Hampstead Congregational Church UCC

PDF BULLETIN

Hampstead Congregational Church

October 13, 2024

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

with Sunday School

No Matter Who You Are or Where You Are on Life’s Journey,

You are Welcome Here!

Order of Worship

Greetings and Announcements

Call to Worship                                                                      

Leader:  Come let us worship God.  What shall we bring before the God of compassion?

People:  We bring our bodies and spirits – broken and in need of healing.

Leader:  What shall we bring before the God of eternal vision?

People:  We bring our dreams and our hopes to be fulfilled.

Leader:  What shall we bring before the God of everlasting love?

People:  We bring our gratitude and possessions.

Leader:  What shall we bring before the God of all good gifts?

People:  We bring ourselves.  May our offerings be holy and acceptable to God.    

Gathering Prayer:   (unison)                                                                  Barry Sargent

       Everlasting God, we come before you with questions, and you question us in return. We declare that you are good, and you have declared us good. May we acknowledge that you make all things new, you redeem our days, and you empower us to be your people. In your presence, there is joy, and there is struggle. Peace surpasses understanding, and our hearts break. This defines the fullness of human community and experience in companionship with you. We give thanks for your presence and trust that you continue to transform the impossible into the possible. Make it so in us and through us in your precious name. Amen.

Passing of the Peace of Christ 

(Feel free to pass the peace by shaking hands, offering hugs or waves.  Those who would like to share peace without physical contact are invited to place their hands over their hearts in greeting.)

Opening Hymn:                                  

Stewardship Moment                                                                            Allison Siwacki

Scripture Readings:  Mark 10: 17-31   (NSRVUE)                               Barry Sargent 

       ¹⁷ As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ¹⁸ Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness. You shall not defraud. Honor your father and mother.’ ” ²⁰ He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” ²¹ Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” ²² When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

²³ Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” ²⁴ And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁶ They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” ²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.”

²⁸ Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” ²⁹ Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news ³⁰ who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. ³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

Children’s Message

Sermon:  “Praying for the Camel”                         Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin

Special Music

Call for Concerns & Celebrations

Pastoral Prayer                                                                 Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin

The Lord’s Prayer:

     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, the power, and the glory forever.  Amen.

Call to Offering

*Doxology                                                                                                              CH #46

Prayer of Dedication                                                              Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin

Receive, O God, not only our gifts of money but our heartfelt commitments

to a more generous and equitable world. In the receiving, grant us your blessing and courage for living in Jesus’ way. Amen.

Hymn of Going Forth:  

Benediction                                                                             Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin

Be strengthened in God’s love.
Be held in God’s goodness.
Be enriched in God’s generosity.
Do the hard thing by the power of the Spirit.
Love our neighbors with the love of Jesus Christ.
And, repair and restore the Holy One’s good creation. Amen.

Music Usage permitted through OneLicense HCC License # A-730412 and CCLI License Number 2927783. All rights reserved

Announcements…

Join us after worship today for lunch and discussion as we look at the scope of our pastoral position moving forward. Do we have the resources to continue with a full-time position? What are the options for part-time pastorates?  These are questions that need to be resolved before a Search Committee can begin working. We want to share some information and get your input.

  October 14^th Church Weekly Calendar

Steeple Lighting

October 7^th to October 14^th

In loving memory of

Bob, Lois & Gary Chase

Love, Lauren & Scott