Rocky Hill Congrega t i ona l Church

Established 1727 UUUU N I T E D N I T E D N I T E D N I T E D CCCC H U R C H O F H U R C H O F H U R C H O F H U R C H O F CCCC H R I S TH R I S TH R I S TH R I S T

April 29, 2012

Fourth Sunday of Easter

10:00 A.M

The Friendly Church at the Center

An Open and Affirming Community

Rocky Hill Congregational ChurchRocky Hill Congregational ChurchRocky Hill Congregational ChurchRocky Hill Congregational Church

United Church of ChristUnited Church of ChristUnited Church of ChristUnited Church of Christ

Sunday, April 29, 2012 10:00 a.m.

Order of Worsh ipOrder of Worsh ipOrder of Worsh ipOrder of Worsh ip We welcome all and extend a special greeting to our guests; our service is enriched by your presence! Join us in Chapin Hall for fellowship time after worship. The Welcome Table in Chapin Hall offers information about the church and members who can answer your questions. Hearing devices and large-print bulletins are available for worship – ask an usher. Nursery care is always available downstairs in Room 4.

God Gathers Us for Worsh i pGod Ga thers Us for Worsh i pGod Ga thers Us for Worsh i pGod Ga thers Us for Worsh i p

Scr i p tural A ff i rmat i on Psalm 23 The Rev. Donna K. Manocchio and James Rolfe

Pre lude “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian” setting by John Carter

Please use the prelude as a time for personal prayer and preparation of your heart for worship.

Welcome and announcements Please include your full address and phone number as you sign our friendship registration pads, and please wear your nametags. All announcements should be written down and given to the usher or pastor prior to worship.

*Call to Worship Meghan D. Young Leader: Let us come before God with our joys and riches. People: God gives us shelter and bounty and blessings. Leader: Let us come before God with our sorrows and fears. People: God wipes away every tear from our eyes. Leader: Let us come before God with our doubts and questions. People: God is our Shepherd and guides us to the waters of life. Leader: Let us come before God with our prayer and worship. People: Blessings, glory, wisdom and honor be to our God forever and ever! Amen.

*Hymn “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us” New Century Hymnal 252

Message for Children of All Ages

(Children are invited to depart for S.P.I.R.I.T. Church School)

Children’s Recessional “We Will Keep a Place For You” by John Corrado

*Unison Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer (debts/debtors) Deacon Stephanie Heneghan Gracious God, we enter the house of prayer and find we are at home. We walk in the path of tradition, and the rhythm is our own heartbeat. Welcome us today as we become a community of faith in your Resurrection. Lift our spirits in song, shelter our hearts in prayer, and take our hands in offering. May our words and meditations be acceptable in your sight, O God, our strength and our redeemer. In the spirit of the Risen Christ we pray, saying together the words he teaches,

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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

*Gloria Patri

God Shares Words o f Love and L i f eGod Shares Words o f Love and L i f eGod Shares Words o f Love and L i f eGod Shares Words o f Love and L i f e

A Read i ng from th e E p i s t l e s 1 John 3:16-24 (The Message)

We Respond to God ’ s WordWe Respond to God ’ s WordWe Respond to God ’ s WordWe Respond to God ’ s Word

Anthem “More Love” setting by Sid Davis

Sermon “Love One Another” The Rev. Donna K. Manocchio

*H ymn “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian” Pilgrim Hymnal 353

Shar i ng of Jo ys and Concerns

(We invite your oral prayer requests – keeping the request brief and identifying the first name for the pastors. Trust that God knows the details of the need.)

Prayer o f th e P eople

Offer i ng I n v i t a t i on For those who have already given their offering, Giving Cards are available in your pew so that all may participate in giving back to God with joy and gratitude.

Offer tory Anthem “Rejoice” by Joseph M. Martin

*Doxology

* Pra yer of Ded i ca t ion

*Ga ther i ng our P ledges (Please bring your pledge card or the red giving card with you and come up the center aisle, place in baskets on the communion table, receive a gift from the stewardship committee, and return to your seat by the side aisles. Members of the stewardship committee will come to those who prefer not to process.)

*Ded i ca t ion and B less i ng o f P l edges Spirit of the Living God, Fall afresh on our gifts of faith and on our lives. Grant us the strength and resources to fulfill the commitments we make today, And use our money to further your mission in the world. Amen and alleluia!

We Go Forth to Love and ServeWe Go Forth to Love and ServeWe Go Forth to Love and ServeWe Go Forth to Love and Serve

*H ymn “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” Pilgrim Hymnal 272

*B ened i c t i on

*B ened i c t i on r e sponse Refrain from “He Lives”

Pos t lude “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us” setting by David Paxton

(*Please rise in body or in spirit.) Gree ters Jim and Lois Griswold

Hosp i t a l i t y Kim Burghoff

Head Ushers Jay and Meghan Montana

The flowers this week are given in honor of Polly’s birthday, from Don Pagnucco.

The 2nd arrangement this week is given in loving memory of Ed Bacon by Charlotte Bacon.

May 5th Ringing of the Bells When you hear the church bells on May 5th,

please keep Paul Maynard in your thoughts and prayers on what would have been his 86th birthday.

Next Week MNext Week MNext Week MNext Week May 6, 2012ay 6, 2012ay 6, 2012ay 6, 2012

Communion SundayCommunion SundayCommunion SundayCommunion Sunday Text: Acts 8:26-40

Sermon: “I Love to Tell the Story” The Rev. Donna K. Manocchio

This Week at RHCC This Week at RHCC This Week at RHCC This Week at RHCC Ap r i l A p r i l A p r i l A p r i l 22229999 S u nd a ySund a ySund a ySund a y 11:00am Stewardship Meeting Fiorilli Room 11:30am Lunch Bunch Youth Room 3:00pm Charter Oak Flutes Sanctuary

Ap r i l A p r i l A p r i l A p r i l 3 0303030 Mond a yMonda yMonda yMonda y 5:30pm Yoga with Lynn Chapin Hall 7:00pm Women’s AA Chapin Hall 7:30pm Bell Choir Loft

May 1Ma y 1Ma y 1Ma y 1 T u e sd a yT u e sd a yT u e sd a yT u e sd a y 7:00pm Board/Committee Meetings

May 2Ma y 2Ma y 2Ma y 2 W edne sd a yWedne sd a yWedne sd a yWedne sd a y 9:00am Quilters Room 6 12:30pm Bible Study Fiorilli Room 7:30pm Choir Rehearsal Choir Loft

May 3Ma y 3Ma y 3Ma y 3 T h u r sda yThur sda yThur sda yThur sda y 4:00pm Rocky Hill Care Team Chapin Hall 5:30pm TOPS Room 25 May 5Ma y 5Ma y 5Ma y 5 S a t u rd a yS a t urd a yS a t urd a yS a t urd a y 8:30am Yoga w/Lynn Chapin Hall 9:30am Yoga w/Lynn Chapin Hall

Come enjoy

“Serenades for a Sunday”

Presented by Charter Oak Flutes

This afternoon at 4:00 p.m. in our Sanctuary

Charter Oak Flutes is a professional flute choir, comprised of 10 flutist from around

the state and founded by Virginia Church (of Rocky Hill) in 1991. Each spring COF

presents an hour long program of flute choir literature made up of challenging

repertoire, delightful music and fond favorites. For more information please call:

860-529-3979. A free will offering will be taken.

April 18 *Victoria Bower

*Grace Triblets 28 Nadine Bell

29 Douglas Scheirey

Liz Reed-Swale

30 Polly Pagnucco Jennifer Ryan

Victoria Connor

May 2 Wendy Moser

Jeanne Timrud Christina Connor

Liam Flynn

3 Bev Ahlberg

Cynthia Sweezy Laura Walker

4 Chris Sheehan

Ben Bellizzi

5 Sara Toft Elizabeth Burnham

Abigail Bellizzi

*names inadvertently omitted

from the birthday list on April

15.

S.P.I.R.I.T. Corner S.P.I.R.I.T. Faith Nurture Ideas

These faith nurture ideas coordinate with the weekly session plans for church school. We hope you will join us in learning, teaching, and growing together!

Here’s what we’re learning about this week… COME JOIN THE CIRCLE: Unit 5 – Lost And Found This unit explores three parables of Jesus, found in Luke 15: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. Jesus, the great crafter of parables, used images and examples from ordinary life to acquaint people with the good news of God’s love. They draw us in because they show us what life is about – and they also confront us with our awesome and loving God. This unit we are focusing on what it means to be lost and found, and how can extend God’s never-ending love for all.

Read: The Loving Father, Luke 15:11-32

Reflect and Remember. Parables for Today. Write a parable about God’s love for you. Begin by thinking of a time when you or someone you know felt lost. Keep your parable simple and concrete. Where did it all happen and what emotions were involved? Who did the finding and where was God in the process? Explore all of your senses as you write: how did touch, taste, and smell contribute to sights and sounds of love? If you need ideas, check out the S.P.I.R.I.T. Library on the 2nd floor.

Share Your Faith. Talk about the Bible story children and youth explored this week and write your own parable for today:

A Prayer For The Unit. God, you come to us in so many ways. Your words call us and your actions inspire us. Your stories draw us in and your deeds give us hope. Your world is our welcoming home. Guide us to guide and lead us to lead. Send us out with the power of your love. Amen.

You are invited to Koinonia 2012!

Join us at RHCC for a 4 night (5:30-7:30 PM), Vacation Bible School, “Koinonia 2012”, for the whole church family, from June 25th-28th. This summer you are invited to renew and spark your faith as we join together for fun, food, fellowship, and faith formation. Separate faith formation programming will be available for children, youth, and adults.

In order to make this awesome, spirit-filled, faith formation opportunity happen, we need at least 10 families and adults to sign-up by Sunday, May 6th.

Sign-up in Chapin Hall or contact Meghan Young at meghan@rhccucc.org.

Silver Lake Open House – Sunday, May 6, 2-4 PM Learn more about Silver Lake and their incredible faith and fun filled camps. Come up for the day and take a tour of the facilities to see what you can expect when you come to camp. For more information visit: www.silverlakect.org/events. If you plan to attend the Open House, please call Jenn at 860-364-5526 ex 10 with the name and number of people attending our party.

PARENTS: Church school ends at 11:15 AM.

Please pick-up your children at the following locations. (So that the children may focus through the end of their class, we ask that you do not look through the classroom

windows, and that you wait for the teacher to end class by opening the classroom door.)

CLASS PICK-UP LOCATION

Pre-K & K HANDS ON RM. 23

Christian Education Hallway

1st & 2nd Grade

FOOD & PEOPLE Youth Room

Ground Floor of Church

3rd Grade

COMMUNITY LIFE RM. 22

Christian Education Hallway

4th & 5th Grade

FUN & GAMES RM. 24

Christian Education Hallway

6th-8th Grade

SHOW & TELL RM. 25 & RM. 27

Christian Education Hallway \

2nd Annual Youth Revival!

WHO: Youth Group (Grades 6-12) WHEN: Friday, May 11th, 5:30-9 PM WHAT: Catch the Spirit, and raise your voices! Join the RHCC Youth Group as we meet for

dinner at the church, and then join with youth group’s from across the Connecticut Conference of the UCC for the second annual Youth Revival.

WHERE: Meet at RHCC. Transportation will be provided to and from the Youth Revival in Hartford.

For more information or to sign-up, check-out the S.P.I.R.I.T. Bulletin Board in Chapin Hall or contact Meghan Young at meghan@rhccucc.org. Sign-up is requested by Sunday, May 6th.

UCC National Youth Event – July 10-13 at Purdue University The UCC National Youth Event (www.ucc.org/nye), a UCC gathering held every four years, provides an opportunity for about 3000 youth (ages 13-18) to gather for four days of worship, workshops, faith, fun and fellowship. If you are interested in attending and would like more information about transportation and scholarships, please contact Meghan Young (Meghan@rhuccucc.org).

Spring Service Project Today

The Board for Missions completed its first day of the service project at Peter’s

Retreat. If you would like to join them today, please see Meghan Montana.

SCRIP-SURE: Today is the deadline for April scrip orders. Please place your forms

in the offering plate or in the box in Chapin Hall. Orders may also be emailed

to treasurer@rhccucc.org by midnight Sunday.

Gail Hall has a current inventory of the most popular cards, including CVS, Big

Y, Stop & Shop, Westside Market, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Boston Market,

Chico's, Dressbarn, and a few other cards. See her in Chapin Hall during coffee

hour on any Sunday for immediate purchase and/or to check on available

inventory.

Over the past half year, our average profits have exceeded $1000 per month!

Thanks to all who continue to support this important fundraising opportunity.

National Day of Prayer

Thursday, May 3, 2012 at 4:30 p.m.

Rocky Hill Gazebo

(next to the Rocky Hill Community Center)

Meet at the Gazebo at for community prayer.

For information contact Denise Lewis 860 563-1559 or dainct23@yahoo.com

Items Needed for Cheyenne River Children’s Camp

My sister and I are leaving for the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation in

South Dakota on May 23.

The children, ages 5-11, are very much in need of sports equipment, arts and

crafts, books new or gently used, and age appropriate games for their summer

camp. Even pads, pencils or crayons will do.

If anyone would like to help by donating items we can take with us, please call

me at 860 529-8789 or leave items in Chapin Hall on Sundays until May 20th.

Thank you.—Joan Tennyson

ROCKY HILL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

YOUTH TALENT SHOW

SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2012 at 6:30 P.M.

FROM OUR YOUNGEST AMONG US

TO OUR HIGH SCHOOL TALENT

WE NEED YOU!

SING, DANCE, JUGGLE, TELL A JOKE “WE KNOW YOU HAVE THE TALENT

NOW WE NEED YOU TO SHOW YOUR CHURCH FAMILY AND FRIENDS…”

SIGN UP IN CHAPIN HALL

PLEASE FILL OUT A TALENT SHEET by April 22nd

Any Questions please contact ELAINE SOMES 860-563-4099

REHEARSALS TO BE ANNOUNCED

MISSIONS NEWS

FOODSHARE WALK FOR HUNGER 2012--Sunday, May 6th!

Please consider supporting our Missions Project of helping to raise money for

Foodshare. There are two ways you can help: join our walk team or make a

donation to our walk team. Our goal this year is $2,500; we want to help

Foodshare provide food to needy families in Connecticut. You can join or

donate through our webpage at http://site.foodshare.org/goto/rhcc or see a

Missions Board Member during coffee hour in Chapin Hall any of the remaining

Sundays in April. Thanks so much for your consideration! Cindy Hunt, 2012 Walk

Team Captain

"Harvest Now" - Food for those in need in Connecticut

“Harvest Now” is a food growing Charity that works with faith based

organizations. Their objective is to provide fresh produce to contribute to

Connecticut's food bank system. There is a great need for fresh produce to

round out the diets of recipients. How Can You Help? – If you have a

vegetable garden, can you plant an extra row or donate surplus for the

needy? Vegetables grown & harvested June-October are delivered to a CT

Food Bank Warehouse OR the food pantry of your choice. – For more

information contact: Linda Calcagni 860-721-9448, or lindacal@cox.net

Church World Service Blanket Cards for Mothers' Day

Blanket Cards for Mother’s day will be sold after church on May 6th. They are $5.

It is always a nice way to honor our mothers and help other mothers around the

world.

Rocky Hill Congregational Church United Church of Christ

Open and Affirming Statement Because we believe that all people are created in God’s image and thus are blessed and loved equally by God, and because love is a unifying and strengthening force within our Christian Faith,

We, the members of the Rocky Hill Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, hereby declare ourselves an Open and Affirming Christian community, actively expressing Jesus’ inclusive embrace of all people.

We welcome all who seek to follow Jesus, including persons of every age, gender, race, national origin, faith background, marital status and family structure, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, mental and physical ability, economic and social status, and educational background, to share in the life, leadership, ministry, fellowship, worship, sacraments, responsibilities, blessings and joys of our church family.

Jesus teaches us to welcome all God’s children into God’s covenantal community. As we grow together in faith and love, we will strive to celebrate the diversity in which God has created us. Approved by congregational vote June 2009

Ministry Team Ministers: All the members of the church

Senior Pastor: The Reverend Donna K. Manocchio donna@rhccucc.org Acting Associate Pastor: Meghan D. Young meghan@rhccucc.org

Acting Director of Christian Education: Meghan D. Young meghan@rhccucc.org Pastor Emeritus: The Reverend Arthur C. Weil

Director of Music: William Kanute music@rhccucc.org Church Office: Carol Harvey office@rhccucc.org / 860 529-4167

Webmaster: Dave Hall webmaster@rhccucc.org Church Website: rhccucc.org

Visit us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/rhccucc

A Personal Offering from Gail Hall

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Our journey with this church began over 35 years ago, somewhat by accident. Dave

and I had just gotten married and moved to Connecticut. Having both been raised

Presbyterian, we sought a Presbyterian church and couldn’t find one nearby, so we

tried RHCC. That, as they say, was history. There were a number of individuals who

practiced the “extravagant welcome” even way back then. Arthur Weil, then senior

pastor and now our pastor emeritus, came to visit us in our apartment several times.

Some legendary families sought us out at coffee hour, made us feel welcome and that

this was the place to be. Some of you will remember the Hicks, the Dexters, the Evans,

true blessings to this faith community. It only took us a few months before we decided

to join.

Shortly thereafter, Rev. Weil formed the Young Adult Fellowship. It was there that we

made some long-standing friendships that continue to be very dear to us. A few of

these friends learned about our musical abilities and introduced us to George Swanson.

We began our involvement with the music program as instrumentalists and joined the

choir later. We felt so blessed that we also began to give freely of our time though

board and committee involvement, service projects, and pledge donations. In my case,

I have served on the CE Board, the Missions Board, the Diaconate (including 2 years as

Senior Deacon), the Music Committee, 2 pastoral search committees, made three trips to

Back Bay Mission, and have chaired the ONA Committee, all while at the same time

giving to the church financially.

Over the years, we have had our 3 children baptized here and they all attended church

school. We are blessed and extremely proud of all 3 of them (especially since 2 of them

have great jobs and their own homes, which now gives us the opportunity to travel

more). We have gained great satisfaction from participating in the music program and

watching it grow over the years. Having had no previous vocal training, we are

particularly grateful to Will Kanute for helping us to learn how to sing in a group.

The members and friends of this church have been a central part of our already blessed

lives, and we plan to continue our support as long as we are able.

COUNT YOURSELF BLESSED!

“And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always

having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.”

-2 Corinthians 9:8