May 3 Bulletin - An Open and Affirming Church

Rangeley Congregational Church,
United Church of Christ
An Open and Affirming Church
May 3, 2015
10:00 AM
Holy Communion
Meditation: But what happens when we live God’s way? God
brings gifts into our lives, much the way that fruit appears in an
orchard – things like affection for others, exuberance about life,
serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of
compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness
permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal
commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal
and direct our energies wisely.
Eugene Peterson, The Message
COMING INTO GOD’S PRESENCE
RINGING OF THE BELL
PRELUDE
“All Things Bright and Beautiful/
For the Beauty of the Earth”
Tunes: ROYAL OAK and DIX/Arr. Penny Rodriguez
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Liturgist
GATHERING SONG
“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”
SUNG TO HYFRYDOL
Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven, to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling, all thy faithful mercies crown;
Jesus, thou art all compassion, pure unbounded love thou art;
Visit us with thy salvation, enter every trembling heart.
INVOCATION
Rev. Cathie
CALL TO WORSHIP
Liturgist
In the midst of creation, in the fields and towns, to all who
will listen
I will tell of your love.
In the company of the poor, in the presence of the mighty, to
all who will listen
I will tell of your love.
Your love is more than words, your love is real and active; to
all who will listen
I will tell of your love.
*HYMN
“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”
SUNG TO HYFRYDOL
Breathe, O Breathe thy loving Spirit into every troubled breast;
Let us all in thee inherit, let us find thy promised rest;
Take away the love of sinning, Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its beginning, set our hearts at liberty.
Come, almighty to deliver, let us all thy life receive;
Suddenly return, and never, never more thy temples leave;
Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above;
Pray, and praise thee without ceasing, glory in thy perfect love.
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Finish, then, thy new creation, pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see thy great salvation, perfectly restored in thee;
Changed from glory into glory, till in heaven we take our place;
Till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love and praise.
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Hidden Christ, reveal yourself to me. Tear through the
prejudices which like a veil wrap me around and blind
and deafen me to your presence. Shatter the arrogant
assumptions which define where and when I might expect
to meet you. Throw down the image I have made of you,
which is in reality my own image. Then when I am naked
and vulnerable, stripped of everything but openness, send
me out to encounter you afresh in the resurrection garden
of your world. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF HOPE
SERVICE OF THE WORD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION #283 [NCH]
“Spirit of the Living God”
SCRIPTURE LESSON:
The Epistle
The Gospel
SERMON
1 John 4:7-21
John 15:1-8
“Becoming a Fruitful Disciple”
Rev. Darren Morgan
*HYMN OF RESPONSE #99 [NCH]
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“Abide With Me”
SERVICE OF PRAYER
PRAYER FOR GOD’S PEOPLE (As you name a joy or concern
later in the prayer, please finish by saying “This is my prayer.”
The church family responds by saying “This is our prayer.” Please
note that it is important to ask permission of people before we pray
for them out loud. God hears our silent prayers as well.)
We pray for: The people of Nepal; the people of Baltimore; New
Sharon Congregational Church., Our Stewardship Team; the
family of Barbara Moody; Meredith Moody; Gerry Adams; Jill
Allen, Linda Deraspe; Kathy Brittain and her family as they
mourn the loss of Kathy’s mother, Virginia Scheel; Sherry, the
daughter of Jack Ross (Betty Quimby’s brother) as she grieves his
loss; the Morton family as they mourn Ben; Sue Downes-Borko
and her family as they mourn Marilyn; Markus, Diane
Schellhammer’s son, and Diane; Jane and Tony MacNaughton; a
friend of Thelma Thomas’ who is caring for her husband, for
strength and wisdom; Sue Crory; Sue Johnson, Sarah Pastore (a
friend of the Heinzmanns;) Marilyn Lee; and our military
personnel worldwide.
OUR 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 sins as
we forgive those who sin 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.
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SERVICE OF GIVING
OFFERTORY
“I Need Thee Every Hour”
Tune: NEED/Arr. Mary McDonald
*DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God all creatures here below;
Praise God above ye heavenly host;
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
May our gifts provide connectedness to our brothers and
sisters everywhere, according to your everlasting love,
Holy One. For we ask it in Jesus’ name and by your Spirit,
Amen.
SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION
INVITATION
REMEMBERING
THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION
BLESSING AND SHARING THE BREAD AND CUP
We will be sharing Communion seated today, recognizing that
God meets us where we are. We will eat the bread as we receive it,
symbolizing our individual relationship with God; and hold the
cup to drink together as this community of faith in our communal
relationship with God. Gluten-free bread is available.
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The serving deacons come forward. (Pastor and deacons will serve
each other the Bread of Life and the Cup of Blessing after serving
the church family and musician.)
Quiet music
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Loving and gracious God, thank you for this holy meal.
Thank you for Jesus and his all-inclusive love for
humanity. Send us out to live his peace, for we ask it in his
name and by your Spirit, Amen.
*CLOSING HYMN #478 [NCH]
“I’ve Got Peace Like a River”
*BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE AND EXTINGUISHING OF THE CANDLES
“Wonderful Words of Life”
Philip P. Bliss/Arr. Lloyd Larson
*Those who wish to do so may stand.
Many Thanks to Rev. Darren Morgan and to all the
others who helped today:
Evelyn Franson, Ed Inness, Joey Morton, Margie
Jamison, Caroline Bates-Hoffman, and the Deacons.
Thank you for your work in making this Sunday
worship special.
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W
e welcome you with
joy in the common life
of this church.
~ Today
 Please stay for Rev. Morgan’s rich presentation
on the Maine Conference’s trip to the Holy Land
in November 2014 after worship in the Barn.
There is plenty of food to eat and spirit to share!
~ This Week:



Rev. Cathie will have 9-noon office hours on Friday.
Or, you may call (491-9280) or e-mail
([email protected]) to make a date for an office
visit at a different time, a home visit, or a cup of
coffee.
Join us for our monthly Contemplative Worship
service this Thursday the 7th. Our theme this month
is “Spring,” and we will gather at 6:50 pm in the Barn
to share meditative music offered by Derek
Wendelken and Tim Wallace; readings; silence; and
prayer with tealights. Please invite your friends from
the wider community – all are welcome!
Prayer Shawl Ministry – Monday, 5/4, 2:00-3:30, Barn.
~ Next Week:


Mission Board – Thursday, 5/14, 9:00 a.m., East Room.
Christian Education – Thursday, 5/14, 10:00 a.m., East
Room.
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
Women’s Fellowship – Friday, 5/15, 10:00 a.m.-12:00
p.m., Barn.
~ Special Notice:
As you know, on Saturday, April 25, a devastating
earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter Scale hit Nepal,
leveling vast areas of the capital city of Kathandu and
the surrounding areas, and causing landslides on Mount
Everest. The UCC will be responding through One
Great Hour of Sharing, working with the Act Alliance, a
consortium of faith-based organizations headquartered
in Geneva. For churches and individuals who would
like to donate to our response, please give to the UCC
International Emergency Relief Fund. Please pray for
our sisters and brothers in Nepal and give generously.
Blessed To Be A Blessing. “I will make you
into a great nation and I will bless you; I will
make your name great, and you will be a
blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and
whoever curses you, I will curse; and all peoples
on earth will be blessed through you. (Gen
12:3b)
Rangeley Congregational Church
Pastor
Church Office
Secretary
Minister of Music
Council President
Chair of Deacons
Deacon of the Month
Rev. Cathie Wallace
[email protected]
[email protected]
Linda Wendelken
Sue Downes-Borko
Sheryl Morton
Sandy Moore
Joey Morton
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491-9280
864-5966
864-3885
864-3951
864-3755
864-2714
864-3755