Bulletin, 1/29/2012

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• Parent Category: Sunday Bulletins
• Published on Friday, 27 January 2012 20:39

FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
29 January 2012 --  8:30 & 10:00 a.m.

“Blessed are the peacemakers….”
Matthew 5: 9

THE GATHERING

PRELUDE  Brother James' Air        Searle Wright
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
INTROIT
CALL TO CELEBRATION:                            adapted from Noel Nickle
One:    Blessing God, you whose caring hands painted the natural landscape around us – the green of trees, the blue of the  mountains and the rainbow hues of the flowers; and you,  who gives life to hawks and horses, cats and caterpillars:
All: We celebrate your love for creation and its creatures and  Earth’s abundant beauty.  Reach out your hand in  blessing on our world this morning.

One:    Blessing God, you whose caring hands gathered us today – old and young, gay and straight, single and coupled – you  who brought us safely here, from nearby and from far away:
All: We celebrate the gathering of our diverse body and our love for one another.  Reach out your hand in blessing on
our community this morning.
One:    Blessing God, you whose caring hands fashioned us from muddy clay and Holy Spirit, you who know our every
strength and frailty and our daily needs and desires:
All: We celebrate your intimate love for us and our never-ending relationship with you.  Reach out your hand in
blessing on us this morning.
One:    And by the blessing of your hand encourage and empower us to become
All: caretakers for creation, caregivers to community and ever closer to you, our creator.
*HYMN               Awake, Awake to Love and Work  (insert)

(8:30)  CONFESSION AND PRAISE
UNISON READING OF PSALM 23:
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want,
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures,
He leadeth me beside still waters, He restoreth my soul.
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff  they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.
Thou anointest my head with oil.  My cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
SILENT PRAYER
*GLORIA PATRI  (H & P # 579)

(10:00)  WORD FOR ALL AGES
WORD FOR ALL AGES
*HYMNS & PSALMS #  172   My Shepherd Will Supply My Need
After the first verse Church School participants in PreK - Grade 8 will leave for their classes.

SERVICE OF THE WORD

SCRIPTURE:              Song of Solomon 3: 1 - 5            Deacon Huhn
SERMON                      "Peace in the Couple”                        Dr. Norris
*SERMON HYMN         When Love is Found (insert)

RESPONSE OF THE PEOPLE

JOYS AND CONCERNS
PASTORAL PRAYER
THE LORD’S PRAYER   (trespasses)
CALL TO OFFERING
OFFERTORY:     The Twenty-Third Psalm (dedicated to my mother)    
Bobby McFerrin
The Lord is my Shepherd, I have all I need,
She makes me lie down in green meadows,
Beside the still waters, She will lead.
She restores my soul, She rights my wrongs,
She leads me in a path of good things,
And fills my heart with songs.
Even though I walk, through a dark and dreary land,
There is nothing that can shake me,
She has said She won't forsake me, I'm in her hand.
She sets a table before me, in the presence of my foes,
She anoints my head with oil, And my cup overflows.
Surely, surely goodness and kindness will follow me,
All the days of my life,
And I will live in her house, Forever, forever and ever.
Glory be to our Mother, and Daughter, And to the Holy of Holies,
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
World, without end. Amen
*HYMNS & PSALMS # 536     Lord, Make Us More Holy
BENEDICTION
BENEDICTION RESPONSE:   Amen
POSTLUDE:                             Psalm 19                        B. Marcello
+ + +
Immediately following the 10am worship service, please join us downstairs in Fellowship Hall for refreshments and fellowship today hosted by the Pilgrim Fellowship Committee.  

Today’s Adult Forum at 11:30am in the Chapel: Will Porter, head coach of Women’s Crew at Yale will speak. The key to his team’s success is, according to Tom Beckett, Yale Athletic Director, that Will is amazing at building a team that supports, respects and trusts one another.  Hear about Will’s principles and how First Church can envision itself as a community (team) whose mission is God’s work.

Greeters: Miriam Olsen and Kyle Ondricek
Ushers:   (8:30)  Gus and Virginia Bodin
(10:00)  Mairi Bryan, Patty Ann Meyer, Ed Meyer, Preston Maynard
Breadbaker:  Karen Owen                       Sound System:  JB Catlin

The flowers today are given in loving memory of Edward B. and Frances A. Leete by their daughter, Ellen L. Bell.

CDs of worship services are available to sign out in Spencer House; sermon recordings are 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 Anita Soucy (203-457-9834).  If you have questions, concerns or compliments, please speak with her.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Joyful Noise! Concert – Today at 4:00pm. Chuck E. Costa is an award-winning songwriter and is Connecticut's "Official State Troubadour." He’s shared the stage with Roseanne Cash, Pete Seeger, Andrew Bird, Josh Ritter, Ellis Paul, and Richard Shindell, among others. The concert is free; the free will offering benefits the Myrtha Licht Fund.   For information call 203-458-9701 or visit firstchurchguilford.org.   

Pilgrim Fellowship Meeting Tonight 7-9pm Fellowship Hall.

Copies of the Book of Reports for the Annual Meeting are in the Narthex.  Note there is a separate corrected Call to Annual Meeting.

Please Help Us Save Postage by picking up your 2012 Pledge Envelopes and 2011 Year-end Statement of Giving. Thank you!

Open Meditation – Anyone interested in a meditation experience is welcome to participate on Mondays at 4:00pm in the Minear Library.

Official Call to Annual Meeting 2012
Sunday, February 5, 2012
To the members of the First Congregational Church of Guilford, Inc.:

The Annual Meeting of the First Congregational Church of Guilford, Inc., will be held on Sunday morning, February 5, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary, directly following the 10:00 a.m. service to:

1.  Receive and act upon the reports and recommendations of the Ministers,
2.  Receive and act upon the reports and recommendations of the Boards, Committee and Organizations of the Church,
3.  Act upon the proposed changes to the By-Laws of the First Congregational Church of Guilford, CT, as submitted by Church Council,
4.  Act upon the recommendation of the Church Council to support and join in a joint application with our Senior Pastor, Kendrick Norris, for a National Clergy Renewal grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc.,
5.  Act upon the proposed 2012 Operating Budget, as submitted by Church Council,
6.  Act upon the proposed 2012 Community and World Concerns budget, as submitted by the CWC Board, and
7.  Receive the report of the Nominating Committee and act upon their recommendations for Officers and Members of Boards and Committees of the Church.
Respectfully submitted,
Dianne Hughes, Clerk

Silver Lake Summer Programs: Silver Lake is the United Church of Christ CT Conference’s outdoor ministry located in Sharon, CT.  Registration is now open for fun, week-long camps for youth aged 8-18 years. They’ll swim, sing, conquer the high and low ropes courses, play games, eat s’mores around a campfire, get creative in ceramics, make new friends, develop sustainable connections with nature and each other in sustainable and spiritual ways! Register and get more info about the open house at www.silverlakect.org Limited need-based scholarships available.  Contact Chris at 203-453-3324 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Grocery Cards: This is an easy way for the church to generate funds.  For every $100 card purchased, you purchase $100 worth of groceries and the church receives $5 or $6.  Bishop’s Orchards, Big Y and Stop & Shop cards available from Bob Howard after the early service and either Shannon Clarkson or Joe Catino at 11am.  

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

Guilford Job Network offers free assistance, networking & speakers on pertinent topics.  All job seekers welcome.  Next meeting Feb. 2  7pm in the Sullivan Ctr behind St. George Church.  

CHURCH CALENDAR

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

Sunday, January 29:   Kendrick preaching
11:30am  Adult Forum – Chapel
4:00pm  Joyful Noise! Concert - Sanctuary
7:00pm  Pilgrim Fellowship – FH

Monday, January 30:  
11:00am  Music & Transformation – BR
4:00pm  Open Meditation - ML
7:00pm  Confirmation – GH

Wednesday, February 1:
4:00pm  Cherub Choir – GH
4:00pm  Junior Choir- FH
7:00pm  Deepening Spiritual Connections-ML

Thursday, February 2:
7:00pm  BSA Troop 474 – FH
7:15pm  Senior Choir Rehearsal – CR

Sunday, February 5:  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
11:00am  Annual Meeting- Sanctuary
12Noon  Luncheon – Fellowship Hall
No Pilgrim Fellowship

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

WELCOME TO FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH!

United Church of Christ
An Open and Affirming Congregation

122 Broad Street
Guilford, CT  06437
Telephone: 203-453-5249
Fax:  203-453-5589
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
website: www.firstchurchguilford.org

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 after worship, or call or email us:

Dr. Norris – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or
Rev. Robert – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Our Staff – Partners in Ministry
Kendrick L. Norris                                                    Senior Minister
Clare Robert                                            Interim Associate Minister
Christopher Solimene  Acting Dir. of Children & Family Ministries
William C. Speed                                 Director of Music Ministries
Penelope Rebuzzini                                                  Office Manager
Larry Donahue                                                                        Sexton
Salisha Miller                                    Director of Pilgrim Fellowship
Liza Catino                                                  Director of Junior Choir
Gail Etter                                                    Director of Cherub Choir
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Are you a visitor this morning?  Please take a Welcome brochure from the pew rack.  Would you like a: ___ Phone call?  ___ visit?  ____ more information about our Church?   Please drop this in the offering plate.

Name:___________________________________________

Address:  ________________________________________

Phone number:  ___________________________________

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