March 4, 2007              CHAPEL    COMMUNION                      8:00AM

The cross leads us to joy & not just happiness.  There is a difference….  Happiness is a checkbook that has money, a car that works, a good date for Saturday night.  Happiness is the absence of major hassles, or terrorism or crime; happiness is kids’ getting good report card and spouse’s getting a raise.  Happiness is something we know as enhancement or protection of our own lives.  Joy comes in connection with another or with Jesus.  Joy can happen without money or a working car.  Joy happens when we get to the core of life & realize love is at the core.  Joy befriends us; love accompanies us.  -- Donna Schaper --

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 for this time of worship in reverent awe, for this is holy ground!

            PEOPLE: We are here to feel the presence and power of the Living God!

PASTOR:  There is so much of God that we do not know or understand.  God’s purposes are far

                              beyond our comprehension.

PEOPLE: In these moments and in all of life, let us be open to the unexpected.  And let us

      celebrate that ours is a redeeming God, always at work in our lives and world.

Hymn of Praise: #436                            God of Grace and God of Glory                                       CWM Rhondda

*Prayer of General Confession (unison)

Holy God, we are called to be imitators of Christ, but we often mimic the world.  We are called

to be citizens of Your Kingdom, but we fall in love with the kingdoms of this world.  We are

called to walk the walk of faith and to place our trust in You, but too often we are content just

to talk the talk, as we trust the powers, principalities and pleasures of this world.  Forgive us, O

God, and help us become the faithful people You call us to become.  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                                                                                                             PHILIPPIANS 3:17-4:1

Sermon                                                           DIVINE   IMPROV                                          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 Sophia George Chaltas by the Chaltas 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 Bill Korp, who left Friday for Uganda, where he will serve for 2+ years in The Peace Corps.  Diane Lamb had surgery this week.  Also hospitalized this week: Alan Beaudoin & Graham Hall.  We continue to pray for Sue Parsons; John Robison; Pat Diego; John Zigmont; Mary Carter; Janet Crocker; Betsy Roberts; Maureen Curtis; Pat Livingstone; & our Stephen Ministers & care-receivers.

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NEXT  SUNDAY:  REV.  DR.  DAVIDA  FOY  CRABTREE, our Conference Minister in our CT Conference of the United Church of Christ, will be our guest preacher.  Please come welcome her & show her what a special & wonderful church family we are!

THE  EXONERATED: Our adaption of The Exonerated, directed by John Baker (who recently toured with The Sound of Music) comes to Peace Café on March 30 & 31, 7:30pm, & April 1, 2:30pm.  It chronicles the stories of 4 wrongly-accused death row inmates.  Infused with poignant music, it’s a thought-provoking start to Holy Week, as we remember another death row inmate, Jesus!  Space limited; get free tickets at Coffee & Conversation or from Shelley Nyren (860-628-2523 or shelnyren@sbcglobal.net).  Free-will offering at event.  Due to adult themes & language, play is not recommended for children under age 16.

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!

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. Rick Haverly.  Lenten luncheons in Memorial Hall follow each Lenten Noonday Service for just $3.  ALL welcome!

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.

DARFUR  INTERVENTION: Chris Doucet, last Sunday’s speaker on The Crisis in Darfur, urged us to write to former President Clinton, asking him to travel to Darfur to witness & publicize the genocide there.  Letters for your signature are in Memorial Hall & next to our Church Office.  You may sign & send one yourself, sign one & leave it for us to send or compose your own, but please help the suffering people of Darfur!  Your Missions Committee

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 loan to those unable to attend.  While Gabe generally records whichever service is convenient for him, prior arrangement can be made with him to record a specific service for you & provide you with a copy (such as if your child is being baptized or you are participating in worship).  Call Gabe to make arrangements (860-620-9587).

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.

MOVIES  THAT  MATTER will be offered on the big screen with surround sound on Friday, 3/23, at 7:00pm, in Peace Café.  The movie, Jesus Camp, will be shown, followed by a discussion led by Sue Meissner & Clare Lindsey.  Child care ($3/child for the evening) will be offered & refreshments will be available.  All are welcome!  Suggested donation: $2/person.  Our April movie will be Brokeback Mountain on Friday, April 20, 7:00pm, with discussion leader, Rich Szulczewski.

CHURCH  COUNCIL  MEETS  TOMORROW, 7:00pm, in room #203.  All boards & committees  should be represented.

OUR  SEEDS  OF  HOPE  GROUP  MEETS  TONIGHT, 7:30pm, in room #204.  Check out the group’s description on the insert under Small Groups & join us tonight!  It’s extremely IMPORTANT!