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Community Church
of the
Monterey Peninsula
Independent & United Church of Christ
Order OF Worship
March 1, 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….. (John O’Donohue, Contemporary)
A BLESSING FOR BELONGING
May you listen to your longing to be free.
May the frames of your belonging
be generous enough for your dreams.
May you arise each day
with a voice of blessing whispering in your heart.
May you find harmony
between your soul and your life.
May you know the eternal longing
that lives at the heart of time.
May there be kindness in your gaze
when you look within.
May you never place walls
between the light and yourself.
May you allow the wild beauty of the invisible world
to gather you, mind you, and embrace you
in belonging.
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 And Fill Our Hearts”
Call to Worship (Thich Nhat Hanh, Contemporary)
Leader: May all beings be peaceful, happy,
and light in body and mind.
People: May all beings be free from anger,
unwholesome states of mind,
fear, and worries.
Leader: May all beings know how
to look at themselves with the eyes
of understanding and love.
People: May all beings
be able to recognize and touch
the seeds of joy and happiness
in themselves.
Leader: May all beings learn how
to nourish themselves with joy each day.
People: May all beings be able
to live fresh, solid, and free.
*Opening Song “As The Deer” Martin Nystrom
As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after you
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship you
You alone are my strength, my shield
To you alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship you
You're my friend and you are my brother
Even though you are a king
I love you more than any other
So much more than anything
You alone are my strength, my shield
To you alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship you
Morning Prayers
Unison Prayer (Judy Chicago, Contemporary)
And then all that has divided us will merge
And then compassion will be wedded to power
And then softness will come to a world
that is harsh and unkind
And then both men and women will be gentle
And then both women and men will be strong
And then no person will be subject
to another’s will
And then all will be rich and free and varied
And then the greed of some
will give way to the needs of many
And then all will share equally
in earth’s abundance
And then all will care for the sick
and the weak and the old
And then all will nourish the young
And then all will cherish life’s creatures
And then all will live in harmony
with each other and the Earth
And then everywhere
will be called Eden once again
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.
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: Old Testament - Genesis 12:1-4a
The Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him.
Scripture: Gospel - John 3:1-17
There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who
descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
Sermon: Blessed, to be a Blessing
The Rev. Wendy Salisbury Howe
Hymn 476 “My Life Flows On In Endless Song”
Vs. 1,2,4
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 Special ‘Selection
*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 (Medical Mission Sisters, Contemporary)
Loving God,
Living Water,
River of Mercy,
Source of Life,
in whom we live
and move
and have our being,
who quenches our thirst,
refreshes our weariness,
bathes
and washes
and cleanses
our wounds,
be for us always
a fountain of life,
and for all the world
a river of hope
springing up in the midst
of the deserts of disappointment.
Honor and blessing,
glory and praise
to You forever.
Amen.
Announcements Pastor Paul
*Closing Hymn 581 “Lead Us From Death To Life” Vs 1
*Benediction
Closing Hymn (cont.) “Lead Us From Death To Life” Vs 2,3
Postlude
WE WELCOME TO OUR PULPIT THIS MORNING THE REV. WENDY SALISBURY HOWE, a retired Episcopal priest, now serving as Assisting Priest at St. Mary's by-the-Sea in Pacific Grove. She began her M.Div. at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley as her youngest child started high school and she was ordained in 1997. She has served several area Episcopal churches and as Chaplain at All Saints Day School. Wendy and her husband Kevin, a retired newspaper reporter, have lived on the Monterey Peninsula since 1970.
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THANK YOU TO OUR READER Lisa Ledin.
PASTOR PAUL will be back in the pulpit on March 8. Afternoon and Evening Bible Studies will resume on March 11.
THANK YOU TO OUR READER Lisa Ledin.
HEALING PRAYER GROUP: Joanne Anderson welcomes those interested to meet in the Broaddus room after the worship service. Prayer requests are welcomed.
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!!!
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.
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.
TEN CORE VALUES
Our mission is grounded on 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.
Our church kitchen
is inundated with
casserole dishes, bowls,
and miscellaneous containers
that have been left after
I-Help Dinners, Pot lucks etc.
PLEASE PICK YOURS UP!!
If you have trouble finding
a certain item, check
with Cindi, Liz, or Pam.
Rev. Paul Wrightman | ||||
Pastor | ||||
Rev. Elizabeth Wrightman | ||||
Pastoral Associate | ||||
Carole French | ||||
Administrative Assistant | ||||
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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