Round Hill Community Church

ORDER OF SERVICEOctober 30, 2016

Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost

PRELUDE WORDS OF WELCOME

INTROIT

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: O holy God, open unto us light for our darkness, courage for our fear, hope for our despair.

All: O generous God, open our hearts to receive all your gifts.Leader: O loving God, open unto us wisdom for our confusion,

forgiveness for our sins, compassion for our apathy.All: O generous God, open our hearts to receive all your gifts.Leader: O God of peace, open unto us peace for our turmoil, joy for our

sorrow, strength for our weakness.All: O generous God, open our hearts to receive all your gifts.

*HYMN No. 21 Let the Whole Creation Cry

*The congregation is invited to stand

*OPENING PRAYER Loving God,open our heartsso that we may feel the breath and play of your Spirit.Unclench our handsso that we may reach out to one anotherand touch and be healed.Open our lipsthat we may drink in the delight and wonder of life.Open our earsto hear your agony in our humanity.Open our eyesso that we may see Christ in friend and stranger.Breathe your Spirit into usand touch our lives with the life of Christ. 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.

SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM

Jake Edward CabralSon of Sara Fredriksen and Jeffrey CabralYounger brother to Devin Eugene Cabral

Godson of Sean Fredriksen and Gabrielle Cabral

*HYMN Child of Blessing, Child of Promise

ANTHEM Ave Verum Corpus Mozart

SCRIPTURE LESSON Matthew 2: 1-12

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler  who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

2 Corinthians 13:13

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

SERMON Generosity: In Tune with the Grace of God! The Rev. Dr. Ed Horstmann*HYMN No. 330 Alleluia! Hear God’s Story

OFFERINGInvitationAnthem The Heavens Are Telling (from The Creation)     

Haydn*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. 714 For the Fruit of All Creation

CHURCH PRAYEROur 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

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 Bruce and Helen Dixon for ushering today.

Please join us after the service for a special fellowship hour, A Celebration of Gratitude. We are grateful for all the work that the committees of our church do throughout the year to support our shared spiritual life, our search for learning and our commitment to our neighbors and the wider world. Each committee has displays of their work as well as, information on their exciting plans for the coming year. As we start the season of stewardship, we hope this Celebration will give you a greater knowledge of all the work your donations support.

On Sunday, November 13, we will hold our Annual Meeting, following the worship service, in the Sanctuary. The Nominating Committee will announce the slate for 2017 Board of Trustees and Committee Chairs, to be voted on by the Membership of the Church. There will also be an update on the state of the Church by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Outreach

Thanksgiving is upon us and our friends at Neighbor to Neighbor have asked for donations of stuffing mix, canned veggies, canned cranberry sauce, gravy, boxed potatoes/rice, pie fillings, cookie, cake, biscuit and muffin mixes. Items can be left in the food wagon located near the front entrance.

Les Beaux Arts Gallery

Hazel Jarvis, the darling artist of Greenwich, is currently showing her latest collection of paintings “Terra Nova” at Les Beaux Arts Gallery through Wednesday, November 30, 2016. 

Faith Formation

Youth & Children’s Ministries

Some important information for families: As our children's ministry grows, we encourage you to start Sundays

in service as a family.  After the Children's Message all children that

Save the Date!! On Saturday, November 5th all men of the Round Hill Community Church are invited to attend the Men’s Bible Study Breakfast from 9-10:30 a.m. in the parlor. This month we will focus on a biblical text relating to the theme of Hospitality as part of our year-long exploration of A Life Worth Living. Please RSVP to the main office via email - church@roundhillcommunitychurch.org. A light breakfast will be served.

would like to participate in Children's Worship will be dismissed into classrooms following the special sending song.  

For parents with little ones birth up to age 3, our childcare room is available 9:45am-11:15am.  It opens 15 minutes before service and childcare workers stay until 15 minutes past service.

Please know all members of our church family, even the youngest, are always welcome at coffee hour!

The next RHCC Children’s Playdate will take place on Friday, November 4th from 9-2pm in the Community House. Watch you inbox for information!

Middle and high school students should note our monthly RHCC Youth schedule. All are always welcome to participate and bring a friend!

1st Sundays - “First Sundays at Round Hill” casual, interactive Worship Service 4:00pm

2nd Sundays – “Youth Sunday” (youth serve as ushers, acolytes, liturgists)

3rd Fridays – “Friday Night Live” 6-8pm in the Community House 3rd Sundays – “Youth Fellowship” - food, faith and fellowship 4th Sundays - Youth “Service Sunday,” in partnership with local

organizations to help neighbors in need.

CHILDREN’S CORNER

Tomorrow is Halloween! Here are some important tips to ensure a safe and fun-filled Trick or Treating experience for all the little RHCC ghouls and

goblins!

REFLECTIONS

True generosity consists precisely in fighting to destroy the causes which nourish false charity. False charity constrains the fearful and subdued, the "rejects of life," to extend their trembling hands. True generosity lies in striving so that these hands--whether of individuals or entire peoples--need be extended less and less in supplication, so that more and more they become human hands which work and, working, transform the world.

Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed

For it is in giving that we receive. Francis of Assisi

That's what I consider true generosity: You give your all, and yet you always feel as if it costs you nothing.  Simone de Beauvoir

When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?

Eleanor Roosevelt

Cover Art: Jan Richardson

Senior Pastor: The Rev. Dr. Edward G. Horstmann

Associate Pastor: The Rev. Dan Haugh Guest Organist: Jon Hunt

Director of Music: Leslie SmithDirector of Children’s Ministries: Jenny Byxbee

Minister Emeritus: The Rev. Dr. Ralph AhlbergRound Hill Community Church

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