First Parish Church, Congregational On the Village Green

Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts

Rev. John G. Hughes, II, Senior Pastor

Donald R. Dunn, Director of Music-Organist

Jessica Skidmore, Christian Ministry Coordinator

Tori Potter, Sexton

Nancy Klebart, Office Manager

Church office: 978-526-7661 ext. 1

office.fpchurch@verizon.net

www.firstparishchurch.org

Insert picture of Church

MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE

Communion Sunday, January 1, 2017, 10:00 a.m.

New Year’s Day

ORGAN PRELUDE: “Interlude on the Coventry Carol”

William S. Lloyd Webber (1914-1982)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

*[Please stand for the lighting of the candles]

CALL TO WORSHIP:

This is the Day that God has made.

Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

*HYMN: “O How Glorious, Full of Wonder” NCH #558 black

PRAYER OF INVOCATION

It’s not over, this birthing.

There are always newer skies

into which God can throw stars.

When we begin to think that we can predict the Advent of God,

that we can box the Christ in a stable in Bethlehem…

That’s just the time that God will be born

in a place we can’t imagine and won’t believe.

Those who wait for God watch

with their hearts and not their eyes,

Yet they must listen, continue to listen,

for the angel’s words … this is God’s will.

*THE LORD'S PRAYER 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, the power and the glory forever. Amen.

*GLORIA PATRI: Glory 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

SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 8 pg. 848

Ecclesiastes 3:1-14 pg.1037

ANTHEM: “Lully, Lulla, Lullay” Words from a Traditional Carol

Music by Philip Stopford (b. 1977)

Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child,

by by, lully, lullay.

O sisters too,

How may we do

For to preserve this day

This poor youngling,

For whom we do sing,

by by, lully lullay?

Herod, the king,

In his raging,

Charged he hath this day

His men of might,

In his own sight,

All young children to slay.

That woe is me,

Poor child for thee!

And ever morn and day,

For thy parting

Neither say nor sing

by, by, lully lullay!

MORNING PRAYER CONGREGATION’S JOYS AND CONCERNS

SILENT PRAYER - PASTORAL PRAYER - CHORAL RESPONSE

SCRIPTURE READING: Revelation 21:1-6 pg. 1937

*HYMN: “In the Bulb There is a Flower” NCH #433 black

SERMON: “Looking Back and Looking Ahead”

MOMENT OF MEDITATION

OFFERTORY SENTENCE

OFFERTORY ANTHEM: “Here is the Little Door”

Words by Frances Chesterton (1869-1938)

Music by Herbert Howells (1892-1983)

Here is the little door, lift up the latch, oh lift!

We need not wander more but enter with our gift;

Our gift of finest gold,

Gold that was never bought nor sold;

Myrrh to be strewn about his bed;

Incense in clouds about his head;

All for the Child that stirs not in his sleep,

But holy slumber holds with ass and sheep.

Bend low about his bed, for each he has a gift;

See how his eyes awake, lift up your hands, O lift!

For gold, he gives a keen-edged sword

(Defend with it Thy little Lord!),

For incense, smoke of battle red,

Myrrh for the honoured happy dead;

Gifts for his children, terrible and sweet,

Touched by such tiny hands and

Oh such tiny feet.

*DOXOLOGY: Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise God all creatures here below, Praise God

above ye heavenly host, Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION (The bread in the middle of the offering plates is gluten free)

Invitation to Communion

Let all who are moved by the love and concern of Jesus Christ feel

free to approach this, his table, and participate in his meal.

*HYMN: “Guide Me, O My Great Redeemer” NC #18 black (v.1+2)

Institution Gracious God, send your Holy Spirit upon these elements and upon

the lives of those who approach your table. We pray that the fabric of

these elements and the situations and distractions of our personal lives

may not keep us from what we seek - - the power, the forgiveness, and

the grace of Jesus Christ.

Distribution of Elements

Prayer

Holy God, our loving Creator, as close to us as breathing and distant as

the farthest star, we thank you for your constant love for all you have

made.

We thank you for all that sustains life,

for all people of faith in every generation

who have given themselves to your will,

and especially for Jesus Christ,

whom you have sent from your own being

as our Savior.

We praise you for Christ's birth, life, death, and resurrection. We praise

you for calling forth your church for its mission in the world. Gifted by

the presence of the Holy Spirit, we offer ourselves to you as we unite

our voices with the entire family of your faithful people everywhere, in

gratitude.

*[The “Removal of the Flame”]

BENEDICTION

CHORAL RESPONSE

ORGAN POSTLUDE: “God Rest You Merry”

Traditional English Carol

Arranged by Wilbur Held (1914-2015)

* * * * *

After the service join us in the front of the church for hospitality.

The greeters and lay readers are John and Marilyn Hughes.

The Poinsettia gracing our Sanctuary through the Christmas season is

given by Doris Milne, in loving memory of her husband, Forrest, and their

families.

The Deacons are Lynda Griffiths and Jan Marshall.

Readers and Greeters are always needed, speak to a Deacon to volunteer.

Listening devices are available for those in need; they are at the back of

the Sanctuary. Feel free to address a Deacon should you need help using

them.

Welcome to all who are new to our worship. To join our mailing list fill

out a “Welcome Card” to place in the collection plate or contact

office.fpchurch@verizon.net , 978-526-7661 ext 1.

Sunday school and Youth Group resumes Sunday, January 8, join us

at 10 AM at the Chapel building.

THE CARE TEAM MINISTRY, Have you shared the experience?

We support FPC families with meals, rides, & visits through times of

illness and loss. If you would like to become involved with this

wonderful team contact;

Sheila Kafer 978-525-3253, smkafer@comcast.net

Janet Groth at 978-526-8408, janbythesea244@gmail.com

FLOWERS FOR THE ALTAR Please call Penny Lapham at 978-526-

7128, by Monday to be included in the following Sunday’s bulletin.

Seaside Parish Knitters meets alternating Thursday

afternoons in the Conference Room of the Chapel, 3-5

PM. Join us!

There are so many new visitors to our church services. Vitality

hopes to answer any of your questions. We will have a get

together in the new year but feel free to call Mary Ellen 526-

717, Allison 526-1904, or Jane 526-7137. Welcome to our

church family.

Book Group continues with a new selection for

December/January; “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik

Backman. A grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary

world turned on its head when a boisterous young family

moves in next door. Meet Ove. He's a curmudgeon, the kind of man who

points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his

bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short

fuse. People call him the bitter neighbor from hell, but must Ove be

bitter just because he doesn't walk around with a smile plastered to his

face all the time?” from goodreads

We are going to meet next on January 23rd @ 7 pm at 37 Beach St (the

snow date is January 30th). All are welcome!

Bible Study resumes on Thursday, January

5 at 4 PM at 37 Beach St.

The Stewardship Committee thanks everyone for getting their 2017

pledges in by the end of the year. We are all so blessed!

THIS WEEK:

Monday

Office Closed

Tuesday

10:00 AM COA Zumba

Wednesday

10:00 AM COA Yoga

7:30 PM Choir Rehearsal

Thursday

10:00 AM Health Clinic

3:00 PM Seaside Knitters

4:00 PM Bible Study

Friday

8:00 AM Yoga

Sunday

10:00 AM Worship, Nursery, Sunday School

Middle School Youth Group

Beginning in January there will be containers in

the Chapel and Narthex for grocery donations, it

is the hope of the Mission Committee that these

will be reminders that one item from each family's

routine grocery shopping trip will go a long way

towards fulfilling the mission of our local food

pantries.

Interested in helping out with missions projects? Contact Lelly Smith lellysmith@verizon.net 978-526-9717

or Nancy Peterson nancypete1@gmail.com 508-284-0883