The Congregational Church

   of

   North Stonington, U.C.C.

   89 Main Street

   North Stonington, CT 06359

   860-535-0379

   NoStoUCC@comcast.net

   www.northstoningtonucc.com

September 12, 2021

17^th SUNDAY OF PENTECOST                                                                             10 am

“As an Open and Affirming church:

      We respect the worth and dignity of all persons who come into our church family regardless of race, age, marital standing, gender, economic status, mental or physical challenges, nationality or sexual orientation.  We promise to support one another in our personal struggles, to understand and accept differences in one another, and pray to strengthen our love and acceptance.”

      *indicates those who are able are invited to stand

WELCOME AND THE WORK OF THE CHURCH

PRELUDE                                                                                 “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” - Powell

                                                                                                                                           Michelle Macina, flautist 

SILENT MEDITATION IN PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP

*CALL TO WORSHIP

God has given us this beautiful earth

             and all that grows and runs upon it. 

Thanks be to God. 

            God has given us breath to live and spirit to sing.

Thanks be to God. 

            God has gathered us into a community of care and worship.

Let us worship God with love, thanksgiving, and praise. 

*HYMN #21                           God Reigns o’er All the Earth            Terra Beata

*INVOCATION AND LORD’S PRAYER              (debts – debtors)

 O God of all time and place, let your Spirit come upon us here gathered.  This is the holy place where we, your people, call on you in faith, joining heart and voice in thanksgiving and praise to your name.  The brightness of this day is shadowed in our remembering dark acts of terrorism, on September 11th and in days since.  May you make us strong enough to stand for justice, compassionate enough only to listen; and give us grace enough to show your love, despite the world’s hatred.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Our Father…

*GLORIA PATRI  (#759)

Glory to the Creator, the Christ, the Holy Spirit

Three in One; As it was in the beginning,

Is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. 

*PASSING OF THE PEACE

            May the peace of Christ be with you.

                        And also with you.

(Children are invited to attend Church School now)

SCRIPTURE LESSONS                                                Wisdom of Solomon 7:26-8:1

                                                                  (NT page 43)                    Mark 8:27-38                         

DEDICATION OF MEMORIAL TO MURIEL “BIB” OWLER

            Gracious and life-giving God we bless and praise you for all Bib meant and continues to mean to us, for all she did with her life, for all the love she gave us.  May her memory live on in the tree planted in her honor and to Your Glory,  and live in each of us who knew and loved her.  Be with those who were closest to Bib, especially her loved ones.  Sustain them with Your love.  Grant us hope for the future and the peace Christ alone can bring.  And like the tree which is watered by the rains, may we be watered and nourished in your love that we may support one another in all the times of our lives.  Amen

SERMON                                                          More than Logic    

MOMENTS OF SILENCE

HYMN #379                Come, We Who Love God’s Name                  St. Thomas

OFFERING OF OUR TITHES AND GIFTS

OFFERTORY                                                                                 “O Jesus, I Have Promised” - Powell

                                                                                                                                       Michelle Macina, flautist

*DOXOLOGY

            Praise God from Whom all blessing flow;

            Praise God all creatures here below;

            Praise God above, you heavenly host;

            Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  Amen.

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Musical Meditation                          “Aria (Remembrance)” - Wood

‘We remember all who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001’

*HYMN #386                   The Church’s One Foundation                                Aurelia

*BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE                             “Psalm 19” (The Heavens Declare) - Marcello       

It is customary to remain seated to listen to the postlude.

Welcome to worship.   Thank you for worshiping with us today!   Social distancing is requested.  The service is available at www.northstoningtonucc.com, posted on Sundays and available all week.

We light one white candle each Sunday to remember and pray for military and civilians serving our country and in harm’s way.

Today’s Prelude and Offertory music is offered by flautist, Michelle Macina. Michelle will be entering the 11th grade at Wheeler High School. She is a member of the high school band, has performed in regional music festivals and the Thames Valley Youth Symphony. She has performed with the Hartt School of Music Youth Wind Ensemble and studies flute with Jill Maurer-Davis. Michelle has performed for us many times and we welcome her back with us today. 

The flowers are given to the glory of God by Kathi Thaxton.

Serving in worship today: Marty Booker, deacon; Dan Booker, Gretchen Noonan, ushers.

We Pray For:   those affected by the CoVID-19; the grieving; those serving overseas; all battling cancer; all struggling with financial crisis; those working to bear the burdens of others, and the healing of:  Stephanie Murray; Anita Ames; Larry; Grace (Teddy) Graber; Seya Bishop, Janet Allen; Duane Witter; Deb Janda; George and Arline McCullen; Patty & George Danley; Mark Ball (Pat Danley’s son); Larson; Mike Laing; David Roode; Quinn, Melanie Ouellette's 6 year-old niece;  Melanie Ouellette; Karen Clarke; the Bliven family; Elaine Falk Smith; Julie & Richard Evans; and Amy Foster.  

How does your garden grow?  If you have extra vegetables from your garden that you would like to share, bring them to church.  There will be a basket for you to put them in. Thank you for sharing God’s bounty!

CALENDAR INFORMATION

Today after worship:  Deacons.

September 14th - 7:00-8:00 pm. Senior Choir begins. Rehearsing in                                                            sanctuary. Masks required. 

September 16th- 7:15-8:30 pm. Handbell Choir begins 

September 18-19:  Mystic Garlic Fest, CCNS pies at Mystic Village.  

September 23rd- 5:45 pm:  Youth Choir begins - ( age 7 thru high                                                                           school ). See Mike for details. 

September 25^th:: Alzheimer's Walk, Ocean Beach, NL   A.M. event.

October 2^nd: Town-wide Tag Sale…CCNS tag sale.

                 Super Saturday - Virtual workshops for SNE UCC.

Worship Notes:
“Aria” by Dale Wood. Copyright 2001, The Sacred Music Press.  All Rights Reserved. One License Song #202372. 
“Love Divine All Loves Excelling”, “O Jesus I Have Promised” from In His Presence, 5 Hymn Arrangements for Flute and Organ by Robert J. Powell. Copyright 2018, Birnamwood Publications, a division of MorningStar Music Publishers. All Rights Reserved.
“Psalm 19” by Benedetto Marcello(1686-1739). Public Domain. 

Hymn #21, God Reigns o’er All the Earth, J. P Huber, 1981; Terra Beata, OneLicense #120683; Trad. English Melody. 

Hymn #386, The Church’s One Foundation, S.J. Stone, 1866; Aurelia, S.S. Wesley, 1864.  Public Domain. 

Hymn #379, Come, We Who Love God’s Name, Public Domain;

St. Thomas. 

All Hymns from the (NCH) New Century Hymnal; © 1995 The Pilgrim Press, have been granted permission for this one-time use.      

Permission to reprint, podcast, and / or stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #735340-A. All rights reserved.  Permissions granted under CCLI License # 11212116

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

Volunteer positions available

            Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

- Construction volunteers. All volunteers needed.

Volunteers who can come one day a week are especially

desired.

- Also, volunteers for the Plainfield and Waterford ReStores

Should be someone who can volunteer at least one shift a week.

Shifts - 9:30 to 2:30 and 2:30 to 6:00.

                        volunteer @habitatect.org                 860 - 442- 7890 ext. 201

                                                377 Broad Street, New London, CT 06320

 When I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God.

                                                                                                                                     - Psalm 73:16-17 (NRSV)

        The psalmist’s view is all turned round again. “I am envious of the arrogant,” they write. “I see the prosperity of the wicked.” The lives of the wicked seem easy. Always getting richer.  The psalmist only dreams of such. 

        This speaks about people of faith who do their best to be just, fair, and kind.  It’s so tempting to go another way:  “But as for me, my feet have almost stumbled, my steps have nearly slipped.”

        What would you do? When your perspective gets all warped and weirded, your head turned by shiny shams, how do you get yourself turned the right way round again?  

        Go to the sanctuary of God, is the psalmist’s advice.  Maybe that’s also your answer; church certainly should be the kind of place that reorients you, resets your perspective, reminds you what’s important.  Maybe you have other things that help.  Do you need it now?                                                                    

        And: if you don’t need it now, do you know what’s a great way to not wind up needing it? Doing it before you do.                          -Quinn Caldwell

Global Ministries Prayers for Fiji   This story within Mark evokes that impression as the disciples struggle, much like us, to not only conceptualize, but then move to understand and accept what is and what must be. With many being vaccinated and the excitement of the world opening up again it becomes all too easy to jump ahead of ourselves, as Peter did, without reflection or awareness of what that means for others. People remain at risk and the problems faced have not vanished. For Fiji please pray that misinformation of illness and vaccinations be dispelled and that those in need of aid, whatever form it may take, receive it. In the face of all this, we pray for growth in the awareness and interconnectivity of us all. Jesus called for people to reach beyond themselves for something greater, and so do we pray that denial can be overcome and that the strength to move beyond oneself can be achieved.

Michael G.  Noonan, Director of Music

Kay Lautzenheiser, Christian Education Coordinator

Rosemary Kuemper, Church Secretary