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
March 4, 2007 11:15am & 6:00pm
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
The Gathering Music
The Welcome & Welcoming One Another
Call to Worship
*A Time for Singing
*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
Children’s Message
Children & Teachers Exit to Church School
Video Clip from Hitch
Scripture Lesson PHILIPPIANS 3:17-4:1
Sermon DIVINE IMPROV Dr. Gordon E. Ellis
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 (During this song, an offering will be received to support our church & its ministries & missions)
*Benediction
*Response
PLEASE JOIN US DOWNSTAIRS FOR COFFEE & CONVERSATION
Greeters: 11:15am Evelyn McKay, Betsey Sarris & family 6:00pm Rita Williams
Coffee Hour Hosts: 11:15am Chris & Sue Aulbach 6:00pm Heidi Bass
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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!
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.
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.
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!