South Church in Andover
United Church of Christ

THE WORSHIP OF GOD
ORDER FOR THE SERVICE

February 19, 2006
Seventh Sunday of Epiphany

Let the prelude be a curtain of music which brings us into the sanctuary to worship God.
 Let necessary conversation be gentle and the preparation we make together be prayerful.

PRELUDE         Chorale Prelude on Rhosymedre         R. V. Williams

WELCOME       

Introduction of Visitors and Guests
Announcements  Nominating Committee    Jeff Cutts                 Men’s Retreat  Doug Draper

Exchange of Peace

The peace of Jesus Christ be with you.

   And also with you.

INTROIT     Let the Words of My Mouth     E. Titcomb

CALL TO WORSHIP     

Sing to the Lord a new song.

Let us worship the God of all creation.

Bring to the Lord the brokenness of your tears and fears.

For the Lord will heal our hearts and put a new
and right spirit within us.

Trust in the Lord with all your soul.

The Lord is the strength of my life and my portion forever.

Glory be to God our Creator, and to Jesus Christ,
and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning and shall be forever,
world without end.  Amen.

* HYMN  All Beautiful the March of Days  #456 Blue

PRAYER OF INVOCATION AND LORD’S PRAYER

sACRAMENT OF cHRISTIAN BAPTISM

Troy Daniel Takesian, son of Heather and Paul Takesian
Alexander Wesley Riley, son of Ann and John Riley

Congregational Response:       (unison)

On behalf of the whole Christian Church, we now receive Troy and Alexander into our love and care. We promise to uphold them and their parents in the fulfillment of their vows and to be a Christian community which encourages love for God and neighbor, and nurtures in their spiritual life a Christ centered faith, hope and joy.

* HYMN   Precious Lord, Take My Hand   #404 Red

SCRIPTURE     Mark 2: 1-12     (see insert)

LET THE CHILDREN COME        Jonathan Drury

Children in grades K-High School may move to their church school classrooms.
Parents of children up to age 7, please go to your child’s classroom after worship.

* HYMN   O Christ, the Healer  #380 Red

SCRIPTURE  II Corinthians 1: 18-22     (see insert)

SERMON  Love That Leaves a Mark     Dr. Mutti

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

MISSIONS THAT MATTER          Bread & Roses     Ted Hubbard

OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS IN THANKSGIVING

Invitation

Offertory Anthem        Give Almes of Thy Goods  C. Tye

* Doxology

* Dedication Prayer        

* HYMN  O for A Thousand Tongues to Sing  #223 Blue

* BENEDICTION  May God Who Creates You L. Skibsted

RESPONSE

POSTLUDE     Praeludium in E Minor N. Bruhns

* Those who are able may stand.

Participating in Today's Service:

Greeters: Rachel Combs with Sophie, Daniel and Joshua

Acolytes: Stephen Moreland and Emily Lowenstein
Deacon: Terri Guenard

Youth: Kevin Stevens

The flowers this morning are given in memory of
Janyce M. Sagaser by her husband, Don.

Scriptures For This Day        New Revised Standard Version

Mark 2:1-12

When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” —he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.” And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

II Corinthians 1:18-22

As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been “Yes and No.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not “Yes and No”; but in him it is always “Yes.” For in him every one of God’s promises is a “Yes.” For this reason it is through him that we say the “Amen,” to the glory of God. But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us, by putting his seal on us and giving us his Spirit in our hearts as a first installment.