We will celebrate our congregation’s support of Help Kids India this Sunday.  You can learn about the organization at http://www.helpkidsindia.org/.  We will be blessed to have Catherine and Tom Kidder to talk about their first hand observation of the work Help Kids India helps make possible.  (Catherine is a Board Member as is Lora Chatfield, formerly a leader of our Board of Mission and Social Action and a member of our congregation.) It is a deeply moving story of life-changing work done for impoverished and at risk children and mothers and families.  Catherine will deliver a Mission Moment during the service and she and Tom will narrate a slide show in the vestry afterward.

We will read responsively from Psalm 31 that could have been written by one of the people we are helping.  It says, “Take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for you are my refuge.  Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O faithful God. Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.”  We will also hear with new ears Jesus’ beautiful reassurance from John 14:1-14 that begins: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”  We will consider all this as a form of the “extravagant hospitality” that the United Church of Christ and our Open and Affirming covenant advocate.

We will sing three hymns beloved to many of our mothers and mothers’ mothers, “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy,” and “I Would Be True” and “Christian, Rise and Act Thy Creed.”  The choir will sing versions of both Psalm 121 and Psalm 23 (Brother James’ Air).  Organist John Atwood will play pieces that remind him of his mother and mothering (and he is bringing in four of his spectacular orchids as well) by J.S. Bach, E. Satie and G.F. Handel–quite the lineup!

Here are piano versions of the Satie and Bach pieces for your contemplation and pleasure.