Community Church
of the
Monterey Peninsula
Independent & United Church of Christ
Order OF Worship
February 16, 2020
Nursery care available
Children’s activities
Welcome to Community Church!
We’re glad you have chosen to worship with us this morning.
No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here!
Prelude
Welcome
(An asterisk (*) indicates when the congregation may stand)
(If you are new to Community Church please share your name & address with us in the red register at the end of each pew.)
As We Gather…. (Daily Prayer, 1941)
Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.
Congregational Greeting
This is an opportunity to greet those in front and back of you and on either side of you.
Choral Call to Worship “Come, Healing’ Leonard Cohen
Call to Worship (George Appleton, Contemporary)
Leader: Spirit of God,
brooding over the formless world:
People: brood over my spirit.
Leader: Spirit of God,
giving form to the formless:
People: fashion my spirit.
Leader: Spirit of God,
bringing order out of chaos:
People: order my spirit.
Leader: Spirit of God,
giving life to the lifeless:
People: give life to my spirit.
Leader: Spirit of God,
` inspiration of the prophets:
People: speak to my spirit.
Leader: Spirit of God,
knowing the deep things of God:
People: move in the depths of my being.
*Opening Hymn “Morning Has Broken”
Morning has broken Like the first morning,
Blackbird has spoken Like the first bird.
Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!
Praise for them, springing Fresh from the Word!
Sweet the rain’s new fall Sunlit from heaven,
Like the first dew fall On the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness Of the wet garden,
Sprung in completeness Where his feet pass.
Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning
Born of the one light Eden saw play!
Praise with elation, Praise every morning,
God’s recreation Of the new day!
Morning Prayers
Unison Prayer (Angela Ashwin, Contemporary)
If every part of my life
is with you
and in you, Lord,
then everything is made good:
even the things I struggle not to resent,
even the draining and hurtful encounters.
Let every moment of my life
be your moment,
whether or not I consciously
remember you,
and make me more open
to the pulse of your life
and the breath of your love.
Amen.
Shared Silence
Please meditate using the phrase most appropriate for you, or another phrase of your own choosing.
Abba, I belong to you. Abba, I trust you.
Loving God, I belong to you. Loving God, I trust you.
Pastoral Prayer
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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Anthem “Anthem” Leonard Cohen
Scripture Text: Genesis 25:21-34; 27:1-10; 28:20-21
1Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. 22The children struggled together within her; and she said, ‘If it is to be this way, why do I live?’ So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23And the Lord said to her, ‘Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples born of you shall be divided; one shall be stronger than the other, the elder shall serve the younger.’ 24When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. 25The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they named him Esau. 26Afterwards his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
27 When the boys grew up, Esau was a skilful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. 28Isaac loved Esau, because he was fond of game; but Rebekah loved Jacob.
29 Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. 30Esau said to Jacob, ‘Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!’ (Therefore he was called Edom.) 31Jacob said, ‘First sell me your birthright.’ 32Esau said, ‘I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?’ 33Jacob said, ‘Swear to me first.’ So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
27When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called his elder son Esau and said to him, ‘My son’; and he answered, ‘Here I am.’ 2He said, ‘See, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. 3Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field, and hunt game for me. 4Then prepare for me savoury food, such as I like, and bring it to me to eat, so that I may bless you before I die.’
5 Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it, 6Rebekah said to her son Jacob, ‘I heard your father say to your brother Esau, 7“Bring me game, and prepare for me savoury food to eat, that I may bless you before the Lord before I die.” 8Now therefore, my son, obey my word as I command you. 9Go to the flock, and get me two choice kids, so that I may prepare from them savoury food for your father, such as he likes; 10and you shall take it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.’ 20Then Jacob made a vow, saying, ‘If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God,
Sermon: JACOB’S CHARACTER NEEDS
A LOT OF WORK!
Pastor Paul Wrightman
Hymn 547 “Amazing Grace” Vs. 1,2,3,5
Invitation to Giving
Freely you have received, freely give,
remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said:
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Offertory
*Doxology
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise God all creatures here below.
Praise God above all heavenly host.
Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Unison Prayer (Sister Joan Chittister, Contemporary)
Loving God,
save us from our desire
to hurt as we have been hurt,
to punish as we have been punished,
to terrorize as we have been terrorized.
Give us the strength it takes
to listen rather than to judge,
to trust rather than to fear,
to try again and again
to make peace
even when peace eludes us.
We ask, O God, for the grace
to be our best selves.
We ask for the vision
to be builders of the human community
rather than its destroyers.
We ask for the humility as a people
to understand
the fears and hopes of other peoples.
We ask for the love it takes
to bequeath to the children of the world to come
more than the failures of our own making.
We ask for the heart it takes. Amen.
Announcements Pastor Paul
*Closing Hymn “Let There Be Peace On Eart
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be;
With God our Creator, we are family.
Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony.
*Benediction
Closing Hymn (cont.)
Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now.
With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow:
To take each moment, and live each moment in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.
Postlude
==========================================
THANK YOU TO OUR READER George Brehmer.
PASTOR PAUL will be back in the pulpit on March 8. Afternoon and Evening Bible Studies will resume on March 11. Paul and Elizabeth are taking a ferry up and down the coast of Norway to see the Northern Lights.
HEALING PRAYER GROUP: Joanne Anderson welcomes those interested to meet in the Broaddus room after the worship service. Prayer requests are welcomed.
WOMEN’S SUPPORT & FAITH-SHARING GROUP: We meet at 10:30 am Fridays in our church library We are reading Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell who was awarded the National Book Award for most distinguished novel in 1936 and the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1937. Feel free to drop in, read along with us on your own, knit, bring a snack, bring a neighbor, talk, be silent, etc. All sharing is confidential & voluntary. Rev. Elizabeth Wrightman. PLEASE NOTE WE WILL BE ON HIATUS FEB. 21 &28 AND MARCH 6.
FELLOWSHIP NEEDS YOUR HELP! Those of you who wish to be part of the Fellowship team contact Cindi Daniel or Peter Sewald. We can use help with setting up and cleaning up on Sundays and for potlucks and special events. Treats are welcome for coffee hour!!!
Givingtree Benefit Shop
Hours Thurs. and Fri. 12-4
Sat. 10-4
Donations welcomed during shop hours.
Open most Sundays after church for an hour.
OUR MISSION OUTREACH
OUR MISSION OUTREACH
OUR MISSION OUTREACH
I-HELP) FOR MEN: We collect clothing and toiletries for the men. Monthly dinners are the 2nd Weds. (We offer shelter one or more additional times each month.) Sign up in Woodhull Hall. Call Dolores Joblon for info.
I-HELP FOR WOMEN: A week before the dinner (which is held the 3rd Tuesday of the month), Kim Swan-Sosky sends out an email with items needed for the meal. If you would like to be included on the email to help when you can with dinner, please contact Kim Swan-Sosky 831-402-9014; kswan@mbayaq.org )
THE TOWEL TEAM MINISTRY: We provide bath towels for showers at Dorothy’s and Sun Street Center in Salinas. We need hand towels for the I-HELP programs. Clean towels may be left in the office.
SUN STREET CENTER/SALINAS is a service for education, prevention & recovery of alcohol addiction and drug abuse in men. We provide bedding and toiletries.
FOOD BANK: St. Mary’s Food Pantry, needs non-perishable foodstuff. Leave in food basket in narthex. Thank you Kucks for taking St. Mary’s Church in PG.
CLOTHING CLOSET AT DOROTHY’S PLACE: Clothing and toiletry items may be left in the church office. Clothing is sorted and sized Mondays 10-12 and taken to Dorothy’s on Saturdays 9-12. Call Carolyn Gray for info.
ONE STARFISH SAFE PARKING: Parking in our church lot is available to homeless persons registered in the program and are supervised by Starfish staff. Parking is allowed for those with permits from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Your Legacy:
Remember Our Church
In Your Estate Plan!
====================================================
The Community Church of the Monterey Peninsula encourages individual spiritual exploration. We pray, we seek, we study individually and around the table to learn what it means to be a Christian and follow Christ. We encourage and support each other in our learnings. Our mission is to welcome independent-minded people of all ages, build a diverse Christian community, and nurture one another to love God, neighbor and self.
OUR TEN CORE VALUES
God loves all people.
We welcome all people, wherever they are on their life journey.
Worship is the life breath of our community.
We are the heart and hands of Christ serving others.
We grow spiritually in Christ.
We provide creative, open, lifelong Christian education.
We are stewards sustaining all of God’s creation.
We promote understanding and cooperation among people of all faiths.
We are a vital democracy and value independent thinking and dialogue.
We joyfully support our mission with time, talent and treasure.
Rev. Paul Wrightman | ||||
Pastor | ||||
Rev. Elizabeth Wrightman | ||||
Pastoral Associate | ||||
Carole French | ||||
Administrative Assistant | ||||
|
PLEASE COME AGAIN!
Worship Service is 10:00 a.m.
followed by Fellowship in Woodhull Hall.
-------------------
Location: 4590 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel CA 93923
Mailing Address: P. O. Box 222811, Carmel CA 93922
Phone: (831) 624-8595 Givingtree Phone: (831) 624-3060
Website: www.ccmp.org
You are invited to our 2020
1st Quarterly Meeting and Potluck
after our worship service
Sunday, February 23
Please bring a main dish, salad
or dessert to share!
Mark your calendar!!
Sign up in Woodhull Hall if you plan to attend.
Pick up your 2020 church directory
today in the entryway to
Woodhulll Hall.
wood