PRELUDE: Two Settings of the Passion Chorale, Johannes Brahms
SALUTATION AND WELCOME
* CELEBRATION OF FRIENDSHIP
* SANCTUS (pew card)
* CALL TO WORSHIP, Gerry Mendler
Leader: Let us worship God, who has done great things.
People: We rejoice in our God, who made a way through the desert of this world.
Leader: Let us worship God, who has caused streams of mercy to flow in the wasteland.
People: We are the people God has formed through Christ; we worship him, and we rejoice!
Leader: Let us worship God in spirit and in truth.
* HYMN No. 200 Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)
God of mercy, you sent Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost. We confess that we have strayed from you and turned aside from your way. We are misled by pride, for we see ourselves pure when we are stained and great when we are small. We have failed in love, neglected forgiveness, and ignored the truth. Have mercy, O God, and forgive our sin. Return us to paths of righteousness through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
* KYRIE (pew card)
* ASSURANCE OF PARDON
* SUMMARY OF THE LAW
* Gloria Patri (pew card)
JUNIOR SERMON
ANTHEM: Out of the Depths, Alan Hovhaness
The Chancel Choir; Elizabeth Mahowald, soprano
Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice: let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If Thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
MORNING PRAYER AND LORD’S PRAYER
Lord’s Prayer (pew card)
Prayer response, Frederick C. Maker
Come to the Saviour, all, whatever your burdens be; Hear now His loving call, “Cast all your care on Me.” Come, and for every grief in Jesus you will find a sure and safe relief, a loving Friend and kind. Amen.
* HYMN No. 783: Here, O My Lord, I See You
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Psalm 32:1-5, Pew Bible, page 440
Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
While I kept silence, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah
Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
Matthew 18:15-35, Pew Bible, page 799
“If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?”Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
THE SERMON: A Community of the Forgiven, Rev. Blaine Crawford
WORSHIP OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Offering
Offertory: Forty Days, Dave Brubeck
Forty days alone in the desert, days and nights of constant prayer, seeking in the wailing wind an answer to despair, forty days of questioning: Why was he there? In the desert, in the lonely desert. Forty days of fasting and prayer, searching for his destined role, thirsting after righteousness and nourishing his soul, seeking inward miracles to reach his goal. In the desert, in the lonely desert, after forty days in the desert, He and God became as One. Jesus found within Himself the Father's will is done. He must prove to doubting man: He is the Son. In the desert, in the lonely desert.
(Mark 1:12-13)
* The Doxology (pew card)
* Prayer of Dedication
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 43
Leader: What benefit do we receive from Christ’s sacrifice and death on the cross?
People: Through Christ’s death our old selves are crucified, put to death, and buried with him, so that the evil desires of the flesh may no longer rule us, but that instead we may dedicate ourselves as an offering of gratitude to him.
* HYMN No. 777: The Lord Is Here!
* BENEDICTION
Response, William Horsley
O dearly, dearly has he loved, and we must love him too, and trust in his redeeming power, and try his works to do.
POSTLUDE: If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee, J.S. Bach
ANNOUNCEMENTS
OUR FLOWERS are given by Joan Pearson in loving memory of her dear friend, Shirley Haven on the 15th anniversary of her death.
TODAY’S COFFEE HOUR is given by the Congregational Care Committee in honor of everyone with a February Birthday. All are invited.
LENTEN ENVELOPES: Your special offering during Lent will be placed in the Deacons Fund. Please use the envelope in the bulletin. Thank you.
LENTEN BIBLE STUDY: Every Wednesday during Lent, Pastor Blaine and Elder Sally Ann Castle will lead a book study on Forgiveness: A Lenten Study by Marjorie Thompson. They will meet in the Folensbee Lounge at 7:30 P.M. If you are interested, speak to the Pastor or Sally Ann Castle.
A NEW MEMBERS CLASS will be held in March. If you are interested in joining the Church on the Hill, please speak to Pastor Blaine.
COMMUNION TO SHUT-INS: Pastor Blaine and an elder will be making communion visits to our shut-ins during Lent. Please contact the Pastor or the church office if you know someone who would like to be visited.
OUR APPRECIATION FOR TODAY’S VOLUNTEERS:
Van Driver: Jorge Alamilla
Greeters: Joan Werbel, Irma Schubert
Ushers: Joanne McCleary, Stacy Muller, Krystal Andaluz and Debra Rossi
Children and Worship: Sharon Rivilli and Michael Iovale
VAN MINISTRY: Volunteers are desparately 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).
VAN SERVICE: If you need a ride to church on Sunday, speak with Gerry Mendler at (917) 362-6284 (day) or (718) 464-3464 (evening).
COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – To host a coffee hour after church, speak with Rhoda Jabbour.
PRAYER REQUESTS: Jorel Andaluz, Grace Attanasio, Marilyn Cooney, Letty Delgardo, Allegra DeMelo, Ed Diercks, Dombrowski Family, Edythe Durney, Jenny Hampton, Richard Holm, Robert Keller, 1st Lt. Alexandra Knese (in Liberia), Karen Krieg, Fritz Kunisch, Ann McCaffrey-Amalfitano, Nora McCarthy, Rev. John H. Meyer, John Molino, Josephine Rivera, Janice Serra