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GREENFIELD HILL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT

AUGUST 18, 2019 9:30 A.M. SERVICE

We love kids! But sometimes services are too long for even the happiest child. So ... • For infants we have nursery care in the Church House, first floor. • And if your kids are feeling restless, the Church Parlor has toys; the service is amplified in the Parlor and the seats are comfortable! (through the double doors, or outside & around to back)

Prelude Prelude from "Five Pieces" Dmitri Shostakovich

For 2 Violins and Piano

Bryan and Jeremy Page ~ Violinists (See Notes on Today's Music, page 8)

Call to Worship

* Hymn Blessed Assurance! Hymnal, no. 543

* Prayer of Invocation and Confession, said together:

Loving God,

You have guided us through another week.

We have faced challenges and opportunities:

some we met, some we missed.

We have made choices and decisions: some were right, some were wrong.

We gave forth effort:

sometimes enough, sometimes not.

We needed to show faith:

some days we did, some we didn’t.

Forgive us and strengthen us. Amen.

(silence for individual prayers of confession)

* Assurance of Forgiveness

* Gloria Patri Hymnal, no. 35 (This hymn, sung every Sunday, expresses our gratitude for forgiveness)

Welcome and Announcements Please sign the green pad in your pew, and pass it to your neighbor. Thank you!

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Anthem Thankful David Foster, Richard Page,

David White ~ Tenor Carol Bayer Sager

Dismissal of our young children to Summer Church School Kids age 3 through 2nd grade are invited to depart with Marcia Carothers to our

Summer Church School program, in the Church House!

Worship of God through Prayer

Sharing our Joys and Concerns We welcome your prayer concerns. You may write them into the prayer request

book in the Narthex, or contact the pastors.

Pastoral Prayer, concluding with the Lord’s Prayer, said together: 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 for ever.

Amen.

Worship of God through Giving: (We give in many ways, by various means. Some give monthly, quarterly, yearly, credit card,

by mail or automatic withdrawals. Yet it is still important to “present our offerings” on the altar as part of genuine worship, our way of giving thanks to God.)

Offering

Offertory Waltz from "Five Pieces" Dmitri Shostakovich

* Doxology Hymnal, no. 46 (This ancient hymn is sung every Sunday to thank God for all the gifts of our lives)

* Prayer of Dedication, said together:

We give thanks, Loving God: for all who give their best, for all who

give what they can, for all who give everything, for all who give from

the heart, for all who give energy and time and enthusiasm … even as

we give thanks for You, Holy God, who gave us Your child, our Jesus,

the Christ. Amen.

Scripture John 15:12-15 (N.T. p. 113)

Sermon Rev. David Johnson Rowe

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* Parting Hymn My Jesus, I Love Thee Hymnal, no. 349

* Pastoral Benediction

* Postlude

* All who are able, please stand

Soloist: David White ~ Tenor

Violinists: Bryan and Jeremy Page

Serving in the Chancel:

Junior Deacons Casey Dies and Hunter Vogel

Don’t forget… refreshments on the front lawn

immediately following worship!

Come on out and enjoy!

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CHURCH NOTES

Good morning! Thank you for joining us in worship, as together we seek to

draw closer to God and to one another. We’re glad you’re here!

Summer Church Schedule

through Labor Day

8:15 a.m. Outdoor Worship, on the Lawn by the

Memorial Room. This morning’s service was led by

Father Simisky from Fairfield Prep, next week Lisa

Carpenter will be leading us. Only two weeks left of 8:15 services! Don’t let the summer go by without trying one

out! They are inspiring, fun, casual, and each one is

unique! Chairs on the lawn, coffee and goodies -- it’s great!

9:30 a.m. Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary.

After Worship… Please join us on the front lawn for refreshments immediately following worship! It’s a wonderful way to keep up with friends old and new during the summer!

Church School: During the summer, we welcome children into worship at 9:30! -- then kids ages 3 through 2nd grade depart with their teachers at 9:45 for Church School. More details below in the Church School Notes!

Visitors: We are glad you are with us today. Want to know more? Take a bag

home from our Visitors’ Table, just outside the front door! If you are interested in

joining this church, please just speak with Alida!

At our service this morning you have been greeted by Deacon Dan Carpenter

and Junior Deacons Brooke Byrne and Ava Derbyshire. Junior Deacons

assisting with Church School are Maddy Crawford and Elizabeth Cutler.

A note about children in worship: We love them! But if you’d prefer to enjoy

worship on your own, our Church Nursery for infants-toddlers is across the

street in the Church House. Special beepers/pagers are available to parents so

that they may be quietly contacted during the worship service if their child

misses them! If your child in worship becomes restless or unhappy, please make use

of the Parlor (through the double doors by the choir loft, or head outside and

through the side doors). There is a comfortable space there for your child to

play with toys and a speaker which carries the service!

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A special thank you to our Member Care Board for the wonderful

refreshments after service! Join them out on the front lawn for refreshments

after the service to see friends, old and new!

Remembering our Soldiers

Laura Riebel . . . Mark Riebel . . . Brian Shelton . . . Derrick Keene . . . Mike Lincoln . . . David Elliott. . . Stephen Honan . . . Molly Hanson . . . Shelby Wallace . . . Kelsey

Wallace . . . Lawrence Benjamin . . . Dale Cates

If you or a loved one is hospitalized, please contact us! Hospitals do not notify us independently.

Many thanks for helping our pastoral ministry

CHURCH SCHOOL NOTES

During the summer months, we offer a weekly combined church

school class for children ages three years up to through 2nd grade (as

of this fall). This morning’s class is being led by Marcia Carothers

assisted by Junior Deacon Maddy Crawford and Elizabeth Cutler. This

morning they will be talking about David and Abigail.

Our church school classes share a morning snack during their class

time. If your child has any food allergies, we ask that you alert your

child’s teacher in order that we may insure the safe participation of

all our children! Following the worship service, parents may pick up

their children from Classroom 4, located on the lower level of the

Church House.

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LAST WEEK AT CHURCH

WOW! ANOTHER AMAZING VBS WEEK last

week! 88 kids, 35 youth assistants, 12 adult

teachers, a whole bunch of fun, learning,

and love.... and of course, Alida on a

mission to Mars and beyond with EP3-20

(see picture to the left)!

UPCOMING EVENTS AT CHURCH

Last few weeks of Summer Fellowship at Sasco Beach every Wednesday

evening from 6:30pm until dark. Everyone is invited to bring their own food

and beach chairs and meet up with other GHCC worshipers for a casual night

at the beach. Hope to see you at the beach!

All Church Deacons Picnic!!!! Make a note of Sunday, September 8th for our

"All Church", wouldn't want to miss it, "Deacons’ Picnic" at 11:30! Everybody

comes and it’s always a joyous morning!

CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NOTES

Interested in this year’s trip to India? Alida will be leading

the annual visit to our FOCI project sites in Hyderabad and Khammam, India — departing on Dec. 27 and returning on

January 7. We have a great group already interested but have

room for more! Please be in touch with Alida to learn more —

we’ll be making final arrangements and purchasing plane

tickets soon! Contact her at award@greenfieldhillchurch.com

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Looking for Advent Devotional writers... give it a try!! After Labor Day, we

will give you a scripture passage to look at, and then you write a brief (150

words or so) devotional and a short prayer. People love it and you will enjoy

doing it! Truthfully it will be a meaningful and fulfilling experience. Sign up today by emailing the church office at info@greenfieldhillchurch.com, or let

David know!

We are still in need of five more backpacks!!! A new

school year is almost here, and our Bridgeport Social

Worker has asked for 15 NEW backpacks to help some

kids out. If you are doing any school shopping today and

can pick up a backpack for a neighbor in need, please drop

it to the Narthex or Church House any time today (she’ll

be picking them up tomorrow morning, 8/19!) Thank

you, as always, for your willingness to help and your generosity!

Have a son or daughter attending college in the fall? We’d love

to send them a care package! We are looking for your child's

contact information. In addition to keeping in touch and

connected with our young people, reminding them of the support

they still have at home, we will be sending out care packages to

them in the fall. Please email the church office

(info@greenfieldhillchurch.com) with their name, email, and

school address.

This fall Greenfield Hill Church Nursery School will be

opening enrollment to all past and current families, as

well as church members, for the 2020-2021 school year -

beginning Monday, September 9, 2019. And please join us on Saturday morning, October 19, 2019, for our Annual Fall

Festival. We invite you to bring your family and friends and

enjoy a morning of fun on our nursery school's playground!

Be sure to tell your friends we will begin accepting applications from the

general public that morning. If you'd like more information or would like a tour

of our beautiful Nursery School, don't hesitate to call our Director, Susan

Rippey at 203-259-7597.

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NOTES ON TODAY’S MUSIC

The Five Pieces for two violins were arranged by Shostakovich's student, Lev

Atovmian from other works of Shostakovich, with the composer's

sanction. The two delightful pieces being played today are the Prelude from

The Gadfly, Op.97 and The Waltz, presumed from the Tale of the Priest and his

servant, Balada, Op.36.

WORDS TO TODAY’S MUSIC

Words to ANTHEM ~ Thankful (from Josh Grogan's "Noel")

Somedays we forget

To look around us

Somedays we can't see

The joy that surrounds us

So caught up inside ourselves We take when we should give.

So for tonight we pray for

What we know can be.

And on this day we hope for

What we still can't see.

It's up to us to be the change

And even though we all can still do

more

There's so much to be thankful for.

Look beyond ourselves

There's so much sorrow

It's way too late to say

I'll cry tomorrow

Each of us must find our truth

It's so long overdue

So for tonight we pray for

What we know can be

And every day we hope for

What we still can't see

It's up to us to be the change And even though we all can still do

more

There's so much to be thankful for.

Even with our differences

There is a place we're all connected

Each of us can find each other's light

So for tonight we pray for

What we know can be And on this day we hope for

What we still can't see

It's up to us to be the change

And even though this world needs so

much more

There's so much to be thankful for.

CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 18, 2019 Sunday 8:15 a.m. Outdoor Worship (The Lawn in front of the Memorial Room)

(8/18) 9:30 a.m. Worship in Sanctuary

9:30 a.m. Summer Church School – Church House

Monday 6:00 p.m. Knitting Group Meets in Church House Library

(8/19)

Sunday 8:15 a.m. Outdoor Worship (The Lawn in front of the Memorial Room)

(8/25) 9:30 a.m. Worship in Sanctuary

9:30 a.m. Summer Church School – Church House

Thursday, September 5th Bible Study Reconvenes:

10am and 7:30 pm in the Church House Library

SPF (high school youth group) also reconvenes on 9/5! 6pm – 7:30pm with pizza for dinner first!

Sunday, September 8th Deacon’s Fall Kick-off Picnic for ALL

* Worship in the Sanctuary at 9:00 and 10:30 am * Sunday School at 10:30 am (for this week only)

* Picnic for all at 11:30 am with music, Bounce House, ice cream and a whole bunch of fun!

Sunday September 15th ~ Full Regular Schedule * Sunday School at 9:00 am

* Worship at 9:00 and 10:30 am * Religion in the News Adult Class at 11:40 am

Sunday, September 15th ~ ASP Sunday at both services

Sunday, September 22nd ~ 3rd Grade Bible Presentation

Sunday Night, September 22nd ~ Annual Penfield Party!!!

From 6–9p.m. at the Penfield Beach (an adult fellowship event). Amazing Food, the Merwin Mountain Band, A Beautiful Sunset,

Dancing, and FUN! Not something to be missed!

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GREENFIELD HILL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT

Office: (203) 259-5596 info@greenfieldhillchurch.com

greenfieldhillchurch.com facebook.com/GreenfieldHillCongregationalChurch

OFFICERS: Rev. Dr. David Johnson Rowe, Pastor; Rev. Dr. Alida Ward, Pastor; Carol McCullough, Church Council Chairperson; Sue Bambach, Church Clerk; Aun Singapore, Treasurer.

STAFF: Roni Widmer, Office Manager; Sandra Shaw Murphy, Music Director; Sara Mastrony Hoefer, Junior Choir Director; Marcia Carothers, Director of Christian Education; Susan Rippey, Nursery School

Director; Jessica Campbell, Financial Manager; Kelcey King, Assistant Treasurer; Sarah De Meneses, Accountant; Jim Zalenski, Sexton; Rachel Baumann, Pastoral Assistant.

CHURCH BOARD MEMBERS Adult Education: Linda Allegretti, Rebecca Huselid, Max Reid, Fred Schaefer Children and Youth

Ministries: Andrea Muhlhauser, co-Chairperson; Anna Taylor, co-Chairperson, Mike Dwyer, Scott Ettl, Amanda

Heyn, Skylar Smith, Michelle Wormley Communications: Sarah Schunk, Chairperson; Todd Jones, Lisa

Rousseau Development: Joanna Patterson, Chairperson; Andy Allegretti, Greg Bambach, Betsy Ewing, Rich

Gannon, Bert Tunnell, Adam Snyder, Jeff Taylor Diaconate: Kim Baer, co-Chairperson, Ellen Waugh, co-

Chairperson; Pam Brennan, Dan Carpenter, Jason Dies, Joel Edminster, Jen Hinkle, Joe Holland, Carolyn

Houghton, Pat McCullough, Jon Passmore, Kathy Rafsky Facilities: Andy Hoder, Chairperson; Jeri Barrett,

Jim Cullinan, Todd Flanagan, Amy Johnson, Don Lord, Jon Sabrowski, Walt Siemon, Fred Zarrilli

Fellowship: Chris Gannon, Chairperson; Kathy Baratz, Ana-alyse Castelluccio, Talli Connell, Lynn Eckert,

Barbara Hayslip, Amy Hios, Linda Johnston, Heather Lajeunesse, Rachel Parrish, Pamela Patterson, Allison

Perkins, Jessica Selden, Sara York Finance: Chris Tormey, Chairperson; Robert Franchini, Jason Konschnick,

Martha Lord, Andy Muhlhauser, Jon Persson, Aun Singapore, Beth Schaefer, Jeff Whitaker Junior Deacons:

Zachary Amendola, Witt Badger, Maddy Baker, Maggie Burns, Brook Byrne, Harry Chandler, Maddy

Crawford, Elizabeth Cutler, Ava Derbyshire, Casey Dies, Kate Duffy, Cooper Eckert, Clarie Edminster, Eloise

Gacetta, Helen Glover, Liam Hawley, Ella Holland, Hudson Houghton, Abby Jacobs, Andrew Jones, Meghan Lajeunesse, Erik Langeland, Cole Markham, Kerry McKeon, Sophie Nightingale, James Richard, Alyvia

Ronning, Olivia Savino, Charlie Simon, Hope Smith, Ben Steele, MacKenna Tormey, Severin Tormey, Hunter Vogel, Emily Wegener, Will Whelan, Devenny Widmer, Skylar Wingate, George Wyckoff, Chloe Yoder

Member Care: Sharon Jacobs, Chairperson; Stephanie Franchini, Carol Langeland, Carole Lisi, Martha

McKeon, Anne Orvis, Eleanor Page, Wendy Savino, Cathy Scoville, Sue Trischman, Lisa Vacheron Member

Involvement: Adam Simon, Chairperson; Amy Desel, Erika Duffy, Glenn Horine, Francine Jaques, Nicole

Lacey, Kerry Manning, Emily Orben, Liz Schwinn Mission and Outreach: Chris Kenney, Chairperson;

Michelle Baker, Val Collison, Holli Horine, Murray Jacques, Meg Lowe, Bevo Tarika, Peter von Euler Church

Council At-Large Members: Scott Craighead, Mike Howard, Martha McKeon Church Historian: Lynn Van

Winkle.

COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS Dogwood Festival, Mike & Karen Mitri; Flowers, Lynn Davies; Ushers, Marcy Michaud; Memorial Garden,

Lynn Davies; Nursery School, Amanda Innes; Human Resources, Cheryl Jones

CHANCEL CHOIR Bert Andren, Cary Andren, David Callahan, Lia Carter, Wendy Gerbier, Thomas Grant, Zoe Grosser, Rebecca

Huselid, Sue Leiss, Donald Lord, Michael Moore, Jon Passmore, Melinda Reynolds, Beth Schaefer, Earlyne Seaver, Dianne Simpson, Bob Stilson, Michael Trnik, David White

CHURCH SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS Amity Almond, Jennifer Bargas, Jessica Campbell, Amanda Case, Sarah DeMeneses, Donna Ellett, Scott Ettl, Betsy Ewing, Karen Fox, Rachelle Giordano, Marjorie Glover, Ann Harvey, Kelly Hayes, Katie Holland,

Andra Horsch, Carolyn Houghton, Mary Janacek, Stacie Kenney, Bob & Molly King, Jennifer Lubarsky,

Mollie Milano, Andrea Muhlhauser, Rachel Parrish, Gwen Powell, Allyson Power, Lauren Raps, Kirsten Sabrowski, Amanda Schmidt, Sarah Schunk, Skylar Smith, Kara Snyder, Wendy Steinfeld, Marike Toothaker,

Chris Tormey, Kelly Vogel, Nikki Wingate, Michelle Wormley, Kathy Wyckoff, Sara York