Welcome!    Thank  You   for  Worshiping  With  Us  Today!

Welcome to the First Congregational Church of Southington.  Ours is an open & affirming congregation dating from 1724 & worshiping in our present Meetinghouse since 1830.  One of the larger, more vibrant United Church of Christ churches in New England, our church’s 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 our church to be an accepting, caring, non-judgmental community, where faith is renewed, lives are transformed, & power for positive living is received.  It’s a church where the Spirit is alive & miracles happen!  Welcome!

January 14, 2007              CHAPEL    COMMUNION                        8:00AM

Celebrate!  Rejoice!  Hallelujah!  If the Bible uses words like these [to describe the Kingdom of God], then our lives should exude that same biblical vitality.  Whenever Christians party, they provide a foretaste of what is to come.  Whenever they celebrate with laughter & song, they evangelize.  They send out the message that the Kingdom of God is at hand – and the Kingdom of God is a wonderful party.    -- Tony Campolo in The Kingdom of God Is a Party! --

INFANT  &  TODDLER   CARE  BY  ADULTS  DURING  ALL  SERVICES  IN  CHURCH  NURSERY

PREPARING   TO   WORSHIP   GOD

Gathering Music

The Welcome/Welcoming One Another

Church Family Announcements

PRAISING   GOD

The Call to Worship:

            PASTOR:  It’s party time!  Let’s celebrate!  Let’s rejoice!  Let’s shout “Hallelujah!”

            PEOPLE: Whenever Christians party, they provide a foretaste of what is to come.

            PASTOR:  Whenever Christians celebrate with laughter and song, they evangelize.  They send out

                             a message that the Kingdom of God is at hand – and it is a wonderful party!

            PEOPLE: Let’s send out that message to one and all!  Let’s celebrate that the Kingdom of

                             God is a party!

Hymn of Praise:

*Prayer of General Confession (unison)

            Holy God, You came among us in Christ working wonders and offering us signs of Your

            miraculous abundance and love.  Yet we still maintain a mentality of scarcity and hoard for

            ourselves what You call us to share.  Forgive us, O God, and help us learn to trust You for all that

            we need, share all that You give us and celebrate our many blessings with all Your children

            everywhere.  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                                                                                                                             JOHN  2:1-11

Sermon                                               THE   LIFE   OF   THE   PARTY!                                   Dr. Gordon Ellis

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.

                Inside gold container are gluten-free, wheat-free, corn-free, soy-free wafers for those with allergies.)

Prayer of Thanksgiving  (join hands)

Benediction

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

Our NEW 2007 Flower Chart to provide flowers in honor/memory of loved ones is now available in Memorial Hall. 

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Joys & Concerns for Prayer: We celebrate the birth of Tyler William, grandson of Bill & Karen Andres &             Rylie Brim Csont, granddaughter of Rudy & Connie Csont.  We continue to pray for Lyndsey Ellis, Carol Ann Celella, Diane Lamb; John Zigmont; Mary Carter; Shirley Penfield; Carolyn Beadle; Janet Crocker; Betsy Roberts; Maureen Curtis; Pat Livingstone; & our Stephen Ministers & care-receivers.

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A  QUIET  CANDLELIGHT  PRAYER  SERVICE in the style of Taize is held EVERY Tuesday, 6:30-7:00pm, in our Chapel.  All welcome & encouraged to attend for quiet, reflective worship.

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

PASTA  DINNER: Tickets on sale today at coffee hour.  Join us on Saturday, 1/27, 6:00-8:00PM, Memorial Hall, for a Pasta Dinner to support our February Youth Mission Trip to Mississippi, where they will help with Hurricane Katrina reconstruction.  $7.50/adults & $5/children (5 & under).

VILLAGE GREEN NURSERY SCHOOL REGISTRATION TODAY following all services in Memorial Hall.  Offering morning & afternoon sessions for 3 & 4 year olds. For more information call Nan Sheridan (628-6958) or visit the website: www.firstchurchsouthington.org/education/village.html.

DRAMA MINISTRY MEETING: There will be a drama ministry meeting in the Library on Wednesday, January 17 at 6:30pm for anyone interested in helping plan our next dramatic event. Any questions, contact Crystal Sullivan (276-8614) or kencryss@sbcglobal.net.