The Community Church
March 7, 2010
The Third Sunday of Lent
Our worship service begins with the Prelude. Please use this time for quiet reflection as you prepare for worship. *All who are able may stand +Seating of Latecomers
Lenten Reflection: And who was this Christ? He was the One who knew what was in all people and was calling them to be who they might be. In every conversation, He was helping someone to be in on more of His life. Elizabeth O’Connor
+Prelude
+Welcome and Parish Concerns
Introit Ashes insert (v. 1)
Opening Sentence
*Opening Hymn In Suff’ring Love 212 (vs. 1, 2, 3 & 5)
*Call to Worship
Leader: We are gathered in the presence of God, who asks us to choose between life and death, blessing and curse.
PEOPLE: We are gathered like the people of Israel, who were challenged to choose the way of life.
Leader: Like them, we often follow the ways of death.
PEOPLE: Yet, like them, we have the freedom each day to begin anew by the abundant grace of God.
Leader: By our presence here, we are saying that we want to choose life, choose grace, choose hope one more time. Let us pray:
*Prayer of Invocation: (unison)
Jesus, we follow you during these forty days of lent. When we consider the magnitude of your sacrifice, the depth of your courage and love, the radical quality of your grace towards us, how superficial, how timid, seems our often lukewarm faith. You confronted principalities and powers in the name of justice and mercy. We find comfortable accommodation. But still you do not let us go. During this season, turn our hearts toward your love, that we might answer when you call and follow where you lead. Amen.
*Assurance of God’s Love and Forgiveness
*Congregational Response Ashes insert (v. 2)
Mission Moment One Great Hour of Sharing
Children’s Choir Anthem
Children’s Message
*Hymn Have Thine Own Way, Lord 588
(Infants & Children to age 4 go to Room #3; Children in Grades K-2 go to the Choir Room; and Children in Grades 3-5 to Room #4)
Prayer Concerns and Hymn of Preparation
Jesus, Remember Me 569 (sing 3 times)
Pastoral Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer (debts and debtors)
Response in Music
Scripture Lesson Luke 13:1-9
Sermon Unexpected Grace:
A Judgment of Hope Rev. Nelson
The Offering
Offertory (Please sign the “Who’s Who in the Pew” during the offertory)
*A Doxology Ashes insert (v. 3)
*Prayer of Dedication
*Benediction
*Closing Hymn On Eagle’s Wings 77
*Postlude
The Community Church of Sebastopol, UCC
1000 Gravenstein Hwy North (707) 823-2484
Worship Sunday at 10:30 AM b www.uccseb.org
Welcome to our Friends and Visitors this morning. Please join us for our Time of Refreshment in the church courtyard, immediately following worship. The Community Church of Sebastopol is an Open and Affirming Congregation. What this means, in the words of our Open and Affirming Statement, is..."We welcome and affirm people of every religious background, family composition, sexual orientation, physical and mental ability, ethnicity, age and gender. We encourage all people to participate fully in every aspect of our church's life and ministry..." Again, WELCOME
Recycle Empty Ink Jet Printer Cartridges Your empty cartridges will help Mission & Outreach provide funds for the Habitat for Humanity build projects here in Sonoma County. You may also pick up pre- paid mailers to send your ink cartridges directly to the recycler and the Community Church still gets credit. You will find the mailers in the church office – please help yourself! Please note: we are not able to take any laser print cartridges at this time.
This Week at the Community Church
Sunday 9:15 AM, Adult Ed Class: The God We Never Knew, Fireside Room
9:30 AM, Children’s Choir, Choir Room
11:45 AM, Adult Mission Meeting, Fireside Room
Tuesday 6:15 PM, Lenten Soup Supper, Fellowship Hall
7 PM, Faith Journey: Keith Blackstone, Fireside Room
Wednesday 10 AM, Women’s Bible Study, Fireside Room
6:30 PM, Christian Education, Fireside Room
7:30 PM, Youth Committee, Fireside Room
7 PM, Personnel Committee, Gene’s Office
7:45 PM, Handbells, Sanctuary
Thursday 10 AM, Women’s Fellowship Workshop, Fellowship Hall
6 PM, Brass Choir Practice, Fellowship Hall
7 PM, Grief Support Group, Fireside Room
7:15 PM, Choir Practice, Choir Room
Saturday 8:45 AM, Between Women, Fireside Room
Earthquake Devastates Haiti You can help with the UCC Disaster Response with your One Great Hour of Sharing contributions. Teams are already on site and reported the extent of the disaster requires a need for substantial gifts. Please make your checks payable to the Community Church with a notation “OGHS/Haiti Relief and place them in the offering plate or send to the church office. You may also donate online by visiting the UCC website: http://www.ucc.org/disaster/
Church Directory Photos Taken March 5 & 6 Receive a free 8x10 just for getting your portrait taken for our photo directory! If you haven’t already signed up, you will need to call Olin Mills direct to make an appointment at 1-800-866-2263. The only appointments available at this time are Friday and Saturday, March 5 & 6.
The Men’s Bible Study will meet this Thursday, March 11 & 25 at 7:30 AM in the Fireside Room. All men are welcome to join in!
Women’s Bible Study will meet on Wednesday mornings from 10-11 AM in the Fireside Room in March and continue with their exploration of St. Paul's letter to the Galatians. Please call Muriel Weaver with questions.
Adult Summer Mission Trip is set for July 11-17 to New Orleans to help with continued hurricane recovery efforts. There will be a meeting after church today in the Fireside Room for anyone interested in finding out more. The trip is open to anyone age 16 years and older and all skill levels (including no skill level) is welcome to join the group. The entire trip will cost approximately $800 and scholarship and fundraising opportunities are available. Registration and release forms need to be turned in today along with your $400 deposit.
Adult Education Next Sunday is the final session in Borg’s book: The God We Never Knew. Now he brings us to the question of Salvation: What on Earth Do We Mean?” It seems that ancient Israel was not motivated by hope of an after-life. Yet they wrote about salvation and the importance of taking God seriously – in the here and now. Could it be that salvation has to do with what happens in this life – like taking God seriously? We’ll close the series by considering the role of God in the experience of worship. Oh yes, this is next Sunday, March 14 in the Fireside Room at 9:15 AM.
New members meeting will be held after worship on Sunday, March 14 in the Fireside Room for information/orientation for those interested in finding out more about the Community Church and church membership. Call the church office if you plan to attend at 823-2484 and also let us know if you need childcare. If you are unable attend the meeting on March 14 and are interested in church membership, or if you have any questions, please see Gene or Kristen. New members will be received into The Community Church on Sunday, March 21.
Christian Education Committee will meet on Wednesday, March 10, at 6:30 PM in the Fireside Room.
Youth Committee will meet on Wednesday, March 10, at 7:30 PM in the Fireside Room.
Personnel Committee will meet on Wednesday, March 10, at 6 PM in Gene’s office.
One Great Hour of Sharing – March 14
Within hours of the devastating earthquake in Haiti you were there providing blankets, food and water and emergency medical supplies. Perhaps you don’t recall being there but you were…through your generous gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS). You were there just as you were in Southeast Asia following the tsunami and in New Orleans following Katrina. The One Great Hour of Sharing offering is gathered in every spring in Protestant churches throughout the world. The date of this year’s offering at the Community Church is March 14th. OGHS not only provides disaster relief: it also funds development projects, education and refugee relief throughout the world. Who knows how many wells in Africa you have helped to dig, fields in the Philippines you have helped to plant, or children in some desolate refugee camp you have helped to feed. The need is so great. Please give generously to One Great Hour of Sharing on March 14.
Between Women, Intergenerational Gathering Join us on Saturday, March 13 for a Continental Breakfast at 8:40 AM and discussion 9-11 AM. Are you new to the Community Church? Would you like to know more about Between Women? Or perhaps you have a friend you would like to bring to Between Women? ALL women are welcome! For more information, please contact Marie Cotton at 823-3375.
Levee Town, by Nancy Cavers Dougherty is a collection on original work based on her experiences with two mission trips to help with Hurricane Katrina recovery work. The books are available in the church office for $10 and all proceeds go towards future mission trips.
Grief Support Group The Grief Support Group meets on Thursdays at 7 PM in the Fireside Room. Call Harry or Susanna at 829-7769 if you have any questions.
Lunch Bunch (Grades 4 & 5) will meet March 14 after worship from 12-1 PM in Room #4. We meet for Bible study, fun, games & fellowship. Bring your lunch and stay to play – Kristen will be expecting you!
Women’s Fellowship Women’s Fellowship will meet for workshops on March 11 at 10 AM in Fellowship Hall – bring a bag lunch; beverages and dessert will be provided. This is a great opportunity to meet and visit with old friends and meet some new friends too! Bring a favorite project, or learn something new at the workshops. On March 18 the Executive Board meets at 10 AM in the Women’s Fellowship Office. The General Meeting is at 10:30 AM for Devotionals and Business Meeting in the Fireside Room and will include a program, to be announced. A salad luncheon hosted by Circle #2 will follow in the Fellowship Hall at noon.
2010 Faith Journey & Soup Suppers Each year during Lent, we gather at the church on Tuesday evenings to share in a simple soup supper and then hear one of our church members share his/her story and how faith has helped to shape that story. Easter is April 4, 2010 and we will meet on the five Tuesday evenings during Lent, through March 23, 2010.
On our first Tuesday meeting, February 23, we will hear from Jack Griffen. On March 2 – Nancy Dougherty; March 9 – Keith Blackstone; March 16 – Genia Thorhaug; March 23 – Edythe Briggs.
In addition to planning the faith journey portion of the program, we are also looking to sign up soup makers for each Tuesday night. We enjoy a variety of homemade soups for this event and if you would like to help, please contact Janice Humphries or send an email to the church office at office@uccseb.org. .
We meet in Fellowship Hall at 6:15 for the soup supper and then move to the Fireside Room at 7:00 for the faith journey. Over the years, this has proven to be a meaningful experience for all who attend and a wonderful way to build community. Your participation will make this event even more special.
Ukesters Ukulele Group....join the fun! All adults who play ukulele or want to learn to play the ukulele are welcome. Ukulele group is held twice weekly, Thursday evenings at 7PM and Friday mornings at 10 AM. Pick a time/day that works best for you and join us at the home of Vicki Reno. Call Vicki or email at vreno[at sign here]comcast.net for more information.
Nursery Care We would like to find a nursery care person to work two Sundays a month for Debbie McCallum. In the spring we will need someone for each Sunday as Debbie will be leaving her position to stay home with the new baby. Contact Kristen DelMonte at 823-2484 ext. 14 or kristendelmonte@uccseb.org.
March 13 is UCC Church Day with a Spring Gathering at the Congregational Church of San Mateo, UCC at 225 Tilton Avenue in San Mateo. The day is scheduled from 9AM to 4PM and includes several workshops and lunch, all for $10. if you would like to attend, please contact the church office at 823-2484.
Building FUN! St. Patrick’s Day Dinner
March 17 in Fellowship Hall 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Calling all Leprechauns! Come and enjoy an evening with traditional Irish corned beef and cabbage dinner and a special Leprechaun inspired dessert. Entertainment will be Celtic music with an Irish sing a long. Bring your favorite Irish joke to share and don’t forget to wear GREEN!
Cost is $25 per person and all proceeds benefit our future building project. To sign up, contact the church office. Tickets can be purchased at the door – provided we already know you plan to attend!
The 30th Women's Summer Retreat for the Community Church, costing approximately $130-ish per person, will be held at the beautiful UCCR Tuolumne Trails facility, 30 miles from Yosemite on June 25-26-27. The entire weekend, including your transportation, is covered with the cost of registration. Our own Bethany Nelson will facilitate the event - more information to follow.
Women’s Choir now forming to sing on April 11. All women, from ages 15-115, are invited to sing on the Sunday following Easter, April 11, with special director Barbara Wilson. Practice is set for 7:15 PM on Monday, March 22 in the Sanctuary; March 29 in the Fireside Room and on Thursday, April 8 in the Choir Room. This is your opportunity to sing with a choir and not have to think about a long-term commitment! Please contact Barbara Wilson at 823-4049 with any questions.
Parish Care – a sharing with those in need – is a new group forming, composed of volunteers from the Community Church of Sebastopol, with a desire to give to our church community by helping those who have a specific, short-term need. Some of the suggested areas we could offer assistance – transportation to a medical appointment, grocery shopping, meal preparation following a hospital stay or even help at home. Interested if finding out more? Please come to a meeting at 3 PM on Wednesday, March 10, in the Fireside Room and share your thoughts and ideas.
CD/DVD Duplicator The church office no longer has a cd/dvd duplicator that Karin can use on a regular basis to make copies of the Sunday sermons on CD ... until they get one, is there anyone in the church community who would be willing to give or lend the church office this piece of equipment? Your willingness to help will aid in the ministry to shut-ins ... please call Karin at 823-2484 or send a reply email if you can help.
Youth Auction Item: 15 Speed Bicycle You can have this like-new, men's, Huffy brand 15-speed bicycle for $100 and help our youth make their way to Portland, Oregon for the 2010 Sr. High Youth Mission Trip. The bike can be seen at the church office. Come by and give it a test ride!
Short-term Rental Needed Marjorie Shears, having sold her house, is looking for a short term rental or house-sitting position. She will be buying but needs a place to stay by March 19th. Marjorie anticipates that she will need housing for 2 weeks up to 6-8 weeks and she is willing to pay rent. Feel free to email or call her if you can help: mcshears@comcast.net or (Home) 823-4088 or (Cell) 292-0589.
Recycle Ink Jet Cartridges in the church office – please put the used cartridges in a plastic baggie and leave them in the green recycle box just inside the office door and Mission & Outreach will take care of the rest. Money earned will help with our local Habitat of Humanity build projects.
MDF the Minister’s Discretionary Fund, has been in great demand and funds are very low. The money is used to help our community with emergency needs, such as helping to prevent a PG&E shut off, provide bus passes to services in Santa Roa and other family emergencies. If you can help, please make a check payable to the Community Church and note “MDF” in the memo line.
Need Help? If you are finding yourself overwhelmed by financial crisis, job loss or other large issues in your life, remember that your pastors are here to help. Gene can be reached at 823-2484 ext 12 and Kristen is at ext. 14.
Director of Music, Brian Plaugher has requested that you take a few moments and jot down the titles of your favorite hymns to help with future worship planning. Please leave this in the collection plate or in the church office.
Your name________________________________________________
Favorite Hymns________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Portraits of your child are in the process of being created by our very talented Edythe Briggs. Please bring a recent, very clear photo of your child to Kristen and then wait to see what happens!
Recycling Please notice the blue recycling bins in Fellowship Hall, Memorial Hall and in the kitchen off of the Fireside Room and in Room #4. The coffee cups we purchase are recyclable so please dispose of them in the blue recycling bins. There is a list next to each of the blue bins as to all the items that can be recycled – let’s all pitch in and do our part to help save the earth!
Worship Service Now on CD! If you would like a copy of today’s worship service on CD, or a copy from a previous Sunday, please fill out the form below and drop it in the offering plate or leave it in the church office along with payment. Each CD is $2.00.
Name_____________________________________ Phone___________________
Date of Worship Service I want on CD _________ Quantity________
Date of Worship Service I want on CD _________ Quantity________
Total number of CD’s requested __________ at $2 each = $__________ enclosed
