...for one s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. Luke 12:15

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1 WORSHIP for TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST OCTOBER 22, :30 A.M. Grounded in the grace of God, we are a vibrant Christian community, disciples of all ages, gathered for worship and nurture, scattered to serve and to love. -MPC Mission Statement adopted by the Session March 31, for one s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. Luke 12:15

2 Welcome to Morrisville Presbyterian Church WE WELCOME GUESTS AND VISITORS to our service today. If you are not a member, we invite you to consider membership with us. If you would like more information about how we can serve you, please speak to a pastor. FRIENDSHIP PAD: During the Words of Welcome, please pass the Friendship Pad to the outside aisle and back again to the center. This allows worshipers to recognize people in their pew, and helps staff members identify those who may need attention. THE CHANCEL FLOWERS are offered to the glory of God and are given by Carol Carpenter in loving memory of her mother, Ruth McCullough Wismar. The flowers are also given by Carol and Roberta Carroll and Margaret C. Callihan in loving memory of their mother on the anniversary of her birth. USHERING AT TODAY S SERVICE: Head Usher Tom Evans, Felix Amah, Ann Clements, Tracy Massey, Jeff Morruzi, Lori Newman, Joy Rees and Geoff Smith. Junior Deacon is Avery Gardner. CHILDCARE FOR CHILDREN UP TO AGE 4 is provided in the Nursery/Pre-School room from 9:15 a.m. 11:45 a.m. each Sunday. Children, aged 0-2, are welcome in the nursery during our education hour (9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.). Children, aged 0-4, are welcome in the nursery during worship. Visitors, please feel free to utilize our nursery, or keep your children with you in worship. HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICES are available for use anywhere in the sanctuary during worship. These pocketsized receivers are available from Deacons in either Narthex and are to be returned after the service. HYMNALS, BIBLES, & BULLETINS WITH LARGE PRINT are available during worship each Sunday morning from a Deacon in the Narthex. Please return the Hymnal and/or Bible after the service. PASTORAL CARE REMINDER Members of the staff truly want to be attentive when members or friends of MPC are experiencing health difficulties. If you (or a family member) have been admitted to a hospital, please let us know by contacting the church office, and one of the pastors will be pleased to visit. You may also reach pastor Rachel Rhodes at , or pastor Debbie Heffernan at Thank you for your assistance. WORSHIP NOTE * The asterisk indicates that those who are able may please stand. PUBLICATION DEADLINES Please forward any announcements you would like included in the Bulletin by noon Tuesday of each week to Bulletin@MPCusa.net. Articles for the December edition of Currents are due by November 10. Send articles to Currents@MPCusa.net. C ONTACT US M ORRISVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH STAFF 771 North Pennsylvania Ave. Morrisville, PA Office@MPCusa.net Rachel A. Rhodes, Senior Pastor & Head of Staff (ext. 234)... RachelRhodes@MPCusa.net Deborah Heffernan, Interim Associate Pastor for Children, Youth & Family Ministry (ext. 225) DebbieHeffernan@MPCusa.net Jack McAnlis, Minister of Visitation...JackMcAnlis@MPCusa.net Timothy Carpenter, Director of Music... TimCarpenter@MPCusa.net Geoffrey Shoffstall, Principal Organist... GeoffreyShoffstall@MPCusa.net Rich Drabb, Property Manager (ext. 231)... RichDrabb@MPCusa.net Laurie Jacobson, Bookkeeper (ext. 226)... LaurieJacobson@MPCusa.net Damon Miller, Communication Coordinator... DamonMiller@MPCusa.net Diane Toner, Administrative Assistant (ext. 0)... DianeToner@MPCusa.net 2

3 TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST PRELUDE Air for the G String - J. S. Bach WORDS of WELCOME G A T H E R I N G Geoffrey Shoffstall Pastor Rhodes MINUTE for MINISTRY Consecration Sunday Deacon Greg Neiman CHORAL INTROIT *CALL to WORSHIP Marilyn Schoenthaler One: We are children of God, learning to walk. All: Day by day we are learning to be the church. One: God is a loving parent, teaching us to walk. All: God loves us, leads us, and never lets us walk alone. With songs of praise, let us worship God! *HYMN 65 Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah CWM RHONDDA *PRAYER of CONFESSION Unison Reverend McAnlis Holy God, you lavish us with good gifts, yet we persist in seeking after that which robs us of abundant life. We hold fast to our anxieties and give in to our greed; we desire the very things that harm us. Forgive us, purify us, and sustain us by the strength of your Holy Spirit. Return us to our rightful home in you, through Jesus Christ our Savior. *SILENT PRAYERS of CONFESSION *RESPONSE 601 Amen (DANISH) Here each worshiper may offer silent prayers of confession. Congregation *PROMISE of FORGIVENESS One: Hear these words from our God: I cannot give up on you my compassion grows warm and tender. When my children come trembling, I will bring them home. Friends, believe the good news of the gospel: All: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Thanks be to God. *RESPONSE to GOD S PARDON (back cover of hymnal) Glory to the Father *THE PEACE One: The Peace of Christ be with you. All: And also with you. One: Let us greet one another with the Peace of Christ. As a sign of their reconciliation in Christ, the people share the peace of Christ, greeting one another with these or similar words: The peace of Christ be with you, Peace be with you, or simply, Peace. GLORIA PATRI 3

4 PRAYER for ILLUMINATION L I T U R G Y o f t h e W O R D PSALTER READING Psalm 107:1-9, 43 (Old Testament, pages 528, 530) One: O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. All: Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those he redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. One: Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to an inhabited town; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. All: Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress; he led them by a straight way, until they reached an uninhabited town. One: Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind. All: For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things. Let those who are wise give heed to these things, and consider the steadfast love of the Lord. One: This is the Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God. ANTHEM What Shall I Render to My God? - arr. Austin Lovelace What shall I render to my God for all His mercy s store? I ll take the gifts He hath bestowed, and humbly ask for more. The sacred cup of saving grace I will with thanks receive, And all His promises embrace, and to His glory live. My vows I will to His great name before His people pay, And all I have, and all I am, upon His altar lay. Thy lawful servant, Lord, I owe to Thee whate er is mine, Born in Thy family below, and by redemption thine. Thy hands created me, Thy hands from sin have set me free, The mercy that hath loosed my bands hath bound me fast to Thee. Praise Him, ye saints, the God of love, who hath my sins forgiven, Till, gathered to the church above, we sing the songs of Heaven. -- Charles Wesley TIME for YOUNG DISCIPLES Children in grades K-5 may leave for music time with Mr. Carpenter. 4

5 GOSPEL READING Luke 12:13-21, 48b (New Testament, pages 70-71) One: This is the Gospel of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God. SERMON Blessed to be a Blessing Pastor Rhodes *HYMN 716 God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending BEACH SPRING *AFFIRMATION of FAITH - (from A Brief Statement of Faith) We trust in Jesus Christ, fully human, fully God. Jesus proclaimed the reign of God: preaching good news to the poor and release to the captives, teaching by word and deed and blessing the children, healing the sick and binding up the brokenhearted, eating with outcasts, forgiving sinners, and calling all to repent and believe the gospel. Unjustly condemned for blasphemy and sedition, Jesus was crucified, suffering the depths of human pain and giving his life for the sins of the world. God raised Jesus from the dead, vindicating his sinless life, breaking the power of sin and evil, delivering us from death to life eternal. With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen. PRAYERS of THANKSGIVING and SUPPLICATION THE LORD S PRAYER (page 35 in the hymnal, debts and debtors) OFFERING Invitation to Give Presentation of Gifts Offertory Music Largo, from Xerxes G. F. Handel *Doxology 606 Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow *Prayer of Dedication S E N D I N G *HYMN 757 Today We All Are Called to Be Disciples *CHARGE and BLESSING *CHORAL BENEDICTION *POSTLUDE God of Grace - arr. Paul Manz OLD HUNDREDTH KINGSFOLD 5

6 MPC Finance Committee & Trustees Report MPC FINANCIAL SUMMARY SEPTEMBER 2017 FISCAL YEAR-TO-DATE RESULTS Fiscal Fiscal YTD Year to Date Year to Date Variance Actuals Budget (See Note 1) Total Operating Revenue $397,697 $389,780 $7,917 Total Expenses $436,736 $489,670 $52,934 Operating Excess / (Shortfall) ($39,039) ($99,890) $60,851 Other Income $5,313 $15,000 ($9,687) Unrestricted Net Excess / (Shortfall) ($33,726) ($84,890) $51,164 Capital Fund Expenditures $159,919 $190,000 $30,081 Note 1: The variance is the difference between the Actual dollar results and the Budgeted dollars. All favorable variances are noted as positive numbers; all unfavorable variances are shown as bracketed numbers above. OVERALL SUMMARY: Year-to-date Operating Fund results were favorable by $51,200 primarily due to budgeted severance pay for our interim pastor which was not needed and lower than expected Operating Fund capital expenditures. September 2017 Year-to-Date Variance Explanations: - YTD Operating Revenue ($8K favorable): Revenues were favorable to budget primarily due to $5,800 of higher than budgeted investment income, the collection of $2,200 in prior year pledges, $1,700 in higher than budgeted plate income, the receipt of $2,800 of unbudgeted Special Offerings for hurricane relief and a $1,000 bonus rent payment from the Weekday Nursery School partially offset by $7,000 in lower than expected pledge income. - YTD Total Expenses ($53K favorable): Overall expenses were lower than budgeted primarily due to budgeted severance pay for our interim pastor which was not needed, lower than expected capital expenditures (due to the use of Capital Fund savings for the new parking lot, gas line installation, bathroom renovation project and first floor carpeting), timing of our insurance payments, lower than expected heat and snow removal costs and solid cost controls in most other departments. - YTD Other Income (Bequests): Bequests were unfavorable to budget by $9, YTD Capital Fund Expenditures: Major capital improvements (Parking lot repaving, education building gas line installation, renovation of three bathrooms and first floor hallway carpeting) was completed in September at a cost of $30,100 lower than authorized. 6

7 UPCOMING ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES Plan to come to all or some of the courses offered. Courses are held from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Sundays before Worship Service in the Conference Room. Facing Racism - A Vision of the Intercultural Community with Carol Carpenter & Travis Keys Concludes October 29 This course will explore the biblical foundation and imperative to engage in anti-racist work, striving to create a world that more closely reflects God's love of justice and diversity, building the Beloved Community. We will examine the painful legacy of racism in the U.S. and discuss how God might be leading us to respond as a community of faith. Case for Christ with Erin Kernan Aronson, Wendy Yazujian, Dan Jones Paul Clough, Tom Evans & Drew Hunger November 5, 12 & 19 A reprise of the several-week long class presented in 2004 that used a court room setting in which two lawyers (one the Devil's Advocate) argue whether Christ is the Son of God. ALL SAINTS DAY NOVEMBER 5 During the morning worship service on Sunday, November 5, we will observe All Saints Day at Morrisville Presbyterian Church. The service will include a Litany of Remembrance and a Prayer of Thanksgiving, enabling us to give thanks to God for members and family members who have died in the previous year. If you would like a family member s name to be included in the prayer, please notify the church office by Monday, October 30. NURSERY ANGEL TREE Thank you to all the angels who contributed to the warmth and welcome of our nursery. Your gifts of pictures, rockers, books and toys are a wonderful blessing to the youngest members of our MPC family! Stop by the nursery and see how attractive your gifts have made our nursery - and while you are there, welcome our newest staff member, "Ms. Du", who is our nursery coordinator. BLUE JEANS SUNDAY IS COMING The Board of Trustees will be holding the annual MPC Blue Jeans Sunday work day on Sunday, November 12, Everyone is welcome to wear blue jeans and work shirts to worship and then stay to help in the annual clean-up effort! A pizza lunch will be provided for all workers after worship. Last year we were able to remove 3 tons of old wood, setpieces and other material from the attic in the Christian Education wing of the church, and to complete a number of other projects as well. This year we hope to replicate the effort and continue the ongoing maintenance and beautification of our buildings and grounds begun over the summer. Please join us by adding your name(s) to the sign-up sheets in the Communication Center on Sunday, October 29 and November 5, or call the church office to let us know that you will join the fun. We would like to know in advance who is coming, so we can plan projects and have equipment and supplies ready for you. Thank you for your support as we seek to make MPC a warmer and more welcoming place to be! "ARE YOU READY? FOR MONDAY NIGHT FOOD PACKING! Bet you thought we were going to say "Football" and not "Food Packing, didn't you? Have you ever wondered how the MPC Food Bank is able to serve so many neighbors in need every week? It's mainly due to wonderful volunteers who are giving of small portions of their time. We have an opportunity for some volunteer Packers. Here's the Game Plan: We could use a few folks on Monday evenings from 7:00 until 8:00 p.m. down near Fellowship Hall to help pack food bags for the week's distributions. Feel free to bring friends and family with you. Also, for those of you with teenagers, this is a great way for them to earn Honor Society volunteer hours. Don't let the clock run out on this exciting Hail Mary opportunity! If you have any questions, you can contact Coaches Andy Beidler ( ), Shellie Stoddard ( ) or Lisa Zazzu ( ). If no questions, then feel free to hike on over to MPC and join us Monday nights at 7:00 p.m. 7

8 IVINS OUTREACH CENTER FALL FAMILY FUN DAY - OCTOBER 29 Ivins Outreach Center (IOC) invites you to a Fall Family Fun Day at Snipes Farm & Educational Center on Sunday, October 29 from 3:00 6:00 p.m.. Admission cost is $15.00/pp; no charge for children under two. The event will include a hayride, visit with the farm animals, corn maze and a bonfire with s mores, hot dogs, and beverages. Funds raised will be used to continue the support of the IOC s mission to provide residents of Lower Bucks County with quality of life programs. For more information or to register your family, call the IOC at , x101. Hope to see you there! MPC Weekly Calendar Weekday Nursery School and Head Start use MPC facilities for their classes. Information about their schedules and calendars can be accessed at and respectively. SUNDAY, October 22 8:30 a.m. God s Thunder Chapel 9:30 Sunday School for All Ages 10:30 Worship Service Sanctuary 11:30 Fellowship Time Reception Lounge Host: Choir 11:45 Teen Choir Music Room 11:45 Visitation Ministry Room 200 Noon New Member Class Conference Room 1:00 p.m. BSA Troup 3 Fundraiser Mtg. Room 220 6:00 Stewardship Committee Room 200 MONDAY, October 23 6:30 p.m. Consecration Sunday Fellowship Hall Dessert for Officers & Staff 7:00 Cub Scout Pack 3 Rooms 220/222 7:00 Cub Pack 3 Committee Chapel 7:00 Food Center Bag Packing 7:30 Mostly Motets Music Room 7:30 Session Conference Room 8:30 Boy Scout Committee Fellowship Hall TUESDAY, October 24 9:00 a.m. Food Center Set-Up Fellowship Hall 10:00 Clothing Center 1:00 p.m. Staff Meeting Room 200 6:30 GSEP Senior Troop 2030 Room 210 7:30 Alcoholics Anonymous Room 220 WEDNESDAY, October 25 9:00 a.m. Food Center Fellowship Hall Noon Brown Bag & Bible Conference Room 1:00 p.m. Weekly Prayer Meeting Room 200 6:00 Youth Club Fellowship Hall 7:00 Cub Scout Pack 3 Rooms 220/222 7:00 Hillbilly Elegy Book Club Room 200 THURSDAY, October 26 11:00 a.m. Food Stocking Noon Alcoholics Anonymous Room 220 6:30 p.m. Oakville Girls Scouts Room 220 6:45 Chancel Choir Music Room 8:15 Chancel Chimes Chapel FRIDAY, October 27 7:00 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous Lounge SATURDAY, October 28 SUNDAY, October 29 - Consecration Sunday 8:30 a.m. God s Thunder Chapel 9:30 Sunday School for All Ages 10:30 Worship Service Sanctuary 11:30 Celebration Luncheon Fellowship Hall 11:45 Teen Choir Music Room M O R R I S V I L L E P R E S B Y T E R I A N C H U R C H 771 NORTH PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE MORRISVILLE, PA