December 18, 2016

ORDER FOR WORSHIP

FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT

* Congregation stands

BOLD – Congregation responds

PRELUDE         Deborah Im          

SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

* PASSING OF THE PEACE

* Sanctus (pew card)             

* CALL TO WORSHIP        Michael, Laurie, Lexie, and Junie Chan  

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel. Stir up your might and come to save us!

Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one whom you made strong for yourself.

Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Then we will never turn back from you; give us life when we call on your name.

Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.                             

* HYMN No. 151        Go, Tell It on the Mountain

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Lord, we have not kept watch for you. We have occupied ourselves with our own concerns. We have not noticed the needs of the people around us. Forgive us for our lack of watchfulness.

(Silent personal prayers of confession)

Lord, have mercy. 

Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Amen.    

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

This is God’s Word of grace:

We are accepted, we are forgiven, we are loved.

SUMMARY OF THE LAW

Herein is the wisdom of God for the people of God.

May God grant us the grace and courage to live in this way.

Gloria Patri (pew card)

ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING  

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; the one who follows me will not walk in darkness but have the light of life.”

Come and lead your people into the way of salvation.

Isaiah says: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined. . . . Then [God’s] light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

We light these candles as a sign of the coming light of Christ.

(Lighting of the fourth candle)

Come, Lord Jesus, our light and our life.

Until that day, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Lord’s Prayer (pew card)

Prayer Response    O Jesus    Franck                     

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

    Lord God, may your Word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

    Speak, O Lord, for your servants are listening.

SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Isaiah 7:10-16        p. 554    

Matthew 1:18-25        p. 783

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS

Offertory:            The Holy City    Stephen Adams

Glenn Alamilla, tenor    

* The Doxology (pew card)      

* Prayer of Dedication

* CONFESSION OF FAITH           Belgic Confession, Article 18        

So then we confess that God fulfilled the promise made to the early fathers and mothers by the mouth of the holy prophets when he sent the only and eternal Son of God into the world at the time appointed. The Son took the “form of a slave” and was made in “human form,” truly assuming a real human nature, with all its weaknesses, except for sin…. In this way Christ is truly our Immanuel—that is: “God with us.” 

TABLEAU OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST

Sunday School and Chancel Choir:

Gabriel’s Message                          Chancel Choir
How Quietly                                   Sunday School and Chancel Choir

Love Came Down at Christmas     Sunday School and Chancel Choir
Silent Night                                    Sunday School and Chancel Choir    

Congregational Hymns:

O Little Town of Bethlehem    No. 155, stanza 1

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel              No. 133, stanza 1

O Come, All Ye Faithful              No. 173, all stanzas 

(During this hymn, White Christmas gifts will be offered.)

* BENEDICTION 

Response             

POSTLUDE 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE - Saturday, Dec. 24, 8:00 P.M. Followed by a wassail hour in Gessner Hour.  All are invited.

CHRISTMAS MORNING SERVICE – Sunday, Dec. 25, 11:00 A.M.

CHURCH OFFICE & BUILDING WILL BE CLOSED the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, except for worship services.  We will re-open on Tuesday, January 3, 2017.

2017 AUCTION - Saturday, Jan. 7, in Gessner Hall.  If you have small, easily transportable items to donate, WE WILL PICK UP YOUR DONATIONS. We do not take very heavy items or large furniture.  Call the Church Office or Emerson Chen (917) 881-1868.   

COOKIES NEEDED - Will you give the Church on the Hill a box of home-baked cookies for the Wassail Hour on Christmas Eve after the Candlelight Service? Mark the box "Christmas Eve Cookies" and bring it to the kitchen on Christmas Eve before the service or to the Church office during the week. Thank you.

2017 offering envelopes are at the entrance of the church.  If you do not see your box and would like one, put your name on the sign-up sheet.  

PRAYER LIST

Helga Brenner-Khan, Allegra DeMelo, Lynne Johnson, Robert Keller, Sal Lombardo, Marie Mark, Ann McCaffrey-Amalfitano, James McCreary, Eva Munoz, Joan Pearson, Keith Pearson, Edie Petry,  Dorothy Reid, Kook Ryo, Debra & Greg Sparrow, Mary Ann Sullivan

December 11, 2016

ORDER FOR WORSHIP

THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT

* Congregation stands

BOLD – Congregation responds

PRELUDE Nathalie Wang, organist  

SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

* PASSING OF THE PEACE

* Sanctus (pew card)

* CALL TO WORSHIP         Judie & Buck Kellaway

My soul magnifies the Lord, 

And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

For God has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servants.

For the Mighty One has done great things for us, and holy

is God’s name.

Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob! 

Blessed are those whose hope is in the LORD their God!

* HYMN No. 135 Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Almighty and merciful God, in your presence we confess

that we have erred and strayed from your ways. We have

left undone those things which we ought to have done and

we have done those things which we ought not to have

done. Forgive us our sins.

(Silent personal prayers for confession)

Lord, have mercy. 

Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

This is God’s Word of grace:

We are accepted, we are forgiven, we are loved.

SUMMARY OF THE LAW

Herein is the wisdom of God for the people of God.

May God grant us the grace and courage to live in this way.

Gloria Patri (pew card)

ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; the one who follows me will not walk in darkness but have the light of life.”

Come and lead your people into the way of salvation.

Isaiah 49:6 reads: The LORD says to his servant, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

We light these candles as a sign of the coming light of Christ.

(Lighting of the third candle)

Come, Lord Jesus, our light and our life.

Until that day, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

JUNIOR SERMON

ANTHEM: Springs in the Desert Arthur B. Jennings

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Lord’s Prayer (pew card)

Prayer Response O Jesus Franck

* HYMN No. 192 O Sing a Song of Bethlehem

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

Lord God, may your Word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

Speak, O Lord, for your servants are listening.

SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Isaiah 35:1-10 (p. 578)

James 5:7-10 (p. 982)

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

SERMON          Walking on the Holy Way           Rev. Blaine Crawford

* CONFESSION OF FAITH:

Apostles’ Creed (pew card)

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS

Offertory:   In the Bleak Midwinter Gustav Holst

* The Doxology (pew card)

* Prayer of Dedication

* HYMN No. 187 Jesus, Come! for We Invite You

* BENEDICTION

         Response  

POSTLUDE

 

PRAYER LIST

Please remember the following in your prayers:

Helga Brenner-Khan, Allegra DeMelo, Lynne Johnson, Robert

Keller, Marie Mark, Ann McCaffrey-Amalfitano, James McCreary,

Eva Munoz, Joan Pearson, Keith Pearson, Edie Petry, Dorothy

Reid, Kook Ryo, Debra & Greg Sparrow, Mary Ann Sullivan

ANNOUNCEMENTS

December 11, 2106

WE THANK NATHALIE WANG for serving as our organist today.

BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE - Friday, Dec. 16, 7:30 P.M.

Are you anticipating a Blue Christmas? For many, “the most wonderful time of the year” is anything but. Join us at Church on the Hill for an inspirational service of song, meditation, comfort, and hope.  This will be an ecumenical service with Grace Episcopal Church of Whitestone and First Presbyterian Church of Whitestone.

CRAWFORD HOLIDAY PARTY - Saturday, Dec. 17, 3:00-6:30 P.M.

Blaine and Brittnee Crawford invite the congregation to the parsonage (168- 03 35th Avenue) for a holiday open house. Drop in as you are able-- there will be plenty of food and holiday cheer!

WHITE CHRISTMAS SERVICE - Sunday, Dec. 18, 11:00 A.M.

Tableau of the Nativity of Christ. Bring your White Christmas gifts to be presented. Pick up your cards for the gifts in Gessner Hall.

CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE - Saturday, Dec. 24, 8:00 P.M. Followed by a wassail hour in Gessner Hour. All are invited.

CHRISTMAS MORNING SERVICE – Sunday, Dec. 25, 11:00 A.M.

CHURCH OFFICE & BUILDING WILL BE CLOSED the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, except for worship services. We will re- open on Tuesday, January 3, 2017.

2017 AUCTION - Saturday, Jan. 7, in Gessner Hall. If you have small, easily transportable items to donate, WE WILL PICK UP YOUR DONATIONS. We do not take very heavy items or large furniture. Call the Church Office or Emerson Chen (917) 881-1868.

December 4, 2016

 

ORDER FOR WORSHIP

SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT

* Congregation stands

BOLD – Congregation responds

PRELUDE         Nathalie Wang, organist                

SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

* PASSING OF THE PEACE

* Sanctus (pew card)             

 

* CALL TO WORSHIP        Gary LiBert

Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king's son.

May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.

May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor.

In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the moon is no more.

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.

Blessed be his glorious name forever; may his glory fill the whole earth. 

* HYMN No. 138        Savior of the Nations, Come

PRAYER OF CONFESSION 

Lord Jesus, we confess our willingness to be loved but also our reluctance to love.

We confess our readiness to accept your forgiveness but also our refusal to forgive.

We confess our eagerness to grasp the life you offer but also our resistance to follow you with our whole being.

Forgive us, gracious God.

(Silent personal prayers for confession)

Lord, have mercy. 

Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

This is God’s Word of grace:

We are accepted, we are forgiven, we are loved.

SUMMARY OF THE LAW

Herein is the wisdom of God for the people of God.

May God grant us the grace and courage to live in this way.

Gloria Patri (pew card)

ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING  Jerry Good & Marion Durney

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; the one who follows me will not walk in darkness but have the light of life.”

Come and lead your people into the way of salvation.

In Isaiah 42:16, God says, “I will lead the blind by a road they do not know, by the paths they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I will do and I will not forsake them.

We light these candles as a sign of the coming light of Christ.

(Lighting of the second candle)

Come, Lord Jesus, our light and our life.

Until that day, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

JUNIOR SERMON

ANTHEM:      E’en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come      Manz               

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Lord’s Prayer (pew card)

Prayer Response    O Jesus    Franck                     

* HYMN No. 132                         Comfort, Comfort Now My People

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

Lord God, may your Word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

Speak, O Lord, for your servants are listening.

SCRIPTURE READINGS:                 Joan Werbel & Dorothea Zelnick    

Isaiah 11:1-10        p. 558    

Romans 15:4-13        p. 924

          This is the Word of the Lord.

          Thanks be to God.

SERMON                          Rev. Blaine Crawford

"Walking in the Spirit of the Messiah"

* CONFESSION OF FAITH:        

Apostles’ Creed (pew card) 

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS

Offertory:            There’s a Light-a-comin’      Lantz III    

* The Doxology (pew card)      

 Prayer of Dedication

* HYMN No. 133        O Come, O Come, Emmanuel     

* BENEDICTION 

 Response             

POSTLUDE

If you are in need of prayer, you are invited to the front of the sanctuary at the conclusion of the service. One of the elders of the church will be available to pray for you.

All are invited to join us downstairs in Gessner Hall for coffee hour.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

December 4, 2016

OUR FLOWERS – The left arrangement is given by Mary Moder in loving memory of her husband Harvey Moder.  The right arrangement is given by the Ridder Church Renewal Team.  The white roses are given in memory of our children who are safely home with our Heavenly Father. 

We thank Nathalie Wang for serving as our organist today. 

WCC LUNCHEON & PROGRAM – Saturday, December 10, 1:00 P.M. COTH Thespians will perform at 2:00 P.M. All women are invited.

BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE - Friday, December 16, 7:30 P.M.

Are you anticipating a Blue Christmas?  For many, “the most wonderful time of the year” is anything but.  Join us at Church on the Hill for an inspirational service of song, meditation, comfort, and hope.  This will be an ecumenical service with Grace Episcopal Church of Whitestone and First Presbyterian Church of Whitestone.

CRAWFORD HOLIDAY PARTY - Saturday, December 17, 3:00-6:30 P.M. Blaine and Brittnee Crawford invite the congregation to the parsonage (168-03 35th Avenue) for a holiday open house.  Drop in as you are able--there will be plenty of food and holiday cheer!

White Christmas Service - Sunday, December 18, 11:00 A.M. Tableau of the Nativity of Christ.  Bring your White Christmas gifts to be presented.  Pick up your cards for the gifts in Gessner Hall.

AUCTION 2017- Saturday, January 7, in Gessner Hall.  If you have small, easily transportable items to donate, WE WILL PICK UP YOUR DONATIONS. We do not take very heavy items or large furniture.  Call the Church Office or Emerson Chen (917) 881-1868.   

PRAYER REQUESTS: Helga Brenner-Khan, Rosemarie Dappio, Allegra DeMelo, Lynne Johnson, Robert Keller, Marie Mark, Ann McCaffrey-Amalfitano, James McCreary, Eva Munoz, Joan Pearson, Keith Pearson, Edie Petry,  Dorothy Reid, Kook Ryo, Debra & Greg Sparrow, Mary Ann Sullivan

November 27, 2016

AN INVITATION

During this season of Advent, you are invited to prepare yourself for an encounter with Jesus.  Please take time before the worship service to silently reflect and pray.  To aid you in this time of preparation, you may use the printed reflections and prayers.  Please be considerate of others as we seek to create a space for contemplation and reflection during the season.

Reflections

“I wait on the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope; 
my soul waits for the Lord,
more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.
~Psalm 130:5-6
“Active waiting means to be present fully to the moment, in the conviction that something is happening where you are and that you want to be present to it. A waiting person is someone who is present to the moment, who believes that this moment is the moment.” 
~Henri Nouwen

Prayer for the Week

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

The Meaning of Advent

“The season of Advent, a season of waiting, is designed to cultivate our awareness of God’s actions—past, present, and future. In Advent we hear the prophecies of the Messiah’s coming as addressed to us—people who wait for the second coming. In Advent we heighten our anticipation for the ultimate fulfillment of all Old Testament promises, when the wolf will lie down with the lamb, death will be swallowed up, and every tear will be wiped away. In this way Advent highlights for us the larger story of God’s redemptive plan.” 
from The Worship Sourcebook

 

ORDER FOR WORSHIP

FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT

PRELUDE         Nathalie Wang, organist             

SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

* PASSING OF THE PEACE

* GLORIA PATRI(pew card)             

* CALL TO WORSHIP        Elizabeth and Patrick Mahowald    

You know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep.

For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers.

The night is far gone, the day is near.

Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Come, let us wait upon the LORD.

For the light of Christ is a light for our feet and a lamp for our path.              

* HYMN No. 161    Once in Royal David’s City

PRAYER OF CONFESSION  

O God, we live as if the light had never defeated the darkness in the world or in us.  We confess that we ignore the Christ you sent to be among us, to be in us.  We have forgotten the promise of your kingdom and we get distracted by all the busyness of this season.  Forgive us, God.

(Silent personal prayers for confession)

Lord, have mercy. 

Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

This is God’s Word of grace:

We are accepted, we are forgiven, we are loved.

SUMMARY OF THE LAW

Herein is the wisdom of God for the people of God.

May God grant us the grace and the courage to live in this way.

Advent Candle Lighting

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; the one who follows me will not walk in darkness but have the light of life.”

Come and lead your people into the way of salvation.

Isaiah 9:2 reads, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined.”

We light this candle as a sign of the coming light of Christ.

(Lighting of the first candle)

Come, Lord Jesus, our light and our life.

Until that day, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

JUNIOR SERMON

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

Elizabeth Mahowald

Dorian Day

Patrick Mahowald 

Emerson Chen

Prayer of Illumination

Lord God, may your Word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

Speak, O Lord, for your servants are listening.

SCRIPTURE READINGS:    

Isaiah 2:1-5    p. 550        

          Romans 13:11-14        p. 923

           This is the Word of the Lord.

           Thanks be to God.

SERMON                      Walking in the Light    Rev. Blaine Crawford

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

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS

         Offertory:                       O Come, O Come, Emmanuel    translated by John M. Neale

Elizabeth Mahowald

Patrick Mahowald, guitar

Simon Walsh, flute

        * 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: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. 

          Words of Institution

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Lord’s Prayer (pew card)

Prayer Response

* HYMN No. 135    Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus     

* BENEDICTION 

     Response             

POSTLUDE

If you are in need of prayer, you are invited to the front of the sanctuary at the conclusion of the service.  One of the elders of the church will offer prayers for you.

 

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. 

WCC LUNCHEON & PROGRAM – Saturday, December 10th, 1:00 P.M. COTH Thespians will perform at 2:00 P.M. All women are invited.

BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE - Friday, December 16th, 7:30 P.M.

Are you anticipating a Blue Christmas?  For many, “the most wonderful time of the year” is anything but.  Join us at Church on the Hill in the sanctuary for an inspirational service of song, meditation, comfort, and hope.  This will be an ecumenical service with Grace Episcopal Church of Whitestone and First Presbyterian Church of Whitestone.

CRAWFORD HOLIDAY PARTY - Saturday, December 17th, 3:00-6:30 P.M. 

Blaine and Brittnee Crawford invite the congregation to the parsonage for a holiday open house.  Drop in as you are able--there will be plenty of food and holiday cheer!

White Christmas Service - Sunday, December 18th, 11:00 A.M. Tableau of the Nativity of Christ.  Bring your White Christmas gifts to be presented.

AUCTION 2017- Saturday, January 7th, in Gessner Hall.  If you have small, easily transportable items to donate, WE WILL PICK UP YOUR DONATIONS. We do not take very heavy items or large furniture.  Call the Church Office or Emerson Chen (917) 881-1868.   

 

PRAYER LIST

 Remember the following individuals in your daily prayer.

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