Celebration Service January 29 , 2023 – 9:30 am

 

Lyrics and music for the hymns, when legally sharable,

are available by clicking on the title of each hymn.

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Prelude     “Jesus Calls Us O’er the Tumult”                    Diemer 

 

Introit        “Still Our Restless Minds”

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Welcome & Announcements

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Call to Worship

After he was baptized by John, 

Jesus went by himself to the wilderness 

where he was tempted.

Forty days in the desert, Jesus was tempted 

to become relevant, spectacular, and powerful.

We are invited to journey with Jesus through our life of faith 

which brings us to face some of our own weaknesses and temptations.

Let us worship God and walk the journey together, 

seeking the Spirit as our guide and companion along the way.

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Hymn*         “Standing on the Promises”                             #552

   

Unison Prayer

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Holy God, by the grace of Jesus Christ 

you know the tests and trials we face. 

Walk with us through this wilderness. 

Come to us with ministers of healing 

and visit us with messengers of hope, 

so that we may return to you in faith, 

believing the good news of the gospel; 

through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Amen

 

The Lord’s Prayer            

 

Children’s Message     

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Psalm 91      Lay Reader: David Roy           

You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,

Will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.”

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence;

He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day,

Or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

You will only look with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place,

No evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.

On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.

You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.

Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name.

When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them.

With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.

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The Gloria Patri*                                                                     #35

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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, Amen

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Anthem        “Surely the Presence of the Lord Is In This Place” Wolfe/Brown

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Prayers of the People

 

Hymn            “Forty Days and Forty Nights”                        #179

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Reading     Matthew 4:1-17                                              page 2

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' ”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
   and they will lift you up in their hands,
   so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.

9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ ”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
   the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,
   Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people living in darkness
   have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
   a light has dawned.”

17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

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Message      “Into the Wilderness”        Rev. Dan Haugh

                                                                       

Offering          

                       

Offertory         “O God of Truth”                  David N. Johnson

         Click here to make an online donation

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Doxology*                                                                    

Praise God from whom all blessings flow,

Praise him all creatures here below.

Praise him above you heavenly hosts,

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

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Offertory Prayer*

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Hymn*           “O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go”            #540

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Benediction*

Closing     “Seven-fold Amen”                              Stainer

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Postlude        “Pisgah”                    Dale Wood    

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CLICK HERE to join our Fellowship Meeting at 11:00 am

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Masks are optional at our services at this time. As a congregation, we respect those who chose to wear a mask out of personal concern/safety. We will continue to live stream our services through our website  www.stowecommunitychurch.org.

 

Calendar

Monday, 1/30              Noon AA weekly meeting in Fellowship Hall

Tuesday, 1/31            8:00 AA weekly meeting in Fellowship Hall

Wednesday, 2/1          Noon AA weekly meeting in Fellowship Hall

                                    5:30 choir rehearsal in Organ Loft

 

Happy Birthday this week to:

Linda Bouramia, and Alana LaViale today 1/29

Liam Brown on 1/30

Randy Durett, and Cameron Beecy on 2/1

Maggie Dunphy on 2/3

Casey O’Toole on 2/4

 

Announcements

The ushers today are Carrie Alario and Tracy Wall.  Thank you for helping today.

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Online Fellowship Hour Continues This Sunday!

All SCC members and friends are invited to join together for an online church fellowship hour on Sundays beginning at 11:00 am this Sunday!   Use the link above: "Click here to join in..."

During these winter months, this provides an opportunity to connect and socialize after church from the safety and comfort of home. Each week we will be able to connect with friends unable to attend church, see old friends now living afar, meet new friends and get to know our online community. Brew a pot of coffee or tea, grab your favorite mug (and maybe a tasty treat) and join us online on Sundays! 

 

Please join us February 5th for our monthly “apres ski” Sunday evening service.

We will serve a meal at 5 pm in the Fellowship Hall and the 45-minute service begins at 6:00 pm in the Sanctuary.    This service is casual, interactive, and participatory for all ages and stages.  You can help by bringing a meal to share for our potluck dinner.

 

SCC Ski Day February 6th!

Reserve the date Monday, February 6th! 

We're planning another SCC Ski Day. So all you skiers and riders plan to join Pastor Dan for a morning of skiing on Mount Mansfield! Like last year we will visit the Mountain Chapel for a brief gathering. With the way our weather has been, we may be praying for snow!

 

Newest SPARK Session dates! 

Monday's February 6th, 13th & 20th, and March 13th, 20th & 27th.  3:00-4:30 pm.  Miss Taryn will meet Stowe Elementary School students at SES and walk kids over to the Church.  Classes will include (weather permitting) outdoor recreation time, a healthy snack, a weekly Bible lesson and discussion and related crafts and games.  $100 Suggested Fee for the 6 week session, and you can sign up with the link below, or by emailing Taryn Noelle @ taryn@stowecommunitychurch.org

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Missions

Save the Date!  Sunday, February 19th is Compassion Sunday, a day set apart for Stowe Community Church to respond to the needs of children living in poverty around the world.  Our Mission Moment speaker will be Liz Bachilas from Compassion International, which seeks to pair compassionate people with a child in need through sponsorship.  After the service, we will have a special coffee hour with a presentation and a Q&A.  At the sponsorship table, you’ll find photos of boys and girls who would love to have someone like you step into their life, helping them see themselves as precious and valuable in the eyes of God. These children are registered in Compassion’s program but they have been waiting to receive the wonderful news that they now have a sponsor. It is life changing for the child, their families and for you. These children are specific for our Compassion Sunday.

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Please do not forget our neighbors in need by donating food for the Lamoille Community Food Share. Non-perishable items can be put in our two bins, one in the Narthex and one in the hall downstairs. Thank you.

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Music Notes by Karen Miller

 

Prelude: “Jesus Calls Us O’er the Tumult” is Hymn No. 337 in the Chalice Hymnal. The text was written by Cecil Frances Alexander to celebrate St. Andrew’s Day in 1852. William Jude (1851-1922) later wrote the music for the work which was first published in the Congregational Church Hymns of 1887. The tune is named “Galilee” for the place – “by the Sea of Galilee” – where Jesus met Peter and Andrew. In 1979 Californian Emma Lou Diemer (b.1927) published her organ setting of this tune. The melody appears on a solo stop in the tenor line early in the work and then moves to the high soprano. Diemer has been an organist in various denominations over the course of her career and has received numerous scholarships, fellowships, and awards for her studies and her numerous compositions for all combinations of instruments and voices.

 

Anthem: Lanny Wolfe wrote the text and music to “Surely the Presence of the Lord is in This Place” and the refrain of this work is Hymn No. 263 in the Chalice Hymnal. Open your hymnal for the refrain words. The verses are:

 

            In the midst of his children the Lord said He would be;

            It doesn’t take very many, it can be just two or three;

            And I feel that same sweet spirit that I’ve felt oft-times before;

            Surely I can say I’ve been with the Lord.

 

            There’s a holy hush around us as God’s glory fills this place;

            I’ve touched the hem of his garment, I can almost see His face;

            And my heart is overflowing with the fullness of His joy;

            I know without a doubt I’ve been with the Lord.

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Offertory: The hymn “O God of Truth” is from the Scottish Psalter of 1615. The tune is called “martyrs.” David N. Johnson wrote an organ piece based on this melody for his collection “Deck Thyself, My Soul, with Gladness”, published in 1968. In three sections, it starts with a chordal presentation of the melody followed by a soprano solo on a solo stop for the next two sections.

           

Postlude: “Pisgah” is a religious folk-tune sung in the South in the early 19th century. It’s authorship is unclear. It appeared in Kentucky Harmony in 1816 and credited to J.C. Lowry. Around 1819 it was found in Tennessee Harmony credited to Alexander Johnson. “Pisgah” is a mountain ridge near Mount Nebo, not far from the Dead Sea, where Moses viewed the land of Canaan. In 1970 Californian Dale Wood published his organ setting of this melody in his collection Organ Book of American Folk Hymns. The melody is heard in the soprano line with interludes between the verses.

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