Round Hill Community Church

ORDER OF SERVICE April 3, 2016

Second Sunday of Easter

PRELUDE Pastorale Pachelbel    Pavane Warlock

WORDS OF WELCOME

INTROIT

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: We need your presence on the long road, Lord. All: The road between fear and hope, Leader: the road between the place where all is lostAll: and the place of resurrection.Leader: Like the disciples walking the road to Emmaus,All: we are in need of your company!Leader: Jesus, stand among us, in your risen power,All: let this time of worship, be a hallowed hour!

*HYMN No. 218 Thine is the Glory

*OPENING PRAYER

Meet us, Lord, on the road to Emmaus,Guide us on the path toward our destination,and renew our strength as we continue to walkand commune with you. Amen.

*The congregation is invited to stand*GLORIA PATRI

Glory 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

Louis Miles Nicholas Tomlinson Born 13 Dec 2015

Son of Julianne Tomlinson-James 

Godson of Greg Blackhall, Charmaine DeSouza, Sarah Edwards, Christine Hahn, Richard Logan and Horace Reid

*HYMN Child of Blessing, Child of Promise

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

SCRIPTURE LESSON Luke 24: 13-35

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before

God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

SERMON In the Breaking of the Bread The Rev. Dan Haugh

*HYMN No. 425 Let Us Break Bread Together

PASTORAL PRAYER

OFFERINGInvitationAnthem Good Christian Friends Rejoice and Sing Vulpius*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 O Beautiful for Spacious Skies O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber

waves of grain, for purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain!

America! America! God shed full grace on thee, and crown thy good with servanthood from sea to shining sea.

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

Invitation to the Table

The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

Leader: God be with you.All: And also with you.Leader: Lift up your hearts.All: We lift them up to God.Leader: Let us give thanks to God Most High.All: It is right to give God our thanks and praise.

Leader: O God of majesty and mercy, we bless you for the beauty and bounty of the earth and for the vision of the day when sharing by all will mean scarcity for none. You have set us in the world to love and serve you, and to live in peace with your whole creation.

We remember your covenant with our ancestors in the faith, the prophets you sent to call us back to your way, and how, in the fullness of time, out of your great love for the world, you sent your beloved son to be one of us, to redeem us, to heal us, and to form us anew to be your people in the world.

Therefore, we praise you, joining our voices with choirs of angels, with prophets, apostles, and with all the faithful of every time and place, who forever sing to the glory of your name:

Sanctus sung by all to the tune Nicaea

All: Holy! Holy! Holy! One God Almighty!All your works shall praise your name in earth and sky and sea! Holy! Holy! Holy! Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is Christ who comes to set us free!

Words of Remembrance Leader: Blessed is our brother Jesus, bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh; who on the night when he was delivered over to death, took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said: “This is my body, which is for you. Do this to re-member me.’ In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying: ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, whenever you drink it, to remember me.’ For, as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we are proclaiming the Lord’s death until he comes.

All: Remembering all your mighty and merciful acts, we break this bread and share this cup, giving thanks for your saving love in Jesus Christ. As you raised Jesus from death and call us with him from death to life, may we bear witness to your resurrection power, alive and at large in our world.

Prayer of Consecration Leader: Gracious God, may the bread we break and the cup we bless become for us the communion of the body and blood of Christ. By your Spirit make

us one with Christ, that we may be united with all your people in every time and place. As Christ our Savior has taught us, let us pray together, saying:

All: 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.

Sharing of the Bread and the Cup These are the gifts of God for the people of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died and was raised for you.

All are invited to come forward, as directed by our Ushers, to receive the bread and cup standing in a semi-circle

in front of the communion table, dipping the bread into the cup and remaining until the words of blessing.

Communion Music Abendlied Rheinberger

Prayer of Thanksgiving All: Bountiful God, we give you thanks that you have refreshed us at your table by granting us the presence of Christ. Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one another, and send us forth into the world in courage and peace, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

*HYMN No. 431 Go, My Children, With My Blessing

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

POSTLUDE Voluntary in D Major Stanley

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.

ROUND HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH MISSON 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.

CHURCH NEWS

Thank you to Jill Cassill and Ted Thaxter for ushering this morning. Thank you to Chris Berry and Jill Cassill for ushering at our second service this afternoon.

Thank you to MaryAnn Debnar for serving as our lay liturgist/reader during today’s service.

We extend a warm congratulations to Julianne Tomlinson-James and her family on the baptism of Louis Miles Nicholas Tomlinson. The white rose on the altar today is in celebration of this special day! Thanks to Sharon Logan and her family as well as, to Nabil Ghawi, for hosting coffee hour today following the service in honor of this special occasion.

Faith FormationOur contemporary second service, First Sundays at Round Hill, will take place today at 4pm in the Sanctuary. All are invited to worship together in a warm and casual atmosphere, followed by a light supper. Special music will be provided by Katie Nelson.

Les Beaux Arts Gallery at Round Hill Community Church is currently featuring a collection of biblical mixed media collages by Robin Joyce Miller, a visual artist specializing in African American heritage themes. The exhibit, “A Man Called Jesus,” will run through Wednesday, May 4, 2016.

Outreach

Simply Smiles! The dates for our summer 2016 and winter 2017 service trips have been announced we are developing a team of 20 from RHCC. Deadline to register for this summer’s trip has been extended to April 5th. Join us tomorrow, April 4th at 5:30 pm in the Meeting Room for an

important informational session with Samantha Steinmetz from SimplySmiles.

On April 10th following worship, the Outreach Committee will be hosting a forum featuring Linda Autore, President and CEO of Laurel House.  This Stamford-based organization provides a variety of services to individuals living with mental illness, and their families in Fairfield county and beyond. RHCC has supported Laurel House for a number of years. 

Next Sunday, April 10th, the Outreach Committee will be accepting your donations of clean, gently-used professional dress clothes for St. Ann’s. A rack will be set up in the Narthex.

In addition to being very appreciative of donations of all types of non-perishable food stuffs and financial support, each month, Neighbor to Neighbor has identified a special “wish list item” for collection. Specifically in April, donations of canned fruit are sought! A food wagon and giving envelopes are located in the Narthex. Please be generous.

Fellowship

The Single Women's Group will meet in the parlor from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 9. Speakers from MetLife Insurance will be here to discuss various medical health insurance options.  Please RSVP by calling the office at 203-869-1091.

REFLECTION

“The miracle of Communion means the rich bowing down with the poor, the learned with the unlearned, the clean with the filthy, the master with the slave, the privileged with the deprived, the white with the black, and the black with the white.”

- Rosa Page Welch, singer

20th-century African-American Disciples

“We should look for someone to eat and drink with before looking for something to eat and drink.”

- Epicurus

Cover Image: Road to Emmaus, by American artist, Adam Howie.Notice the different shadows created by each of the figures (a cross, question mark,

exclamation mark) in this intriguing image.

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 Blunden

Round Hill Community Church395 Round Hill Road, Greenwich, CT 06831

203.869.1091 roundhillcommunitychurch.org