FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
Rev. Dawn Garrett-Larsen, Pastor
Sixth Sunday of Easter / MS Walk
The Rice Family, Lay Readers
May 17, 2020 Worship 10:30 AM
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE Andante tranquillo from Third Organ Sonata by Felix Mendelssohn
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: We come to a holy land.
People: We come in awe and wonder.
Leader: We come to a just God.
People: We come to ask for help and forgiveness.
Leader: We come to a loving God.
People: We come seeking help and support.
Leader: Love God with everything you have and are,
People: Come, Holy Spirit, remind us in truth what Jesus said.
Leader: Love your neighbor as you love yourself.
People: Come, Holy Spirit, remind us each day what Jesus said.
Leader: ‘Do not be afraid: I am your friend and I love you.
People: Come, Holy Spirit, remind us with joy what Jesus said.
*HYMN Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee (Liberia in America)~ Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC
INVOCATION (in unison)
Let the sound of praising you be heard among us today, and in all the places of your dominion, O God. We believe you are present with us even when we cannot feel or see or hear you as we would like. We thank you for the times when you have caught our attention. We ask for one of those times today. Shake us out of our complacency and our cherished iniquities. Hold us in your steadfast love and call forth within us an awareness of all your blessings. Stimulate among us an eagerness to live as you intend. We long for your presence. Be with us, we pray. Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER (trespasses)
GLORIA PATRI
SPECIAL MUSIC There is a Balm in Gilead ~ Elaine Hilton
CHILDREN’S TIME
EPISTLE LESSON Acts 17: 22-31
MORNING PRAYER
*HYMN Just As I Am ~Antrim Mennonite Choir
GOSPEL LESSON John 14: 15-21
SERMON Groping for God Rev. Dawn Garrett-Larsen
OFFERING Invitation to Share
Offertory O Master Let Me Walk with Thee arr. by Gordon Young
The Doxology #34 (Green)
PRAYER OF DEDICATION (in unison)
We give that others may live. We give to praise you for life and love. We give to share with the world the presence and promise of the God unknown to them, in whom we live and move and have our being. May these tokens of your abundant mercy give counsel and hope to your children near and far. Amen.
*HYMN Crown Him With Many Crowns arr. Andrew Reed
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Maestoso from Third Organ Sonata by Felix Mendelssohn
Call to Worship reprinted from Fire and Bread; Invocation adapted and reprinted from Taught by Love; Unison Prayer of Dedication reprinted from Fresh Winds of the Spirit, Book 2
Happy Birthday
May 18 Ann Schwab & Madeleine Kogut
May 19 Ida Mae Becker
May 20 Carin Herren, Oliver Nacca & Eric Alden
May 21 Lu Krahl
May 22 Carl Reed & Jeff Scheetz
May 23 Rachel McFadden & Oscar Leasure
Calendar
Sunday May 17: Online Worship; Virtual MS Walk https://secure.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?fr_id=30974&pg=entry
Tuesday May 19: Zoom Church Council Meeting 7:00PM
Saturday May 23: POSTPONED until a later date Memorial Service for Betty Chappell
Sunday May 24: Online Worship
Monday May 25: Memorial Day, office closed
Prayer List
Muriel Allemand (Jim & Connie Malone’s friend); Steve Beck (Heidi Schwarz’s brother); Keith Blaker; Brad Bliss; Ruth Bundy (Cheryl Bootes’ friend); 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); Jerry Kahler (Nancy Ward’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)
VIRTUAL MS WALK: TODAY, 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.
