Community Church

of the
Monterey Peninsula

Independent & United Church of Christ

Order OF Worship​​ 

January 5,​​ 2020

10:00 a.m.

Nursery care available​​ 

and 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​​  and address with us in the red friendship register that you will​​  find at the end of each pew.)

As We Gather….. ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​ (Mary Rogers, Contemporary,

 ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​  ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​ ​​ Adapted from the Gaelic)

Deep peace of the running wave to you,

of water flowing, rising and falling,

sometimes advancing, sometimes receding…

May the stream of your life flow unimpeded!

Deep peace of the running wave to you!

Deep peace of the flowing air to you,

which fans your face on a sultry day,

the air which you breathe deeply, rhythmically,

which imparts to you energy, consciousness, life.

Deep peace of the flowing air to you!

Deep peace of the quiet earth to you,​​ 

who, herself unmoving, harbors the movements

and brings forth the life of ten thousand creatures,

while resting contented, stable, tranquil.

Deep peace of the quiet earth to you!

Deep peace of the shining stars to you,

which stay invisible till darkness falls

and then disclose their pure and shining presence

beaming down in compassion on our turning world.

Deep peace of the shining stars to you!

Deep peace of the watching shepherds to you,​​ 

of unpretentious folk who, watching and waiting,

spend long hours out on the hillside,

expecting in simplicity some Coming of the Lord.

Deep peace of the watching shepherds to you!

Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you,

who, swift as the wave and pervasive as the air,

quiet as the earth and shining like a star,

breathes into us His Peace and His Spirit.

Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you!

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

Call to Worship  (Paul Winter, Contemporary)

Leader: All praise be yours through Brother Sun.

People: All praise be yours through Sister Moon.

Leader: By Mother Earth, the Spirit be praised.

People: By Brother Mountain, Sister Sea

Leader: Through Brother Wind and Brother Air

People: Through Sister Water, Brother Fire

Leader: The stars above give thanks to Thee,

People: All praise to those who live in Peace.

Leader: All praise be yours, through Brother Wolf.

People: All praise be yours, through Sister Whale.

Leader: By nature’s song, the Spirit be praised.

People: By Brother Eagle, Sister Loon

Leader: Through Brother Tiger, Sister Seal,

People: Let creatures all give thanks to Thee.

Leader: All praise to those who live in Peace.

People: Ask of the Beasts and they shall teach you

Leader: the beauty of the Earth.

People: Ask of the Trees and they shall teach you

Leader: the beauty of the Earth.

People: Ask of the Flowers and they shall teach you

Leader: the beauty of the Earth.

People: Ask of the Wind and it shall teach you

Leader: the beauty of the earth.

*Opening​​ Hymn

Morning Prayers

Unison Prayer   (St. Patrick, c.389-c.461)

Today in this fateful hour

I place all heaven with its power,

And the sun with its brightness,

And the snow with its whiteness,

And fire with all the strength it has,

And lightning with its rapid wrath,

And the winds with their swiftness along the path,

And the sea with its deepness,

And the rocks with their steepness

And the Earth with its starkness;

All these I place

By God’s almighty help and grace,

Between myself and the powers of Darkness.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength,​​ 

The invocation of the Trinity,

Through belief in the threeness,

Through confession of the oneness

Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today

Through the strength of heaven,

Light of sun,

Radiance of moon,

Splendor of fire,

Speed of lightning,

Swiftness of wind,

Depth of sea,

Stability of earth,

Firmness of rock.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength,

The invocation of the Trinity,

Through belief in the threeness,

Through confession of the oneness

Of the Creator of Creation.

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.

The Joyful Feast of Communion

Table Setting Song  ​​ ​​ ​​​​ “We Come To Your Feast”  ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Choir

Invitation

Jesus said: I am the bread of life. ​​ You who come to me shall not hunger; you who believe in me shall never thirst. ​​ In company with all who hunger for spiritual food, we come to know the risen Christ in the sharing of this life-giving bread.

Litany of Thanks

 Leader: God be with you,

 People: And also with you.

 Leader: Lift up your hearts;

 People: We lift them to God.

 Leader: Let us give thanks to God.

 People: It is right to give God thanks and​​     praise.

Communion Prayer

With great joy, O God, we give you thanks for this bread wherein are gathered all the times when you have given us our daily bread. ​​ 

Again we are hungry, in body and soul, and earnestly desire that you feed us.

As our bodies are strengthened by this bread, so may our inner selves be nourished by the risen Christ who comes to us in this earthly sign, and in whose name we pray.

By your Holy Spirit be present as we eat this bread.

We give you thanks, O God for this cup of blessing. ​​ Here we remember our spiritual thirst, and the over-flowing abundance of wine that you​​ provide.

By your Holy Spirit be present as we drink from this cup.

As our bodies are refreshed by the fruit of the vine, so may our spirits be replenished by the very life of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. ​​ Amen.

Words of Institution

We remember that on the night before he died, while at supper with his friends, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to them saying, “This is my body, broken for you. ​​ Go on doing this to recall my​​ presence with you. ​​ Then he took the cup. ​​ He said the blessing, passed it to his friends and said, “Whenever you drink this, remember me and the blessing of our covenant with one another.”​​ 

So he lets his presence be experienced among us, and we sense and share his undying life.

Sharing The Bread And Cup​​ 

Communion Song ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​ “Taste And See”

Scripture:  ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Genesis 1:1

(To celebrate God’s creation as described in the first two chapters of Genesis, we will hear the poem “The Creation” by James Weldon Johnson, 1871-1938.)

Sermon: CREATION NEEDS A CREATOR

 ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​ ​​ Pastor Paul Wrightman

Hymn ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Meditation

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   ​​​​ (Gregory Petrov, Contemporary)

You have brought me into life

As if into an enchanted paradise.

We have seen the sky like a chalice of deepest blue,

Where in the heights the birds are singing.

We have listened to the soothing murmur of the forest

And the melodious music of the streams.

We have tasted fruit of fine flavor​​ 

And sweet-scented honey.

We can live very well on your earth.

It is a pleasure to be your guest.

Glory to you for the feast-day of life.

Glory to you for the perfume of lilies and roses.

Glory to you for each different taste of berry and fruit.

Glory to you for the sparkling river​​ 

Of early morning dew.

Glory to you for the joy of dawn’s awakening.

Glory to you for the new life each day brings.

Glory to you O God, from age to age.  ​​ ​​​​ Amen.

Announcements     Pastor Paul

*Closing​​ Hymn

*Benediction

Closing Hymn (cont.)

Postlude

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THANK YOU TO OUR READER​​ Jane Heider.

ENGAGING THE BIBLE: ​​ We meet Wednesdays 1:15-2:15. ​​ Join us in the Library!

WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE CLASS:​​ meets for​​ dinner​​ at 5:30 (optional) with​​ class 6:00 p.m. ​​​​ 

HEALING PRAYER GROUP: ​​ Joanne Anderson welcomes those interested to meet in the Broaddus room after the worship service. ​​ Prayer requests are welcomed.

FLAT ROOF PROJECT:​​ Thank you to those who generously donated to our roof project and to Bill and Millie Daniel who matched the funds collected!!!!

FRIDAY MORNING WOMEN’S SUPPORT & FAITH-SHARING GROUP:​​ The group meetings are 10:30 am Fridays in our church library.​​  ​​​​ (We are on hiatus and will resume January 10.)  ​​​​ 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.

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​​ could use help from our congregation!  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 Peggy and Larry Kuck for transporting the food to the Food Pantry at St. Mary’s Church in PG.

CLOTHING CLOSET AT DOROTHY’S PLACE:​​ Clothing and toiletries for men and women needed.  ​​​​ Items may be left in the church office. ​​ Clothing for the closet is sorted and sized Mondays 10-12 and taken to Dorothy’s on Saturdays between ​​ 9-12. ​​ Thank you to Kathy Curless for her continued support. ​​ 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.

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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.

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.

PLEASE COME AGAIN!

Worship Service is 10:00 a.m.

followed by Fellowship in Woodhull Hall.

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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