ORDER FOR WORSHIP
* Congregation stands
BOLD – Congregation responds
Please be mindful of your volume during the Prelude as we prepare for worship together.
PRELUDE Improvisation on "O Waly Waly" Sean Cotty
SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
*Sanctus
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
*CALL TO WORSHIP Laurie & Michael Chan
Arise, shine, for your light has come!
The glory of the Lord has risen upon us.
Let us praise the Lord together.
The sun shall no longer be our light by day,
nor will the brightness of the moon shine on us,
for the Lord will be our light,
and our God will be our glory.
The Lord will be our everlasting light,
and our days of sorrow will end.
Come, let us sing to our light and salvation!
*HYMN No. 611 There Is a Balm in Gilead
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Loving God,
In Jesus Christ, your kingdom has drawn near and you have called us to repent.
Turn our hearts and minds back to you.
In Jesus Christ, your light has dawned on all of creation.
Forgive us when we choose to walk in the darkness.
In Jesus Christ, you call the nations to come and worship you.
Forgive us when we restrict access to you and your grace.
In Jesus Christ, you loosen the bonds of injustice and set your people free.
Forgive us when our actions harm and oppress.
In Jesus Christ, your good and perfect law is fulfilled.
Forgive us when we fail to live according to your will.
(Prayers of Silent Confession)
Kyrie (sung):
Choral Leader: Lord, have mercy.
Congregation: Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON/WISDOM FOR LIFE
Hear these words of Jesus:
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.
You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hid.
What does the LORD ask of us?
To do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God.
CHILDREN’S BLESSING
(Following the Children’s Blessing, the children are dismissed to Children at Worship. They can be picked up there following the worship service in Room 2D.)
ANTHEM Rock O’ My Soul Tom Cunningham
Rock o' my soul in the bosom of Abraham,
Lord, rock o' my soul!
Wake up, Jacob, day is a-breaking,
I'm on my way.
I want to go to heaven when I die,
Do love the Lord!
Got some friends on the other shore,
Do love the Lord!
I want to see them more and more,
Do love the Lord!
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Lord’s Prayer (pew card)
Response Hear Our Prayer, O Lord
Hear our prayer, O Lord
Incline thine ear to us
And grant us thy peace.
Amen.
*HYMN No. 499 Lord, I Was Blind
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
God of light:
I delight to do your will; may your word dwell within our hearts.
I desire to see your face: reveal yourself to us today.
I want to hear your voice: speak, O Lord, for your servants are listening.
Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Isaiah 58:1-12 pp.600-601
1 Corinthians 2:1-16 p.927
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
SERMON A Spirituality of the Cross Rev. Blaine
Crawford
CONFESSION OF FAITH
*Hymn No. 297 Spirit of the Living God
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
Offertory Awake, My Heart Jane M. Marshall
Awake, my heart, and render to God thy sure defender,
Thy maker, thy preserver, a song of love and fervor.
Confirm my deeds and guide me: My day, with thee beside me,
Beginning, middle, and ending, will all be upward tending.
My heart shall be thy dwelling, with joy and gladness swelling;
Thy word my nurture, given to bring me on toward heaven.
Awake, my heart, and render to God thy sure defender,
Thy maker, thy preserver, a song of love and fervor.
*Doxology (pew card)
*Prayer of Dedication
*HYMN No. 263 Alleluia, Sing to Jesus
*BENEDICTION
Response Lord Dismiss Us With Your Blessing
Lord, dismiss us with your blessing;
fill our hearts with joy and peace;
let us each, your love possessing,
triumph in redeeming grace;
O direct us and protect us
traveling through this wilderness.
POSTLUDE Improvisation on "Hyfrydol" Sean Cotty
All are invited to join us downstairs
For coffee hour following worship.
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Announcements
Music Note
Throughout the month of February, the choir will be singing a spiritual hymn and anthem every Sunday, in honor of Black History Month!
Children at Worship
Children at Worship is a spiritual formation program for children ages 4-9. Children are dismissed following the Children’s Blessing and may be picked up from Classroom 2D after the service.
Bible Study
Bible study meets in the library on Tuesday afternoons from 3:30 p.m. until 4:45 p.m. The current study, led by Rev. Crawford, explores and ponders the parables of Jesus.
Reduced Office Hours
The church office will be open from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. from February 13th through February 21st. The office will be closed on February 17th for President’s Day. Normal hours will resume on February 24th.
YPF Mission Trip Fundraiser: Valentine's Bake Sale
Today, during coffee hour, the YPF will be holding a bake sale with some delicious homemade goodies to help raise money for their mission trips. Thank you so much for your support!
Souper Bowl of Caring
We raised $175 and 100 cans of food for the Souper Bowl of Caring! The Bargain Boutique matched the monetary donations for a total of $350 that will be given to the Greenpoint Reformed Church food pantry and soup kitchen. The canned goods have been donated to the Queens Federation of Churches. Thank you to all who participated!
Women’s Shelter Volunteers
Every Friday, we house up to ten women in Gessner Hall. We need volunteers to greet, to provide food and hospitality, and to stay overnight. We are especially in need of overnight chaperones. Sign up on our website or speak with our Women’s Shelter coordinator, Maureen Saepia-Chen, following the service
Food for Kids
School’s back in session which means that our Food for Kids ministry is back in full swing. Each week, bags of food are delivered to a local school to give to children who might be at risk of hunger over the weekend.
We are seeking donations of the following items on a regular basis:
· 1lb. white rice
· 1 can beans (red or black)
· 2 cans vegetables
· 1 can fruit
· 1lb. box of pasta
· 1 can pasta sauce
· 1 box mac & cheese
· 1 box cereal
· *1 jar peanut butter
· *1 jar jelly
*The jars of peanut butter and jelly must be plastic containers.
Music in a Sacred Space
Please join us on Saturday, February 29th at 4:00 pm for a piano recital by Abram Korsunsky. His program will feature exciting standards of the romantic repertoire including Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. The concert is free and open to the public, and there will be a reception to follow in Gessner Hall. Please note the earlier time.
Offering Envelopes
2020 Offering Envelopes are located in the back of the sanctuary for pickup.
Community Yoga
Join us in Gessner Hall for free yoga on Wednesday evenings at 7:30p.m. If you would like to join the yoga email list, please contact the church office at office@churchonthehill.org. The class is open to all ability levels and mats are available for use.
Bargain Boutique
The Boutique is open on Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m to 1 p.m. Please bring your donations to the basement during these hours.
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