Twelfth Sunday of Pentecost Sunday, August 16, 2015 Worship in

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An Open and Affirming Congregation
6501
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MO
NoWydown
matterBlvd,
whoStyou
are
63105
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314.721.5060
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www.firstcongregational.org
on life’s journey,
Facebook: http://facebook.com/
youfirstcongregationalucc
are welcome here.
An Open and Affirming Congregation
6501 Wydown Blvd, St Louis, MO
63105 • 314.721.5060
www.firstcongregational.org
Facebook: http://facebook.com/
firstcongregationalucc
Twelfth Sunday of Pentecost
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Worship in the Round
First Congregational Chapel
10:30am
An Open and Affirming Congregation
A warm welcome to all, especially those who are worshipping with us for the first time
or who have returned after a long absence.
As we gather this morning, please spend a moment in prayer for those around you,
outside our walls and far away.
* - An asterisk is an invitation to rise (in body or in spirit).
Bolded text is an invitation for the congregation to read in unison
“Aria”
A time of quiet begins, inviting us into quiet reflection as we prepare for worship.
Flor Peeters
Karen Safe
A time for the community to share news of our ministries.
“This is the Day”
“Flesh and Blood”
The community candle is lit.
Lead:
Beside a Singin' Mountain Stream
Where the Willow grew.
Females: Where the Silver Leaf of Maple
Sparkled in the Mornin' Dew.
Males:
I braided Twigs of Willows
Made a String of Buckeye Beads;
All:
But Flesh And Blood need Flesh And Blood
And you're the one I need.
Lead:
I leaned against a Bark of Birch
And I breathed the Honey Dew.
Females: I saw a North-bound Flock of Geese
Against a Sky of Baby Blue.
Males:
Beside the Lily Pads
I carved a Whistle from a Reed;
All:
Mother Nature's quite a Lady
But you're the one I need.
Flesh And Blood need Flesh And Blood
And you're the one I need.
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Johnny Cash
Lead:
A Cardinal sang just for me
And I thanked him for the Song.
Females: Then the Sun went slowly down the West
And I had to move along.
Males:
These were some of the things
On which my Mind and Spirit feed;
All:
But Flesh And Blood need Flesh And Blood
And you're the one I need.
Lead:
So when this Day was ended
I was still not satisfied.
Females: For I knew ev'rything I touched
Would wither and would die.
Males:
And Love is all that will remain
And grow from all these Seed;
All:
Mother Nature's quite a Lady
But you're the one I need.
Flesh And Blood need Flesh And Blood
And you're the one I need.
Valerie Jackson
We stand here a flesh and blood circle of community.
Sometimes we are broken.
At times we fail you and one another.
There are days when we don’t see the way you
Would have us to go.
We thank you for your life giving presence.
In return, we have nothing to offer, but
Who you made us to be.
So we give back to you,
a flesh and blood circle of community.
Amen.
One:
All:
One:
All:
One:
All:
One:
All:
One:
Emily Stokes
In caring for one another
G. Vosper, adapted
May we be untiring.
In sheltering one another
May we be strong.
In holding one another
May we be tender.
In greeting one another
May we remember we are greeting
the face of Christ.
Let us share the sacred peace of Christ
with one another.
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Black Lives Matter:
A Weekly Tribute
To Remarkable Black Lives
Mabel Keaton Staupers
A leader of vision, determination, and
courage, Mabel Keaton Staupers (Feb 27,
1890 – Nov 29, 1989) helped break down
color barriers in nursing at a time when
segregation was entrenched in this country. Dedicated to improving the status of
black nurses and promoting better health
care for black Americans, she was instrumental in organizing the first private facility in Harlem, New York, where black physicians could treat their patients.
Staupers was born on February 27,
1890, in Barbados, West Indies. At age
thirteen, she emigrated to the United
States with her parents, Pauline and
Thomas Doyle. In 1917, Staupers graduated with honors from Freedmen's Hospital
School of Nursing in Washington, DC,
and worked as a private duty nurse. From
1922 to 1934, she was employed first as a
surveyor of health needs and later as executive secretary for the Harlem Tuberculosis Committee, a unit of the New York
Tuberculosis and Health Association.
In 1934, Staupers accepted a position
as the first paid executive secretary of the
National Association of Colored Graduate
Nurses. During her twelve-year tenure,
Staupers increased membership,
established a citizens advisory committee,
built coalitions with other nursing and
non-nursing groups, and effectively tore
down the racial barriers that previously
kept black nurses out of the military.
In 1946, Staupers resigned her position but continued her struggle. Following
admission of black nurses to full membership in the American Nurses Association
in 1948, the National Association of
Colored Graduate Nurses was dissolved
in 1949.
Honored with numerous awards, citations, and certificates, Staupers was one of
the great heroines in nursing's history. Her
book, No Time for Prejudice, recounts the
many obstacles she overcame in her fight
for equal recognition. Through the sustained efforts of Mabel Keaton Staupers,
black nurses were accepted into the educational, institutional, and organizational
structure of American nursing.
H. Ronald Hall
Emily Stokes
Children are invited to come forward and sit around Emily.
from the Sarum Primer, 1538, adapted
God be in my head, and in my understanding;
God be in my eyes, and in my seeing;
God be in my ears, and in my listening;
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in my mind, and in my thinking;
God be in my heart, and in my loving. Amen.
All school-age children are invited to proceed to the Social Hall with Emily Stokes.
Preschoolers may go to the nursery to join Claire Sizemore
“We Gather at Your Table, Lord”
Dr. Bruce Carvell, Soloist
Irish Melody arr. by Walter Ehret
We gather at your table, Lord, Grant peace and unity;
In keeping with your will and word, May we one body be.
Now let us take the sacred bread, Our souls and bodies feed;
In heart and soul we shall be fed, your holy will to heed.
Now let us take the wine of heaven, for Christ, whose blood was shed;
That here we meet with sins forgiven, And by his grace are led.
To you, O Lord, we sing our song, May we be one in love;
For we, by faith, to you belong; one with your church above!
John 6:51-58 (NRSV)
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man
and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life,
and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.
Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them.
Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father,
so whoever eats me will live because of me.
This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died.
But the one who eats this bread will live forever.”
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Valerie Jackson
“There Are Some Things I May Not Know”
405
To submit a written prayer request,
use one of the prayer cards in the pew rack in front of you.
The ushers will walk up the center aisle to collect them during this hymn.
(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 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.
Our offering is not only the amount we put in today’s plate,
but a reflection of our whole living & spending plan.
The offerings we make represent our vision as a congregation-where we want
to go and where we place our priorities.
Our giving is an important part of our spiritual relationship with God,
and yet, we must never allow what we place in the plate
to keep us from worship.
We offer all we do to God with thanks for all God gives to us.
Leigh Greenhaw, Chair
First Congregational Mission & Outreach Ministry Team
“I am the Vine”
Allen Pote
I am the vine, and you are the branches.
He who abides in me, and I in him, he will bear much fruit.
Love one another as I have loved you; then you will bear much fruit.
If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers.
But if you abide in me, and my words abide in you,
Ask whatever you will and it shall be done for you.
I am the vine and you are the branches.
OLD HUNDREDTH
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly Host:
Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost. Amen.
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PLEASE HOLD IN PRAYER
9-year-old Andrew (Bill Parker’s greatnephew), who had a successful
blood transfusion on August 4
All who loved Lois Alexander
George Frattarelli, Sr., whose condition
is worsening
Jane Hall Newlon, Ron Hall’s mother,
recovering from hip replacement
Ruth Raether, Joyce’s Peipert’s mother,
Greg Faulkner, Darci Madden’s father
John Gaioni, Steve’s brother
Jim Goodwin, discerning his next
career move
The Ministries of Andrew and Sharon
Greenhaw
David, who is weeks old and in the neo
natal unit at Children’s Hospital
Anne Chao’s mother, coming to live with
Anne & Bill
Judi Prosser, recovering from surgery
Linda Passini, recovering from serious
injuries in a boat accident
Roger Weems’ daughter, Cathy Payne
Shannon, fighting smoking
For adult children in the season of caring
for and making health & safety
decisions about aging parents
All who loved Marilyn Luehrman
Linda Wandling
Jim Morice, who is on the mend
Debbie, Jack, and Bonnie Wilcox
Students discerning their futures
Chuck Hansen
Jim & Judy Headley
Mary Crow
Nancy Galofre
Andrew Lewis
Tevis Mellish
Teresa Neil
Ryan
Alan Siegerist
The Vance Family
Dianna Walters Barbara
Marilyn
Patrick Barr
Sierra
…and their caregivers & loved ones.
Those with dementia and their caregivers
Our Associate Search Committee
Our Conference Minister
Search Committee
Youth & families of color
First responders & their families
Communities, elected leaders,
clergy, organizers, and citizens working
to build healing solutions for all.
All persecuted for their religion.
Those throughout the world who misuse
religion as an excuse to terrorize.
The people and leaders of Jordan, the
Ukraine, Syria, Palestine, Israel,
France, Nepal, the US, and all living in
violent, uncertain times.
New additions to the prayer list are in bold.
Thomas Schuman
By your grace, God, our gifts become the bread which feeds the hungry,
Become the water which drought ravaged lands need,
Become a community for the lonely,
Become medical missions for those battling disease and worries.
By your grace, God, may we offer more and more as you feed us with the Bread of life.
Amen.
“Will the Circle Be Unbroken”
1. There are loved ones in the glory,
Whose sweet forms you often miss.
When you close your earthly story,
Will you join them in their bliss? (Chorus)
3. You can picture happy gatherings
‘Round the fireside long ago.
And you think of never parting.
Will they leave you here below? (Chorus)
2. In the joyous days of childhood,
Often told of wondrous love,
Pointed to the dying Savior
Now they dwell with Him above. (Chorus)
4. One by one their seats were empty;
One by one they all went away.
Now this family is all parted.
Will it be complete one day? (Chorus)
“Chorale on a Theme by Haydn”
The fellowship continues…
Please join us after worship for Coffee & Community.
Go in peace renewed to love and serve our God!
Announcements: Karen Safe
Greeters: Liz O’Herin, Ginny Crowley
Ushers: Randy Wang, Rex Reed, Marni Dillard
Infant/Toddler Room: Anne Chao
Preschool: Claire Simpson
Grades K-5: Emily Stokes, Lucy Wurst
Counters: Karen Safe, Marni Dillard
Coffee & Community: Lynn Tiede, Ginny Hartley
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Johannes Brahms
RALLY DAY WORSHIP SERVICE & PICNIC
Next Sunday, August 23, During and After Worship
Come to church next Sunday, August 23, and bring your children (Emily and the teachers have fun things planned-the
church school mailing is on its way), your best singing voice (choir is back!), a potluck item to share (the fridges downstairs
are ready and the grill will be hot - hot dogs are on us), your enthusiasm for our ministries (members of our ministry teams
will be here to chat about what's exciting for fall and how you can be involved), and your love for God, one another, and
our church. This is the day that our God has made-and it's going to be a goody!
10:30 Worship with Choir and Church School
11:40 All Church Picnic on the Garth
Please contact the church office to promise the peck of picnic potluck provisions you'd like to provide (according to
your last name): A-G: Green or Fruit Salad for 6 / H-M: Side Dish for 6 / N-Z: Dessert for 6
SENIOR FLUTE & VIOLIN RECITAL BY LEAH PEIPERT
This Saturday, August 22, 3pm
A senior flute & violin recital featuring Leah Peipert is scheduled to take place in the FCC sanctuary on Saturday,
August 22, beginning at 3pm. A free-will offering will be accepted, which will benefit Magdalene St. Louis. A reception will
follow. Children are welcome to attend.
Leah Peipert is a senior at Clayton high school. She began to play violin at age 4 in Providence, Rhode Island. At age
12 she added the flute to her musical training, with lessons from church member Katie Solomon. She continues to play
both instruments, along with the piccolo.
Leah's musical accomplishments include playing in the Missouri All-State Band and Orchestra, All-Suburban Band,
and several Webster Community Music School Orchestras. During the summer of 2014 she traveled to Europe with the
Missouri Ambassadors for Music. She plans to continue playing in her college orchestra next year.
WE’RE BOOMWHACKING OUR WAY INTO WORSHIP!
Workshops Wednesdays, August 26 & September 2, 6:30-8:30pm
Performance During Worship on Sunday, September 13
Are you ready to learn a new and exciting musical instrument? FCC will be hosting an intergenerational boomwhacker
and chime workshop this fall. A boomwhacker is a plastic tube cut to a certain length to create a specific pitch. When multiple tubes are used together they create an unusual and whimsical musical experience.
We will be hosting guest director, Dolan Bayless, for two evening workshops on Wednesdays August 26th and September 2nd from 6:30 to 8:30. Ron Hall will then direct a Sunday morning performance on September 13th. The workshops will be held on Wednesdays August 26th and September 2nd from 6:30 to 8:30. Participants are strongly urged to
attend both workshops. This is an intergenerational opportunity for anyone 3rd grade through 110 years old!
For more information or to sign up for the workshop, please contact Emily Stokes.
WOMEN’S BOOK GROUP
Wednesday, September 2 • 7:15pm
The Women’s Book Group will meet at 7:15pm on Wednesday, September 2 to discuss Suspicion Nation by
Lisa Bloom. Discussion will take place in the FCC Parlor.
FOOD OUTREACH MISSION TRIP - SAVE THE DATE & SIGN UP NOW!
Saturday, September 26 • 8am, Carpool from FCC at 7:30am
Come join our volunteer team (16 and up) on our annual trip to assist Food Outreach with packaging and storing
(unless you choose to help with the cooking) meals for people living with HIV/AIDS or cancer.
Food Outreach is located at 3117 Olive. If you wish to carpool, please meet at the church at 7:30am. Either way, be
sure to bring quarters for the parking meters. If you plan to carpool, please note that when you sign up either at church or
online. We usually work until 11 am, and you will leave feeling like you have really made a contribution.
Please contact Nancy Galofre with questions at nancygal43@gmail.com.
FIRST FRIENDS PROGRAM NEEDS YOU!
A new membership class will be joining our church this fall and we would love to have some new volunteers for the
revamped and revitalized First Friends program. If you think you might be able to help our church in this very worthwhile
ministry, take the first step—pick up the phone and contact Jon Tiede (314-226-5306), Karen Safe (314-957-8824), or
Heather Arcovitch (314-721-5060). We look forward to hearing from many of you!
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SUNDAY – August 16
10:00 am Quiet Time: Chapel
10:30 am Sunday Worship:
Chapel
11:30am Coffee & Community
MONDAY – August 17
11:30 am Sacred Bible Study with
Valerie: Boardroom
7:00 pm Stewardship &
Administration:
Boardroom
Church office hours are Monday through Friday, 9am - 5pm.
Rev. Dr. Heather Arcovitch
Senior Minister
harcovitch@firstcongregational.org
Emily Stokes
Minister of Children & Families
estokes@firstcongregational.org
SUNDAY – August 23
H. Ronald Hall
Director of Music / Organist
10:00 am Quiet Time: Chapel
rhall@firstcongregational.org
10:30 am Sunday Worship:
Mia
Ulmer
Youth Specialist
Sanctuary, Rally Day
mia@birchtreestudiostl.com
11:30am Rally Day Picnic
George H. Sirois
Administrative Assistant/
office@firstcongregational.org
Communication Specialist
Anne Chao
Preschool Director
CHANCEL CHOIR
anne@firstcongregationalpreschool.org
Rehearsals Begin Thursday,
Valerie Jackson
Student Pastor
August 20 • 7:30pm
valvacious13@gmail.com
The choir sings on Sundays from
Bookkeeper
September to May. Rehearsals take place Don Hubatka
dhubatka@firstcongregational.org
every Thursday at 7:30pm.
James Harrison
Custodian
BELL CHOIR
Randy Wang
FCC Council Moderator
Rehearsals Begin Tuesday,
rwang@bryancave.com
WEDNESDAY – August 19
7:00 pm FCC Council Meeting:
Social Hall
August 25 • 7:30pm
Got rhythm? You are invited to join
the Bell Choir! Rehearsals are held on
Tuesday evenings at 7:30pm.
Bell Choir performs during worship
service every second Sunday.
CHORISTERS
Rehearsals Begin After Worship
Sunday, August 30
Children grades 1 – 8 are invited to
raise their voices to God in thanksgiving
and praise. These young people rehearse
every Sunday after worship, and share
their music with the congregation on
every fourth Sunday.
Never place a period
where God has placed a comma…
God is still speaking!
First Congregational Church of St. Louis, United Church of Christ
6501 Wydown Blvd, St Louis, MO 63105 • 314.721.5060
www.firstcongregational.org
Facebook: http://facebook.com/firstcongregationalucc
Facebook Page for Children & Families:
https://www.facebook.com/FCCchildrenandfamilies
Contact Ron Hall with any questions:
rhall@firstcongregational.org.
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