PRELUDE:
Prelude and Fugue in a minor, J.S. Bach
If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee, J.S. Bach
SALUTATION AND WELCOME
* CELEBRATION OF FRIENDSHIP
* SANCTUS (pew card)
* CALL TO WORSHIP, Cathy Doyle
Leader: The God who raised Jesus from the dead
People: Calls us to worship this morning.
Leader: The Jesus who justifies us and gives us grace
People: Greets us and meets us in worship.
Leader: The Spirit who awakens faith and intercedes for us
People: Opens us to receive God’s power and peace.
Leader: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit invite us to worship.
People: Let us offer ourselves as living sacrifices.
* HYMN No. 108: Come, Christians, Join to Sing
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)
Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart and mind and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us amend what we are, and direct what we shall be, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.
* KYRIE (pew card)
* ASSURANCE OF PARDON
* SUMMARY OF THE LAW
* Gloria Patri (pew card)
ANTHEM: Prayer for My Parents, Robert C. Bennett
The Junior Choir
JUNIOR SERMON
ANTHEM: The Lord is My Shepherd (Psalm 23), Abraham Kaplan
The Chancel Choir; Elizabeth Mahowald, soprano
MORNING PRAYER AND LORD’S PRAYER
Lord’s Prayer (pew card)
Prayer Response, William Billings
Our Father who in heaven art, all hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done throughout this earthly frame.
* HYMN No. 473: And Can It Be That I Should Gain?
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Proverbs 8:22-36, Pew Bible, page 515
The Lord created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth—when he had not yet made earth and fields, or the world’s first bits of soil. When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race. “And now, my children, listen to me: happy are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Happy is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord; but those who miss me injure themselves; all who hate me love death.”
Romans 5:1-11, Pew Bible, page 917
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
THE SERMON: A Fountain of Love, Rev. Blaine Crawford
WORSHIP OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Offering
Offertory: My Eternal King, Jane Marshall
My God, I love Thee; not because I hope for heaven thereby, Nor yet because who love Thee not must die eternally. Thou, O my Jesus, Thou didst me Upon the cross embrace; For me didst bear the nails, the nails and spear, And manifold disgrace.
Why, then why, O blessed Jesus Christ, Should I not love thee well? Not for the hope of winning heaven, Or of escaping hell. Not with the hope of gaining aught, Not seeking a reward; But as Thyself hast loved me, O everlasting Lord!
E'en so I love Thee, and will love, And in Thy praise will sing; Solely because Thou art my God, And my Eternal King.
* The Doxology (pew card)
* Prayer of Dedication
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: The Belhar Confession, Section 3
We believe that God’s life-giving Word and Spirit has conquered the powers of sin and death, and therefore also of irreconciliation and hatred, bitterness and enmity, that God’s life-giving Word and Spirit will enable the church to live in a new obedience which can open new possibilities of life for society and the world.
* HYMN No. 584: Have Thine Own Way, Lord
* BENEDICTION
Response, Peter C. Lutkin
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord lift his countenance upon you, and give you peace. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. Amen.
POSTLUDE: Chaccone, Louis Couperin
ANNOUNCEMENTS
THE FLOWERS are given by Debra Rossi and Krystal Andaluz in loving memory of Nana and Kyle.
The carnations are given by Judie and Buck Kellaway in loving memory of her mother, Grace Kales and will be distributed to all ladies after today’s service.
SPECIAL OFFERING FOR NEPAL: The death toll from the recent 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Nepal continues to rise. More than 5,500 people are confirmed dead, and an estimated 8 million have been impacted by the quake. The Reformed Church in America's Global Mission team is responding with its partner in international disaster response, World Vision, which has national offices in Nepal. On Sundays, May 24 and May 31, Church on the Hill will receive a special offering to help with the relief efforts. Please pray for the injured, the grieving, the displaced, and the medical and aid workers.
OUR APPRECIATION FOR TODAY’S VOLUNTEERS:
Van Drivers: Jorge Alamilla
Coffee Hour Hosts: Judie and Buck Kellaway
Greeters: Barbara Andrade, Eva Munoz
Ushers: Ginny and Dana Chan, Jeanne Sarran and Stephanie Sarran Parker
Children and Worship: Christina Schaub
WCC LUNCHEON & PROGRAM, Saturday, May 16 at 1 pm
The speaker will by Lesley Mazzotta, Director of Spiritual Life Formation at Christ Episcopal Church & Community Reformed Church in Manhasset.
CONGREGATIONAL LUNCHEON & MEETING, next Sunday, May 17, 12 pm
Election of Elders and Deacons. Annual reports. All are invited.
Elder nominees: Gerry Mendler, Sarah White
Deacon nominees: Krystal Andaluz, Gina Lombardo, Pam Lopez, Eileen Mahon, Joan Wagner
VAN MINISTRY: Volunteers are desperately needed to assist with driving members to worship services. If you can help, speak with Gerry Mendler after church or call (917) 362-6284 (day) or (718) 464-3464 (evening).
Also, if you need a ride to church on Sunday, speak with Gerry Mendler.
CHILDREN AND WORSHIP PROGRAM: Children ages 3 thru 7 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 speak with Rhoda Jabbour.
PRAYER REQUESTS: Jorel Andaluz, Grace Attanasio, Marilyn Cooney, Allegra DeMelo, Ed Diercks, Dombrowski Family, Edythe Durney, Elaine Good, Jenny Hampton, Richard Holm, Robert Keller, Karen Krieg, Fritz Kunisch, Ann McCaffrey-Amalfitano, Rev. John H. Meyer, John Molino, Michael Patras, Keith Pearson, Josephine Rivera, Matthew Schulman, Peter Schumacher, Janice Serra, Emily Testut