The Presbyterian Church

Transcription

1 The Presbyterian Church BASKING RIDGE, NEW JERSEY FOUNDED CIRCA 1717 November 23, 2014 "We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us." ~Abraham Lincoln

2 Welcome We warmly welcome you to worship at The Presbyterian Church in Basking Ridge. We pray that you will be encouraged in your journey of faith and drawn closer to God by your experience with us. Childcare and Sunday School Childcare for infants and children under age 3 is available in the church nursery all morning. Pagers are used to contact parents during the worship service when necessary. 9:00am Children ages 3-5 yrs. may go directly to the Preschool Program, Jesus & Me. 10:15am All children ages 3 - Grade 8 are invited to attend Sunday School after the Message for Children. Youth in grades 6-8 may go to the Middle School class Bibles and Bagels in the church house library. Pick up is in Westminster Hall. Bibles and Bagels does not meet the first Sunday of the month. Calendar of Prayer Sessions and Congregations are invited to pray for the congregations, pastors, members and staff of the Presbytery of Elizabeth during This week, we pray for Rev. Mark Smith, Rev. Brooks Smith, Rev. John Stephenson, Jr., Rev John Talbot, Jr. Online Sermons Recorded audio sermons from most Sundays are available on the church website at To access, click on the Sermons link under Worship and Music on the main menu. Amplification Headsets So that all may enjoy the worship service, sound amplification headsets are available from the ushers for those who need assistance with hearing. Who Does God Call Us to Be? We are a vibrant, warm and welcoming community of faith. Those who worship here come from a diverse range of backgrounds and would describe themselves in a rich variety of ways. We acknowledge our doubt, our struggles, and that we are all quite human and imperfect and that we are each at a unique place on our faith journey. We find our unity, our common identity, in Jesus Christ and together we seek to joyfully worship God and energetically minister to the needs of the world on God s behalf. We gather in anticipation of being transformed by the power, purpose and presence of God among us, and go forth equipped to love God and neighbor more deeply and more wholeheartedly. We believe that faithful leadership of a church requires being open to new possibilities, taking risks and learning from mistakes as we try again. Honoring the past, we are convinced that God calls us to a new future. ~The Opening Paragraph of Vision 2017 of the Presbyterian Church in Basking Ridge 2

3 November 23, 2014 Order of Worship 9:00 a.m. ~ Chapel; 10:15 a.m. ~ Sanctuary Christ the King Sunday (As the prelude begins, please prepare prayerfully for worship and be sure all cell phones are turned off.) PRELUDE Now Thank We All Our God J.S. Bach/E. Power Biggs LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES (10:15) Acolyte, Armani Jackson CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. People: Worship the Lord with gladness! Leader: Come into God s presence with singing! People: Come into the holy courts with praise. Leader: Give thanks to God and bless God s holy name. People: For the Lord is good; God s steadfast love endures forever. Leader: Come, let us worship God together. Kayla Kelly *HYMN 367 Come, Ye Thankful People, Come st. george s windsor PRAYER OF CONFESSION Leader and People Creator God, forgive our moments of ingratitude, the spiritual blindness that prevents us from appreciating the wonder that is this world, the endless cycle of nature, of life and death and rebirth. Forgive us for taking without giving, reaping without sowing. Open our eyes to see, our lips to praise and our hands to share. May our feet tread lightly on the path we tread and our footsteps be worthy of following, for they lead to you. SILENT REFLECTION AND CONFESSION OF SIN PRAYER RESPONSE Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying Hymn 469 (congregation and choir sing) Lord, listen to your children praying. Lord, send your Spirit in this place. Lord, listen to your children praying. Send us love; send us power; send us grace. ASSURANCE OF PARDON *RESPONSE OF PRAISE Glory to God, Whose Goodness Shines on Me Hymn 582 (congregation and choir sing vv. 1 and 2) *THE PEACE Leader: Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another. The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: And also with you. Leader: I invite you to turn and greet one another with a sign of Christ s peace. *Those who are able are invited to stand. 3

4 WORDS OF WELCOME PASSING OF THE WELCOME PADS MINUTE FOR MISSION The Giving Tree Amanda Hughes MESSAGE FOR CHILDREN (10:15) Jacqueline Obregon (10:15 Children ages 3 through grade 8 may go to Sunday School) *HYMN 336 (10:15) We Gather Together kremser SCRIPTURE LESSON Psalm 100 p. 552 Ephesians 1: p. 192 Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. SERMON Living Thanks Dr. Maureen Paterson PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERING ANTHEM (10:15) For the Beauty of the Earth John Rutter Sanctuary Choir *DOXOLOGY Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below; Praise God, above ye heavenly host! Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen. *PRAYER OF DEDICATION PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION THE LORD S PRAYER Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen. *HYMN 643 Now Thank We All Our God nun danket alle gott *BENEDICTION *POSTLUDE Now Thank We All Our God Paul Manz Blessed are the Dead who Die in the Lord Elaine Stine United with this Congregation April 2, 1950 Entered the Church Triumphant November 14,

5 Church Family The Flowers on the Piers this morning are given to the glory of God: ~By Ed Landis, in loving memory of Chip Landis. ~By Janet Kinney and family, in loving memory of Jack Kinney. The flowers that grace our sanctuary each week are gifts from members flowers of the congregation. Flowers may be given in memory or in honor of someone or to celebrate an occasion. There are two piers available on December 14 and 28. If you would like to donate an arrangement, please contact Debbie Schaub at her address, Our Greeters this morning are Susan Felter and Peggy and Dale Harris. Join us for Coffee and Fellowship after the 9 a.m. service hosted by Dick and Betsy Fryling and after the 10:15 a.m. service, hosted by Joan and Scott Eichhorn and Carol Skidmore. Children and Family Ministries BRPC Movie Night and Pizza Dinner Friday, December 5 from 6-8 p.m. Join us for a Movie Night and Pizza Dinner in Westminster Hall on Friday, December 5 from 6-8 p.m. Please bring a blanket for children to sit on; tables and chairs will be provided for adults. Children must be chaperoned. Free popcorn will be provided and a free will offering will be received for the pizza. Please RSVP by November 28 via to jobregon@brpc.org. Advent Bible Study Tuesday Evenings, Nov. 25 Dec. 16 from 7-9 p.m. in the Church House Parlor Join us for this special study during Advent. We will read and discuss Adam Hamilton s book, Not a Silent Night, where we imagine Jesus from Mary s point of view proud of her son, in awe of his gifts and mission, guided by love for him as a person and so much more. In this study, we will begin at the end, with Mary at the crucifixion and resurrection; and travel back in time as she witnesses his life and ministry; and end at the beginning, with the Christ child born in a stable, Mary s beautiful baby. Please contact Jackie Obregon for more information. Church Christmas Social 5

6 Youth Ministries Tonight from 7-9 p.m. Charlie Brown Thanksgiving for both Middle School and Senior High Students! Middle School and Senior High Fellowship are invited to join together tonight for a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. It will be a potluck dinner of non-traditional Thanksgiving food! I encourage each youth to bring their favorite or most unusual dish jellybeans? egg salad? french toast? It is a great time for all of the youth to enjoy fellowship together and get to know each other. Due to the Thanksgiving Holiday, there will be no Middle School Fellowship on Wednesday, Nov. 26 or Senior High Fellowship on Sunday, Nov. 30. Senior High Program My Faith & My Life Sunday, Nov. 30 at 11:30 a.m. Join us on Sunday, November 30 for My Faith & My Life, hosted by Bob Taylor and Donna Anderle for students in grades At 11:30 a.m., enjoy fellowship Bagels with Bob in the Church House Library. From 12-1 p.m., we will delve into a discussion about your Christian faith and how it relates to life issues that you find to be important. Your input is valued and very much desired. Please join us for this ministry! We hope to meet twice a month. Adult Small Group Ladies who Brunch Next Brunch December 14 Ladies who Brunch will be meeting at 11:45 a.m. on December 14 at the Washington House in Basking Ridge. All women welcome. Invite friends! Reservations required. If you are interested, please contact Linda Rhyne: Lrhyne@aol.com or Stewardship 2015 We are Grateful for the Generosity of the Congregation Thank you to the 153 families and individuals who have made pledge commitments for 2015 totaling $625,245. In response to prayerful consideration of what God is calling them to do, many in our congregation have increased their pledges from last year. We are excited and encouraged by the 19 new pledges so far this year. Those of you still in thought and prayer about your commitment to the mission and ministry of our church are encouraged to return a pledge card as soon as possible so we can complete our plans for the coming year. You may also pledge online at Thank you for continuing to Build upon our Firm Foundation and Investing in our future. Without you, none of our ministry would happen. What is God calling you to do next? 6

7 Opportunities to Give and Serve Collection of Gently-Used and New Women's Clothing Today is Last Day! We have an opportunity to help women transitioning from prison to the community at the Bo Robinson Transitional Center in Trenton by providing clothing for their new lives. As a special request, the women especially need new underwear and bras, any sizes. If you don t want to shop, pick up a gift card in any amount from Walmart or Target and leave it in the box, or give it to Ellen Greenhorn, and she will purchase items. The women need seasonal gently-used or new clothing of all sizes especially jeans, slacks, tops, sweaters, and sweat suits (pants and top). Please leave donations in the box in Westminster Hall, or in the coat rack near the parlor in the church house. Thank you from Mission Council! IHN Thanksgiving Service Tuesday November 25, 7 p.m. Please join Interfaith Hospitality Network on Tuesday, November 25 at 7 p.m. at Temple Beth-El in Hillsborough as they celebrate this time of year in song and prayer. Participating choirs include St. Bernard s Roman Catholic Church, North Branch Reformed Church and Temple Beth-El. One of the IHN clients will share her journey with thanks to participating congregations. Come and enjoy this very special evening. Interfaith Hospitality Network Sign-Up Today Share with God s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13 Homeless families will again be staying with us in our church house from Sundays, December 7 th 14 th. Please stop by after services to learn about Interfaith Hospitality Network and how you can volunteer for this meaningful mission. We invite you to sign-up to host dinners, evenings and overnights, as well as pick up and return linens, help to set up the space before their arrival and clean up after they leave. Thank you for your faithful support and generosity, as we serve God by serving others! For more information or to sign up, please call Joan Eichhorn at You may also sign up on our website Give Thanks by Serving Others on Thanksgiving Day Elizabethport Presbyterian Center is once again preparing and delivering Thanksgiving meals to seniors, shut-ins and the needy in Elizabeth. Volunteers will meet at the Center starting at 9 a.m. and continue delivering meals until finished, usually 11 or so. The Center is located at 184 First Street, Elizabeth, NJ. It is a great opportunity to get out of the way of the cooks at home, help others and see the Center if you have not previously done so. Please contact Tom Eicher, eicherfam@optonline.net or sign up after services. If you cannot be there in person, please consider donating a frozen turkey or turkey breast, which can be dropped off at the church today! God s Co-Op Pantry The donation item for the month of November is 1/2 gallon of Apple Juice. Please bring your donations to the church house. Thanks for your generosity! 7

8 Music Ministries An Update from the Music Search Committee Dear Friends, The Music Search Committee is honored to represent our congregation in the search for our New Director of Music Ministries. As we search, we want you to know how you are also involved in this search. We are watching you, our congregation, and listening to you all the time. We fondly describe our congregation to candidates as The Great Choir because you are such a participatory congregation. Your corporate voices ring out loud and clear as we sing service music, responses, and hymns. We are thankful for your trust that we will find a candidate who will honor our historical excellence in music and worship as well as explore with us the additional options for music in future worship. One of our favorite questions to candidates is, How do you use music to engage the non-choir congregation other than singing hymns? It is wonderful to hear how applicants honor, respect, and minister to the whole worshipping congregation. At this point, we are meeting some of these candidates in person, setting up meetings for them with Dennis, auditioning them on the organ/piano, and providing for a short choir rehearsal. We greatly appreciate the choir and oratorio members who are participating in these mock rehearsals so we can observe how candidates work with choirs and interact with the musicians and their music. This all has to be done in confidence because out of 55 applicants only one will get the job, and everyone else needs to know that our process respects their current employment. Please pray with us, the music search committee, that God will guide us in the process and enable us to discern who would be the best candidate for our new Director of Music Ministries. With Gratitude: Karen Johnson, Nancy DiSisto, Jeff Haines, Ted Hoag, Charles King, Judy Pasnik, Barbara Perkins, and Don Wadsworth. Save the Dates Join Us for these Upcoming Services and Events! December 7 Oratorio Services at 4 and 6:30 p.m. December 13 (Saturday) Appy Christmas Social December 14 Children s Musical and Advent Festival December 24 Christmas Eve Services Children s Service 4:30 p.m. Family Service 7:35 p.m. Traditional Candlelight Service 10:00 p.m. December 25 Christmas Day Service 11:00 a.m. January 11 Retirement Celebration for Mary Lou Stevens 8

9 John Rutter s Magnificat and Seasonal Carols Oratorio Choir, Orchestra, and Knox Bell Choir Mary Lou Stevens, Director Linda Langstaff, Bell Choir Director Sunday, December 7 4 and 6:30 pm Free will offering Childcare provided for preschool children at 4 pm performance only. Please call to reserve childcare. Reception following 6:30 performance. 9

10 Christmas Season The Giving Tree Our tradition of sharing our blessings with others continues this year with our Giving Tree. Christmas wishes from shelter guests at Homeless Solutions and clients of God s Co-Op Pantry are on the Christmas Tree in Westminster Hall. Please visit the tree and select an ornament with one of these wishes. Purchase the gift indicated and return it unwrapped to the Christmas Tree by December 14 in an open gift bag. Your gift can help make this Christmas a happy one for all of our friends in need. Please contact Amanda Hughes if you would like more information. Order Your Poinsettias Poinsettias will grace our sanctuary again this Christmas season. If you wish to contribute to the fund for these flowers, in memory or in honor of a loved one, please call the church house by Monday, December 15. The cost is $15. We will list the honored names in the bulletin on the 4th Sunday of Advent, December 21. Walk to Bethlehem Join the annual walk to Bethlehem on Sunday, December 21 beginning at 4 p.m. A candlelight procession will make its way to four churches in town. Carols will be sung at each church and the Christmas Story will be told. The walk will begin at St. James Roman Catholic Church and will end here at BRPC. All are welcome to join in this special community event. Christmas 2014 Worship Schedule Christmas Eve, December 24 Christmas Day, December 25 4:30 p.m. Young Children s Service 11:00 a.m. Come As You Are Little Spirit Choir Informal Worship 7:35 p.m. Family Service Dr. Maureen Paterson, preaching Spirit, Middle School Youth and Bell Choirs 10:00 p.m. Candlelight Service Rev. Dennis Jones, preaching Sr. High Youth and Alumni and Sanctuary Choirs 10

11 It s About BRPC s Future! We need your help in identifying the best candidates for important leadership positions at BRPC. A sense of God s call to serve, coupled with a willingness to serve, is much more important than any particular set of skills or talents. Please prayerfully consider those who play significant roles in the life and activities of BRPC today, who bring experience from another church, who may have new and imaginative ideas for the future, and who will dedicate their energy to moving God s work forward. Since you know yourself much better than does anyone else, please feel free to submit your own name if you believe that you are called to serve. All active members of the congregation are eligible for nomination at the May, 2015, congregational meeting. Elders constitute the Session, the ruling body of the church, and have full responsibility for policies, personnel and programs of the church. They also operate as chairs of the various Councils and committees. Deacons carry out a ministry of care, communication and hospitality to the members. Trustees responsible for the corporate/financial operations including the overall care and maintenance of the church properties. The Financial Review Committee verifies the statistical and financial records of the church. The Nominating Committee selects candidates for election to the boards. To make a suggestion, please complete the form below and return it to the Church Office. The Nominating Committee: Rev. Dennis Jones (ex-officio), Butch Cooper (Trustee), Don Grossmann, Ian Hughes, Jeff Schaub, Peggy Harris (Deacon), Jean Wadsworth, Chris Whitlock, and Nancy Bedner (Elder, Chair). CHURCH OFFICER CANDIDATE FOR NOMINATION Candidate Name: Office: I believe this person would be a good candidate because: 11

12 Weekly Calendar SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23 Early Bird Bible Study, 7:45 am... Library Worship, 9:00 am... Chapel Preschool JAM Program, 9:00 am... Ed. Bldg. Christian Ed. For Adults, 9:00 am... Parlor Fellowship Time, 9:45 am... Westminster Hall Worship, 10:15 am... Sanctuary Sunday School, 10:15 am... Ed. Bldg. Bibles & Bagels, 10:15 am... Library Fellowship Time, 11:15 am... Westminster Hall Nominating Comm., 11:30 am... Parlor Stephen Ministry, 6:30 pm... Off-site Sr. High/Mid. Sch. Fellowship, 7:00 pm Youth Center MONDAY NOVEMBER 24 Monday Bible Study, 9:30 am... Geneva Room Little Spirit Program, 4:00 pm... Ed. Bldg. Adult Ed. Comm., 7:00 pm... Geneva Room Tree House Board, 7:30 pm... Library Planning Council, 7:30 pm... Parlor Oratorio Choir, 7:30 pm... Knox Room TUESDAY NOVEMBER 25 Oak Tree Quilters, 9:00 am... Geneva Room Spirit Program, 3:45 pm... Education Bldg. Youth Bells, 4:00 pm... Sanctuary Youth Choir, 4:45 pm... Sanctuary Alpha Bell Choir, 6:15 pm... Knox Room Advent Study, 7:00 pm... Parlor Knox Bell Choir, 7:30 pm... Knox Room WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 26 THURSDAY NOVEMBER 27 Church Office Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday FRIDAY NOVEMBER 28 Church Office Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday SATURDAY NOVEMBER 29 Widmer Wedding, 3:30 pm... Sanctuary 12 The Presbyterian Church One East Oak St., Basking Ridge NJ FAX: Pastor & Head of Staff Rev. Dennis W. Jones... ext. 15 Associate Pastor Dr. Maureen Paterson... ext. 11 Parish Associate Rev. Bruce Schundler Director of Ministries to Youth, Young Adults and their Families Donna Anderle... ext. 17 Director of Ministries to Children Jacqueline Obregon.... ext. 14 Tree House Director Jennifer Nowack Minister of Music Mary Lou Stevens Director of Children s Music Ministry Beth Donley Handbell Director Linda Langstaff Seminarian Kayla Kelly Church Administrator & Treasurer Janet Bentley... ext. 18 Assistant Treasurers Liz Messineo... ext. 21 Nancy Kuhn... ext. 21 Pastoral Administrative Asst. Cara Burchett... ext. 19 Church Administrative Asst. Pam Smith... ext. 12 Receptionist Michelle Berger... ext. 10 Communications Coordinator Gary Ingram... ext. 13 Sexton Staff Peter O Connor... ext. 16 David Brownlee Ministers All the People Clerk of Session Tina Bramel President of Trustees Rudy Hyzer Moderator of Deacons Pamela Meyers