Welcome! Thank You for Worshiping With Us Today!
Welcome to the First Congregational Church of Southington, dating from 1724, & worshiping in this Meetinghouse since 1830. We are one of the larger, more vibrant United Church of Christ churches in New England. Our purpose is to love & worship God; extend God’s radically-inclusive love to all people everywhere; make more & better disciples of Jesus Christ; & inspire people & society to become more & more just, loving, compassionate & Christ-like. You will find here an accepting, caring, non-judgmental community, where lives are transformed, faith is renewed & power for positive living is received. Welcome!
January 22, 2006 T.G. I. Sunday: Contemporary Worship 11:15am & 6:00pm
Faith is being grasped by the power of love…. Faith is recognizing that if at Christmas God became like us, it was so that thereafter, we might become like God… that our lives too can become channels for divine mercy to flow out to save the lost & the suffering. -- William Sloane Coffin, Jr. --
The Prelude
The Welcome & Welcoming One Another
*A Time for Singing
*Prayer of General Confession (unison)
Holy God, as disciples of Jesus Christ today, our mission is to offer Your love, peace and justice
to all people everywhere, regardless of race, nationality, creed, sexual orientation or economic
status. We confess, however, that we have not been faithful. We have judged and misjudged our
neighbors; been prejudiced against those who are different; and allowed violence, injustice, abuse,
and persecution to continue in our homes, country and world. Forgive us, O God, and empower us
to be true and faithful , loving and just, and daring and disciplined in loving and serving both You
and our neighbors everywhere. Now in the silence, hear our personal prayers of confession.
*Prayer of Personal Confession (in silence)
*Assurance of Forgiveness
Children’s Message (6:00pm only)
Children & Teachers Exit to Church School
A Brief Interview with Sue Aulbach (11:15am) or Beth Barnes (6:00pm)
Scripture Lessons ISAIAH 6:1-8, 1 CORINTHIANS 1:26-31, MARK 1:16-20
Sermon HERE AM I! SEND ME! Dr. Gordon E. Ellis
Prayers of the Church
The Sharing of the Bread and Cup (Please come forward, break off piece of bread & dip it into cup.)
The Act of Blessing (A blessing by anointing is offered during communion to all who wish it.
After partaking of communion, go to either kneeling bench, & kneel or stand.)
*Prayer of Thanksgiving & Lord’s Prayer (using sins….. please join hands)
*Song & Offering (An offering will be received during this song. Please pass baskets through your pew &
then to pew behind you. If you are a visitor, worship is our gift to you. We urge those
who worship here regularly to share the costs of our church & worship life. Thank you!)
*Benediction
*Response Lord, I Lift Your Name On High!
PLEASE JOIN US DOWNSTAIRS NOW FOR COFFEE & CONVERSATION
Greeters: 11:15am = Joe & Karri Crispino & Lori Cipollini 6:00pm = Pam Brush
Joys & Concerns for Prayer: We celebrate the birth of Ella Adeline Huard (1/17), daughter of Ron & Beth Huard, granddaughter of Bob & Bev Huber. We pray for the families of Lucille Gemmell & Dale Smith, grieving their deaths. Hospitalized: Andrea Sinclair, Gavin Haines, Clive Greenough, Jeannette Faitella, Jonathan Stroop, Walter Smith. We continue to pray for Diane Lamb; Judy Costa; Maureen Curtis; Pat Diego; Janis Leger; Dorothy Greenough; Mary Lou Thompson; Donna Morin; John O’Connor; Matthew Currao; Pat Livingstone; our Stephen Ministers & care-receivers.
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LAST CALL: VILLAGE GREEN NURSERY SCHOOL accepts church member registrations first, but TODAY is the last day. Leave registration form in VGNS folder outside Church Office (extra forms in folder). Public registration starts tomorrow. Don’t wait!
SEEDS OF HOPE GROUP MEETS TONIGHT: 7:30PM, room #204. Details? See Small Groups page on bulletin insert! ALL WELCOME!
MEXICO MISSION TRIP INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS for this summer’s working mission trip to Mexico will be offered by Rick Haverly in our Chapel following all 4 services. ALL welcome!
POTLUCK SUPPER FOR EVERYONE: Greet new members THIS Saturday, 6:00pm, in Memorial Hall. Bring dish to share! For info, call Stacey Jagello (203/729-0892) or Barbara Stubbs (203/440-8958).
JOIN US TO SEE THE EXONERATED at Theaterworks in Hartford NEXT Sunday, 1/29, 2:30pm (we’ll carpool from church at 1pm). It’s a drama based on the stories of people on death row, who were released after being found innocent. Cost: $25/person. Sign-up next to Gordon’s office TODAY.
2006 CALENDAR FOR EVERY DOLLAR FEEDS KIDS: For $25 you get a 2006 Wall Calendar that puts you in a drawing for a weekly thank you gift (average value: $25). Call Church Office.
CPR & AED TRAINING: John Arens will teach full training (3 hours, get card) THIS Wednesday, 1/25, 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!
MOVIES IN THE MEETINGHOUSE happens again on Friday, February 10, 7:00pm, with the movie, Fiddler on the Roof (sing-a-along). Sue Meissner & Clare Lindsey will lead a discussion on Fiddler on the Roof on Sunday, February 12, 7:30pm, in rooms #201/202. Join us for discussion whether you watch movie at church or at home… FUTURE Movies: March 10 (7pm) Life is Beautiful with discussion on 3/12, 7:30, led by TBA; April 21 (7pm) The Scarlet & the Black with discussion: 4/23, 7:30pm, led by Gabe Selmi & Alice Niemczyski & May 12 (7pm) 12 Angry Men with discussion: 5/14, 7:30pm, led by Gordon Ellis & Sue Meissner. JOIN US!
OUR ADDICTION ASSISTANCE NETWORK is for individuals/families needing confidential assistance with problem drinking, drug use, gambling, etc. Contact Steve & JoAnn Ray (203-591-1291).
CHECK OUT OUR CHURCH’S WEBSITE, www.firstchurchsouthington.org. You’ll love it!
EVERY DOLLAR FEEDS KIDS OFFERING ENVELOPES are available next to Church Office.
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.
Proposed Open and Affirming Statement
(to be voted on by the congregation at our Annual Meeting of the Church on Monday, June 19, 2006)
We, the members of The First Congregational Church of Southington, Connecticut, hereby declare ourselves to be an open and affirming congregation. We accept the challenges and joys of Christian faith, a faith profound enough to embrace even uncertainty. We struggle with the difficult issues of our day, understanding that God’s Word touches and guides us as a congregation and as individuals.
With God’s grace, we welcome and affirm the total identity of all people as beloved children of God. We are a congregation that seeks to break down the barriers of prejudice, declaring respect for the worth and dignity of all persons, embracing differences in age, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, ethnicity, nationality, socio-economic status, and physical, emotional, and mental capability. We also recognize and affirm loving, committed, and diverse families. We actively welcome all people to become members of our church and to share fully in our church’s life and leadership, ministry and fellowship, worship and sacraments, and responsibilities and blessings.
(Watch for educational & discussion opportunities coming soon.)