and Jerry, Marty Gephart (Mary Fuller s sister), Cassie Proctor (Becky Silvernale s daughter), Michael (Joe Robar s friend), Tony Scavetta (Beth Fraychak s friend), Ed & his girlfriend Maggie (Ann Campbell s friends), Paul (Ann Campbell s friend), Brian Gorneault (Sandy Dombroski s grandson), R.J. (Matt Simone s father), Matt Simone s Mother and Grandmother, those affected by the California Wildfires, Martha Lambert (Deanna Hoxie s coworker), Diana Drachenberg, Robert Ryan, Donna Fuller Cline, Joseph (Ann Campbell s grandson), John (Ann Campbell s friend), Dona (Ann Campbell s friend), Jerry (Ann Campbell s neighbor), Vicky (Ann Campbell s friend), Keith (Malakai Silvernale s Uncle), Anna Mae and Geraldine (Eleanor Kordes s sisters), Tommy McCormack (Bev Letendre s cousin), Robert Jordan (Ruthe Boiczyk s cousin), Sutherland Springs Church shooting victims, Nancy s son Mike (Ann Campbell s friend), Paul and Diane (Ann Campbell s friends), Barbara McClellan, Joe Robar, Anne Cormier (Beth Fraychak s sister-in-law), Dave Kelly (Cheryl Cone s brother), Dave & Sherra (Ann Campbell s friends), John Dombroski (Sandy Dombroski s brother), Alana Devich, Leslie Urbanski, and the families and friends of: Rob (Frank Hoxie s brother-in-law), Jeff Briggs, Karen (Matt Simone s stepmother), Vanessa (Becky Silvernale s friend), Bobby Jordan (Ruthe Boiczyk s cousin), Barbara (Joni Czajkowski s mother), Paul Cormier (Beth Fraychek s brother-in-law), Patrese, Carol Ann Rogers, as well as members and friends serving in the military: Justin Meyers, Spencer Pelletier, Renny Astolfi Sr., James Palmer, Mark Terrill, Ryan Steikers, Shawn Ellis, Cody Temple & Quinn Coughlin.