3031 Monticello Blvd, Cleveland Hts OH 44118 216-321-2660 Fax: 216-320-1214 Email: office@fhcpresb.org Website: www.fhcpresb.org Rev. Dr. John C. Lentz, Jr., Pastor Rev. Lois Annich, Interim Assoc. Pastor Anne Wilson, Director of Music Kate Burleigh, Dir. of Children s Ministries Shannon Headen, Dir. of Youth Ministries Forest Hill Church: diverse, inclusive and welcoming
Service of Worship January 7, 2018 at 11:00 am Epiphany of the Lord Celebration of Holy Communion Welcome! Thank you for joining us today for worship. This morning we celebrate the Eucharist (the sacrament of the Lord s Supper, or Holy Communion) by intinction (dipping the bread into the cup). We also provide a gluten-free alternative. After receiving the elements you may come to the railing to receive a blessing from the pastors. Centering Words Light shines in the darkness and the darkness fades like a passing dream. Turn to the light. Follow the light of the world. Welcome Prelude Choral Introit How Brightly Shines the Morning Star Arise, Shine Paul Manz Luigi Cherubini Greeting Our God with Joy Call to Worship Elder Barbara Hansen Leader: Arise, shine! Your light has come! People: The glory of the Lord shines like the sun. Leader: Behold, the nations have come to witness to God s light. People: Kings have come to behold Christ s brightness. Leader: Lift up your eyes and look around. People: The glory of the Lord is all around. Leader: Arise, shine! Your light has come! 2
* Processional Hymn No. 769 For Everyone Born Please sing refrain after st. 1, 3, 5 *please stand if able Renewing Our Relationship with God Prayer of Confession In this season of light, help us shine your light in the shadow places where others and we ourselves often dwell. Open our shut-up hearts to those in need. Guide our footsteps in the paths of righteousness and joy that justice may flourish and peace may abound. Forgive our sin and let us shine for your praise and glory. Amen. Time of Silent Confession Kyrie eleison (Lord, have mercy) John Merbecke Affirming the Good News in Our Lives Assurance of Pardon * Gloria Taizé All sing first time. Second time: low voices, begin; high voices enter two measures later; children and youth enter two measures after that. 3
Opening Our Hearts to God s Word Scripture Lesson Isaiah 60: 1-6 Elder Barbara Hansen Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses arms. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD. After the reading Leader: Hear what the Holy Spirit is telling God s people. People: Thanks be to God. Sermon Ritual of Friendship Offering Offertory Rev. Dr. John C. Lentz, Jr. Attitude Change David Hurd A Stable Lamp is Lighted 4
* Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise God all creatures here below, Praise God above ye heavenly host, Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. * Prayer of Dedication Eucharist Invitation Great Thanksgiving Leader: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Leader: Lift up your hearts. People: We lift them up unto the Lord. Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People: It is right to give our thanks and praise. Sanctus Prayers of the People American folk melody, arr. Richard Proulx 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. Communion of the People Music during Communion New Year Carol Benjamin Britten 5
Prayer after Communion Gracious God, thank you for sharing your life with us. Send us forth as a light to the nations. Send us forth as a people with a blessing. Send us forth as disciples of Jesus Christ. Amen. Going Forth to Live as God s People * Closing Hymn No. 151 We Three Kings of Orient Are Congregation, please sing refrain Soloists: Mark Schmidt, Molly Grettenberger, Garrett Vandall * Commission and Blessing * Choral Benediction Sanctuary * Passing of the Peace Postlude Johann Pachelbel How Brightly Shines the Morning Star Liturgy shaped by B.J. Beu, The Abington Worship Manual 2018 6
Welcome Visitors! We look forward to greeting you and answering any questions you may have. Welcome bags are available in the foyers and the narthex. Take one home with you! Be sure to visit our website, www.fhcpresb.org, for a list of upcoming events, education programs for all ages, and past sermon texts and audio. 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. Notes & Announcements Our three kings are sumptuously decked out in robes given in memory of Bill Tapié. Many thanks to Kris and Bill Fay for their wardrobe assistance this morning. Chancel Flowers: Today s flowers are given by Molly Bergman in memory of Ken Bergman and all others who provide time and effort making our church a better place; and by Carol and Tim Gifford: Happy Birthday to John Obery and Ethan Gifford. Prayers are requested this week for the following: Joe and Betsy Andrews, Frances Barry, Justin Edwards, Max Harmon, David Hunter, Florence Klein, Wafa Kuri, Clyde Loughridge, Jeanette Nemcek, Jimmy Strong, Bob and Linda Uhle, and Stephen. Please remember these homebound members in your prayers: Marge Drollinger, Iris and Al Gilbert, Ron Klein, Emelia McGuire, Joyce Peters, Margie Stauffer, Elaine Tapié, Lorian Thomas, and Beryl and Henrietta Williams. 7
Please remember the Dugard family in your prayers; Sheryl s mother, Mildred Sinkler, died December 23. The Deacons encourage you to stop by the Greeting Card Table in Fellowship Hall before or after worship to sign a card for one or more of our homebound members. We will address and mail the card for you. Care Group: The Mt. Sinai Care Group is responsible for assisting the clergy in meeting members needs during January. 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. In Memoriam We Remember Patricia Sims Weissbrod Who died December 29, 2017 I am the resurrection and I am the life, says the Lord Today Is Hunger Sunday Any cash or checks in envelopes marked Hunger will be used 100% for support of Forest Hill Church s Abundance Pantry. This Month s Ushers Thank you to head usher Roger Heineman and today s ushers. Please contact the church office if you are interested in joining an usher team. Coming Up TODAY Moving Towards Equity Leadership Training, 12:30 pm in Fellowship Hall Hall 8
THIS WEEK Bible Study: The lessons for this week are: 1 Samuel 3: 1-10; Psalm 139: 1-6, 13-18; 1 Corinthians 6: 12-20; John 1: 43-51 Bible and Bagels discusses next Sunday s text(s) on Wednesday mornings from 7:30 to 8:30. All are welcome! NEXT SUNDAY Adult Education, 9:30 in South Hall The Adult Education committee cordially welcomes one and all to its Winter 2018 Kerygma Bible study. It s cold outside, but the spirit of the Word will keep us warm. Our study will center on the wisdom text of Ecclesiastes, with added attention to other wisdom sources. It s a change of pace, and will call on our mature and candid examination of this unusual book, but we re up to the task. We all know Ecclesiastes, right? Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. 1:2 And we can recite (or, some of us, even sing) 3:2, For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven continuing with the words offered as comfort at most memorial services. And the Byrds, turning, turning, turning. But there's a lot more to Ecclesiastes than those citations. This may very well be the most interesting and challenging book we have studied. Please join us in South Hall at 9:30 every Sunday. Labre Project Warm, gently-used clothing and accessories coats, sweaters, hats, gloves, blankets for men, women and children are appreciated for the Labre Project in East Cleveland. Please leave donations in the bin in Fellowship Hall. 9
LOOKING AHEAD The 2018 Homeless Stand Down is scheduled for Saturday, January 20, and once again FHC will field a morning team of personal shoppers. 20 slots are available for our team. If you'd like to join, contact Jack Breisch (jbrei@hawken.edu). Please note that a mandatory team training at FHC is also scheduled for 1/14, 12:30-1:30. Attention Parents: Family, Children and Youth Ministry informational meeting, Sunday, January 21 from 12:30-1:30 pm. 2018 will see changes in the staffing of our Family, Children and Youth Ministries. Shannon, Kate and John call all parents and others who are interested in knowing more. Child care will be extended. Youth News Sundays: Mid High classes meet from 9:30 10:30 am. Staff Emails Rev. Lois Annich Interim Assoc. Pastor pastorannich@fhcpresb.org Becky Austin Finance beckya@fhcpresb.org Lynda Bernays Administration office@fhcpresb.org Kate Burleigh Children kateb@fhcpresb.org Ann Donkin Building mgr. adonkin@fhcpresb.org Stavros Gazis Custodial office@fhcpresb.org Shannon Headen Youth shannon@fhcpresb.org Rev. Dr. John Lentz Jr. Pastor pastorlentz@fhcpresb.org Peg Weissbrod Outreach pegw@fhcpresb.org 10
You are invited to the Ordination of Candidate Kate Kolmodin to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament on January 14 at 3:00 pm at Forest Hill Church, Presbyterian Kate is being ordained on behalf of the Presbytery of Northern Waters to the position of Chaplain at Essentia-St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth, Minnesota. Please join us for this special event! 11
You are also invited to an Epiphany Party TODAY from 3 10 pm at the home of Carolyn Smith, 1867 Cumberland Rd, CH (216-509-3928) Since 2004, the Smith family has celebrated the tradition of hosting an Epiphany Party for family and friends. We ask that you bring a cash donation to be donated to Abundance Pantry, as they are able to purchase supplies from the Cleveland Foodbank at a very low cost. We also ask that you bring a favorite potluck dish to share. We ll provide coffee, punch and eggnog (high- and low-test) as well as a variety of delicious goodies. Bring voices and instruments to join the annual song circle/ acoustic jam. Bring good holiday wishes and prayers for peace in this troubled world. Bring yourselves! 12
Calendar: January 7-14, 2018 Sunday, January 7: Epiphany 9:00 am Child care begins 9:30 am Adult Education Youth Education: Logos (Mid Hi) Descant Choir 10:15 am Descant Choir activity 10:30 am Continental Breakfast Chancel Choir 11:00 am WORSHIP: Communion Pathways children will attend worship with their families Children s Worship Program 12:15 pm Coffee and Conversation Sine Nomine Choir 12:30 pm Moving Toward Equity Leadership Training 5:00 pm Faith Leader Monday, January 8 6:00 pm Progress not Perfection (AA) 7:00 pm Al Anon 7:30 pm Borton Group (AA) Tuesday, January 9 1:00 pm Abundance Pantry 5:00 pm Fitness Fusion exercise class 6:00 pm PRISM meeting 7:00 pm Friends of HOLA meeting CPNC meeting 7:15 pm Black History team meeting Thursday, January 11 7:00 am TOWER deadline 5:00 pm Fitness Fusion exercise class 6:20 pm Voices in Bronze 7:30 pm Chancel Choir FH Swim Club meeting Friday, January 12 10:00 am Al Anon Saturday, January 13 9:00 am CEIRS class HOLA training 7:00 pm Hts Barbershoppers Concert Sunday, January 14 9:00 am Child care begins 9:30 am Adult Education Youth Education: Logos (Mid Hi) Descant Choir 10:15 am Descant Choir activity 10:30 am Continental Breakfast Chancel Choir 11:00 am WORSHIP Pathways to the Promise Land 12:15 pm Coffee and Conversation 12:30 pm Homeless Standdown training 3:00 pm Ordination of Kate Kolmodin 4:00 pm Reconnecting with Creation class 5:00 pm Faith Leader Wednesday, January 10 7:30 am Bible and Bagels 12:30 pm Wed. Women s AA 7:00 pm Ministry meetings 13
About January Those of you who have been around Forest Hill Church for a while know that January is packed with exciting events some open to all and some by invitation only. Here is a schedule that (I hope) will help inform you about what to pay attention to and what to ignore. Date, time, location What For whom Jan 6 9-11:30 am New Leader Soon-to-be-elected leaders on all (already passed you by), Training ministries Jan 7, 12:30 2:30 (today after worship. Nearly 70 people have registered; please go directly to Fellowship Hall.) Jan 10, 7-9 pm Gather in Fellowship Hall at 7 Moving Toward Equity Leadership training Ministry meetings All elected officers and leaders are expected to attend; anyone else who is interested is most welcome. If you didn t register but really want to attend, please come along New leaders are invited to attend. Current and outgoing leaders are expected. Jan 24, 7-9 pm South Hall Session meeting New elders are invited to attend. Current and outgoing elders are expected. Jan 28, 12:15 2 pm, Fellowship Hall Sundays in February Feb 4, 11 am during worship Annual Meeting of the Congregation Black History Month programs Ordination and Installation of New Officers All are welcome to attend but only active members may vote. New elders and leaders will be elected. All elders and leaders are expected. Lunch will be served and child care will be provided Watch for information about a restaurant outing, a speaker, a concert and a book discussion on Sister Citizen New Elders and Deacons will be ordained and installed 14
Date, time, location What For whom Feb 7, 7 pm All Ministries All 2018 Elders and leaders (one week early because Ash Weds is Feb 14) meet Feb 14, 7:30 pm, Sanctuary Ash Wednesday worship Everyone Feb 17, 8 am 5 pm River s Edge Conference Center Session retreat All 2018 Elders (information will be sent later) Feb 28, 7 pm, South Hall Session meeting All 2018 Elders Please watch the weekly email news, the bulletin and the TOWER for additional events and more information. (The deadline for the February TOWER is Thursday, January 11 at 7 am). Cover image: He, Qi. Adoration of the Magi, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?rc=46114 [retrieved December 28, 2017]. Original source: heqigallery.com 15