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!
T. G. I. SUNDAY: CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP
February 18, 2007 11:15am & 6:00pm
Disagreeable I had long found it, but I think I should have quitted it sooner, had I considered it, as I do now, to be unlawful & wrong. But I never had a scruple upon this head at the time, nor was such a thought once suggested to me by any friend. What I did, I did ignorantly, considering it as the line of life which Divine Providence had allotted to me, & having no concern, in point of conscience, but to treat the slaves, while under my care, with as much humanity as a regard to my own safety would admit.... I hope it will always be a subject of humiliating reflection to me, that I was once an active instrument in the business at which my heart now shudders. -- John Newton --
INFANT & TODDLER CARE BY ADULTS DURING ALL SERVICES IN CHURCH NURSERY
The Gathering Music
The Welcome & Welcoming One Another
Call to Worship
*A Time for Singing
*Prayer of General Confession (unison)
Holy God, we confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word and deed by what we have
done and what we have left undone. We have not loved You completely, nor have we loved our
neighbors as ourselves. We have failed to forgive as we have been forgiven, and have remained
deaf to Your call to serve others as Christ has served us. Forgive us, O God, and make us ever
more faithful disciples, through whom You can accomplish Your divine work of salvation. Now in
the silence, hear our personal prayers of confession.
*Prayer of Personal Confession (in silence)
*Assurance of Forgiveness
Children’s Message
Children & Teachers Exit to Church School
Scripture Lesson JAMES 2: 14-18
Sermon AMAZING GRACE AND THE SLAVE TRADE Dr. Gordon E. Ellis
including video clips from the new movie, Amazing Grace
Prayers of the Church
The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper
(Please come forward, break off piece of bread & dip it into cup. In the gold container are
gluten-free, wheat-free, corn-free, soy-free wafers for those with allergies.)
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 (please join hands)
*Song
*Benediction
*Response
PLEASE JOIN US DOWNSTAIRS FOR COFFEE & CONVERSATION
Greeters: 11:15am Chuck Williams 6:00pm Tammy Hill
Coffee Hour Hosts: 11:15am Anne McCarty, Diane Ellis, Brenda Mabery 6:00pm Dan & Tracey Gabree
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Flowers: Given in memory of our daughter, Alice Elisabeth Maddy, by Ben & Jacqui Maddy.
Our 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 pray for our 21 youth & 6 advisors on our Youth Mission Trip doing Hurricane Katrina reconstruction in Mississippi. We pray for the Brodersen-Chirico family, grieving the death of Bell’s brother. We continue to pray for Greg Thompson; Sue Parsons; Pat Diego; John Zigmont; Mary Carter; Shirley Penfield; Janet Crocker; Betsy Roberts; Maureen Curtis; Pat Livingstone; & our Stephen Ministers & care-receivers.
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IMPORTANT! SIGN-UP TODAY! SACRED CIRCLE COVENANT GROUPS FOR LENT: All church members & friends are urged to make a 5-week Lenten commitment (2/26 - 4/1) to spend 1½ hours/week in a group with 6 to 8 others from church exploring & learning to live The Sacred Circle of Discipleship (presented by Gordon in a recent 3-part sermon series). Groups meet at different times on different days in different settings for your convenience. Sign-up near our Chapel & ramp (to VGNS).
ASH WEDNESDAY IS THIS WEDNESDAY: Our holiest season, Lent, begins THIS Wednesday. We offer 3 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.). Plan to attend one. A luncheon ($3) follows the 12:00N service.
THE CRISIS IN DARFUR NEXT SUNDAY: Our church & Gishrei Shalom Jewish Congregation are co-sponsoring this important educational event NEXT Sunday, 4:00pm, in Memorial Hall, featuring Christopher Doucet. The editor of The Hartford Catholic Worker will offer an historical context to the genocide in Darfur & an update on the current situation there. All are welcome & encouraged to attend.
SIGN PETITIONS TODAY! Sign a petition TODAY in Memorial Hall to end modern-day slavery. Signatures will be presented to government officials to demonstrate the voice of the people regarding human trafficking & modern-day slavery. For more information, visit www.theamazingchange.com.
LENTEN NOONDAY SERVICES begin THIS week. These special 30-minute Lenten services are offered at 12:00N every Wednesday through April 4 in our Chapel (except THIS week: Meetinghouse), led by one of our clergy staff. Lenten luncheons follow each one in Memorial Hall for just $3. ALL welcome!
PROGRESSIVE DINNER: There are only 20 seats at this fabulous meal to benefit Red Cloud Indian School. It’s Saturday, 3/3, 6pm. Tickets are $30/person. For tickets, call Paul Vivian (860-621-8729).
CHURCH WOMEN UNITED’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER is Friday, 3/9, 12:00N, St. Thomas Church Hall, Bristol Street. Lunch & program = $8. For tickets, call Doris Smith by 3/2 (860-426-9205).
WINTER ART CAMP THIS WEEK: Award-winning artist & teacher, John Baker, offers an Art Camp this week (2/19 - 2/23) for kids (with lessons in painting, drawing, clay, collage, mixed media & illustration) in our new Peace Café. Sessions are 2 hours (grades 1-3 = 9:30-11:30am & grades 4-7 = 1:30-3:30pm). Learn about art from around the world & help friends create artwork for our new Peace Café. Cost: $150 (includes all materials). Last call! Register today! Contact Crystal Sullivan (203-536-5642 or at KenCrySS@sbcglobal.net).
WE RECOMMEND the movies, Amazing Grace (opening this Friday) & Freedom Writers. See them!
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.
STEVE & FRIENDS CONCERT, featuring church member, Steve Casillas, will be held at St. Mary’s Church, Newington, CT, NEXT Sunday, 2/25, 3:30 pm. A light reception will follow. All welcome!
PUZZLE SWAP NEXT SUNDAY, 2/25, all day in Memorial Hall. Bring in & take home puzzles for adults & children (children’s puzzles not more than 100 pieces). For info, contact Lois Hall (860-828-4219).
SUMMER CAMP: Our United Church of Christ runs a wonderful summer camp experience for children & teens at Silver Lake Conference Center in Sharon, CT. Brochure & registration is now available on-line at www.ctucc.org (click on "Silver Lake"). We also have some scholarship assistance available. See Karlene Archambeault or Carole Lantz.
FOR YOUR CALENDAR: Mad Agnes in concert, Peace Café, 7:30pm, Sunday, April 15th!