This week @ First Congregational Church
This Week and More @ First Congregational May 20, 2012
The feeling remains that God is on the journey, too. ~Teresa of Avila
Sunday Worship: May 20, 2012
Seventh Sunday of Easter
Sermon: “Joy in the Morning”
Guest Preacher: Reverend Charles Hinkle
Scripture: Psalms 30:1-5; Luke 15: 1-7
Music. This will be the last Sunday the choir will perform before taking their summer hiatus. Their anthem will be the familiar “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” The text of “Fount” was penned by 22-year-old Robert Robinson in 1757. The melody, better known in modern hymnody as Nettleton, is taken from John Wyeth’s Repository of Sacred Music (1813). This powerful arrangement by Mack Wilbert is often performed in concert by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Grant Edwards will play “Praeludium in E Major” by Vincent Luebeck for the prelude and “Offertory on ‘Nettleton’” by Ivan Frazier for the offertory. Hymns will revolve around the theme of joy.
Announcements
Anton away. Anton and Henza have gone to Florida and will be gone through the 23rd. Anton will be back in the office next Thursday the 24th. Please contact Rev. Trudy Bradley for any emergencies. Contact the church office at 503.228.7219, by email trudy@uccportland.org, or her cell # 971.235.1105.
Summer music. During the summer, our section leaders and a few others will provide the special music during the worship service. Following what is becoming a popular tradition, there will be two volunteer choir Sundays—one in July, one in August—when anyone in the congregation, as well as from our choir, can join forces. Only a very basic music reading skill is required. Each volunteer choir will rehearse at 9:15 a.m. that Sunday morning. More information TBA once the dates have been determined.
Used Furniture—a Great Time to Donate! Don’t throw it out! We can provide a new home for your old furniture. Community Warehouse is a local nonprofit organization that collects and redistributes donated furniture and household goods to low-income individuals and families. Your old furniture can make a big difference to a family without and in need. And the great thing is, Community Warehouse will come to your home and pick up the goods. Call 503.235.8786 for pickup or take it to 3969 NE MLK Blvd, Portland. Make that call now; families are in need of your excess stuff.
Upcoming Events
Pinochle Group this Sunday. The Pinochle Group will meet at Becky Koch’s place at Terwilliger Plaza on May 20, 5:00 p.m. Please bring a potluck dish to share with the group. Please RSVP Becky at 503.299.1113.
New Member Orientation. Next Wednesday, May 30, at 7:00 p.m. will be a New Member class for those interested in becoming members of First Congregational United Church of Christ. This is an informal time for potential members to get to know the ministries of the church and talk with the pastor, including having the opportunity to ask questions. New Member Sunday will be June 10. If you would like to attend this orientation conversation, please inform the Church office at 503.228.7219 or email Rev. Trudy Bradley at Trudy@uccportland.org. Hope to see you there!
Special Volunteer Opportunity. Are you interested in becoming more active in the church? If so, volunteering for Goose Hollow Family Shelter could be a tremendous opportunity for you and we can guarantee you will feel good about your contribution to the community. You will have an opportunity to provide hope to homeless families with children. All it takes is a few hours one Saturday evening a month. It’s easy and very worthwhile. To find out more, leave your name and phone # on the Goose Hollow sign-up sheet on the Fellowship Hall kiosk or email Ron Clevenger at clevenger2508@comcast.net and mention your interest in the Goose Hollow project. You won’t regret it.
Jazz Sunday is next Sunday. Beginning with May 27 and continuing throughout the summer, the Park Avenue Ensemble will present selected music by pianist Bill Evans. Considered by many as the poet of jazz piano, Evans composed and played the haunting “Blue in Green,” on Miles Davis’ legendary album Kind of Blue. Many of his tunes are meditative, with gentleness and the light of the outdoors. His bright “Very Early” will be the prelude on May 27. In the same service, we will introduce a brief but original piece called “Short Stuff,” a frisky little theme to follow the children’s time as they hurry on to Kids’ Church. Nan Wagner will be the vocal soloist with the band.
First Congregational to host Portland Premier. “The Right to Love” is the story of one family’s fight for marriage equality. Showing June 15, at 7:30 p.m., this documentary film, released in February, will have its first screening in Portland right here at First Congregational. The film chronicles the lives of Bryan Leffew, his husband Jay Foxworthy and their two children, of Northern California. Bryan, Jay and their children will be present at the screening. There is no admission charge but a free-will offering will be collected to cover expenses. The screening is sponsored by First Congregational and Common Soul PDX, a new Portland-based nonprofit arts collective exploring the intersection of community, culture, creativity and spirituality.
Creation, Inspiration, Imagination: An All Bach Concert. Trinity Episcopal Cathedral’s award winning organist, Michael Kleinschmidt, performs the masterworks of J.S. Bach on the magnificent Jaeckel pipe organ at First Presbyterian Church, 1200 SW Alder, this Sunday May 20, 2:00 p.m. General admission is $12 and seniors/students are $10. Tickets will be sold at the door (cash and checks only). During this time, you can also see the exhibit at First Presbyterian “FPC: History in Art & Artifacts,” which runs through July 15. There is no admission fee for the exhibit.
For questions regarding any of the activities or to announce an event in This Week, please contact the church office at 503.228.7219 or email Joanna at Joanna@uccportland.org.
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Praise the bridge that carried you over. ~George Colman