Rocky Hill Congrega t i ona l Church

Established 1727 UUUU N I T E D N I T E D N I T E D N I T E D CCCC H U R C H O F H U R C H O F H U R C H O F H U R C H O F CCCC H R I S TH R I S TH R I S TH R I S T

May 20, 2012

Ascension Sunday

10:00 A.M

The Friendly Church at the Center

An Open and Affirming Community

Rocky Hill Congregational ChurchRocky Hill Congregational ChurchRocky Hill Congregational ChurchRocky Hill Congregational Church

United Church of ChristUnited Church of ChristUnited Church of ChristUnited Church of Christ

Sunday, May 20, 2012 10:00 a.m.

Order of Worsh ipOrder of Worsh ipOrder of Worsh ipOrder of Worsh ip We welcome all and extend a special greeting to our guests; our service is enriched by your presence! Join us in Chapin Hall for fellowship time after worship. The Welcome Table in Chapin Hall offers information about the church and members who can answer your questions. Hearing devices and large-print bulletins are available for worship – ask an usher. Nursery care is always available downstairs in Room 4.

God Gathers Us for Worsh i pGod Gathers Us for Worsh i pGod Gathers Us for Worsh i pGod Gathers Us for Worsh i p

Scr i p tural A ff i rmat i on Psalm 47

The Rev. Donna K. Manocchio Leader: Clap your hands (clap three times) People: Clap your hands (clap three times) Leader: All you people! (clap three times) People: All you people! (clap three times) Leader: Shout to God (loudly) People: Shout to God (loudly) Leader: With loud songs of joy! People: With loud songs of joy! Leader: Sing praises to God, sing praises! People: Sing praises to God, sing praises! Leader: Clap your hands (clap three times) all you people! People: Clap your hands (clap three times) all you people!

Pre lude

“The Trumpet of the Morning” by Franklin Ritter

Please use the prelude as a time for personal prayer and preparation of your heart for worship.

Welcome and announcements Please include your full address and phone number as you sign our friendship registration pads, and please wear your nametags. All announcements should be written down and given to the usher or pastor prior to worship.

*Call to Worship Meaghan D. Young

Leader: A new day has begun. People: Hope is here! Leader: A fresh start is granted to us. People: Faith is here! Leader: Today we have the opportunity to do something new. People: Hope is here! Leader: Christ desires to enter our lives in a new way. People: Faith is here! Leader: Come, let us worship our God who calls us to ministries of love and justice. People: Alleluia! Amen!

*Hymn “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name”

Pilgrim Hymnal 195

Message for Children of All Ages

(Children are invited to depart for S.P.I.R.I.T. Church School)

Children’s Recessional “We Will Keep a Place For You”

by John Corrado

*Unison Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer (debts/debtors) Deacon Joe Sheehan God of incredible surprises, as we gaze into the clouds, remind us that we are standing on holy ground. Place our feet on the pathways of peace and hope. Draw our attention from the vision of the Lord rising to the heavens to be with you and help us to focus on the ministries that you would have us do. Keep us ready and willing always to serve you all our days. In Jesus’ name and with his words, we pray,

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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

*Gloria Patri

God Shares Words o f Love and L i f eGod Shares Words o f Love and L i f eGod Shares Words o f Love and L i f eGod Shares Words o f Love and L i f e

A Read i ng from th e New Tes tament Acts 1:1-10

We Respond to God ’ s WordWe Respond to God ’ s WordWe Respond to God ’ s WordWe Respond to God ’ s Word

Anthem “Lord of the Dance”

by Sydney Carter, arranged by Don Hart

S e rmon “Can I Get a Witness?”

The Rev. Donna K. Manocchio

*H ymn “A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing”

New Century Hymnal 259

Shar i ng of Jo ys and Concerns

(We invite your oral prayer requests – keeping the request brief and identifying the first name for the pastors. Trust that God knows the details of the need.)

Prayer Of th e P eople

P ra y er Response

Offer i ng I n v i t a t i on For those who have already given their offering, Giving Cards are available in your pew so that all may participate in giving back to God with joy and gratitude.

Offer tory Mus i c “Alleluia”

by William Boyce, arranged by Mark Schweizer

*Doxology As we sing the Doxology, praising God for all our blessings, some in our congregation sing this inclusive language version: “Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below; Praise God above, Ye Heavenly host; Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost. Amen.” You are welcome to sing whatever words are in your heart.

* Pra yer of Ded i ca t ion

We Go Forth to Love and ServeWe Go Forth to Love and ServeWe Go Forth to Love and ServeWe Go Forth to Love and Serve

D e acon Comm i s s ion i ng Ellie Mahar, Deacon

I n troduct i on

Ques t ions

A f f i rma t ion

We gather in celebration of the joy that is ours to be partners with you in the service of Jesus Christ. We promise to love you, honor your leadership, and assist you that together we may be a faithful church of Jesus Christ

Lay i ng On of h ands

Proclamat i on

*H ymn “Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Song”

New Century Hymnal 270

*B ened i c t i on

*B ened i c t i on r e sponse Refrain from “He Lives”

Postlude “Cantate Domino” by Rene Quignard

(*Please rise in body or in spirit.) Gree ters Cindy and Maley Hunt,

Hosp i t a l i t y Elaine Somes and Ruth Jensen

Ushers Bob & Denise Carberry, Meghan Montana, Deb Copes, Steve Smith

The flowers this week are given in memory of Bill and Helen McIlroy, my wonderful parents by Kim Burghoff and family

The tower is lit this week in memory of

Mary Hummel Carpenter by Sue VanNess

Next Week May Next Week May Next Week May Next Week May 27272727, 2012, 2012, 2012, 2012

Pentecost Sunday Text: Romans 8:22-27

Sermon: “With Sighs Too Deep” Meaghan D. Young

Call To The Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting of the Rocky Hill Congregational Church United Church of Christ is called for Sunday, June 3d, 2012 immediately following worship in the sanctuary for the following items of business:

1. To receive and act upon the 2012 reports of Boards and Committees 2. To vote on any revisions to the 2012-13 local budget as presented at Budget and Elections meeting 3. to vote on any revisions to the 2012-13 Missions budget as presented 4. to vote on any changes to the report of the Nominating Committee 5. to remember and reflect on those members and friends of the church who have entered the Church Eternal from May 1, 2011 to April 30, 2012.

Respectfully submitted Marsha Hoffman, Clerk

Calling All GraduatesCalling All GraduatesCalling All GraduatesCalling All Graduates In June, we celebrate and acknowledge all our members who have graduated from high schools, colleges and post college degree programs. Please, notify the office by phone or email of anyone to be recognized and supply the institution and degree earned.

This Week at RHCC This Week at RHCC This Week at RHCC This Week at RHCC May 20Ma y 20Ma y 20Ma y 20 S u nd a ySund a ySund a ySund a y 11:30am Lunch Bunch Youth Room

May 21Ma y 21Ma y 21Ma y 21 Mond a yMonda yMonda yMonda y 5:30pm Yoga with Lynn Chapin Hall 7:00pm Women’s AA Chapin Hall 7:30pm Bell Choir Loft

May 22Ma y 22Ma y 22Ma y 22 T u e sT u e sT u e sT u e s d a yd a yd a yd a y 6:00pm Music Search Fiorilli Room 6:30pm Daisy Scouts Room 25

May M a y M a y M a y 23232323 W edne sd a yWedne sd a yWedne sd a yWedne sd a y 9:00am Quilters Room 6 12:30pm Bible Study Fiorilli Room 6:00pm Music Search Fiorilli Room 7:30pm Adult Choir Choir Room

May M a y M a y M a y 24242424 T h u r sda yThur sda yThur sda yThur sda y 5:30pm TOPS Chapin Hall 7:00pm Fair Meeting Fiorilli Room 8:00pm Men’s AA Chapin Hall

May M a y M a y M a y 26262626 S a t u rd a yS a t urd a yS a t urd a yS a t urd a y 8:30am Yoga w/Lynn Chapin Hall

THANK YOU! We count ourselves blessed that many of you have already brought or sent your pledge as a gift of faith and as a commitment to God and to our church. If you have not already turned in your pledge, you may do so by sending it to the church office, or dropping it in the offering plate during Sunday service. Packets of sunflower seeds were distributed as a gift to those who pledged the past two Sundays. So if you sent in your pledge, or have brought it in this week, please take one of the packets located in a basket in the Narthex or on the table outside the church office. Additionally, if you requested envelopes for your pledge, you may pick them up in Chapin Hall. We CONSIDER OURSELVES BLESSED by the financial commitments many of you have already made. It enables us to be a blessing to so many others in our church, community, and around the globe. If you have any questions, please contact a member of the Stewardship Committee (Louise Butts, chair) or Pastor Donna.

20 Judith Milles Abigail Charamut

21 David Kromas Karen Hoffman Tate Veley Emily Grandell Megan Grandell

22 Louise Butts Cherilyn Moore

25 Bob Hamilton Barbara Carlson James McLean

Pastor Donna

will be out of office

for a study week

beginning

Monday, May 21

S.P.I.R.I.T. Corner

S.P.I.R.I.T. Faith Nurture Ideas These faith nurture ideas coordinate with the weekly session plans for church school. We

hope you will join us in learning, teaching, and growing together!

Here’s what we’re learning about this week… Children’s Sunday Preparation. Today S.P.I.R.I.T. Church School will begin preparing for Children’s Sunday. Over the last 9 months we have learned about the deep friendship of Ruth and Naomi, we have listened to Luke’s Christmas story as God announced the birth of Christ first to those in the margins, we have explored God’s blessings and how we can add our salt to the world, we have eaten God’s meal of blessing at a table of welcome, and we have searched for the lost and have found God’s love. We look forward to sharing on Children’s Sunday, June 10th, what it means to be welcome in the circle of God’s love.

Share Your Faith. Talk about the Bible stories children and youth explored this week and try this: Have a nightly dinner time check-in. Invite each person to share a time of being lost during their day and a time of being found.

A Prayer As We Prepare for Children’s Sunday. God, you come to us in so many ways. Your words call us and your actions inspire us. Your stories draw us in and your deeds give us hope. Your world is our welcoming home. Guide us to guide and lead us to lead. Send us out with the power of your love. Amen.

PARENTS:

Church school ends at 11:15 AM. Please pick-up your children at the following locations.

(So that the children may focus through the end of their class, we ask that you do not look through the classroom windows, and that you wait for the teacher to end class by opening the classroom door.)

CLASS PICK-UP LOCATION

Pre-K & K COMMUNITY LIFE

RM. 22 Christian Education Hallway

1st & 2nd Grade

HANDS ON RM. 23

Christian Education Hallway

3rd Grade

FUN & GAMES RM. 24

Christian Education Hallway

4th & 5th Grade

SHOW & TELL RM. 27

Christian Education Hallway

6th-8th Grade

SHOW & TELL RM. 25

Christian Education Hallway

It’s Coming - Koinonia 2012!

Join us at RHCC for a 4 night (5:30-7:30 PM), Vacation Bible School, “Koinonia 2012”, for the whole church family, from June 25th-28th. This summer you are invited to renew and spark your faith as we join together for fun, food, fellowship, and faith formation. Separate faith formation programming will be available for children, youth, and adults.

Sign-up in Chapin Hall or contact Meghan Young at meghan@rhccucc.org.

NURSERY VOLUNTEERS: If you are interested in volunteering in the Nursery during Sunday morning worship, please contact a member of the Childcare Committee (RHCCchildcare@gmail.com) for more information. You can also sign-up outside the Nursery. The Childcare Committee Contact for May is Liz Pulling.

MISSIONS NEWS

Next Sunday May 27th - Special Offering,

"Strengthen the Church"

A special Pentecost offering will be collected for "Strengthen the Church," which will help us, through OCWM, to strengthen our connection to the wider church community, and help churches right here in our area. Strengthen the Church grows the UCC's future by funding new church starts, invigorating existing congregations, nurturing lay and pastoral leadership, building youth and young adult ministries, and supporting the "God is Still Speaking" Ministry and its extravagant welcome for all within the UCC. All gifts are directed to activities and programs of your church's local conference as well as the UCC's national ministries. Anything you can give will strengthen our UCC family and be greatly appreciated.

A NIGHT OF LAUGHTER WITH COMEDIAN LISA LANDRY, FOR A

GOOD CAUSE

Saturday, June 9, 7:00pm at Wethersfield High School. Come for a

night of laughter with Comedian Lisa Landry, from "Comedy

Central" and "The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson." Lisa will

appear in support of a fundraiser to benefit Elaine Motta and her

Service Dog Rudy, who are NEADS (Dogs for Deaf and Disabled

Americans).org graduates. Elaine Motta, a church member, received her service

dog Rudy on March 19, 2012. Tickets are $20 and must be purchased in advance.

Cash or check made payable to: Lorraine Maccarone. This is an adult show. Call

the church office, at 860-529-4167, to purchase your tickets.

♫ ♪ ♫ Hallelujah! ♪ ♫ ♪

Celebrate the Easter Season with a service of Easter music and readings from scripture. The

Music Ministries of St. James, Rocky Hill Congregational, and St. Andrew Churches will join

forces for a joyful service on June 1, 2012 at 7 PM in St. James Church, 767 Elm St., Rocky

Hill. Join us in singing a “Hallelujah Chorus” to our risen Lord. Admission is free and

refreshments will be served after.

Rocky Hill Congregational Church United Church of Christ Open and Affirming Statement

Because we believe that all people are created in God’s image and thus are blessed and loved equally by God, and because love is a unifying and strengthening force within our Christian Faith,

We, the members of the Rocky Hill Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, hereby declare ourselves an Open and Affirming Christian community, actively expressing Jesus’ inclusive embrace of all people.

We welcome all who seek to follow Jesus, including persons of every age, gender, race, national origin, faith background, marital status and family structure, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, mental and physical ability, economic and social status, and educational background, to share in the life, leadership, ministry, fellowship, worship, sacraments, responsibilities, blessings and joys of our church family.

Jesus teaches us to welcome all God’s children into God’s covenantal community. As we grow together in faith and love, we will strive to celebrate the diversity in which God has created us. Approved by congregational vote June 2009

Ministry Team

Ministers: All the members of the church Senior Pastor: The Reverend Donna K. Manocchio donna@rhccucc.org

Acting Associate Pastor: Meghan D. Young meghan@rhccucc.org Acting Director of Christian Education: Meghan D. Young meghan@rhccucc.org

Pastor Emeritus: The Reverend Arthur C. Weil Director of Music: William Kanute music@rhccucc.org

Church Office: Carol Harvey office@rhccucc.org / 860 529-4167 Webmaster: Dave Hall webmaster@rhccucc.org

Church Website: rhccucc.org Visit us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/rhccucc

Acts 1: 1-10

In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them