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The First Congregational Church United Church of Christ
Bloomfield, CT An open and affirming congregation
Sunday, August 13, 2017
OUR MISSION Responding to God’s Call, our mission as The First Congregational Church in Bloomfield, United Church
of Christ, is to go out into the world proclaiming God’s love for all creation, working for justice, bringing Christ’s peace and growing in love and faith through service to others. We are a safe and sacred community that welcomes all people and supports
each individual journey of faith.
T he F i rs t C ong r e ga t io na l C hur c h in B lo o mf ie ld , UCC 1 0 W in t on b u ry Av e n u e , B l oo m f i e l d , C T 0 6 0 0 2
G a ther e d a s W i nto nb ury Pa r i sh F e br ua r y 14 , 173 8 R e n e w in g o u r f a i t h a s p e o p l e o f G o d
9 :30 a .m. S unda y , Aug ust 1 3 , 20 1 7
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost “Listen, O people, in the silent chapels of your hearts;
God’s message is peace for all people, for all the faithful, if only they turn to God in their hearts.” Psalm 85: 8
WE GATHER TOGETHER
PRELUDE Largo George F. Handel
WELCOME Please fill out the Ritual of Friendship pads LIFE OF OUR CHURCH WELCOME GUESTS PASSING OF THE PEACE CENTERING MOMENT “You are invited to be at Peace and One with
GOD’s Spirit. Let us prepare ourselves to worship our God. In silence…be at peace!”
WE WORSHIP GOD (+ Whether in body or spirit, please stand)
INTROIT Kum ba Yah # 256 Sung by the Congregation
CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: Over the wind and the waves, Christ comes to us. Do not be afraid to meet Christ here. People: We have heard the invitation. Our hopes have brought us together. Leader: The storms of life do not have the last word. Our faith keeps us from sinking. People: Our doubts lead to greater faith. Our losses open us to greater possibilities. Leader: Let us call on God’s name and give thanks. Let the hearts of all who seek God’s presence rejoice. People: We will sing of God’s wonderful works. We will praise the Holy One with fearless hearts.
+HYMN OF PRAISE Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above # 25
PRAYER OF INVOCATION & CONFESSION (UNISON)
Eternal Spirit, Break through our pretenses that we might sense the vibrant energy embracing the universe, and yet, know ourselves to be wholly loved within the
vast expanse of time and space. Amaze us again with the miracles of life that surround us. Hear the thanks and praise we bring this day. In this time we pray that our faith may be enlivened, our trust deepened, our commitment expanded to meet the challenges of our times. We are one in our common 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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever, Amen.
SHARING THE GOOD NEWS WITH OUR CHILDREN
GOD IS STILL SPEAKING! GOD IS IN OUR MIDST, GOD IS PRESENT, GOD IS STILL SPEAKING,
LET’S OPEN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS TO GOD’S GOOD NEWS. GOD IS STILL SPEAKING!
FIRST LESSON ~ Psalm 85: 8-13 OT p.668 in black Bible, p.543 in red
SECOND LESSON ~ Matthew 14: 22-23 NT p.19 in black Bible, p.16 in red
CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet # 297
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path
MINISTER’S REFLECTION “JESUS PRAYED” Rev. SaraJane Munshower
+HYMN What a Friend We Have in Jesus # 442
WE RESPOND TO GOD’S LOVE
OFFERTORY PRAYER ~ “Blessed by Grace...Giving out of GRACE”
OFFERTORY The Lord’s Prayer Albert Malotte
PRESENTATION OF OFFERING DOXOLOGY # 44
Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above ye heavenly hosts; Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
PRAYER AND DEDICATION OF OFFERINGS (UNISON) God, we cannot deceive you with the appearance of generosity. You know how we manage our resources. Help us to trust when we feel we are lacking what we need. Help us to share enough to be joyful givers. May what we offer this day be enough for the ministries of this church in the coming week. May we continue giving of ourselves throughout this day. Amen!
SHARING EXPRESSIONS OF JOYS AND CONCERNS
PASTORAL PRAYER
CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying Lord, listen to your children praying, Lord, send your spirit in this place;
Lord, listen to your children praying, Send us love, send us pow’r, send us grace.
WE GO FORTH TO SERVE
+ HYMN O God of Every Nation # 517
+BENEDICTION Rev. SaraJane Munshower (Please join hands as an expression of Community Love)
The blessings of heaven, the blessings of earth,
the blessings of sea and of sky. On those we love this day and on every human family
the gifts of heaven, the gifts of earth, the gifts of sea and sky.
CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Amen, Amen, Amen
+POSTLUDE Marche Romaine Charles Gounod
THOSE IN OUR THOUGHTS & PRAYERS (AMONG MANY): *Prayers for Joel Clark recovering from a heart attack. *Prayers Anne Clark who is recovering from a recent fall. Please send notes and
cards of cheer to Anne Clark, P. O. Box 541 East Granby, CT 06026. At this time the family would much prefer cards to visits and or phone calls. * Prayers for Julie Cato who is at home recuperating from surgery.
* Michael Edwards, praying for release.
*Prayers that God will speak to us and through us as we seek God's leading and vision for
our Church. *Family & Friends of All Soldiers Who Have Fallen In Iraq & Afghanistan.
*Our friends at Community Solutions, Inc., that God will support them as they find new
opportunities and hope for the future.
Trudy Barnard David Berg Sue Davis Gladys Dunbar Carol Johnson Bonnie King Charles Miles Charlotte Babcock
Jane Doble Madge Edwards Elaine Nelson Faye Smith Carol Wolcott Adelle Wright Betty Willis
Please Remember These Connecticut Conference Churches in Your Prayers Orange Oxford Orange Congregational Church Oxford UCC Congregational Plainfield Plainville The First Congregational Church of Plainfield The Congregational Church of Plainville, UCC Plantsville Plantsville Congregational UCC
Next Sunday, August 20, 2017
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Times
PASTOR AYALA will return to the pulpit
“COME AND INVITE OTHERS TO
SHARE GOD’S WELCOMING SPIRT
This Week at a Glance…
Looking Ahead Lectionary possibilities for next week include:
Genesis 37: 1-4, 12-28; Psalm 105: 1-6, 16-22, 45b or 1 Kings 19: 9-18; Psalm 85: 8-13; Romans 10: 5-15; Matthew 14: 22-33
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Welcome Guests! We are so glad you are here and invite you to join us after Worship for Punch and Cookies. Our Host this morning Today’s Head Ushers: Oz Gibbs & Priscilla McCatty. Today’s Lay Reader is Mary Laiuppa. Our Nursery is open every Sunday during the 10 a.m. Worship. Please see one of our ushers and they will be happy to direct you.
The deadline for adding your baby's name
to the Cradle Roll will be August 30.
Please contact Pat Robair
@[email protected] if your child was
baptized in 2016-2017.
Sunday, Aug 13 9:30 am Worship Service Metzger Chapel
12:30 pm New Birth Community Church Metzger Chapel
Monday, Aug 14 9:00 am Vacation Bible School Classrooms
7:00 pm Narcotics Anonymous Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, Aug 15 9:00 am Vacation Bible School Classrooms
Wednesday, Aug 16 9:00 am Vacation Bible School Classrooms
7:00 pm Alcoholics Anonymous Counting Room
7:00 pm New Birth Community Church Metzger Chapel
Thursday, Aug 17 9:00 am Vacation Bible School Classrooms
Friday, Aug 18 9:00 am Vacation Bible School Classrooms
7:30 pm Alcoholics Anonymous Counting Room
VBS 2017
“Created by GOD Built for a Purpose”
AUG 14 THROUGH AUG 18 ~ 9-12 PM
SEE REGISTRATION FORM IN BULLETIN
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Aug 14 – Aug 24
Monday - Thursday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Friday - CLOSED
PASTOR ED’S SUGGESTIONS FOR SUMMER READINGS: “The return of the Prodigal Son: a story of homecoming”
By Henri Nouwen. “To Bee or Not to Bee” (there is more to life than making
money) By John Penberthy
DO YOU HAVE A BOOK SUGGETION FOR SUMMER READING?
…Mention it to Pastor Ed…
THE FLOWERS THIS SUNDAY ARE GIVEN BY
FAYE SMITH TO HONOR ALL THE BIRTHDAYS IN
THE SMITH FAMILY.
Anyone ordering flowers for the summer services in
the chapel....please remember to take them home to
enjoy after the service.
Aug 7 – Aug 14:
Carolyn Delgado; Andrea Mercer
Church Office Hours
August 14 – August 24
Monday – Thursday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Fridays CLOSED
Summer Worship Schedule
July 3 – September 4
If you have a Pastoral need,
please contact a “Deacon on Call”
listed to the left. This information
will also be noted in the bulletin
each week.
JULY 30 to SEPT 3 - 9:30 am
SEPT 10 - Rally Sunday 10 am
SEPT – 17 (Fall/Winter Schedule)
Resume 8am & 10 am Services
Deacons On Call
Deacon Contact Information
Carolyn Delgado 860-977-6742 [email protected]
Oz Gibbs 860-729- 6793
Dee Hart 860-573-8443 [email protected]
Andrea Mercer 860-306-6608 [email protected]
Anne Weaver 860-966-0786
Partnership Team Calls for Prayers for Peace for Korea
8/3/2017 The following was submitted by Ginny McDaniel on behalf of the CTUCC Korean Partnership:
In Korea, August 15th is celebrated as Liberation Day, the date of Korea’s Liberation from Japanese colonization at the end of World War II. It’s a date marked by both South Korea and North Korea, as many regard the two states as one country whose shared history and future are but momentarily, if tragically, divided by the circumstances of war and politics. The decades following Korea's liberation in 1945 have been shaped by tragedy and conflict. After World War II the Korean Peninsula was immediately split into two by the U.S. and USSR. The division precipitated the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, a conflict which resulted in the death of 2.5 million soldiers (U.S., Chinese, North and South Korean). In addition 3.5 million civilians were killed, while another 3 million became refugees and thousands of families were separated by the demarcation of North and South Korea along the 38th parallel. A final peace treaty has never been reached to bring closure to the Korean War, despite the end of the Cold War and 60 years of ceasefire. The Korean land and people remain divided, despite official support for reunification by North Korea, South Korea, and the U.S. In 2015, on the 70th Anniversary of Korea’s liberation, the United Church of Christ passed a resolution “A Call for Peace, Justice and Reunification in the Korean Peninsula.” In it the UCC committed to push the “U.S. government and international community [to] commence a new process of peace-building across the Korean peninsula, that includes a commitment by all parties to replace the Armistice Agreement of 1953 with a permanent peace treaty, finally bringing an end to the state of war; and a mutual commitment to end provocative military exercises on the peninsula, to reduce military expenditures, and to eliminate nuclear weapons on the peninsula, establishing a model for peace and demilitarization in Northeast Asia[.]” We invite all churches of the Connecticut Conference to offer prayers for peace on August 13 or 20. Liturgical resources from the World Council of Churches are available here. Learn more about the Conference's partnership with the Kyung-Ki Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in South Korea. The Rev. Dr. Virginia McDaniel is Senior Minister of the First Congregational Church of Granby
VBS Registration Ages 4 – 11 First Congregational Church in Bloomfield
August 14 – 18, 2017, 9 am – 12 noon
Families, please complete one form per child and
return to 10 Wintonbury Avenue, Bloomfield, CT, 06002.
Last Name First Name Age Grade in Fall
Date of Birth month day year male female
Child’s address
Parent/Guardian name
Parent/Guardian phone number(s)
Person(s) to be contacted in case of emergency
Name phone Relationship to Child
Name phone Relationship to Child
Does your child have any medical condition(s) that we should be aware of? (allergies, medications, etc.)
If yes, please describe:
Siblings who will also be attending VBS:
My child would like to be in class with the following friend(s)
I would like to volunteer to help with
The undersigned gives permission to his or her child to participate in the above named activity and releases First Congregational Church in Bloomfield, its officers, employees, and agents from any liability whatsoever for any injury or death to person or loss or damage to property sustained by the undersigned for any member of his family, in attendance, and the undersigned agrees to defend and indemnify First Congregational Church, its officers, employees, and agents from any liability or loss they might sustain by reason thereof. In the event I cannot be reached in an EMERGENCY, I hereby give permission to the Emergency physician to hospitalize, secure proper treatment for and order injection, anesthesia, or surgery for my child as named above. Signed Date
Insurance Company Policy Number
OR I do not wish to have Medical Treatment or Transportation for my child until I have been contacted by emergency personnel. Signed Date By signing this registration form you agree that any photographs taken of your child at or during this event are the property of First Congregational Church in Bloomfield and may be used in future publications.
The First Congregational Church in Bloomfield U N I T E D CH U R C H O F CH R I S T
Welcome to the First Congregational Church in Bloomfield
We hope that you find comfort, joy & inspiration in this time of worship; and renewed energy for your journey of faith. You are invited to remain after the
service this morning for refreshments and informal conversation.
SCHEDULE Worship is held at 9:30 am each Sunday
STAFF Rev. Edwin O. Ayala, Interim Pastor Andrea Davey-Mercer, Office Manager Dorine DeCarli, Director of Faith Formation Eustace Straker, Minister of Music Shantel Bremmer, Director of Child Development Center
Building Management is provided by Michelle Alves and JEM Services.
CHURCH OFFICE Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Phone: 860-242-0776 Fax: 860-243-8035
Email: [email protected]
All Staff can be reached by contacting the Church Office.
The Nursery School can be reached at 860-242-0183 or [email protected].
Pastor Edwin O. Ayala:
In the event of an emergency (death, serious illness, deep spiritual or emotional need) please feel free to call Pastor Ayala at 860-242-0776 x 201,
© 860-836-6651 or email him [email protected] or [email protected]
Visit our church's website: www.FirstChurchBloomfield.org
