First Parish Church, Congregational On the Village Green

Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts

Rev. John G. Hughes, II, Senior Pastor

Donald R. Dunn, Director of Music-Organist

Jessica Skidmore, Christian Ministry Coordinator

Tori Potter, Sexton

Nancy Klebart, Office Manager

978-526-7661

office.fpchurch@verizon.net

www.firstparishchurch.org

MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE

Sunday, November 13, 2016, 10:00 a.m.

Blessing of the Pledges

ORGAN PRELUDE: “Lac qui Parle”

Native American (Dakota) melody

Setting by Charles Callahan (b. 1951)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

*[Please stand for the lighting of the candles]

CALL TO WORSHIP

Let us sing a new song to God!

Let us make a joyful noise!

Let the hills ring with our joy!

Let all the earth should

resound with God’s praise.

*HYMN: “For the Beauty of the Earth” PH #66 blue (v 1, 2)

PRAYER OF INVOCATION

God of all love and peace,

we come to you to have our faith restored.

May we not grow weary in doing the good we can.

Keep us from idleness that we may not be busybodies.

Enable us to do our work quietly yet surely,

in a manner that pleases you.

Grant us the discernment to fulfill

our vocations diligently, thoroughly, thoughtfully.

Make us mindful of our helplessness, our fears,

and our needs, and then, be in the midst of our lives -

be in the depths of our souls - that we may glorify

your holy name. This we ask, by praying

what Jesus has taught us …

*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. Amen.

*GLORIA PATRI 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

SCRIPTURE READING: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 pg. 1855

ANTHEM: “My Lord, What a Mornin’” Spiritual

(Henry) Harry Thacker Burleigh (1866-1949)

My Lord, what a morning’, when the stars begin to fall.

Done quit all my worldly ways, join that heavenly band.

My Lord, what a morning’, when the stars begin to fall.

MORNING PRAYER

CONGREGATION’S JOYS AND CONCERNS Dear God, you are our strength and our song.

Calm our minds and still our thoughts;

let our hearts cease their pounding.

Without you our souls are empty;

With you, they brim over.

When we are weary, offer us peace.

When we wander from your paths,

lead us in right ways.

Let our prayers unburden us.

Lift up our prayers;

Restore us to your very presence. Amen.

SILENT PRAYER-PASTORAL PRAYER-CHORAL RESPONSE

SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 21:1-9 pg.1635

*HYMN: “The Lord’s My Shepherd” PH #84 blue (v.1-3)

SERMON: “Being Involved in Idle Busyness”

MOMENT OF MEDITATION

OFFERTORY SENTENCE

OFFERTORY ANTHEM: “Joy in the Morning”

Natalie Sleeth (1930-1992)

There’ll be joy in the morning on that day,

There’ll be joy in the morning on that day,

For the daylight will dawn

When the darkness is gone,

There’ll be joy in the morning on that day.

There’ll be peace and contentment evermore

There’ll be peace and contentment evermore

Ev’ry heart, ev’ry voice

Will together rejoice,

There’ll be peace and contentment evermore

And the glory, glory, glory of the Lord

Will shine,… will shine (shine upon us)

And the glory, glory, glory of the Lord

Will bring the truth divine.

There’ll be love and forgiveness ev’rywhere,

There’ll be love and forgiveness ev’rywhere,

And the way of the Lord

Will that day be restored;

There’ll be love and forgiveness ev’rywhere.

There’ll be love and forgiveness,

There’ll be peace and contentment,

There’ll be joy, joy, joy, joy,…JOY!

*DOXOLOGY Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise God all creatures here below,

Praise God above ye heavenly host, Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

*HYMN: “God of Our Fathers, Whose Almighty Hand”

PH #433 blue (v.1, 2)

*[The “Removal of the Flame”]

BENEDICTION

CHORAL RESPONSE

ORGAN POSTLUDE: “The Emperor’s Fanfare”

Antonio Soler (1729-1783)

* * * * *

The greeters and lay readers are The Annual Fund Drive Committee.

The Flowers and cake are donated by the Stewardship Committee in

celebration of Pledge Sunday.

The Deacon is Christiane Alsop. Readers and Greeters are always

needed, to volunteer speak to the Deacons. Listening devices are

available please ask a Deacon should you need help using them.

After the service join us in the front of the church for hospitality.

Welcome to all who are new to our worship. To join our mailing list fill

out a “Welcome Card” to place in the collection plate or contact

office.fpchurch@verizon.net , 978-526-7661 ext 1.

We are collecting items for the college freshmen

Care Boxes and Women's Fellowship will be

putting them together on Wednesday, November

30th @ 10:30 AM. Join us at the Chapel.

We are looking for donations of small items like -

Sticky notes, Highlighters, Candy, Chapstick,

Cards, Fun Items, Hot Cocoa and Tea.

FLOWERS FOR THE ALTAR Please call Penny Lapham at 978-526-

7128, by Monday to be included in the following Sunday’s bulletin.

Seaside Parish Knitters meets alternating Thursday

afternoons in the Conference Room of the Chapel, 3-5

PM. Join Us!

Looking for a volunteer or 2 to take the lead on this

wonderful ecumenical event. It involves a few

meetings with the other Churches, coordinating

caroling, set up and hanging flyers.

Email Bruce at bruce@16brook.com for more details.

Christmas Fair- Saturday, November 19

Still Needed:

Donations for the Fair Luncheon – Sign up here!

Jewelry, Crafts & Knitted Items, Books, New

Unused Items & White Elephant Items, Parking Attendants, come

for the day or a couple of hours.

Cookies & Baked Goods - Donations can be dropped at the Chapel

Thursday or Friday of Fair week

Auction Baskets - See Lauren Gudonis or sign up after worship

We will be gathering again on Monday, November 28, 7 PM

at the Gudonis' home 56 Masconomo St. in Manchester.

The book for October is “Inferno” by Dan Brown. Harvard

professor of symbology Robert Langdon awakens in an

Italian hospital, disoriented and with no recollection of the past thirty-

six hours, including the origin of the macabre object hidden in his

belongings. With a relentless female assassin trailing them through

Florence, he and his resourceful doctor, Sienna Brooks, are forced to

flee. Embarking on a harrowing journey…Amazon.

We will then take off for the month of December due to holiday

craziness and then will gather again in January at Vin's home.

FIRST PARISH CHURCH ANNUAL FUND DRIVE 2017

If you did not receive a pledge card, or forgot it at home,

please use this one for the offering today.

Name: Phone:

In support of the First Parish Church,

Congregational

I/we plan to make the following

contribution for 2017

Total Pledge for 2017 ___________

Address:

Email: “What we are is

God’s gift to us,

what we become is

our gift to God.”

Eleanor Powell

Thank you for your pledge

Upcoming events can be found on our website

(www.firstparishchurch.org ) under “News” and “Calendar” and on

our Facebook page (First Parish Manchester-by-the-Sea)

THIS WEEK:

Monday

7:30 PM Manchester Singers

7:00 PM BOT

Tuesday

10:00 AM COA Zumba

11:30 AM Woman’s Club Luncheon

7:00 PM Executive Committee

Wednesday

10:00 AM COA Yoga

7:30 PM Choir Rehearsal

Thursday

4:00 PM Bible Study

Friday

8:00 AM Yoga

Saturday

9:00 AM Christmas Fair by the Sea

Sunday

10:00 AM Worship

Nursery, Sunday School

Middle School Youth Group