Sunday Bulletin

Prelude           “Andantino”                 Cesar Franck

Introit             “Holy, Holy, Holy”                

Welcome & Announcements

Call to Worship                                   Lay Leader: Dave Myers
Let your light shine!
Let your hearts be glad!
God is faithful to us, and God rules in love.
Then let us worship God.

Hymn           “Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above”     #6

Unison Prayer
Lord, your light calls us forth to follow and serve you.
Your light still shines for all to see in this world.
May we continue to reflect your light in our lives,
in our service, in our words, and in our deeds. Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Children’s Message

Reading Psalm 112
Praise the Lord! Happy are those who fear the Lord, who greatly
delight in his commandments.

Their descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the
upright will be blessed.

Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness
endures forever.

They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; they are gracious,
merciful, and righteous.

It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their
affairs with justice.

For the righteous will never be moved; they will be remembered
forever.

They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the
Lord.

Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid; in the end they will
look in triumph on their foes.

They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor; their
righteousness endures forever; their horn is exalted in honor.

The wicked see it and are angry; they gnash their teeth and melt
away; the desire of the wicked comes to nothing.

The Gloria Patri

Anthem          “O Thou, From Whom All Blessings Come”        Tchaikovsky

Stewardship Moment                                                 Nikki Mustin

Prayers of the People

Hymn           “We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations”     #484

Reading Matthew 5:13-20

Message “Salt and Light”                                  Rev. Dan Haugh

Offering                                 
Offertory         “Praised Be Thou, Jesus Christ” J.S. Bach
Doxology*                                                                             #46
Offertory Prayer*

Hymn           “Called as Partners in Christ’s Service”     #453

Benediction      

Closing           “Fourfold Amen”

Postlude         “Duo en Gigue”                                             Chaumont

Calendar of Events

Monday, 2/9           Noon AA meeting in Fellowship Hall
Tuesday, 2/10          7:30 AA meeting in Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, 2/11    Noon AA meeting in Fellowship Hall
                                 5:30 Choir Rehearsal in Organ Loft
Thursday, 2/12 3:15 Cherub Choir Rehearsal in Sanctuary
4:00 Youth Choir Rehearsal in Sanctuary
Saturday, 2/14 9:00 Men’s Breakfast
5:00 Movie Night at Stowe Cinema

Happy Birthday this week to:
Parker Hailey today 2/8
Wynter Bennett on 2/9
Emmett Knittle on 2/10
Olivia Hulse on 2/11
Hayley Armbruster on 2/13
Leslie Kartluke on 2/14

Announcements

The ushers today are Ben Brayton and Jena Anthony.  Thank you for helping today.

Stewardship Update

As of February 3, 2026 we have received pledges for a total of $253,439.  Our goal is $325,000, and we are now at 78% of our goal.  Sincere thanks to all of you who have already pledged. There are pledge cards on the table in the Narthex. Sincere thanks, Nancy Money, Stewardship Chair

Food Drive for Johnson Food Shelf in memory of Jena Tatro through Jena’s Promise.  This is the 7th year anniversary of her passing.  She wanted to help people.  See the list of the Food Self wishes on the box.

Save the Date: SSC Men's Group Valentine's Day Pancake Breakfast- February 14th 9:30 to 11: 30 am 

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our first Men's Group Breakfast in November- it was a great success, and we're doing it again!

Please save the date and join us on Saturday, February 14th (Valentine's Day) for a morning of great food, fellowship, and conversation at our SCC member and guest speaker, Christian Cohaugh, PhD., who was recently appointed Chief Executive Officer of Alloy Genetic Medicines. Looking forward to learning more about Christian's background and hearing his perspective on the future of genetic medicines. 
We hope you'd save the date and join us for a meaningful and engaging morning together. 
Suggested donation of $20
Please RSVP to  mensgroup@stowecommunitychurch.org

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner- Feb 17th, 5-7 pm
All are invited to a fun and festive Shrove Tuesday Pancake dinner, hosted by our C.E. Committee.
The children and youth will be making pancakes and serving our congregation as we prepare for Lent.
A suggested donation of $5 will be gladly received to help offset the expenses and support our CE programs.
Please RSVP to info@stowechurch.org

Ash Wednesday Service on February 18, 2026 at 7:00 pm.  This is a lovely service with imposition of ashes and communion to begin our journey of lent. 

New ministry! A small group, which we're calling Eating Well, has formed to prepare and freeze nutritious, homemade meals to be distributed to our friends and congregants who would benefit from the sustenance.  It is our hope that our Care Team and others would be able to not only distribute these meals, but also provide input to our Eating Well team on what types of meals might be most appreciated in the future.  Or, we would welcome help in cooking the meals! If you can share information or need with us, or would like to help cook, please contact Nikki Mustin at nikkicm23@gmail.com or Nancy Small at vp@stowecommunitychurch.org.  

Musical Notes by Karen Miller

    Prelude:  Cesar Franck's "Andantino" is perhaps Franck's earliest published organ work.  It sports both a light side and a serious side with an accompaniment similar to the earlier French organ composer Lefebure-Wely.  Franck (1822-1890) is credited with steering French organ music away from the 1860s light style toward a more serious, intense, and devout style that some critics initially labeled as "severe".  Yet his influence extended through many generations of Parisian organists.  Franck was also a great improviser in church and in recital.  So many of his wonderful works were probable never written down.

    Anthem:  The choral piece "O Thou from whom all blessings come" has a text written by G. Frederick Wright and music by Piotr Ilvitch Tchaikovsky (1840-1893).  Tchaikovsky's music is popular due to its tuneful nature and emotional fervor.  The man himself suffered from repressed homosexuality and a tendency toward extreme mood fluctuations.  This was evident in his attitudes to visits abroad.  Leaving Russia he was ill from homesickness.  Once back he was restless planning to be off again.  The Wright text reads:
    O Thou, from whom all blessings come, thanks to Thee o'erflow,
    Gracious God! We cry unto Thee.  Forgive our sins, O Lord our            
    God. Hear us Lord!  Hear our cry!  Have mercy on us, O Lord.
    We cry unto Thee.  Hear us, Lord!  Hear us, Lord!

    Offertory:  The chorale tune "Gelobet Seist du, Jesu Christ" (Praised Be thou, Jesus Christ) probably dates to before the Reformation and was first published in 1524.  J. S. Bach created a short chorale prelude based on this tune where the melody is assigned to a solo stop with flute accompaniment on a contrasting manual.

    Postlude: Little is known about Lambert Chaumont (? - 1712).  He belonged to the order of the Carmes Chausses and probably spent most of his life in Huy, a little town on the Maas, halfway between Namur and Liege.  He was an occasional music teacher and likely self-taught.  Considering his location his musical style could have been Spanish or Italian, but it is decidedly French, and the organ he played was of French design.  He left an organ book Pieces d'orgue sur les 8 Tons, and his "Duo en gigue" is from this collection.  The piece showcases two voices in a gay, dance-like style.