Center Harbor Congregational Church United Church of Christ	Church Circa 1838 Gilpatric Hall 1988 _________________________ Worship & Church School Sundays 10:00 AM Sanctuary and Church Office Hours Tuesday, Wed., Thursday 9:30 A.M. to 2:30 P.M.
52 Main Street, PO Box 229, Center Harbor, New Hampshire 03226 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......................................................................... Nancy Turziano Secretary.......................................................................................... Diane Lamper Ukama/Partner................... Beacon Hill Church, UCCZ, Mt. Selinda, Zimbabwe

Word of the Week: “Hosanna!”

Praise God! Blessed is the Lord! How difficult for us to shout or sing, or even whisper our praises! We don’t wave palm branches any more… but what DO we wave when God blesses us? How DO we show our gratefulness and praise?

This Week in Our Church Family

Boldface = Church-sponsored events

Sunday (3/16) 10:00 am Worship and Church School

11:00 am Fellowship and Refreshments in Gilpatric Hall

11:30 am Deacons

3-5 pm End of Life Series in Gilpatric Hall

Monday (3/17) 9:00 am T’ai Chi

Tuesday (3/18) 7:30 am Spirituality

6:00pm Board of Missions

7:00 pm Cabinet

Thursday (3/20) 7:00pm Maundy Thursday Service

Friday (3/21) 12 noon Meditative music offered in Center Sandwich

1-3, 5-6 Sanctuary Open for Quiet Vigil

6 pm Good Friday Service

Saturday (3/22) 1-3 pm Children’s Easter Program

Sunday (3/23) 7:00 am SONrise service on or near the beach

8:00 am Breakfast

10:00 am Worship and Church School

11:00 am Fellowship and Light Refreshments in Gilpatric Hall

Thank You to Today’s Volunteers

Ushers:	Dave & Lynne Sias	Nursery Care:	Ask an usher
Liturgist:	Terrence LeBlanc	Greeters:	The O’Hearns
Acolytes:	The Manvilles	Fellowship Hosts:	The Donohoes

March 16, 2008 10:00 a.m.

Morning Worship for Palm Sunday

Large print bulletins available—please ask an usher.
An asterisk (*) indicates “Please stand if you are able.”

Gathering for Worship

PRELUDE “Hosanna To The King” Ellison

IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH (announcements)

PREPARING THE WAY

Clap your hands all you people, shout unto God with a voice of triumph!

Clap your hands, all you people, shout unto God with a voice of praise!

Hosanna! Hosanna! Shout unto God with a voice of triumph!

Praise Him! Praise Him! Shout unto God with a voice of praise!

Entering into Worship

CHORAL INTROIT

RESPONSIVE CALL TO WORSHIP

L: Come! From the city streets.

P: Join the happy throng that gathers with palm branches to honor Jesus!

L: Come! From your busy homes and places of business.

P: Put down your work in joyful celebration!

L: Come! Lay down your sorrows and worries.

P: Turn your eyes toward the Savior whom God has sent!

L: Let all join in joyful song and praise.

P: Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is Jesus Christ, who comes in God's name!

*OPENING HYMN “All Glory, Laud and Honor” Hymn #192

*GATHERING PRAYER (in unison)

Living God, you give us this day, full of hope and promise. As our ancestors waved palms in praise of Christ, we bring our praises, too, that in joy you may take our lives and transform us as your ministers alive. We bring our hands and hearts and lives to you, to be filled, renewed, re-directed and changed. We pray together as Jesus taught us: “Our Father…”

*LORD’S PRAYER (using “debts”)

CHILDREN’S STORY “Waving Palms”

*PASSING OF THE PEACE

(Children will leave to go to their classes at the beginning of this greeting time.)

*HYMN “A Cheering, Chanting, Dizzy Crowd” Hymn #193

A Time of Sharing

RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS

Ruth Costello

Stephen Law

Terrence LeBlanc

Lee Woodworth

PRAYER JOYS AND CONCERNS

Prayer doesn't always change the circumstances;

but it does change our attitude towards those circumstances.

ANTHEM “Hosanna!” Snowdon

CALL TO PRAYER

"Lord, listen to your children praying; Lord, send your Spirit in this place.

Lord, listen to your children praying. Send us love, send us power, send us grace."

PASTORAL PRAYER

CHORAL RESPONSE

MOMENT FOR MISSION (This month’s special offering is One Great Hour of Sharing)

OFFERING

Organ Offertory “The Palms” Faure

*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 Luke 22: 39-44 p. 87 NT

SERMON “How Can I, Abba?”

Sending Forth

*CLOSING HYMN “If You Will Trust in God to Guide You” Hymn #565

*BENEDICTION

ORGAN POSTLUDE “All Glory Laud and Honor” Theodulph

Entry into Jerusalem

The entrance into Jerusalem was an acted parable. It gave the faithful the sign they had been waiting for. It inaugurated the Master's final mission to His people and was a fitting prelude to the days of intense activity and emotion which were to follow. It focused the whole city's attention on Jesus, so that wherever He went during that closing week, crowds followed Him, and His name was on every tongue. And, not least important, it flung down the gauntlet to His enemies. It defied them. Much they could endure, but this procession through the streets was intolerable. This fanatic and usurper must be put down finally. Jesus in that tumultuous hour was issuing a challenge. Every token of royal honor which He accepted that day gave point to the challenge, and every hosanna of the crowd drove it home. Let the powers of evil do their worst; Jesus knew His power. He was the Lord's anointed. He was riding to the throne which God had given to Him. He was ready for His last campaign.

Thoughts on Palm Sunday (Luke 19: 28-40)

Like a colt

I stand tethered

to old needs, desires, loyalties.

waiting for the Master's liberation.

When the moment comes

I must remember

that I am freed for service because

the Lord has need of me.

What could be today's equivalent

of cloaks and palms and praise songs

laid out before the King?

Well, songs are appropriate

in any season or century;

and as for palms,

I'll open mine

and let their warming touch

bring comfort

to some hurting brow or soul;

and a cloak given to the homeless

would be the only homage He'd require.

Easter is Not for Children by Steven Turner

Christmas is really for the children.

Especially for children who like

Animals, stables, stars,

And babies wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Then there were wise men—

Kings in fine robes,

And humble shepherds,

And a hint of rich perfume.

Easter is not really for the children—

Unless accompanied by a cream-filled egg.

Easter has whips, blood, nails, a spear

And allegations of body snatching.

Easter involves politics, God,

And the sins of the world.

It is not good for people of a nervous disposition.

They would do better to think about rabbits,

Chicks and the first snowdrops of Spring.

Or… they’d do better to wait for a rerun of Christmas,

Without asking too many questions

About what Jesus did when He grew up

Or whether there is any connection.

Announcements

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Welcome

It was the children on Palm Sunday who cheered the loudest. They loved Jesus simply because they knew how much He loved them. If, by chance, your faith has lost its childlike simplicity, we hope that this time of worship will restore it to you. We offer our friendship to help in that restoration. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

End of Life Series

This afternoon’s session deals with “A Death of One’s Own”. These important and informative gatherings are open to all.

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Maundy Thursday Service (in the sanctuary)

Our Service carries us into the dark valley as we walk with Jesus through His suffering and death. Plan to participate, so we might rightly celebrate the mountaintop experience of new life on Easter Sunday. Communion will be served to all believers, followed by the Service of Shadows.

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Music Meditation in Center Sandwich

At noon on Friday, Nixon Bicknell, organist of the Federated Church, will offer an hour of meditative music at the Methodist Meeting House in Center Sandwich.

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Good Friday Vigil and Service

Jesus asked His disciples to watch with Him for one hour while He prayed in the Garden. You are invited to spend a quiet hour in the sanctuary—there will be some materials to help you. A quiet service will follow at 6PM.

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Children’s Easter Program

All children and youth (and their families and church buddies) are invited to a special Easter program next Saturday afternoon from 1-3PM. A video, crafts and games will help us all understand the Easter story better… and perhaps our children will explain it all to us.

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Easter Sunday

We hope to be able to find the beach next Sunday morning at 7:00 AM for a special SONrise service. In case of inclement weather, we will gather in the sanctuary.

Then come for breakfast in Gilpatric Hall.

A Celebration of the Resurrection will be at 10 AM in our sanctuary

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