bloomfield congregational church · responding to god’s call, our mission as the first...
TRANSCRIPT
Bloomfield Congregational Church United Church of Christ
Bloomfield, CT
An open and affirming congregation
February 10, 2019
Part 3: Testify! By Your Wounds, They Are Healed
OUR MISSION Responding to God’s Call, our mission as The First Congregational Church in Bloomfield, United Church
of Christ, is to go out into the world proclaiming God’s love for all creation, working for justice, bringing Christ’s peace and growing in love and faith through service to others. We are a safe and sacred community that welcomes all people and supports
each individual journey of faith.
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1 0 a .m. S unda y , F ebr uar y 1 0 , 20 1 9
PRELUDE Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing Edward Broughton ANNOUNCEMENTS
WE GATHER IN COMMUNITY AS GOD’S PEOPLE
CENTERING MOMENT
CALL TO WORSHIP (RESPONSIVE)
One: There are angels in our midst. Many of them are unexpected – easy to miss and easy to dismiss. All: We are called to see them. They are here to help guide us. One: There are those in the world who are stigmatized, shamed and shunned – compounding the challenge of the medical mental illness they already bear. All: We are called to see them. We are called to hear them. We are called to welcome them. To be open to their presence and affirm who they are as children of God. One: There are many people in the world, many in our community, who have a story to tell, stories we need to hear. Stories that will help them heal when they tell them. Stories that will help us heal when we hear them. All: Let us gather in God’s presence. So that we may learn. So that we may gain confidence to tell our stories. And, through telling them, that we and others might be healed.
+ OPENING HYMN Called as Partners in Christ’s Service # 353
OPENING UNISON PRAYER God of Life and Love – truly You call us to be partners in Your service. You call us to respond to the Call of Jesus to care for each other – those who sit with us here, side by side, and those who we do not yet know beyond these walls. You call us to follow Your Word as well as the words and example of Jesus. You call us to tell our stories.
Jesus tells stories. Jesus also calls us to tell our own. Be with us as we try to understand what stories to tell and how to tell them. Be with us as we try to be more aware of when others are ready to tell their stories and how to welcome them. For through the telling of stories and the hearing of stories, by the power of the Spirit, we all are healed. Amen
PASSING OF THE PEACE – (we bless each other) Greeting: “Peace be with you” Response: “And also with you”
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE – BLACK HISTORY MONTH ~ Living History Eustace Straker
MUSICAL OFFERING If I Can Help Somebody Alma Thompson Carrie Wilson, soloist
WE SHARE OUR CONCERNS WITH GOD AND EACH OTHER
CONCERNS
PASTORAL PRAYER THE LORD’S PRAYER (trespasses)
(You are invited to hold hands as an expression of Community Love) Our 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. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever, Amen!
HEARING GOD’S WORD
God is in our midst, God is present, God is still speaking! Let’s open our hearts and minds to God’s Good News.
FIRST READING ~ Psalm 22: 21b-24 OT p.616 in black Bible, p.501 in red
SECOND READING ~ Gospel of Matthew 5: 14-16 NT p.5 in black Bible, p.4 in red
(Today’s reader is Kate Fennell)
+ HYMN You Are Salt for the Earth, O People (in bulletin)
SERMON “ANGELS AND DEMONS” PART3: “TESTIFY! BY YOUR WOUNDS, THEY ARE HEALED”
Reverend Shawn R. Fisher
WE SHARE OUR JOYS AND RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD
JOYS
OFFERING OUR GIFTS Who Is Dat-A-Yonder arranged by Jacqueline Hairston Carrie Wilson, soloist DOXOLOGY # 44 Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above ye heavenly hosts; Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
WE GO FORTH TO SERVE
+ HYMN This Little Light of Mine # 364
+BENEDICTION
+POSTLUDE In Christ There is No East or West Gilbert Martin
THOSE IN OUR THOUGHTS & PRAYERS (AMONG MANY):
Trudy Barnard Charlotte Babcock David Berg Julie Cato Estelle Cole Madge Edwards Michael Edwards Al Forster Carolyn Jones Bonnie King Charles Miles Leslie Mills
Elizabeth Von Eisengrein Betty Willis Carol Wolcott Clay & Dee Hart Lucy Hurston & Sydney Halsall Sheryl Thomas Shantel Bremmer
Prayers of Intercession: For those who battle the challenges of mental illness. For those who are facing the extreme cold with little or no shelter. For those forgotten men, women and children, who die every day from lack of food,
nutrition, exposure and lack of medical care. For those families and children separated by our government, many with little hope
of being reunited.
Prayers of Joy and Thanksgiving: For those with the courage to tell their stories of mental illness and help heal others. For those who struggle to deliver humanitarian aid those caught in war-torn nations For those who persevere through their mental illness. For the Love that Jesus reminds us is always available to us.
Please Remember These Connecticut Conference Churches in Your Prayers
Spring Glen Church UCC, Hamden Whitneyville UCC, Hamden
Hampton Congregational Church Amistad UCC, Hartford
Asylum Hill Congregational UCC, Hartford
Two New Bible Studies
Wednesdays On Wednesdays we will conduct Bible Study sessions from:
11am to 1pm - AND - 6pm to 8pm. (Children, as always, are welcome)
Contact Pastor Shawn with questions. 860.428.7024
LOAVES & FISHES NEEDS OUR HELP! For the past 30 years, members of our church have
cooked and served meals each month at the Loaves & Fishes Soup Kitchen in Hartford. And
we need your help. Our bank account is low, and we need funds to purchase food. Can you
help? Any donation is welcome and will be used directly to feed people in great need. Just
make your check payable to FCC Bloomfield, with "Loaves & Fishes at FCCB" in the memo line.
AND…
Our Loaves and Fishes Team needs a volunteer with a van, SUV, or covered pick-up truck for
the 2nd Tuesday of each month to help transport food that our volunteers serve each month.
for our long-standing mission effort. We would need you at our church at 9:00 on that day.
Someone will be there to help load the food. You would then deliver it to Loaves and Fishes on
Woodland St. and you’re done! Please see Kay Yablecki, Karen
Blanchard or Pastor Shawn with any questions.
Bless You! The Loaves and Fishes Ministry Team
Wednesday, February 13th, 2019, we welcome the staff of Stepping Stones - Birth to 3.
Harc, Inc. to Bloomfield Congregational Church. This agency was founded in 1951 by parents of children with intellectual disability.
The staff will meet twice per month from 1:30 -3:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall.
Their program continues to grow and they are in need of a larger meeting space. We welcome HARC! (Hartford Association for Retarded Citizens).
Save the Date!
On Sunday, March 31st, 2019 we will hold our next concert in our
50th Anniversary Jubilation Music Series.
Join us at 4:00 pm as Rev. Mia Douglas and Friends
will excite us with their music.
This Week at a Glance…
Looking Ahead Lectionary possibilities for this week include:
Jeremiah 17: 5-10; Psalm 1; 1Corinthians 15: 12-20; Luke 6: 17-26
Welcome Guests! We are so glad you are here and invite you to join us to continue our Worship experience during
a time of refreshments and conversation. Today’s hosts: Jane Koley & Mary Laiuppa.
Our Nursery is open every Sunday during the 10 a.m. worship.
Please see one of our ushers and they will be happy to direct you.
Christian Education is available for all youth.
Students who choose to attend leave with the teachers after the Children’s Message.
Sunday, Feb 10 10:00 am Worship Service Sanctuary
11:45 am Faith Formation Living Room
12:30 pm New Birth Community Church Metzger Chapel
4:00 pm Youth Group Youth Center
Monday, Feb 11 6:00 pm Bells Choir Rehearsal Music Suite
7:00 pm Narcotics Anonymous Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, Feb 12 9:15 am Exercise Group Fellowship Hall
10:00 am Parish Care Team Living Room
1:30 pm Wounded Healers Living Room
Wednesday, Feb 13 11:00 am Bible Study Living Room
1:00 pm Stepping Stone of HARC Fellowship Hall
6:00 pm Bible Study Living Room
7:00 pm Alcoholics Anonymous Counting Room
7:00 pm New Birth Community Church Metzger Chapel
Thursday, Feb 14 9:30 am Jump Bunch (Child Dev. Center) Fellowship Hall
10:00 am Book Group Living Room
Friday, Feb 15 9:15 am Exercise Group Fellowship Hall
7:30 pm Alcoholics Anonymous Counting Room
Saturday, Feb 16 11:30 am Bloomfield Community Lunch Fellowship Hall
The First Congregational Church in Bloomfield U N I T E D CH U R C H O F CH R I S T
Welcome to the First Congregational Church in Bloomfield.
We hope you find comfort, joy & inspiration in this time of worship; and renewed energy for your journey of faith.
Bathrooms and changing stations can be found on the left side of the hallway when you exit the Sanctuary through the doors
to the right of the front of the church.
SCHEDULE Worship is held at 10 am each Sunday
STAFF Rev. Shawn R. Fisher, Pastor Andrea Davey-Mercer, Office Manager Dorine DeCarli, Director of Faith Formation Eustace Straker, Minister of Music Shantel Bremmer, Director of Child Development Center
Building Management is provided by Michelle Alves and JEM Services.
CHURCH OFFICE
Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Phone: 860-242-0776 Fax: 860-243-8035 Email: [email protected]
All Staff can be reached by contacting the Church Office.
The Child Development Center can be reached at 860-242-0183 or
Pastor Shawn may be reached for normal church communications by calling the office at 860-242-0776 ext. 201 or by email at [email protected]
In the event of an emergency (death, serious illness, deep spiritual or emotional need) you may call Pastor Shawn
on his personal cell # of 860-428-7024