-FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF SHARONUNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

29 North Main Street, Sharon MA 02067 (781)784-2631 www.fccofsharon.orgReverend Steven Alspach, Pastor

JUNE 21, 2015 AT 9:30 AM Father’s Day Sunday

Prelude “”Prelude from'Soli Deo Gloria'  Op. 124   Camil Van Hulse “Offertory” from ''Soli Deo Gloria'  

Welcome and Announcements

Celebrating the Wonder of Creation and Our Creator: WOW God!“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name!”

Call to Worship Song (sung twice)

*Hymn 54 (verses 1-3) “For the Beauty of the Earth” DIXWords: Folliott Pierpoint, Music: Conrad Kocheer

Invitation to Ponder the Ocean – as a Sign of God’s Love

Prayer of Invocation: (unison)We search for God,Elusive, hidden God,We long to dwellIn the heart of Mystery.We search for our true selvesmore of who we already are,

knowing there’s so muchyet to be discovered.

- silence -

We search for love,the unconditional lovethat enfolds usand asks to be shared.We search for visionin the shadows of our souls,impatiently awaitingthe moment of lighting.

- silence -

We search for a quiet heartamid life’s harried schedule;our soul cries out,yearning for solitude.We search for compassionin a world gone deafto the cries of the hurting,and the pleas of the powerless.

- silence -

We search for Home,always for Home,unaware, of course,that we are already there.

From Joyce Rupp, “May I Have This Dance?” (adapted)(Reflects the line from our Covenant:

“Seeking and respond to the Word/World and Will of God”)

Sharing of Key Experiences with the Ocean along our Spiritual Journey

Partnering with Jesus in our World in Setting a Warm and Loving Tone: “HELP us Walk in the Ways of Love!”

“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”

Special Music “The Lord’s Prayer” Bob MacKenzie

250th Celebration Sanford Waters Billings Shirley Schofield

Scripture Reading Colossians 1:9-10

For this reason, since the day we heard it,we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled

with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him,

as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God.

Scripture Reflection Pastor Alspach

Hymn of Response 54 (verses 4,5) “For the Beauty of the Earth” DIX

Sharing of Joys and Concerns

Prayers of the People

The Lord’s Prayer

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 debts as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Opening to the Breath of the Holy Spirit with Gratitude:

THANKS for your good gifts! “For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.”

Call to Offering “Chorale Prelude” Praetorius/Camil Van Hulse

Offertory *Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow,Praise God all creatures here below,Praise God above ye heavenly host,

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn 603 “Lead Us, O Father” LANGRAN Words: William Burleigh, Music: James Langran

*Benediction

Postlude “Variation and Finale” on a Hymn tune from the Mainz Gesangbuch by Camil Van Hulse

* * * * *Please remain standing until the candles have been extinguished

and the candle lighter has gone down the aisle.We then invite you to be seated in a spirit of meditation

for as much of the Postlude as you would like –if you leave before it ends please leave quietly.

Thank you.* * * * *

Summer Theme is “Discernment: finding the signs of God in Daily Life.” “We ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord.” - A Key Point from the Harper Collins Study Bible is "At the heart of Colossians is a dispute over whether what has already been accomplished in Christ has actually and completely liberated the believers from the powers of the universe and given them proper access to God...The letters recurrent wisdom terminology (such as in 1:9-10) reflects the dispute at its center.  The author clings closely to tradition as an authority and to Christ as the means of access to wisdom, while opponents...feature visions and special relationships to angels as the avenue to wisdom.  - An optional passage about discernment to ponder is from "Discernment - Reading the Signs of Daily Life" by "world-renowned spiritual guide and counselor," Henri Nouwen.  Henri was a prolific author on the subject of spiritual life in our world today.  He taught at Yale, Harvard, and Notre Dame, and was finally pastor of "L'Arche Daybreak Community in Toronto.  Discernment as "Seeing Through" p 6By exercising spiritual understanding, we come to see more clearly and hear more deeply the mysterious "interconnectedness of all things"...  Discernment allows us to "see through" the appearance of things to their deeper meanings and come to know the inner workings of God's love and our unique place in the world. 

“Hau, Khola” (Lakota) to visitors – our guests. We hope you find our service meaningful and our congregation warm and welcoming. If you are new to the church and would like to fill out a “Welcome” card located in the pews, please feel free to do so. We would be glad to send you a copy of our next newsletter. You may drop the card in the collection plate

during the offering. Please join us for fellowship hour following the service today. We hope you will come and worship with us again!

First Congregational Church of Sharon Welcoming Statement: In the loving spirit of Jesus Christ, we the First Congregational Church of Sharon, affirm the dignity and worth of each person. Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey, whatever your race, color, ethnicity, country of origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, family structure, physical or mental ability, health and economic circumstance, You are welcome in the full life and ministry of this church. We invite all “to walk with us in the ways of the Lord” asking you to join in the blessings and responsibilities of our faith community. All are invited to join us at Christ’s table.

THIS WEEK IN OUR CHURCH

TODAY: Koinonia Church Worship Service 7 pm; Tuesday: Ilse Marks Food Pantry delivery at 8 am; Crafty Foxes 9 am;Wednesday: Executive Board at 7 pm; AA at 7:30 pm, Thursday: Summer Thursdays at 5:30 pm; F/A at 7 pm; Koinonia Church Worship

Service 7 pm; Friday: Christian Service at 1 pm.

*SUMMER THURSDAYS “Picnic on the Lawn” from 5:30-6:30 pm

- Every Thursday night – - Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Veggie Burgers on the grill, salads, chips

-Home Made Ice Cream made on the spot – different varieties - Drop in any Thursday! “Outdoor Fun” 6:30-7:30 pm

-Option of Lawn Games or family biking around town Thursday June 25th

- Lawn games – Family Badminton- Biking – A leg of the 250th Anniversary Historical Bike Tour

*Prayer Shawl Ministry continues to meet every other Thursday at 3 pm for tea and knitting. Please check with Sally Morandi or the office as to when the next meetings will be. Last month we gave out two prayer shawls, spreading hope, peace, love, and joy. Baby shawls needed as well. (A great summer project!)

*Crafty Foxes will continue to meet every Wednesday from 9 to noon in the cool church library to make crafts for the Bazaar! While visiting craft shows and fairs this summer, feel free to bring back idea’s for our Crafty Foxes. Get going on your Knitting, Crocheting, and Sewing: the Potpuirri and Stichery Table needs ideas and donations! There is only 25 weekends before the best Bazaar ever!

DONATIONS may now be made to our Pine Ridge Mission Trip on line http://www.youcaring.com search: First Congregational Church of SharonPine Ridge Mission Trip. Our hope is to raise $5000 anything we raise beyond that will go to the organization Re-member that is working to improve the lives of people living on Pine Ridge. http://www.re-member.org/default.aspx

FROM YOUCARING.COM:

On August 1st, 2015 a highly-motivated, intergenerational group of 13 people from First Congregational Church of Sharon, UCC will travel to Pine Ridge, South Dakota to spend a week working with Re-member, "an independent registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that improves the quality of reservation life through relationships, shared resources, and volunteer services" - re-member.org. We expect to spend about half of our time doing hands-on projects such as building bunk beds, skirting trailers, installing outhouses, roofing, building wheelchair ramps. The needs of the Oglala Lakota people on Pine Ridge

call for our attention and compassion. According to the Re-member website, Pine Ridge Reservation is the second largest Native American Reservation, yet contains one of the poorest counties in the United States. Many homes lack running water, functional bathrooms, or kitchens. There is much overcrowding in homes. The population has the second-lowest life expectancy in the Western Hemisphere.

Recently USA Today and the NY Times have published articles about the high rate of suicides and suicide attempts, especially among young people, since last December. One of our responses to this news came in early May. Led by a strong band and with the support of other UCC churches in the area, we hosted a U2charist, “Seeking Light that Heals our World.” It was a worship service that was filled with U2 songs and with prayers for the world. Through this service, we increased our awareness of the needs of Pine Ridge, prayed specifically for the Lakota people, and raised almost $1800 for our mission trip. For the end of the U2charist, we created a "tree of life candle-lighting tree," inspired by the trees of the Black Hills, and then lit candles of hope. We have continued in prayer in our church gatherings each week. We invite you and your families and faith communities to join us in prayer for the release of "Light that Heals."

We look forward to the other half of our time being spent in first-hand learning of the history and culture of the Lakota people, including the story of Wounded Knee, planting the seeds of a relationship that we hope will bear much fruit. We believe that God works through such relationships to bring healing and reconciliation. We also seek to learn more about how we can be supportive of economic development on the reservation. We have a church member who was involved early on in starting the Lakota Fund, which has provided an economic boost to the reservation, especially in recent years.

The members of the team are paying for half of the cost of the trip. The other one-fourth is being raised through a series of church fundraisers, including a Native American dinner on May 30th at the church. The chef is from the Wampanoag tribe of of eastern Massachusetts. See our website at fccofsharon.org. We ask you to be part of our support team for the other one-fourth of the cost of the trip. Together we can make a difference. Any funds raised beyond the $5000 needed for the trip will be donated to the "Feather II Capital Campaign" which will enable Re-member to greatly improve their facilities for carrying out their mission on the Reservation.

OUR PINE RIDGE MISSION TEAM (left to right) Michaela Jergensen, Susy Reed, Cathy Reed, Pastor Steve Alspach, Stuart Sears, Cheryl Whiting, Josef Sears, Chris Fitzgerald, Brain Fitzgerald. Missing: Tod Whiting, Kelsey Whiting, Sam Edson, Joy Titus.

THOUGHTS FROM THE STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE

The summer is upon us and that means that vacations call us away. As a consequence of this “away-ness,” expected pledge dollars get passed over and our Counters have fewer dollars to count and checks to deposit.

The fact is, the church cash flow keeps on flowing anyway. Please remember your pledge promise and keep on schedule with your giving. It helps keep the payroll rolling as planned. Thanks for your generosity and for your caring about our church.

FOOD PANTRY AND PANTRY SOUP needs help. Unfortunately our Food Pantry is being used more and more. -Please think about regular contributions. -Pick one thing or focus on one meal and make that a donation every week or once a month. It is all greatly appreciated! -We are helping 9 individuals and families in the Sharon Community who are working and cannot always make the Ilse Marks Food Pantry or who their twice a month donations from Ilse Marks are not enough on their fixed incomes with the cost of everything else going up.-These are all that I’m aware of, but there must be more based on the volume.

Items most needed: Coffee, Tea (Iced Tea), Hot Chocolate, Hot and cold cerealPeanut butter and jelly, Pancake mix, maple syrup, Canned fruit, Canned tuna, salmon, chicken, Crackers, cookies,Soup, pasta sauce, Mayo, mustard, ketchup, relish, Sugar, flour, baking soda, baking powder,Mac & cheese, Tooth paste, toilet paper, laundry detergent, dish soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant PLEASE NO BABY FOOD.

Join FCC and FCC of Stoughton and Christ Congregational Church in the nation’s oldest walk for hunger. Start or join a team. Can’t walk? Sponsor someone. Our goal- 100% FCC participationSAVE THE DATE - Sunday, October 18, 2015 1 pmWe are hosting! Please speak with Valerie Gundlah bgvghgtg@verizon.net if you would like to help.

PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT FOR:

We ask for prayers for Charleston and all victims of violence. We ask for prayers for the family of Shane Farrell of Mansfield. John Colaneri, has been moved from Sturdy Hospital to Harrington House and seems to be doing better.John Mann is at Norwood Hospital, and his care giver, Anne Mann. They would really appreciate cards, sent to 227 East St., Sharon MA 02067.

Victoria Andrews passed away May 27th at the age of 90. A service was held here at the church on June 2, In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: First Congregational Church of Sharon – Memorial Fund. Diane Blair with health concerns.Diane Blair’s cousin, Janet Eddy, she was just diagnosed with cancer Gordon and Kristen (Bridgeman) Shannon welcomed the arrival of Annabelle Elizabeth on April 16th. Annabelle came home June 5th. She came home weighing 3lb 9 oz and has gained 6 oz in 4 days! Cards and notes are welcome if you’d like to send your good wishes along to: Kristen, Gordon and Annabelle Shannon, 21 St. Mary's Mansions, St. Mary's Terrace, London, W2 1SQ –

Laura Russell on the recent loss of her Aunts, Margaret Henze Davis and Helen Henze LevermoreSandy Lemaster, Russ Terry’s sister, with health concerns.Grethe Reddick, with health concerns.Nick Ward, a friend of Pam Johnson’s with health concerns.Marla, a friend of Sue from the group home, recovering from surgery.Jonathan Stanford and the Stanford family. Jinny Brack, Bill Brack’s sister, recovering from back surgery and serious vision problems.Brett Hinkel’s Mother, with health concerns.Erin Parker, a friend of Leandra McLean fighting cancer.Daniel Jamison, a friend of Cynthia Cash’s family, with cancer.All those who are facing uncertain employment situations.CPT Blake Robbins, Alicia Chevalier’s brother, serving in Afghanistan.

Please also keep these people in your prayers: Gyneth McGarvey, Chuck Sands, Connie Hodgkins, Frannie Hall, Jan Stewart, Rev. Jean Link, Grace Vicari, Ethel Morse, Ronnie Wilson, Mark Hodgkins, Steven Gorrill, Mary Murchie,

Perhaps you would like to send a note of sympathy, cheer, or simply ‘thinking about you’ to people who are on our prayer list. This offers a way of reaching out to those who have been unable to join us in church. Cards and addresses are available in the Parish Hall. Susanne would be glad to mail them for you.

TODAY”S COMPOSER _ Camil A. J. van Hulse (1 August 1897 in Sint-Niklaas, East Flanders, Belgium – 16 July 1988 in Tucson, Arizona, United States) was a Belgian-American pianist, organist, teacher, and composer. Camil van Hulse's father, Gustaaf van Hulse, was composer and organist at St. Nicholas. His mother, Mary Pelagia Coppens, was a gifted pianist and singer. At age six, Camil received from his father, education in piano and music theory, harmony and counterpoint.  By the age of twelve, he was able to play the organ, lead a choir, and sing Gregorian chant. From then on, he regularly substituted for his father as organist and conductor. In his third year studying for the priesthood, he decided to devote himself entirely to music. At the outbreak of World War I in 1914, van Hulse  at seventeen joined the military. During the war, he suffered exposure to poison gas and tuberculosis.  In 1919, despite his poor health, he began study at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp.That same year, he succeeded his father as organist at St. Nicholas Church in Sint-Niklaas. In 1922, he was awarded the prize for harmony with highest distinction and the Royal Medal, In 1923 he was awarded the highest distinction for piano and the Royal Medal.  After graduating, his first concern was his health. Therefore, in 1923 he moved to Arizona, at that time one of the most musical sites in America. During that time he also changed the spelling of his name from Kamiel to Camil. In 1924, he married Augusta Nijs, a woman to whom he had already been engaged in Belgium. They had two children, Lesghinka and Aziadé.  He gave private lessons in piano, organ, harmony, and counterpoint. In 1924 he was given a permanent position as organist at All Saints Church. In 1928, he was asked to become the first conductor of the fledgling Tucson Symphony.  As a composer, he published 130 works.  He composed orchestral works, oratorios and cantatas, and chamber music. His works for organ comprise several symphonies, suites and symphonic poems, as well as a large quantity of shorter pieces published in some fifteen volumes ;all major genres except opera. Van Hulse maintained the late romantic style, but combined this with modern trends such as Expressionism. In 1957, while visiting Belgium, the Bibliotheca Wasiana organized a tribute concert in honor of his sixtieth birthday. For the 750th anniversary of the city of Sint-Niklaas, he wrote "The Ballad of the Six Knights" for orchestra, choir and baritone solo on a text by Anton van Wilderode.

In 1956, he retired as organist in order to devote himself entirely to composition. His compositions received numerous awards. In addition to his professional career as a musician, he was also a skilled linguist and is included in the Dictionary of Linguists. He also has a place in the Dictionary of Musicians.  Gov. Bruce Babbitt awarded him "Artist of the Year" honors in 1984, and he continued to compose almost until his death in 1988.     The man who had come to the desert in 1923 in poor health had lived another 65 years    Camil van Hulse died at the age of 91 in Tucson, Arizona.