United |
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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: “Original Sin”
For generations, the Christian Church espoused the doctrine of “original sin” claiming that every human being since Adam and Eve carried the sins of all time from the time they were born. But Jesus came to bring God’s forgiveness and unconditional love—in God’s grace, we are born with an “original blessing” and must live in such a way to preserve that blessing
This Week in Our Church Family
Boldface = Church-sponsored events
Sunday (3/9) 10:00 am Worship and
11:00 am Fellowship and Refreshments in Gilpatric Hall
11:30 am Lenten Discussion about our guilty hands
2-4 pm Youth Group meeting here with Meredith
Monday (3/10) 9:30 am T’ai Chi
Tuesday (3/11) 7:30 am Spirituality
6:00 pm Missions Board
7:00 pm Cabinet
Wednesday (3/12)
Thursday (3/13) 1:00 pm Trustees
6:30 pm T’ai Chi
Friday (3/14)
Saturday (3/15)
Sunday (3/16) 10:00 am Palm Sunday Worship and
11:00 am Fellowship and Refreshments in Gilpatric Hall
Thank you to Today’s Volunteers
Ushers: | The Donohoes | Nursery Care: | Ask an usher |
Liturgist: | Josiah Weeks | Greeters: | The O’Hearns |
Acolytes: | Ben & Hannah Crosby | Fellowship Hosts: | Crosby/Vazifdar |
March 9, 2008 10:00 am
Morning Worship for the Fifth Sunday in Lent
Large print bulletins available—please ask an usher.
An asterisk (*) indicates “Please stand if you are able.”
Gathering for Worship
PRELUDE “O Sacred Head Surrounded” Lasky
IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH (announcements)
PREPARING THE WAY
Entering into Worship
CHORAL INTROIT
RESPONSIVE CALL TO WORSHIP
L: In this season, we worship remembering Jesus’ death in love for us and all people.
P: Lent is a time for tears.
L: But out of tears, joy is born-- the joy of sin forgiven, hope reborn and life restored.
All: We stand in awe of the God who brings joy out of tears, hope out of trials, and life out of death.
*OPENING HYMN “Dear God, Embracing Humankind” (v. 1, 2, 5) Hymnal #594
*GATHERING PRAYER (in unison)
O God, you know us through and through—you know the many choices we face each day. We have to choose between right and wrong; we choose between greater and lesser evils; we choose what will be important to us in life. As you strengthened Jesus to choose rightly when He was tempted in the wilderness, so strengthen us, through your presence and Spirit, when we are facing temptation, that we may walk in the paths most pleasing to you. And may we walk in your grace through all the ways and days of our lives. We pray as Jesus taught us, saying: “Our Father…”
*LORD’S PRAYER (using “debts”)
CHILDREN’S STORY “A Stranglehold”
PASSING THE PEACE
(Children will leave to go to their classes at the beginning of this greeting time)
*HYMN “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy” Hymnal #73
A Time of Sharing
PRAYER JOYS AND CONCERNS
Prayer is the practice that blesses; worship is the habit that refreshes;
Love is the gift that expresses.
ANTHEM “Is It I, Lord” Sachram
CALL TO PRAYER
“Hear our prayer, O Lord. Hear our prayer, O Lord.
Incline thine ear to us, and grant us thy peace.”
PASTORAL PRAYER
CHORAL RESPONSE
OFFERING (The special offering for March is One Great Hour of Sharing)
Organ Offertory “Ah Holy Jesus, How Has Thou Offended” Cruger
*Doxology (sung by the people)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him, above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen
*Prayer of Dedication
Reflecting on God’s Word
SCRIPTURE Matthew 26:14-16; 27:3-5 p. 29 NT
SERMON “At the Beginning of Holiness”
Sending
*CLOSING HYMN “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” Hymn #628
*BENEDICTION
ORGAN POSTLUDE “Enter His Courts With Praise” Martin
Don’t Ignore the Volcano
Scores of people lost their lives. The world’s mightiest army was forced to abandon a strategic base. Property damage approached a billion dollars. All because the sleeping giant,
When asked to account for the incredible destruction caused by this volcano, a research scientist from the Philippine department of volcanology observed, “When a volcano is silent for many years, our people forget that it’s a volcano and begin to treat it like a mountain.”
Like
Making Pancakes for God
Six-year-old
Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor. Frantically he tried to clean up this monumental mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas white and sticky.
And just then he saw Dad standing at the door. Big crocodile tears welled up in
Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him, getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process!
That’s how God deals with us. We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess.
Our marriage gets all sticky, or we insult a friend, or we can’t stand our job, or our health goes sour. Sometimes we just stand there in tears because we can’t think of anything else to do. That’s when God picks us up and loves us and forgives us, even though some of our mess gets all over Him.
But just because we might mess up, we can’t stop trying to “make pancakes” for God or for others. Sooner or later we’ll get it right, and then they’ll be glad we tried.
To Kill a Wolf
Radio personality Paul Harvey tells the story of how an Eskimo kills a wolf. The account is grisly, yet it offers fresh insight into the consuming, self-destructive nature of sin.
First, the Eskimo coats his knife blade with animal blood and allows it to freeze. Then he adds another layer of blood, and another, until the blade is completely concealed by frozen blood.
Next, the hunter fixes his knife in the ground with the blade up. When a wolf follows his sensitive nose to the source of the scent and discovers the bait, he licks it, tasting the fresh frozen blood. He begins to lick faster, more and more vigorously, lapping the blade until the keen edge is bare. Feverishly now, harder and harder the wolf licks the blade in the Arctic night. So great becomes his craving for blood that the wolf does not notice the razor-sharp sting of the naked blade on his own tongue, nor does he recognize the instant at which his insatiable thirst is being satisfied by his OWN warm blood. His carnivorous appetite just craves more—until the dawn finds him dead in the snow!
It is a fearful thing that people can be consumed by their own lusts. Only God’s grace keeps us from the wolf’s fate.
Seven Modern Sins
Politics without principles.
Pleasures without conscience.
Wealth without work.
Knowledge without character.
Industry without morality.
Science without humanity.
Worship without sacrifice.
Announcements
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Welcome to All!
As we gather for worship today, we rejoice in God’s many blessings. With David we can say to God, “I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints.” (Psalm 52:9) ______________________________________________________________________________
Rose on the Altar
The Rose bud on the altar this morning is in honor of Kelli Ruth Daniel (Dave and Lynne Sias’ granddaughter) who is being baptized at First Parish (UCC) Church in
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Lenten Discussion
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).
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Flowers
Today is the last day to order special memorial flowers (or designations) for Easter Sunday.
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Youth Group
Our youth will be meeting this afternoon with the youth of Meredith Congregational Church.
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End of Life Series
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.
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Holy Week Services
Now is the time to mark your calendars to participate in our Holy Week services. Next Sunday is Palm Sunday—in addition to a joyful parade to welcome Jesus, we will welcome new members into our community of faith. Maundy Thursday (Mar 20th) Service at 7:00pm will find us eavesdropping on four events in the history of God’s faithful that all culminate in the last days of Jesus’ earthly life. Service of Shadows (Tenebrae) and Communion served to all believers. The sanctuary will be open on Good Friday, March 21st from 1-3pm and 5-6pm for a time of quiet meditation, ending with a service at 6pm. Our children (and families and church buddies) are invited to a Children’s Easter Program on Saturday, March 22nd from 1-3pm.
On Resurrection Sunday, March 23rd, we will gather at or near the beach at 7am for a SONrise service, with breakfast following at the church. At 10am, we will gather in the sanctuary to sing alleluias and celebrate the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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Meditative Music
You are invited to a time of music at the Methodist Meeting House in Center Sandwich on Good Friday, from noon to 1pm.