Bulletin, 1/9/2011

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• Parent Category: Sunday Bulletins
• Published on Sunday, 09 January 2011 08:40

FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
9 January 2011 -- 8:30am & 10:00 a.m.

“Let Mutual Love Continue.”
Hebrews 13: 1

THE GATHERING
PRELUDE:          "... the heavens were opened ..." (Baptism Dance)  
D. Locklair
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
INTROIT:         Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart
CALL TO WORSHIP:
Leader:    Let us journey to the Jordan River,
All:    crossing-place of the people of Israel when they
came into the promised land.
Leader:    Let us journey to the Jordan River,

All:    and stand with the crowds who confess their sins,
and are baptized by John.
Leader:    Let us journey to the Jordan River,
All:    and watch with awe as Jesus comes to be baptized.
Leader:    Let us journey to the Jordan River,
All:    and realize our responsibility as members of the
“Community of the Baptized.”
*HYMNS & PSALMS # 229   From All that Dwell Below the Skies

(8:30)  CONFESSION AND PRAISE
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
Leader:    Our loving God has been with us in the joys and the celebrations, the struggles and the losses of the past year; God will be with us in the year that lies ahead.
All:    O God, when we are tempted to blame another person, deflect us; when we are tempted to avoid making a decision, alert us; when we are tempted to speak ill of someone close, delay us; when we are tempted to downplay our gifts, find us opportunities to use them; when we are tempted to forget our faith, renew our journeying with Jesus; when we are tempted to keep our Christianity to ourselves, set our mind on mission; when we are tempted to hang back from bringing change, stir us to just and compassionate action.
SILENT PRAYER
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
Leader:    You know us through and through, O God.  You know when we recognize our shortcomings; you know when we gloss over our faults.
All:    Give us the will to have done with those ways, those attitudes, and those words that deny our discipleship of Jesus Christ.  Give us the courage to face the challenges of a new year with faithful responsibility.  Give us the heart and mind of Christ.
Leader:    With renewed resolution, God’s peace will be yours!
All:    Thanks be to God!  Amen.
*GLORIA PATRI

(10:00) SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
It is the church’s policy that the use of any kind of camera (video, still - with or without flash) is not permitted in the sanctuary during worship.

We welcome the Beres family and baptize Sophia Dorothy Beres into the Christian community.  Sophia is the daughter of Sarah and John Beres, sister of Norah and Sam.  Sophia’s grandfather, the Rev. Fred Edmonds, will participate in her baptism.
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE:
We, the members of this congregation, affirm our unity with Christ and express our support of this family through constant love, Christ-like example, and faithful prayer.
BLESSING OVER THE WATER: (in unison)
O God, we give you thanks for the gift of water.  Over water your Holy Spirit brooded in creation to bring forth the earth.  Through water you led the Chosen People to deliverance in the Promised Land.  In the fullness of time you sent Jesus Christ who was nurtured in the water of Mary’s womb.  In the waters of the Jordan John baptized Jesus.  With water Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and taught them to serve.  Bless now this
water and grant that what we do now on earth may be confirmed in heaven.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.
BLESSING OF THE BAPTIZED CHILD: (in unison)
O God, uphold Sophia by your Holy Spirit.  Increase in her from day to day your gifts of grace, the spirit of knowledge and reverence of God, the spirit of joy and love, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.
*HYMN:            Child of Blessing, Child of Promise
Church School participants may leave for their classes after the first verse of this hymn. Grades 1-5 will leave for the chapel to be lead to their Rotation classes; all others continue to their regular classrooms.

SERVICE OF THE WORD
SCRIPTURE:                    Genesis 1: 1-5                       Deacon North
SERMON:                             “Still Baptized”                      Dr. Norris
*HYMNS & PSALMS # 391    Take My Life    (st. 1, 4, 5, 6)   

RESPONSE OF THE PEOPLE
JOYS AND CONCERNS
PASTORAL PRAYER
THE LORD’S PRAYER  (trespasses)
CALL TO OFFERING:
OFFERTORY:   Arise and Hail the Glorious Star     arr. A.Townsend
Arise and hail the glorious Star, which brought the wise Men from afar;
Which led them on this happy morn, to see the great Messiah born.
Awake, awake! Let holy shouts arise!
See Israel's Star appear in yonder skies.

On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry announces that the Lord is nigh;
Awake and hearken, for he brings glad tidings of the King of kings!
Awake, awake! Let holy shouts arise!
See Israel's Star appear in yonder skies.
*HYMNS & PSALMS # 319     Spirit
BENEDICTION
BENEDICTION RESPONSE:    Amen                           J. Stainer
POSTLUDE:                      Fugue in G Major                 J. S. Bach
+ + +

Adult Forum 11:30am in the Chapel -  join Bill Speed for a discussion of bioethics: “New Genetic Technologies and Implications for Christianity.”  The focus will be on genome sequencing and the ramifications on our perception of individuality and determinism.  What do you want to know about your DNA?

Ushers: (8:30)  Chris and Steven Auffant
(10:00) Cynthia Hirni, K.C. Long, Kathy Abbatello, Eva Ewing
Breadbaker:  Marianne Valley
Sound System:  JB Catlin

We enjoy flowers today given by the Flower Committee in celebration of the new year.

Worship recordings on CDs are available in Spencer House kitchen to sign; please return it with a week.  Audio recordings of sermons are available on our website: wwwfirstchurchguilford.org.  

Deaconess for January is Eva Ewing (203-315-5160).  Please make her aware of new births, adoptions, or anyone who needs a note of encouragement or sympathy.  Call Mary Norris (203-457-9483) for information about our Prayer Shawl Ministry.

Deacon for January is Bo Huhn (203-453-2872.)  If you have questions, concerns or compliments, please speak with him.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Annual Reports Due!  If you are unable to submit the report for your Board or Committee tomorrow, please call the Church Office: 203-453-5249.  Thank you.

Rotation Church School During January: Children in Grades 1-5 will participate in a curriculum unit of “Rotation” where they will learn the story of Zacchaeus by traveling through different theme-based classrooms. See the schedule below for the coming weeks.

             Stage      Cooking    Games      Photography

January 9    Grade 5    Grade 3/4  Grade 2    Grade 1

January 16   Grade 1    Grade 5    Grade 3/4  Grade 2

January 23   Grade 2    Grade 1    Grade 5    Grade 3/4

January 30   Grade 3/4  Grade 2    Grade 1    Grade 5

Family Game Night Friday, Jan. 21th 6:00pm in Fellowship Hall.  The Board of Christian Education invites you to a fun time for the whole family. Join us after dinner - meet new friends, spend time with some wonderful families, and discover the hidden scrabble-skills of folks in the congregation.  Please bring your favorite board game & a snack or dessert to share.  All are welcome!

2011 Pledge Envelopes Now Available in the Narthex.  If you do not find a box with your name on it and would like envelopes for your giving, please contact the Church Office at 203-453-5249.

Year-End Statements of Giving will be available next Sunday.

Pilgrim Fellowship: Meeting tonight 7-9pm, Fellowship Hall. Leadership please arrive at 6:30pm

Joyful Noise! Concert Today 4:00pm - Nick Catino & Friends, an acoustic jazz quartet featuring Nick Catino on trumpet, Noah Preminger on tenor sax, Rob Dougay on bass and Matt Rousseau on drums, will present a program of original compositions and jazz standards.  The musicians all hail from Connecticut and currently reside in NYC where they have been playing in various venues to critical acclaim.  This concert is sure to be engaging and entertaining.  A free-will offering benefits The Myrtha Licht Fund.

Guilford Food Bank Needs: 100% fruit juices; canned fruit, tuna, ham, hash, stews; pancake/meal/potato/cake/mac & cheese mixes; dry milk, cereal.  You may leave your donations in the narthex.

CHURCH CALENDAR

FH - Fellowship Hall;  GH – Griswold Hall; ML – Minear Library;
CR – Choir Room; CSB – Church School Bldg; BR – Bride’s Room

Sunday, Jan. 9:   Kendrick preaching
8:30am  Worship – Chapel
9:00am  Bible Study – CSB Room 9
9:00am  Senior Choir Rehearsal – CR
10:00am  Worship , Nursery care, Church School
11:30am  Adult Forum – Chapel
Noon – Godspell Rehearsal – CR/Sanct
4:00pm  Joyful Noise! Concert – Sanctuary
7:00pm  Pilgrim Fellowship - FH

Monday, Jan. 10:
11:00am  Music & Transformation - BR
7:30pm  Welcoming & Inclusion Committee-ML
7:30pm  Confirmation 2 – GH

Tuesday, Jan. 11:      
No Middle School Youth Group
7:00pm  Church Council - FH

Wed., Jan. 12:
4:00pm  Junior Choir – FH
4:00pm  Cherub Choir - GH
7:00pm  Bd of Community & World Concerns-CSB Rm 9
7:00pm  Godspell Rehearsal - CR

Thurs., Jan. 13:
7:00pm  BS Troop 474-FH
7:15pm  Senior Choir Rehearsal – CR

Saturday, Jan. 15:    Landmark deadline
9:15am  Music & Transformation - ML

Sunday, Jan. 16:  The Rev. Ralph Roy preaching
8:30am  Worship - Chapel
9:00am  Bible Study – CSB Room 9
9:00am  Senior Choir Rehearsal – CR
10:00am  Worship, Nursery care, Church School
11:30am  Adult Forum – Chapel
Noon – Godspell Rehearsal – CR/Sanct
No Pilgrim Fellowship tonight

12-Step Meetings at First Church This Week:
AA:  Sun.,  7:15am – GH            Alanon:  Tues., 7:30pm – Chapel
Tues., 7:30pm – Room 9                         Wed., 10:00am - FH
Wed. 7:30pm–GH                   Alateen:  Tues., 7:30pm-GH
Fri., Noon & 7:30pm – FH      NA:          Sun., 1:00pm – GH
Sat., 7:30am – GH                   OA:        Thurs., 7:00pm – Room 9

WELCOME TO FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH!
United Church of Christ
An Open and Affirming Congregation

122 Broad Street
Guilford, CT  06437
203-453-5249 (phone & fax)
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
website: www.firstchurchguilford.org
newsletter: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We are pleased that you are here to worship with us today, and we trust that you have found inspiration and fellowship.  If we can be of service to you, please speak with one of the ministers either after worship, or call or email us:  
Dr. Norris – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Rev. Robert – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Rev. Horst Clark – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
To make an appointment with a minister, please call the Church Office.

OUR STAFF – PARTNERS IN MINISTRY
Kendrick L. Norris                                                      Senior Minister
Clare Robert                                               Interim Associate Minister
Lisa Horst Clark              Associate Minister for Children & Families
William C. Speed                                   Director of Music Ministries
Penelope Rebuzzini                                                     Office Manager
Larry Donahue                                                                          Sexton
Liza Catino                                                         Junior Choir Director
Gail Etter                                                          Cherub Choir Director