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CHURCH STAFF
The Reverend Lynne Dolan, Senior Pastor [email protected]
The Rev. Dr. James Matarazzo, Interim Pastor [email protected]
Curtis Smith, Director of Music [email protected]
Leo Biocchi, Director of Christian Education [email protected]
Lauren Morse, Financial Administrator [email protected]
Ellen Jones, Office Administrator [email protected]
Brian Scott, Sexton
The Reverend Dr. Paul R. Adkins, Pastor Emeritus
OUR CHURCH’S MISSION STATEMENT
The purpose of this Church is to come together as Christians to serve God by studying and listening to the Word and living by Christ’s teachings. We are committed to reaching out through prayer, caring, sharing and fellowship.
First Congregational Church 19 Church Road
Shrewsbury, MA 01545 Telephone: 508.845.7286
Fax: 508.845.6561
www.fccsm.org Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/FCCShrewsbury
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Welcome Wherever you are on Life’s journey, you are welcome here at
First Congregational Church of Shrewsbury, United Church of Christ!
The Sacrament of Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month. All are welcome.
Please join us for fellowship and refreshments in Gifford Hall after the service. Our Welcome Center in Gifford Hall is the place to learn about church programs, ministr ies, and opportunities to volunteer and make a difference. Find out more about this church and our faith at an Information Session led by Rev. Dolan.
Deacon George Horesta Lay Reader George Horesta
Gathered in 1723, we treasure our history. Nearly 300 years later, we invite you to… Experience a place where God is still speaking Experience a place of prayer where we can be refreshed by God Experience a place where mercy and justice are practiced Experience a place of great music, great youth programs, great community Experience a place of joy
Large Print bulletins with hymns are available.
Children’s bulletins are available from an usher.
A gentle reminder to please silence your cell phone at the start of the service.
Please recycle your bulletin
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CALENDAR A: Adkins Room~C: Chapel~CH: Cushing Hall~DR: Drama Room~
GH: Gifford Hall~K: Kitchen~HMR: Halliday Music Room~O: Office~P: Parlor~ S: Sanctuary~ST: Storytelling Room~SR: Sumner Room~Y: Youth Room
Sunday 09/08 9:30 am Sunday Worship - Sanctuary 11:00 am Sunday Worship - Dean Park 11:30 am Church Picnic - Dean Park Monday 09/09 10:30 am Parkinson’s Chorus-GH 7:00 pm Caretakers Support Group-Y 7:00 pm Security Meeting-A Tuesday 09/10 7:00 9m Budget & Finance-P 7:00 pm CE Meeting-A Wednesday 09/11 9:30 am Staff Meeting 6:00 pm Shrewsbury Ringers-S 7:00 pm CE Teacher Training-CH 7:00 pm Leah Circle-GH 7:30 pm Parish Pealers-S Thursday 09/12 7:00 pm CLT Meeting-A 7:15 pm Senior Choir-MR Friday 09/13 3:45 pm Chimers-C 4:00 pm Youth Singers-MR Sunday 09/15 9:30 am Sunday Worship/Recovenanting Sunday 10:30 am Prayer Group-P 11:00 am Listening Session w/Jim - C 11:00 am Training Choir-MR
11:00 am Youth Ringers-S
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Calling all Teens: First Congregational Church Shrewsbury needs you! The Board of Deacons is looking for interested teens to serve as Junior Deacons. Junior Deacons have the opportunity to play a key role in church worship services by assisting the Deacons with preparing and serving Communion, ushering, and occasionally helping out with special holiday services. Your level of involvement as a Junior Deacon does not require a major time commitment and can be flexible according to your sched-ule. For further information, please contact Deacon Donna Kafel at 508-769-5128 or email Donna at [email protected].
IHN Taste of West Boylston Street & Friends: IHN and The Manor restaurant have par tnered to host A Taste of West Boylston Street and Neighbors on Monday, September 23rd, from 5:30-8:30pm at the Manor, 42 West Boylston Street, West Boylston. This family friendly event will have food and drink from several area restaurants, live entertainment and a Silent Auction. All funds raised during the evening will be donated to IHN. Your donation will directly impact essential housing and support services for the homeless families at IHN Tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for children prior to the event and $40 for adults and $20 for chil-dren at the door. Tickets may be purchased after Church services at the Outreach table or at the IHN website (www.ihnworcester.org). Please join us for a fun evening benefiting a wonderful cause! Thank you.
FCC Caregiver Support Group: Based upon the response received from the Lenten ser ies, FCCS would like to announce the expanded Fall Caregiver Support Group Schedule. In the months of Sep-tember, October and November, we will now be meeting 2x per month on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month. On the 2nd Monday, we will be having informational meetings facilitated by Beth Anne Doan and guest speakers. On the 4th Monday, we will be holding informal caregiver support meetings. Be on the lookout for a short survey. We would like to receive your thoughts on how you feel an informal support group would provide fulfillment for you. In December, Beth Anne will lead a service of Loving Care.
FCCS Caregiver Support Schedule Fall 2019: Second and Fourth Mondays of the Month 6:30pm to approximately 8:30pm
The second Mondays are for educational meetings. The fourth Mondays are for caregiver support group time.
September 9: Denise Thomas from the Alzheimer’s Association/ Beth Anne Doan Topic: "Ok, We have a diagnosis… What now? Where can we go for help?"
September 23: Caregiver Support Group TBD: Group support and organizational meeting.
October 14: Dr. Harvey Claremont/ Beth Anne Doan Topic: Care for the Caregiver: Physical, Mental, Spiritual & Respite
October 28: Caregiver Support Group TBD- Agenda and format to be announced from September meeting.
November 11: Dr. Harvey Claremont/ Beth Anne Doan Topic: Communication Skills for Caregivers
Video: Teepa Snow
November 25: Caregiver Support Group TBD
Sunday, December 15: A Holiday Service of Loving Care. For caregivers, allies and those who support them. 6:00pm
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The First Congregational Church of Shrewsbury United Church of Christ
Sunday, September 8, 2019 11:00 a.m.
CHURCH PICNIC SUNDAY
Welcome to First Congregational Church of Shrewsbury. We are glad you are here! During the months of June, July and August, childcare is offered in two formats: the nursery opening at 9:15 for ages 0-6 and a group session in Cushing Hall for all other ages. Full-time Sunday School
ministry will resume on September 15, 2019.
Prelude “Standing on the Promises” R. Carter
Welcome & Announcements
Gather
Call to Worship Psalms 133 and 134, Book of Common Prayer (1979)
Leader: Oh, how good and pleasant it is, when the people live together in unity!
People: It is like fine oil upon the head that runs down upon the beard,
Leader: Upon the beard of Aaron, and runs down upon the collar of his robe.
People: It is like the dew of Hermon that falls upon the hills of Zion.
Leader: For there the Lord has ordained the blessing: life for evermore.
People: Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, you that stand by night in the house of the Lord.
Leader: Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the Lord; the Lord who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.
People: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.
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Opening Hymn “We are Climbing Jacob’s Ladder”
We are climbing Jacob’s ladder, We are climbing Jacob’s ladder, We are climbing Jacobs ladder, Bearer of the cross.
Every rung goes higher, higher, Every rung goes higher, higher, Every rung goes higher, higher, Bearers of the cross.
Sister, do you love my Jesus? Brother, do you love my Jesus? Dear friend, do you love my Jesus? Bearers of the cross.
If you love him, why not serve him? If you love him, why not serve him? If you love him, why not serve him? Bearers of the cross.
Rise – shine – give God glory, Rise – shine – give God glory, Rise – shine – give God glory, Bearers of the cross.
Prayer of Confession (unison) from the Iona Community, Scotland Leader: Before God, with the people of God, I confess to my brokenness: To the ways I wound my life, the lives of others and the life of the world People: May God forgive you, Christ renew you, and the Spirit enable you to grow in love. Leader: Amen.
People: Before God, with the people of God, we confess to our brokenness: To the ways we wound our lives, the lives of others and the life of the world. Leader: May God forgive you, Christ renew you, and the Spirit enable you to grow in love. People: Amen.
Words of Assurance Leader: Beloved, through the love of Christ we are forgiven and welcomed home.
People: Thanks be to God.
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LOOKING AHEAD
September 15 Recovenanting Sunday Listening Session
Blessings of Backpacks and First Day of Sunday School Next Sunday! That's r ight. Blessings of the Backpacks is already here! Sunday, September 15th we arrive for a new year at church so have your children bring their backpacks and we'll pray over them. September 15 is the first official day of Sunday School. If you haven't already enrolled your children, you may do so online by visiting FCCSM.org or fill out a paper form at church.
Church Wide Listening Sessions with Rev. Dr. Jim Matarazzo: Dur ing the sabbatical per iod at First Congregational Church of Shrewsbury, I will be conducting listening sessions after Sunday worship and coffee hour in the Chapel at 11:00 AM. All members and friends of the church are very welcome. This is an opportunity for you to express your views on the present state of the congregation and what you want to see for the future. It is meant to be a safe space for sharing. I will not be recording comments or associating names with what is said. I want to hear your honest views. You also have the option to meet with me one on one if you are not comfortable with the group process. Sunday Dates: September 15 September 29 October 6 October 13 October 27 November 3 There will also be an evening weekday session for those who cannot attend after church at a date and time to be announced. For the six sessions that follow Worship, "children's care" will be provided. Children's care means that both nursery care and activities for older children (Preschool, Elementary and Middle School) provided. Contact Leo Biocchi, Director of CE, 508-887-3007 with questions about children’s care.
Children & Youth Annual Volunteer Training: This basic safety & church school curriculum training is meant for anybody at church who is seriously interested in volunteering with children & youth. This would include but isn't limited to volunteering in Sunday School, Youth Group & Confirmation. Two options to attend: Tuesday, September 11th and Wednesday, September 17th at 7pm at church.
Deacons Deliberations: The deacons have thoughtfully and prayerfully met throughout 2019 and discussed our family worship service many times. After careful deliberation, the deacons have decided to modify the family services and try something different for the 2019-2020 school year. Instead of having family worship Sundays on the first Sunday of each month, it will be held on the fifth Sundays when many deacons are serving as ushers to assist the children. We will continue to dedicate the entire service to a younger style of worship, and the balcony will be closed so that we may all worship more closely with our neighbor. We hope that everyone will be pleased. The first Sunday of each month will be an adult centered worship service including communion. Of course you are always welcome to keep your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews with you on the first Sundays for Communion, or any Sunday, to share the entire worshipping experience with you. Wherever you are on life’s journey, you are always welcome here at FCCSM!
Youth Group: Today - Church picnic, no meeting - available YG can help with games.
September 15 - YG ice cream socal at 7:00pm, parents and youth are invited...medical release form needs to be completed. Parent CORI’s will also be available at the meeting.
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Prayer of Dedication (unison) As we offer our treasure and hearts to you, O God, may they be used to pass on the promise of hope, of peace, of life, of community to all in need of your gifts and presence in their lives. Amen.
Closing Hymn “In the Garden”
I come to the garden alone, While the dew is still on the roses; And the voice I hear, falling on my ear, The Son of God discloses.
Refrain: And he walks with me, and he talks with me, And he tells me I am his own, And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known.
He speaks, and the sound of his voice Is so sweet the birds hush their singing; And the melody that he gave to me Within my heart is ringing. (Refrain)
I'd stay in the garden with him Tho' the night around me be falling; But he bids me go; thro' the voice of woe, His voice to me is calling. (Refrain)
Benediction
Postlude “I’ll Fly Away” A. Brumley
*Those who are able, please stand.
PLEASE PRAY WITH US
Thou who art over us, thou who art one of us, thou who art: Give us a pure heart that we may see thee, a humble heart that we may hear thee; a heart of love that we may serve thee; a heart of faith that we may abide in thee. Amen.
Dag Hammarskjöld (1905-1961), Secretary-General of the United Nations, 1953-1961
Nolan Schloemer, Bill Gibbs, Donald & Trudy Desfosse, Jay Dev Chandra, Joie Hodge, Sr., Anna M. Kane, Linda Mitrano, Charles Monroe, Phyllis Rich, Chris Laurson and Gary Sampson, .Nedra Biliouris
… also all military personnel, Coast Guard, firefighters, police, EMT’s, first responders, counselors, therapists, doctors and medical personnel and all who protect and care for us.
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Choir Anthem “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” C. Gabriel
Word Readings: John 3: 1-17 Page 863, Pew Bible
Reflection Rev. Dr. James Matarazzo
Response Communal Prayer Refrain
As We Come To Thee In Prayer
Now, dear Lord, as we pray, take our hearts and minds far away from the press of the world all around to Thy throne where grace doth abound. May our lives be transformed by Thy love, may our souls be refreshed from above. At this moment, let people everywhere join us now as we come to Thee in prayer.
Prayers of Petition and Thanksgiving Refrain
The Lord’s Prayer (unison) 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. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Invitation to Offering
Offertory “Shall We Gather At the River” R. Lowry
*Doxology (Sung to the tune “Old Hundredth”)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Christ the Word in flesh born low; Praise Holy Spirit evermore: One God, Triune, whom we adore. Amen.
