South Church in Andover
United Church of Christ

THE WORSHIP OF GOD
ORDER FOR THE SERVICE

June 18, 2006
Father’s Day

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     Be Thou My Vision     Paul Manz
 

WELCOME       
     Introduction of Visitors and Guests

     Announcements  

     Exchange of Peace

     The peace of Jesus Christ be with you.
         And also with you.

CALL TO WORSHIP      Psalm 22

Holy is the God of our ancestors.

Our fathers trusted in God.

They trusted and God delivered them.

To God they cried and were saved.

Let all the ends of the earth remember and turn to the Lord.

For power and dominion belong to the Lord our God.
Who rules over all the nations of the earth.

Glory be to God, and to Christ, and to the Holy Spirit.

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

INVOCATION AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

* HYMN For the Beauty of the Earth  # 66 blue

SACRAMENT OF CHRISTIAN BAPTISM

Statement of Faith of the United Church of Christ

James Jackson Aycock III
   son of Amy and James Aycock, Jr.
Haley Elisabeth Carver
   daughter of Cheryl and Robert Carver
Samantha Ann Neal
   daughter of Trina and Stephen Neal

Congregational Response:

On behalf of the whole Christian Church, we now receive James, Haley and Samantha 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 teaches love for God and neighbor, and   nurtures in their spiritual life a Christ centered faith, hope and joy.

* HYMN  Amazing Grace  # 280 red

REFLECTION ON THE MINISTRY OF FATHERHOOD Tom Hoerner

* HYMN     There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy #298 red   
During the hymn children may move, with adult volunteers, to summer Sunday school. Parents may pick up their children after the service on the North lawn.

SCRIPTURE   Luke 15: 11 - 32   (in bulletin)

SERMON     Welcome Home Sinner  Dr. Mutti
             The Bible’s Best Words, 2006 Summer Series

Pastoral prayer

OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS IN THANKSGIVING

Invitation

Offertory  He’s Got the Whole World in His Hand   Margaret Bonds

*Doxology    

*Dedication Prayer       

* BENEDICTION

* POSTLUDE  Toccata in e minor  Johann Pachelbel

* Those who are able may stand

Participating in Today’s Service:
Allan and Amy Joyall with Matthew and Haley, greeters
Ellen Arvidson, deacon
Tom Harvey, tenor

The flowers this morning are given by W. Douglas Halsted, III
in loving memory of his father, W. Douglas Halsted, Jr.
(March 7, 1902 - June 17, 1984 Father's day).

 Heather Barry and Noël Sesay were united in the Covenant of Marriage at South Church yesterday. Heather is the daughter of Roxy and Don Barry. We wish them God’s blessing Additional flowers this morning are given in celebration of their wedding.

Scriptures For This day        New Revised Standard Version

Luke 15: 11 – 32:

Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. “Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”