The Mt. Carmel Congregational Church A United Church of Christ First Sunday in Lent March 6 th, 2022

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The Mt. Carmel Congregational Church

A United Church of Christ

First Sunday in Lent March 6

^th

, 2022

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Christ Tempted by Satan, Georg Karl Franz Cornicelius c. 1888

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Prelude “SOJOURNER”

Arr. Thomas Keesecker

Lenten Call to Worship

Leader: Welcome to the Lenten season. We remember Jesus’ journey from Jordan to the wilderness.

People: There are places of wilderness and temptation in our lives.

Leader: We remember Nazareth and Capernaum – the healings and the parables, storm-stilling, and an abundance of loaves.

People: We still need stories and a gentle touch. We long for peace in tumult and nourishment for deep hunger.

Leader: We remember the final days in Jerusalem – the garden and the cross and the tomb.

People: As we walk the path of these forty days, may the light of their meaning guide the steps of our faith.

*Hymn “Lord Jesus, Who through Forty Days” NCH #211

*Greeting

L: May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

P: And also with you.

*The Call to Confession

*Unison Prayer of Confession

Eternal and most merciful God, we are children of dust and unworthy of the favors and goodness you shower upon us. We have not loved you as you have loved us, nor have we lived as we ought, and our years are soon gone. God, have mercy on us. Lift us above every past regret and

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present failure; reveal to us our true selves; and give us grace to accept your mercy and courage to live by your promise. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; grant us your peace. We have no other hope save in you. Amen.

Assurance of God’s Grace

*Hymn of Thanks The Gloria Patri NCH #759 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.

A SERVICE OF THE WORD The Collect for the First Sunday of Lent

We come before you, O God, in the shadow of the cross, grateful for your great love for us. As you came to us in Jesus to win our love and obedience, reveal yourself among us still. Give us courage to follow Jesus over rocky hills where we carry our crosses and green valleys where you restore our souls. For we pray in the name of the shepherd whose life was laid down for the sheep. Amen.

The First Lesson: Deuteronomy 26: 1-11 Lynn Campo

Pew Bible Page 180 (Old Testament)

The Second Lesson: Psalm 91: 1-2, 9-16

Pew Bible Page 548 (Old Testament)

The Gospel: Luke 4: 1-13

Pew Bible Page 61 (New Testament)

*Hymn “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me” [See Next]

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Sermon “Temptations in the Wilderness” Rev. Robinson

*Affirmation of Faith Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty,· from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

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A SERVICE OF OFFERING The Joys and Concerns of the Parish Family

Our Sunflower Arrangement for this week’s service has been given by Mount Carmel Congregational Church as a symbol of solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

Please remember the following persons in your prayers: Willis Copeland;

Martha Buller; Joan Copeland; Amos Hewitt; Beverly Dean; Rhonda Pruzinsky; Gilbert Spencer; Ron Vanacore; Lynda Pedersen’s brother, Peter Bronson; Kathy Willey; Mary Conklin’s sister, Annie Hansen; Jason Kroon’s coworker’s daughter; Irene Martin, Sandee Martin’s mother; and Dot Ruest. We pray for all those in the Ukraine, and we continue to pray for anyone whose life has been impacted by Covid-19 and anyone

grieving for loved ones.

Call to Offering

Offertory “Jesus Walked this Lonesome Valley” Bell Choir

Arr. Douglas Wagner

*The 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.

*Prayer of Dedication

A SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT Invitation to Communion

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THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER The Sursum Corda

L: The Lord Be With You.

P: And with your Spirit.

L: Lift Up your Hearts.

P: We lift them up to the Lord.

L: Let Us Give Thanks unto the Lord, our God P: It is right to give God Thanks and praise

Sanctus Holy, Holy, Holy NCH #793 Holy, holy, holy, my heart adores you!

My heart is glad to say the words: you are holy God.

The Consecration of the Elements 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 for ever and ever. Amen.

Sharing of the Elements

THE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING (unison)

God of new life, with joy we have received this sacrament of bread and wine, giving you thanks for Jesus Christ, our peace and our hope.

Unite your church throughout the world in continuing Christ’s ministry of love and servanthood, that your name may be praised in all the earth. Amen.

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*Hymn “Bless Now, O God, the Journey” [See Below]

*Benediction

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx As a community of faith, gathered in Christ's love, we strive to support one another in hearing the Word,

living the Word, and sharing the Word.

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Please join us for

Lenten Taizé

A service of silence and song by candlelight.

Wednesday Nights at 7pm

March 9

^th

March 16

^th

March 23

^rd

March 30

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April 6

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MARCH WORSHIP: A LOOK AHEAD

Please join every Sunday at 10am for service, and dress warmly! We will also be holding Taizé services every Wednesday evening at 7pm starting on Wednesday,

March 9^th.

March 13

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, 2022

Daylight Savings Begins (Spring Ahead) Second Sunday in Lent

Scriptures: Genesis 15: 1-12, 17-18 Psalm 27

Luke 13: 31-35

Sermon: “Look for the Lenten Rose”

March 20th, 2022

Third Sunday in Lent

Scriptures: Isaiah 55: 1-9 Psalm 63: 1-8 Luke 13: 1-9 Sermon: “Straighten Up”

March 27th, 2022

Fourth Sunday in Lent

Scripture: Joshua 5: 9-12

2 Corinthians 5: 16-21 Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32

Sermon: “Greening, Greening with Life”

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THE ARK PROJECT A Faith Formation Project We are happy to announce that our children are continuing to participate in the “ARK” project, a program originally created by Rabbi Moshe Hecht of the

Hamden Chabad and members of local businesses. In case you did not know, “ARK” stands for “Acts of Random Kindness” and

participants in the “Ark Project”

are considered as part of the

“Kindness Coalition.” The ARK itself is a small yellow bank; the idea is to put a coin in the ark every day and at the end of the month give it to someone in need or to a charitable organization. Here at Mount Carmel Congregation Church, we are currently collecting coins for the Pastor’s Discretionary fund to help people as the need arises in our community. When you bring in your filled ark bank, I will empty the coins and return the bank to you. You may also leave your bank and take another from the narthex. Everyone is invited to bring in their banks to place on the altar during the church service on Easter Sunday, April 17^th. Hope to see you there!

-Debbie Wooley

Faith Formation

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Wednesday Night Taizé services will begin this coming

Wednesday. March 9^th, at 7pm and will continue on weekly for the duration of Lenten Season. See page 8 of this bulletin for a full list of dates.

On Sunday, March 20^th, please join us after service for a “Second Hour” presentation hosted by Tom Duffy, in which he will be offering an analysis of Joseph Mallard William Turner’s painting Staffa: Fingal’s Cave, supplemented by a number of musical compositions (including one of his own). A Teaser for this presentation can be found in the March newsletter!

We are still looking for more volunteers to help with cleaning the church and parish hall. For more information, please contact Noelle Ioime by phone at (203) 605-7171 or by email at

noelle_i@hotmail.com.

If you would like to help with Coffee Hours for the months of March and April, please feel free to sign up using the sheet provided in the Church Hall or contact Aren in the office.

Donations for the Food Bank are needed if you are able to

contribute. Non-perishable items such as canned beef stew, hearty soups, canned fish, peanut butter, mac and cheese packages, and oatmeal would be greatly appreciated.

Our Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, May 1^st, following our regularly scheduled worship service. Please submit any Committee Reports to Aren in the office by Tuesday, April 12^th, preferably by email. For additional information, please see the March newsletter.

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Mount Carmel Congregational Church 3284 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518

203-248-7408

Pastor: The Rev. Olivia Robinson hayes641@comcast.net Music Director: Mrs. Lynda Pedersen

lyndapedersen@att.net Office Admin: Mr. Aren Alberico

office@mccucc.com Faith Formation: Mrs. Debbie Wooley

ce@mccucc.com Treasurer: Mrs. Ellen Amato

treasurer@mccucc.com

Facebook: Mt. Carmel Congregational Church Instagram: mountcarmelchurch1

Website: www.mccucc.weebly.com

Officers:

President: Tom Duffy

thomascduffy67@gmail.com

Clerk: Beverly Jurkiewicz

Board of Deacons: Bev Jurkiewicz, Chair Board of Trustees: Val Duffy, Co-Chair:

Valerieduffy1234@gmail.com Diane Scott, Co-Chair:

DianeScott@iname.com