Wellesley Congregational Church United Church of Christ

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September 30, 2012

First Worship

Welcome to First Worship! We extend a welcome as broad as the outstretched arms of God,

who calls us to be here together to rejoice in God’s glorious presence. Welcome to children of

all ages – to all the children of God, each one of us. If you are an old friend or here for the first

time, we welcome you.

Our worship is an intergenerational experience and we want children to feel fully included. We

remember that worship offers us all a special place to be with God. In this space we talk a little

more softly and walk a little more quietly. We are listening for God.

ORDER OF WORSHIP

September 30, 2012 9:00 am

PRELUDE

RINGING THE HOUR “You Are Here”

You are here in our midst

How we’ve waited for moments like this.

Have your way in this place

Holy Spirit come do as you wish

We are changed as you move in our midst.

CALL TO WORSHIP Pam Emslie

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

WORDS OF ASSURANCE AND CELEBRATING THE WATERS OF

BAPTISM

SUNG RESPONSE “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”

*PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST

*SUNG RESPONSE “Be the Peace”

Be the peace you wish to see in the world

SCRIPTURE Luke 15:11-32

SERMON “Prodigal” Jocelyn Gardner Spencer

SERMON RESPONSE “Home Tonight” Chris Rice

Jodi Hitzhusen

OFFERING

Invitation

Offertory “Manifesto” Powell, Dummer, Fusillier and Vanderlaan

Village Women’s Voices

SETTING THE TABLE “Gather Us In”

INVITATION TO THE TABLE

*COMMUNION PRAYER AND 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.

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,

For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

*WORDS OF INSTITUTION

*SHARING THE GIFTS OF BREAD AND CUP

*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

“We Will Go Out with Peace in the Spirit”

We will go out with peace in the spirit

We will go out with God

We will go out with peace in the spirit

We will go out with God

Alleluia we will go out with God

Alleluia we will go out with God

*BENEDICTION

*Those who are able may stand.

TODAY’S NOTES

Pastoral Care If you have any pastoral needs or know of any in the Village Church family, please call Kathy Musser 781-235-1988 x14. The Chancel flowers are given today in memory of our daughter and sister, Rebecca, on her birthday by Bev, Mark, Nicholas and Amelia Lenci. A Gift to Our Church Family In honor of Melissa Bell Meisenhelder's 28th Birthday, her family is providing free copies of this new book as a gift to the church. “One Minute a Day: Instant Inspiration fot the Busy Life.” We invite you to take a copy of this helpful book from the basket in the Village Common Lobby. Fellowship Hour 11:15 am, Village Common Please join us for coffee and fellowship. Information for visitors is available at the Welcome Table. Providing hospitali-ty today is the Wednesday Morning Bible Study Group. Please take a moment to thank them. 7th & 8th Grade Youth Group 5 pm, Youth Room High School Youth Group 7 pm, Youth Room For information about youth programs, contact Pam Emslie by email at pam@wellesleyvillagechurch.org or by phone at 781-235-1988 x 15. Cherub Choir Rehearsal 11:15 am, 2nd floor Cherub Choir Room Rehearsal today for all children in Kindergarten, First and Second grades.

BULLETIN NOTES

Early Morning Prayer Tuesdays, 8 am Weekly renewal in Burtt Chapel. All are welcome. Family Promise Training Tuesday, October 2, 6:30-8:30 pm, Village Hall Beth Cooper, Director of Family Promise will be conducting a volunteer training session at Village Church. Training is required for all volunteers twelve years of age and older to ensure an understanding of the program and sensitivity to our guests. The training is also valuable for returning volunteers to brush up on policy/procedures and ask any questions you’ve developed since your time of service. Village Church’s next Host Week is October 14-21. Contact Margaret Taylor (781-237-1708) or Ruth Breden (781-235-0193). Join Family Promise Metrowest in Bidding For Good This major fundraising event is Bidding for Good, an online service auction which will take place from October 19-November 4. There are two ways you can help us.

1. Donate - Simply go to www.biddingforgood.com/FPM and click on Donate Items to offer an item or a ser-vice. You don’t need a special talent or exotic vacation home to make a bid; consider tickets for sporting

events or theater or a gift card to your favorite restaurant, gas station, hair salon, or more. 2. Bid – Place a bid on any of the wonderful items. Bidding is open until midnight November 4.

Family Promise Metrowest is a non-profit founded by Village Church and other faith houses serving homeless families with children. Family Promise Metrowest does not receive state assistance and is funded entirely by donations. Contact Ruth Breden at ruthbreden@aol.com or Margaret Taylor at taylorcpa@hotmail.com.

Autumn Evening Vespers Wednesdays, 7:30 pm, October 3, 10, 17 & 24 Summer's slipping away, colder air and darker days bring early autumn. As the world shifts, so something moves deep within us. We grow more quiet, seeking silence, seeking solitude, seeking Spirit? Join us for 45 minutes of silence, scrip-ture and song, chant and unusual quiet together in our Chapel. Come casual, all are welcome. Knitting and Sewing Group begins Wednesday, October 3, 9:30 am, Seminar 1 Come with a project you are working on or join in the making of “Caps for Kids”, Prayer Shawls and Baptism blankets. Patterns and materials are available. Contact: Ruth Breden - 781-235-0193 or Bobbie Hayes - 781-235-1059. 7th Annual Sweet Sounds Concert, to benefit Family Promise Metrowest Saturday, October 6, 7 pm, Christ Lutheran Church, Natick This is an evening not to be missed full of sweet desserts to tempt the palate, sweet music to sooth the senses and sweet words to inspirit the soul! Donation is $25. Contact Ruth Breden at ruthbreden@aol.com or Margaret Taylor at tay-lorcpa@hotmail.com. Village Churchwomen Luncheon Tuesday, October 9, Noon, St. Andrew’s Church Please join the VCW and the women of St. Andrew’s Church for their annual combined Luncheon and Program. The speaker will be Beth Cooper, Director of Family Promise Metrowest. Please sign up by Thursday, Oct. 4 on the Central St. Lobby bulletin board. Volunteers Needed For Family Promise Metrowest October 14-21 (formerly the Metrowest Interfaith Hospitality Network) Family Promise Metrowest is a cooperative, interfaith partnership offering hope to homeless families with children through safe transitional shelter, meals, and supportive case management as they seek permanent housing. Village Church hosts guests three times a year and provides breakfast, lunch and dinner. Volunteers prepare and drop off meals, share a dinner and host overnight stays. You are now able to sign up to volunteer in a variety of ways: www.signupgenius.com or contact Ruth Breden (781-235-0193) or Margaret Taylor (781-237-1708) or during Fellow-ship Hour. Fifty volunteers are needed each week.

Childcare During First Worship Childcare is available during First Worship for Infants through Age 5 in the Infant Room located upstairs just outside the sanctuary on the main floor. What’s happening in Church School today? • Kindergarten students and younger will be welcomed in their classrooms before 10 am worship begins. The Infant/

Toddler Room is located on the main floor just outside the Sanctuary to the left of the Chancel. 2 year olds through Kindergarten classrooms are located on the upper floor. Children should be picked up promptly at the conclusion of worship.

• Grades 1-8 will worship with their parents until it is time for class, as indicated in the bulletin. At that time,

Grades 1–5 will meet at the signs downstairs in Village Hall and proceed to the following classrooms for a special activity. This week...

Grade 1: Artisan’s Market Grade 2: Storyteller’s Tent Grade 3: Science Room Grade 4: Fishes and Loaves Cafe Grade 5: Village Hall

Grades 6, 7 & 8 will meet in the art studio for art mural workshop. Classes for Grades 1–6 conclude at 11:15 or the end of worship whichever is later. Students in Grades 3 and below should be met by their parents at their classrooms. The Family Room is available for parents who aren’t quite ready to leave their infants and toddlers in childcare. In this room, parents will be able to listen to the worship service while their child naps or plays. This room is located upstairs beyond the library.

WELLESLEY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH STAFF The Rev. Martin B. Copenhaver – Senior Pastor The Rev. Kathleen E. Musser – Associate Pastor The Rev. Pamela H. Emslie – Associate Pastor

The Rev. Christina L. Braudaway-Bauman – Associate Pastor The Rev. Daniel P. Cooperrider – Pastoral Resident

The Rev. Jocelyn B. Gardner Spencer – Pastoral Resident Michaela F. McDonald – Director of Children’s Ministries

David R. Carrier – Director of Music Dr. Kevin J. McDonald – Director of Youth Music

Jodi M. Hitzhusen – Music Director of First Worship Erin I. Donato – Church Administrator

Barbara P. Kucich – Church Accountant Tricia T. Kibbe – IT and Administrative Coordinator

Felicia R. Nadel – Administrative Assistant Donald S. Banks – Sexton

Dolphe Richard – Assistant to the Sexton Gerardo Ortiz – Assistant to the Sexton

2 Central Street, Wellesley, MA 02482 781.235.1988

wellesleyvillagechurch.org

An Open and Affirming Congregation of the UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST