United Church of Christ North Church of Portsmouth

An Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ

August 19, 2018 10:00 AM

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

PRELUDE Where is Love from Oliver! Build My House from Performed by Soloist – Angelynne Hinson

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS “You are welcome here no matter who you are and no matter where you are on life’s journey, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE”.

CALL TO WORSHIP (responsive) Leader: Welcome to this house of love –with your questions, your hopes and your longing for meaning. People: We come to a place of trusting and dreams, of protections against life’s storms, and hearts kind as a warm kitchen. Leader: Welcome to this place with its floor of faith, walls of truth, roof of peace. People: We come seeking love from travels far and wide, and willing to share the love we’ve found with all who gather today.

INTROIT You’ll Never Walk Alone from Carousel Performed by Soloist – Angelynne Hinson

*OPENING PRAYER (unison) God, we each have our storms and golden skies. We each hear hard rain and birdsong. We have come to join in worship sharing our dreams and letting our fears be com- forted, confident in your presence and the hope shining in this community

*HYMN “We Have Come to Join in Worship” #647

CALL TO CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison) O God, forgive us when we forget to warm up our bodies, minds, hearts and spirits. Forgive us when we diva through life and do not rehearse the parts of others. Forgive us when we do not practice the scales of your love every day and when we try to stay an audience while you give us the overture to next week. Restore us to the ensemble of faith, and the improvisation of the Holy Spirit. amen.

Silence kept ASSURANCE OF GRACE (responsive) God, blesses the pure melody of our intentions, and forgives every off-key and missed note. God is the harmony in our lives and the metronome that keeps us steady. Thanks be to God.

*PASSING OF THE PEACE You are invited to stand and greet one another with the Peace of Christ, symbol of God’s forgiveness. Please return to your place as the Gloria Patri begins and remain standing.

*GLORIA PATRI #734 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.

SPECIAL MUSIC You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught from South Pacific Children will listen from Into the Woods Performed by Soloist – Angelynne Hinson

THE READING OF SCRIPTURE 1 Kings 3: 3-12, 16-28

SERMON A Test for Wisdom Reverend Maren Tirabassi

SPECIAL MUSIC Somewhere from One more around the Garden from Carmelina Look to the rainbow from Finian’s Rainbow On a Clear Day You Can See Forever from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever Performed by Soloist – Angelynne Hinson

PRAYER AND 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 de- liver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

THE MORNING OFFERING Call to Offering Can we offer a ray of hope? Yes. Can we make a beginning – even if we do not see the end? Yes. That’s what an offering is all about – not only the money collected in these plates, but the Monday to Saturday gifts of time, energy, caring for family, listening to a lonely person. From those are made a city of love.

Offertory Beautiful City from Godspell Performed by Soloist – Angelynne Hinson

*Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, you heavenly host; Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost. Amen.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION (unison) God, we are surrounded by our bricks and our many hearts as we pray for the gifts we give in this place and from our caring. May this offering bless your beautiful city that is found here and everywhere that human beings offer love. Amen.

*HYMN Go, My Children , with My Blessing #719

*BENEDICTION *CONGREGATIONAL BENEDICTION RESPONSE Go Now in Peace Go now in peace: though friends must part, your presence lives in every heart. Your gifts to us no words can tell: go now in peace, in Christ go well.

*POSTLUDE Corner of the Sky from Pippin Performed by Soloist – Angelynne Hinson

*************************************************************************************************** Lectionary Readings for August 19, 2018

1 Kings 3: 3-12 Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David; only, he sacrificed and of- fered incense at the high places. The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibe- on the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great peo- ple, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant therefore an un- derstanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?”

Lectionary Readings for August 19, 2018 (continued)

1 Kings 3: 3-12 (continued) It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your ene- mies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do ac- cording to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.

1 Kings 3: 16-28 Later, two women who were prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. The one woman said, “Please, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house; and I gave birth while she was in the house. Then on the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. We were together; there was no one else with us in the house, only the two of us were in the house. Then this woman’s son died in the night, because she lay on him. She got up in the middle of the night and took my son from beside me while your servant slept. She laid him at her breast, and laid her dead son at my breast. When I rose in the morning to nurse my son, I saw that he was dead; but when I looked at him closely in the morning, clearly it was not the son I had borne.” But the other woman said, “No, the living son is mine, and the dead son is yours.” The first said, “No, the dead son is yours, and the living son is mine.” So they argued before the king.

Then the king said, “The one says, ‘This is my son that is alive, and your son is dead’; while the other says, ‘Not so! Your son is dead, and my son is the living one.’” So the king said, “Bring me a sword,” and they brought a sword before the king. The king said, “Divide the living boy in two; then give half to the one, and half to the other.” But the woman whose son was alive said to the king—because compassion for her son burned within her—“Please, my lord, give her the living boy; certainly do not kill him!” The other said, “It shall be neither mine nor yours; divide it.” Then the king responded: “Give the first woman the living boy; do not kill him. She is his mother.” All Israel heard of the judg- ment that the king had rendered; and they stood in awe of the king, because they per- ceived that the wisdom of God was in him, to execute justice.

The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

We are glad that you are worshiping here today. If you seek a church home in Portsmouth, we hope that you will return to worship with us again. The tear off form on this bulletin or a pew card, filled out and placed in the offering plate or handed to an usher or the pastor, will help us to know you better as we serve God together.

On this day and all days we keep Marondera Church, our Ukama partner in Zimbabwe in our prayers.

Holy Communion is usually celebrated on the first Sunday of each month. The Table is open to all. The cup contains grape juice and a gluten-free bread is avail- able – please speak to a Deacon. Children are welcome at the discretion of their parents.

The Guest Preacher today is Maren Tirabassi

The Reader today is Mike Foye.

The Musical Guest is Angelynne Hinson, a critically acclaimed soprano soloist who appears regularly in programs throughout New England. She is a soloist and member of Cantata Singers in Boston and of vocollage, a collaboration that cre- ates original concerts uniting words, music and dramatic concepts for live perfor- mance and radio broadcast. In addition to her weekly summer solo appearances at Little Harbor Chapel (Portsmouth), she has served as soloist at the Christian Science Church in Boston and is currently the soprano for special music for the Central Reform Temple at Emmanuel Church in Boston.

The Deacons of the church are: Brenda Delfino, Joanne Coleman Yeaton, Nancy Layton, Gail Darrow and Caroline McMullen.

Large print bulletins & Assistive listening devices are available from the ushers.

We welcome all of God’s children in worship. Should it be needed, there is a room in the balcony with books, farm animals and barn, coloring pages, and stuffed animals.

ON SALE NOW!

You can get your tickets to Sierra Hull and Justin Moses today— see Nancy Layton after worship to purchase tickets---or visit the church office during summer office hours. You must have exact change or write a check to North Church----$20 each.

Special Music on Sunday’s this Summer at our 10am Worship---Invite the Whole Neighborhood

August 19 Angelynne Hinson soprano August 26 Natalie Spotts, flute & percussion

New Summer Office Hours! July 16 - August 31

Please note that beginning July 16th through August 31st the office will have new hours for the summer as follows: Monday 9am—3pm Tuesday 9am—3pm Wednesday 9am—3pm Thursday 9am—3pm Friday Closed

Remember North Church in your planned giving This Weeks Calendar

Sun. MS Worship 10am 8/19 Troop 164 Mtg. 6pm All Worship services begin at 10 am Mon. Office open 9am-3pm 8/20 Seacoast Pathways 9a-3:3-p Tues. Office open 9am-3pm Sunday, August 19 8/21 Deacons Meeting 6:30pm Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost Mission Board 6:30pm Worship at Market Square Meeting Wed. Office open 9am-3pm Sunday, August 26 8/22 Seacoast Pathways 9a-3:30p Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost Worship at Market Square Thurs. Office open 9am-3pm 8/23 OA/OA (Men) 6pm Sunday, September 2 Fri. 8/24 Office closed Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost Seacoast Pathways 9a-3:30p Worship at Market Square Ikabana Class 9:30am Deadline for Bell- Sunday, September 9 man Articles Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost AA Meeting 7:30pm Worship at Market Square Sat. 8/25 Steeple Tours 4pm

Sun. MS Worship 10am 8/26 Troop 164 Mtg. 6pm

“Lemonade on the Bricks”

Please join us in serving “lemonade on the bricks” at Market Square this summer! All food, beverages, supplies and instructions are provided. See Pam Woodward or look for the sign up sheet by the coat rack in the foyer at Market Square. Many Thanks!!

⃞ I/We would like to know more about this church ⃞ I/We are visitors this Sunday

NAME: ______DATE: ______

EMAIL: ______PHONE: ______

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NORTH CHURCH STAFF:

Senior Pastor Rev. Frank Newsome [email protected]

Director of Music Ministry Mr. Nathan Amsden [email protected]

Superintendent of Church School Ms. Brenda Delfino [email protected]

Administrative Assistant Ms. Paula Schena [email protected]

Custodian Mr. Paul Gobbi [email protected]

OFFICE INFO: 355 Spinney Rd., Portsmouth, NH 03801 (603) 436-9109 Mon. - Thur/ 9am - 3pm , closed Friday [email protected]