September 29, 2013

The Church on the Hill at Worship

 

September 29, 2013 11:00 A.M.

* All who are able, please stand. Please turn off your cell phones. Thank you.

PRELUDE

Prelude and Fugue in a minor   Johann Sebastian Bach
God's Time is the Best      Johann Sebastian Bach

WELCOME
* CELEBRATION OF FRIENDSHIP
* SANCTUS (pew card)  

* CALL TO WORSHIP AND SALUTATION Connie Thorsen

Leader: Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD; praise the name of the LORD.
People: Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time on and forevermore.  From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised.
Leader: The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
People: He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.
Leader: Grace and peace to you from God our Creator, our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Amen

-- Adapted from Psalm 113

* HYMN No. 20   Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

* PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)

O God, you have shown us the way of life through your Son Jesus Christ. We confess of our slowness to learn of him, to follow him and to love others as ourselves.  Have mercy on us Lord and forgive us. We confess the poverty of our worship, our neglect of fellowship and of the means of grace, our hesitating witness for Christ, our evasion of responsibilities in our service, our imperfect stewardship of our gifts.  Have mercy on us Lord and forgive us. Amen. 

* KYRIE (pew card)
* ASSURANCE OF PARDON
* SUMMARY OF THE LAW
     * Gloria Patri(pew card)

ANTHEMThou Wilt Keep Him Samuel Sebastian Wesley

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee.  The darkness is no darkness with Thee, but the night is as clear as the day.  The darkness and the light to Thee, are both alike.  God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.  O let my soul live, and it shall praiseThee, for Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forevermore.

JUNIOR SERMON    

MORNING PRAYER AND LORD’S PRAYER
     Lord’s Prayer (pew card)
     Prayer Response                                            Samuel Sebastian Wesley

Lead me, Lord, lead me in thy righteousness, make thy way plain before my face. For it is thou, Lord, only, that makest me dwell in safety.

* HYMN No. 289   Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling

SCRIPTURE LESSONS

Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 Pew Bible, pg. 619

My joy is gone, grief is upon me, my heart is sick. Hark, the cry of my poor people from far and wide in the land: “Is the Lord not in Zion? Is her King not in her?” (“Why have they provoked me to anger with their images, with their foreign idols?”) “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt, I mourn, and dismay has taken hold of me. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of my poor people not been restored?
O that my head were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears, so that I might weep day and night for the slain of my poor people! 

1 Timothy 2:1-7 Page 963

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all—this was attested at the right time. For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 

The Word of God for the people of God. Let the people of God say - AMEN!

THE SERMON                    Faith and Truth Donna M. Field

WORSHIP OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Offering
Offertory:  Be Not Afraid,  Craig Courtney

Be not afraid: for I have redeemed you.  Be not afraid: I have called youby name.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; when you pass through the floods, they will not sweep o'er you; when you walk through the fire, you will not be consumed; you are mine, you are precious in my sight.
My love for you is everlasting, my love for you shall have no end. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; when you pass through the floods, they will not sweep o'er you; when you walk through the fire, you will not be consumed.  You are mine, you are precious in my sight.

* The Doxology(pew card)  
* Prayer of Dedication

* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (unison) From: Song of Hope

We sing to our Lord a new song; we sing in our world a sure Hope: Our God loves this world, God called it into being, God renews it through Jesus Christ, God governs it by the Spirit. God is the world's true Hope. Come, Lord Jesus:  We are open to your Spirit.  We await your full presence.  Our world finds rest in you alone.

* HYMN No. 495 My Faith Has Found a Resting Place

* BENEDICTION
Response, Tom Fettke

May the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, and inhabit the throne of your being; and whatever you do, and whatever you say, do it all in the name of Jesus, do it all in the name of the Lord.  Giving thanks, unending thanks; giving thanks to God through Christ, the Lord. Giving thanks unmeasured thanks, giving thanks to the Living Word.

POSTLUDE: Voluntary on “Old Hundredth"       Henry Purcell


WE WELCOME DONNA MARIE FIELD to the pulpit.  Donna is a graduate from the New Brunswick Theological Seminary with a Masters in Divinity degree.  She will be leading our worship until a permanent minister is in place.

TODAY’S COFFEE HOUR is hosted by the Congregational Care Committee in honor of the July, August and September birthdays.  All are invited to join us.

OUR APPRECIATION FOR TODAY’S VOLUNTEERS:

Van Drivers: Gary LiBert (AM), Simon Walsh (PM)
Greeters: Linda Diez, Marion Durney
Ushers: Linda Diez, Irma Karle, Irma Schubert, Dorothea Zelnick
Head Usher, Jerry Good
Children and Worship: Kathy Bracken and Sharon Rivilli 

VAN MINISTRY: We offer van service for Sunday worship and grocery shopping every other Tuesday.  If you need a ride to church on Sunday or would like to join them for grocery shopping, speak with Gina Lombardoat (917) 767-2923. 

CHILDCARE during the worship hour 

Children thru age 3 in the Educational Building, 1st floor, in Room 1A.

Children ages 3 thru 2nd grade will share in the service through the Junior Sermon, then go to Room 2E for the Children and Worship Program.

COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – Please pick a date on the Sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in Gessner Hall or see Rhoda Jabbour.

PRAYER REQUESTS:  Ruth Bailey, Letty Delgado, Ed Diercks, Dombrowski Family, Edythe Durney, Alfred Gessner, Lisa Gessner, Robert Keller, Fritz Kunisch, Ann Martin, John Molino, Josephine Rivera, Gloria Scrivano, Janice Serra, Mary Wainwright.