First Presbyterian Church. Valatie, NY. Where friends are made, Faith is nurtured, Service begins and All are Welcome! First Presbyterian Church

Transcription

1 SESSION Class of 2018 Class of 2019 Class of 2020 Melissa Barton Nancy Pienta Steve Hohneker Bill Ring Chuck Shattenkirk Moderator: Rev. Kathi L. Jones Clerk of Session: Melissa Barton DEACONS Class of 2018 Class of 2019 Class of 2020 Alicia Albertson Rosalie Hemingway Laurae Hoffmann Tina Coons Hertha Matuszek Karen Leffingwell Moderator: Rev. Kathi L. Jones Church Treasurer: Sandra Hohneker Assistant Treasurer: Vieve Gay Financial Secretary: Bill Ring First Presbyterian Church Valatie, NY First Presbyterian Church 3212 Church Street P.O. Box 267, Valatie, NY Church Phone Pastor s Phone Church s ifirstpresbyter1@nycap.rr.com Pastor Rev. Kathi L. Jones Pastor s revkathiljones@yahoo.com Organist Ardelle Stewart Secretary Naomi Handley Sexton Ginny Becker Where friends are made, Faith is nurtured, Service begins and All are Welcome!

2 September 3, :00am. WELCOME SERVICE FOR THE LORD S DAY * * * * * * Gathering in the Name of the Lord (In silence and meditation prepare yourself for worship) LIFE OF THE CONGREGATION MISSION STATEMENT We are a small congregation, part of God s larger family, teaching and living God s Word, and sharing God s love throughout the community. THIS WEEK S CALENDAR TODAY 11:00am. Worship Sacrament of Holy Communion TUESDAY 7:00pm. Buildings and Grounds Boy Scouts WEDNESDAY 6:00pm. Food Pantry Open 7:00pm. Boy Scout Committee THURSDAY 10:00am. Presbyterian Women SATURDAY 9:00am. Food Pantry Open Looking Ahead NEXT SUNDAY September 10, 2017 PRELUDE CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsively) O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him, sing praises to him, tell of all his wonderful works. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually. 11:00am. 12:15pm. Worship Coffee Hour 9/7 Kyle Lauster *HYMN 525 Here I Am, Lord CALL TO CONFESSION

3 In a speech celebrating the 1979 peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, former President Jimmy Carter said, Peace, like war, is waged. These words were a thoughtful turn-of-phrase and a challenging declaration spoken at an auspicious moment. However, they did not originate with Carter or his speechwriters. They came from the pen of Carter s fellow Georgian Walker Knight, a Christian journalist, poet and peacemaker. Since Carter uttered these words, they have turned up in various places where peace is promoted. For example, actor George Clooney repeated the phrase in a statement praising the work of United Nations peacekeepers. The quote reminds us that intentionality is essential to achieving peace. Peacemaking is an act of discipleship that is rooted in Christ s calling, but the loud and divisive voices in our culture are making faithfulness to this gospel imperative more and more difficult. Amid this backdrop, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) s 222nd General Assembly (2016) approved Five Peacemaking Affirmations that can guide us on the peacemaking journey. These affirmations invite us to commit to the gospel of peace, confess our complicity, reclaim Christ as peacemaker, practice new peace strategies, and transform our structures and work for peace. The PC(USA) s A Season of Peace offers a time to reflect on these affirmations and equip ourselves for the ministry of peacemaking. The Presbyterian Peacemaking Programoffers resources for this season to expand your focus and calling as a peacemaker. The four-week pilgrimage begins tomorrow and culminates on Oct. 1, World Communion Sunday, when the Peace & Global Witness Offering is received. Wherever you find yourself on the peacemaking journey, A Season of Peace presents an opportunity to engage in more faithful living. The Peacemaking Program describes it this way: It is for the curious and the jaded, the beginner and the experienced peace seeker. Spend a new season with Jesus, the peacemaker, and see if this might become your way of being authentically Christian in the world. Pat Cole, Communications Specialist, Presbyterian Mission Agency PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Responsively) God of turning and returning, we would rather tend our flocks in peace, than confront the powers that oppress your people; we would rather keep silent in the face of suffering, than speak your truth for all to hear; we would rather stoke the fires of indignation, than taste the healing waters of forgiveness; we would rather protect our friends at all cost, than see your will be done, if it means those we love suffer. Forgive us for setting our minds on human things rather than on things of your kingdom. May we not taste death, Holy One, before we live your kingdom into reality. SILENT PRAYER OF PERSONAL CONFESSION ASSURANCE OF PARDON RESPONSE 2160 Proclaiming the Word Into My Heart PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION O God, as the one body of your people, we offer our varying gifts in the service of Christ. Transform our good intentions into compassionate outreach. Be with us as we hear your Word to us today, that we might understand it, and make it a part of our lives. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Exodus 3:1-15 (O.T. pg. 49) GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 16:21-28 (N.T. pg.18) NOT FOR CHILDREN ONLY

4 HYMN 2272 (3x) Holy Ground SERMON Responding to the Word SHARING OF JOYS AND CONCERNS OFFERING OF TITHES AND GIFTS RESPONSE 2036 You Want Me to Do What? Give Thanks PRAYER OF DEDICATION May your name be praised, O God, for the blessings and gifts you have showered on us. Give us the grace to use our gifts not for ourselves but in supporting one another, and in accordance with your will. Help us to build a community that reflects your love for all people. We pray, in Jesus name. Amen. Sacrament of Holy Communion September 23, 2017 is our Authentic Smoked Pulled Pork BBQ Drive Thru Smoked Pulled Pork BBQ will be served from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Side dishes include; baked beans, cornbread, coleslaw, our signature BBQ sauce, applesauce and dessert. BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW! $13.00 Each Advance sale tickets will be available. HYMN 2265 Time Now to Gather INVITATION TO THE LORD S TABLE THE GREAT THANKSGIVING The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

5 ANNOUNCEMENTS NURSERY CARE DURING WORSHIP is provided for infants and children through the second grade. Parents are asked to take their child(ren) to the nursery during the hymn just before the sermon. The nursery is found through the door to the left, down the hall on the left. Children who are in the third grade and older should remain with their families during the worship service. THE ECUMENICAL FOOD PANTRY continues to meet a growing need in the Ichabod Crane School district. They are grateful for all donations of non-perishable foods (that have a future expiration date) and are asking particularly at this time for Progresso Soups, cold cereal, and tuna fish. If you have any questions about the Food Pantry or how you might get involved, speak with Dorothy Johnson or Carol Matthews, our representatives on the Food Pantry Committee. Have you considered giving flowers for a Sunday worship service? A sign-up sheet is on the table for you to give the information necessary for the bulletin and a form to fill out and put in the Secretary s box. You may bring any flowers you want from the garden or store arranged. We all appreciate the beauty of creation! Presbyterian Women are collecting calendars and magazines for Barnwell Rehabilitation Center and magazines for Columbia Memorial Hospital. Please put those that you re donating in the box on the table at the rear of the sanctuary or give them to Rosalie Hemingway. Gently used clothing is being collected for the Albany Rescue Mission. Clothing of all sizes and for both male and female is needed for the residents of the many programs there. From children and women in the Domestic violence programs and men who go through the programs, much is needed and used each year. If you have anything you would like to donate, please leave it in the box in the hall, outside the pastor s office. We will make sure it is delivered to the Mission for you. O holy Lord, almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth, with joy we give you thanks and praise......therefore with apostles and prophets, and that great cloud of witnesses who live for you beyond all time and space, we lift our hearts in joyful praise: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Let us proclaim the mystery of faith: THE LORD S PRAYER Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. BREAKING OF THE BREAD POURING OF THE CUP COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE (sins, sin) PRAYER Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The September/October edition of The Upper Room is available as well as the September - October - November edition of Our Daily Bread. Both are daily devotionals designed to guide personal daily Bible reading and meditation. Please take one and see how you can enrich your daily devotional time. *HYMN 2242 *CHARGE AND BENEDICTION Walk with Me

6 *PASSING THE PEACE The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. Go in peace. Amen. (Responsively) * * * * * * * - Indicates that all who are able, may stand. ALL WHO BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST as Lord and Savior are invited to participate at his table. You are urged to prepare your hearts ahead of time in repentance and prayer. We will be receiving communion by intinction today. If you are not comfortable coming forward, please remain seated and you will be served at your seat once those who come forward have been served. Elder Chuck Shattenkirk is lay reader and assisting with communion today. Greeting at the door is Dorothy Johnson. Laurae Hoffmann is tending the nursery today. Head Usher for September is George Matuszek. OUR CHURCH FAMILY Katelyn Armstrong Tamara Armstrong Lucy Haemmerlein Mary and Charles Heermance Ricky Jacker Laura Kinnicutt Geraldine and Bruce McCrum EXTENDED FAMILY AND FRIENDS Dawn Danis friend Fred Dickens Caren Stewart Kristi Thorsey Ted Ulrich Iran, Iraq, Syria Refugees and Immigrants around the world Our government and its leaders Texas and the victims of Hurricane Harvey