Who
We Are?
We look forward to giving you a warm welcome at the Mary
Lyon Church. You will find:
- A
caring community that puts people before beliefs.
- People
who believe that spiritual exploration is vital to their
lives.
- People
who value music and make it a central part of their weekly
worship experience.
- A
congregation open to people of all ages, races, and denominational
backgrounds.
- An
informal, traditional, and family-oriented style of worship.
Order
of Worship
Order of Worship for Sunday, March 2, 2008
PRELUDE
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CHORAL INTROIT "Come to the Light"
CALL TO WORSHIP
Pastor: God has given us True Light in Christ
People: Light is God's gift to each, and to all together.
Pastor: Let our light so shine before people
People: that they come fully alive and give God glory.
PROCESSIONAL HYMN "The Whole World Was Lost"
UNISON PRAYER OF INVOCATION
O God who made light and earth, water and air; You who
shaped within our flesh a radiant soul; You who savored all
things made in and through Jesus Christ: surround and invade
us with Your spirit, till we behold Your whole creation and
are made glad by the goodness set within us. then turn
us to receive Your blessing upon our work and Your strength
upon our purposes. Amen
GLORIA PATRI
SCRIPTURE READING 1 Samuel 16:1-3
CHOIR ANTHEM "Let Us Break Bread Together" by Harry R.
Wilson and Walter Ehret
COMMUNITY MOMENT
HYMN "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say"
PASTORAL PRAYER AND LORD'S PRAYER
CHORAL RESPONSE
OFFERTORY "The Lord Is My Shepherd, No Want Shall I Know"
by Thomas Koschat
DOXOLOGY AND PRAYER OF DEDICATION
ORGAN RESPONSE
SCRIPTURE READING John 9:1-41
MESSAGE "The Eyes to See" by Rich Fournier
COMMUNION HYMN "Here I Am. Lord"
COMMUNION
PARTING HYMN "Blest Be the Tie That Binds"
BENEDICTION
CHORAL RESPONSE
POSTLUDE
Special
Services
Church
Newsletter
The Mary Lyon Church publishes a monthly newsletter to communicate
information about upcoming events in the life of the church,
inspirational stories, and news about the greater community.
If you have an article that you would like to have published
in the next edition of our newsletter, please send it by
the third week of month to: newsletter@marylyonchurch.org
Brief
History of the Mary Lyon Church
HISTORICAL SKETCH
The First Congregational Church of Buckland was
organized in October 1785 with eighteen members.
The erection of the church building, which is known to have
contained a balcony and box pews, was completed in 1800.
In 1846 this building was remodeled and enlarged. It was
also raised in order to provide a hall beneath the sanctuary,
in which the town meetings were held for a period of about
forty years. The roof had very little alterations. The massive
trusses of the original building can still be seen in the
attic. Although built at the end of the 18th century, the
construction looks backward in style and has some features
in common with the roof construction of the famous 17th
century “Old Ship Church” in Hingham, Massachusetts.
In 1907 the interior of the sanctuary was equipped with
metal sheathing on the walls and ceilings. The pews, which
are being used today, were installed, replacing a set which
had been in use since the removal of the box pews. Other
changes during the 20th century included the installation
of memorial windows in the sanctuary in 1909 and an electric
organ in 1958.
Mary Lyon, founder of Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley,
Massachusetts, has been the church’s most distinguished
gift to the world. Miss Lyon was baptized and received membership
in 1822. Through the generosity of an admirer, a memorial
tablet was placed on the south wall of the sanctuary, above
the central door. It is altogether fitting that this church
should be known as “The Mary Lyon Church”.
The tribute to Miss Lyon should be accompanied with an equally
grateful tribute to the host of men and women of lesser
fame, living and dead, who have helped to make the church
what it is today.
On January 3, 1961 the church voted to join the United
Church of Christ.
If
you would like to know more about Mary Lyon, please click
on the following link to learn more about this important
local and national figure: www.mtholyoke.edu/marylyon/
