February 26, 2006             CHAPEL    COMMUNION                        8:00AM

Evangelism is one beggar telling another beggar where there’s a crust of bread.   -- D. T. Niles --

PREPARING   TO   WORSHIP   GOD

Gathering Music

The Welcome/Welcoming One Another

Church Family Announcements

PRAISING   GOD

The Call to Worship

            PASTOR:  We gather to praise and glorify God, who calls us from aimless living.

            PEOPLE: We, who bind ourselves to this world, seek a vision beyond ourselves and our

                              immediate circumstances.  We seek meaningful and joyful lives.

            PASTOR:  The Good News of Jesus Christ tells us that we are not bound to this world and its

                              values!  Christ offers us a new vision and vast possibilities for good.

            PEOPLE: Let us celebrate this good news, and live it, offering God truth and love to all who

                              will receive it.

*Hymn of Praise: ##173                 You Have Come down to the Lakeshore                            Pescador de Hombres

*Prayer of General Confession (unison)

            Holy God, we dare to come again asking for forgiveness.  Too often we have tossed and turned

            through nights of emptiness, with little hope.  We have seen clouds without rejoicing over their

            refreshing rain.  We have confused freedom with license and mistaken humility for weakness.

            Forgive us, O God, and help us to hear and believe the Good News of Jesus Christ, that we might

            have full, meaningful and joyful lives.  Now in the silence, hear our personal prayers of confession.

*Prayer of Personal Confession (in silence)

*Assurance of Forgiveness

HEARING   GOD'S   WORD                           

Scripture Lesson                                                                                                                    MARK 1:28, 32-45

Sermon                                     LET’S   NOT   FORGET   THE   MISSION !           Rev. Dr. Gordon E. Ellis

includes unison reading: The Purpose of the Church: #A-1 (Worship Book)

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

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Flowers: Given by Roberta Barrett & Shirley Zigmont in loving memory of loved ones.

Joys & Concerns for Prayer: Ryan David Bernardo, son of James & Wendy (Coleman) Bernardo, receives the Sacrament of Christian Baptism at 9:30am.  Hospitalized: Jeannette Faitella.  Upcoming surgeries: Pat Livingstone, tomorrow; Clive Greenough, 3/5.  We continue to pray for Diane Lamb; Matthew Plourde; Andrea Sinclair; Judy Costa; Maureen Curtis; Pat Diego; Janis Leger; Dorothy Greenough; Mary Lou Thompson; Donna Morin; John O’Connor; Matt Currao; our Stephen Ministers & care-receivers.

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SPECIAL  OFFERING  TODAY: Our sister church, Central Congregational in New Orleans, can no longer pay its pastor, Rev. Wilmer Brown, because of Hurricane Katrina.  He has committed to stay anyway.  Our CT Conference, U.C.C. is helping with a special offering, hoping that each church can raise $300.  Our special offering is TODAY at all 4 services!  Would you help?  Contribute in 2^nd plate.

ASH  WEDNESDAY  IS  THIS  WEEK: Our holiest season, Lent, begins on THIS Wednesday, Ash Wednesday.  We offer 3 brief Ash Wednesday Services of Penance, when you may receive ashes.  Services are at 7:00AM in Chapel (30 min.), 12:00Noon in Meetinghouse (30 min.) & 7:00PM in Meetinghouse (45 min.).  Gordon’s challenging message, Kill the Cyclops, will be offered at all 3.  Plan to attend one. A luncheon ($3) follows our 12:00N service.

GORDON’S  SERMON  NEXT  SUNDAY will be comforting & life-giving.  Entitled, Shepherd of All Who Wander, it’s based on Psalm 23 & Mark 1:1-15 & includes the Jim Cole’s song by the same title.

JIM   COLE   IN   CONCERT: Jim Cole, the James Taylor of Christian music, is known around the world for songs like Humble Yourself as a Child, Master of My Heart, Every Generation, & In Bethlehem Tonight.  Mark your calendar: Jim Cole will be with us all day on Sunday, March 26.  He’ll sing alone & with our choir or band at all 4 services, then offer a wonderful, Spirit-filled concert in our Meetinghouse at 7:30pm!  Tickets: $10 ($5/under 18) from Church Office.  DON’T  MISS  IT !

PROPOSED  OPEN  &  AFFIRMING  STATEMENT  INFORMATIONAL  DISCUSSIONS will be offered on Sunday, March 26, at 10:45am & 5:15pm in Church Parlor.  Those with interest, questions or concerns are invited & encouraged to attend.  Missions Committee members will lead them.

MUSIC  OF  THE  AGES  FOR  ALL  AGES:  A  CONCERT  BY  OUR  MUSIC  MINISTRY: Our church is blessed with a fantastic music ministry!  Join us to hear all of our musical groups: Senior Choir, Mustard Seeds Children’s Choir, The Celebration Ringers (handbell choir) & Branches (our T.G.I. Sunday worship band & singers).  It’s Saturday, March 11, 7:30pm, in our Meetinghouse.  A free-will offering will be received for Southington Social Services.  DON’T  MISS  IT!

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

USHERS  NEEDED: Would you usher 1 Sunday/month at 9:30AM starting in March?  Training provided; substitutes available.  Get to know more people!  Sign-up next to Gordon’s office TODAY.

MOVIES  THAT   MATTER happens again Friday, 3/10, 7:00pm, with Academy Award-winning movie: Life is Beautiful with a discussion on 3/12, 7:30, led by Sharon Vocke & Clare Lindsey.  Join us for discussion whether you watch movie at church or home.  FUTURE Movies:  ; April 21 (7pm) The Scarlet & the Black (a Vatican Monsignor daringly saves many lives in WW2 Italy) with discussion: 4/23, 7:30pm, led by Gabe Selmi & Alice Niemczyski & May 12 (7pm) 12 Angry Men (a jury disagrees regarding guilt of a defendant) with discussion: 5/14, 7:30pm, led by Gordon Ellis & Sue Meissner.  JOIN US!

SUMMER  CAMP  FOR  KIDS: Our United Church of Christ runs a wonderful summer camp for children & teens at Silver Lake Conference Center in Sharon, CT.  Brochure & registration are available on-line at http://silverlake.ctucc.org.  A limited number of brochures are available in our C. E. Office (see Karlene Archambeault or Carole Lantz).  Some scholarship $ available (see Gordon Ellis).

OZ: Our own Daniel Dietz is Scarecrow in Newington Children’s Theater touring group’s musical, OZ, on Sunday, 3/12, 2:00pm, Derynoski School.  Tickets ($3 & $5) available from Ellie Dietz (860-620-9069).

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.