September 24, 2017 10:00AM Pentecost 16A

We Gather as Church*please rise in body or in spirit

PRELUDE Liebster Jesu, Wir sind hier J. S. Bach

WORDS OF WELCOMEPlease rise in body or in spirit as our worship begins. A deacon of the church will place the opened Bible on the pulpit, reminding us that the Word of God gathers the church and belongs to all God’s people.

*HYMN #275 Dear Lord, Who Loves All Humankind REST

CALL TO WORSHIPPastor: Prepare the way of the Lord! All: God of Justice and Peace we need you. God of Justice we remember. God of peace, we repent.Pastor: God who is rich in mercy, out of love, made us alive together with Christ. It is God who breaks down the dividing wall of hostility. God who comes proclaiming peace to those who are far off and those who are near.All: God of all, help us renew and be renewed in your love.

GATHERING PRAYERPastor: Come, true light. Come, treasure without name. Come, reality beyond all words. Remember us in your light, for the darkness of our world tries to define us. Remember us, who are impoverished by the cost of the division and violence we have set before one another. Remember us, as we remember the reality that all people are made in your image. Come, remember us and your world. Amen.

CALL TO CONFESSION

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PRAYER OF CONFESSIONPastor: Have mercy on us according to your steadfast love and cleanse us from our sins which are yet before you. We confess that we have acted and spoken in ways that perpetuate violence, hatred, and discord in your good world. Teach our hearts wisdom. Create in us a clean heart O God. We confess that we have harbored apathy and indifference, contributing to the status quo of injustice through our silence. Restore us to the joy of your salvation. Forgive us for not teaching others the way of peace that the world may experience your deliverance.

WORDS OF ASSURANCE Pastor: Rest in the assurance that if anyone is in Christ they are a new creation. The old has gone and the new has come. Indeed, by the grace of God we have been forgiven. Thanks be to God.

* SUNG RESPONSE Sing Amen MASITHI

We Listen for God’s Word

READING FROM SCRIPTURE Deacon, Edwin Perez, jrfrom the Prophets Isaiah 2: 2-5 Pew Bible Old Testament p632from the Gospels Matthew 22: 34-40 Pew Bible New Testament p24

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CHILDREN’S CIRCLEAll children are invited to come forward to share in the Children’s Circle. Afterwards there is childcare downstairs for ages 5 and under and church school for kids ages six and above.

ANTHEM Who at my Door is Standing? Arr. K. Lee Scott

Who at my door is standing,There patiently drawing near,Who entrance is demanding?Whose is the voice I hear?Sweetly the tones are falling:“Now open the door for me!If thou wilt heed my calling,I will abide with thee.”

Within, the rooms are darken’d,All filled with dust and sin;How shameful, how unworthyFor Christ to enter in.Yet, the tones are falling:

“Now open the door for me!If thou wilt heed my calling,I will abide with thee.”

Door of my heart, I hasten!Thee will I open wide.Though he rebuke and chasten,He shall with me abide.Sweetly the tones are falling:“Now open the door for me!”Lord God, I hear thee calling,Come now, abide with me.

Dear Lord, abide with me!

REFLECTION The Right Reverend James E Curry

MUSICAL REFLECTIONHymn #512 Let There Be Peace on Earth WORLD PEACE

(Please Remain Seated)

We Respond

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLEThe Lord be with you… And also with you… Let us pray...

Jennifer Pugh now at home Susan Gibson, recovering Those in need of mental health services Those celebrating a birthday this week, including Bob La Rocca and Jon Blue

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PRAYER OF OUR SAVIOROur Father/Mother/God, 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.

*SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRISTPeace be with you… And also with you…

Call to Action

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CALL TO OFFERINGPastor: As we remember our history, repent of our sins, and pray for the renewal of our relationships with each other and with God’s creation, let us make an offering to God who exampled for us the way of Just Peace.

OFFERTORY My Eyes for Beauty Pine Herbert Howells

My eyes for beauty pine, My soul for Goddes grace: No other care nor hope is mine, To heaven I turn my face.

One splendour thence is shed From all the stars above:

'Tis named when God's name is said, 'Tis Love, 'tis heavenly Love.

And every gentle heart, That burns with true desire, Is lit from eyes that mirror part Of that celestial fire.

*SONG OF THANKSGIVING OLD HUNDREDTHPRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW;

PRAISE GOD, ALL CREATURES HERE BELOW;PRAISE GOD ABOVE, YE HEAVENLY HOST:

CREATOR, CHRIST, AND HOLY GHOST. AMEN.

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OFFERTORY PRAYERSteward, Pat Wiener: We thank you God from whom are all blessings. We thank you for bringing us together in a community of hope that can dream of a world filled with justice, mercy, and peace. Bless these gifts given in hope and love that they may become a part of your peacemaking works in this world. All: And Bless those who give and those who long to give, that we may become living stones of mercy, grace and justice in the house of your creation. Amen

We Are Sent Out

*HYMN #514 O God of Love, O Power of Peace HESPERUS

*COMMISSION AND BLESSING POSTLUDE Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten J. S. Bach

PLEASE BE SEATED UNTIL THE CONCLUSION OF THE MUSIC

Our Worship Has Ended. Let Our Service Begin!

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THIS WEEK’S WORSHIP LEADERSTransitional Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Bonnie ScottGuest Pastor Rev. James E CurryDeacon Edwin Perez, jrSteward Pat WienerDirector of Music & Organist Caesar StorlazziUnited Church ChoirChurch School Teacher Betty BaisdenChildcare Provider Colleen O’ConnorChildcare Provider She’mone JenkinsHead Sexton William HentonSexton Brendan Linehan

THIS WEEK AT UNITED CHURCHSept 24th: 10:00AM Worship at United Church - Guest Pastor James E Curry

11:30AM Coffee Hour in the Bradley Room12:30PM Second Worship Service at the Meeting House4:30PM Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) at the Parish House5:00PM Shalom Congregation Worship and Potluck at Parish House

Sept 25th: 12Noon AA at the Meeting House7:30PM Bible Studies at the Parish House8:00PM Alcoholics Anonymous at the Parish House

Sept 26th: 12Noon AA at the Meeting House12Noon Staff Meeting at the Parish House6:00PM Executive Committee Meeting at the Parish House

Sept 27th: INSULATION INSTALLATION AT THE MEETING HOUSE Wed - Fri10:00PM 5 for 5 Crafts Group at the Parish House12Noon AA at the Meeting House5:30PM UCNS Parent Orientation Workshop at the Parish House6:30PM NA Speakers Group at the Parish House

Sept 28th: 12Noon AA at the Meeting House7:00PM ACA Step Study Group at the Parish House7:00PM Hope After Loss Meeting at the Meeting House7:30PM New Generation NA at the Parish House

Sept 29th: 12Noon AA at the Meeting House5:30PM YHHAP Soup Kitchen at the Parish House

Sept 30th: 4:30PM YHHAP Soup Kitchen at the Parish House

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CHURCH NOTESPastor Bonnie’s Contact Information and Office HoursMondays: Sermon DraftingTuesdays: Office HoursWednesdays + Thursdays: Pastoral Calls and Visitation (203) 787-4195 x104 dr.bonnie.scott@gmail.com Christian Copyright Licensing International Number: 11242315Last Week’s Worship Attendance and Weather: 76 Cloudy

Pastor Bonnie’s Sermon Discussion Series: If you are interested in this Series, please contact the Pastor by phone or by email, so she can add you to the group. On Mondays, the Pastor will email the upcoming Sunday’s scripture to the group. The group can then respond and join in the discussion by email.

Upcoming Surgery? New Baby or Grandchild? Moving? Death in the Family? If you’ve had a recent major life change, please contact the Pastor so that she can contact you and your family, and provide appropriate Pastoral Care.

Food Donation of the Month: Going forward, we will be taking food donations once a month as part of our Communion Service. Please bring in your food offering on the first Sunday of each month, or drop it off at the Parish House during business hours. In October, we are donating Canned Meat

Sunday Afternoon Worship Service at 12:30PM! The 10:00 time is our regular service, and our second service at 12:30 has been designed for those within the community who may appreciate a different Christian experience. It is a special bi-lingual, inclusive and progressively Pentecostal/ Charismatic musical worship service. The worship is entitled, "Feel the Spirit! ¡Siente El Espiritu!" Deacons Edwin Perez and Carlos Sanchez seek to provide love, welcoming and inclusion, with lively music and singing and a short reflection by your Pastor. We look forward to continuing to see you at one of our services!

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SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice) New Haven Mass Meeting on Sat Sep 23th 1:30-4:30pm1:30-2:00 Beginners’ Meeting2:00-4:00pm Mass Meeting4:00-4:30pm Relationship BuildingWhere: NHHS Lab, 333 Sherman Avenue, New Haven If you're new to racial justice organizing, please come to our BEGINNER'S MTG @ 1:30PM to get oriented. The Mass Meeting will be 2-4pm, with a half hour afterwards to socialize. **There will be snacks, please also bring snacks; kids welcome** The Right Reverend James E. Curry is our guest Preacher on this Peace SundayHe retired as Bishop Suffragan in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut in the fall of 2014. He has a B.A. from Amherst College, an M.Ed in counseling from UMass, and an M.Div. from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. After college he taught elementary school for 12 years in Western Massachusetts. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1985 in the Diocese of Connecticut. Before joining the diocesan staff as Canon to the Ordinary in 1998, he served parishes in Torrington and Portland, CT. and was elected Bishop Suffragan in 2000. His responsibilities have included oversight of youth and college ministries, Spanish language ministries, formation for mission, international mission partnerships, and social justice initiatives.During his ordained ministry, he has been especially interested in being a companion and mentor with people engaged in mission., a spiritual director for clergy and laypersons, and a coach for new bishops and a supervisor for clergy of other denominations.He was convener of Bishops Working for a Just World, a network of bishops from across the Episcopal Church, from 2004 to 2014, a founding member of Bishops Against Gun Violence, a national network of bishops of the Episcopal Church dedicated to gun violence prevention, treasurer of Mothers United Against Violence, a Hartford based grassroots organization that seeks to be a faith-based voice of hope bringing families of victims spiritual support and advocating for justice.In retirement, he has been working with faith communities and secular organizations in Greater Hartford and Greater New Haven to create public witness to challenge violence through liturgy, the arts, grassroots organizing and legislative advocacy

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His spouse, Kathleen McIntosh, is a retired professor of Spanish Literature and Women Studies. They live in New Haven and have three grown children and two grandchildren.

Next Sunday Oct 1We will begin our second hour on a study of the Reformation in a celebration of the 500th anniversary. Pastor Bonnie will hand out the study guides this Sunday.

OCTOBER 1: NEIGHBORS IN NEED OFFERINGThe Neighbors in need offering, which we will receive on October 1, supports the UCC’s ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States, Two-thirds of the offering is used by the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries to fund a wide array of local and national justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects. Through ucc.org/justice, our national Justice and Witness Ministries office offers resources, news updates, and action alerts on a broad spectrum of justice issues. For more information go to ucc.org/nin. Please give generously on October 1.

Fall Tag Sale – Call For Donations Yes, we will have another fall Tag Sale! This year the Tag Sale will be held on Saturday, October 21st from 10am to 3pm in the Great Hall of our Parish House. We are now looking for donations to “fill the hall”. Possible donations include: small furniture that will fit into a car (so customers can get it home themselves), all types of houseware and kitchen ware, candle holders, vases, lamps, holiday decorations, toys, tools and arts & crafts supplies. We cannot accept donations of clothing. A special focus will be “coffee table books,” such as travel or art books; but no other types of general books, please. You can bring your donations to the Parish House (323 Temple St. in New Haven on Monday-Friday 10am - 4pm. You can help the Tag Sale Team organize everything by bringing your donations in as soon as possible. Thanks!

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At United Church on the Green, we seek to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God, following in the footsteps of Jesus. We are also a progressive Protestant Christian church, a member of the nationwide United Church of Christ (UCC).

We have a long history. Established 1742. Meetinghouse was built in 1815. The Amistad Incident? Abolition of slavery? The 1970 Black Panther trials?

Divestment in South Africa? United was there.We believe God is still speaking to the world today... and we're trying to listen.

Not a "The Bible says it. I believe it. That settles it." kind of church. Questions encouraged. (Actually, they’re necessary.)

"Open and Affirming" of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people since 1989.

We are working with God to build a better future. Not interested in "saving souls" or "converting the heathen." God's love is for all. Trying to "connect the dots" to grow peace, justice, and compassion in the

world.

Staff ContactsRev. Dr. Bonnie Scott, transitional senior pastor dr.bonnie.scott@gmail.orgCaesar Storlazzi, director of music music@unitednewhaven.orgBetty Baisden, director of the nursery school school@unitednewhaven.orgJack Russell, director of operations operations@unitednewhaven.orgNicole René Atchison, church administrator office@unitednewhaven.orgNancy Lupi, financial secretary bookkeeping@unitednewhaven.orgRev. Louise B. Higginbotham, minister emerita

United Church on the Green, UCCmeeting house, corner of Temple & Elmparish house office, corner of Temple & Wall323 Temple St., New Haven, CT 06511tel 203.787.4195fax 203.772.7884Worship Sundays @ 10:00am, corner of Temple & Elmwww.unitednewhaven.org www.facebook.com/unitednewhaven

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