February 12, 2017
Sixth Sunday After Epiphany
Prelude: A Peaceful Prayer for a Prayful Peace Jeff Adler
The Hevreh Ensemble
Chiming of the Hour
*Hymn: #39 Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Welcome
Joys and Concerns
Choral Introit: Come Into God’s Presence with Singing
Call to Worship
One: Happy are those who seek God with their whole heart. Their eyes are fixed on all that God commands.
All: We have come to reflect together on God’s law. It is hard to hear, in other places, what God expects.
One: Ready yourselves to receive all that God supplies. Attune your hearts to God’s promises and warnings.
All: We expect to be challenged as well as encouraged. We know that our ways are not God’s ways.
One: God gives us choices that result in life or death. We can obey or reject the way of life God intends for us.
All: We seek to know and follow the way of life. We want to live according to promises that we have made.
One: Come, let us worship God together!
Prayer of Invocation (in unison)
Almighty God, we come seeking you in the midst of our joy and our brokenness, as individuals and as a community. Move among us during this hour of worship. By the power of your Holy Spirit, turn us from our foolishness to your truth in our thoughts, prayers, and songs and in all our living. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession (in unison)
O God, you know the pain of all our broken relationships. Some we have tried to mend, and others we have tried to ignore. We feel your judgment on our estrangements. Hear us as, in silence, we remember them before you… O God, we ask for courage to admit our mistakes and overcome them. Show us what we can do to right the wrongs for which we are responsible, and forgive, we pray, what cannot be changed. Empower us as reconcilers and servants of our way. Hear now our silent confessions as we turn to you seeking mercy, forgiveness and grace. Amen.
Moment of Silence
Assurance of God’s Love
*Gloria Patri: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Responsive Reading – Psalm 119:1-8
(Page 696 HS in the pew bible)
Reading from the Hebrew Scripture –
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
(Page 233 HS in the pew bible)
Children’s Message and Lord’s Prayer (debts)
(Children will leave for Sunday School and Youth Discussion Group)
*Hymn: #410 God Is Calling Through the Whisper
Offering of Gifts
Anthem: O Clap Your Hands Robert Lau
*Doxology: Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication
New Testament Reading – Matthew 5:21-37
(Page 5 NT in the pew bible)
Sermon “Echoes of our Ancestors”
Reverend Diane Monti-Catania
Pastoral Prayer, Silent Prayer
Response: Threefold Amen
*Hymn: #450 Be Thou My Vision
Benediction
Response: Fivefold Amen
Postlude: Path of Light Jeff Adler
The Hevreh Ensemble
(*Please stand if able)
If you are visiting us today, Welcome! Please sign the guestbook at the front door and introduce yourself to our Pastor or to one of our Deacons.
We welcome members of The Hevreh Ensemble to our service this morning. Their concert this afternoon is part of the Peace Through Understanding series.
Please join us in the Parish Hall for refreshments and fellowship following worship. All are welcome. Our host today is Linda Estabrook
The flowers today are given in honor of Amanda Paley by Anne Williams.
Please see an usher:
If you would like to use a hearing device;
If you would like to bring your child to the Nursery
Many thanks to:
Carol Magowan for serving as lay reader
Vince Hanlon & John Arnold for ushering
Pastor Diane will be on vacation February 13-21.
For pastoral emergencies, please contact a deacon.
Prayer List
Alice Gustafson, Leonard Kaufman, Laura Flores, Margie Vail, Gordon Weekly, Paul McAbee, Shirley Rogers, Jane Fitting, Nancy Tuckerman, Barbara Jacquette, Gloria Buckley, Petie Robinson, Gay Ayers, The Sosnoff Family, Wilma Tillerman, Will, Al.
CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK
Today 11:30 am Christian Action Meeting
1-5:30 pm SWSA Award Ceremony in the Parish Hall
2 pm PTU Lecture in the Meeting House
3 pm PTU Concert in the Meeting House
Tuesday 5:15 pm Bell Choir Rehearsal
Wednesday 7:15 pm Choir Rehearsal
Thursday Feel the Warmth Dinner in Brideport
7 pm HousaTonics Rehearsal
Friday 7:30 am Men’s Bible Study
Sunday 11:15 am Church Council Meeting
OPPORTUNITIES
“FEEL THE WARMTH DINNER” IN BRIDGEPORT
Please plan to join a group from our church on Thursday, February 16 to serve a healthy meal for those dealing with poverty or homelessness in Bridgeport. Car pools will leave from our church at 3:15 pm and arrive in Bridgeport about 4:45. Due to a collapsed ceiling in the UCC church’s Main Hall, which also affected the kitchen, we will be bringing meat loaf and baked potatoes prepared by our Hospitality Committee — thank you! Then we’ll help assemble to-go bags of food for 150 people in the sanctuary. If you would like to participate, please sign the sheet in Fellowship Hall or contact Jeanette Weber or Peggy Heck.