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Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
8 October 2006
10 o’clock in the morning
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Welcome
to this Service of Worship at First Congregational Church. Today concludes the first of our Fall Sermon Series: “Images and Identity for the People of God”. May the scriptural images we have been reflecting on deepen our identities as we seek to be God’s faithful people. May this hour strengthen our commitment to following the way Christ leads as together we reach out to others in his name.
First Congregational Church of Greenwich declares itself to be open and affirming; open to all for participation, membership, leadership and employment, and affirming of all who wish to join us as children of God. We continue to give thanks for God's guidance in our journey of faith.
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PREPARING FOR
WORSHIP
*All who are
able, please stand
‡Seating of latecomers
PRELUDE Alina Kiryayeva,piano
Sonata in E-flat Major Maksim Shtrykov, clarinet
for clarinet and piano
Opus 120, No. 2 Johannes Brahms
Allegro amabile
CALL TO COMMUNITY Rev. Susan M Craig
Please sign and pass the red
book.
PRAISING GOD
INTROIT
The Children’s Choir, Nancy McLarnan, accompanist
God of Grace and God of Laughter John Bertalot
God of grace and God of laughter, singing worlds from naught to be -
Sun and stars and all thereafter joined in cosmic harmony:
Give us songs of joy and wonder, music making hearts rejoice;
Let our praises swell like thunder echoing our Maker’s voice.
When our lives are torn by sadness, heal our wounds with tuneful balm;
When all seems discordant madness, help us find a measured calm.
Steady us with music’s anchor when the storms of life increase;
In the midst of hurt and rancor, make us instruments of peace.
Turn our sighing into singing, music born of hope restored;
Set our souls and voices ringing, tune our hearts in true accord;
Till we form a mighty chorus joining angel choirs above,
With all those who went before us, in eternal hymns of love.
-- Carl P. Daw, Jr.
CALL TO WORSHIP
*OPENING HYMN AND PROCESSION
Pilgrim Hymnal 202 to the tune DUKE STREET
Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun
OPENING PRAYER (in unison)
God of the fire
who touches our life with the stimulus
of the Spirit’s prod and presence…
God of the foundation
upon which our life is set
through the power of Jesus’ words…
Be present in our midst
on this day of inner renewal
that we might sense once again
the joy of being your church
in this time and place
Of our life journey,
through Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
CONFESSING TO
GOD
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (in unison)
O gracious God, whose Word to us is that we love one another,
we confess how empty we have been in our loving.
…Feeling the pain in things, we have
chosen to protect our feelings.
…Seeing the struggle of friends, we have
turned our face away to honor their privacy.
…Knowing the life to which we have been called
in Christ, we have been too ready to say that
we do not know him.
Forgive us, O God, for running away from who we are!
Come Creator Spirit,
that we might be caught up in that life
“in the Spirit” which produces the fruits
of love, joy, of patience and kindness…
those very qualities which marked the life of
Jesus the Christ and with which we would be
marked this day. Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
‡CONGREGATIONAL
RESPONSE
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Alleluia.
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
Gwyneth Grace Mair, daughter of Karen and Martin Mair.
BAPTISMAL RESPONSE sung the tune of “Morning Has Broken”
Water has cleansed us, bathed with forgiveness,
has with clear blessings, washed sin away.
Jordan’s strong currents God’s son announcing,
made a beginning, baptismal day.
(During the response, the children will leave for the special program in the Daniels Center.)
HEARING GOD'S WORD
FIRST LESSON Pat Larrabee
Genesis 1: 1-2
In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth,
the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep,
while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.
SCRIPTURE ANTHEM The Chancel Choir
Sicut Cervus Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontes aquarum,
ita desiderat anima mea ad te Deus.
As a deer longs for flowing streams,
So my soul longs for you, O God
SECOND LESSON
Matthew 4: 18-22
As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee
and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
‡*HYMN
New Century Hymnal 173 to the tune PESCADOR DE HOMBRES
You Have Come down to the Lakeshore
SERMON
“Let’s Go Fishing” Dr. David D. Young
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (in
unison)
He comes to us as one
unknown, without a name,
As of old, by the lakeside,
he came to those
who knew him not.
He speaks to us the same words,
“Follow thou me!”
and sets us to the tasks which
he has to fulfill
for our time.
He commands.
And to those who obey him,
whether they be wise or simple,
he reveals himself in the toils,
the conflicts,
the sufferings,
which they will pass through
in his fellowship,
and,
as an ineffable mystery,
they will learn in their own experience
who he is.
Albert Schweitzer
*Gloria Patri (New Century
Hymnal 754)
Glory to God the Creator, and to the
Christ, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is
now, and will be forever. Amen. Amen.
CALL TO PASTORAL PRAYER Rev. Ronald E. Halvorsen
PASTORAL PRAYER AND QUIET MEDITATION
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 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.
RESPONDING TO GOD
CALL TO OFFERING
OFFERTORY ANTHEM Sarah Bleasdale, soloist
Jesus Calls Us Joy Patterson
Jesus calls us, o’er the tumult
Of our life’s restless sea;
Day by day his sweet voice soundeth,
Saying, “Christian, follow me.”
Jesus calls us from the worship
Of the vain world’s golden store,
From each idol that would keep us,
Saying, “Christian, love me more.”
In our joys and in our sorrows,
Days of toil and hours of ease,
Still he calls, in cares and pleasures,
“Christian, love me more than these.”
Jesus calls us; by thy mercies,
Savior, may we hear thy call,
Give our hearts to thine obedience,
Serve and love thee best of all.
*Doxology (New Century Hymnal 776)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Christ, all creatures here below; Praise Holy Spirit, Comforter; One God, Triune, whom we adore. Amen. Amen.
*Prayer of Dedication
GOING FORTH TO SERVE GOD
*CLOSING HYMN AND PROCESSION
We Are Called to Tell the Story, to the tune LAUDA ANIMA
(The tune can be found in the New Century Hymnal, # 273)
We are called to tell the story,
passing words of life along,
then to blend our voice with others
as we sing the sacred song.
Christ be known in all our singing,
filling all with songs of love.
We are called to teach the rhythm
of the dance that never ends,
then to move within the circle,
hand in hand with strangers, friends.
Christ be known in all our dancing,
touching all with hands of love.
We are called to set the table,
blessing bread as Jesus blessed,
then to come with thirst and hunger,
needing care like all the rest.
Christ be known in all our sharing,
feeding all with signs of love.
May the One whose love is broader
than the measure of all space
give us words to sing the story,
move among us in this place.
Christ be known in all our living,
filling all with gifts of love.
*CLOSING SENTENCES
Leader: Go into the world knowing
that everyone you see or meet
is a child of God.
People: For God is our parent and Creator.
strong to keep hate out and love in.
Leader: Go into the world knowing
that God walks beside us
every step of life’s journey.
People: For in Christ,
we are all brothers
and sisters along the way.
*BENEDICTION
*BENEDICTION RESPONSE
POSTLUDE John Stansell, organ
Final (Symphony I) Louis Vierne
The flowers in the Meetinghouse today are given in celebration of the
baptism of Gwyneth Grace by her family the Mairs.
Ushers: Sue Baker, Judy and Bob Goodchild, Pam and Eric Kreuter, Meredith and Christy Sadler
Greeters and Coffee Hour Hosts: Hats Off
Flower Delivery: Eva and Bill Fossum
Calendar
TODAY
Church School
All children will begin in the Meetinghouse with their families before going to the Daniels Center for an All Church School Event. Parents should plan to meet their children promptly at 11:15. Child Care for babies and toddlers is available in the Undercroft.
First Church Preschool Director, Libby White, will meet with the parents of prospective students for the school year beginning September 2007. This meeting is for members of First Church whose children fall into that category, generally children who will be three years old by December 31, 2007. The session will begin at 11:15 in the Lounge.
Cherub Choir will not meet today; will resume next Sunday.
Youth Choir will not meet today; will resume next Sunday.
Tickets on sale at Coffee Hour, and during the week in the church office, for the Saturday, October 21st performance by Hector Olivera, international super-star of the organ and the Roland Atelier. Patron tickets at $ 25.00 include preferred seating and a dessert reception in the Auditorium after the concert, but more importantly help with the expenses for this event. General admission is $ 10.00. Thanks for your support!
Breast Cancer Awareness during Coffee Hour this morning, look for literature about prevention, detection, and treatment of breast cancer as well as upcoming events in town. Help yourself to a Think Pink ribbon to promote awareness.
Blood Pressure screening A member of the Wellness Committee is available to check blood pressures in room 203 following the worship service.
JPF and SPF will not meet today; will resume next Sunday.
THIS WEEK
The Church Office will be closed Mon Oct 9th.
Remembering Your Story, facilitated by Rev. Ron Halvorsen for residents of Edgehill who are members of First Church continues Tues Oct 10th 4:00 – 5:15 PM at Edgehill.
Children’s Choir Wed Oct 11th 5 - 6 PM in the Choir Room
Preschool Book Fair Oct 12th & 13th 9 AM – 1 PM in the Auditorium. All are welcome.
Hats Off Thurs Oct 12th 9:45 – 11:30 AM in the Church Lounge. Our next book will be Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg. A book “…where the most unlikely and surprising experiences of a high-spirited octogenarian inspire a town to ponder the age-old question: Why are we here?” Copies of the book will be available in the Church Office.
The New Day Journal: A Journey from Grief to Healing seminar continues Thurs Oct 12th 4:00 - 5:30PM in the Church Lounge.
Chancel Choir rehearsal Thurs Oct 12th 7:30 - 9:00 PM
NEXT SUNDAY
Hospice Second Hour Representatives (including your own Parish Nurse) from two agencies serving our town will present an overview of hospice services. Staff from Visiting Nurse & Hospice of Connecticut and Greenwich Hospital Home Hospice will be available to answer questions about hospice care, whether provided at home or in a care facility.
Sunday Parents Study Group The Price of Privilege continues in the Church Lounge 11:20 AM - 12:15 PM. We will be discussing Chapters 4 & 5. All are welcome. Childcare provided.
14th Annual Organ Oktoberfest, 4 pm, Thomas Dahl, German virtuoso, in a program that will include an improvisation on love songs and, together with John Stansell, the hilarious “Toot Suite” by P. D. Q. Bach.
NEWS AND NOTICES
The
Prayer Shawl Ministry fills an essential need of the knitters and receivers of these shawls for connection, compassion, hope and prayer. Join us Tuesday morning, October 24th at 10 AM in Room 203 to knit and share our stories. All are welcome. For more information, please contact Angela Stevens 698-1709 or Penny Lehman 637-4585 or pick up our brochure in the Church Office. See you there!
The Rummage Room invites you to come and visit a great Halloween Shop. There are treats for everyone. We have a lot of great costumes and Halloween items.
On our wish list: Halloween treasures, guitar, old world globe, screw-on earrings, coat rack, shirt studs with cuff links set, and children’s wooden chairs.
Thank you for your support. Please continue to stop by the Rummage Room; we always have great things coming in.
If there is anything specific you need call us and get on our wish list. More often then not we can fulfill your wish. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Church Website: Would you like a preview of the Order of Worship? Go to our website www.fccog.org. Sunday’s bulletin is up by the Friday before service. If you need to refer to your Meetinghouse Monthly and it is not at hand click on the news tab at the top of the page you will find the link there.
The Members of The
First Congregational Church of Greenwich,
Ministers
United
Church of Christ
Senior Pastor: David D. Young
Senior
Associate Pastor: Susan M. Craig
Minister of Pastoral Care:
Ronald E. Halvorsen
Parish Associate and Youth Director: Anna L.
Paskausky
Parish Nurse: Susan Asselin
Church School
Coordinator: Rosemary Lamie
Director of Music/Senior Organist:
John Stansell
Associate Organist/Director: Mark
Swicegood
Pastors Emeriti: Thomas L. Stiers and Sally
Colegrove
Sunday Service of Worship
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8:00 AM Beach Service
10 AM Church Service
Church School
- 10 am
Nursery Care provided during the
10 am Service.
The
10 am Service is broadcast live
on WGCH 1490 am Radio.
http://www.fccog.org/
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