September 25, 2016

PRELUDE         Nathalie Wang, organist              

SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

* PASSING OF THE PEACE

* SANCTUS (pew card)         

* CALL TO WORSHIP        Gerry Mendler

Praise the LORD! 

Praise the LORD, O my soul!

I will praise the LORD as long as I live; 

I will sing praises to my God all my life long.

Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help.

Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God.                        

* HYMN No. 517    The Solid Rock

* PRAYER OF CONFESSION     

Forgive our faithlessness, O faithful God! And see beyond our apathy, our thoughtlessness, our self-centeredness, our wrong choices. See into our hearts, for you are our treasure. By your grace and through your mercy, teach us your ways and write them on our hearts so that we may follow faithfully the path you show us. Amen.

* KYRIE (pew card)

* ASSURANCE OF PARDON

* SUMMARY OF THE LAW

Herein is wisdom.

Glory be to God.

* GLORIA PATRI (pew card)

JUNIOR SERMON

ANTHEM:      Lord, for Thy Tender Mercies’ Sake    Farrant           

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

    Lord’s Prayer (pew card)

    Prayer Response:    May the Words    Kaiser                     

* HYMN No. 538    I Need Thee Every Hour

SCRIPTURE READINGS:    

   Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15    p. 643        

        1 Timothy 6:6-19        p. 965

            This is the Word of the Lord.

            Thanks be to God.

SERMON                      Hoping for God    Rev. Blaine Crawford

* CONFESSION OF FAITH:        Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 28        

How does knowledge of God’s creation and providence help us?

We can be patient when things go against us, thankful when things go well, and for the future we can have good confidence in our faithful God and Father that nothing will separate us from his love.

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS

Offertory:            You Are Mine    Hayes    

    * The Doxology (pew card)      

    * Prayer of Dedication

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

* BENEDICTION 

     Response:    Sevenfold Amen    Stainer             

POSTLUDE

Announcements

We thank Nathalie Wang for serving as our organist today. Nathalie studied organ at the Royal Academy of Music in London at the Juilliard School of Music. She has performed in recitals in Shanghai, London, Denmark and New York. 

BIBLE STUDY – Every Tuesday, 7:30 P.M., Folensbee Lounge

LOOKING AHEAD – Mark your calendars!

Sun. Oct. 2    11:00 AM    Worldwide Communion Service

                             12:00 PM    YPF Fundraiser – see announcement below

Sat. Oct. 15    1:00 PM    WCC Luncheon
Sun. Oct. 16    9:30 AM    Men’s Communion Breakfast – see insert

Apples and Apple Crisp Sale- Next Sunday, October 2nd: During the coffee hour, the YPF will be selling freshly picked and baked apples and apple crisps to help support their mission trip activities. Thank you so much for your support!

Donations for the Food for Kids Ministry should be brought to the Church office.  Every Friday, during the school year, this food will be given to families in need in Jamaica, New York. 

Prayer List

Remember the following individuals in your daily prayer:

Helga Brenner-Khan, Rosemarie Dappio, Allegra DeMelo, Lynne Johnson, Marie Mark, Ann McCaffrey-Amalfitano, Joan Pearson, Keith Pearson, Dorothy Reid, Kook Ryo, Debra & Greg Sparrow, Mary Ann Sullivan 

September 18, 2016

PRELUDE:    “Duo, Suite du Ile Ton”    Clérambault                         

SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

* PASSING OF THE PEACE

* SANCTUS (pew card)             

* CALL TO WORSHIP        Steve Sarran

Stand in the gate of the LORD’s house, and proclaim there this word:

Hear the word of the LORD, all you people, you that enter these gates to worship the LORD.

Hear the word of the LORD: amend your ways and your doings and let me dwell with you in this place.

This is the temple of the LORD and the LORD has drawn near.                             

* HYMN No. 669    God of Grace and God of Glory

* PRAYER OF CONFESSION 

Holy and merciful God, in your presence we confess our sinfulness. You alone know how often we have sinned in wandering from your ways and in forgetting your love.  You alone know how we do not bat an eye or shed a tear at the evil around us.  Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we are ashamed and sorry for turning away from the pain and hurt in the world.  Forgive our sins and fill our hearts with your Spirit. Amen.

* KYRIE (pew card)

* ASSURANCE OF PARDON

* SUMMARY OF THE LAW

     Herein is wisdom.

     Glory be to God.

* GLORIA PATRI (pew card)

JUNIOR SERMON  

ANTHEM:      Lord We Pray Thee    Haydn          

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

    Lord’s Prayer (pew card)

    Prayer Response    In Heavenly Love    Mendelssohn         

* HYMN No. 612    How Firm a Foundation

SCRIPTURE READINGS:    Jeremiah 8:18-9:1    p. 619        

                                            1 Timothy 2:1-7        p. 963

                    This is the Word of the Lord.

                    Thanks be to God.

SERMON                      Crying to God         Rev. Blaine Crawford

* CONFESSION OF FAITH:        

    Apostles’ Creed (pew card) 

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS

         Offertory:            Teach Me, O Lord    Attwood    

    * The Doxology (pew card)      

    * Prayer of Dedication

* HYMN No. 514    Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine     

* BENEDICTION 

     Response:    Sevenfold Amen    Stainer             

POSTLUDE:    “Récit de nazard, Suite du Ile Ton”      Clérambault

    ***********************

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ALL ARE INVITED to the BBQ after the worship service. We will also be celebrating those with birthdays in July, August and September.

OUR FLOWERS are given by Kathryn Schneider in loving memory of her mother, Phyllis Schneider to mark the 10th anniversary of her death on September 8. 

We thank Nathalie Wang for serving as our organist today. Nathalie studied organ at the Royal Academy of Music in London at the Julliard School of Music. She has performed in recitals in Shanghai, London, Denmark and New York. 

BULLETIN CHANGE – The prayer list in the bulletin has started anew.  If you would like the church to pray for someone, please let Barbara know so that the name will be included in the list.

Apples and Apple Crisp Sale-Sunday, October 2nd: During the coffee hour, the YPF will be selling freshly picked and baked apples and apple crisps to help support their mission trip activities. Thank you so much for your support!

September 11, 2016

PRELUDE:    Voluntary VII    John Stanley         

    Nathalie Wang, organist         

SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

* PASSING OF THE PEACE

* SANCTUS (pew card)             

* CALL TO WORSHIP (based on Psalm 14)    Nancy Gessner

Leader:    The foolish say, "There is no God! We are alone, on our own."

People:     We gather to declare the glory of God in our lives.

Leader:     The foolish say, "It is your life; you are accountable to no one."

People:     We gather, strengthened by the Spirit, trusting that Christ dwells in our hearts.

Leader:    The foolish say, "Everything I have is mine; I owe nothing to anyone."

People:    We gather to praise the One who calls us to serve others in love.

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

* PRAYER OF CONFESSION  (unison)     

God of wisdom, we confess the foolishness of our ways, and our failure to follow you in your paths of right relationships –with you and with others. We have gone astray; we feel lost. We have upheld our own interests first, to the detriment of others. We have failed to be generous with the poor, and abandoned our efforts to bring about justice. We feel the stains of our sins, God; have mercy on us according to your steadfast love. Wash the sinfulness out of us, and help us to live more faithfully as your servants. We seek your unfailing Lordship and ask for your guiding hand on our lives. You are the immortal, invisible One; to you be honor and glory forever; amen.

* KYRIE (pew card)

* ASSURANCE OF PARDON

* SUMMARY OF THE LAW

Leader:    Herein is wisdom.

People:    Glory be to God.

* Gloria Patri(pew card)

THE ACT OF PRAISE        He, Watching Over Israel     Mendelssohn

Elizabeth Mahowald, Sora Choi, Emerson Chen, James Nicholas      

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

    Lord’s Prayer (pew card)

    Response     Cast Thy Burden upon the Lord     Mendelssohn         

* HYMN No. 62    Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise     

SCRIPTURE READINGS    1 Timothy 1:12-17    Pg. 961 

                                          Luke 15:1-10    Pg. 850

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

SERMON                        Living with Faith and Hope    Sally Ann Castle

* CONFESSION OF FAITH     based on the Belhar Confession

We share one faith, have one calling, are of one soul and one mind; have one God and Father, are filled with one Spirit, are baptized with one baptism, 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; are built up to the stature of Christ, to the new humanity; know and bear one another's burdens, thereby fulfilling the law of Christ that we need one another and up build one another, admonishing and comforting one another; that we suffer with one another for the sake of righteousness. Together we pray; together we serve God in this world.

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS

         Offertory:    How Lovely Are the Messengers    Mendelssohn

    * The Doxology(pew card)      

    * Prayer of Dedication

* HYMN No. 649    We Give Thee but Thine Own   

Blessing of Little Dresses for Africa

Leader: God of love and comfort today we celebrate one of the ministries of Church on the Hill. We give thanks for the opportunity to share a tangible gift, little dresses, with children in need. Without even knowing who would receive them, these little dresses were made specifically for the children who will receive them.

People: May they see the intricate love and care given to the making of these dresses, mirroring the intricate love and care that God bestows on all people.

Woman #1: These dresses were made to bring comfort to children who feel unworthy.

People: May they feel comfort in knowing that someone prayed for them as they pieced it together.

Woman #2: These dresses were made to bring peace to little girls in need of love and prayer.

People: May they feel the power of our prayers as they feel the garments on their bodies.

Woman #3: These dresses were made to remind the recipients that they are part of God’s community.

People: May they feel touched by our love, moved by our support and lifted up by our prayers.

All: God of creation, redemption and sustaining grace, we praise you for the opportunity to take part in this ministry so that we might see a world beyond ours. We thank you for putting those in need on our hearts and in our minds so that we might fully live out your call to love and serve. We ask that you bless these dresses and those who will receive them. May they feel the love comfort and peace of your presence. May your light shine in them and be a beacon of the hope that is promised to all of us Amen.

Benediction: 

Leader: May the power of the Holy Spirit live and breathe within each one of us, through these little dresses and through the lives they will touch.

People: Shower us all with your loving grace, O God. Amen.

* BENEDICTION

     Response     Sevenfold Amen     Stainer         

POSTLUDE:    Trio Sonata II    J.S. Bach

OUR APPRECIATIONS

We welcome Sally Ann Castle to our pulpit today. She is a May 2016 graduate of the RCA’s New Brunswick Theological Seminary, where she received her Master of Divinity Degree with honors. A native of Queens and lifelong member of the Reformed Church, Sally Ann is a Candidate for Ministry Under Care of the Queens Classis who comes with strong local church leadership experience as Elder and worship leader at the Church on the Hill (RCA) in Flushing. Sally Ann is currently seeking a ministry position in the pastoral care/chaplaincy field.

We thank Nathalie Wang for serving as our organist today. Nathalie was born in Shanghai, China, where she began studying piano at the age of five.  On full scholarship, Ms. Wang studied organ at the Royal Academy of Music in London under Nicolas Kynaston.  Later, she continued her studies at the Julliard School of Music with Paul Jacobs.  She had masterclasses with several renowned professors including Matthew Martin, James O’Donnell, Lionel Rogg, Anne Page, William McVicker, and Oliver Latry. Ms. Wang has performed in recitals in Shanghai, London, Denmark and New York. 

We thank Emerson Chen, Sora Choi, Elizabeth Mahowald and James Nicholas for sharing their musical talents to enhance our worship service.

September 4, 2016

PRELUDE, Nathalie Wang, organist         

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

* CALL TO WORSHIP, Emerson Chen

Leader:    Let us worship God!
People:     He is our refuge and our fortress, our God, in whom we trust.
Leader:    Let us confess with our mouths, “Jesus is Lord!”
People:     Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Leader:    Let us call upon God, believing him in our hearts, confessing him with our mouths, and worshiping him in spirit and in truth.

* HYMN No. 60, Great Is Thy Faithfulness

* PRAYER OF CONFESSION(unison)     

Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart and mind and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us amend what we are, and direct what we shall be, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, through Christ, our Lord.  Amen. 

* KYRIE (pew card)
* ASSURANCE OF PARDON

* SUMMARY OF THE LAW
Leader:    Herein is wisdom.
People:    Glory be to God.

ANTHEM: O Rest in the Lord, Mendelssohn

Sora Choi

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Jeremiah 18:1-11, Pew Bible, page 629

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Come, go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as seemed good to him. Then the word of the Lordcame to me: Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done? says the Lord. Just like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. At one moment I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, but if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will change my mind about the disaster that I intended to bring on it. And at another moment I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, but if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will change my mind about the good that I had intended to do to it.

Now, therefore, say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Thus says the Lord: Look, I am a potter shaping evil against you and devising a plan against you. Turn now, all of you from your evil way, and amend your ways and your doings.

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.

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

SERMON: Formed for Faithfulness, Rev. Blaine Crawford

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

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
         Offertory:  He Shall Feed His Flock Like a Shepherd, Handel
        Sora Choi             
    * 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)
    Response: Here Our Prayer, O Lord, Whelpton         

* HYMN No. 648: O Jesus, I Have Promised

* BENEDICTION
      * Response: Sevenfold Amen, Stainer

POSTLUDE     

---

ANNOUNCEMENTS

OUR APPRECIATIONS:

We thank Nathalie Wang for serving as our organist today. Nathalie was born in Shanghai, China, where she began studying piano at the age of five.  On full scholarship, Ms. Wang studied organ at the Royal Academy of Music in London under Nicolas Kynaston.  Later, she continued her studies at the Julliard School of Music with Paul Jacobs.  She had masterclasses with several renowned professors including Matthew Martin, James O’Donnell, Lionel Rogg, Anne Page, William McVicker, and Oliver Latry. Ms. Wang has performed in recitals in Shanghai, London, Denmark and New York. 

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

LOOKING AHEAD – Mark your calendars!

• Sun. Sept. 11    11:00 AM    Worship Service    

        6:00 PM    Retirement Celebration for Andrew Andela

• Tues. Sept. 13    7:30 PM    Bible Study
• Thurs. Sept. 15    10:00 AM     Bargain Boutique re-opens

        7:30 PM    Choir Rehearsal

• Sat. Sept. 17    10:00 AM    Ecumenical Women’s Fall Brunch

            Community Reformed Church

            90 Plandome Road, Manhasset, NY

• Sun. Sept. 18    9:30 AM    Sunday School Classes begin

                (Kindergarten through High School)

            11:00 AM    Worship Service

            12:00 PM    Church BBQ

BULLETIN CHANGE – Beginning September 18, a new Sunday bulletin with minor changes will be used.  The prayer list in the bulletin will be started anew.  If you would like the church to continue to pray for someone currently on the list, please let Barbara know so that the name will be included in the new bulletin

PRAYER REQUESTS: Jorel Andaluz, Bermudez Family, Dora Bramble, Helga Brenner-Khan, Donald Calfa, Marilyn Cooney, Jaynie d’Agostino, Allegra DeMelo, Dombrowski Family, Jolie Dunham, Jenny Hampton, Richard Holm, Lynne Johnson, Robert Keller, Karen Krieg, Fritz Kunisch, Lynn Lauterbach, Marie Mark, Ann McCaffrey-Amalfitano, Claudia Mellett, John Molino, Denise Moran, Joan Pearson, Keith Pearson, Dorothy Rama, Dorothy Reid, Josephine Rivera, Isabelita Rueda, Carmela Stocchia, Lynne Sullivan, Mary Ann Sullivan