United |
|
Phones: 253-7698 • Phone/Fax: 253-8668 Email: chccucc@verizon.net • Website: www.chccucc.org | |
Pastor..................................................... Reverend Carol Asher Home Phone: 744-7864 E-mail: clsasher2@aol.com Ministers.............................................................. All Members Director of Music............................................ Secretary............................................................. Diane Lamper Ukama/Partner........ |
Word of the Week: “Impossible”
It is said that when God is going to do a wonderful thing, God begins with a difficulty. When about to do a VERY wonderful, God begins with an impossibility. God loves to show us his interpretation of the word “impossible”! Trust!
This Week in Our Church Family
Boldface = Church-sponsored events
Sunday 10:00 am Worship and
(3/2) 11:00 am Fellowship and Refreshments in Gilpatric Hall
Beth Martindale highlights camping opportunities
11:30 am Discussion about our estranged hands
Monday (3/3) 9:00 am T’ai Chi
Tuesday (3/4) 7:30 am Spirituality
Wed. (3/5)
Thurs. (3/6) 6:30 pm T’ai Chi
Friday (3/7) 6:30 pm Game Night
Saturday (3/8)
Sunday (3/9) 10:00 am Worship and
11:00 am Fellowship and Refreshments in Gilpatric Hall
11:30 am Discussion about our guilty hands
Thank You to Today’s Volunteers
Ushers: | The Weeks | Nursery Care: | Ask an usher |
Liturgist: | Greeters: | The O’Hearns | |
Acolytes: | Braelynne and Charlotte Morrow | Fellowship Hosts: | The Weeks |
March 2, 2008 10:00 a.m.
Morning Worship for the Fourth Sunday in Lent
An asterisk (*) indicates “Please stand if you are able.”
Gathering for Worship
ORGAN PRELUDE
IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH (announcements)
PREPARING THE WAY
Entering into Worship
CHORAL INTROIT
RESPONSIVE CALL TO WORSHIP
L: God calls us away from the tumult of the world, that we may focus our thoughts on things that are lasting.
P: In God’s presence we see our lives more clearly; the broken pieces are put back together.
L: God calls us out of loneliness into a life of community.
P: Worshipping together, caring about one another, we find out what it means to be truly human.
L: But God will send us back into the world’s confusion and busyness, its brokenness and isolation.
P: We will go with joy and serenity, strengthened to be God’s servants, graced by God’s forgiveness.
*OPENING HYMN “Nearer My God, to Thee” (v. 1, 2, 3) Hymn #577
*GATHERING PRAYER (in unison)
God most compassionate and merciful, we thank you that you have come to us in Jesus the Servant-Christ, whose disciples we are. Make us strong in your strength; make us wise in your wisdom; and make us gentle in your compassion. May we be signs of the human unity you seek to accomplish through the cross of Jesus Christ, that your name may be glorified in all the earth. We pray together as Jesus taught us, saying: “Our Father…”
*LORD’S PRAYER (using “debts”)
*GLORIA PATRI (sung by the people) #35
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost,
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen. Amen.
CHILDREN’S STORY “It Depends on the Hands You’re In”
*HYMN “Father, I Stretch My Hands to Thee” Hymn #584
(Children will leave to go to their classes at the beginning of this greeting time.)
A Time of Sharing
PRAYER JOYS AND CONCERNS
Without God, we can't. Without us, God won't.
ANTHEM “At the Table of Our God“ Wagner
CALL TO PRAYER
“Hush now in quiet peace, be still your mind at ease;
The Spirit brings release, so wait upon the Lord.”
PASTORAL PRAYER
CHORAL RESPONSE
MOMENT FOR
OFFERING
Organ Offertory
*Doxology (sung by the people)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise God, all creatures here below,
Praise God, above, ye heavenly host,
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen
*Prayer of Dedication
Reflecting on God’s Word
SCRIPTURE Psalm 22: 1-5 (p.500 OT) Romans 8: 31-39 (p.158 NT)
SERMON “The Bridge”
Sharing God’s Gift to Us
PRESENTATION OF GOD’S GIFTS
INVITATION
SHARING OF THE BREAD AND CUP
All believers are invited to share in these Communion blessings
Sending
*CLOSING HYMN “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” Hymn #628
*BENEDICTION
ORGAN POSTLUDE
One Solitary Life
He was born in a stable in an obscure little village, the child of a young unmarried peasant woman. He grew up in still another small village where he worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty. Then, for three years he was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book; he never held an office. He never married and had a family or owned a house. He didn’t go to college. He never visited a big city.
He never traveled more than a hundred miles from the place where he was born. He did none of the things one usually associates with greatness. He had no credentials but himself. He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion turned against him.
He was turned over to enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While he was dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing—the only property he had on earth. When he died, he was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of an acquaintance.
Twenty centuries have come and gone, and today he is the central figure of the human race and the leader of humankind’s progress. All the armies that ever marched, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together have not affected the life of humankind as much as that one solitary life.
At Such a Great Price
Lieutenant Commander Edward Henry “Butch” O’Hare was the Navy’s number-one ace in World War II and the first naval aviator ever to win the Congressional Medal of Honor.
What Butch O’Hare became, however, was made possible because someone else paid a great price. That someone else was Butch’s father, Edward J. O’Hare, a slick lawyer for the gangster, Al Capone. “Artful Eddie”, as he was known, had money and power, but one day he squealed on Capone. The reason for his sudden change of heart? He wanted to give his son a break, he said. Before long, the mob silenced Artful Eddie with two shotgun blasts.
But because of Eddie’s courageous change of heart, his son Butch was accepted at
Does the story sound somehow familiar? It is the exact same action that Jesus Christ did on the Cross for each on us.
The Walk
Ann Weems Kneeling in
Those of us who walk along this road
Do so reluctantly,
Lent is not our favorite time of year.
We’d rather be more active—
Planning and scurrying around.
All this is too contemplative to suit us.
Besides we don’t know what to do
With piousness and prayer.
Perhaps we are afraid to have the time to think,
For thoughts come unbidden.
Perhaps we’re afraid to face our future
Knowing our past.
Give us the courage, O God
To hear your word
And to read our living into it.
Give us the trust to know we are forgiven,
And give us the faith
To take up our lives and walk with you.
Announcements
Welcome Friends!
The Bible tells us: “there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). That friend is God. God is here to befriend us all. Reach out to God who is reaching out to us. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Welcome Mary Ruth Scott
We thank Mary Ruth again for sharing her musical talents with us as she plays the organ and directs our choir (
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Lenten Discussion Group
You are invited to join the discussion about this morning’s God-given emotion (if you would like a copy of the discussion sheet to read at home, ask Pastor Carol)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Beth Martindale—NH Conference Coordinator for Outdoor Ministries
Beth is with us this morning to highlight some of the exciting camping experiences planned for the coming summer. She will answer your questions during fellowship time. Remember that our Christian Education budget supports camping opportunities for all active children and youth. Rachelle Smith, CHCC Camping Coordinator will soon have more information about registration
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
End of Life Series
This afternoon’s session will deal with “a Different Kind of Care”, focusing on hospice and palliative care. You are invited to attend any or all of these sessions. Come and get the necessary information to make informed decisions about this important time of our lives. Child care will be arranged for those telling us of that need.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Game Night
Mark your calendars to join in an evening of fun—next Friday, beginning at 6:30PM. Bring a Pot Luck DESSERT and your favorite board game. All ages are invited!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Clocks—SPRING forward!
Don’t forget to set your clocks next Saturday night, so you’ll be on time for your appointment to worship together.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Easter Memorial Flowers
Please use the enclosed form to order your memorial flowers (or donation) for Easter Sunday. All orders must be received by next Sunday, March 9th
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________