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Community Church
of the
Monterey Peninsula
Independent & United Church of Christ
Order OF Worship
March 15, 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 and address with us in the red friendship register that you will find at the end of each pew.)
As We Gather (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832)
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to
draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts
of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth,
the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid
plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself,
then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur
to help one that would never otherwise have occurred.
A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents
and meetings and material assistance, which no man
could have dreamed would have come his way.
Whatever you can do,
or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius,
power and magic in it.
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 “The Way Is Clear” Annie Zylstra
Call to Worship Edwina Gateley, Contemporary)
Leader: Into Your Hands, O God,
People: This solitude,
Leader Into Your Hands, O God,
People: This emptiness.
Leader: Into Your Hands, O God,
People: This loneliness,
Leader: Into Your Hands, O God,
People: This all.
Leader: Into Your Hands, O God,
People: This grief,
Leader: Into Your Hands
People: This sleeping fear.
Leader: Into Your Hands, O God –
People: What is left,
Leader: What is left
People: Of me.
*Opening Song “Let It Be"
When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.
And when the broken hearted people
Living in the world agree,
There will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is
Still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be.
Let it be, let it be. Yeah
There will be an answer, let it be.
And when the night is cloudy,
There is still a light that shines on me,
Shine on until tomorrow, let it be.
I wake up to the sound of music
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
There will be an answer, let it be.
Let it be, let it be,
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.
Morning Prayers
Unison Prayer (Joan Bel Geddes, Contemporary)
God, teach me to let my soul rest,
to still my worries and doubts,
to stop my constant clatter of questions
and protests.
Let me come to you sometimes
and just sit quietly,
like a small child
intent on hearing a kitten’s purr
or a little bird’s chirp…
or as if I were trying to hear
a soft breeze moving across a pond,
a leaf dropping onto the grass.
Let me learn to wait patiently
and trustingly for you
to make things clearer to me.
Teach me to be as calm as a lake
after sundown…
as trusting as a baby in its mother’s lap.
Teach me to grow gradually,
unprotestingly, like a flower…
to go unresistingly wherever you send me,
like airborne seed obeying the breeze.
Teach me to turn always toward you,
the very essence of love and of life,
the cause of love and life,
the nourisher of love and life,
the purpose of love and life –
the way leaves keep turning
toward the life-giving sun. 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 “Doin The Impossible” Laurence Cole
Scripture Text Genesis 37:2b-8, 12-14, 18-28, 36
2This is the story of the family of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers; he was a helper to the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. 3Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves. 4But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him.
5 Once Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. 6He said to them, ‘Listen to this dream that I dreamed. 7There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright; then your sheaves gathered around it, and bowed down to my sheaf.’ 8His brothers said to him, ‘Are you indeed to reign over us? Are you indeed to have dominion over us?’ So they hated him even more because of his dreams and his words.
12 Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. 13And Israel said to Joseph, ‘Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.’ He answered, ‘Here I am.’ 14So he said to him, ‘Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock; and bring word back to me.’ So he sent him from the valley of Hebron.
He came to Shechem, 18They saw him from a distance, and before he came near to them, they conspired to kill him. 19They said to one another, ‘Here comes this dreamer. 20Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.’ 21But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, ‘Let us not take his life.’ 22Reuben said to them, ‘Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him’—that he might rescue him out of their hand and restore him to his father. 23So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves that he wore; 24and they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
25 Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying gum, balm, and resin, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. 26Then Judah said to his brothers, ‘What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.’ And his brothers agreed. 28When some Midianite traders passed by, they drew Joseph up, lifting him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt. 36Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard.
Sermon: THE YOUNG JOSEPH: A STUDY
IN SELF-CENTEREDNESS – BUT ALSO
THE BEGINNING OF GREATNESS
Pastor Paul Wrightman
Hymn 179 “We Yearn O’ Christ”
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 (Catherine Foote, Contemporary)
But you, Jesus, you tell stories
of people who listened.
You tell stories of those
who stopped and stooped
to hear the pain.
Samaritans, approaching the wounded.
Willing to feel pain as they listen to pain.
You tell stories of seeing, of hearing,
of neighbors, of love.
And you, Jesus. You say, “Tell me.”
You say, “Speak. I am not afraid to feel.”
You approach the pain.
You teach me that pain will not destroy.
When the storm is over, the resurrection begins.
Amen.
Announcements Pastor Paul
*Closing Hymn 497 “Guide My Feet” Vs. 1, 2
*Benediction
Closing Hymn (cont.) “Guide My Feet” Vs. 3, 4
Postlude
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THANK YOU TO OUR READER Peggy Kuck.
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.
FRIDAY MORNING WOMEN’S SUPPORT & FAITH-SHARING GROUP: The group meetings are 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.
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 CHURCH KITCHEN is inundated with casserole dishes, bowls,and miscellaneous containers that have been left afterI-Help Dinners, Pot lucks etc. PLEASE PICK YOURS UP!! If you have trouble finding a certain item, check with Cindi, Liz, or Pam.
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; [email protected] )
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 between 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.
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.
HELP CLEAN UP OUR CHURCH FOR EASTER!!
Join us after worship on March 29
for a sandwich and salad lunch
(bring something to share)
then we will polish up the sanctuary.
If indoors is not your thing, there are plenty
of outdoor chores!
Many hands make light work!
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
Your Legacy:
Remember Our Church
In Your Estate Plan