Round Hill Community Church

ORDER OF SERVICE May 15, 2016

Pentecost Sunday

PRELUDE Air Warlock Pavanne Warlock

WORDS OF WELCOME INTROIT

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: We are invited into the presence of God, given words of courage,

refuge from trouble, healing of memory, forgiveness of sins.All: We are hesitant – fearful of being embraced by a blessing

which is also a consuming fire. Leader: We are invited into the mission of God, called to disturb the

comfort of others and accept freedom and responsibility for our own lives.

All: We are willing – our tongues are tuned to prophecy, our prayers are steady even in turmoil, our lips are poised to offer God praise.

*HYMN No. 277 Christians, We Have Met to Worship

*The congregation is invited to stand

*OPENING PRAYER Spirit of God, Lord and Giver of Life,moving between us and around,like wind or water or fire,breathe into us your freshness that we may awake,cleanse our vision that we may see more clearly,kindle our senses that we may feel more sharply,and give us the courage to liveas you would have us live,through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

*GLORIA PATRIGlory be to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning,is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Nicole Piper Children may now leave for Church School.

ANTHEM Ride On, King Jesus DeCormier

SCRIPTURE LESSON Acts 2: 1-8; 12-18When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent

wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?

All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

‘In the last days it will be, God declares,that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.’

SERMON The Essential Intangible The Rev. Dr. Ed Horstmann

HYMN No. 623 Woke Up This Morning

PASTORAL PRAYEROFFERING

Invitation

Anthem I’m Goin’ Sing Parker*Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise him,

all creatures here below; praise him above, ye heavenly host: Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

*Hymn My Country ‘Tis of Thee (verse 4) Our fathers’ God, to thee, author of liberty, to thee we sing; long may our

land be bright with freedom’s holy light; protect us bythy might, Great God, our King.

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

Invitation to the Table

The Great Prayer of ThanksgivingLeader: God be with you.All: And also with you.Leader: Lift up your hearts.All: We lift them up to God.Leader: Let us give thanks to God Most High.All: It is right to give God our thanks and praise.

Leader: It is right, and a good and joyful thing always and everywhere to

give thanks to you, Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth. At the beginning of time, your Spirit moved upon the waters of chaos as you called forth land and sea, mountain and valley, desert and tundra, jungle and grassy plain. Your Spirit went before Moses and the people of Israel, a pillar of fire by night, leading them through the wilderness. Your Spirit roused the hearts of the prophets who proclaimed your judgement upon the nations and called for repentance among your people. For these mighty acts of your Holy Spirit, we praise your name and join in the eternal hymn of all the angels and saints who sing:

Sanctus sung by all to the tune NicaeaHoly! Holy! Holy! One God Almighty!All your works shall praise your name in earth and sky and sea! Holy! Holy! Holy! Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is Christ who comes to set us free!

Words of Remembrance Leader: Holy are you, indeed, and blessed is Jesus Christ your Son. By your Spirit you anointed him to bring good news to the poor and to proclaim release to the captives. By your Spirit, Jesus confronted the forces of oppression. In your Spirit he rejoiced as his disciples did great work in his name. At his death on the cross Jesus yielded up his spirit to you, and by the Holy Spirit you raised him from the dead. This same enlightening, empowering, enlivening Spirit, Jesus promised to all who keep his commandment to love as he has loved. On the night he was betrayed he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said: ‘This is my body, which is for you. Do this to remember me.’ In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying: ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this whenever you drink it, to remember me.’ Therefore, in remembrance of the mighty acts and blessed promises of Jesus, we offer ourselves to you in union with his offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith:

All: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

Prayer of Consecration Leader: Send your Holy Spirit upon us, gathered here out of love for you, and on this bread and fruit of the vine. Let the bread we break be true fellowship in the body of Christ.

Let the cup we share be a true participation in the new covenant in his blood. By your Spirit manifest in us the power of your redeeming love that we may be Christ for the world, serving in his name.

Through your son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy church, all glory and honor is yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen.

The Lord’s PrayerOur Father who art in heaven,hallowed be Thy name.Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done,on earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread,and forgive us our trespasses,as we forgive those who trespass against us,and lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil.For Thine is the kingdom,and the power, and the glory,forever and ever. Amen.

Sharing of the Bread and the Cup These are the gifts of God for the people of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died and was raised for you.

All are invited to come forward, as directed by our Ushers, to receive the bread and cup standing in a semi-circle

in front of the communion table, dipping the bread into the cup and remaining until the words of blessing.

Communion Music

Prayer of Thanksgiving Bountiful God, we give you thanks that you have refreshed us at your table by granting us the presence of Christ. Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one another, and send us forth into the world in courage and peace, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

*Hymn No. 700 O Day of God, Draw NighCHURCH PRAYER

Our Heavenly Father, shed forth thy blessed spirit upon all our lives. Make each one of us an instrument in thy hands for good. Purify our hearts, strengthen our minds and bodies, fill us with Christian love. Let no pride, no self-conceit, no rivalry, no ill-will ever spring up among us. Make us earnest and true, wise and prudent, giving no just cause for offense and may thy holy peace rest upon us this day and every day throughout the coming week, sweetening our trials, cheering us in our work, and keeping us faithful to the end, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

BENEDICTION AND CHORAL RESPONSE

POSTLUDE Vivace Schroeder

ROUND HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH CREEDI believe in God, the one universal Father of all mankind, revealed supremely in Jesus Christ, our Lord, and present with us to guide, comfort and inspire in the Holy Spirit. I believe in the Kingdom of God; and in the mission of the Christian Church to proclaim the Gospel to all the world, exalting the worship of the Lord our God, and laboring for the progress of knowledge, the promotion of righteousness, the reign of peace, and the realization of human

brotherhood. United in Christian love, we pray and labor for the coming of the Kingdom, the triumph of righteousness and the life everlasting. Amen.

ROUND HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH MISSON STATEMENTWe, the members of the Round Hill Community Church, a self-governing, non-denominational body, seek to foster a community of faith where people of all ages and backgrounds pursue spiritual growth; where God is worshipped in Word and praised in music; where friends are made and hurts are healed. We seek to be a community where individuals commit their time and resources to education, fellowship, and to helping those in need among our Church family and in the broader world. We are a church where faith, hope, justice and love are valued, and above all, Jesus is Lord.

CHURCH NEWS

Thank you to Janet and Joe Huley for ushering this morning.

Thank you to Ken Hammond and Bill Herrick for hosting coffee hour today. Please join them in the Parlor following the service.

Faith Formation

Please join us after today’s service for the next installment of the People of the Book bible study series. Our focus will be on the character of Peter… in Greek his name is Petros and it means ‘rock.’ On one occasion, while walking on water to imitate Jesus, he sank like a stone. Bold, impulsive, emotional and visionary: that’s Peter, and he became one of the great leaders of the early Christian movement. Join Rev. Ed Horstmann as we read his story again as if for the first time, and see what life lessons he has for us.

On May 22nd, The Rev. Dr. Heather P. Wright, Executive Director of the Greenwich Center for Hope & Renewal, will be our guest preacher. Rev. Wright oversees programs and personnel at the Center for Hope and Renewal, as well as strategic partnerships with community leaders and professionals. On June 10, Heather and her colleague, therapist George Faller, will host a day on “Befriending Stress” at the Center for Hope and Renewal, based on their newest book called Sacred Stress. Please plan to attend!

Music

On May 22nd during the 10am service, new church member Matthew Dylewsky will present several of his original compositions. Matthew began composing and seriously studying the piano while still at Greenwich High School. After graduating, he completed his studies at the Moscow State Conservatory, where he studied composition and piano.

Outreach

Neighbor to Neighbor has identified their May special collection and are asking, specifically, for donations of dry pasta and all variety of jarred pasta sauces. A food wagon and giving envelopes are located in the Narthex.

Fellowship

Les Beaux Arts Gallery is exhibiting Chinese Brush Paintings by child psychiatrist and artist, Bob Seaver. Chinese Brushwork is fascinating and spontaneous: the hand of the artist has to be sure and confident as there is no possibility of error. We invite you to pass through the gallery at your leisure and enjoy the show, which runs through June 9th. Special note: several of

Bob’s unframed Chinese brush pieces are available for purchase in the gallery. For details, contact Linda Seaver at linda.seaver@gmail.com.

Come cheer on the Round Hill Saints this week - Tuesday at 5:45pm vs. New Canaan and Saturday at 11:30 am vs. Fairfield. For details on locations, please contact Coach Dan Haugh at 203-869-1091 x109. Go Saints!

REFLECTION

We cannot switch it on, this Holy Spirit, this new aliveness, just because we feel ready for it. The Spirit is as free and unpredictable as the wind which lows where it wills. You simply ask for it; ask and wait truthfully; and let yourself come alive. Have the courage to lower the barriers, and welcome life.

John V. Taylor

Cover Image: Holy Spirit Coming by He Qi

Senior Pastor: The Rev. Dr. Edward G. HorstmannAssociate Pastor: The Rev. Dan Haugh

Minister Emeritus: The Rev. Dr. Ralph AhlbergMinister of Music: Christopher Kabala

Church School Coordinator: Connie BlundenRound Hill Community Church

395 Round Hill Road, Greenwich, CT 06831203.869.1091 roundhillcommunitychurch.org