Bulletin, 2/27/2011

• Details
• Parent Category: Sunday Bulletins
• Published on Thursday, 24 February 2011 18:15

EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
27 February 2011 --  8:30 & 10:00 a.m.

“Let Mutual Love Continue.”
Hebrews 13: 1

THE GATHERING
PRELUDE:                        Psalm Prelude II: 2           Herbert Howells
"Yea, the darkness is no darkness with Thee, but the night is as clear as the day: the darkness and light to Thee are both alike."   Psalm 139:12
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
INTROIT:                 I am Here to Sing Thee Songs           G. Walker
I am here to sing thee songs.  In this hall of thine I have a corner seat.
When the hour strikes for thy silent worship at the dark temple of midnight, command me, my master, to stand before thee to sing.
I am here to sing thee songs.         text: Gitanjali, Rabindranath Tagore

CALL TO WORSHIP:
Leader:    Come, let us worship together.
All:    Let us open our minds to the challenge of reason,
open our hearts to the healing of love,
open our lives to the calling of conscience,
open our souls to the comfort of joy.
Leader:    Come, let us worship together.
All:    Astonished by the miracle of life,
grateful for the gift of fellowship,
confident in the power of living faith,
we are here gathered:
Leader:    Come, let us worship together.
*HYMNS & PSALMS # 469    Morning Has Broken

CONFESSION AND PRAISE
CALL TO PRAYER
UNISON READING OF PSALM 27 (excerpts):
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in God’s temple.
For God will hide me in God’s shelter in the day of trouble;
God will conceal me under the cover of God’s tent;
God will set me high on a rock.
Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud,
be gracious to me and answer me!
Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path.
SILENT PRAYER

(8:30) *GLORIA PATRI
(10:00)*HYMNS & PSALMS # 488     The God of Abraham Praise
During the first verse of this hymn Church School participants, PreK through Grade 8, will go to their Church School classes.

SERVICE OF THE WORD
SCRIPTURE:                       Quran 24:35                   Deacon Tigelaar

"God is the Light of the heavens and earth.  The likeness of His light is that of a niche in which there is a lamp.  The lamp is in a glass.  The glass is, as it were, a brilliant star, lit from a blessed tree, an olive neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil seems to glow even though no fire has touched it.  Light upon Light!  God guides whom He wills to His light. God makes parables for humanity, and God has knowledge of everything."

SERMON:                   “Agents of Light”               Imam Omer Bajwa
*HYMNS & PSALMS # 291     O God of Earth and Altar

RESPONSE OF THE PEOPLE
JOYS AND CONCERNS
PASTORAL PRAYER
THE LORD’S PRAYER  (trespasses)
CALL TO OFFERING:
OFFERTORY:  God, You Made All Things For Singing  J. Ferguson
God, you made all things for singing, Even canyons carved from stone.
Thunder sets the hard rock ringing With the hymn the skies intone.
Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Yours the praise and yours alone.
As the clap and roll of thunder Give the rocks their note to start,
Spirit, free the songs of wonder Waiting in the thankful heart.
Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Help each voice to sing its part.
Join with us in all our singing.  Make our music, Lord, your own.
Be the bass note deeply ringing.  Be the highest overtone.
Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Yours the praise and your alone.     text: T. Troeger
*HYMNS & PSALMS # 483   Sing Praise to God, Who Reigns Above
BENEDICTION
BENEDICTION RESPONSE:   Amen
POSTLUDE:                      Toccata in b minor                    E. Gigout
+ + +
We warmly welcome Omer Bajwa, Coordinator of Muslim Life at Yale University, to our pulpit this morning.  Born in Pakistan, he grew up in Binghamton, NY.  After majoring in English Literature, he received a Masters in Communication and Near Eastern Studies from Cornell University, where he felt called to the ministry. He earned his graduate certificate in Islam chaplaincy at Hartford Seminary. He nourishes a flourishing ministry at Yale and in the wider community. He will be the first Muslim to preach at First Church.

All are invited to Fellowship Hall immediately after the 10:00am service for fellowship and refreshments, hosted today by the Board of Deacons.  Please get a cup of coffee and join us in the Chapel for the Adult Forum at 11:30am.  Over the past 12 years Anita Fahrni, the daughter of Paul and Gladys Minear, has built up a major educational exchange program with schools and universities in Mongolia, inviting Mongolian students and teachers to Switzerland for training and sending Swiss and Americans to teach there, as well as providing over 300,000 media to those institutions. Her annual working visits to that vast country, critically positioned between China and Russia, and her growing network of friends and contacts there have given her a deep insight into the politics, social situation and culture of the formerly nomadic population.  Anita will gladly share this experience with us.  

Greeters:  Peter & Dianne Hughes
Ushers:  (8:30)  Nancy Howard and Sue Craig
(10:00)  Peter Rebuzzini, Louis Zotti, Dave Knapp, Clyde Work
Breadbaker:  Lyla Johnson
Sound System:  JB Catlin

The flowers today are given in loving memory of Roslyn Young by Jean Young and family.

CDs of worship services are available to sign out in Spencer House; sermon recordings are on our website: wwwfirstchurchguilford.org.  

Deaconess for February is Dianne Hughes (203-453-4529.)  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 February is Barbara Bishop (203-453-9710.)  If you have questions, concerns or compliments, please speak with her.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Joyful Noise! Concert Today at 4:00pm: Schuyler Beeman’s one-man cabaret, where he will share, through song and story, personal moments of moving away from home and the love, hurt, failure, and
success on his journey.  Free-will offering benefits Myrtha Licht Fund.

Pilgrim Fellowship: Meeting tonight 7-9pm, Fellowship Hall. important Parent mission trip meeting 5:30-6:30pm in the Chapel.

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.

Euchre Card Night, Saturday, March 12th in Griswold Hall. Everyone is welcome even if you don’t know how to play.  Come alone, bring a friend  or your family. Come at 6:45pm to play or at 6:15 for a lesson.  It's a progressive format, finishing around 9:00.  For children: a puzzle table, playing cards, and a movie will be in the adjoining room, with an adult to supervise.  Popcorn provided; Bring munchies or soft drinks to share.  Organized by Welcome & Inclusion. Contact Geoff Fix with questions (458-0438).

From the UCC Calendar of Prayer: UCC seminary scholarships support those seeking church vocations.  2002 grant recipient, Rev. Linda Jaramillo, today is the Executive Minister of UCC’s national Justice and Witness Ministries.  She is hopeful that in her lifetime, the UCC will become the multiracial, multicultural, open and affirming, accessible-to-all church that it seeks to be.  (Offered by the Board of Community and World Concerns.)

Used Medical Equipment Needed! Charlie’s Closet is a clearing-house for used medical equipment.  They accept donations of clean, gently used equipment and provide that equipment to anyone in need of it. Present needs are commodes, adjustable canes and shower chairs.  Please drop off any items at the red barn in the parking lot of Sachem Hollow Senior housing, 310 State St. Call 203-453-8359.

CHURCH CALENDAR

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

Sunday, Feb. 27:
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
12:00 pm Godspell Rehearsal - FH
4:00pm  Joyful Noise! Concert - Sanctuary
5:30pm  Confirmation 2 - GH
5:30pm  PF Parents’ Meeting-Chapel
7:00pm  Pilgrim Fellowship - FH
Church Calendar, continued

Monday, Feb. 28:
11:00am  Music & Transformation - BR
4:00pm  Meditation Group – ML/Sanctuary
4:30pm  GS Troop 2303 – FH

Tuesday, Mar. 1:
3:00pm  Middle School Youth Group – FH
5:00pm  GS Troop 2117-FH
6:00pm  Music Committee - CR
7:00pm  Board of Deacons – ML
7:00pm  Board of Christian Education – GH
7:30 pm Godspell Rehearsal - FH

Wed., Mar. 2:
4:00pm  Junior Choir-FH
4:00pm  Cherub Choir- GH
7:00pm  Search Committee – ML

Thurs., Mar. 3:
7:00pm  BSA Troop 474 - FH
7:15pm  Senior Choir Rehearsal – CR

Saturday, Mar 5:
10:00 am  Godspell Rehearsal - FH
Sunday, Mar. 6:
8:30am  Worship – Chapel
9:00am  Bible Study – CSB Rm 9
9:00am  Senior Choir - CR
10:00am  Worship , Nursery care, Church School
12:00 pm Godspell Rehearsal - Sanctuary
7:00pm  Pilgrim Fellowship - FH

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 – Rm 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
Salisha Miller                                          Director, Pilgrim Fellowship
Larry Donahue                                                                          Sexton
Liza Catino                                                         Junior Choir Director
Gail Etter                                                          Cherub Choir Director
Joe Catino                                                     Chair, Church Council
Dianne Hughes                                                                            Clerk
Debbie Peluse                                                                        Treasurer
Heather Collinson                                                             Bookkeeper
Debbie Bishop                                                       Financial Secretary
Jeanie Cacopardo                                              Editor, The Landmark
Martin Ewing                                                                     Webmaster