January 8, 2006                CHAPEL    COMMUNION                        8:00AM

PREPARING   TO   WORSHIP   GOD

Gathering Music

The Welcome/Welcoming One Another

Church Family Announcements

PRAISING   GOD

The Call to Worship

            PASTOR:  The windows of heaven are open whether we realize it or not.             

            PEOPLE: The Spirit is moving like a dove whether we welcome her or not.    

            PASTOR:  This is the new age of Christ whether we serve it or not.                              

            PEOPLE: This is the hour of salvation, whether we celebrate it or not.

            PASTOR:  Here and now, people of God, I invite you to a sharpened realization, an open-

     hearted welcome, and an over-abundant celebration.

*Hymn: #J-1 (Worship Book)                                 Spirit, Come                                                           Gregory Norbet

*Prayer of General Confession (unison)

            God, our Creator and Savior, we are creatures who need Your constant assistance.  Without it

we will never completely break free from those forces, sometimes subtle and sometimes blatant,

that compromise our spirit, and make an unholy alliance with the evil in the world around us.  

Our need is not for a quick-fix, with cheap forgiveness, followed by pious but impractical good

intentions.  Rather we pray for an ongoing radical transformation within our deepest being.  We

ask for more and more of Your saving grace, for the ability to discern our own secretive sins and

to muster the desire to sincerely repent.  We need a mercy that reaches into those depths where

spiritual hungers and furtive corruptions co-exist.  We want You to forgive our self-treachery, to

eradicate any mutiny, and then to liberate those holy desires which long to rise up into loving

thoughts and faithful deeds.  Please immerse us in Your healing waters of love. Baptize us with

Your Spirit.  Let us know that we are truly made in Your image and destined for heights more

beautiful than we can ever imagine.  Through Christ Jesus, who for our sake was baptized by

water and the Spirit.  Now in the silence hear our personal prayers of confession…

*Prayer of Personal Confession (in silence)

*Assurance of Forgiveness

HEARING   GOD'S   WORD                          

Scripture Lessons                                                                                        ACTS  19:1-11  &  MARK  1:4-11

Sermon                                        THE   NEW   &   IMPROVED   MODEL                          Rev. Rick Haverly

RESPONDING   TO   GOD'S   WORD

Prayers of the Church & Lord’s Prayer (using sins)

THE   SACRAMENT   OF   THE   LORD’S   SUPPER

The Invitation

The Sharing of the Bread and Cup

            (Please come forward, pew by pew, starting with the entire left side, front pew first.  The right

                side can then follow, beginning in the rear.  Break off a piece of bread & dip it into the cup.)

Prayer of Thanksgiving  (join hands)

Benediction

                *              *              *              *              *              *              *              *              *              *              *              *

Flowers: Given by Bob & Janet Schmidt in loving memory of loved ones.

NEW: To provide flowers in memory/honor of a loved one/event ANY week this year,

sign-up on our new FLOWER  CHART in Memorial Hall.

Joys & Concerns for Prayer: These older children receive The Sacrament of Christian Baptism at 11:15am today: Chad Peter Mehmel, son of Ed & Marsha Mehmel, and Jack William & Joseph Anthony DePaolo-Boisvert, sons of Valerie DePaolo & Michelle Boisvert.  Hospitalized: Gwen Sunderland, Jeannette Faitella & Lucille Gemmell.  Ken Sullivan had knee surgery this week.  Lyndsey Ellis and Michael & Jennifer Miceli are on a mission for Every Dollar Feeds Kids in Guayaquil, Ecuador.  Andrea Sinclair goes to NYC on 1/16 for very intricate, extensive back surgery.  Matthew Currao, a U. S. Marine, is now in Fallujah, Iraq.  We continue to pray for Jacqui Maddy; Bill Bennett; Diane Lamb; Judy Costa; Maureen Curtis; Walter Smith; Pat Diego; Janis Leger; Dorothy & Clive Greenough; Mary Lou Thompson; Donna Morin; John O’Connor; Pat Livingstone; our Stephen Ministers & care-receivers.

            *              *              *              *              *              *              *              *              *              *              *              *

GORDON  ELLIS will be in Florida this week attending Conversations, an educational conference for senior ministers of large churches in our United Church of Christ.  He returns Saturday & preaches & leads worship NEXT Sunday.

PASTA  DINNER: Sr. C.I.A. (gr. 9-12) will host a Pasta Dinner THIS Saturday, 1/14, 5:00-8:00pm, in Memorial Hall for support their February Youth Mission Trip to work in Washington, D. C.  $6/adults & $3/ages 6 & under: tickets on sale TODAY at Coffee & Conversation.

YOUTH  SKI  TRIP: Youth, grades 6-12, & their parents are invited on Monday, January 16.  Watch for more details soon & sign-up next to Gordon’s office.  For info, call Rick Haverly (860/620-0513).

LOCAL  MISSION  WORK: THANKS for a great response to our Covenant to Care & Angel Tree gift tags!  168 gifts (valued at $3,192) were purchased by our members & delivered to our many D.C.F. kids, as well as 7 kids of incarcerated Southington residents.  Our Salvation Army bell-ringers on 12/10 raised $1,408 for Southington Social Services.  17 of our members helped deliver 379 Christmas food baskets to neighbors in need around town on 12/17.  AND our Christmas Gift Cards raised a total of $1177.50 to benefit 4 wonderful mission organizations: Prudence Crandall Center, Southington’s Manna Fund, Hartford Habitat for Humanity & Every Dollar Feeds Kids.  Doesn’t it feel GREAT?

SAFE  CHURCH  TRAINING: Wednesday, January 18, 7:00-8:30pm, rooms 201/202.

CPR & AED  TRAINING: John Arens will teach full training (3 hours, get card) on 2 Wednesdays, January 11 or 25, and refresher training (90 minutes, get card) on Wednesdays, January 18.  All begin at 7:00pm.  Please sign-up next to Gordon’s office ASAP.

QUIET  WORSHIP  IN  THE  STYLE  OF  TAIZE is offered EVERY Tuesday, 6:30-7:00pm, in our chapel.  It includes 10 minutes of silence, along with scripture, prayers & simple choruses.  Join us!

2006  CALENDAR  FOR  EVERY  DOLLAR  FEEDS  KIDS: To thank you for a minimum donation of $26, our EDFK Board of Directors will give you a 2006 Wall Calendar which, thanks to local merchants & board members, provides a weekly thank you gift (average value: $25) to the person whose name is drawn from the names of those who purchase calendars (or those they designate if calendars are given as gifts).  The person selected each week will be contacted & the gift may be either mailed or picked up at our Church Office.  All names will be included in all drawings, regardless of how many times each is drawn.  View & order your calendars TODAY at Coffee & Conversation!

CHECK  OUT  OUR  CHURCH’S  WEBSITE, www.firstchurchsouthington.org.  You’ll love it!

VIDEOS  OF  SUNDAY  SERVICES  &  SPECIAL  EVENTS are available in our Church Library.

CHILD  CARE for infants/toddlers is offered at all 4 Sunday services in our Infant/Toddler Nursery.

EVERY  DOLLAR  FEEDS  KIDS  OFFERING  ENVELOPES are available next to Church Office.