September 8, 2013 - Communion Service

The Church on the Hill

Communion Service

September 8, 2013 11:00 A.M.

* All who are able, please stand.

Please turn off your cellphones.  Thank you.

PRELUDE:     Baroques Suite                         Seth Bingham 

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

* CALL TO WORSHIP AND SALUTATION Dorien Day

Leader: O come, let us sing to the Lord;
People: Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Leader: Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
People: Let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
Leader: For he is our God,
People: And we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
 Leader: Grace and Peace to you from God our Creator, our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

* HYMN No.  50 Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above

* PRAYER OF CONFESSION  (unison)  

Eternal God, in whom we live and move and have our being, whose face is hidden from us by our sins, and whose mercy we forget in the blindness of our hearts: Cleanse us from all our offenses, and deliver us from proud thoughts and vain desires, that with reverent and humble hearts we may draw near to you, confessing our faults, confiding in your grace, and finding in you our refuge and strength; through Jesus Christ your Son.  Amen.

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

ANTHEM:     If Ye Love Me Keep My Commandments      Thomas Tallis 

If ye love me, keep My commandments, and I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever.  Ev'n the Spirit of the truth, that He may abide with you forever, Ev'n the Spirit of the truth.

 SCRIPTURE LESSONS 

Philemon 1: 1-21, Pew Bible, page 970

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus. I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ. I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.
For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced.Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

Luke 14: 25-33, Pew Bible, page 850

Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them, “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.

THE SERMON          The Cost of Discipleship Rev. Doug Estella

WORSHIP OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

Offering
     Offertory: Let the Mountains Shout for Joy   Evan Stephens  

Let the mountains shout for joy! Let the valley sing and the hills rejoice, let them all break forth into song. Let them shout and sing   and be glad before the Lord. For the wilderness has blossomed as a   rose, and the barren desert is a fruitful field. Joy and gladness now are found therein – thanksgiving and the voice of melody. Let the mountains shout for joy!

     * 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                               George Whelpton

Hear our prayer, O Lord; incline thine ear to us, and grant us thy peace. Amen.

* HYMN No.661               Be Strong in the Lord    

* BENEDICTION 
Response                       Harold W. Friedell  

Day by day, Dear Lord, of thee three things I pray: to see thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, follow thee more nearly, day by day.

POSTLUDE:    Voluntary                           Seth Bingham

 WE WELCOME Rev. Doug Estella to the pulpit.  Rev. Estella, an Elmhurst, native, is an ordained minister in the RCA. He served as pastor of the Sunnyside Reformed Church from 2000 to 2006. For the past seven years, Doug has served as a teacher at the Academy of Urban Planning, a public high school in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn where he teaches English as Second Language. During that period, he continues to assist churches with regular pulpit supply. Doug and his wife, Janet, live in Sunnyside with their daughter, Renee.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

World Communion Sunday is October 6, 2013. We are looking for volunteers to help with the service.  If you can read/speak another language, we would love for you to help with the readings and prayers for that day.  There is a sign up sheet in Gessner Hall. All material will be assigned/handed out the Sunday before. See Donna if you have any questions. Many thanks in advance for your help.

OUR APPRECIATION FOR TODAY’S VOLUNTEERS:

Van Drivers: Gina Lombardo
Coffee Hour Hosts: Dina Antonucci, Irma Shubert, Carol Stark 
Greeters: Nina and Bill Proschel, Dorothea Zelnick
Ushers: Ginny and Hong Chan, Judie and Buck Kellaway, Jeanne and Steve Sarran, Adriene and Bill Toy; Head Usher: Jerry Good 

LARGE PRINT BULLETINS are available.  Please ask an usher if you want one.

WOMEN’S CHRISTIAN CIRCLE LUNCHEON, September 21, 2013, 1-3 PM Bring your own sandwich.  Dessert and beverage provided.  A planning meeting for the Harvest Festival.

VAN SERVICE for Sunday worship, call Gina Lombardo at (917) 767-2923.

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.   

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

September 1, 2013 - Labor Day Sunday

The Church on the Hill at Worship

September 1, 2013 10:00 A.M.

 Labor Day Sunday

* All who are able, please stand.

Please turn off your cell phones. Thank you.

PRELUDE:
     Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring  Johann Sebastian Bach
     Amazing Grace arr. Gilbert M. Martin

WELCOME
* CELEBRATION OF FRIENDSHIP
* SANCTUS (pew card)  

* CALL TO WORSHIP AND SALUTATION Dorien Day

Leader: God calls us to service, rather than honor.
People: God calls us to love the unknown, rather than the familiar.
ALL: We come to this time of worship, trusting in the grace of Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Leader:  Grace and Peace to you from God our Creator, our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

* HYMN No. 29     O Worship the King

* PRAYER OF CONFESSION  (unison)  

Merciful God, forgive us for thinking highly of ourselves and mocking the humble.  We choose to believe we are self sufficient, rather than trust your strength.  We ignore strangers and turn away from those in need.  Open us to your Spirit, that we might serve all people without regard to the outcome, devoting ourselves to your honor alone.  Forgive our foolish ways, O God, and restore us to you, that we may walk in the way of love.  We pray in Jesus’ name.   Amen.

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

ACT OF PRAISE: The Gift of Love              Hal H. Hopson

Dorien Day, soprano; Roslyn Andela, alto

JUNIOR SERMON    

MORNING PRAYER AND LORD’S PRAYER
Lord’s Prayer (pew card)
Prayer Response         

* HYMN No. 317 All People That on Earth Do Dwell

SCRIPTURE LESSONS

Psalm 71: 1-6 Pew Bible, pg. 463

In you, O Lord, I take refuge;
     let me never be put to shame.
In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
     incline your ear to me and save me.
Be to me a rock of refuge,
     a strong fortress, to save me,
     for you are my rock and my fortress. 
Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
     from the grasp of the unjust and cruel.
For you, O Lord, are my hope,
     my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
Upon you I have leaned from my birth;
      it was you who took me from my mother’s womb.
My praise is continually of you.

Luke 13: 10-17 Page 848 

Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.  And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight.  When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, ‘Woman, you are set free from your ailment.’  When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.  But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, ‘There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day.’  But the Lord answered him and said, ‘You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water?  And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?’  When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.

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

 

THE SERMON                    A Laboring Day Donna M. Field

WORSHIP OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
     Offering
     Offertory: Marvelous Mystery Donald P. Hustad

Dorien Day, soprano

     * The Doxology  (pew card)
     * Prayer of Dedication

* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH  Adapted from the Belgic Confession Article 20

We believe that God, who is perfectly merciful and also very just, sent the Son in order to bear our sins by his most bitter passion and death. So God made known what justice is towards Jesus, who was charged with our sin, and God poured out all goodness and mercy on us, who are guilty and not worthy of eternal life, giving to us the most holy Son to die by a most perfect love, and raising Christ to life for our justification, in order that by him we might have immortality and eternal life in God. 

* HYMN No. 107 Christ Be My Leader

* BENEDICTION
     Response           

POSTLUDE: Hymn to Joy Gordon Young

WE WELCOME DONNA MARIE FIELD to the pulpit.  In May 2013, Donna graduated from the New Brunswick Theological Seminary with a Masters in Divinity degree.  She will be leading our worship services until a permanent minister is in place.

REMINDER: Next Sunday, September 8th, our worship service will  begin at 11:00 AM.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SEPTEMBER 1, 2013

OUR APPRECIATIONS to Roslyn Andela and Dorien Day for sharing their musical talents to enhance our worship service this morning. 

LARGE PRINT BULLETINS are available.  Please ask an usher if you want one.

WOMEN’S CHRISTIAN CIRCLE LUNCHEON, September 21, 2013, 1-3 PM

Bring your own sandwich.  Dessert and beverage provided.  A planning meeting for the Harvest Festival.

NURSERY SCHOOL: Our Community Nursery School has a few openings in the three-year-old and toddler programs in the afternoon only. For information and/or registration, contact Regina Schafer at <reginacoth@gmail.com> or call (718) 539-0732.

VAN SERVICE for Sunday worship, call Gina Lombardo at (917) 767-2923.

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.   

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

 

 

August 25, 2013

The Church on the Hill at Worship

August 25, 2013 10:00 A.M.

* All who are able, please stand.

Please turn off your cell phones. Thank you.

PRELUDE:   Largo Francesco Veracini

WELCOME
* CELEBRATION OF FRIENDSHIP
* SANCTUS (pew card)  

* CALL TO WORSHIP Emerson Chen

Leader: The prophets of old spoke of God’s justice, even when it was unwelcome.  Who will hear their message?
People: We will listen and we will hear!
Leader: Responding to God’s call, Jesus traveled, preaching and teaching to all who would listen.  Who will hear his message?
People: We will listen and we will hear!
Leader:  Christ sent out disciples two by two, to spread the good news in any place that would welcome them.  Who will hear their message?
People: We will listen and we will hear!
Leader: God’s prophets are among us still, around the world and in these pews.  Who will hear their message?
People: We will listen and we will hear!

* HYMN No. 99 When Morning Gilds the Skies

* PRAYER OF CONFESSION

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

ACT OF PRAISE: The Prayer                            

-- Carole Bayer Sager and David Foster      

Maureen Saepia-Chen, soprano
Emerson Chen, baritone

MORNING PRAYER AND LORD’S PRAYER
     Lord’s Prayer (pew card)
     Response         

* HYMN No. 384       This is My Father's World

SCRIPTURE LESSONS

Psalm 18: 1-6, 46-50 Pew Bible, pg. 431

I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, so I shall be saved from my enemies.
The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of perdition assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.
The Lord lives! Blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation, the God who gave me vengeance and subdued peoples under me; who delivered me from my enemies; indeed, you exalted me above my adversaries; you delivered me from the violent.
For this I will extol you, O Lord, among the nations, and sing praises to your name.
Great triumphs he gives to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.

Deuteronomy 6: 2-6 Page 143

so that you and your children and your children’s children, may fear the Lord your God all the days of your life, and keep all his decrees and his commandments that I am commanding you, so that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe them diligently, so that it may go well with you, and so that you may multiply greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you.
Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart.

Mark 12: 28-34 Page 825

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself,’ —this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question.

THE SERMON To Hear and Be Heard

WORSHIP OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
     Offering
     Offertory: Oh, Promise Me Reginald De Koven
     * The Doxology  (pew card)  
     * Prayer of Dedication

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

* HYMN No. 651   O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee

* BENEDICTION
     Response          

POSTLUDE: Rigaudon Andre Campra

TODAY WE WELCOME Rev. Dorothy Grant to the pulpit.  Rev. Grant currently works as a Chaplain at St. John’s Hospital in Far Rockaway, Queens. She previously served as a Presbyterian Minister in the NYC and Tri-State area. She migrated from Jamaica West Indies where she holds membership in the United Church of Jamaica and Cayman Islands.

OUR ROSES: 

The left vase is given in loving memory of Matthew Good by his parents. The right vase is given by Janice Zito in loving memory of Pasquale.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

APPRECIATIONS: Today we thank Emerson and Maureen Chen for sharing their musical talents to enhance our worship service.

WORSHIP HOUR will continue at 10:00 AM next Sunday, September 1st. 

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

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.  

    LARGE PRINT BULLETINS are available.  Please ask an usher if you want one.

    VAN SERVICE for Sunday worship will resume, Sunday, September 8. If you need a ride, call Gina Lombardo at (917) 767-2923.

    COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – Please pick a date on the Sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in Gessner Hall or see Rhoda Jabbour.

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

     

    August 18, 2003 - Vacation Bible School Sunday

    The Church on the Hill
         Vacation Bible School Sunday

    August 17, 2013 10:00 A.M.

    As you enter the sanctuary, 
    Rejoice! – God is with you!
    Hear the Announcements, 
    Greet each other in friendship and love.

    * All who are able, please stand.

    Reminder: Please turn off your cell phones. Thanks.

    WELCOME
    * CELEBRATION OF FRIENDSHIP
    * SANCTUS (pew card)  

    Call to Worship and Salutation:

    Leader: Come and celebrate people of God! Sing and shout your praise!
    People: For our God comes to us: challenging us where we are, yet gentle and humble of heart.
    Leader: God comes bringing peace, offering hope and freedom to all who despair.
    People: Let’s worship God together!
    Leader:  Grace and Peace to you from God our Creator, our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

    -- (based on Zechariah 9:9-12)

    * HYMN No. 346 Sing Praise to the Lord

    * PRAYER OF CONFESSION  (unison)  

    Lord, we are like sheep, and we get lost.  We forget the needs of our neighbors and do not love you above all else.  We need a Savior, so we long for Jesus.  Come, fill our lives, Jesus.  Amen.

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

    ANTHEM:                              Stand Strong Vacation Bible School

    MORNING PRAYER AND LORD’S PRAYER
    Lord’s Prayer (pew card)
    Prayer Response         

    * HYMN No. 5 Come, Thou Almighty King
    (Stanza 1)

    SCRIPTURE and VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL REVIEW Donna Field

    VIDEO PRESENTATION of our week at Kingdom Rock

    WORSHIP OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
    Offering
    Offertory:        Soon and Very Soon Vacation Bible School
    * The Doxology  (pew card)  
    * Prayer of Dedication

    * AFFIRMATION OF FAITH  Adapted from the Belhar Confession    

    We share one faith, have one calling, are of one soul and one mind.
    We have one God, are filled with one Spirit and are baptized with one baptism.
    We eat of one bread and drink of one cup, confess one Name, are obedient to one Lord, work for one cause, and share one hope.
    Together we come to know the height and the breadth and the depth of the love of Christ.
    Together we are built up to the stature of Christ, to the new humanity.
    Together we know and bear one another's burdens, thereby fulfilling the law of Christ that we need one another, build up one another, admonish and comfort one another and suffer with one another for the sake of righteousness.
    Together we pray.
    Together we serve God in this world.  Amen

    * HYMN No. 517 The Solid Rock

    * BENEDICTION 

    RECESSIONAL                             

    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    AUGUST 17, 2013

    WE WELCOME DONNA MARIE FIELD to the pulpit.  In May 2013, Donna graduated from the New Brunswick Theological Seminary with a Masters in Divinity degree.  She will be leading our worship services until a permanent minister is in place.

    THE FELLOWSHIP HOUR following the service is hosted by the Vacation Bible School staff.  Come join us in Gessner Hall for some treats from the Kings Kitchen.

    THE FLOWERS are given by Jerry and Elaine Good in loving memory of Chris Heckel.

    TODAY’S Free Will Offering will go towards the purchase of Audio Bibles through Audio Scripture Ministries, specifically for India, to complement our VBS mission component of providing Bible Story Books written in Hindi for children in India.  Please use the white envelopes in your bulletin for your donations. Thank-you!

    OUR WORSHIP HOUR will continue at 10:00 AM next Sunday, August 25 and Labor Day Sunday, September 1. 

    CROP WALK September 22, 2013 – Donation envelopes are available in the back of the sanctuary and in the church office.

    FINANCIAL INFORMATION

    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.  

    LARGE PRINT BULLETINS are available.  Please ask an usher if you want one.

    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 The Worthy Pause to be distributed to local animal shelters.   

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