ACOLYTES BRING IN THE LIGHT Begin Worship & Time of Silence
INTROIT Gather Us In Marty Haugen
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Good people of the church, lift up your eyes and see.
People: Have you not seen? Have you not heard? Our God greets us here.
Leader: Good servants of the Most High, open your ears to hear.
People: Have you not seen? Have you not heard? Our God meets us here.
Leader: Good children of the light open your hearts and know what it means to delight in God.
People: For we have seen, heard and known, our God is, the beginning and the end .
|
*OPENING HYMN
|
This Is a Day of New Beginnings
|
BLACK #417
|
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Leader: What do we hold and treasure most?
People: Is it the promises of God?
Leader: What captivates our attention?
People: Is it the grace of God?
Leader: God of mercy and grace:
People: We are vulnerable people who sometimes ignore the vulnerable. We are broken people who don’t always pay attention to the world’s brokenness. Heal us, O God, to make us better healers. Mend our rifts, that we might be better builders. Cleanse our hearts, so we can clear out the damage of hurt and oppression. We are yours, loving God. Help us to live and to know this better.
A moment of silent prayer.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Leader: Have you known? Have you heard? God is great in strength, mighty in power, and full of endless love for us all. God lifts us up on eagle’s wings strengthening us so that we won’t be weary. The burden of sin is but a far and distant memory. Friends, believe the Good News of the Gospel (In Unison): In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
*THE GLORIA PATRI
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
CHILDREN'S MESSAGE The Rev. Christopher Ney
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PASTORAL 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.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
|
HEBREW SCRIPTURE READING
|
Isaiah 40:21-31
|
Page 582
|
|
|
|
|
|
EPISTLE READING
|
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
|
Page 931
|
|
* HYMN
|
Precious Lord, Take My Hand
|
BLACK #472
|
|
GOSPEL READING
|
Mark 1:29-39
|
Page 813
|
SERMON
|
At Home with Simon Peter
|
The Rev. Christopher Ney
|
THE CALL TO OFFERING
Offertory O Taste and See Ralph Vaughan Williams
Catlin Kenison, soprano
*DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host:
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION (In Unison)
God of all that is, all we have, and all we are, we give these gifts as we reach across the thresholds of our concerns. We give these gifts, knowing that they will give so much more. May they bring healing and wholeness to people in need as we share the joy of the Gospel. Through Jesus Christ. Amen.
SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
|
*Communion Hymn
|
Sanctus
|
See Insert
|
The Invitation
Leader: Friends, this is the joyful feast of the people of God. People will come from the east and from the west, from the north and the south to gather around Christ’s table
People: This table is for all who wish to know the presence of Christ and to share in the community of God’s people.
Leader: May God be with you
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift your hearts.
People: We lift them up to God.
Leader: Let us give thanks to the God we love.
People: We freely give God thanks and praise.
Leader: It is right and good, beautiful and holy that we should, in ceaseless joy give our thanks and praise to you, Holy and merciful God, through Jesus Christ, our Savior. And so, in grateful procession of endless praise with the church that is, was, and shall be forever, we glorify you, joining this unending song:
Communion Prayer (In Unison)
Holy are you, Eternal One. You sit above, yet care for the earth and all that dwell within it. You call light into being, casting the stars in the sky. Limitless is your power, and great is your wisdom. Yet you look upon the lowly as your most cherished creatures. You sent to us your own child, Jesus, who reached into unexpected places, calling women beyond the limits of their times, equipping men for nurturing love, welcoming children into your holy embrace. So we recall that on the night of betrayal and desertion, Jesus took bread, broke and gave it to the disciples, saying:
Words of Institution
“This is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
And, in like manner, after supper, Jesus took the cup and after giving thanks gave it to them saying,
“This is the cup of the new covenant in my blood poured out for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink of it, in remembrance of me.”
Life’s greatest feast is before us, so we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
Proclamation of Faith (In Unison)
Christ has died
Christ has risen.
Christ will come again.
Sharing the Bread and the Cup
You are invited to come forward and receive communion by intinction. If you prefer to stay seated, the Deacons will come to you with the bread and cup.
Prayer of Thanksgiving (In Unison)
Dear God, you transform all that is before you so that at the touch of your grace we are never the same. You illumine, bringing light to all peoples, to all nations and to our own hearts. We give you thanks that you have taken these ordinary gifts of bread and cup and transformed them into the extraordinary presence of Christ with us. As we have been fed by your presence and led by your light, we ask that you continue to hold us as your own and renew us for the sake of the world you love. Amen.
*Hymn of Sending Lord, Dismiss Us With Thy Blessing Black 77
BENEDICTION AND CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Price/Besig
Go now in peace. Never be afraid.
God will go with you each hour of every day.
Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true.
Know God will guide you in all you do.
Go now in love, and show you believe.
Reach out to others so all the world can see.
God will be there watching from above.
Go now in peace, in faith and in love.
POSTLUDE
Portions of the liturgy adapted from The Delightful Lightness of Being in Light: Service Prayers with Holy Communion for the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany by the Rev. Kaji R. Spellman, a United Church of Christ Pastor who serves as a pastor of Saint Peter's Lutheran Church in New York City.
Music Notes: O Taste and See was composed in 1953 for the coronation of Elizabeth II.
NOTES ABOUT OUR SERVICE:
Passing the Peace is one of the earliest Christian rituals. After we recognize our reconciliation with God in the Prayer of Confession and Assurance of Pardon, we reach out to our neighbors with a gesture of peace.
Asterisks [*] indicate that all those who are able may stand.
Words in Bold print are spoken by all the people.
We sing from two hymnals: PH -- The Pilgrim Hymnal, 1958, (RED)
NCH --The New Century Hymnal, 1995, (BLACK)
For your convenience, we have: Large Print Bulletins
Large Print Bibles
Hearing Assistance Devices
Children's Activity Worship Bulletins
Please ask any usher for assistance
___________________________________________________________________
The flowers on the Altar this morning are given in memory of Richard Rybacki by his family who loved him and have missed him very much since February 7, 2011. The family of Central Congregational Church has been warm and sustaining beyond words. We are very thankful! Sue Rybacki
A special thank you to those who helped with today’s worship service:
Greeter: Lesley Kennedy
Lay Reader: Jed Petty
Deacons: Donna Sudak, Jed Petty, Jill St. Onge, Jan Lorrey
Hospitality:
CHILDCARE is available for small children in the Nursery at the front entrance of the church. Our childcare provider, Lillian McGuffey, is waiting to greet you and your child.
FELLOWSHIP TIME: We invite you to our social hall after the service for a time of coffee and conversation.
STORM CANCELLATION: If, heaven forbid, worship is delayed or cancelled due to snow, we will post a notice on Channel 4 (WBZ) and Channel 5 (WCVBTV) and on www.thebostonchannel.com. This decision will be made by 7:30am.