November 12, 2017
Twenty – Third Sunday After Pentecost
Prelude: Gaudeamus Everett Titcomb
Chiming of the Hour
*Hymn: #366 Love Divine All Loves Excelling
Welcome
Joys and Concerns
Choral Introit: Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning
Call to Worship
One: Put away the things you have substituted for God.
Let your worship of the one true God be genuine.
All: We seek to know God and to rejoice before our Creator. We know that God is beyond all our false images.
One: God is not deceived by our solemn assemblies. Our empty festivals do not impress our God.
All: We want to give joyous expression to a growing faith. We choose to serve the God whom Jesus revealed.
One: Our hope is in God’s grace beyond all judgment. Our trust is in God’s love.
All: We welcome the light God promises us. We seek to respond with faithful service.
One: Come, Let us worship God together!
Opening Prayer (in unison)
Eternal God, you are our hope and our salvation, for in Jesus Christ you have conquered death. Baptized in him, we are raised to new life. Increase in us our faith and keep us watchful, that we may welcome Christ with joy when he comes to set the whole world free. You have the words of eternal life. By the power of your Holy Spirit, speak to us of your promises that we might hear your truth and enjoy you forever. Amen.
Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession (in unison)
Holy and gracious God, you are all light and wonder and glory. You are our strength and our delight; you give us all we need to live. Yet we are distracted by all that glitters, continually grasping for more. Rather than trust in your provision, we chase after our own happiness. Forgive us, Lord, and turn us back to you. Overwhelm us with your goodness and cover us with grace, for we know that you are the source of life, the fount of all that is good. Hear us now as we turn to you with our silent confessions, seeking your mercy, forgiveness and grace.
Moment of Silent Prayer
Assurance of God’s Love
*Gloria Patri: #584 Glory, glory, glory, glory to God on high! (repeat). And on earth peace to all people in whom God is well
pleased. (repeat)
Responsive Reading – Psalm 78:1-7
(Page 661 HS in pew bible)
Reading from the Hebrew Scriptures –
Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25
(Page 267 HS in the pew bible)
Children’s Message & Lord’s Prayer
(Children leave for Sunday School and Youth Discussion Group)
*Hymn: #363 Rejoice The Lord Is King
Offering of our Gifts
Anthem: Gloria Antonio Vivaldi
*Doxology: #607 Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise Christ, all people here below; praise Holy Spirit ever more; praise Triune God whom we adore. Amen.
*Prayer of Dedication
Gospel Reading – Matthew 25:1-13
(Page 34 NT in the pew bible)
Sermon: “What About the Foolish Ones?”
Reverend Dr. Diane Monti-Catania
Pastoral Prayer & Silent Prayer
Choral Response: Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning
* Hymn: #337 My Country, ‘Tis of Thee
Benediction
Response: What Does The Lord Require of You (sung by all)
Postlude: Trumpet Tune in D Major David Johnson
(* Please stand if able.)
Welcome Statement
We, the Salisbury Congregational Church, seek to love God with all our hearts, souls and minds and love our neighbors as ourselves.
This Church declares itself to be Open and Affirming to all for participation, membership, leadership and employment regardless of race, ancestry, class, gender identity, physical/mental ability or sexual orientation.
We further declare ourselves to be Affirming of each individual as a child of God, celebrating the total identity of each person.
As a declared Open and Affirming Congregation, we commit ourselves to work toward ending ignorance, fear, hatred, prejudice and discrimination against any person.
No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!
If you are visiting us today, Welcome!
Please sign our guest book and introduce yourself to our Pastor or to one of the Deacons. Fill out a welcome card in the pew to be put on our email list!
Please join us in the Parish Hall for refreshments and fellowship following worship. All are welcome.
Today’s hosts are Sue Bucceri & Jane Capecelatro.
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:
Mary O’Neill for serving as lay reader
Jennifer Oberto & Sheryl Kennedy for serving as
Youth Discussion Leader
Pat Palmer & Becky Belcher Feen for ushering
Prayer List
Jack Ritchie, Marian Ferguson, Jane Fitting, Libby Bishop, Miles Bishop, Chuck Carroll, Andrew Gunderson, Dick Taber, Gail Weigel, Paula Blumberg, Harriet, Emily, Carolyn and Peter, family and friends of Evan Rashkoff, and those among us who struggle with anxiety, depression and addiction
Congratulations to Tim & Dariah on the birth of their daughter, Maya on Thursday, November 9th.
CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK
Today: 11:30 am Christian Action Meeting
2 – 4:30 pm Sinfonietta Rehearsal
Monday 6 – 9 pm Called to Care Training Session
Tuesday: 5:30 pm Bell Choir Rehearsal
Wednesday: 7:15 pm Choir Rehearsal
Thursday: 7 pm HousaTonics
Friday: 7:45 am Men’s Bible Study
Next Sunday: 11:30 am Church Council Meeting
2 pm The World Café ~ Abrahams’s Daughters: An Interfaith Conversation
5:00 pm Community Dinner – Torrington UCC
OPPORTUNITIES
CALLED TO CARE
Pastor Diane and the Deacons are holding orientation sessions for Called to Care, an outreach initiative for our church community. Our second training session will meet on Monday, November 13 from 6:00-9:00pm. If you were unable to attend the November 6 session, please consider attending on the 13th. For more information, please contact Pastor Diane or Sarah Zarbock.
COMMUNITY DINNER
Christian Action is providing two opportunities to volunteer for a Community Dinner in Torrington:
Tuesday, November 14 – Help Janet Kaufman prepare beef stew, cornbread, and apple crisp at 10 am in our church kitchen.
Sunday, November 19 – Help set up, serve, and clean up (4-7 pm) at the Torrington CC. Our Church School children are making pine cone turkeys for table decorations.
To volunteer, sign up in Parish Hall or contact Jeanette Weber or Peggy Heck.
ABRAHAM’S DAUGHTERS
You are invited to join us, on Sunday, November 19th, for an Interfaith Conversation with Carol Ascher, Eileen Epperson, Nancy Latif and Vjoa Qerim. The dialogue begins at 2 pm.
THANKSGIVING INTERFAITH SERVICE
The Thanksgiving Interfaith Service will be held at Trinity Lime Rock Church on Tuesday, November 21st at 7 pm. All are welcome to join!
PRAYER SHAWLS NEEDED
Our prayers shawls and “prayer squares” have been bestowed upon those in need of prayer and comfort, and we are therefore needing more. If you knit and can contribute, we need you! Questions? Contact Sarah Zarbock at 435-8139 or [email protected].
FLOWERS
If you would like to provide flowers for a Sunday service, please contact Linda Estabrook for assistance: 860-824-5896.
Women’s Bible Study will not be meeting until Advent Their next meeting will be on Thursday, November 30, at 4:30pm in the Parish Hall Library. All women are welcome.
Men’s Ecumenical Bible Study meets on Fridays at 7:45am.
They are studying the “Parables of Jesus”. All men are welcome.