PRELUDE:
Praise the Lord!, Sigfrid Karg-Elert
Brother James' Air (The Lord's My Shepherd), M. Searle Wright
WELCOME
* CELEBRATION OF FRIENDSHIP
* Gloria Patri (pew card)
* CALL TO WORSHIP AND SALUTATION: Micah 6:6-8 (altered) Dorien Day
Leader: With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high?
People: Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
Leader: Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil?Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
ALL: He has told us what is good; and what does the LORD require of us but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God?
Leader: Grace and peace to you from God our Father, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
ALL: Amen.
* HYMN No. 41: Stand Up and Bless the Lord
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)
God of mercy, you sent Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost. We confess that we have strayed from your truth and from your holy will. We have failed in love, forgotten to be just, and have turned away from your wisdom. Forgive us our sin and restore us to your ways, for the sake of Your Son, our only Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen
* KYRIE (pew card)
* ASSURANCE OF PARDON
* SUMMARY OF THE LAW
JUNIOR SERMON
ANTHEM: The Lord is My Shepherd (Psalm 23), Abraham Kaplan
The Chancel Choir; Elizabeth Mahowald, soprano
SCRIPTURE READINGS
1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Pew Bible, page 926
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Matthew 5:1-12, Pew Bible, page785
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The Word of God for the people of God. Let the people of God say - AMEN!
THE SERMON: Foolishness or the Power of God?, Rev. Douglas Estella
WORSHIP OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Offering
Offertory: Praise the Lord Who Reigns Above, Eugene Butler
Praise the Lord who reigns above, and keeps his courts below; O praise the holy God of love, and all his greatness show; Praise him for his noble deeds, Praise him for his matchless power; Him from whom all good proceeds let earth and heaven adore.
Celebrate the eternal God with harp and psaltery, timbrels soft and cymbals loud in his high praise agree; praise him every tuneful string; all the reach of heavenly art, all the powers of music bring, the music of the heart.
Him, in whom they move and live, let every creature sing, and glory to their Maker give, and homage to their King. Hallowed be his name beneath, as in heaven on earth adored; Praise the Lord in every breath, let all things praise the Lord.
based on Psalm 150
* The Doxology (pew card)
* Prayer of Dedication
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
* Apostles’ Creed (pew card)
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
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING & INTERCESSION
Lord’s Prayer (pew card)
Prayer response, Felix Mendelssohn
In heavenly love abiding, no change my heart shall fear; and safe is such confiding, for nothing changes here. The storm may roar without me, my heart may low be laid, But God is round about me, and can I be dismayed?
* HYMN No. 596: We’re Marching to Zion
* 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: Fugue in g minor, Johann Sebastian Bach
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 FLOWERS are given in honor of Irma Karle by Ginny and Hong Chan.
TODAY IS SOUPER BOWL OF CARING. Cans of soup will be collected and given to the Queens Federation of Churches Food Pantry and monetary donations will be given to the Greenpoint Reformed Church Hunger Program. (Make checks payable to Church on the Hill.) Thank you.
VALENTINE’S MISSION TRIP FUNDRAISER BAKE SALE: On February 16th after the church service the Youth Group will have a Valentine’s Day themed bake sale -- it’s never too late to celebrate Valentine’s Day! -- during coffee hour to benefit our 2014 mission trips. Thank you for your generous support.
VALENTINES FOR VETS: Bring your valentines today or next Sunday, February 9th and deposit them in the box at the church entrance. These cards will be delivered to the Veteran’s Hospital in St. Albans. We want our vets to know that they are not forgotten.
LENTEN BIBLE STUDY: An Adult Bible Study will meet on Monday evenings during Lent to help us in our journey to grow closer to God. If you are interested, speak with Sally Ann Castle or call the church office.
OUR APPRECIATION FOR TODAY’S VOLUNTEERS:
Van Driver: Roger Bow
Coffee Hour Host: Rhoda Jabbour
Greeters: Vivian and Peter Sclafani
Ushers: Ginny and Hong Chan, Jeanne and Steve Sarran and Jerry Good
Children and Worship: Sharon Rivilli and Susan Halley Lowe
PRAYER REQUESTS: Ruth Bailey, Letty Delgardo, Ed Diercks, Dombrowski Family, Edythe Durney, Alfred Gessner, Lisa Gessner, Jenny Hampton, Robert Keller, Hope Kingman, Fritz Kunisch, Ann Martin, Irma Matzke, John Molino, Josephine Rivera, Janice Serra