2004/09/10(Fri) 04:01<>Joe<><>the OSC in Boston<>Fifteenth Sunday
After Pentecost

September 12, 2004 11:00 a.m.

THE GATHERING (As we prepare for worship, we invite quiet contemplation of the Living God.)

A PRAYER ON ENTERING THE SANCTUARY
Give us, gracious God, a steadfast heart which no unworthy affection may drag downwards; give us an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; give us an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside.  Bestow upon us also, O Lord our God, understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. - St. Thomas Aquinas

PRELUDE
Prelude and Fugue, Op. 37/4 Adolph Hesse
Pastorale, Op. 19 César Franck

CHORAL INTROIT The Lord Is My Shepherd Graham

* HYMN 314 Community of Christ Leoni

* THE CALL TO WORSHIP Katherine Layzer
Leader: As a shepherd seeks a lost sheep, so God seeks and saves the lost. People: Like a woman who searches for a lost coin until it is found, so God rejoices over one person restored to wholeness.  Leader: As a father receives a returning wayward daughter, as a mother greets a long lost son, so God welcomes us home and lets the past be the past.
People: Therefore let us praise God with thanksgiving that we are received.  Let us receive and welcome and rejoice over one another.  Leader: In the spirit of Jesus let us greet one another:  the peace of Christ be with you.  People: And also with you.

* A SIGN OF OUR UNITY AND RECONCILIATION
[Please remain standing and greet one another in Christ's name.]

THE UNISON PRAYER OF PRAISE (Congregation seated) Tadd Allman-Morton Parent God, we praise you for all the ways you have enriched our lives and our life together in this community of faith. We thank you for this Homecoming Sunday; to worship in this place of beauty, to see people who are so dear to us, and to meet new people. We thank you also for the invitation to come home and for the new birth that Christ offers us through your love.  Through the power of your Spirit, make us alive to love and serve you in our church and in the world; make us your true children in Jesus Christ, who
taught us to pray together:

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, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE from For the Beauty of the Earth Dix
For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child, Friends on earth, and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild, God of all, to you we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.

WORDS OF WELCOME Jennifer Mills-Knutsen
[Please pass along the Fellowship pad in your pew so you may greet your neighbor by name.]

DEDICATION OF CHURCH SCHOOL TEACHERS Patricia Hazeltine

CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE
We recognize the teachers of our Church School for their vital roles as messengers of Christ's good news to the younger generation. We pledge our prayerful support and encouragement to all our Christian educators as they share the stories of our faith and bear examples of that faith in their lives. We ask God's blessings on their work as they share the faith that makes us one in Jesus Christ.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION
[Children may be excused for Church School.]

THE GIFT OF THE WORD

THE FIRST GOSPEL READING Luke 15:11-24 John Briggs
(See page six of this bulletin.)

ANTHEM Ave verum Corpus, K. 618 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Jesus, Savior, we behold thee, Mary's Son in bread and wine revealed;  Born and suffered, for us offered, Thy cross all our wounds hath healed.  From thy body, pierced and broken, came forth water and precious blood:  Be to us by thy example in death's hour of trial our food.
- 14th C. Communion Hymn

THE SECOND GOSPEL READING Luke 15:25-32
(See page six of this bulletin.)

* HYMN 383 Come, Let us Join with Faithful Souls Azmon

SERMON Finding Your Way Home Carl F. Schultz, Jr.
Then Jesus said, "There was a man who had two sons."
- Luke 15:11

* HYMN 408 All My Hope on God Is Founded Michael

THE OFFERING OF OURSELVES, OUR PRAYERS, OUR GIFTS

* CALL TO PRAYER
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift up our hearts to God.
Leader: Let us pray. (congregation seated)

PASTORAL PRAYER

CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE 769 George Whelpton
Hear our prayer O God; Hear our prayer O God;
Incline your ear to us and grant us your peace.

THE MORNING OFFERING [We invite visitors and members to fill out response cards and submit them with the offering.]

OFFERTORY ANTHEM Ave Maria Franz Biebl
The Angel of the Lord announced to Mary And she conceived by the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary, full of grace, God is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, pray for us sinners now and in the hour of our death. Behold the handmaiden of the Lord.  Do to me according to your word. Ave Maria. And the Word was made flesh And dwelt among us. Ave Maria. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God That we may be made worthy of the promise of Christ. Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation in Christ Thy Son
was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ our Lord, Amen.

* OFFERTORY AFFIRMATION Lasst uns erfreuen
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Christ the Word in flesh born low; Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise Holy Spirit evermore; One God, Triune, whom we adore.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Amen!

* PRAYER OF DEDICATION Katherine Layzer

* HYMN 387 O Christ, the Great Foundation Aurelia

* BIDDING TO MISSION (in unison)
Before us it is blessed, behind us it is blessed, below us it is blessed, above us it is blessed, around us it is blessed as we set out with Christ.
Our speech is blessed as we set out for God. With beauty before us, with beauty behind us, with beauty below us, with beauty above us, with beauty around us, we set out for a holy place indeed. Amen. (Traditional Navaho Prayer)

* BENEDICTION Carl F. Schultz, Jr.

POSTLUDE Finale from Symphony, Op. 14, No. 1 Louie Vierne


Please join docent Mary Hunter at the front of the sanctuary
following the Postlude for a tour of the sanctuary.

WELCOME TO DOSHISHA GLEE CLUB
Once again, Old South Church welcomes the Doshisha Glee Club, under the baton of Mr. Arimasa Iwata, to our sanctuary. The Glee Club dates back to the founding of Doshisha University in 1875 and has represented the University and Japan on several tours of Europe, the United States, and China. Their last visit to Old South Church was three years ago in September 2001.

SCRIPTURE READINGS
Luke 15:11-24
(Page 68, Pew Bible, New Testament)
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.

Luke 15:25-32
(See page 68 Pew Bible, New Testament)
"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.'"

TODAY AT OLD SOUTH
Welcome to the Old South Church in Boston! We are glad you are here to worship with us today. This is Homecoming Sunday for the people of this congregation. Today in many ways marks the beginning of a new church year of ministry and mission, witness and service. We are excited that you are here to share this journey with us. It is our prayer that our worship this morning will be a source of inspiration and strength for each of us. If you are new to Old South or visiting, we look forward to meeting you. Thank you for worshiping with us this morning.

Please join us in the portico following worship for a "Sundae Social" time of fellowship and refreshments sponsored by the Parish Fellowship Committee.

The lay reader in today's service is John Briggs, a member of the Board of Ministers and Deacons.

The ushers are Dana and Bob Holland, Barbara Neale, and Kevin Pitcock; the greeters are George Delianides and Jennifer Lowe. The Welcome Table host is Elizabeth Rice-Smith. The Head Usher is Davis Yetman.

The flowers are given in thanksgiving for the Old South Church in Boston and the Mount Vernon Church in Boston, and in memory of the 9/11 tragedy, Alpheus Hardy, and Takako Shimo, by Doshisha University, Doshisha Glee Club, and Mochinobu Shimo.

Fridays on the Square Ushers Needed! For the second year Old South and Trinity Church are sponsoring these half-hour recitals in the sanctuary of Old South Church. The concerts start at 12:15 pm, an began this past Friday.  Ushers are needed for these events, and a sign-up sheet will be available at Fellowship Hour for anyone who wishes to be a part of this wonderful musical program.

Please Wear Your Name Badges: Everyone is encouraged to wear their name badges during coffee hour. This makes introductions and conversations easier and is welcoming to visitors. If you don't have a nametag or need a replacement, just tell the "Badge Board person" and we'll have one ready for you next Sunday.

Tapes of today's service may be obtained by calling Helen McCrady at 617/425-5152.
If you are carrying a phone or beeper with you into the service, please be sure to turn the volume off so our time of worship will not be disrupted.

NOTES ON TODAY'S MUSIC
Adolph Friedrich Hesse (1809-1963) was the son of an organ builder in Breslau, Silesia. He studied music in Leipzig, Hamburg, and Berlin and was organist at St. Bernhardin's in Breslau from 1831 until his death. He traveled throughout Europe as a concert organist, and his own music was quite popular during his lifetime. Pastorale, Op. 19, is number four of Six Pieces for Organ composed in 1862 by César Franck (1822-1890). Franck was
the organist of St. Clothilde in Paris. His compositions are much beloved, especially the great Symphony in D Minor.

Ave verum Corpus by W. A. Mozart (1756-1791) is a special jewel in the sacred repertory. It was written in the summer of 1791 at the spa at Baden during his wife Constanza's pregnancy with their sixth child. It was composed for the local schoolteacher and choirmaster, Anton Stoll, a friend and admirer of Mozart's. Stoll had in his possession autograph manuscripts of several of the composer's works at his death.

Franz Biebl (1906-2001) had a large influence on twentieth-century choral music in Germany. While teaching music at a high school in Salzburg,  Austria, he was drafted in the German army in 1943 and was captured by the Americans in 1944. As a prisoner of war at Fort Custer in Michigan, he was allowed to arrange a choir and perform concerts at the camp. After the war, he returned to Austria and Germany, where he worked in church music and choir schools until his appointment as head of choral programming for the Bavarian Radio Broadcasting Company. His setting of Ave Maria, penned in 1964 for a firemen's choir in Fürstenfeldbruck and recorded by Chanticleer, is his best known work.
Louie Vierne (1870-1937) was the organist of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. He composed six organ symphonies, which are rather like keyboard suites or sets of movements, always ending with a stirring finale.

FRIDAYS ON THE SQUARE
Organ Recital
Friday, September 17, at 12:15 pm
Gregory Peterson, Old South Church

CHURCH STAFF AND OFFICERS
Carl F. Schultz, Jr., Interim Senior Minister - 617/536-1970
James W. Crawford, Minister Emeritus
Jennifer Mills-Knutsen, Assistant Minister - 617/425-5153
Katherine Layzer, Interim Assistant Minister - 617/425-5151
Tadd Allman-Morton, Ministerial Intern - 617/425-5148
Elisa G. Blanchard, Operations Manager - 617/425-5145
Helen McCrady, Church Administrator - 617/425-5152
Gregory M. Peterson, Organist and Director of Music
Jeanne Lucas, Music Assistant - 617/425-5146
Patricia Hazeltine, Church School Director - 617/425-5141
Rolanda Ward, Youth Worker
Carolyn Davis, Director, Pre-School
Beth Cameron, Accountant - 617/425-5147
David Clark, Senior Sexton - 617/425-5142
Rhoda Harding, Ellie Marshall, Rubia Reyes, Receptionists
Ozo Nwodo, Elias Perez, Sextons

Russell Gregg, Moderator
Lois Corman, Clerk
James Monsma, Treasurer
Dwight Crane, Chair, Board of Trustees
Betty Smith, Senior Deacon
Susan T. Campbell, Historian
Vicki A. Newman, Pledge Secretary

A NOTE ON THE INCLUSIVE DIMENSIONS OF GOD'S GRACE
The Old South Church in Boston, in the name of its host, Jesus Christ, and in the spirit of Christ's invitation carved into the stone of this church's portico, "Behold I Set Before You an Open Door," welcomes all who seek to know God and invites everyone to join in our common life and mission through participation and leadership in this congregation. Following the one who we believe is Sovereign and Savior, we affirm each individual is a child of God, and recognize that we are called to be like one reconciled body with many members, seeking with others of every race, ethnicity, creed, class, age, gender, physical or mental ability, and sexual identity to journey together toward the promised realm of God. On the threshold of Christ's open door, we rely upon the healing, unconditional nature of God's love and grace to be our help and guide as we all move forward with the work of this church in the world.


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<><>207.172.129.200<><>800000<>bishop1.gif<> 203<><>2004/09/10(Fri) 03:02<>Joe

<><>Joseph Hardy Neesima<>

Alphus Hardy, a member of the Old South Church in Boston, was one of contributors for the OSC move from the Old South Meeting House to Copley Square 130 years ago.
He had his trading business office on State Street and his resided at 3-- 4 Joy Street; in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of the original Mount Vernon Church, the State House and the Congregational House. Hardy managed the Seaman's House in Boston and served as the first Treasurer of the American Congregational Association. He was the President of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mission, and Trustee of Phillips Academy, Amherst College and Andover Seminary.

Shimeta Neesima was born in Edo (Tokyo) in 1843. Neesima was 10 years old when Comm. Perry's sailed his ships to Japan. Neesima had found his calling; he would contribute to opening Japan to Western ways. He spent his teenage years studying the West including the Bible. He looked for his chance to go America. When he was 20, he sneaked onto an American cargo ship from the port of Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan. It took courage to break a Japanese law that prohibited Japanese citizens to go abroad. Neesima managed to get a job aboard Hardy's ship, the Wild Rover. For ten months the Wild Rover sailed from Shanghais, China. Captain Taylor called Neesima "Joe". Joe Neesima arrived in Boston in July 1865. Here he heard President Lincoln's assassination. He stayed at the Seaman's House for the first three months and asked Alphus Hardy to grant him opportunities to study in America. Hardy liked Neesima's fortitude and bestowed "Hardy" for Neesima's middle name. Now, he was called " Joseph Hardy Neesima". Alphas Hardy sent Joe to Phillips Academy. Here, Neesima was baptized on December 31st, 1865. Hardy continued to sponsor Neesima in his studies at Amherst College and Andover Seminary. After finishing his education in these schools, Neesima was ordained at the Mount Vernon Church in September 1874. In the same fall, at the annual conference of the American Board at Grace Church, Rutland, VT, Neesima raised five thousand dollars in pledges. This was in response to his appeal to the audience to start a Christian college in Japan. This college would educate leaders to build a New Japan in the manner of New England Way. He founded Doshisha in Kyoto, Japan in November, 1875, the same year the Old South Church's dedicated its building in Copley Square. Now, the founder of Doshisha is called " Niijima Jyo".

Hachiro Yuasa, the tenth President of Doshisha University clashed with the militaristic policy of Japanese government. During Word War II he found shelter in the Mount Vernon Church in Boston. Yuasa became the first President of the International Christian University in Tokyo after the war. He further contributed to establish the Sister City relationship between Boston and Kyoto.

In September 1994, the Neesima Memorial Committee had the Doshisha Glee Club Concert with their OBs, friends and Phillips Academy Student Chamber Orchestra at Boston Symphony Hall by sponsorship of Andover Newton Theological School, Phillips Academy, Amherst College and the Old South Church. Every three-year since then, the Doshisha Glee Club students visit these historic sites in Boston and New England including the Grace Church in Rutland, VT and Alphus Hardy's grave in Mount Auburn Cemetery. They stay at the Walker Center in Newton in thanks to missionaries of the American Board. At the Walker Center these students have a memorial of the 9/11 tragedy with some young and senior members of the OSC and international residents of the Walker House.

Meanwhile, Amherst College Glee Club, Harvard University Glee Club and many other Americans visit Doshisha. By invitation of the Neesima Memorial Committee, Mr. William Thomas, Music Teacher and Conductor of Phillips Academy, with his chorus have visited Tokyo and performed Messiah concerts with Doshisha Glee OB and friends.

Doshisha University opened its Law School and its Business School this past April 2004. The Hardy Hall was also dedicated in the memory of Alphus Hardy this past spring. The Doshisha Glee Club will celebrate its 100th anniversary at this hall in this October.