PRELUDE:
Now Thank We All Our God, J. S. Bach
Now Thank We All Our God, G. F. Kaufmann
WELCOME
* CELEBRATION OF FRIENDSHIP
* SANCTUS (pew card)
* CALL TO WORSHIP AND SALUTATION (Psalm 46), Mary Bow
Leader: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
People: Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
Leader: Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
People: There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
Leader: God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns.
People: The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Leader: Grace and peace to you from God our Creator, our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
* HYMN No. 376 We Gather Together
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)
Holy and merciful God, in your presence we confess our sins. You alone know how often we have wandered from your ways, wasted your gifts, and forgotten your love. Have mercy on us, O Lord. Forgive us, and help us to live in your light and to walk in your ways. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen
* KYRIE (pew card)
* ASSURANCE OF PARDON
* SUMMARY OF THE LAW
* Gloria Patri (pew card)
ANTHEM: Cantique de Jean Racine, Jean Fauré
O Lord of Hosts, how lovely are Thy dwellings. My soul longs for Thy courts, O Lord. My heart and flesh cry out. O blest are they whose hope is forever in Thee; who praise Thy name, who sing their songs within Thy holy house. O Lord, incline Thine ear; look down, my spirit longs for Thee. A Sun and Shield is the Lord of Hosts. O Lord of Hosts, how lovely are Thy dwellings. My soul longs for the courts of the Lord. In Thee I trust; look down and hear my prayer.
JUNIOR SERMON
ANTHEM: Requiem, Eliza Gilkyson
The Chamber Choir
Eliza Gilkyson’s “Requiem” was written in 2003 as a cry of grief for the victims of the Asian Tsunami. We offer it today as an ongoing prayer for all those whose lives have been shattered by nature's power.
Blessed Jesus, full of grace, awaken all our homes are gone, our loved ones taken, taken by the sea; blessed Jesus, calm our fears, have mercy - drowning in a sea of tears, have mercy; hear our mournful plea. Our world has been shaken, we wander, our homelands forsaken. In the dark night of the soul bring some comfort to us all, O blessed Jesus come and carry us in your embrace that our sorrows may be faced. Jesus, fill the glass to overflowing. Illuminate the path where we are going. Have mercy on us all. In funeral fires burning each flame to your mystery returning. In the dark night of the soul your shattered dreamers, make them whole, O blessed Jesus help us to behold your gentle face - lead us to a higher place. In the dark night of the soul our broken hearts you can make whole, O blessed Jesus come and carry us in your embrace, let us see your gentle face, Jesus.
MORNING PRAYER AND LORD’S PRAYER
Lord’s Prayer (pew card)
Prayer response, Louis Lewandowski
How good it is to thank the Lord, to praise Thy name, O Thou Most High; to tell Thy kindness through the day, Thy faithfulness when night draws nigh.
With joyous psalms and with the harp, will I Thy marvels gladly sing; Thy works have made my heart rejoice, I triumph in Thy work, my King!
*HYMN No. 379: For the Fruit of All Creation
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Jeremiah 23: 1-6, Pew Bible, page 633
Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord. The days are surely coming, says theLord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.”
Luke 23: 33-43, Pew Bible, page 859
When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
The Word of God for the people of God. Let the people of God say - AMEN!
THE SERMON: The King’s Cross, Rev. Douglas Estella
WORSHIP OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Offering
Offertory: With Heart and Hands, John Rutter
For all the blessings you have granted us, Lord, give us thankful hearts, we pray: for life and health and happiness, and for the gift of each new day; for all our families and loved ones, the friends we meet along our way, we thank you, Lord, they are your gifts: Lord, we praise you, Lord we bless you, in your service let us all your love repay. Look all around you: you'll see a miracle or two; every valley, hill and mountain is calling to you. For all the wonders of creation, a world whose marvels we behold: where winter turns to spring again; the changing scenes of life unfold, but there is One who never changes: through all eternity the same: be with us, Lord, for evermore: Alleluia, Lord, we praise your Holy Name.
Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices, who wondrous things hath done, in whom his world rejoices; who from our mother's arms hath blessed us on our way with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today. Amen.
* The Doxology (pew card)
* Prayer of Dedication
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
* Apostles’ Creed (pew card)
* HYMN No. 375: Sing to the Lord of Harvest
* BENEDICTION
Response: Alleluia, Amen! Charles Villers-Stanford
POSTLUDE: Now Thank We All Our God, Sigfrid Karg-Elert
ANNOUNCEMENTS
WE WELCOME back the Rev. Douglas Estella to the pulpit. Rev. Estella served as pastor of the Sunnyside Reformed Church from 2000 to 2006. Currently he is a teacher at the Academy of Urban Planning in Brooklyn. Doug and his wife, Janet, live in Sunnyside with their daughter, Renee.
OUR APPRECIATION FOR TODAY’S VOLUNTEERS:
Van Drivers: Debra Rossi (AM) and Buck Kellaway (PM)
Coffee Hour Host: Rhoda Jabbour
Greeters: Linda Diez and Marion Durney
Ushers: Virginia Andrews, Irma Karle, Irma Schubert, Dorothea Zelnick and Head Usher, Jerry Good
Children and Worship: Sharon Rivilli and Wai Chu
Childcare: Judie Kellaway
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.