The Second Sunday of Easter

The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost 29 July 2007 10 o’clock in the morning Welcome to this service of worship at First Congregational Church for this is the day the Lord has made – as they all are. This is a day to gather as a community of faith to support and nurture one another and to praise God in the process. In the words of our Doxology, it is God “from whom all blessings flow”. Let us rejoice, this day and always!

First Congregational Church of Greenwich declares itself to be open and affirming; open to all for participation, membership, leadership and employment, and affirming of all who wish to join us as children of God. We continue to give thanks for God's guidance in our journey of faith.

PREPARING FOR WORSHIP *All who are able please stand ‡Seating of latecomers

PRELUDE John Stansell, organ

Two “Kyries” from Klavierübung, Part III Johann Sebastian Bach The first musical element of the mass is the “Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison… Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy,” normally sung in Greek, even in the Latin rite. These words summarize the time of confession and serve as a universal expression of our need of grace. Bach created these elaborate settings of early German Protestant versions of older Gregorian melodies.

CALL TO COMMUNITY Dr. David D. Young Please sign and pass the red book.

PRAISING GOD CALL TO WORSHIP

*‡OPENING HYMN AND PROCESSION Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above Hymn printed on next page

OPENING PRAYER Grant unto us, in our hearts, O God, as we come to you: Gratitude for all your gifts; Sorrow for all our sins; Trust in your power and will to help. So grant that we may find here today: Forgiveness for the past; Strength for the present; Confidence that the future can bring nothing that in your strength we cannot meet. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

CONFESSING TO GOD

CALL TO CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION O God, in your presence now, we are drawn to the awareness that we have not always done justly nor loved kindness nor walked humbly with you. Judge us with love and lift the burden of our sins. We confess we are twisted with pride. We have failed in love, forgotten to be just and turned away from your truth. Forgive our sins and heal us, for the sake of Jesus, your Son, our Savior. Amen.

WORDS OF ASSURANCE

‡CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

HEARING GOD'S WORD

FIRST LESSON Enid Norris Genesis 42: 6-25 ow Joseph was governor over the land; it was he who sold to Nall the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground. When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?” he said. They said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” Although Joseph had recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. Joseph also remembered the dreams that he had dreamed about them. He said to them, “You are spies; you have come to see the nakedness of the land!” They said to him, “No, my lord; your servants have come to buy food. We are all sons of one man; we are honest men; your servants have never been spies.” But he said to them, “No, you have come to see the nakedness of the land!” They said, “We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of a certain man in the land of Canaan; the youngest, however, is now with our father, and one is no more.” But Joseph said to them, “It is just as I have said to you; you are spies! Here is how you shall be tested: as Pharaoh lives, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here! Let one of you go and bring your brother, while the rest of you remain in prison, in order that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you; or else, as Pharaoh lives, surely you are spies.” And he put them all together in prison for three days. On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: if you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here where you are imprisoned. The rest of you shall go and carry grain for the famine of your households, and bring your youngest brother to me. Thus your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they agreed to do so. They said to one another, “Alas, we are paying the penalty for what we did to our brother; we saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this anguish has come upon us.” Then Reuben answered them, “Did I not tell you not to wrong the boy? But you would not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood.” They did not know that Joseph understood them, since he spoke with them through an interpreter. He turned away from them and wept; then he returned and spoke to them. And he picked out Simeon and had him bound before their eyes. Joseph then gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to return every man’s money to his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. This was done for them. ANTHEM The Summer Choir Wash me throughly David Halls Text is Psalm 51: 2-3

SECOND LESSON Matthew 12: 1-8 t that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Asabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. When the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath.” He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests. Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests in the temple break the sabbath and yet are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.”

*‡HYMN Lord Jesus, Think on Me Pilgrim Hymnal 314 As the hymn begins, the children will go with Rosemary Lamie to the undercroft for Summer Church School.

SERMON Guilt: A Gift from God Dr. David D. Young

RESPONDING TO GOD

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH We believe that God summons the Church to participation in the world. To witness by word and deed to God’s revelation in Christ and the acts of love by which God reconciles us. To evoke in us the personal response of repentance and faith through which we can find newness of life in loving relationships with God and with our sisters and brothers everywhere. To bring us together into a Christian community of worship and love, and to send us forth into the world as servants in the struggle for meaning and justice. To move us to live in awareness of the life-giving power of God’s presence, in acknowledgement of God’s rule over history and in the confident expectation of the final completion of God’s purpose. Amen.

*Gloria Patri Pilgrim Hymnal 513 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.

CALL TO PASTORAL PRAYER

PASTORAL PRAYER AND QUIET MEDITATION

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 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.

CALL TO OFFERING

OFFERTORY ANTHEM The Summer Choir

Restore My Soul Robert J. Powell Restore my soul, O Lord, and heal my heart’s distress. O cleanse me from my weariness and bring my spirit rest. Restore my joy, O Lord, my heart is standing still. O touch me, reach my emptiness, retrieve my broken will. O God, who sees beyond our sight, who hears our ev’ry prayer, Remake our foolish human faith, for always you are there. Accept my life, O Lord, my heart flawed, frail and spent Requires the comfort of thy love to mend life’s discontents. (text by Beverly Easterling) *Doxology Pilgrim Hymnal 514 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. Amen.

*Prayer of Dedication GOING FORTH TO SERVE GOD

*CLOSING HYMN AND PROCESSION Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound New Century Hymnal 547

*CLOSING SENTENCES Leader: Salvation is actualized in history whenever a demonic power in social or individual existence is overcome by the divine power which has become visible in Christ. People: Jesus is God spelling himself out in language that persons can understand. Leader: Even in the dark hour after we have become guilty against our brother and sister, we are not abandoned to the forces of chaos. People: God seeks us out, and even when God comes to call us to account, God’s coming is salvation. Tillich, Gordon, Buber

*BENEDICTION

*BENEDICTION RESPONSE

POSTLUDE Kyrie II, Fugue on the reed stops (from the Mass for the Parishes) François Couperin

The flowers this morning are given by the Chancel Committee in celebration of being part of an open and affirming congregation – accepting all people as children of God. Greeters and Coffee Hour Hosts: Members of the Diaconate Ushers: Peter Schay, Head Usher Flower Delivery: Sue Baker Calendar TODAY

Child Care is available every Sunday throughout the service for babies and toddlers. During the summer, younger preschool children are also welcome. Please ask the ushers for directions if needed.

Today is the last day of Summer Church School, but child care continues on every Sunday. Happy August to all! We'll see you in Church School beginning Homecoming Sunday, September 9, 2007.

Blood Pressure Screening A member of the Wellness Committee is available to check blood pressures in room 203 following the Worship Service.

______NEXT SUNDAY

8 AM Beach Service - Summer Beach Services take place every Sunday morning at Tod’s Point. Please join us at the beach, weather permitting, for this service.

______NEWS AND NOTICES

Silver Lake Conference Center celebrates 50 years on Sunday, August 19th from 11:00am to 5:30pm. All are invited! A special day of worship, live music from all the decades, photo displays, games, hayrides, swimming, crafts, hiking, cookout, tours and much more. Sign up at http://silverlake.ctucc.org so they know how many are coming. Cost is $20 person with an $80 family maximum. Let's have a great representation from Old Greenwich!

Rummage Room - Please note that the Rummage Room will be closed starting Monday, July 30 until the grand reopening on Monday, August 27 at 10am. In addition, there will be no more donations until Tuesday, August 28. Have a great summer!

Summer "Nights Off" at Tod's Point - On Monday evenings, beginning at 5:30 – 6pm weather permitting, all women are invited to join together for fellowship and snacks. We meet at the picnic tables along the path that goes around the point. Go past the OG Yacht Club and the Windsurfer's beach and park in the lot adjacent to the path. Just walk until you see a familiar face or hear the laughter. If you are the first to arrive, pick a table! Just bring a snack and beverage of your choice, or, just bring yourself! There is always more than enough food to go around. Friends are always welcome. Questions… email Rosemary ([email protected]) or call the church office. ______

First Congregational Church of Greenwich www.fccog.org 108 Sound Beach Avenue, Old Greenwich, Connecticut, 06870 203-637-1791 ______

Ministers: The Members of The First Congregational Church of Greenwich Senior Pastor: Dr. David D. Young Minister of Pastoral Care: Ronald E. Halvorsen Director of Music/Senior Organist: John Stansell Associate Organist/Director: Terence J. Flanagan Director of Senior Pilgrim Fellowship: Josh Ziac Director of Junior Pilgrim Fellowship: Debbie Bocchino Director of Church School: Rosemary Lamie Director of Membership: Ginny Breismeister Parish Nurse: Susan Asselin Pastors Emeriti: Thomas L. Stiers and Sally Colegrove