Village ChurchVillage ChurchVillage ChurchVillage Church United Church of ChristUnited Church of ChristUnited Church of ChristUnited Church of Christ

January 5, 2014January 5, 2014January 5, 2014January 5, 2014

OOOORDERRDERRDERRDER OFOFOFOF WWWWORSHIPORSHIPORSHIPORSHIP

January 5, 2014January 5, 2014January 5, 2014January 5, 2014 9:00 am9:00 am9:00 am9:00 am Welcome to First Worship! We extend a welcome as broad as the outstretched arms of God, who calls us to be here together to rejoice in God’s glorious presence. Welcome to children of all ages – to all the children of God, each one of us. If you are an old friend or here for the first time, we welcome you.

Our worship is an intergenerational experience and we want children to feel fully included. Children are welcome to pick up an activity bag and to bring snacks to their seats. We remember that worship offers us all a special place to be with God. In this space we talk a little more softly and walk a little more quietly. We are listening for God.

WWWWELCOMEELCOMEELCOMEELCOME ANDANDANDAND CCCCALLALLALLALL TOTOTOTO WWWWORSHIPORSHIPORSHIPORSHIP John Allen

OOOOPENINGPENINGPENINGPENING HYMNHYMNHYMNHYMN “Be Now My Vision (v.1–3)”

CCCCALLALLALLALL TTTTOOOO CCCCONFESSIONONFESSIONONFESSIONONFESSION

PPPPRAYERRAYERRAYERRAYER OFOFOFOF CCCCONFESSIONONFESSIONONFESSIONONFESSION John Allen

WWWWORDSORDSORDSORDS OFOFOFOF AAAASSURANCESSURANCESSURANCESSURANCE

*S*S*S*SUNGUNGUNGUNG RRRRESPONSEESPONSEESPONSEESPONSE “What Ruler Wades Through Murky Streams”

PPPPASSINGASSINGASSINGASSING THETHETHETHE PEACEPEACEPEACEPEACE OFOFOFOF CCCCHRISTHRISTHRISTHRIST

SSSSUNGUNGUNGUNG RESPONSERESPONSERESPONSERESPONSE “Thy Word”

SSSSCRIPTURECRIPTURECRIPTURECRIPTURE Luke 2:41-52

SSSSERMONERMONERMONERMON “He Started with Questions” Martin Copenhaver

SSSSERMONERMONERMONERMON RRRRESPONSEESPONSEESPONSEESPONSE “Amen”

OOOOFFERINGFFERINGFFERINGFFERING

InvitationInvitationInvitationInvitation

Offertory Offertory Offertory Offertory

SSSSETTINGETTINGETTINGETTING TTTTHEHEHEHE TTTTABLEABLEABLEABLE “Open Our Eyes, Lord”

IIIINVITATIONNVITATIONNVITATIONNVITATION TOTOTOTO THETHETHETHE TTTTABLEABLEABLEABLE

*C*C*C*COMMUNIONOMMUNIONOMMUNIONOMMUNION PPPPRAYERRAYERRAYERRAYER ANDANDANDAND TTTTHEHEHEHE LLLLORDORDORDORD’’’’SSSS PPPPRAYERRAYERRAYERRAYER

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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

*W*W*W*WORDSORDSORDSORDS OFOFOFOF IIIINSTITUTIONNSTITUTIONNSTITUTIONNSTITUTION

*S*S*S*SHARINGHARINGHARINGHARING THETHETHETHE GGGGIFTSIFTSIFTSIFTS OFOFOFOF BBBBREADREADREADREAD ANDANDANDAND CCCCUPUPUPUP

*P*P*P*PRAYERRAYERRAYERRAYER OFOFOFOF TTTTHANKSGIVINGHANKSGIVINGHANKSGIVINGHANKSGIVING “Cry of My Heart”

Refrain It is the cry of my heart to follow you. It is the cry of my heart to be close to you. It is the cry of my heart to follow all of the days of my life.

*B*B*B*BENEDICTIONENEDICTIONENEDICTIONENEDICTION

TODAY’S NOTES Pastoral Care If you have any pastoral needs or know of any in the Village Church family, please call Diane Anderson at 781.235.1988 x14. The Chancel flowers this morning are given by the Village Churchwomen in celebration of the youth of this church and their leaders. Capital Appeal Conversations Please join us to both listen and be heard as we discuss the future direction of the church particularly as it relates to a Capital Appeal. January 5, following 10 am Worship in the Parlor January 7, at 7 pm in Village Common January 12, 5:30 pm in the Parlor Fellowship Hour 11:15 am, Village Common Please join us for coffee and fellowship. Information for visitors is available at the Welcome Table. Providing hospitality today are members from the Board of Human Resources. Please take a moment to thank them. Healing Prayer Service 11:15 am, Burtt Chapel One of the pastors will be there for a laying on of hands, and anointing with oil, if you like. You may use this time of quiet and music to pray silently, or write your prayer, to be prayed by the pastors. Join us to experience the gift of healing prayer. Middle School Youth Group 5 pm, Youth Room High School Youth Group 7 pm, Youth Room For information about youth programs, contact Pam Emslie at 781.235.1988 x15 or pam@wellesleyvillagechurch.org.

BULLETIN NOTES 2014 Stewardship To support the new annual church budget we have recorded well over 320 pledges of support and for that the Stewardship Committee is very grateful. There are still some pledges to be received so in the coming days members of the committee will be calling to be sure that no one misses the opportunity to share in this important aspect of our church life together. Notice of Congregational Hearing Sunday, January 12, 11:30 am, Upper Room The Board of Finance will be reviewing the preliminary 2014 Church Budget. All members are encouraged to attend. American Red Cross Blood Drive Monday, January 6, 1-7 pm in Village Common There is a need for blood donors of all types, especially Type "O." In order to donate blood you must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good general health. You may call the American Red Cross at 800-448-3543 to schedule an appointment or you may also just show up at a time convenient for you between 1 and 7 pm. It is important to drink plenty of fluids before donating. Refreshments will also be provided. Please bring a valid ID. This is a great opportunity for you to give the gift of life. To volunteer to help, contact Susan Hoffman. Add a link to Susan’s email address Discernment Circles Ministry Have you ever faced a perplexing decision or problem and wish you had an alternative resource to turn for help? Did you long to talk with people who would listen, not give advice, and help you discover your way through the problem? Did you hold back sharing your problem because you were not certain that what you discussed would be held in confidence? Did you wonder what God had in mind for you in that situation and want others to pray with you? The Discernment Circles Ministry offers individuals in the Village Church an opportunity to discern a pathway through a decision or problem. It is not a therapy but a structured meeting designed to assist an individual to hear his or her inner voice as well as the voice of the Holy Spirit. Based on the Quakers’ Clearness Committees and Parker Palmer’s circles of trust, this ministry utilizes the practice of asking open-ended questions. The ministry was developed over the past year in response to a request that emerged from the Village Church community. A committee of youth, adults and pastors has been discerning the shape of this ministry. Please refer to the complete announcement of this ministry in the Village Church Enews. Nia is back! Come Dance into the new year as Leslie Appleby resumes Nia on Thursday nights beginning January 9, in the Upper Room, from 7:00 - 8:00 pm. Nia is a fitness class that incorporates the Healing Arts, Dance Arts and Martial Arts. Nia is for all ages and all body types. Join her for some spiritual fitness and fun! For more information, Leslie can be contacted at mrsappleb@me.com

Music Program Sunday, January 12, following 10 am Worship in the Sanctuary Allen Steere, Laura and Doug Wilkins to present short program including works by J.S. Bach and Claude Bolling for flute and piano. Environmental Ministry Concerns Over the last few years, our church has spent approximately $70,000 per year on energy -- oil for heat, and electricity for lighting, cooling, etc. Quite a lot of that energy is now wasted and almost all of it results in damage to the environment by burning fossil fuels, generating greenhouse gases and contributing to global warming. We should be better stewards of the resources that we have. The Environmental Ministry and the Energy Task Force would all like to work toward reducing our carbon footprint. As a major step in this process, the church has scheduled a professional energy audit to be performed in early January. A scientific assessment of our current uses and identification of possible upgrades to our building should allow us to plan steps toward being more sustainable in the future. Perhaps we should work toward a goal of zero net carbon usage. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful New Year’s Resolution? GIFT in Discernment Series to begin January 8 Where in your life are you seeking God’s guidance and wisdom? How might our congregational practices of spiritual discernment inform your personal practices of discerning God’s movement in your life? Beginning January 8 and continuing every Wednesday evening from 7:30 to 9:00 pm for 14 weeks, we’ll take up these questions and more in this year’s GIFT (Growing in Faith Together) adult education series. To sign up to participate, contact Tricia at tricia@wellesleyvillagechurch.org. Sharing the Dream Sunday, January 19, 10 am, Village Church Join us for our annual Sharing the Dream Service with our partner congregation, Charles Street AME Church. As always, there will be shared leadership of worship, including joint choirs. You are invited to a special time of fellowship and refreshment following the Sharing the Dream worship service. The Community Ministry will be hosting a luncheon in Village Hall for all and we encourage everyone to attend, to enjoy good food and the company of friends. Plan to join us for worship and a fellowship on this special day as we combine both the 9 and 10 am worship services into one joyous celebration at 10 am! Chancel Flowers Sponsors for 2014 The new 2014 calendar is here! If you would like to sponsor flowers in celebration of an event or in memory of a person/s in your life, contact Felicia Nadel at 781.235.1988 x21 or Linda Smith at 781.237.6813. Available dates are February 2, 9 and 16. The cost of the flowers is $75. Thank you!

Family Promise Training A training opportunity for Family Promise Metrowest is scheduled for January 12, 2014, at 11:20 am, after the 10 am worship service, in Village Hall. This is a one and one-half hour meeting, we will have sandwiches for noshing while training! There are many ways to contribute to FPM, but to interact with the families you must have this training. Please put your name on the signup sheet on the bulletin board in the Central Street Lobby. Do come even if you have not signed up! A Celebration Honoring Martin Copenhaver Saturday, March 22, 4-6:30 pm Village Church will celebrate our Senior Pastor, Martin Copenhaver and his 20 years of ministry with us. There will be a program in the Sanctuary with a reception to follow in Village Common. Martin's last Sunday with us will be Sunday, March 23, 2014. Please join us for both events, all are welcome!

What’s happening in 10 am Church School today?

• Kindergarten students and younger will be welcomed in their classrooms before 10 am worship begins. The Infant/Toddler Room is located on the main floor just outside the Sanctuary to the left of the Chancel. 2 year olds through Kindergarten classrooms are located on the upper floor. Children should be picked up promptly at the conclusion of worship.

• Grades 1-8 will worship with their parents until it is time for class, as indicated in the bulletin. At that time, Grades 1-5 will meet at the signs downstairs in Village Hall and proceed to the following classrooms for a special activity.

This week… Grade 1: Fishes and Loaves Cafe Grade 2: Games in Village Hall Grade 3: Artisan’s Market Grade 4: Bible Class in the Science Room Grade 5: Storyteller’s Tent Grades 6, 7 & 8 will meet in the art studio for art mural workshop. Classes for Grades 1–8 conclude at 11:15 or the end of worship whichever is later. Students in Grades 3 and below should be met by their parents at their classrooms. The Family Room is available for parents who aren’t quite ready to leave their infants and toddlers in childcare. In this room, parents will be able to listen to the worship service while their child naps or plays. This room is located upstairs beyond the library.

VILLAGE CHURCH STAFF

The Rev. Martin B. Copenhaver – Senior Pastor Diane E. Anderson – Interim Minister of Pastoral Care

The Rev. Pamela H. Emslie – Associate Pastor The Rev. Christina L. Braudaway-Bauman – Pastor at Large

The Rev. John C. Allen – Pastoral Resident Audra C. Teague Mackey – Pastoral Resident

Linda C. Smith – Pastoral Residency Coordinator Michaela F. McDonald – Director of Children’s Ministries

David R. Carrier – Director of Music Dr. Kevin J. McDonald – Director of Youth Music

Jodi M. Hitzhusen – Music Director of First Worship Erin I. Donato – Church Administrator

Leslie W. Petzing – Controller Barbara P. Kucich – Church Accountant

Tricia T. Kibbe – IT and Administrative Coordinator Felicia R. Nadel – Administrative Assistant

Christy L. Cadigan –Administrative Assistant Donald S. Banks – Sexton

Dolphe Richard – Assistant to the Sexton Gerardo Ortiz – Assistant to the Sexton

2 Central Street, Wellesley, MA 02482

781.235.1988 wellesleyvillagechurch.org

An Open and Affirming Congregation of the UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST