December 25, 2013 - Christmas Day

PRELUDE:  Carols for Christmas, Hermann Schroeder

WELCOME
* CELEBRATION OF FRIENDSHIP
* Gloria Patri  (pew card)     

* CALL TO WORSHIP and salutation    

Leader:  Sing to the Lord a new song
People:  Sing to the Lord, all the earth
Leader:  Declare God’s glory among the nations and God’s wonders among all peoples.
People:  Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
Leader:  Let the heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad.
People:  Let the earth shout for joy before the Lord.
Leader:  Grace and peace to you from God our Creator, our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

* HYMN No. 173:  O Come, All Ye Faithful         

* PRAYER OF CONFESSION  (unison)

Merciful God, we come to you for forgiveness and for help. Forgive us for taking your presence for granted, for treating this special world as if it were ordinary, and for treating one another as if we were not treasured gifts. Help us to see our mistakes. Help us to recognize our fault. Help us to look to you for the strength we need to turn back to the ways you have taught us.

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

ANTHEM:  Christ is Born, Marvin Curtis

The Chamber Choir

Christ is born!  What do you say?  Born He was on Christmas day. All the angels in Heaven did sing, for born was He, our Savior King!

Wise men and shepherds made the journey afar, following angels and blazing star, finding for us sweet Prince of Peace, finding for us our sins’ release.

Alleluia for His birth we sing, let the whole earth hear the yuletide ring, peace on earth, good will extend unto the world rejoice again.

* HYMN No. 174:  Angels from the Realms of Glory             

SCRIPTURE LESSON

Luke 2: 8-20, Pew Bible, pg. 833

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child;and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

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

THE SERMON, Dr. Ian Rottenberg

Christ is Born Today! (But What Does that Mean?)

WORSHIP OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
    Offering
    Offertory:  Carol of the Star, Donald Moore

A star, a shining star, let wise men on their way to find that Bethlehem town where lay a holy babe.  Venite adoremus Dominum. 

A star, a guiding star, let angels from above.  To seek a tiny babe, surround Him with their love.  Venite adoremus Dominum.

A star, a mighty star, did shine o’er all the earth.  To welcome Him with joy, proclaim His wondrous birth.  Venite adoremus Dominum.

    * The Doxology  (pew card)      
    * Prayer of Dedication

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

ANTHEM:  Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming, Michael Praetorius

Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hasth sprung!  Of Jesse’s lineage coming as men of old have sung.  It came, a flow’ret bright, amid the cold of winter, when half-spent was the night.

Isaiah ‘twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind, with Mary we behold it, the Virgin Mother kind.  To shew God’s love aright she bore to us a Saviour, when half-spent was the night.

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

As bright the star of morning gleams, So Jesus sheddeth glorious beams Of light and consolation! Thy Word, O Lord, Radiance darting, Truth imparting, Gives salvation; Thine be praise and adoration.

* HYMN No. 156:  Gentle Mary Laid Her Child         

* BENEDICTION 
    Response:  Fanfare for Christmas Day, Martin Shaw

Gloria in excelsis deo. (Glory to God in the highest.)

POSTLUDE:  Carillon, Louis Vierne

---

ANNOUNCEMENTS

WE WELCOME DR. IAN ROTTENBERG BACK TO THE PULPIT.  Ian is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Saint Leo University near Tampa, Florida.

2014 offering envelopes are at the church entrance.  If you do not see your box and would like one, sign your name on the clipboard.  A set will be prepared and available for you.

SUNDAY SCHOOL and CHILDREN AND WORSHIP will not meet this Sunday, December 29 and will resume on Sunday, January 5, 2014, Epiphany Sunday.

PRAYER REQUESTS:  Ruth Bailey, Letty Delgado, Ed Diercks, Dombrowski Family, Edythe Durney, Alfred Gessner, Lisa Gessner, Jenny Hampton, Robert Keller, Hope Kingman, Fritz Kunisch, Ann Martin, John Molino, Josephine Rivera, Janice Serra

July 14, 2013 - Communion Service

The Church on the Hill
Communion Service

 July 14, 2013 10:00 A.M.

* All who are able, please stand.

Reminder: Jesus won’t call you on your cell phone, please turn it off. Thanks.

PRELUDE:

Prelude and Fugue in d minor J. S. Bach
Jesus, Priceless Treasure J. S. Bach

WELCOME
* CELEBRATION OF FRIENDSHIP
* Gloria Patri  (pew card)  

* Call To Worship (From Psalm 25):

Leader: To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
People: Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.
Leader: Good and upright is the Lord.
People: Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation.

* HYMN No. 52   I Sing the Mighty Power of God

* PRAYER OF CONFESSION  (unison)

Have mercy on us, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercies, blot out our transgressions. Wash us thoroughly from our iniquity, and cleanse us from our sin. For we know our transgressions, and our sin is ever before us. Create in us a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within us. Cast us not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from us. Restore to us the joy of your salvation, and uphold us with a willing spirit. Amen.

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

JUNIOR SERMON    

ANTHEM:   Jesus, I Am Resting arr. Ovid Young

Dorien Day, soprano
Stevan Hoffacker, tenor

SCRIPTURE LESSONS

Psalm 82 Pew Bible, pg. 472

A Psalm of Asaph.
God has taken his place in the divine council;
   in the midst of the gods he holds judgement: 
‘How long will you judge unjustly
   and show partiality to the wicked?
          Selah 
Give justice to the weak and the orphan;
   maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute. 
Rescue the weak and the needy;
   deliver them from the hand of the wicked.’ 

They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
   they walk around in darkness;
   all the foundations of the earth are shaken. 

I say, ‘You are gods,
   children of the Most High, all of you; 
nevertheless, you shall die like mortals,
   and fall like any prince.’ 

Rise up, O God, judge the earth;
     for all the nations belong to you!

Luke 10:25-37 Page 844

Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’ He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.’ And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’

But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour?’ Jesus replied, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while travelling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.” Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’

THE SERMON               Lists, Life, and Love Dr. Ian Rottenberg

WORSHIP OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
     Offering
     Offertory:   Come, Jesus, Holy Son of God    G. F. Handel
     * The Doxology  (pew card)  
     * Prayer of Dedication

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

SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION Elder Dorien Day
     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: Ave Verum Lorenzo Perosi

* HYMN No. 772   For the Bread Which You Have Broken

* BENEDICTION 
Response: May the Grace of Christ Our Savior John Newton

POSTLUDE:   Chaccone    Francois Couperin

---

OUR WORSHIP HOURS will continue at the 10:00 AM hour through Labor Day Sunday, September 1, 2013.  We hope you will give our worship your support through prayer and attendance.   

---

ANNOUNCEMENTS

APPRECIATIONS: Today we thank Dorien Day and Stevan Hoffacker for sharing their musical talents to enhance our worship service.

BARGAIN BOUTIQUE: Our thrift shop has closed for the summer.  Please hold your donations until August 15.  

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL,  August 12-16, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM.  

As of today, registration is full.  We have a started a waiting list.  If interested, call the church office and we will notify you if any openings become available.

CROP WALK September 22, 2013 – Donation envelopes are available in the church office during July and August.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

• As the summer approaches, please consider prepaying your pledge for July and August before you leave town.  This will help the summer cash flow problem.
• Please submit your pledge (estimate of giving) cards for 2013.  If you have already done so, thank you.
• If you have not given a special offering for your assessment ($93 per member), please help us by making the payment. The Synodical and Classical Assessment is the amount we owe Reformed Church in America for your membership.  

YEAR-ROUND COLLECTIONS – 

• Donations for the Food for Kids Ministry should be brought to the Church office.  During the school year, 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 in Gessner Hall.  These cards will enable inmates at the Nassau County Correction Center to correspond with their loved ones.    

PRAYER REQUESTS:  Ruth Bailey, Letty Delgado, Ed Diercks, Dombrowski Family, Edythe Durney, Sandeep Edward, Alfred Gessner, Lisa Gessner, Robert Keller, Ann Martin, John Molino, Gloria Scrivano, Janice Serra, Mary Wainwright.