Sunday Bulletin

Prelude           “Our God to Whom We  Turn”                      Flor Peeters        

Introit             “Surely the Lord Is In This Holy Place”                

Welcome & Announcements

Call to Worship                                  Lay Leader: Camille Cobaugh
(inspired by Psalm 98)

Come, sing a new song to God!
Remember all the times full of wonder God has already saved us!
Plug in the keyboard; tune up those guitars; try out the drums!
Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth!
Open the windows! Listen to the choirs outdoors, feathered and furred!
Let the hills sing together for joy!
For God is not done doing wonders!
God is coming to set everything right. Sing a new song to God!

Hymn           “We Sing Your Mighty Power, O God”          #64

Unison Prayer

God of majesty and might, blow through this place like a mighty
wind. Inspire us with your presence. Cover us with your love, that
we might be your people, serving others with care and compassion.
In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer                                                                 #307

Children’s Message

Psalm 98

O Sing to the Lord a new song,
for the Lord has done marvelous things.
God’s right hand and holy arm
have gotten the victory.
The Lord has declared victory,
and has revealed vindication in the sight of the nations.
The Lord has remembered steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the victory of our God.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the Lord who reigns.

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who live in it.
Let the floods clap their hands;
let the hills sing together for joy
at the presence of the Lord,
who is coming to judge the earth.
The Lord will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.

The Gloria Patri                                                                    #35

Anthem          “For the Beauty of the Earth”                   John Rutter

Prayers of the People

Hymn             “For All the Saints”                                          #637

Reading          Psalm 104                                                        page 554                                                         

Message         “A Psalm of Nature”                           Rev. Dan Haugh

Offering                                 
Offertory         “Sketch”                                                      Carl Parrish
Doxology*                                                                               #46
Offertory Prayer*

Communion

Hymn            “For Beauty of Meadows”                               #696

Benediction

Closing          “Here I am, Lord” (refrain)                             #452

Postlude        “Toccata in D Minor”                                     J.S. Bach                     

Calendar of Events

Monday, 11/3              Noon AA meeting in Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, 11/4              7:30 AA meeting in Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, 11/5       Noon AA meeting in Fellowship Hall
                                     5:30 Choir Rehearsal in Organ Loft
Thursday, 11/6            3:15 Cherub Choir in Sanctuary
                                     4:00 Youth Choir in Sanctuary                            
                                     5:45-7:30 Elf rehearsal
Friday, 11/7                  11 – 3:30 Red Cross Blood Drive
Saturday, 11/8            11 Service for Sally Schumann

Happy Birthday this week to:
Johanna Darrow on 11/6

Happy Anniversary this week to:
Mark and Linda Fucile today 11/2
Barry and Virginia Kerrigan on 11/5

Announcements

The ushers today are the Deacons.  Thank you for helping today.

Communion

All are welcome to receive communion, including children. Please walk down the center aisle to the front where the Deacons have the elements for you. They have bread or gluten free crackers for you to choose from. The grape juice is in small cups.  If you are on the outside isles, walk to the back of the sanctuary and come up the center aisle.  Take your elements back to your seats and when all have been served, we will take communion together. If you cannot walk down the aisle, the deacons will come to where you are and serve you.

Our deepest sympathies to Johanna and Leland Darrow for the loss of their son, Martin Darrow

Pies

Please pick up your pie kits today or next Sunday in the narthex.  The pies we make are for sale for the annual Thanksgiving Pie Sale and some we give to families in the area. Also, if you would like to purchase an apple or pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving please call the church at 802-253-7257 or email women@stowecommunitychurch.org by Wednesday, November 19th."

All are welcome to help Ken Schumann and John and Chris DeRienzo and family remember Sally Schumann. The celebration of life service will be Saturday, November 8, 2025, at 11am. with a reception in Fellowship Hall following the service. 

Missions:

 Refugees and immigrants in Vermont are in dire need right now of infant warm clothing size 1T to 3T and men’s winter jackets. All winter gear is needed too all sizes. These do not have to be new, used but in good condition would be welcomed.  There will be a bin in the Narthex this morning and it will be picked up by Monday, November 3.  Please see the poster in the Narthex.  There is also need of blankets, cleaning supplies, hygiene items, diapers, and grocery store gift cards. Thank you. 

Praying the Psalms: You are invited to join Pastor Dan each week for 30 minutes on Tuesdays at noon to pray together beginning 9/9/25.  See the article in the Quest for zoom links. This is through 11/25/25.

Bible Study on the Psalms this Fall

During Pastor Dan’s sermon series on the Psalms, plan to enhance your understanding of this rich book of the Bible by joining the study series, Praying the Psalms. For six weeks, beginning October 9 from 7 to 8 PM on Zoom, we will explore psalms as prayers on such topics as hope, joy, gratitude and trust. The study guide is entitled Praying the Psalms, by Juanita Ryan and can be ordered from www.ivpress.com. To join the study, please contact Kathe Rhinesmith at katherhinesmith@gmail.com.

SSC Men's Group Pancake Breakfast

All men are invited to a pancake breakfast on Saturday, November 15th, at 9:00 am in the Church Fellowship Hall 
A suggested $10 donation will be collected, and we are seeking a few volunteers to help set up and prepare in our brand-new kitchen. 
Join us for a time of refreshment and fellowship as we make new friendships and discuss exciting opportunities ahead.
Please RSVP to mensgroup@stowecommunitychurch.org

Stowe Community Church is teaming up with Stowe Schools and Blessed Sacrament to provide Thanksgiving baskets to local families in need including turkeys and all of the trimmings.

Please see our Turkey Table in the narthex.  Pull the food feathers you’d like to donate.  Please bring food donations back to church by noon on Sunday, November 23rd.   If you are providing a turkey or a refrigerated item, place it in the church kitchen refrigerator.  Please consider bringing your items in a reusable grocery store bag that will also be donated.  If you would prefer to make a cash donation to offset the cost of a food basket or if you know of a family in need, please contact the church office.  Thank you all!

Care Team:

 If you know of a need for pastoral care, a home or hospital visit, meals, a phone call or any other support our church can offer, please contact our Care Team by emailing info@stowechurch.org. Our Care Team is looking for additional members to help meet the needs of our congregation and community. Please reach out to Rev. Barbara (revbarbarapurinton@gmail.com)  if interested in learning more and join this important ministry of care and compassion.

Green Tip for November 2025 By Chris Donovan

According to the 2025 Vermont Climate Plan, nearly 40% of greenhouse gas emissions produced in Vermont are due to gasoline and diesel vehicles. Did you know that you can eliminate nearly ALL of your transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions by switching to an electric vehicle (EV) while also saving money from fuel savings and reduced maintenance costs?

According to Drive Electric Vermont (a statewide program operated by non-profit VEIC), for most Vermonters with home charging the cost of driving electric is equivalent to less than $2 per gallon for fuel.  In addition, Consumer Reports estimates that EV owners typically save $6,000 to $10,000 over the life of the vehicle due to fuel savings and lower maintenance costs. 

As of July 2025, nearly 20,000 electric vehicles were being driven by Vermont households, businesses, and government and ever-expanding public and workplace charging stations.  In addition, more than 50 Vermont car dealers’ stock EVs (all-electric and/or plug-in hybrid models) and there is growing availability of used EVs for those seeking to avoid the cost of a new vehicle.  To explore EV options for your transportation needs visit:  https://www.driveelectricvt.com

Musical Notes by Karen Miller

Prelude: The chorale tune "Was frag' ich nach der Welt" has been paired with numerous texts in hymnals over time.  Today, the text used is usually "Our God, to Whom We Turn".  The melody of this chorale was written by Ahasverus Fritsch (1629-1701), a German scholar, theologian, orientalist, writer, and composer.  He studied and practiced law and was one of the first to deal with the issue of influencing people by the press.  He was also interested in oriental studies and particularly concentrated on the Hebrew language, producing a translation of the Bible into German. Known for his promotion of religious tolerance, he was involved in creating greater religious freedom in Germany.  He wrote a number of legal publications as well as hymns and devotional aids.  Flor Peeters (1903-1986), Belgian organist, recitalist, composer, and teacher, wrote a five-part partita (set of variations) based on this Fritsch melody.  The first three sections are for manuals only and the last two add pedal lines. 

Anthem:  John Rutter (b. 1945) is a well-known English composer who has written a number of anthems for choirs.  In this case he used the text by Folliott S. Pierpoint (that we know well as the text to Hymn No. 56 in the Chalice Hymnal) and created a completely new melody for it.  The view from a hilltop near Bath, England one day inspired Pierpoint to write the text for this hymn.  The text was originally titled "The Sacrifice of Praise" and intended for Eucharist use, but changes made it a suitable hymn for general use.

Offertory: “Sketch" is a short piece in D Major that is highly chromatic and explores several different keys before returning to a final D Major chord.  It was written by Carl Parrish (1904-1965) who was a musicologist and studied at Cornell and Harvard universities.  He then taught at Westminster Choir College, Pomona College, and Vassar College in New York.

Postlude: It is unlikely that J. S. Bach ever viewed his "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" as a Halloween piece, but the opening bars of the toccata evoke the appropriate mood for the holiday and have become recognizable as music fit for the occasion.  Heard today is the toccata from that work which is relatively short for a Bach toccata.