February 11, 2018

 

ORDER FOR WORSHIP

 

PRELUDE:              Prelude in c-minor BWV 537                    J.S. Bach                                                                                                            

SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

* PASSING OF THE PEACE

* SANCTUS (pew card)                                                       

 

* CALL TO WORSHIP                                                              Joe Macaluso                                                                                                                        

The Lord is Sovereign; let the people tremble in awe.

God is enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth shake.

The Lord is great in Zion and is high above all peoples.

Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God,

and worship God upon the holy mountain.                                                                                                           

* HYMN No. 539            I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light

PRAYER OF CONFESSION            

Almighty God, we enter your presence humbly,

aware that we approach you from a world

that chooses to walk in darkness, apart from you.

Each one of us has ignored and even denied

the enlightening power of Jesus Christ.

We confess now our sins to you, God of power and might.

Penetrate our darkness by the power of Christ’s light,

that we may live in the joy of knowing and loving you and each other.

(Silent Prayers of Confession)

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

SUMMARY OF THE LAW

Herein is wisdom.

Glory be to God.

* Gloria Patri (pew card)

JUNIOR SERMON

ANTHEM:                                                              Joseph Haydn

The Heavens Are Telling The Glory Of God

Soloists – Maureen Saepia Chen,

Steve Hoffacker, Emerson Chen

The Heavens are telling the glory of God;

the wonder of his works displays the firmament.

Today, that is coming, speaks it the day;

the night, that is gone, to following night.

The Heavens are telling the glory of God;

the wonder of his works displays the firmament.

In all the lands resounds the word,

never unperceived, ever understood.

The Heavens are telling the glory of God;

the wonder of his works displays the firmament.                                                   

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE                                       Carlos Rivera

Lord’s Prayer (pew card)

Response:                          Send Out Your Light and Your Truth                                                                                                                   

Send out your light and your truth, let them lead me;

O let them bring me to your holy hill.

* HYMN No. 365          Abide with Me, Fast Falls the Eventide

Prayer of Illumination

Holy God,

you revealed to the disciples

the everlasting glory of Jesus Christ.

Grant us, who have not seen and yet believe,

the gift of your Holy Spirit,

that we may boldly live the gospel

and shine with your transforming glory

as people changed and changing

through the redeeming presence of our Savior. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READINGS:    

2 Kings 2:1-12                                                                      p. 290               

Mark 9:2-9                                                                   p. 820

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

SERMON                    The Open Secret  Rev. Blaine Crawford

New Members PRESENTATION

Margret Dougherty

May To

Johanne Zoh

Profession of Faith

Do you promise to love, encourage, and support these sisters, by teaching the gospel of God’s love, by being an example of Christian faith and character, and by giving the strong support of God’s family, in fellowship, prayer, and service?

We do.

*Confession of Faith: The Apostles’ Creed (pew card)

Welcome our sisters in Christ!

Joyfully we receive you.

Join with us as we give witness in the world to the good news.  For we are all one in Christ Jesus.

Alleluia!

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS

       Offertory:              God Is Our Refuge               Allen Pote

God is our refuge and strength;

A present help in time of trouble

Though the mountains shake

in the heart of the sea,

though the waters roar and foam,

we will not fear.

Come and behold, the work of the Lord,

the awesome acts of God.

He is in the midst of his people,

in all the earth.

He is the Word, we are his hands,

He will lead us,

He is the air, we are his song

We will celebrate his presence all the day long.

God is our refuge and strength;

A present help in time of trouble

Though the mountains shake

in the heart of the sea,

though the waters roar and foam,

we will not fear.

Come and behold, the work of the Lord,

the awesome acts of God.

He is in the midst of his people,

in all the earth.

He is the rain, we are the stones,

He will cleanse us

He is the air, we are his song,

We will celebrate his presence all the day long.

* The Doxology (pew card)                                                  

* Prayer of Dedication

* HYMN No. 689                        The Church's One Foundation

* BENEDICTION

Response:                                   Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing                                                                                    

Lord dismiss us with your blessing;

fill our hearts with joy and peace;

let us each, your love possessing, 

triumph in redeeming grace;

O direct us and protect us

travelling through this wilderness.

POSTLUDE:             Fugue in c-minor BWV 537                     J.S. Bach                                                                                                               

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

YPF Valentine’s Day Bake Sale – During the coffee hour, the YPF is sponsoring a bake sale to benefit their mission trip. Please support our young people and their ministries. 

Ash Wednesday Service, February 14, 8:00 p.m.

Adult Sunday School Opportunity  

Sunday mornings, 9:45-10:30 a.m., Library

Adults are invited to join a Sunday morning class entitled, "Ripped from the Headlines - Integrating your Faith with Current Events!"  

Led by seminary intern Carlos Rivera, the class will extend through the end of April with a new headline discussed every few weeks.

Lenten Mission 2018 - Important Dates and Opportunities

February 18

·       Adult Sunday School, 9:45-10:30

·       Lenten Bible Reading Bookmarks

February 25

·       Guest speaker/s during worship

·       Special educational coffee hour

Quilt Sewing Group: If interested, contact Jeanne Sarran.

Home Goods Collection: Begins February 25; ends March 25

Weekly Calendar

Tuesdays, Bible Study, 7:30 p.m., Folensbee Lounge

Wednesdays, Yoga, 7:30 p.m., Gessner Hall

Thursdays, Prayer Group, 6:00 p.m., Folensbee Lounge

Prayer List

Remember the following individuals in your daily prayer:

Bermudez family, Diane Blagburn, Jose, Gracinda and David Cerqueira, Rosemarie Dappio, Dombrowski family, William Duchemin, Joan Dwyer, Angela Edward, Lynne Johnson, Kathy Kissane, Jason Knese, Ginny Marsico, Ann McCaffrey, Alda Muyskens, Denise Moran, Stacey Muller, Joan Pearson, Keith Pearson, Megan Peters, Isabelita Rueda, Kook Ryo, Debra & Greg Sparrow and Douglas Koch.

February 4, 2018

 

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PRELUDE             Prelude and Fugue in F Major                  J.S. Bach                                              

                            Well-Tempered Clavier Book I

SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

* PASSING OF THE PEACE

* GLORIA PATRI (pew card)

* CALL TO WORSHIP                                                      Emerson Chen                                                                                                                               

Praise the LORD! How good it is to sing praises to our God!

For God is gracious and a song of praise is fitting.

God heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.

The LORD lifts up the downtrodden; God casts the wicked to the ground.

Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.

Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving! Praise the LORD!                                                                                                     

* HYMN No. 93                    All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name

PRAYER OF CONFESSION            

God of peace, Father of mercy, God of all comfort:

we confess before you the evil of our hearts;

we acknowledge that we are too inclined

toward anger, jealousy, and resentment;

we acknowledge that we are too prone

to hubris, impatience, and bitterness,

which often give rise to discord and bitter feelings

between others and us.

Heal and forgive us.

(Silent Prayers of Confession)

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

SUMMARY OF THE LAW

Herein is wisdom.

Glory be to God.

JUNIOR SERMON

ANTHEM:             There Is a Balm In Gilead                William L. Dawson                                       

                            Patrick Mahowald, soloist

There is a Balm in Gilead, to make the wounded whole,

There is a Balm in Gilead, to heal the sin-sick soul.

Sometimes I feel discouraged, and think my work's in vain,

But then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again.

There is a Balm in Gilead, to make the wounded whole,

There is a Balm in Gilead, to heal the sin-sick soul.

If you cannot sing like angels, if you cannot preach like Paul,

You can tell the love of Jesus, and say "He died for all."

There is a Balm in Gilead, to make the wounded whole,

There is a Balm in Gilead, to heal the sin-sick soul.

Prayer of Illumination

God, our helper,

by your Holy Spirit open our minds and hearts

and lead us into your truth

for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.                                                 

SCRIPTURE READINGS:    

Isaiah 40:21-31                                                                    p. 582                             

1 Corinthians 9:16-23                                                  p. 931

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

SERMON             All Things to All People Rev. Blaine Crawford

* CONFESSION OF FAITH:                                                            

Belgic Confession, Article 26

For neither in heaven nor among the creatures on earth is there anyone who loves us more than Jesus Christ does.

Although he was in the form of God, Christ nevertheless emptied himself, taking human form and the form of a slave for us; and he made himself completely like his brothers and sisters in every respect.

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS

     Offertory:                Rejoice in the Lord          Henry Purcell

Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say, rejoice!

Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ our Lord;

and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say, rejoice!

       * 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                    All Things Come of Thee, O Lord                                                                                                       

All things come of thee, O Lord, and of thine own have we given thee.

* HYMN No. 263                                       Alleluia, Sing to Jesus

* BENEDICTION

Response                                                           In Heavenly Love                                                                                         

In heavenly love abiding, no change my heart shall fear;

And safe is such confiding, for nothing changes here.

The storm may roar without me, my heart may low be laid,

But God is round about me, and I be dismayed?

POSTLUDE                   Festive Processional                      David Lasky                                                 

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

Souper Bowl Sunday: The Sunday School is participating in the national “Souper Bowl of Caring” campaign.  The donated cans of soup will be delivered to the Queens Federation of Churches Food Pantry. At the coffee hour, monetary donations will be accepted for the Greenpoint Reformed Church Hunger Program.

YPF Valentine’s Day Bake Sale – Next Sunday, February 11, during the coffee hour, the YPF is sponsoring a bake sale to benefit their mission trip. Please support our young people and their ministries.

Ash Wednesday Service, February 14, 8:00 p.m.

Weekly Calendar

Tuesdays, Bible Study, 7:30 p.m., Folensbee Lounge

Wednesdays, Yoga, 7:30 p.m., Gessner Hall

Thursdays, Prayer Group, 6:00 p.m., Folensbee Lounge 

Adult Sunday School Opportunity

Sunday mornings, 9:45-10:30 a.m., Library

Adults are invited to join a Sunday morning class entitled, "Ripped from the Headlines - Integrating your Faith with Current Events!" The first headline to be discussed is human trafficking. Led by our seminary intern Carlos Rivera, this class will provide you an opportunity to think more deeply about the headlines we read every day and to put these headlines into conversation with the riches of the Christian faith. The class will meet in the library from 9:45 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. before worship. Bring your Bible (and a cup of coffee!) and dialogue together. The class will extend through the end of April with a new headline discussed every few weeks. 

Women’s Communion Breakfast, March 18, 9:30 a.m.

Guest speaker will be Rev. Dr. Jill Ver Steeg, Director for Transformational Engagement for the RCA. 

Prayer List

Bermudez family, Diane Blagburn, Rosario Calco, Jose, Gracinda and David Cerqueira, Rosemarie Dappio, Dombrowski family, William Duchemin, Joan Dwyer, Angela Edward, Lynne Johnson, Kathy Kissane, Jason Knese, Ginny Marsico, Ann McCaffrey, Alda Muyskens, Denise Moran, Stacey Muller, Joan Pearson, Keith Pearson, Megan Peters, Isabelita Rueda, Kook Ryo, Debra & Greg Sparrow and the families of Leydi Perdomo and Robert Keller.

December 31, 2017

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PRELUDE                                                                               Sean Cotty                                       

SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

* PASSING OF THE PEACE

* SANCTUS (pew card)                                                       

* CALL TO WORSHIP                                                     Elizabeth Mahowald                                        

Lift up your hearts in prayer:

lift up your voices in praise.

Let your eyes rise in expectation

and your hands in exultation,

for the Lord has drawn near

and dwells among us.                                                                                                     

* HYMN No. 150                                            What Child Is This?

PRAYER OF CONFESSION            

Loving God,

We confess that we have not followed the light of your Word.

We have not searched for signs of your love in the world

or trusted your good news to be good.

We have failed to praise your Son’s birth

and refused his peace on earth.

We have expected little and hoped for less.

When hardness of heart keeps us from doing justice and acting with love,

Forgive us, gracious God.

(Silent Prayers of Confession)

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

SUMMARY OF THE LAW

Herein is wisdom.

Glory be to God.

* Gloria Patri (pew card)

ANTHEM:                       Pacem Noel             Larry Clark & Rae Moses                                          

Dona nobis pacem.

The first Noel, the angels did say

was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay.

In fields where they lay keeping their sheep

On a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,

Born is the King of Israel. 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Lord’s Prayer (pew card)

Response:                                             Hear Our Prayer O Lord                                                                                                     

Hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord;

Incline thine ear to us, and grant us thy peace. Amen.

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

Prayer of Illumination

Mighty God,

the shepherds of old were full of your praises,

saying that all they had heard and seen

was mirrored by what they had been told.

Move among us now with your Holy Spirit,

that we too might hear and experience

the wonder and joy of the living Word

as we seek to welcome the written Word into our lives.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

SCRIPTURE READINGS:    

Psalm 148                                                                            p. 508               

Galatians 4:4-7                                                           p. 947

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

SERMON                         In God’s Family Rev. Blaine Crawford

* CONFESSION OF FAITH:                                                            

Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 33

Why is [Jesus] called God’s “only Son”

when we also are God’s children?

Because Christ alone is the eternal, natural Son of God.

We, however, are adopted children of God—

adopted by grace through Christ.

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS

       Offertory:               Candlelight Carol              John Rutter

How do you capture the wind on the water?

How do you count all the stars in the sky?

How can you measure the love of a mother,

or how can you write down a baby's first cry?

Candlelight, angel light, firelight and starglow

Shine on his cradle till breaking of dawn.

Gloria, Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Angels are singing; the Christ child is born.

Shepherds and wise men will kneel and adore him,

Seraphim round him their vigil will keep;

Nations proclaim him their Lord and their Savior,

But Mary will hold him and sing him to sleep.

Find him at Bethlehem laid in a manger:

Christ our Redeemer asleep in the hay.

Godhead incarnate and hope of salvation:

A child with his mother that first Christmas Day.

* The Doxology (pew card)                                                  

* Prayer of Dedication

* HYMN No. 157                     Good Christian Friends, Rejoice

* BENEDICTION

Response:                            May The Grace of Christ Our Savior                                                                                     

May the grace of Christ our Savior and the Father's boundless love,

With the Holy Spirit's favor, rest upon us from above. Amen.

POSTLUDE                                                                                    

 

Remember the following individuals in your daily prayer:

Rosario Calco, Jose, Gracinda and David Cerqueira, Rosemarie Dappio, Dombrowski family, Joan Dwyer, Angela Edward, Rosemarie Graffeo, Lynne Johnson, Robert Keller, Kathy Kissane, Jason Knese, Ginny Marsico, Ann McCaffrey, Denise Moran, Stacey Muller, Joan Pearson, Keith Pearson, Megan Peters, Kook Ryo, Debra & Greg Sparrow

Announcements

2018 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.

Church Office will re-open Tuesday, January 2nd.

Bargain Boutique will re-open Saturday, January 6th.

Epiphany Sunday, January 8, 2018

After the service, the coffee hour will be hosted by the Sunday School staff with “King Cakes.”

 

Guest Preacher: Rev. Joshua Bode

On Sunday, January 14, we will welcome the Rev. Joshua Bode to the pulpit.  Rev Bode previously served as a chaplain in Albany Medical Center and has served in the Woodstock (NY) Reformed Church for the last ten years.  Recently he accepted a call to the Protestant Church in the Sultanate of Oman.

 

Weekly Calendar  

Tuesday Bible Study will resume January 16, 7:30 pm.

Pastor Blaine and the class will be exploring the book of Ruth.

Wednesday Yoga Class will resume January 17, 7:30 pm.

Thursday Prayer Group will resume January 4, 6:00 pm.

Christmas Communion Service

 

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PRELUDE                                                                               Sean Cotty                                             

WELCOME/PRAYER OF INVOCATION

*CALL TO WORSHIP                                                           Dorien Day                                              

All God’s people—

Boys and girls, women, men:

Come and worship!

Shepherds, Magi, saints, and angels:

Come and worship! Come and worship!

All who need the Savior, all who long for comfort, all who dream of God’s new world:

Come and worship, come and worship Christ, the newborn King!

*HYMN No. 170                      It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

SCRIPTURE READING

         Luke 2:8-14                                                                 p. 833

ANTHEM:                     Christmas Welcome              John Ness Beck                                            

Welcome, welcome, child of Bethlehem;

Welcome newly born King!

There's a crown of stars for your diadem;

Choirs of angels are singing,

"Welcome, welcome, one and all,

to the lowly manger stall."

Welcome, neighbor, and welcome, stranger,

And welcome, all we hold dear.

Welcome glad time of year!

Welcome, children, and welcome, shepherds, 

and welcome, animals too!

Whether young or old, come in from the cold;

Love is waiting for you.

Welcome, welcome, Holy night,

Stars and candles shining bright.

May this blessed birth bring us peace on earth,

Health and wealth and good cheer.

Welcome all ye who hear,

come and draw near

for the season of Christmas is here!

SCRIPTURE READING

       Titus 3:4-7                                                                     p. 969

HOMILY                                          Rev. Blaine Crawford                                                                        SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION

The LORD be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the LORD.

Let us give our thanks and praise.

It is good to give our thanks and praise.

It is truly right and our greatest joy . . .

Sanctus (pew card)

Great is the mystery of our faith:

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ will come again!

Words of Institution

*PASSING OF THE PEACE

*HYMN No. 174                   Angels From The Realms Of Glory

OFFERING  

     Offertory:                  Joy to the World  Handel (Arr. Rutter)

Joy to the world! The Lord is come Let earth receive her King

Let every heart prepare Him room, 

And heaven and nature sing, And heaven and nature sing, 

And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the earth! The Saviour reigns Let men their songs employ; 

While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains

Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, 

Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; 

He comes to make his blessings flow

Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, 

Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness, 

And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, 

And wonders, wonders, of His love.

       * The Doxology (pew card)                                                 

*BENEDICTION

Jesus is the Word made flesh in our midst.

May his incarnation fill your hearts with peace.

O Lord, give us peace.

Jesus is the promised Savior, born of Mary.

May his birth among us renew your hope.

O Lord, give us hope.

Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

May the gift of his presence bring forth rejoicing.

O Lord, give us joy.

Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

bless you now and forever. Amen.

Response                                All Things Come of Thee, O Lord                                                                                          

POSTLUDE