The First Congregational Church
Gathered 1635
Member of the United Church of Christ
An Open and Affirming Congregation
Walton Place
Stamford, Connecticut 06901
Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 17, 2016
No matter who you are,
no matter where you are on life’s journey,
you are welcome in this
United Church of Christ congregation.
/ Third Sunday of Easter
April 17, 2016
10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary
Please silence cell phones.
~
Prelude Timothy Wallace
Welcome and Announcements Pastor Todd
Ringing of the Hour and Lighting of the Candles
Introit Chancel Choir
Give unto the Lord glory and strength
Words: from Psalm 30;Music: Timothy Alexandre Wallace
*Call to Worship (from Psalm 30) Peter Birch
Leader: Sing Praises to God, O you saints of God.
People: Praise God for the joyous gift of a new day. Thank God for healing and ever-present help.
Leader: Praise the one who upholds us when we are discouraged.
People: God sees and hears our weeping. God lifts our souls from the pit of despair.
Leader: Give thanks to God who turns mourning into dancing. Praise God who hears our cries and answers our prayers.
People: We have cried out to you in our need, O God. We believe you are working to make us whole
*Hymn
Come, Ye Faithful Raise the Strain Chalice #215
1
Prayer of Confession Peter Birch
Let us, with truly repentant hearts, confess our sins to God.
(In unison)
Loving God, we admit to attitudes that exclude rather than embrace. We prefer to associate with others who think and act as we do. We turn away from those who are different from us. Forgive us, God, for seeking to limit your family. Awaken us to the limits of our understanding and the narrowness of our dealings. Show us the better ways you intend and make us bold to respond, we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
moment of silence
*Words of Assurance Pastor Todd
* Sung Response
Gloria Patri Chalice #35
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. Amen.
*Passing of the Peace Peter Birch
Leader: The peace of Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Let us greet one another.
Children’s Moment Pastor Todd
Anthem Chancel Choir
Be With Us, Lord Johann Sebastian Bach
Be with us, Lord, always and ever, our guide and stay, forever loving,
ever blessed Lord. Cheer now our souls; Warm now our cold hearts;
Enlighten our darkness; calm our fears, Lord, 'til we see Your face.
Lead now us on, when hope is failing. Hold high Your cross before our eyes, dear Lord, and fill us with Your love. From depths of sin, O Lord,
uplift us; And with Your tender hand and mercy, now take, take our lives
and make them Yours. Cheer now our souls; Warm now our cold hearts;
Enlighten our darkness, calm our fears, Lord, 'til we see Your face,
'til we see Your face again.
2
/ Scripture Peter Birch
John 21:1-14~pgs. 115-116
Sermon “Come and Have Breakfast” Pastor Todd
*Hymn
Tu Has Venido a la Orilla Chalice #342
(Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore)
Sharing of Joys and Concerns Pastor Todd
Pastoral Prayer Pastor Todd
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 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.
Prayer Response Chancel Choir
Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying Chalice #305
Lord, listen to your children praying, Lord, send your spirit in this place;
Lord, listen to your children praying, send us love, send us pow'r, send us grace!
Invitation to the Offering Pastor Todd
Offertory
Your Risen Lord! John Taylor Thomas
John Taylor Thomas, baritone-bass
Doxology Chalice #46
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
3
*Prayer of Dedication Pastor Todd
May these gifts extend the love of God in the form of food, pure
water, shelter, and acceptance. Let them provide outreach to the
world and opportunities for growth within this congregation. Help
us focus on what is important, that we may work together to make a
difference in the world. Amen.
*Closing Hymn
Christ Is Risen! Shout Hosanna! Chalice #222
*Benediction Pastor Todd
*Choral Benediction Chancel Choir
God Be with You Till We Meet Again (vs. 1) Chalice #434
Postlude Timothy Wallace
Prayers from today’s worship are adapted from Gathered by Love by Lavon Baylor. Cleveland: United Church Press, 1994.
4 / Life of the Community
April 17, 2016
Join us after service in the parlor for hospitality.
(Light refreshments and fellowship)
Call to Annual Meeting
To the Members of The First Congregational Church of Stamford, Connecticut:
This is to inform you that our 381stAnnual Meeting will be
heldon Sunday, April 24, 2016in the Parlor immediately following the worship service.
The purpose of this meeting is to:
1. Receive the 2015 annual reports.
2.Act upon the recommendations of the Board of Nominations to elect Officers,
Delegates, Board/Ministry Members and Committee Chairs for the upcoming
year.
3. Consider any other business that properly comes before the annual meeting.
Wishing you peace, love, and joy,
Rob Godzeno, Anne Firmender,
Moderator Clerk
Stamford 375th Anniversary will be held today at Old Town Hall - 175 Atlantic St., Stamford from 3pm-4pm. Pastor Todd will be representing FCC.
“Seasons of Miracles” featuring The New World Chorus Concert is today at The Unitarian Universalist Congregation - 20 Forest St., Stamford at 5:00pm. Admission is free – Reservations requested.
Revive, our young adult discussion group, meets on the thirdSundayof each month atnoon.Please join us for our next meeting in the West Parlor (room next to coffee hour) this Sunday, April 17th. To stay up to date on future meeting times and locations, o be added to our email list, or check back here regularly.
We welcome Children to our worship! Children’s bulletins and pencils available; if you prefer, childcare for infants – 5 year-olds available during worship in the upstairs nursery with our caregivers. An usher can direct you.
Want to be informed of the latest goings on at First Congregational? Please, email to join our church mailing list. Also, we do have an e-mail prayer chain. If you’d like to join this, please email us and request to be added to this list.
Keep us informed! If you are hospitalized, please call the church office and let us know. We would like to include you in our prayers and visit.
Meet the Minister meetings, please sign up, a clipboard sheet is provided in the Parlor. Monday, April 18th & Tuesday, April 26th evenings are still available.
Confirmation Class meets at the church for Communion rehearsal, Mon. April 25th at 6:30pm
5
John 21:9When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread.10Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.”11So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn.12Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord.13Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.14This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
6 / The First Congregational Church
United Church of Christ
Gathered 1635, Open and Affirming since 2007
Walton Place
Stamford, Connecticut 06901
Toda y – 4/17 Fourth Sunday of Easter
8:45 a.m. Chancel choir rehearsal
10:30 a.m. Worship—Sanctuary
12:00 p.m. Revive—Young Adult Discussion Group
12:00 p.m. Tabernacle in the Chapel
12:30 p.m. Zion Congregation in the Sanctuary
7:00 p.m. Meet the Minister at Peter Birch
Monday – 4/18
9:30 a.m. Fusion Dance Class
7:00 p.m. Meet the Minister at Bill & Maureen Matthews
Tuesday – 4/19
10:00 a.m. Staff Meeting
7:00 p.m. Mankind Project
Wednesday – 4/20
12:00 noon. Sanctuary opens for prayer and reflection (until 2:00 p.m.)
7:00 p.m. Rainbow Café
Thursday – 4/21
10:00 a.m. Thrift Shop
7:00 p.m. YEAH—Room 309
7:15 p.m. New World Chorus
Friday – 4/22 Have a fantastic Friday!
Saturday – 4/23
8:00 a.m. Volunteer cooking for The New Convenant House
1:00 p.m. Dining room reserved
Next Sunday- 4/24 Fifth Sunday of Easter
8:45 a.m. Chancel choir rehearsal
10:30 a.m. Worship—Sanctuary
12:00 p.m. Revive—Young Adult Discussion Group
12:00 p.m. Tabernacle in the Chapel
12:00 p.m. 381st Annual Meeting
12:30 p.m. Zion Congregation in the Sanctuary
~
Alcoholics Anonymous: Monday-Friday, 12 noon—Dining Room
Overeaters Anonymous: Monday-Friday, 12 noon—Room 309
Al-Anon: Wednesday and Fridays, 12 noon—Room 308
Anorexics and Bulimics Anonymous, Tuesdays, 12 noon—Room 308
The church building and office are open weekdays 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Church Directory
Ministers—All the people
Transitional Senior Minister --- Rev. Dr. Todd Grant Yonkman
Organist and Choir Director—Timothy Wallace
Office Manager --- Laurette Mangieri
Phone: 203 323-0200; Fax: 203 348-2270
Website: www.fccstamford.org
Email: