February 7, 2016, Transfiguration Sunday

PRELUDE:

Prelude, Fugue and Chaccone, Dieterich Buxtehude
From God I Ne'er Will Turn Me, Dieterich Buxtehude

SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
* PASSING OF THE PEACE
* Gloria Patri  (pew card)     

* CALL TO WORSHIP, Emerson Chen

Leader:     God is our light and our salvation; whom shall we fear?
People:     God is our shelter and refuge in the days of trouble, and our hope and joy on the days of celebration.
Leader:     Day after day, we seek God’s face and the assurance of God’s holy love:
People:    O God, do not turn from us nor hide your face from us.  Be our guide and our light instead.
Leader:    One thing we ask of God:
People:    That we may live in God’s dwelling place all the days of our life,     and never cease to behold the beauty of God’s home.
Leader:     Beloved of God, enter this worship in thanksgiving, for God is among and within us.
All:         Thanks be to God!        

* HYMN No. 115: Fairest Lord Jesus

* PRAYER OF CONFESSION  

God of all glory, beauty, and grace, we have tried to hide from you- to hide our faces, to hide our sin – yet you have never hidden your love for us. We have tried to search for you – in temples, in clouds, on mountaintops – yet you have already revealed yourself to us in the face of Jesus Christ. Forgive us, and transform us so that our lives may shine with your glory, beauty, and grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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

Herein is wisdom.
Glory be to God.

JUNIOR SERMON                   

ANTHEM: From the Rising of the Sun, F. A. Gore Ouseley

From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same my Name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered up unto my Name: for my Name shall be great among the heathen, thus saith the Lord!

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Psalm 27: 1-4, Pew Bible, page 437

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh— my adversaries and foes— they shall stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.
One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.

Mark 8:27 – 9:8, Pew Bible, page 820

Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.
Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.

This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

SERMON: Crossroads and Cross Words, Elder Sally Ann Castle

* CONFESSION OF FAITH: The Apostles’ Creed (pew card)

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
    Offertory: With a Voice of Singing, Martin Shaw

With a voice of singing declare ye this, and let it be heard, Alleluia. Utter it even unto the ends of the earth.  The Lord hath delivered his people, Alleluia.  O Be joyful in God, all ye lands, O sing praises to the honor of his name, make his praise to be glorious.

    * The Doxology(pew card)      
    * Prayer of Dedication

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

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
    Lord’s Prayer (pew card)
    Prayer Response, Georg Friedrich Handel

Lord, I trust thee, I adore thee, Ah! thou friend of man, restore me! On thy loving grace relying, For the bread of life I'm sighing. Quench my thirst and let my hunger cease, Fill my heart with joy and endless peace. When the breath of life has left me, May my soul be blessed with thee.

* HYMN No. 721: Shine, Jesus, Shine         

* BENEDICTION
    Response, Martin Shaw              

And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost be among you and go with you forever and ever. Amen.

POSTLUDE: Trumpet Dialogue, Louis Clerambault

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Our worship this morning will be led by Sally Ann Castle, a New Brunswick Theological Seminary student under the care of the Classis of Queens. Sally Ann is an Elder currently serving on the Consistory of the Church on the Hill.

THE COFFEE HOUR is hosted by the Congregational Care Committee to honor everyone with a birthday in January and February.  Please join us in this time of fellowship.

SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY – TODAY, the Sunday School is participating in the national “Souper Bowl of Caring” campaign.  The cans of soup collected will be given to the Queens Federation of Churches food pantry.  Monetary donations will go to the Greenpoint Reformed Church Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen.

OUR APPRECIATION FOR TODAY’S VOLUNTEERS:

Van Drivers: Jean and Gerry Mendler
Greeters: Angela Edward and Eva Munoz
Ushers: Ginny and Hong Chan, Judie and Buck Kellaway, Jeanne and Steve Sarran, Adriene and Bill Toy and Jerry Good
Children and Worship: Monique Jethwani and Sharon Rivilli

Lenten Book and Bible Study

Feb. 17, 23;  Mar. 1, 8, 16 , 22 at 7:30 P.M. in the Folensbee Lounge

During the season of Lent, Pastor Blaine will be leading a mid-week book and Bible study. Guided by Henri Nouwen’s book Reaching Out: The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life, the class will explore three practices commonly associated with the season of Lent: solitude, hospitality, and prayer. These practices are intended for us to better connect with ourselves (solitude), one another (hospitality) and with God (prayer). 

Please let Pastor Blaine know by February 10, if you would like him to order you a book for the class. The cost of the book is $8. You are also free to purchase the book on your own.  

PRAYER REQUESTS: Jorel Andaluz, Grace Attanasio, Carolyn Brunjes, Donald Calfa, Marilyn Cooney, Allegra DeMelo, Dombrowski Family, Edythe Durney, Bob Gessner, Jenny Hampton, Richard Holm, Robert Keller, Karen Krieg, Fritz Kunisch, Ann McCaffrey-Amalfitano, Rev. John H. Meyer, John Molino, Denise Moran, Michael Patras, Keith Pearson, Dorothy Rama, Dorothy Reid, Josephine Rivera, Isabelita Rueda, Matthew Schulman, Peter Schumacher, Carmela Stocchia, Lynne Sullivan, Emily Testut

October 18, 2015

PRELUDE: Suite for Organ, Seth Bingham

SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
* PASSING OF THE PEACE
* SANCTUS (pew card)

* CALL TO WORSHIP, Emerson Chen

Leader:    Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
People:    What did God do to help us?
Leader:    God gives us a family when we are widowed and a people when we are alone.
People:    God gives a home to the homeless and a hope to the hopeless.
Leader:    Let us worship the God of all people.

* HYMN No. 17: Praise the Lord! O Heavens Adore Him

* PRAYER OF CONFESSION(unison)     

Lord God, we have given more weight to our successes and our happiness than to your will. We have eaten without a thought for the hungry. We have spoken without an effort to understand others. We have kept silence instead of telling the truth. We have judged others, forgetful that you alone are the Judge. Within your church we have been slow to practice love of our neighbors. And in the world we have not been your faithful servants. Forgive us and help us to live as disciples of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Savior. Amen.

* KYRIE (pew card)
* ASSURANCE OF PARDON
* SUMMARY OF THE LAW
    Herein is wisdom.
    Glory be to God.
    * Gloria Patri(pew card)

ANTHEM: Feed My Lambs, Natalie Sleeth

The Junior Choir

JUNIOR SERMON

ANTHEM: Jesus, Grant Me This I Pray, C. H. Kitson

Jesu, grant me this, I pray, Ever in Thy heart to stay: Let me evermore abide Hidden in Thy wounded side. If the evil one prepare, Or the world, a tempting snare, I am safe when I abide In Thy heart and wounded side. If the flesh, more dangerous still, Tempt my soul to deeds of ill, Naught I fear when I abide In Thy heart and wounded side. Death will come one day to me; Jesu, cast me not from Thee: Dying let me still abide In Thy heart and wounded side.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
    Lord’s Prayer (pew card)
    Prayer Response, George Whelpton

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

* HYMN No. 289: Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Ruth 1:1-17, Pew Bible, page 210

In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he and his wife and two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion; they were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. When they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Chilion also died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.
Then she started to return with her daughters-in-law from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had considered his people and given them food. So she set out from the place where she had been living, she and her two daughters-in-law, and they went on their way to go back to the land of Judah. But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back each of you to your mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant that you may find security, each of you in the house of your husband.” Then she kissed them, and they wept aloud. They said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? Turn back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me, even if I should have a husband tonight and bear sons, would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, it has been far more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the Lord has turned against me.” Then they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. So she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” But Ruth said, “Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; Where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die — there will I be buried. May the Lord do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!”

Mark 3:33-35, Pew Bible, page 815

And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God. 

SERMON: Finding Belonging in God’s People, Rev. Blaine Crawford

* CONFESSION OF FAITH, Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 55     

Q.     What do you understand by “the communion of saints”?

A.     First, that believers one and all, as members of this community, share in Christ and in all his treasures and gifts.  Second, that each member should consider it a duty to use these gifts readily and joyfully for the service and enrichment of the other members.

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
    Offertory: The Majesty and Glory of Your Name, Tom Fettke

When I gaze into the night skies and see the work of Your fingers; the moon and stars suspended in space.  Oh, what is man, that You are mindful of him?
You have given man a crown of glory and honor, and have made him a little lower than the angels.  You have put him in charge of all creation: the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, the fish of the sea.
But what is man that You are mindful of him?
O Lord, our God, the majesty and glory of Your name transcends the earth and fills the heavens.  
O Lord, our God, little children praise You perfectly, and so would we. Alleluia!

    * The Doxology(pew card)
    * Prayer of Dedication

* HYMN No. 661: Be Strong in the Lord

* BENEDICTION
      Response, John Newton

May the grace of Christ our Savior and the Father's boundless love, with the Holy Spirit's favor, rest upon us from above. Thus may we abide in union with each other and the Lord, and possess in sweet communion joys which earth cannot afford.

POSTLUDE: Voluntary, Seth Bingham

ANNOUNCEMENTS

OUR APPRECIATION FOR TODAY’S VOLUNTEERS:

Van Drivers: Gary LiBert (AM), Gerry Mendler (PM)
Coffee Hour Host: Rhoda Jabbour
Greeters: Linda Diez and Angela Edward
Children and Worship: Kathleen Bracken, Monique Jethwani-Keyser

BIBLE STUDY will not meet this Tuesday, October 20 and will resume October27 at 7:30 PM in the Folensbee Lounge.

MEN’S COMMUNION BREAKFAST: Next Sunday, October 25 at 9:30 AM in Gessner Hall. Pastor Blaine will be the speaker.  All men and boys are invited to attend. Cost $5 per person, no charge for Sunday School students and staff.

SYNODICAL ASSESSMENT (Pink Offering Envelope)

Last installment was due on October 5th. If you have not given a special offering for your assessment ($101.00 per member), please help us by making the payment.  The assessment is the amount we owe RCA for your membership.

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 MINISTRY: Volunteers are 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).

Also, if you need a ride to church on Sunday, speak with Gerry Mendler. 

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

PRAYER REQUESTS: Jorel Andaluz, Grace Attanasio, Donald Calfa, Allegra DeMelo, Ed Diercks, Dombrowski Family, Edythe Durney, Lucy Leung-Eng, Rob Gessner, Jenny Hampton, Richard Holm, Robert Keller, Karen Krieg, Fritz Kunisch, Ann McCaffrey-Amalfitano, Rev. John H. Meyer, John Molino, Keith Pearson, Dorothy Rama, Dorothy Reid, Josephine Rivera, Matthew Schulman, Peter Schumacher, Janice Serra, Carmela Stocchia, Emily Testut

September 13, 2015

PRELUDE:  All Glory Be to God on High, Paul Manz

SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
* PASSING OF THE PEACE
* Gloria Patri  (pew card)

* CALL TO WORSHIP, Connie Thorsen

Leader:     “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
People:    What did God do to help us?
Leader:    God placed us as image-bearers in the garden of life to tend and keep it.
People:    God gave us one another- “bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh”- for connection and intimacy.
Leader:    Let us worship the God of creation, maker of heaven and earth.

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

* PRAYER OF CONFESSION(unison)     

Author of life, we confess that we find ourselves caught up in other stories telling us who we are and who you are. We confess that we wander from story to story hoping to find meaning and peace. We confess that often we turn from your story in the pursuit of something novel. Forgive us, O Lord. May we again find our place in your story and be showered with your mercy and grace. Amen.

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

JUNIOR SERMON

ANTHEM:  Hear the Voice and Prayer, Thomas Tallis

Hear the voice and prayer of Thy servants which they make before Thee this day: that Thine eyes may be open toward this house day and night, even toward the place of which Thou hast said, "My name shall be there.  And when Thou hear'st have mercy upon them.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Genesis 2:4b-25, Pew Bible, page 2

These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created. In the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens,when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no one to till the ground; but a stream would rise from the earth, and water the whole face of the ground— then the LordGod formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being.
And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed. Out of the ground the Lord God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. A river flows out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it divides and becomes four branches. The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one that flows around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; and the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there. The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one that flows around the whole land of Cush. The name of the third river is Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.
And the Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.”
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.” So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner.
So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this one was taken.” Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed.

Mark 10:6-9, Pew Bible, page 822

But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

SERMON:  Finding Our Place in God’s Story, Rev. Blaine Crawford

* CONFESSION OF FAITH:  The Apostles’ Creed (pew card)

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
    Offertory:  If You Love Me, John Ness Beck

If you love me, keep my commandments.  If you love me, heed my law.  If you love me, keep my commandments. If you seek me, you shall surely find me; if you search for me with all your heart.

    * The Doxology(pew card)
    * Prayer of Dedication

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

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
    Lord’s Prayer (pew card)
    Prayer response, Felix Mendelssohn        

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee; he never will suffer the righteous to fall: he is at thy right hand. Thy mercy, Lord, is great and far above the heavens: let none be made ashamed that wait upon thee.

* HYMN No. 522: Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us

* BENEDICTION
    Response: Sevenfold Amen, Peter C. Lutkin

POSTLUDE:  Rigaudon, André Campra

OUR FLOWERS:  The left vase is given by Sue and Jim Nicholas in celebration of Bob Perless’ birthday.

The right vase is given in loving memory of Harvey Moder by his wife, Mary.

ANNOUNCEMENTS​

Church-wide BAR-B-QUE immediately after the service.  All are invited.  

OUR APPRECIATION FOR TODAY’S VOLUNTEERS:

Van Driver: Jorge Alamilla
Greeters: Carol Stark and Irma Schubert
Ushers: Sally Ann Castle, Ginny and Hong Chan, Irma Karle, Jeanne and Steve Sarran, Adriene and Bill Toy

BIBLE STUDY every Tuesday this Fall, 7:30 PM, Folensbee Lounge.

Volunteers are needed to assist with the driving of members to church on Sundays. If you can help, speak with Gerry Mendler or call (917) 362-6284 (day) or (718) 464-3464 (evening).

If you need a ride to church on Sunday, speak with Gerry Mendler. 

TO ALL WOMEN: WCC is hosting an ecumenical outreach and brunch, Sept. 19, 10 AM to 1 PM, encompassing all women from North Queens and Long Island churches.  Rev. Liz Testa, who was the liturgist at Pastor Blaine’s installation, is the guest speaker. RSVP to Judie Kellaway today.

COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – Please pick a date on the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in Gessner Hall or 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: Jorel Andaluz, Grace Attanasio, Donald Calfa, Allegra DeMelo, Ed Diercks, Dombrowski Family, Edythe Durney, Lucy Leung-Eng, Rob Gessner, Jenny Hampton, Richard Holm, Robert Keller, Karen Krieg, Fritz Kunisch, Ann McCaffrey-Amalfitano, Rev. John H. Meyer, John Molino, Michael Patras, Keith Pearson, Dorothy Rama, Dorothy Reid, Josephine Rivera, Matthew Schulman, Peter Schumacher, Janice Serra, Carmela Stocchia, Emily Testut

August 30, 2015

PRELUDE:

Prelude and Fugue in d, Johann Sebastian Bach
God's Time is the Best, Johann Sebastian Bach

SALUTATION AND WELCOME, Dorien Day
* CELEBRATION OF FRIENDSHIP
* SANCTUS (pew card)

* CALL TO WORSHIP         

Leader:    By wisdom, the LORD founded the earth and established the heavens.
People:    In Christ are hidden all knowledge and wisdom; in Christ, we live and move and have our being.
Leader:    Wisdom cries out in the street and raises her voice in the square.
People:    Make your ear attentive to wisdom; incline your heart to understanding.
Leader:    Jesus calls out in the village and summons on the hillside:
People:    Let anyone with ears to hear, listen to what I am saying.
Leader:    The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
People:    The grace of our LORD is the beginning of faith.
Leader:    Come, let us worship God together.     

* HYMN No. 41:  Stand Up and Bless the Lord

* PRAYER OF CONFESSION(unison)     

Forgive us our sins, O Lord. Forgive us the sins of our youth and the sins of our age, the sins of our soul and the sins of our body, our secret and our whispering sins, our presumptuous and our careless sins, the sins we have done to please ourselves, andthe sins we have done to please others. Forgive us the sins that we know, and the sins that we know not; forgive them, O Lord, forgive them all because of your great goodness. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

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

ACT OF PRAISE:  God is My Shepherd, Antonín Dvořák

Sora Choi, alto

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

* HYMN No. 498:  I Love to Tell the Story

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Proverbs 10:22-32, Pew Bible, page 517

The blessing of the Lord makes rich,
and he adds no sorrow with it.
Doing wrong is like sport to a fool,
but wise conduct is pleasure to a person of understanding.
What the wicked dread will come upon them,
but the desire of the righteous will be granted.
When the tempest passes, the wicked are no more,
but the righteous are established forever.
Like vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes,
so are the lazy to their employers.
The fear of the Lord prolongs life,
but the years of the wicked will be short.
The hope of the righteous ends in gladness,
but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing.
The way of the Lord is a stronghold for the upright,
but destruction for evildoers.
The righteous will never be removed,
but the wicked will not remain in the land.
The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,
but the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.

James 3:1-12, Pew Bible, page 981

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.

THE SERMON:  The Power of Words, Maudelin Willock

WORSHIP OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
    Offering
    Offertory:  O Rest in the Lord, Felix Mendelssohn
    * The Doxology(pew card)      
    * Prayer of Dedication

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

* HYMN No. 702:  I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord

* BENEDICTION
      Response

POSTLUDE:  Jesu, Priceless Treasure, Johann Sebastian Bach

TODAY WE WELCOME BACK Maudelin Willock to our pulpit. Maudelin is a recent graduate of New Brunswick Theological Seminary.  She is a member of Grace Reformed Church of Flatbush (Brooklyn), where she leads the Mission and Outreach Ministry. Maudelin and Pastor Blaine are working together on the Commission for Women in the RCA.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

APPRECIATIONS: We thank Sora Choi for sharing her musical talents to enhance our worship service.

OUR WORSHIP HOURS will continue at the 10:00 AM hour through next week, Labor Day Sunday, September 6.

TO ALL WOMEN: WCC is hosting an ecumenical outreach and brunch, Sept. 19, 10 AM – 1 PM, encompassing all women from North Queens and Long Island churches.  Rev. Liz Testa, who was the liturgist at Pastor Blaine’s installation is the guest speaker. RSVP to Judie Kellaway (718) 343-4688 before Sept. 5.

Women’s Homeless Shelter

Our church provides shelter every Friday night, year round, for up to 10 grateful women. This ministry needs your assistance to provide dinner, stay for a few hours or sleepover. The work is easy and fulfilling. Seasonal professional clothes, socks and underwear donations are appreciated as well. Please contact Maureen Saepia-Chen at 917-797-3031 or email.

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. 

PRAYER REQUESTS: Jorel Andaluz, Grace Attanasio, Donald Calfa, Allegra DeMelo, Ed Diercks, Dombrowski Family, Edythe Durney, Lucy Leung-Eng, Rob Gessner, Jenny Hampton, Richard Holm, Robert Keller, Karen Krieg, Fritz Kunisch, Ann McCaffrey-Amalfitano, Rev. John H. Meyer, John Molino, Michael Patras, Keith Pearson, Dorothy Rama, Dorothy Reid, Josephine Rivera, Matthew Schulman, Peter Schumacher, Janice Serra, Carmela Stocchia, Emily Testut