Round Hill Community Church

ORDER OF SERVICEFebruary 28, 2016 3rd Sunday in Lent

PRELUDE Oboe Concerto in C Minor Marcello Allegro Moderato Adagio

Gerard Reuter, Oboe

WORDS OF WELCOMEINTROIT

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: God of all Creation,

All: What do you require of us?

Leader: to do justice,

All: seeking peace & reconciliation, standing with the marginalized and forgotten

Leader: to love kindness

All: showing compassion and unconditional caring for those in need

Leader: to walk humbly

All: following in the steps of Jesus, lifting up not the work of our hands but the power that sustains our service.

*HYMN No. 25 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

*The congregation is invited to stand

*OPENING PRAYER Jesus, Prince of Peace,you have asked us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.We pray for our enemies and those who oppose us.With the help of the Holy Spirit, may all people learn to work together for that justice which brings true and lasting peace.To you be glory and honor for ever and ever. Amen.

*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 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 and ever. Amen.

*GLORIA PATRIGlory be to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning,is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Connie BlundenChildren may now leave for Church School.

ANTHEM The Lamb Vaughan Williams Jenna Hintz, Soprano ~ Gerard Reuter, Oboe

Little Lamb who made theeDost thou know who made theeGave thee life & bid thee feed.By the stream & o'er the mead;Gave thee clothing of delight,Softest clothing wooly bright;Gave thee such a tender voice,Making all the vales rejoice!Little Lamb who made thee

Dost thou know who made thee

Little Lamb I'll tell thee,Little Lamb I'll tell thee!He is called by thy name,

For he calls himself a Lamb:He is meek & he is mild,He became a little child:I a child & thou a lamb,

We are called by his name.Little Lamb God bless thee.Little Lamb God bless thee.

SCRIPTURE LESSON Luke 6: 27-36

“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

SERMON Mercy within mercy within mercy The Rev. Dan Haugh

*HYMN No. 526 The Gift of Love

OFFERINGInvitationAnthem The Lord is My Shepherd (Psalm 23) Rutter*Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all

creatures here below; praise him above, ye heavenly host: Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

*Hymn My Country ‘Tis of Thee (verse 4) Our fathers’ God, to thee, author of liberty, to thee we sing; long may our

land be bright with freedom’s holy light; protect us bythy might, Great God, our King.

PASTORAL PRAYER

*HYMN No. 80 My Shepherd, You Supply My NeedCHURCH PRAYER

Our Heavenly Father, shed forth thy blessed spirit upon all our lives. Make each one of us an instrument in thy hands for good. Purify our hearts, strengthen our minds and bodies, fill us with Christian love. Let no pride, no self-conceit, no rivalry, no ill will ever spring up among us. Make us earnest and true, wise and prudent, giving no just cause for offense; and may thy holy peace rest upon us this day and every day throughout the coming week, sweetening our trials, cheering us in our work, and keeping us faithful to the end, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

BENEDICTION AND CHORAL RESPONSE

POSTLUDE Oboe Sonata in B Flat Handel

ROUND HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH MISSION STATEMENTWe, the members of the Round Hill Community Church, a self-governing, non-denominational body, seek to foster a community of faith where people of all ages and backgrounds pursue spiritual growth; where God is worshipped in Word and praised in music; where friends are made and hurts are healed. We seek to be a community where individuals commit their time and resources to education, fellowship, and to helping those in need among our Church family and in the broader world. We are a church where faith, hope, justice and love are valued, and above all, Jesus is Lord.

ROUND HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH CREEDI believe in God, the one universal Father of all mankind, revealed supremely in Jesus Christ, our Lord, and present with us to guide, comfort and inspire in the Holy Spirit. I believe in the Kingdom of God;

and in the mission of the Christian Church to proclaim the Gospel to all the world, exalting the worship of the Lord our God, and laboring for the progress of knowledge, the promotion of righteousness, the reign of peace, and the realization of human brotherhood. United in Christian love, we pray and labor for the coming of the Kingdom, the triumph of righteousness and the life everlasting. Amen.

CHURCH NEWS

Thank you to Michael Sandifer for ushering during this morning’s service.

Thank you to the Marion and Phil Piro for hosting today’s Coffee Hour. Please join them in the parlor following the service.

Faith Formation

Our next contemporary and all-inclusive second service, First Sundays at Round Hill, will take place on March 6th at 4pm. All are invited to worship together in a warm and casual atmosphere, followed by a light supper. This month’s service will take place in the Community House. Special music will be provided by Britt Newman & Co. Join us!

Simply Smiles! The dates for our summer 2016 and winter 2017 service trips have been announced and registration is now open! We are hoping to develop a team of 20 from RHCC. Registration deadline is March 31st.

Outreach

On March 6th, Barbara McLaughlin, Director of Early Childhood and Parenting Programs at Inspirica, will provide an update on the program launched January 19th, share volunteer opportunities and the various ways that you can support this organization. 

Fellowship

Join us at the RHCC Women’s Gathering on Friday, March 4th at 6pm when we will present a discussion on “Women in China.” Our storytellers will be Sharon Sun, Sally MacSwan, Helen Dixon, Sandy Motland and Helen O’Malley. The presentation will be followed by a Chinese dinner at David Chen Restaurant in Armonk, NY. Reservations required by February 29th. Cost $15.

The next meeting of the Greenwich Men’s Club is scheduled for Thursday, March 10th from 6 to 8pm at the Tengda Asian Bistro in Greenwich. The topic for discussion will be “The Power of Laughter”. Please RSVP through the church office at 203-86-1091.

The Meditation/Stress Reduction Group meets every other Thursday in the Church Meeting Room, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. All are welcome!

Easter is Sunday, March 27! Remember a loved one with commemorative flowers on Easter. To have a dedication included in the Order of Service that morning, please complete the form below and return to the office with your donation by Sunday, March 20. Please make checks payable to RHCC.

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2016 Easter Flower Dedication FormDonor’s Name _________________________________________________

Phone ________________________________________________________

Email ________________________________________________________

Donation $__________

Dedication to be listed in Easter Order of Service: (please note: this will be printed verbatim in the bulletin)_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

REFLECTIONS

“A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just.”- Pope Francis

“Nothing can make injustice just but mercy.”- Robert Frost

“Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present.”- Albert Camus

Senior Pastor: The Rev. Dr. Edward G. HorstmannAssociate Pastor: The Rev. Dan Haugh

Minister Emeritus: The Rev. Dr. Ralph AhlbergMinister of Music: Christopher Kabala

Church School Coordinator: Connie BlundenRound Hill Community Church

395 Round Hill Road, Greenwich, CT 06831203.869.1091 roundhillcommunitychurch.org