Third Sunday
June 17, 2007
after Pentecost
9:00 a.m. (Order of Worship)
&
11:00 a.m. Service
(Order of Worship below)
A Congregation of the United Church of Christ
The Old South Church in Boston
Gathered 1669
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the United Church of Christ
Welcoming guests from UCC churches in Hawaii: Aloha!
THE GATHERING
PRELUDE Introduction Chorale, Allegro & Prayer to Notre Dame
from the Gothic Suite Léon Boëllmann
*HYMN 567 Stars and Planets Flung in Orbit Laude Anima
*CALL TO WORSHIP Tadd Allman-Morton
One: Out of darkness came light;
ALL: AND THE POWER OF GOD WAS REVEALED.
Men: The power of God was revealed in the running wave
and in the flowing air …
Women: It was revealed in the quiet earth and the shining stars.
One: Out of the dust came life;
ALL: AND THE IMAGE OF GOD WAS REVEALED.
Men: God’s own image was revealed in the human face
and in the gentle heart …
Women: It was revealed in the warmth of flesh and the depth of soul.
One: Out of justice came freedom;
ALL: AND THE WISDOM OF GOD WAS REVEALED.
Men: It was revealed in the need to grow and the will to love ...
Women: It was revealed in the chance to know and the power to choose.
One: And God looked at the creation:
Men: at waves and air, at earth and stars,
Women: at the human face, the gentle heart,
Men: the warm flesh and depth of soul ...
Women: at growth and love, at knowledge and power …
ALL: AND BEHOLD, IT WAS VERY GOOD.
One: In the name of the God who made darkness and light, heaven and
earth, flesh and bone, heart and soul, Hawaii and Massachusetts, let us
reach across the aisle, across oceans, across states, across political
parties and across theological differences to greet one another with the
peace of God. The peace of Christ be with you.
ALL: AND ALSO WITH YOU AND WITH ALL IN THIS SACRED HOUSE.
*A SIGN OF OUR UNITY AND RECONCILIATION
We invite you to greet those around you, wishing them
“peace” or “the peace of Christ.”
WORDS OF WELCOME Quinn G. Caldwell
ANTHEM The Kingdom André Thomas
Righteousness, peace, joy in the Holy Ghost, that’s the Kingdom of God.
Don’t you want to be part of the Kingdom? Come on, ev’rybody!
Oh, yes, there’s joy in the Kingdom! Oh, yes, there’s peace in the Kingdom!
Oh, yes, there’s love in the Kingdom! The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.
We are part of the earth, and it is part of us. The perfumed flowers are our sisters.
The deer, the horse, the great eagle, these are our brothers. Oh, all things are connected.
Rivers our brothers, Earth our mother, the earth is the Lord’s.
THE GIFT OF THE WORD
SCRIPTURE Passages of Light in Word and Song
The Biblical passages will be read by members of the delegates to the
General Synod of the United Church of Christ from the Hawaii Conference, led
by the Rev. Dorothy Lester, Associate Conference Minister, Hawaii
Conference, UCC.
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw
that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. God
called the light “day,” and the darkness God called “night.” And there was
evening, and there was morning—the first day. (Genesis 1:3-5)
The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is
the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)
Your word, O God, is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
(Psalm 119:105)
SONG FOR CHOIR AND CONGREGATION (seated … sung softly)
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
Marie Caberto, Lanai Union UCC, Lanai, reading in Ilocano (Filipino dialect)
The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness
of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and
your God will be your glory. (Isaiah 60:19)
Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the
LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.
(Isaiah 60:20)
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. (Matthew 4:16)
SONG FOR CHOIR AND CONGREGATION (seated, sung softly)
Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine
Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine
Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine
Kipalani Kaupu, Kalihi and Moanalua Church, Oahu, reading in Hawaiian
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the
lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your
light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give
glory to God in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)
In him was life, and that life was the light of the world. The light
shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. (John 1:4-5)
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live
as children of light. (Ephesians 5:8)
SONG FOR CHOIR AND CONGREGATION (seated, sung softly)
All through the night, I’m gonna let it shine
All through the night, I’m gonna let it shine
All through the night, I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Rebecca Weible, Kailua Christian Church, Oahu, reading in Japanese
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a
people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of the one who
called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God
is light; in God there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)
The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of
God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. (Revelation 21:23)
*SONG This Little Light of Mine
This love I have, I’m gonna let it shine …
This faith I have, I’m gonna let it shine …
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine …
(Children may now leave for their Summer Church School classes.)
SERMON Of Elephants and Theology Nancy S. Taylor
*HYMN 580 O Kou Aloha No (The Queen’s Prayer) Liliuokalani
Taught and led by youth and adults from UCC congregations in Hawaii.
*CALL TO PRAYER AND UCC STATEMENT OF FAITH Quinn G. Caldwell
One: God be with you.
Many: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts.
Many: We lift our hearts to God.
One: Let us affirm what we believe.
Many: We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit, God of our Savior
Jesus Christ and our God, and to your deeds we testify:
One: You call the worlds into being, create persons in your own
image, and set before each one the ways of life and death.
Many: You seek in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.
One: You judge people and nations by your righteous will declared
through prophets and apostles.
Many: In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen
Savior, you have come to us and shared our common lot,
conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to yourself.
One: You bestow upon us your Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the
church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of
all ages, tongues, and races.
Many: You call us into your church to accept the cost and joy of
discipleship, to be your servants in the service of others, to
proclaim the gospel to all the world and resist the powers of
evil, to share in Christ’s baptism and eat at his table, to join
him in his passion and victory.
One: You promise to all who trust you forgiveness of sins and
fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and
peace, your presence in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in
your realm which has no end.
Many: Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto you. Amen.
(The congregation may be seated.)
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
THE LORD’S PRAYER (unison)
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.
PRAYER RESPONSE Choral Amen William Smith
OFFERING OUR GIFTS AND OURSELVES
CALL TO THE OFFERING Tadd Allman-Morton
OFFERTORY ANTHEM They That Go Down to the Sea in Ships
Herbert Sumsion
They that go down to the sea in ships, and occupy their business in great waters;
These men see the works of the Lord and his wonders in the deep.
For at his word the stormy wind ariseth, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
They are carried up to the heav'ns, and down again to the deep.
Their soul melteth away because of the trouble.
They reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.
So when they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, he delivereth them out of
their distress.
For he maketh the storm to cease, so that the waves thereof are still.
Then are they glad because they are at rest,
And so he bringest them unto the haven where they would be.
— Psalm 107: 23-30
*SONG OF PRAISE Lasst Uns Erfreuen
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Christ the Word in flesh born low; Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise Holy Spirit evermore; One God, Triune, whom we adore.
Alleluia! alleluia! alleluia! alleluia! alleluia! Amen!
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
*HYMN God Our Maker, Whose First Summons Cwm Rhondda
*BIDDING TO MISSION AND BENEDICTION Nancy S. Taylor
POSTLUDE Toccata from the Gothic Suite Léon Boëllmann
In honor of our friends from Hawaii, the following UCC clergy
from Old South Church are processing this morning:
Nancy S. Taylor, Senior Minister
Quinn G. Caldwell, Associate Minister
Patricia Hazeltine, Church School Director
Tadd Allman-Morton, Ministerial Intern
T. Thomas Boates, Jr., retired
Elizabeth Rice-Smith, pastoral counselor
Kenneth Orth, Healing Prayer Service / pastoral counselor
Nancy Richardson, retired
Barbara and Tom Boates are hosting our friends from Hawaii
and guiding them around Boston.
TODAY AT OLD SOUTH
Welcome to Old South Church in Boston. Our faith is over 2000 years old, but
our thinking is not! Old South opens its doors to the city, to tourists from
near and far, to the needy, to an array of building users, and to a
congregation (of members, friends, and family—both the curious and the
committed) who call this their church home. Join us for fellowship and
refreshments in the Gordon Chapel after worship.
The flowers are given by Margaret Linda in loving memory of her parents,
Elbert and Emma Howell Ross.
Today’s ASL interpreter is Linn Staton.
More than twenty volunteers are extending hospitality to visitors and
parishioners. In addition, some twenty volunteers sing in the choir, while
others teach in the Church School. If you’re interested in volunteering for
hospitality tasks, please call Betty Smith at 781/721-7777; to sing with the
choir, call Brian Jones at 617/425-5146; to learn about the church school,
call Tricia Hazeltine at 617/536-1970.
Wearing name tags is a great way to facilitate community and make newcomers
feel welcomed. If you don’t see a tag with your name on it, let us
know—there will be one waiting for you next Sunday!
CD recordings of today’s service may be obtained by calling Amy Perry at
617/425-5152 or emailing <admin@oldsouth.org>. Sunday sermons are also
available on the Web and as podcasts at <www.oldsouth.org>.
Today, following worship, all who are interested in a tour of the Sanctuary
are invited to meet Docent Eleanor Jensen at the front of the Sanctuary.
NOTES ON TODAY’S MUSIC
Léon Boëllmann (1862-1897) was born in the same year as the famous French
composer Claude Debussy, but lived a much shorter life, and was much more of
a traditionalist in his compositions. He is most famous for the Postlude
today, the sparkling Toccata from the Gothic Suite, a piece which is highly
dramatic and idiomatic for organs such as the Skinner instrument here at Old
South. The Introduction, Allegro and Prayer form the rest of the Suite, in
varying styles.
André J. Thomas is the Owen F. Sellers Professor of Music, Director of
Choral Activities and Professor of Choral Music Education at Florida State
University. A previous faculty member at the University of Texas, Austin,
Dr. Thomas received his degrees from Friends University, Northwestern
University, and the University of Illinois. The Kingdom represents a
refreshing change from the Old South Choir’s usual fare—it is written in a
popular idiom with a jazzy piano accompaniment.
Herbert Sumsion was organist and choirmaster at Gloucester Cathedral in
England for many years, and his setting of the text from Psalm 107 They That
Go Down To The Sea evokes the famous sculpture in Gloucester, Massachusetts
which honors the many sailors who have died at sea. The text and music evoke
brilliantly the changes of mood from one set of verses to another.
OLD SOUTH CHURCH IN BOSTON
MINISTERS, OFFICERS AND STAFF
Nancy S. Taylor, Senior Minister v Quinn G. Caldwell, Associate Minister
Brian Jones, Interim Director of Music and Organist
Patricia Hazeltine, Church School Director
Tadd Allman-Morton, Ministerial Intern v Rolanda Ward, Youth Worker
George Sargeant, Assistant Organist and Choir Director
Willie Sordillo, Jazz Service Music Director
Peter Coulombe, Interim Director, Old South Ringers
Calvin Genzel, Wedding Outreach Minister
James W. Crawford, Senior Minister Emeritus
Jeff Makholm, Moderator v David Clark, Clerk
James Monsma, Treasurer v Dwight Crane, Chair, Board of Trustees
Diane Gaucher, Senior Deacon v Susan T. Campbell, Historian
Vicki A. Newman, Pledge Secretary
Helen McCrady, Senior Church Administrator
Amy Perry, Administrative Assistant v Rosemary Clarke, Accountant
Elias Perez, Senior Sexton v Ozo Nwodo and Robert Blenman, Sextons
Jessica Goodknight, Rubia Reyes and Jim McDonnel, Receptionists
Carolyn Davis, Director, Old South Preschool
www.oldsouth.org - 617/536-1970
