PRELUDE:

Prelude and Fugue in g minor, J. S. Bach
O Man, Bewail Thy Grievous Fall, J. S. Bach

WELCOME
* CELEBRATION OF FRIENDSHIP
* SANCTUS (pew card)

* CALL TO WORSHIP AND SALUTATION, Steve Sarran

Leader:    I lift up my eyes to the hills-- from where will my help come?
People:    My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
Leader:    He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
People:    The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.
Leader:    Grace and peace to you from God our Father, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
ALL:    Amen.

— from Psalm 121: 1-3, 8

* HYMN No. 209: In the Cross of Christ I Glory

* PRAYER OF CONFESSION(unison)

Almighty and merciful God, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done. And there is no health in us. Have mercy upon us, O Lord. Spare those who confess their faults. Restore those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to the world in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O merciful God, for his sake, that we may live a holy, just and humble life for the glory of your holy name. Amen.

* KYRIE (pew card)
* ASSURANCE OF PARDON
* SUMMARY OF THE LAW
* Gloria Patri(pew card)

JUNIOR SERMON

ANTHEM: O Saviour of the World, John Goss

O Saviour of the world, who by Thy Cross and precious blood hast redeemed us, save us and help us, we humbly beseech Thee, O Lord.

MORNING PRAYER AND LORD’S PRAYER
Lord’s Prayer (pew card)
Prayer response, John Yarrington

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

* HYMN No. 212: What Wondrous Love Is This

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Genesis 12: 1-4a, Pew Bible, page 8

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

John 1: 1-17, Pew Bible, page 862

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

(John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

The Word of God for the people of God. Let the people of God say - AMEN!

THE SERMON: New Beginnings, Rev. Douglas Estella

WORSHIP OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Offering
Offertory: from "Messiah", G. F. Handel

Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him.

* The Doxology(pew card)
* Prayer of Dedication

* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
The Apostles’ Creed (pew card)

* HYMN No. 502: Amazing Grace

* BENEDICTION

Response, Théodore Dubois

Thee we adore, O Saviour, bless Thee and praise Thee for ever, for on Thy holy cross Thou has the world from sin redeemed.

POSTLUDE: We All Believe in One God, Johann Sebastian Bach

ANNOUNCEMENTS

WE WELCOME BACK THE REV. DOUGLAS ESTELLA TO THE PULPIT.

Rev. Estella previously served as pastor of the Sunnyside Reformed Church and currently teaches ESL at the Academy of Urban Planning.

OUR APPRECIATION FOR TODAY’S VOLUNTEERS:

Van Drivers: Kay Buchakian (AM), Bill Proschel (PM)
Coffee Hour Host: Rhoda Jabbour
Greeters: Peter and Vivian Sclafani
Ushers: Elaine Ho, Loretta McCaffrey, Gerry and Jean Mendler and Jerry Good
Children and Worship: Sharon Rivilli and Nancy Gessner

LARGE PRINT BULLETINS are available. Ask an usher if you need one.

CONGREGATIONAL CARE MAILBOX

If you have any concerns regarding a church member, please drop us a note in the special mailbox in the back of the church. It will be checked regularly.

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).

CHILDCARE during the worship hour

Children thru age 3 in the Educational Building, 1st floor, in Room 1A.

Children ages 3 thru 2nd grade will share in the service through the Junior Sermon, then go to Room 2E for the Children and Worship Program.

COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – To host a coffee hour after church, speak with Rhoda Jabbour.

YEAR-ROUND COLLECTIONS –

Donations for the Food for Kids Ministry should be brought to the Church office. This food will be given to families in need in Jamaica, New York.
Donations for pets brought to the church office will be given to Worthy Pause to be distributed to local animal shelters.
Christmas cards (with Forever Stamps on the envelopes) are collected in a basket at the back of the sanctuary. These cards will enable inmates at the Nassau County Correction Center to correspond with their loved ones.

PRAYER REQUESTS: Grace Attanasio, 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