PRELUDE:
Prelude, Fugue and Chaccone, Dieterich Buxtehude
From God I Ne'er Will Turn Me, Dieterich Buxtehude
SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
* PASSING OF THE PEACE
* Gloria Patri (pew card)
* CALL TO WORSHIP, Emerson Chen
Leader: God is our light and our salvation; whom shall we fear?
People: God is our shelter and refuge in the days of trouble, and our hope and joy on the days of celebration.
Leader: Day after day, we seek God’s face and the assurance of God’s holy love:
People: O God, do not turn from us nor hide your face from us. Be our guide and our light instead.
Leader: One thing we ask of God:
People: That we may live in God’s dwelling place all the days of our life, and never cease to behold the beauty of God’s home.
Leader: Beloved of God, enter this worship in thanksgiving, for God is among and within us.
All: Thanks be to God!
* HYMN No. 115: Fairest Lord Jesus
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of all glory, beauty, and grace, we have tried to hide from you- to hide our faces, to hide our sin – yet you have never hidden your love for us. We have tried to search for you – in temples, in clouds, on mountaintops – yet you have already revealed yourself to us in the face of Jesus Christ. Forgive us, and transform us so that our lives may shine with your glory, beauty, and grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
* KYRIE (pew card)
* ASSURANCE OF PARDON
* SUMMARY OF THE LAW
Herein is wisdom.
Glory be to God.
JUNIOR SERMON
ANTHEM: From the Rising of the Sun, F. A. Gore Ouseley
From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same my Name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered up unto my Name: for my Name shall be great among the heathen, thus saith the Lord!
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Psalm 27: 1-4, Pew Bible, page 437
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh— my adversaries and foes— they shall stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.
One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
Mark 8:27 – 9:8, Pew Bible, page 820
Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.
Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
SERMON: Crossroads and Cross Words, Elder Sally Ann Castle
* CONFESSION OF FAITH: The Apostles’ Creed (pew card)
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
Offertory: With a Voice of Singing, Martin Shaw
With a voice of singing declare ye this, and let it be heard, Alleluia. Utter it even unto the ends of the earth. The Lord hath delivered his people, Alleluia. O Be joyful in God, all ye lands, O sing praises to the honor of his name, make his praise to be glorious.
* The Doxology(pew card)
* Prayer of Dedication
SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
* Remembering with Love and Hope (pew card)
Invitation
Communion Prayer
Sanctus (pew card)
Mystery of the Faith (unison)
Christ has Died, Christ is Risen, Christ will come again.
Words of Institution
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Lord’s Prayer (pew card)
Prayer Response, Georg Friedrich Handel
Lord, I trust thee, I adore thee, Ah! thou friend of man, restore me! On thy loving grace relying, For the bread of life I'm sighing. Quench my thirst and let my hunger cease, Fill my heart with joy and endless peace. When the breath of life has left me, May my soul be blessed with thee.
* HYMN No. 721: Shine, Jesus, Shine
* BENEDICTION
Response, Martin Shaw
And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost be among you and go with you forever and ever. Amen.
POSTLUDE: Trumpet Dialogue, Louis Clerambault
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Our worship this morning will be led by Sally Ann Castle, a New Brunswick Theological Seminary student under the care of the Classis of Queens. Sally Ann is an Elder currently serving on the Consistory of the Church on the Hill.
THE COFFEE HOUR is hosted by the Congregational Care Committee to honor everyone with a birthday in January and February. Please join us in this time of fellowship.
SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY – TODAY, the Sunday School is participating in the national “Souper Bowl of Caring” campaign. The cans of soup collected will be given to the Queens Federation of Churches food pantry. Monetary donations will go to the Greenpoint Reformed Church Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen.
OUR APPRECIATION FOR TODAY’S VOLUNTEERS:
Van Drivers: Jean and Gerry Mendler
Greeters: Angela Edward and Eva Munoz
Ushers: Ginny and Hong Chan, Judie and Buck Kellaway, Jeanne and Steve Sarran, Adriene and Bill Toy and Jerry Good
Children and Worship: Monique Jethwani and Sharon Rivilli
Lenten Book and Bible Study
Feb. 17, 23; Mar. 1, 8, 16 , 22 at 7:30 P.M. in the Folensbee Lounge
During the season of Lent, Pastor Blaine will be leading a mid-week book and Bible study. Guided by Henri Nouwen’s book Reaching Out: The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life, the class will explore three practices commonly associated with the season of Lent: solitude, hospitality, and prayer. These practices are intended for us to better connect with ourselves (solitude), one another (hospitality) and with God (prayer).
Please let Pastor Blaine know by February 10, if you would like him to order you a book for the class. The cost of the book is $8. You are also free to purchase the book on your own.
PRAYER REQUESTS: Jorel Andaluz, Grace Attanasio, Carolyn Brunjes, Donald Calfa, Marilyn Cooney, Allegra DeMelo, Dombrowski Family, Edythe Durney, Bob Gessner, Jenny Hampton, Richard Holm, Robert Keller, Karen Krieg, Fritz Kunisch, Ann McCaffrey-Amalfitano, Rev. John H. Meyer, John Molino, Denise Moran, Michael Patras, Keith Pearson, Dorothy Rama, Dorothy Reid, Josephine Rivera, Isabelita Rueda, Matthew Schulman, Peter Schumacher, Carmela Stocchia, Lynne Sullivan, Emily Testut