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: “Doubt”
The prayer of St. Francis says: “Where there is doubt, let me sow faith.” Doubt is to be uncertain or skeptical, or to distrust. Our doubts seek explanations and answers; they open new avenues and lead to new discoveries. Does God want us to live in faith? Yes! Does God value our honest questions and explorations? Yes… without a doubt!
This Week in Our Church Family
Boldface = Church-sponsored events
Sunday (3/30) 10:00 am Worship and
11:00 am Fellowship and Refreshments in Gilpatric Hall
Monday (3/31) 9:00 am T’ai Chi
Tuesday (4/1) 7:30 am Spirituality
Wed. (4/2)
Thursday (4/3) 6:30 pm T’ai Chi
Friday (4/4)
Saturday (4/5)
Sunday (4/6) 10:00 am Worship and
11:00 am Fellowship and Refreshments in Gilpatric Hall
Thank You to Today’s Volunteers
Ushers: | Palmer and Dorrie Smith | Nursery Care: | Ask an usher |
Liturgist: | Dave Sias | Greeters: | Laurie Burke and Patte Morrow |
Acolytes: | Madison Smith | Fellowship Hosts: | The Warners |
March 30, 2008 10:00 a.m.
Morning Worship for the Second Sunday of Easter
Large print bulletins available—please ask an usher.
An asterisk (*) indicates “Please stand if you are able.”
Gathering for Worship
PRELUDE “O Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing” Dandrieli
IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH (announcements)
PREPARING THE WAY
Entering into Worship
CHORAL INTROIT
RESPONSIVE CALL TO WORSHIP
L: Last Sunday was Easter, a day on which the only fitting call to worship was the announcement of the great resurrection, the greatest life-saving act imaginable.
P: Through it, God let us laugh at our death sentence by punctuating it with a living exclamation mark.
L: Again today and in the days to come, may we remember that there are times when God restates the joyful resurrection proclamation.
P: Abilities faded and forgotten are channeled toward new creativity—that’s resurrection.
L: Friendships once killed by frosty misunderstandings bloom again in warm reconciliation—that’s resurrection.
P: Hopes glimmering and gone are rekindled by expressions of caring—that’s resurrection.
L: Faith, dulled by lack of exercise, dances again to God’s everyday rhythms—that’s resurrection.
P: We worship the God whose resurrecting power lives on as does the Christ we serve.
*OPENING HYMN “Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain” Hymn #215
*GATHERING PRAYER (in unison)
Holy One, in these turbulent times, when the knot of fear tightens, let us take heart, and step out trusting you. When doubt needles us and despair encircles us, let us take heart and walk on, following Jesus. As depression threatens to sink us and grief tries to bury us, let us take heart, trust God, follow Jesus and sing a brand new song. We pray together as Jesus taught us, saying: “Our Father…”
*LORD’S PRAYER (using “debts”)
CHILDREN’S STORY “Curiosity Killed the ….”
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
(Children will leave to go to their classes at the beginning of this greeting time.)
*HYMN “When Our Confidence is Shaken“ Hymn #534
A Time of Sharing
PRAYER JOYS AND CONCERNS
God may delay the answer to our prayers to enlarge our capacity to receive.
ANTHEM “A Time For All Things” Wagner
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
MOMENT FOR
OFFERING
Organ Offertory “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” Hatton
*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 John 20: 24-31 p. 115 NT
SERMON “Fleas of Faith”
Sending
*CLOSING HYMN “Sweet, Sweet Spirit” Hymn #261
*BENEDICTION
ORGAN POSTLUDE “Jesus, Thy Church With Loving Eyes” Manz
The Folded Napkin
The Gospel of John (20: 7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin.
Is that important? You’d better believe it! Is that significant? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes! In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day.
The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished. Now if the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table.
The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, “I’m done.” But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because the servant knew that the folded napkin meant, “I’m not finished yet.” The folded napkin meant, “I’m coming back!”
JESUS IS COMING BACK!
The Cross
In Planet in Rebellion, George Vandeman wrote: “It was May 21, 1946. The place—
“He had successfully performed such an experiment many times before. In his effort to determine the amount of U-235 necessary for a chain reaction—scientists call it the critical mass—he would push two hemispheres of uranium together. Then, just as the mass became critical, he would push them apart with his screwdriver, thus instantly stopping the chain reaction.
“But that day, just as the material became critical, the screwdriver slipped! The hemispheres of uranium came too close together. Instantly the room was filled with a dazzling bluish haze. Young Louis Slotin, instead of ducking and thereby possibly saving himself, tore the two hemispheres apart with his hands and thus interrupted the chain reaction.
“By this instant, self-forgetful daring, he saved the lives of the seven other persons in the room.... [A]s he waited... for the car that was to take them to the hospital, he said quietly to his companion, ‘You’ll come through all right. But I haven’t the faintest chance myself.’ It was only too true. Nine days later he died in agony.
“Nineteen centuries ago the Son of the living God walked directly into sin’s most concentrated radiation, allowed himself to be touched by its curse, and let it take his life.... But by that act he broke the chain reaction. He broke the power of sin.”
Announcements
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Welcome
Welcome in the name of Christ! We are glad that you have come to worship. Our prayer for you is found in Hebrews 13:20: “Now may the God of peace ... equip you with everything good that you may do his will …Remembering that in God’s will there is perfect peace, let us joyfully seek guidance from our Creator. Blessings on you all! __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
April Newsletters
Your April newsletter is ready and waiting for you in the box in Gilpatric Hall. Please pick yours up and save the postage.
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End of Life Series
This afternoon’s session deals with “A Time to Change.” These important and informative gatherings are open to all. This is the last session of the video series. Guest speakers are being arranged for future dates to give us added information about funerals, wills and financial matters.
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Camping Registrations
Rachelle Smith, our Camping Coordinator, reminds us that today is the absolute LAST day to take advantage of the early-bird special prices when registering for camp at
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Family Movie Night
The Deacons invite all to join in an evening of fellowship and adventure. On Friday, April 11th, we will gather in Gilpatric Hall at 6:30 p.m. to enjoy some Pot Luck desserts. Then we will break out the popcorn and huddle around the big TV to take a grand adventure with “Young Indiana Jones.”
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Bereavement Support Group
Community Health & Hospice is offering a six-week Bereavement Support Group this April and May to be held at CH&H’s headquarters in
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