February 25, 2007            CHAPEL    COMMUNION         8:00AM

Sometimes being tempted makes us feel dirty.  An important lesson for disciples is this: Temptation is not sin.  Satan may tempt us by putting evil thoughts into our minds, but we can push them right out again with God’s help.  I’ve always appreciated a saying attributed to Martin Luther: ‘You can’t help it if a bird flies over your head, but you don’t need to let him make a nest in your hair.’  Temptation is not sin.    -- Ralph E. Wilson --

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:  We gather to begin Lent as pilgrims on the journey of faith.

            PEOPLE: We come seeking awareness of God’s presence with us as we travel on.

PASTOR:  We come seeking light for our darkness and strength in our weakness.

UNISON:  Shine in our hearts, O God, with the light of Your love.  Make Your presence

      known to us in and through Jesus the Christ.  Amen.

Hymn of Praise: #

*Prayer of General Confession (unison)

            Holy God, we come asking Your forgiveness and seeking Your direction.  The Bible says, Woe

to those who call evil good, but that’s exactly what we have done.  We have exploited the poor

and called it the lottery and globalization.  We have abused power and called it politics.  We

have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition.  We have polluted the media

with profanity, violence and pornography and called it freedom of expression.  We have

ridiculed the time-honored values of our ancestors and called it enlightenment.  Forgive us, O

God, and help us stop assuming that there is nothing we can do in the face of evil.  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                                                                                                                            LUKE  4:1-13

Sermon                                          BLESSINGS   AND   TEMPTATIONS                            Dr. Gordon E. 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 in loving memory of Dustin Arigoni by the Dobratz family.

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 returning today from our Youth Mission Trip doing Hurricane Katrina reconstruction in Mississippi.  We pray for Bill Korp as he prepares to leave for Uganda, where he will serve in the Peace Corps.  We pray for Joe Mercuri & Alan Beaudoin, hospitalized this week.  We continue to pray for 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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LAST  CALL!  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).

THE  CRISIS  IN  DARFUR  PROGRAM  TODAY: Our church & Gishrei Shalom Jewish Congregation are co-sponsoring this important educational event TODAY, 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.

GORDON’S  SERMON  NEXT  SUNDAY will be Divine Improv, based on Philippians 3:17 – 4:1.

USHERS  NEEDED for 1 Sunday/month at 9:30am?  It’s a great way to meet more people AND serve your church.  Training & substitutes provided!  Please sign-up next to Gordon’s office.

LENTEN  NOONDAY  SERVICES: Join us for a special 30-minute Lenten service at 12:00N each Wednesday through April 4 in our Chapel.  This week’s worship leader: Rev. Linda Fernandes-Bailey.  Lenten luncheons in Memorial Hall follow each Lenten Noonday Service for just $3.  ALL welcome!

HOLY  WEEK  VIGIL: Sign-up today for our Holy Week Vigil, when people will be in our chapel ‘round the clock’ (Maundy Thursday, 4/5, 9PM, through Easter Sunrise, 4/8, 6AM) for 1 hour each, worshipping, praying, meditating on behalf of all of us.  Sign-up next to Gordon’s office today!

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).

DVD’S  OF  WEEKLY  WORSHIP: Thanks to Gabe Selmi, our Church Library will again have DVD copies of our weekly worship services for those unable to attend.  Gabe generally records whichever service is convenient for him, but prior arrangement can be made with him to record a specific service for you & provide you with a copy.  Call Gabe to make arrangements (860-620-9587).

REV.  DR.  DAVIDA  FOY  CRABTREE, Conference Minister of our CT Conference, UCC, will be our guest preacher on Sunday, March 11, at all 4 services.  Please come welcome her & show her what a special & wonderful church family this is!

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.

PUZZLE  SWAP  TODAY, 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.  Registration is on-line: www.ctucc.org (click on "Silver Lake").  Some scholarships available.  (See Karlene Archambeault or Carole Lantz.)

MOVIES  THAT  MATTER will be offered on the big screen with surround sound THIS Friday, 3/2, at 7:00pm, in Peace Café.  The movie, An Inconvenient Truth, will be shown, followed by a discussion led by Anne McCarty & Janet Crocker.  Child care ($3/child for the evening) will be offered & refreshments will be available.  All are welcome!  Suggested donation $2/person.  Our NEXT movie will be Jesus Camp on Friday, March 23, 7:00pm, with discussion leaders, Sue Meissner & Clare Lindsey.