All posts by Marcia Mccormick

Church News, Music News & Recordings

Upcoming Service Notes, Oct. 1, 2017

World Communion Sunday

On this World Communion Sunday, in solidarity with the World Church, all those who are able are invited to receive the bread and the cup by coming forward. (Deacons will serve those who wish to remain in the pews.)

Rev. Michael will preach part two of “How the Kingdom Comes” focusing on Jesus’ command “… you are the salt of the earth.”(Matthew 5:13) Part one focused on verse 16, being the light that shines, which can be found if you click here.

The choral introit this week is “Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life,” set to Ralph Vaughan Williams’ flowing tune of The Call. Click here for the lovely music video production by Blackfriar Media. Continue reading Upcoming Service Notes, Oct. 1, 2017 →

Children and Youth News, Church News, Photo Albums1

Apple Social 2017

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To Everything There Is a Season

The all-church Apple Social was held the afternoon of September 24th, and the enthusiasm for picking and pressing the apples was undiminished by the unseasonable heat! Hosted by Bob & Kathy Munson, this event has become one eagerly anticipated by all ages. Several gallons of oh-my-good cider was made and distributed to eager workers, along with Kathy’s beautifully packaged homemade apple-shaped cookies.

Opening their beautiful garden-strewn property to us all, it was delightful to see youngsters and not-so-youngsters strolling to the Fairy Garden, to the Peace Garden, darting to and fro in the orchard, watching fish in the pond, and resting on the many benches and seats.

    20170924_15283620170924_14531620170924_143702We were extravagantly welcomed and loved!

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And here are a few more photos from this fun afternoon. Click the arrows below the photos to scroll through the album:[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”17″ gal_title=”Apple Orchard Social 2017″]

Church News, Past Sermons

Sermon, September 24, 2017

“How the Kingdom Comes – Part I”
Rev. Michael Caldwell
Bradford Congregational Church-UCC
Isaiah 49:1-6
Matthew 5:13-16
September 24, 2017

I felt so inspired last time I was here with you on Sept 3 – by our focus together – children and congregation – on the Lord’s Prayer – and how the kingdom comes – that I’m continuing it!

This kingdom of God for which Jesus taught us to pray… how does it come? How does it really come? In practical ways?

Praying the prayer implies acting in specific ways Continue reading Sermon, September 24, 2017 →

Church News, Past Sermons

Sermon, September 17, 2017

“Help for the Helper”
Rev. David Pruitt
Bradford Congregational Church-UCC
Mark 14: 32-42
September 17, 2017

We like to consider Jesus as perfectly resourceful, without our human vulnerabilities, above the strife of life. But within this mornings scripture we read that distress and anguish came over him so that he confided to his disciples, “The sorrow in my heart is so great that it almost crushes me. Stay here and keep watch.” He had brought Peter, James and John with him into the Garden of Gethsemane. He did not go alone, he needed them to watch and pray with him in his hour of extreme need. He did not pretend that God’s presence alone was enough. Christ’s genuine humanity left him vulnerable to grief and sorrow and he felt the need for human companionship and human understanding. Continue reading Sermon, September 17, 2017 →

Church News

Upcoming Service Notes, Sept. 24, 2017

Both this coming Sunday the 24th and World Communion Sunday on Oct. 1st, Rev. Michael Caldwell will be in our pulpit.

Building on inspiration from his last time among us on Sept 3rd and using the Lord’s Prayer as a base,  Rev. Michael will focus on “How the Kingdom Comes” in two sermons Sept 24 and World Communion Sunday Oct 1. We can be very practical about how to live out Jesus’ prayer for God’s kingdom to come on earth as in heaven.

At Rev.  Michael’s request the opening hymn will be O Master Let Me Walk With Thee which in this arrangement of piano/organ duet carries in it the musical sense of walking together in harmony. Set to the tune of Maryton by H. Percy smith, the words of Congregational minister  Washington Gladden were not without controversy when he published his poem “Walking With God” and the stanza dealing with social justice was omitted in hymnals.

Here’s why: Continue reading Upcoming Service Notes, Sept. 24, 2017 →

Church News

Upcoming Service Notes, Sept. 17, 2017

This coming Sunday we welcome back into our pulpit Rev. David Pruitt. David says:  “This weeks text is Mark 14:32-42.  We will focus on the genuine humanity of Christ as revealed to us through his struggles in the garden of Gethsemane.  His need for human support during times of great testing and stress can encourage us to humbly find saving comfort for ourselves during our own times of trial.  Further inspiration will be drawn from the great vulnerability of President Abraham Lincoln during his ordeals.  We will also find “heart help” from the way a young woman was ministered to during her stay in England from an unlikely source.”

John Atwood’s organ prelude this week will be J. S. Bach’s intricate  Prelude and Fugue in E minor, with the left hand and right hand rhythmically speaking to each other, and the pedals adding their weight to the conversation at intervals. Fascinating! Continue reading Upcoming Service Notes, Sept. 17, 2017 →

Church News, Past Sermons

Sermon, September 10, 2017

“Rules for the Church to Live By”
Rev. Jeff Long-Middleton
Bradford Congregational Church-UCC
Matthew 18:18
September 10, 2017

“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Pretty heavy stuff – loosed on earth, loosed in heaven. Do we even believe it? Let’s be honest. Most of the time the church seems a marginalized institution. There was a time when what the religious order proclaimed mattered. Now it is science that claims truth as its purview. And do you know of any church without its problems? I don’t. I have been at this for nearly forty years and served four churches. None of them was without sin. Do you know why?
Because the people were not without sin and although I am loath to admit it, neither was I!

I mention this because it is the first lesson I take from this passage in Matthew 18. Jesus talks about troubles among the faithful because there was trouble among the faithful. You don’t outline how to handle conflict if you never have any. Jesus knew of the need to speak of this  from the very beginning of His ministry. Remember how often the disciples seemed clueless? Continue reading Sermon, September 10, 2017 →

Church News, Music News & Recordings

Upcoming Service Notes, Sept. 10, 2017

This Sunday we welcome the Rev. Jeffrey Long-Middleton to our pulpit. From the Lectionary Gospel reading he will be leading us to think about what Jesus said and how we can apply His words as rules for a church to live by, always keeping in mind His assurance that “where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

The choir returns from its summer break to sing “Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether”  which is listed as this week’s theme hymn in the Lectionary list found in the September Epistle. Composed by Harold Friedell, this is a melodic and lovely reminder that “when humbly gathered in Thy name, two or three are met together, Thou art in the midst of them …”

The hymns we will all sing are familiar and meaningful to this message: The Church’s One Foundation, Love Divine All Loves Excelling (sung to the tune Hyfrydol), and Rise Up Oh (Men) of God (substituting Church for the word Men).

John Atwood’s pieces on the organ will be Pachelbel’s Toccata and Fugue in B flat Major and his Toccata in E minor , as well as Muzète by Dandrieu.

 We hope you can join us!