February 12, :15 & 10:45 o clock

Transcription

1 February 12, :15 & 10:45 o clock Sermon: Making Choices Among Endless Options Choose this day who you will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15 Our Mission To trust in Jesus love like Jesus grow in Jesus bring others to Jesus.

2 WELCOME TO BETHANY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Enter this Church not as a stranger, but as a guest of God. May the blessings of God rest upon you, both in your coming in and your going out. We are delighted to have you in worship. We ask that you please sign the Fellowship Pad at the end of the pew. For your convenience, we have a warm and loving nursery adjacent to the sanctuary, complete with an available paging system. We also have a Cry Room at the back of the Sanctuary (near the usher s table) on the pulpit side with a speaker so that you can see and hear the service. If you have any questions or need literature regarding the life of Bethany Presbyterian Church, please visit the Welcome Center, located next to the sanctuary. ORDER FOR THE PUBLIC WORSHIP OF GOD THE CHIMING OF THE HOUR WE GATHER BEFORE GOD THE WELCOME AND NEWS OF THE CHURCH THE PRELUDE Voluntary in B-Flat M. Greene Please take time during the Prelude to meditate & prepare for worship. THE CALL TO WORSHIP *THE HYMN No. 59 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee *THE PRAYER OF CONFESSION Lord, in quietness and confidence we come to You for Your mercy. Our sin is great; Your grace is greater. Our lives are hectic; Your patience is infinite. Our will is weak; Your plan is perfect. Thank You that once more we are reminded that You are God and we are not. Praise God! Amen. 2 Rev. Dr. John G. Hamilton

3 CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER: Please let us know if you are going into the hospital, having surgery or will be an outpatient. Also, let us know when you return home. In the Hospital as of February 10: George Whoolery Jefferson Regional (Mike Whoolery s father) Charlotte Guisewite Florida (Marlene Haley, Maxine Berton & Joy Heaps mother) Discharged: Bill Summers (Matt Fricker s Uncle) Tom Woodward Lifecare Hospital Care of Pittsburgh Remember in Prayer: Zach Noel (Shirley Ellis grandson) Brandy Stevens Albert Eisenbeis (Jean Roemer s father) Linda Karns Clifford & Lambert Families Bob Pulice Cliff Durocher Mary Schneider Andrea Prohaska broke her ankle Robbie Ytterberg & Family Erica Anderson concussion Eileen Douglas Jack Crawford The Blue Fellowship of Prayer Request Cards are for those having a prayer request, interested in being a part of this group, or wanting more information. Respite Care: Did you know that your church family can cook a meal, shop, drive or just visit for a few hours to give your family or caregiver a break. We are not a permanent or long term solution but we can help. For information or to volunteer please call Margie Smith at NEWS FOR THE BODY OF CHRIST Baptism dates for 2012: March 25 May 27 July 29 September 30 November 25 Call the Church Office to request a date for Baptism. Communion dates for 2012: February 26 April 5 May 6 June 24 August 5 September 9 October 7 December 2 Children wanting to receive Communion must first talk with the pastors. Call the pastor to make an appointment. March Newsletter articles are due Wednesday, February 15 th. Send them to Janet at marlett@bethanypresby.org 3

4 We welcome members of Troop 2 Boy Scouts of America to our 10:45 service this morning. The boys will be ushering, greeting and taking part in the service. Troop Master is Norman Miller. The next New Members Class will be held Sunday, March 18, 2012 at 12:30 p.m. at the church. We will provide lunch and the class will run between 3 and 4 hours. We look forward to personally meeting you at that time. If you are interested in joining the Family of God here at Bethany please note this on the Fellowship Pad along with your name, address and phone number or fill in the red card in the pew and drop it in the offering plate. Need Scrip? Stop at the Welcome Center after worship or at the office during the week and purchase a card(s) for Home Depot, KMart, Wal-Mart, Lowes, Target, and many more cards are available. How about going out to eat after a busy day we have cards available for several restaurants. We even have cards for BP and Sunoco for vacation trips. You can also purchase Giant Eagle and Shop n Save cards. This is the easiest fundraiser you will ever participate in because it doesn't cost you anymore than you already spend. Thank you for supporting the mission work of the church through this program. Carol Willhite will be in the Welcome Center after the 8:15 service and Earl & Pat Swanson after the 10:45 service. February is the month to provide desserts for Meals on Wheels. Ruth Doyle, Site Manager, would appreciate cupcakes, brownies, sweet breads or cake instead of cookies. Cookies are good, and we won t turn them down, but South Fayette PTA has donated a lot of cookies. A calendar is in the Welcome Center. Please sign-up. Fresh fruit, on certain days, as noted on the calendar is needed. The amount of fresh fruit is 60 pieces. Coordinate a day with a friend if you can t do it all yourself. Please help. The Rummage Sale will be held May 5 th and now is the time to start cleaning out and saving for the rummage sale. Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women Presbyterian women from around the globe will gather in Orlando, Florida, July 18 22, 2012, to celebrate through the theme River of Hope. Inspiring worship, Bible study, thought-provoking speakers and workshops on mission, leadership and spiritual growth will provide nurture and challenge for all who attend. This also will be a time for fun and renewal in The Sunshine State! For more information, please visit Bonnie, Barb, Lynne, Rhonda, Carolyn & Becky are going. Are you? Join us and get your T-shirt. Call Barb at if you plan to go. 4

5 Parking for Sunday Services The Property Team would like to reserve the front row spaces near the entrance for the elderly, for those with special needs and for visitors. Those who may have a greater need than others just might get discouraged from attending church because they have to walk so far. Calling all women - The 2012 Secret Sister Program is about to begin and we would love to have you join us. Please consider being a part of this wonderful program that is not only supporting our own Bethany women, but supporting such wonderful community needs as well. Forms can be found at the Welcome Center, or contact Beckie Price at Secret Sisters In honor of their "Sisters", the 2011 Secret Sisters collected money at their recent Reveal Luncheon to purchase Bibles for the Pregnancy Resource Center. A total of $175 was collected this year, which purchased 35 Bibles. Calling all men - The 2012 Men s Secret Society Program is about to begin and we already have a name Brotherhood of Bethany B.O.B. for short. We would love to have you join us. Won t you consider being a part of this grace-filled group of men in our church who will be praying and supporting each other? Information forms will be in the Welcome Center soon. Contact Bill Paviol at paviol@yahoo.com or call him at to learn more about this ministry. The Video College of Biblical Knowledge will complete the Story of Jesus (a look at Jesus through the eyes of the first century witnesses) over the next three weeks. Ben Witherington III, Helen Bond, Andrew Skinner, Bishop N.T. Wright, and His Beatitude Archbishop Theophilis will give their thoughts about Jesus last supper, trial, death, and resurrection. During Lent, the class will study Surprised by Hope by N. T. Wright. Bethany Church Preschool News Registration forms are in the Welcome Center and in the office. The nonrefundable registration fee of $50 is payable with registration. Make checks payable to Bethany Church Preschool. Children must be 3 years old by Sept. 1 and be toilet trained. Remember, some classes fill faster than others, so be sure to register as soon as possible. We don t want to miss you! Attention All Bethany Hackers: The date for the Annual Bethany Golf Outing is Saturday, June 23 rd at Fort Cherry Golf Club. Contact Ron Gastgeb ( ) for cost and to reserve your spot. A sit down dinner with prizes will follow the golfing. The golfer s hymn is There s a Green Hill Far Away. 5

6 Want to Get Away??? Bethany Presbyterian Church announces the return of the All Church Retreat March 9 th through March 11 th at the Laurelville Mennonite Church Center. This year s theme is The Good News Putting Yourself in the Picture. Register now for this exciting weekend of fellowship, study, prayer, laughter and relaxation. Time is running out is God calling you to Laurelville? Soup 'n Sandwich: Thank you for supporting the Soup 'n Sandwich days! We will return on Sunday, February 19, with wedding soup, green pepper soup, chicken salad sandwiches, and ham salad sandwiches. This benefits the adults who will be serving in the mission field with the West Virginia and Tapestries of Life teams. Preparation day will be on Friday, February 17, at 7:02 p.m. and then help will be needed on Sunday, February 19, at 8:08 a.m. If you have any questions, please contact Caroline Poiche at or Cathy Schulz at A Call to Service The Lord has commanded His followers to love one another. In order to do this we must emulate Jesus in acts of service, compassion, and mercy. Through the activities of the Presbyterian Women we are able to provide knitted and crocheted hats and scarves to Operation Safety Net and to children and adults in Mexico as well as locally. We have the yarn, needles, crochet hooks and patterns for items suitable for the beginner or the accomplished craftsperson. You can create hats and booties for preemies and newborns in the local hospitals; lap robes for the elderly; prayer shawls for those needing comfort and healing; sweaters for needy boys and girls all over the world, or little dresses for Africa. If you don t have the time, skill or desire to make these items you can still provide purchased socks (cotton/polyester blend) for the men and women who rely on Operation Safety Net. You could also purchase a hard-board children s book for Lydia s Place, so that organization can help the young ones whose parents are in prison in Pittsburgh. Of course you could also support or join the mission teams who go out from Bethany to do God s work of rebuilding, feeding, or helping wherever needed. Please join others here at Bethany in emulating Jesus. By demonstrating His love and concern we may be the sermons people see and create bridges between believers and those who are still out in the cold and dark without Him. Remember that Jesus said I and the Father are one. He also said Whatever you do for the least of these you do for Me. See Jesus in the people around you and show them Jesus through your actions. Speak LOVE by your deeds. Knitters meet and teach others here at the church on Thursdays from noon until approximately 2:30 p.m. and on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month from 10 a.m. until noon. Please feel free to join us. You can call Dianne Fiorentini at or check the church calendar for changes. Thank you. 6

7 Ash Wednesday: The season of Lent begins on February 22 nd. We will observe Ash Wednesday with a dinner at 6:00 p.m. followed by a worship service in the sanctuary at 7:00 p.m. Associate Pastor: The Ytterbergs are excited and anxious to begin their life in Pittsburgh. While this is a big move, leaving family and friends to venture across the country to Pittsburgh, they feel this is where the Lord is directing them. They so appreciated the warm welcome they received in January. To continue with our desire to welcome and encourage the Ytterbergs, letters, s etc. to them would be well received at this time. Already their daughter Ella has received a card from Ami Layne Wolstoncroft which was a thrill for her. Their children, Wesley who is 7 and Ella who is 4 would really enjoy hearing from the young members of Bethany, in addition to Abby and Robbie. This is a great time for us to lay the ground work for developing a strong and loving relationship. Their desire is to make Bethany not only Robbie's place of calling but also their extended home. Their address is: Ballinger Way, NE, Lake Forest Park, WA Robbie's is robbie.ytterberg@gmail.com Abby's is ytterbug@gmail.com The Golden Oldies will gather in Fellowship Hall on Thursday, February 16 th. Carrie Emerson is making a Southern fried chicken dinner for all to enjoy. Jackie Nixon, Carrie and friends will provide a program of music and stories. Coffee will be ready at 10:30. Don t forget a donation to the food bank. A limited number of tickets have been ordered for our day trip to see Ruthless on Thursday, April 5 th. The tickets are $50 each which includes the bus and lunch. We will leave from the church parking lot at 11 a.m. To reserve a ticket we are asking for a minimum deposit of $25 per ticket with the entire balance due on or before the March 15 th You Gotta Wear Green meeting. FROM THE BETHANY CHURCH OFFICE Attendance for Sunday, February 5 8: : THIS WEEK AT BETHANY Sunday February 12 (Psalm 80:1-19) Scout Sunday / Annual Reports Dinner Pray for Ashley, Jack & Blake Vollmer 8:15 A.M. Worship Sanctuary 9:30 A.M. Sunday School 10:45 A.M. Worship Sanctuary 2:00 P.M. Junior High Youth Offsite 6:00 P.M. Annual Dinner & Reports Great Room (Babysitting available) 7

8 Monday, February 13 (Psalm 81:1-16) Pray for Sean, Jennifer, Ryan & Leah Wallis 6:00 P.M. Upward Practice Great Room 7:00 P.M. Session Teams Welcome Center Tuesday, February 14 (Psalm 82:1-8) Pray for Natalie Walters 9:15 A.M. Staff Meeting Rev. John s Office 9:30 A.M. Women s Day Out Fellowship Hall 5:00 P.M. LOGOS Classrooms, Kitchen, Great Room 7:00 P.M. Upward Practice Great Room 7:00 P.M. Upward Cheerleading Practice Chapel 7:00 P.M. Youth Bell Ringers Choir Room 7:30 P.M. Senior High Bible Study Youth Room Wednesday, February 15 (Psalm 83:1-18) Pray for Cary Walters 6:00 P.M. Upward Practice Great Room 6:00 P.M. Upward Cheerleading Practice Chapel 7:00 P.M. Adult Choir Rehearsal Choir Room 7:00 P.M. Young Adults Bible Study Youth Room 8:30 P.M. Bethany Ringers Choir Room Thursday, February 16 (Psalm 84:1-12) Pray for Ral & Dorothy Warnock 9:15 A.M. Quilting Room :30 A.M. Golden Oldies Social Time Fellowship Hall 12:00 P.M. Golden Oldies Lunch Fellowship Hall 12:00 P.M. Thursday Knitters Room 224 6:00 P.M. Upward Practice Great Room 6:00 P.M. Upward Cheerleading Practice Chapel 6:30 P.M. Adult Bible Study Room 224 7:00 P.M. MOMSnext Bethany Room 7:00 P.M. Dartball Fellowship Hall Indians Braves) 8:00 P.M. Adult Basketball Great Room Friday, February 17 (Psalm 85:1-13) Pray for Tracie Ann & Davis Warwick 9:30 A.M. Women s Bible Study on James Room 244 4:00 P.M. Senior High Youth 30 hour Famine begins Youth Room 6:00 P.M. Upward Practice Great Room 7:30 P.M. Friday Night Group Room 224 8

9 Saturday, February 18 (Psalm 86:1-17) Pray for Art & Mary Wells 7:30 A.M. Food Bank Room 159 9:00 A.M. Upward Game Day Great Room / Kitchen Sunday February 19 (Psalm 87:1-7) Soup n Sandwich Take Outs Pray for David, Laura, Lena & Lorna Werner 8:15 A.M. Worship Sanctuary 9:30 A.M. Sunday School 10:45 A.M. Worship Sanctuary 6:00 P.M. Junior High Youth Youth Room THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING WHO ARE SERVING THE LORD Lay Readers: 8:15 SuEllen Dillon 10:45 Matthew Price, Max Nagy Ushers: 8:15 Ed Van Eman, Roger Cox, Richard & Saundra Jones 10:45 Nick Aul, Matthew Price, Max Nagy, A. J. Rothenberger, Roy Rothenberger, Liz Burkhardt, Kurt Rothenberger, Norman Miller Prayer of Dedication: 10:45 Nick Aul Fellowship Greeters: 8:15 The Ushers 10:45 Louis, Rachel, Gabriella & Louis Schonisi Shaun, Kathryn, Ava, Sophia & Lane Martinec Good News Greeters: 8:15 Caroline Poiche 10:45 John & Becky Yanak Nursery: 8:15 Jason & Richelle Sommerfield 10:45 Jenny Smith, Jim & Heather Fries Two, Three & Four Year Olds Room :45 Scott & Jennifer Wallis Four & Five Year Olds Children s Worship & Wonder 10:45 Room 144 Debby Hayes, Sara Sunderlin, Jordan Krieger & Halie Ralston At the Welcome Center: 8:15 John Brown 10:45 Mike Suchoza 9

10 From last week s Glimpses of Grace: "Blessed is the one who hungers and thirsts for what comes from God, for in your hunger you shall be filled." That is my paraphrase of Matthew 5:6, the fourth beatitude. I receive it as God's assurance that when we come hungry, God will feed us. When we hunger to grasp His word for us in Scripture...when we come to God in honest prayer...when we give God our best...when we fall before our loving Father with broken, humble hearts...when we open our hearts in faith, even anxious, doubting, heels-dragging-in-the-dirt faith...god will fill us, teach us, restore us, convict us, save us, and direct our gaze to eternity. And here is the catch. This applies to me as well as you. I need to come in my brokenness and openness...not from on high but at the foot of the cross. That is why you see me do some things in worship that may not seem "normal" for a Pastor. I often move to the front pew for the choir's anthem or other special music (though not always); I sit in the front pew for the reading of the Scripture lessons; lately I have been receiving prayer from the other Pastor (in this case, my dear wife) before I begin the sermon; and when I am not preaching, I sit in the front pew for the sermon. For me, it puts me in a position of receptivity, a place in which I am not "presiding" but receiving. It is a way for me- physically- to come hungry. I know the choir and musicians and even my wife, our Temporary Associate Pastor (for a little while longer) stay up front, bless their hearts. It is simply a way for me to remind myself that I am in worship, that I too, need to receive what God has to give. It helps me to get a few precious glimpses of grace. May all of you have Glimpses of Grace as we worship. Rev. John Hamilton COMMUNITY EVENTS Baby bottles are on the table in the Welcome Center for you to take home and put your loose change in (paper money & checks also accepted) for use at the Pregnancy Resource Center of the South Hills. See insert. CHURCH STAFF Dr. John Hamilton, Senior Pastor Rev. Melany Hamilton, Interim Associate John Henninger, Director of Music Kim McCann, Financial Accountant Barb Crawford, Interim CE Director Matt Fricker, Youth Director Janet Marlett, Secretary Bill Stephan, Custodian Tim Michel, Custodian hamilton@bethanypresby.org mhamilton@bethanypresby.org henninger@bethanypresby.org finance@bethanypresby.org crawford@bethanypresby.org fricker@bethanypresby.org marlett@bethanypresby.org custodian@bethanypresby.org custodian@bethanypresby.org Jenny Smith, Sunday School / Worship Nursery Coordinator Patty Johnson, Week-day Pre-School director Web site Church Phone Fax Number

11 *THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON *THE RESPONSE No. 734 THE ANTHEM 10:45 Gloria Patri Shout to the North Children of Sunday School and LOGOS THE CHILDREN S MESSAGE THE WELCOMING OF OUR SCOUTS 10:45 WE GIVE TO GOD THE OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS THE OFFERTORY 8:15 Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus 10:45 All Hail the Power of Jesus Name E. Diemer arr. L. Larson *THE RESPONSE No. 34 The Doxology *THE PRAYER OF DEDICATION THE SOLO - 10:45 Amazing Grace Nick Karafilis THE PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD S PRAYER WE LISTEN TO GOD S WORD THE SCRIPTURE READINGS: Old Testament: Joshua 24:14-18 New Testament: I Peter 1:13-16 Lay Reader See page 369 in pew Bible See page1887 in pew Bible L: The word of the Lord P: Thanks be to God 11

12 THE SERMON Rev. John Hamilton Making Choices Among Endless Options WE RESPOND TO GOD S WORD THE PRAYER OF RESPONSE *THE HYMN No. 344 I Have Decided to Follow Jesus *THE BENEDICTION *THE RESPONSE 10:45 Fourfold Amen I. Jennings *THE POSTLUDE Praeludium in C V. Lubeck *All who are able and willing, please stand 12