FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
Rev. Dawn Garrett-Larsen, Pastor
Carol & Don Benner, Lay Readers
April 26, 2020 Online Worship
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE In Thee Is Gladness arr. by David Lasky
CALL TO WORSHIP
One: Hear the proclamation of faith: Christ is risen from the dead! The Spirit is poured out. Lives are transformed.
All: God is active in our world. God brings hope and healing.
One: Hear the call of God: The Spirit of God invites us into community. We are called to see beyond ourselves, and to join in loving care for all those around us.
All: We accept God’s call, and we rejoice in the gift of community.
One: Hear a challenge for today: The Earth is stressed by the heavy impact of human use. The whole of God’s creation is groaning, crying out in pain.
All: We name the Earth as part of our community. We extend our love to all of God’s creation.
One: People of faith, gather now to worship God the creator and redeemer of the world. Gather now to be transformed by God’s compassionate love.
All: We praise with joy the world’s creator, God of justice, love and peace!
*HYMN Alleluia, Alleluia ~ Polk Street Methodist Church
INVOCATION (in unison)
God of unchangeable power, when you fashioned the world the morning stars sang together and the host of heaven shouted for joy: open our eyes to the wonders of creation and teach us to use all things for good, to the honor of your glorious Name. Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER (trespasses)
GLORIA PATRI #734 (Green)
ANTHEM For the Beauty of the Earth
CHILDREN’S TIME
GARDEN BLESSING
Leader: God bless this garden
Through which your glory shines
People: May we see in its beauty the wonder of your love
Leader: God bless the soil
Rich and teeming with life
People: May we see in its fertility the promise of new creation
Leader: God bless our toil
As we dig deep to turn the soil
People: May we see in our labor your call to be good stewards
Leader: God bless each seed
That takes root and grows
People: May we see in their flourishing the hope of transformation
Leader: God bless the rains
That water our efforts to bring forth life
People: May we see in their constancy God’s faithful care
Leader: God bless the harvest
Abundant and bountiful in season
People: May we see in God’s generosity our need to share
Leader: God bless this garden
As you bless all creation with your love
People: May we see in its glory your awesome majesty. Amen.
HEBREW BIBLE LESSON Psalm 116: 1-4, 12-19
MORNING PRAYER
*HYMN Now The Green Blade Riseth ~ from BBC “Songs of Praise”
GOSPEL LESSON Luke 24: 13-35
SERMON Broken Hearts, Burning Hearts Rev. Dawn Garrett-Larsen
OFFERTORY In Thee is Gladness by Giovanni Giacomo Gastoldi
*The Doxology #34 (Green)
PRAYER OF DEDICATION (in unison)
For all of your saints, O God, who have guided our lives, for all the ways you have saved us from ourselves, for all the times your love has been poured out on us, we give thanks. You have taught us to offer hospitality and to share what you have given. This we do, with joy and gratitude. Receive these tokens of our renewed dedication. Amen.
*HYMN Lord of the Dance ~ First Plymouth Church, Lincoln Nebraska
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE In Thee is Gladness by J.S.Bach
*Call to Worship reprinted from Eco-Justice Ministries Website; Invocation adapted and reprinted from A New Zealand Prayer Book, p 569; Garden Blessing from Christine Sine, USA, originally posted on Godspace; Unison Prayer of Dedication reprinted from Fresh Winds of the Spirit, Book 2
Happy Birthday
April 26 Kathi Nacca & Doug Brown
April 30 Bob Ward & Carol Ennis
May 1 Ian Schwab
May 2 Bonnie Diver
Calendar
May 3 Online Worship www.canandaiguachurch.org
Prayer List
Muriel Allemand (Jim & Connie Malone’s friend); Steve Beck (Heidi Schwarz’s brother); Keith Blaker; Brad Bliss; Marjorie Case; Cathy Coots; Peggy & Bob DeSantis (Dorice & Don Raw, Sr.’s friends); Julie English (Janet & Kim Tenreiro’s friend); Brian Fuscaldo (Mara Huberlie’s nephew); Jerry Gomez (Kathi Nacca’s friend); Gayle Henry; Carin Herren; Jeff Johnson (Jim & John Johnson’s brother); Carol Kober (Debbie Lyon’s neighbor); Jim Kolesar (George & Carin Herren’s friend); Sue Kotalik; Laura (Karen DeMay’s sister); Michelle List (JoAnn Reed’s friend); Loren (Meg & Jack Radley’s friend); Lynn (Joan Ryan’s friend); Scott Lyon (Betty’s son); Eileen McCarthy (Carla DeMeco & Betsy Dresser’s friend); Sally Mueller; Liz Nelson (Kathy Ward’s friend); Chris Pritchard (Rick, Cindy Mullen & George Herren’s friend); Jack and Meg Radley; Sara (Meg & Jack Radley’s granddaughter); Scott and Amanda (nephew and niece of Don & Marilyn DeSmith); John Paul and Pat Smith; Smith/Dworetsky Family (Okke & Kathy Postma’s friends); Sally Stowell (Alice Berry’s mother); Walker (Don & Dorice Raw’s friend); Kathy Ward; Gordon Wenner (George & Carin Herren’s friend); Merle Winn (Amy Ogden’s friend); Josh Yeo (Barb Stahl’s friend); Jason Zeller (Kathy Ward’s son); Linda Zeller (Kathy Ward’s daughter in law)
In Sympathy
Our sincerest condolences to the family of Bill Huberlie, who passed away Sat., April 11th.
Our sympathy is extended to the family of Barb Harradine, who died Sunday, April 19th.
VIRTUAL MS WALK: SUNDAY, MAY 17th
For the past several years our Church has participated in the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Walk MS to help fund the fight against MS. This year, we will be having a “Virtual” MS Walk! Please visit the MS website at https://secure.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?fr_id=30974&pg=entry
for more information. You can participate in an online walk with your friends or make a donation to the MS Society.
Healthy Families Diaper Drive – Remote Edition!
It seems so long ago that we heard Teresa Deacon’s Healthy Families presentation at the March 5 soup supper. Now that May is upon us, Social Action hopes that you will participate in our month-long diaper drive, which we will handle a bit differently than planned.
Here is a reminder of just some of the services provided by Healthy Families:
Pre- and post-natal support
Child development assessment and activities
Regular home visits for 5 years
An annual baby shower
A grandparent support group
A twice-monthly baby café
Car seats
Breastfeeding support
Positive parenting options
These services are free for 50 young families in the county, regardless of income or education. And they go through LOTS of diapers!
So, the diaper drive: If you would like to purchase diapers (all sizes welcome, but the newborn size (N) is least needed), you can either drop them off on the Naccas’ porch at 109 Chapel Street or call Kathi at 394-7901 and she will get them from your doorstep. If you would like to donate money for diaper purchases, please send a check to the church with the word “Diapers” on the memo line. Difficult times demand creative solutions, and we hope this diaper drive, remote edition, will gain support. If you have any questions about Healthy Families or about the diaper drive, please call Kathi Nacca at 394-7901. THANK YOU. ~Social Action
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
United Church of Christ
58 N. Main St., Canandaigua, NY 14424 (585) 394-2184
Website: www.canandaiguachurch.org
E-mail: office@canandaiguachurch.org
We’re a Different Kind of Church
We value and respect diversity in the ways we express our faith.
We enjoy thoughtful dialogue about faith issues.
We encourage each other to work for justice and to care for people in need in our community and in our world.