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: Diss

Another new word is creeping into our vocabulary—to diss. To diss is to show disrespect, to put someone down or speak ill about another. To be dissed is to be lied about, called names, and dismissed as unworthy. We may get DISappointed, DIScouraged, DISheartened, DISpirited, DISmayed, and DISSed in many ways… but God will always rebut, saying You are mine! I love you!

This Week in Our Church Family

Boldface = Church-sponsored events

Sunday (4/27) 10:00 am Worship and Church School

11:00 am Fellowship and Refreshments in Gilpatric Hall

3:00 pm End of Life Series—Attorney Peter Millham

Monday (4/28) 9:00 am T’ai Chi

Tuesday (4/29) 7:30 am Spirituality

Wed. (4/30)

Thursday (5/1) NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER

6:30 pm T’ai Chi

Friday (5/2) 8:30 am Prep for Dinner Bell

Saturday (5/3) 8:00 – noon Habitat Walk-a-Thon

Sunday (5/4) 8:30 am BOCE and Teachers

10:00 am Worship and Church School

11:00 am Fellowship and Refreshments in Gilpatric Hall

Dinner Bell

Thank You to Today’s Volunteers

Ushers:	Dave & Lynne Sias	Nursery Care:	Ask an usher
Liturgist:	Dave Sias	Greeters:	Robin Michaud & Nancy Leighley
Acolytes:	Kendall Donohoe & Braelynne Morrow	Fellowship Hosts:	Don & Barb Edwards and Dave & Lynne Sias

April 27, 2008 10:00 a.m.

Morning Worship for the Sixth Sunday of Easter

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

Gathering for Worship

PRELUDE Partita on ‘Crimond’ Young

IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH (announcements)

PREPARING THE WAY

Entering into Worship

CHORAL INTROIT

RESPONSIVE CALL TO WORSHIP

L: We come to worship our great and awesome God.

L: We are empty vessels P: …looking to be filled.

L: We are weak of faith P: …looking to be strengthened.

L: We are cold in love P: …looking to be warmed and infused with love.

L: We are hurting P: …looking to be comforted and healed.

L: We are disheartened P: …looking to be lifted up.

All: We come to worship you, O God; only you can fill us in the many different ways that we need to be filled.

*OPENING HYMN We Sing Your Mighty Power, O God Hymn #64

*GATHERING PRAYER (in unison)

Most holy God, we come awaiting the touch of your Spirit with eagerness. We come asking that you enter the lives of each one of us today. We come seeking to be refreshed, renewed, empowered and healed by the grace of your loving Spirit, that we may live with purpose and enthusiasm and courage after the manner of Jesus. We come wanting and needing to praise you. We pray together as Jesus taught us, saying: Our Father…

*LORD’S PRAYER (using debts)

CHILDREN’S STORY The Safety Net

*PASSING OF THE PEACE

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

*HYMN My Soul Gives Glory to My God Hymn #130

A Time of Sharing

PRAYER JOYS AND CONCERNS

The tragedy of our day is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer.

ANTHEM It Is Well With My Soul Bliss

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 (April’s special mission is the AIDS Camps at Geneva Point)

OFFERING

Organ Offertory Jesu, Jesu Ghana Folk Song

*Doxology (sung by the people)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise God, all creatures here below;

Praise God, above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen

*Prayer of Dedication

Reflecting on God’s Word

SCRIPTURE Matthew 10: 16-31 p. 10 NT

SERMON The Fifth Sparrow

(We examine our disappointed hands)

Sending Forth

*CLOSING HYMN His Eye is on the Sparrow Hymn #82

*BENEDICTION

ORGAN POSTLUDE Postlude on ‘Ebenezer’ Williams

The Chosen Part (Marie Curling in Guideposts)

Whenever I’m disappointed with my lot in life, I stop and think about little Jamie Scott. Jamie was trying out for a part in his school play. His mother told me that he’d set his heart on being in it, though she feared he would not be chosen. On the day that the parts were awarded, I went with her to collect him after school. Jamie rushed out, eyes shining with excitement and pride. Then he said those words that remain a lesson to me: “I’VE been chosen to clap and cheer.”

Beethoven’s Kiss (Andor Foldes, Hungarian-born pianist who made his debut

with the Budapest Philharmonic at the age of 8)

As I was giving a master class for young pianists in Saarbrucken, West Germany, in September 1985, I felt that one student would do even better if given a pat on the back. I praised him before the whole class for what distinguished his playing. He immediately outdid himself, to his amazement and that of the group. A few words brought out the best in him.

How happy and proud the first praise I remember receiving made ME feel! I was seven, and my father asked for help in the garden. I worked as hard as I could and was richly rewarded when he kissed me and said, “Thanks, son, you did very well.” His words still ring in my ears more than six decades later.

At 16, I was in the midst of a personal crisis arising from differences with my music teacher. Then the renowned pianist, Emil von Sauer, Liszt's surviving pupil, came to Budapest and asked me to play for him. He listened intently to Bach's “Toccata in C Major” and requested more. I put all my heart into playing Beethoven's "Pathetique" sonata and continued with Schumann's “Papillons.” Finally, von Sauer rose and kissed me on the forehead. “My son,” he said, “when I was your age, I became a student of Liszt. He kissed me on the forehead after my first lesson, saying, ‘Take care of this kiss-- it comes from Beethoven, who gave it to me after hearing me play.’ I have waited for years to pass on this sacred heritage, but now I feel you deserve it.”

Nothing is my life has meant as much to me as von Sauer’s praise. Beethoven’s kiss miraculously lifted me out of my crisis and helped me become the pianist I am today. Soon I in turn will pass it onto the one who most deserves it.

Praise is a potent force, a candle in a dark room. It is magic, and I marvel that it always works.

Make Your Voice Sound Like Mine

A father was unable to attend an important track meet that his son was participating in, so he called his brother to go in his place.

He told the brother, “I want you there at the beginning of the race. Holler a lot. As he comes around the track, if he looks tired and winded, whistle and shout even louder. And then, at the end of the race, no matter what position he comes in, I want you to really cheer loudly. And I want you to make your voice sound like mine.”

The brother did as asked. He discovered a theological truth in that experience—Jesus asks us to do the same thing. He asks us to be present cheering on people as they race and run, sometimes faltering and sometimes winning. And Jesus asks that we make our voices sound like His.

Prayer for a Difficult Time

Dear God, I am going through a bad time. The world seems hostile, nothing seems to be going right for me, and I am beginning to lose my confidence. Help me now. May I learn through this experience that your love is stronger than the dangers that threaten me. May my weakness be the very means for discovering your strength. Christ died and rose again for all of us. I am going through a sort of dying. Help me to believe that I shall rise again, in the name of Christ, my Living Savior. Amen.

Announcements

Welcome to all

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Prepare for worship in stillness and prayer. Enjoy worship by lifting your voice and your heart to God. After worship, enjoy the company of one another. Then, when the worship is over, the service begins. Go in peace, serve the Lord!

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$3500 Matching Challenge

As you look at the tilting church in the front, you see that over $2600 has been given toward the $3500 goal to be matched. Our efforts to get the church completely upright seem to have stalled a little. Please help us get the church (and our church’s finances) up straight by a donation over your regular giving.

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Welcome John Chilton

We are glad to welcome John Chilton, Interim Director of Geneva Point Center this morning. He shares more about the AIDS Camps to be held at GPC for youth and families infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

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End of Life Series continues

Our series will continue this afternoon at 3PM. Attorney Peter Millham from Laconia will be our guest. He will help us understand the legal aspects of wills, durable power of attorney, living wills, etc. and answer our general legal questions about the choices we have at the end of life (whenever that is) and the legal documents necessary to make sure that our wishes are carried out. All are invited to this important informational gathering, even if you have not participated in earlier sessions.

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New Church Directories Available

Please pick up a new directory (pink cover). Check your listing and notify the church office of additions or corrections.

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May Newsletters

Your May 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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Habitat for Humanity Walk-a-Thon

The 16^th annual Walk-A-Thon is scheduled for Saturday, May 3^rd between 8AM and noon. Pledge forms are available from Kent Warner. Sign to walk or sponsor walkers. This is one of the ways CHCC supports the Lakes Region Habitat for Humanity as it seeks to build houses and build hope in our area.