Forest Hill Church: diverse, inclusive, welcoming

Transcription

1 3031 Monticello Blvd, Cleveland Hts OH Fax: Website: Dr. John C. Lentz, Jr., Pastor Rev. Lois Annich, Interim Associate Pastor Rev. Tricia Dykers-Koenig, Parish Assoc Kate Burleigh, Dir. of Children s Ministries Shannon Headen, Dir. of Youth Ministries Anne Wilson, Director of Music Forest Hill Church: diverse, inclusive, welcoming

2 2 Service of Worship July 16, 2017 at 10:00 am Welcome! Thank you for joining us today for worship. Please join us in wearing a name tag so that we might greet you. Our ushers have hearing devices, large print editions of the bulletin, activity bags for children staying in worship, and directions to our nursery for babies and young children. Prayer of Preparation Give me a pure heart that I may see Thee, A humble heart that I may hear Thee, A heart of love that I may serve Thee A heart of faith that I may abide in Thee Welcome Prelude Choral Introit Vision Fern Jennings, guest organist Dag Hammarskjöld ( ) Josef Rheinberger Greeting Our God with Joy Call to Worship Elder Eric Muller-Girard Leader: Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. People: I have sworn and confirmed That I will keep your righteous judgments. Leader: I am afflicted very much; revive me, O Lord, according to your word. People: Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, And teach me your judgments.

3 Leader: My life is continually in my hand, yet I do not forget your law. People: The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I have not strayed from your precepts. Leader: Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, People: For they are the rejoicing of my heart. Leader: I have inclined my heart People: To perform your statutes forever, to the very end. Leader: Let us worship God. * Opening Hymn No. 268 Crown Him with Many Crowns * Please stand if you are able Renewing Our Relationship with God Prayer of Confession God of light and love, we don t understand why you love us, but we know that you do. We are selfish. We are greedy. We are mean. We are superficial. We choose silence over words and indifference over action. Hear us. Lift us. Forgive us. Shine your light into our lives and your love into our souls. Cleanse our hearts and renew our minds. Help us live into your love and light forever. Amen. Time of Silent Confession Kyrie eleison (Lord, have mercy) John Merbecke 3

4 Affirming the Good News in Our Lives Assurance of Pardon * Response Paul Vasile Glory to God Glory to God, whose goodness shines on me, and to the Son, whose grace has pardoned me, and to the Spirit, whose love has set me free. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen. Anthem Listen, God Is Calling Patty Console, Caleb Wright, soloists Tanzanian trad. Opening Our Hearts to God s Word Commissioning of Youth Summer Mission Trip The group will spend a week at the Montreat Conference Center in Ashville, North Carolina, attending Youth Conference V: A Missing Peace * Hymn No. 298 Lord, You Give the Great Commission Prayer requests may be passed to the ushers during this hymn 4

5 Scripture Lessons from the New International Version Bible Matthew 13: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Romans 8: 1-4 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. After the readings Leader: Hear what the Holy Spirit is telling God s people. People: Thanks be to God. Sermon The Theology of Wonder Woman Shannon Headen 5

6 Prayers of the People 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. Ritual of Friendship Offering Offertory 6 There Is a Balm in Gilead Patty Console, Caleb Wright, soloists spiritual * Response South African song Hallelujah! We sing your praises, all our hearts with gladness are filled. Hallelujah! We sing your praises, all our hearts with gladness are filled. Now he send us all out, strong in faith, free of doubt, strong in faith, free of doubt. Tell to all the joyful Good News. * Prayer of Dedication Going Forth to Live as God s People * Closing Hymn No. 726 The Summons * Commission and Blessing * Choral Benediction * Passing of the Peace

7 Postlude Postlude in C Major Arthur Foote Welcome Visitors! We look forward to greeting you and answering any questions you may have. Visitor welcome bags are available in the foyers and the narthex. Take one home with you! Our website, lists upcoming events, education programs for all ages, and texts and audio of past sermons. Notes & Announcements Chancel Flowers: The flowers are given by Tom and Beth Zych in honor of their sons Tom and Ian and their grandson Elliot; and by the Leslie, Richards and Strachan families in memory of Hugh Leslie. Prayers are requested this week for: Leslie Clement, Jane Frederick, Max Harmon, Kathryn Himmelsteib, Florence Klein, Wafa Kuri, George Sentell, Dorothy Turick. In Memoriam We Remember Donal T. Grube Who died July 7, 2017 I am the resurrection and I am the life, says the Lord A service celebrating Don s life will be held on July 29 at 2 pm 7

8 Please remember these homebound members in your prayers: Marge Drollinger, Emma Jane Gibbs, Iris and Al Gilbert, Ron Klein, Emelia McGuire, Joyce Peters, Margie Stauffer, Elaine Tapié, Lorian Thomas and Pat Weissbrod. Care Group The Corinth Care Group is responsible for meeting members needs during July. Please call the church office to report an illness, hospitalization, family emergency, birth or death. Information will then be passed on to the Care Group leaders. Ushers: Thank you to Roger Heineman, head usher, and today s usher team. Nursery care for babies and young children is available on the second floor of the Monticello Wing. The Deacons encourage you to stop by the Greeting Card Table in Fellowship Hall before or after worship to sign a card for any member who is ill or homebound. We will address and mail the card for you. Coming Up TODAY Music: Today we again welcome Fern Jennings as guest organist. Fern is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music and was the Director of Music at First Unitarian Church in Shaker Heights until she retired. Director of Music Anne Wilson is worshipping at the Iona Abbey off the west coast of Scotland this morning. 8

9 Legislative Action: Look for Roz Peters at the Social Action kiosk in Fellowship Hall advocate this week for just and equitable health care. THIS WEEK Bible Study: The lessons for this week are: Genesis 28: 10-19a; Psalm 139: 1-12, 23-24; Romans 8: 12-25; Matthew 13: 24-30, Bible and Bagels discusses next week s text on Wednesday mornings from 7:30 to 8:30. All are welcome! NEXT SUNDAY Adult Education: Bible study, 9:00 in the Jin Room Labre Volunteers: All hands on deck for our 5th annual cookout at Our Family Home Center! Sunday 23 July, 4-6 PM. Even if you're out of town that weekend, you can still help! Go to the SignUp Genius website (below or sent to you), or Jack Breisch at jbrei@hawken.edu to sign up. We need you! Summer Choir: Summer Choir continues through July with rehearsals held at 9:30 am in the downstairs choir room (underneath Fellowship Hall). The music will be easy to learn, and singers of all ages are most welcome to participate. Families with children are particularly invited to sit as a family. When it's time to sing, the singing members stand, and the others just remain seated (perhaps coloring or reading stories?). Give it a try! Youth News Mission Trip meeting TODAY, 11 am, Ruah Rm youth and parents 9

10 Staff s Rev. Lois Annich Interim Assoc. Pastor Becky Austin Finance Lynda Bernays Administration Kate Burleigh Children Ann Donkin Building mgr. Stavros Gazis Custodial Shannon Headen Youth Rev. Dr. John C. Lentz, Jr. Pastor Peg Weissbrod Publicity Anne Wilson Music Calling all line and square dancers! This year the Fall Festival on September 10 will be a Country Jamboree. We are looking for anyone who knows of a DJ or band that can do line or square dancing music. If YOU know how to square or line dance and want to be one of the "teachers," please contact Jason Hidek (jason.hidek@att.net). Get out your boots and ten gallon hats and get ready for the Fall Festival! Mark your calendars for September 10! 10

11 Calendar: July 16-23, 2017 Sunday, July 16 9:00 am Child care begins Summer Bible Study 9:30 am Continental Breakfast Summer Choir 10:00 am WORSHIP 11:15 am Coffee and Conversation Blood Pressure check Black Caucus mtg Youth & Parents: Mission Trip meeting Monday, July 17 6:30 am Excell opens 6:00 pm Progress not Perfection (AA) 7:00 pm Al Anon CPNC meeting 7:30 pm Borton Group (AA) Tuesday, July 18 12:00 pm Abundance Pantry registration 1:00 pm Abundance Pantry food Distribution 5:00 pm Fitness Fusion 7:00 pm GCC Housing meeting Stewardship Min. meeting Wednesday, July 19 7:30 am Bible & Bagels 12:30 pm Wed. Women s AA 7:00 pm TransFamily East mtg 7:30 pm Prayer Group Thursday, July 20 5:00 pm Fitness Fusion Friday, July 21 10:00 am Al Anon meeting Saturday, July 22 4:00 am Youth Mission Trip leaves 7:00 am Washington DC trip leaves 9:00 am Apostles Build: Build Day Sunday, July 23 9:00 am Child care begins Summer Bible Study 9:30 am Continental Breakfast Summer Choir 10:00 am WORSHIP Summer Pathways 11:15 am Coffee and Conversation 11

12 BOOKS BOOKS EVERYWHERE! August 20 - One Book One Church: October 31, 1517 by Martin Marty. Rev. Laury Larson will lead a discussion on this book written by one of the giants of religious history. This year is the 500 th anniversary of the Reformation. Books are available for $15 contact the church office. Pastor's Selfish Book Club Waking Up White: and Finding Myself In the Story of Race by Debby Irving, July 30, 11:15 12:30 Next up: Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth by Reza Aslan,