The Parables of Jesus: Change and GrowthOctober 31, 2021 | 8:30 am and 10:30 am

1128 Pine Street Boulder CO 80302 | 303.442.1787 | www.firstcong.net

For those of you who would like to paraur offering using a credit card, you may donate by texting 73256with the message joy2givefcc. You will be prompted to click on a link to complete your donation information.

All music and words reprinted, recorded and livestreamed by permission under OneLicense.net, License #A-708196 and CCLI #11415391.

Welcome to The First Congregational Church Boulder,a community of faith on a journey of faith. Founded in 1864, the first church built in Boulder, we have been gathering ever since as a community of kindred hearts to worship, to learn and grow in the lightof God’s grace, to extend ourselves in compassionate service, and to be instruments of God’stransformation in the world.

As a member congregation of the United Church of Christ, we believe “God is still speaking.” We listen and open our lives to the movement of God’s Spirit stirring us up in the new thing God is always doing in our midst. We trust as our Pilgrim forbears prayed, “There is yet more light and truth to break forth from God’s holy word.”

Our commitment to the extravagant love of Jesus makes the words, “All are Welcome,”as inclusive as they sound. We are glad you are here: believers and agnostics, conventional Christians and questioning skeptics, people brimming with hope and those who wanderin despair, people of all races, cultures, and abilities, of all gender identities and sexualorientations. Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.

STAFFRev. Christina Braudaway-Bauman Senior MinisterRev. Pedro Silva Associate MinisterRev. Deborah Voss Director of Christian EducationDr. Kajsa Teitelbaum Director of Music Calvin Hardy Director of Youth MinistriesJulie Griffitts Office & Facilities ManagerChristopher Carter Communication SpecialistRenee Loewen AccountantJulia Wirth Director of Children’s MusicJessica Kressin Chancel Choir AccompanistBoheng Wang Children’s Choirs AccompanistGinger Johnson Child Care Coordinator

CHILDCARE & SUNDAY SCHOOL Children and youth are welcome to attend worship with their parents. Childcare and Sunday School throughHigh School are also available.

Infant/Toddler care is available in the Toddler Room located downstairs (use elevator or west stairway).At the bottom of the stairs/elevator, turn right and go up the 3 steps to the Early Childhood area and the first door on your left is the Toddler Room. Ginger Johnson, an early childhood educator, supervises our Toddler Room.An usher can help you find the elevator or stairs.Elementary Sunday School: Children will gather in the Link (the area adjacent to the plaza) with Deborah nd will go upstairs to room 314 for Sunday School.Middle and High School: Youth gather in the link with Calvin and youth leaders. Calvin can advise weekto week where the youth will be meeting, often off-site at a coffee shop.

COVID PROTOCOLS: All children 2 years and older will be asked to wear a mask. All adults working withchildren and youth are masked. When Sunday School is indoors, the room has an air purifier and open windowsfor air circulation.

ORDER OF WORSHIP

PRELUDE Jesus Shall Reign K. McChesney Congregational Bells

WELCOME AND CALL TO WORSHIP Rev. Christina Braudaway-Bauman

HYMN Let Us Build a House Song Leader: Ekaterina Kotcherguina

From Glory to God, Copyright 2013. Westminster John Knox Press. Lyrics and Music: Mary Haugen, 1994. TWO OAKS. CCLI copyright license no 11415391 Size C, CCLI streaming license CSPL181210 Size C

PRAYER OF INVOCATION Linda Kowatch Holy God, as we gather to worship you, may Light Eternal shine in our hearts. May Eternal Goodness deliver us from evil, EternalHopeliftusfromdespair, and Eternal Love,pour over us with mercy, so that in our praise and in all our prayer, we will learn to love one another as you love us. We will build a house of welcome with an open door and a warm embrace. We will come to see the world as you see it. We will live lives that shine Light, extendGoodness,liftHope,andofferMercy. All this we pray in the name of Christ. Amen.

SCRIPTURE Matthew 7: 24-29

SERMON The Parables of Jesus: The House on a Rock

CALL TO PRAYER Sanctuary C. Newcomer

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Rev. Pedro S. Silva II

PSALM 23 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; heleadsmebesidestillwaters;herestoresmysoul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for you are with me; yourrodandyourstaff,theycomfortme. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; youanointmyheadwithoil;mycupoverflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Will you be my refugeMy haven in the storm,Will you keep the embers warmWhen my fire’s all but gone? Will you rememberAnd bring me sprigs of rosemary,Be my sanctuary‘Til I can carry onCarry on.Carry on.

This one knocked me to the ground.This one dropped me to my knees.I should have seen it comin’But it surprised me.

In a state of true believers,On streets called us and them,

It’s gonna take some time’Til the world feels safe again.

You can rest here in the Chapel,Or with a circle of friends,A quiet grove of treesOr between two bookends.

Will you be my refugeMy haven in the storm,Will you keep the embers warmWhen my fire’s all but gone? Will you rememberAnd bring me sprigs of rosemary,Be my sanctuary‘Til I can carry onCarry on.Carry on.

ANTHEM Jesu bleibet meine Freude J. S. Bach Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring Ekaterina Kotcherguina, soprano, Kajsa Teitelbaum, piano

Jesus all my joy remaineth, My heart’s solace and my stay All my wounds to heal he deigneth, On Him all my need I lay He’s my heart’s fond hope and treasure, My soul’s rapture and dearest pleasure He is with me day and night, Ever in my heart and sight.

INVITATION TO COMMUNITY LIFE

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

RESPONSE OF PRAISE Praise God, whose many names abound. Foundation,Rock,ourHolyGround. Our Home, our All, earth’s Majesty. Love, Spirit, Light and Mystery. Amen.

RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS Linda Nordberg, Membership Committee Karen Cumbo, Moderator Shawn and Stephen Fawson, Don Mayer

COVENANT OF THE CONGREGATION Withjoy,wereceiveyouasmembersofFirstCongregationalChurch. WewelcomeyoutothisprogressiveChristianchurch committedtofaithasajourney,compassionateservice,andinclusionofall. We pray that through loving and being loved, through serving and being served, we all may be strengthened by our mutual concern for one another; and that through our shared witness this church may faithfully serve the realm of God on earth.

WELCOME SONG Grace Reed, Erica Rode, Maeve Brown, Matilda Austin, Elyse Reed Welcome to this house open and affirming In God’s Son we are all one Hand in had we stand Welcome to this house caring and accepting In God’s Son we are all one Welcome to this house

HYMN My Hope is Built on Nothing Less

From New Century Hymnal, Copyright 1995, Pilgrim Press. Lyrics: Edward Mote, 1834, alt. and Music: William B. Bradbury, 1863. SOLID ROCK. CCLI copyright license no 11415391 Size C, CCLI streaming license CSPL181210 Size C

BENEDICTION POSTLUDE Toccata and Fugue in D minor J. S. Bach

YOUR GIVINGOnline or in-person, you can count on the nurturing ministry of FCC Boulder Church. Eachoneofusplaysanimportantpart,includingyourfinancialsupport.Thankyou! Write a check to the church and mail it to:First Congregational Church Boulder, 1128 Pine St. Boulder, CO 80302

Contribute by Text-to-Give by texting:73256 with the message joy2givefcc Contribute electronically:Sign in to your account in Realm, the church’s database, where you may make an ACH paymentfrom your bank account or contribute by credit card.

THE YEAR AS A HOUSE:A BLESSING

Think of the yearas a house:door flung widein welcome,

threshold sweptand waiting,a graced spaciousnessopening and offering itselfto you.

Let it be blessedin every room.Let it be hallowedin every corner.Let every nookbe a refuge

and every objectset to holy use.

Let it be herethat safety will rest.Let it be herethat health will make its home.Let it be here

that peace will show its face.Let it be herethat love will find its way.

Herelet the weary comelet the aching comelet the lost comelet the sorrowing come.

Herelet them find their restand let them find their soothingand let them find their placeand let them find their delight.

And may it bein this house of a yearthat the seasons will spin in beauty,and may it bein these turning daysthat time will spiral with joy.And may it bethat its rooms will fillwith ordinary graceand light spill from every windowto welcome the stranger home.

From The Painted Prayerbook by Jan Richardson

ANNOUNCEMENTSCoffeeHouronthePlaza-TODAYafter10:30amWorshipWe invite you to join us after worship for a time of conversation and refreshments outdoors on the Plazaimmediately following the 10:30 am worship service. Coffee Hour on Zoom will take a short break, to resume later in November, as the weather turns cooler, and we’ll all be glad to be indoors with a warm cup in our hands.

NAACPForum-TODAY,9:30am-InPlymouthHallandonZoom (see the Friday Weekly Email for link)Come learn about the justice-seeking work of the Boulder County Branch of the NAACP in the second of three Sunday morning forums. Join us this Sunday, 10/31, at 9:30 am to meet with Alicia Graves, Chair of the Educa-tion Committee, and learn about the creative initiatives to address diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Boulder County and St. Vrain school districts.

FinalVisioningConversation-- TODAYatNoonintheStandishRoomandonZoomIf you haven’t had a chance to participate in a Visioning Conversation, this is the LAST opportunity scheduled. Join others to reflect on what we have experienced in the last year—pandemic, social upheaval, and everything else – and about where we would like the congregation to go next. On Sunday, Oct. 31 at noon in person in the Standish Room and on ZOOM. Contact Karen Cumbo at kjcumbo@gmail.com

NoticeofCongregationalMeetingThe Fall Congregational Meeting is November 7, 2021, at 11:45, in both live and streaming formats. Agenda items include a draft 2022 budget, a report on Visioning Conversations and next steps, consideration of a new Creation Justice Covenant, Sabbatical Planning, CE/Youth Program Strategic Planning, Covenant Review Project, Report on Communities of Calling Grant, Report on Financial Oversight efforts. Everyone is welcome; members are strongly encouraged to participate in these important conversations about the future of our congregation.

CreationJusticeCovenantAt the Fall Congregational Meeting on November 7, the Climate Action Team will be bringing for consideration and adoption a Creation Justice Covenant. It is a new iteration or expansion of our Whole Earth commitment made in 2002. We encourage you to review the text of the Creation Justice Covenant before the meeting. (see the Friday Weekly Email for link)

Christmas Pageant Video Recording of Angels, Shepherds, Magi and CamelsNovember 13 from 1-3pm at the Hindes’ PropertyWe will be videotaping the vignettes of the angels, shepherds, magi and camels out on the property of Carol Hindes (just North of 75th & Valmont) on November 13th from 1-3pm. These scenes will be used for the Christ-mas Pageant on Dec. 19th. Please sign up your children for the pageant (including 5th grade and middle school narrators) - https://onrealm.org/firstcong/PublicRegistrations/Event?linkString=ZGM5YTFmNjMtZTEzOC00N-TEyLWJlODAtYWM0NTAxMTkwMjkx

SawyerMemorialOrgan-Sunday,November14at4pmJoin us in the sanctuary for our annual Sawyer Memorial Organ Concert. Our organist this year is Dr. Stephen Hamilton. Masks are required for this event. The concert will also be live streamed via the church’s YouTube channel. A free will donation will be taken at the door. Proceeds will support the music endowment fundat First Congregational Church.

SendUsYourTableGrace-Deadline:November15We are compiling a “Book of Prayers and Blessings” collected from all of you! We are asking you to share your favorite prayers and blessings, for meals, for rising or bedtime, for meditation or reflection, for special occasions or holidays. Please submit them to Deborah (deb@firstcong.net) by November 15th and we will then compile them into a booklet for an Advent churchwide mailing.