First Presbyterian Church November 4, 2018 10:30 a.m. Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. Psalm 146:2 GATHERING AROUND THE WORD Prelude Welcome and Church Life Notes Introit Father I Adore You Chancel Choir *Call to Worship Leader: (Shema in Hebrew) All: (Unison) Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One. Blessed be the Name of His glorious kingdom for ever and ever. Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One. *Hymn Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty #35 *Call to Confession *Prayer of Confession Heavenly Father, we confess that we are a mess. Our hearts are a mess and we live messy lives. When we have to make a choice, we often take the easy way out. Later, we regret our decision and repent. Forgive us. Lord, we confess that we often take credit for what we accomplish when the all the credit belongs to you. We are quick to claim success and slow to acknowledge failure. Forgive us. Creator God, we confess that we frequently judge others by appearance or speech without really getting to know them. We are quick to judge others and slow to apply those standards to ourselves. Forgive us. Holy Father, we ask you to convict us that we can only be forgiven through the blood of Your Son, Our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. (A moment for silent personal prayer of confession) *Assurance of Pardon One: Jesus said, Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. Friends we all have a decision to make. We must decide if we are sinners or saints. If we decide we are sinners, then we will concentrate on our mistakes and our unworthiness to attain everlasting life. If we claim our life as saints, then we can accept that we are justified by Jesus sacrifice on the cross and sanctified by God for His Kingdom. All: God always keeps His promises. We declare we will live our lives as children of God guided by the Holy Spirit and saved by the Blood of Christ. Nothing will come between us and God. Nothing! *Choral Response The Gloria Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost! As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be! World without end! Amen! Amen! *Passing of the Peace One: Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. To this peace we were called as members of Christ s body. The peace of Christ be with you. All: And also with you. PROCLAIMING THE WORD Time for Small Disciples WDJD Ralph Bressler Anthem Go Ye into All the World by Price/Besig Chancel Choir Prayer for Illumination Psalm 146 (page 581 OT in the pew Bible) Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. Luke 15: 11 31 (page 78 NT in the pew Bible) Leader: The Gospel of Christ. People: Thanks be to God. Sermon A God of Second Chances Ralph Bressler
RESPONDING TO THE WORD *Hymn When Peace like a River #840 *Affirmation of Faith The Apostles Creed (Traditional version) (Ushers gather in the narthex at this time.) One: Let us affirm our faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God. All: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen. Presentation of Gifts and Offerings Call to the Offering Offertory *Choral Response The Doxology #606 *Prayer of Dedication Joys and Concerns Prayers of the People & The Lord s Prayer forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors *Hymn When We Are Living #822 *Benediction *Song on the Way O God, You Are My God #743 *Postlude *You may stand. The First Presbyterian Church Delhi, New York First Presbyterian Church actively exists as the living body of Christ, committed to growing in faithfulness to God, serving the whole human family and welcoming all people into God s love. (Our Mission Statement)
SUNDAY November 4 Monday November 5 TUESDAY November 6 WEDNESDAY November 7 THURSDAY November 8 FRIDAY November 9 SATURDAY November 10 SUNDAY November 11 2:00 am DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS 9:30 am Deacons Meeting (Library) 9:45 am Sunday School (Red Room) 10:00 am Choir Gathers (Chapel) 10:30 am Worship (Sanctuary) 11:30 am Coffee Hour (FH) 3:00 pm Girl Scout Troop Meeting (CR) 4:00 pm COM Forum 5 9:00 am Kirk Work Day 10:00 am Monday Bridge (NN) 5:00 pm PNC Meeting (Library) Office Working Remotely &CR 5:30 pm Weight Watchers (Chapel) 7:30 am SPARKS (FPC Library) &CR 4:30 pm A Pealing Sound Rehearsal (Sanctuary and Chapel) 5:30 pm Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary) 6:30 pm Session Meeting (Library) 9:00 am - 2:00 pm Kirk Work Day 9:00 am 2:00 pm The Kirk Thrift Shoppe open! 10:30 am Gentle Yoga (Chapel) 9:00 am 2:00 pm The Kirk Thrift Shoppe open! Armistice Day 10:00 am Choir Gathers (Chapel) 10:30 am Worship (Sanctuary) 11:30 am Coffee Hour (FH) RR Red Room; CR Conference Room; FH Fellowship Hall; BR Blue Room; NN-New Narthex Thought for today: A single grateful thought toward heaven is the most complete prayer. Gotthold Lessing Interim Pastor: Rev. Dr. Lisa Ruth Mays Guest Speaker: Ralph Bressler Music Director/ Organist: Billy Meredith Web Site: www.fpcdelhi.org e-mail: office@fpcdelhi.org Liturgist: Elder Jeff Gearhart Phone: (607) 746-2155 Fax # (607) 746-2156 4 Clinton Street, Delhi, NY 13753 First Presbyterian Church of Delhi, New York Church Life: November 4, 2018 Saints of God, welcome to worship! Today we remember those who have died in the faith, and we let God nourish us for our life of discipleship. Holy God, on this All Saints Sunday I thank you for my good memories of loved ones who lived in faith and died in your arms. We invite everyone to take a moment before or after worship to sign the Church Attendance Register located at the end of each pew. A special welcome is extended to all who are visiting with us this morning. We hope that your worship experience will be meaningful and enjoyable. If you are interested in learning more about First Presbyterian Church or becoming a member of this congregation, please speak with Pastor Lisa Ruth, the Church Office or any Elder. The FLOWERS this morning are given by Nancy & Kevin Lee in loving memory of Nancy s niece, Dr. Abby Borow Ezero. Today we welcome Ralph Bressler to our pulpit. Ralph writes, My wife and I are currently members of the Vine and Branch Free Methodist Church in Liberty, NY. We both serve on the church board and are members of the Worship Team (choir). We were members of the Presbyterian Church for over 50 years both locally and in Setaucket, NY. I served as an elder from age 19 until we changed denominations. My wife served as a deacon. We have always been involved in the music ministry. I have been preaching for more than 30 years. We met in high school, dated and were married after my wife graduated from college. We have three children and 8 grandchildren. I taught math and science in the public schools at the secondary level for 36 years; 29 of them in Liberty. I have coached running for 30 years including cross country, indoor track and spring track. I continue to coach in Liberty even though I have retired from teaching. I have been an Emergency Medical Technician for 34 years serving as a volunteer on our local corps. My wife and I both enjoy hiking anywhere but especially in the Catskills. We are thankful Ralph is leading us in worship and fellowship this morning! COFFEE HOUR will be held today in the Fellowship Hall immediately following the Worship Service. EVERYONE is invited to this time of fellowship. Please join us this morning! The TRUSTEES responsible for counting today are Ed Goff and Steve McKeegan. The Trustees responsible for counting on November 11 are Art Maxwell and Brian Sprague.
CHILDREN S WORSHIP BAGS are available in the hospitality room on the shelves. Children are welcome to select a bag & items of their choosing to use during worship. CHILDREN S BULLETINS are also available. The CHILD CARE ROOM is available to parents during worship. Our prayer focus for November: the hungry and malnourished Ladies Lunch at Crossroads is a time to relax and have a meal and enjoy conversation. There are no "lessons" involved; sharing around the table is just a pleasing thing to do. Buy Your Own lunch is the plan for 1:00 at Crossroads on the third Wednesday of each month. The next Ladies Lunch will be held on November 14 (date change due to Thanksgiving). Please come enjoy Ladies Lunch whenever you can. Your friend in Christ, Pastor Lisa. A BIG thank you to all the volunteers who taught Children's Sunday School this Fall. We are now seeking people to sign up for next year's classes which begin February 3, 2019! Let's show our kids how special they are to us! The group "Our Gang" meets the second and last Wednesdays of the month from 12:30 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. All are welcome at the next gathering on November 14. NEWS from the KIRK THRIFT SHOPPE - What a great Fall we have had! Sales are increasing every weekend and donations continue to overwhelm us. Consequently, we are adding a second work day to our week - MONDAY. We welcome anyone who is available (MEN also) from 9 - noon and wants to spend a few hours helping the KIRK. The regular crew is needing reinforcements to continue this important and exciting mission of First Pres.! Our regular Work Day will continue on THURSDAY from 9-2. Thank you all for WHATEVER you are able to do Coffee Hour volunteers are needed for November 25. Please sign up on the board in fellowship hall or give Janet Maxwell a call. Thanks for your support for our fellowship time. Thoughts on Giving: And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices. MARK 12:33 Of all the gifts that God gives us the one He wants the most is our heart. He wants us to share out of love, not out of obligation. Using our talent in congregational ministry and contributing money to support our congregation s mission is important, but it s more important to spend time in prayer with God daily and discern how He is calling us to be generous with all of our gifts. Not just the visible ones, but the invisible ones like love, mercy and forgiveness. Stewardship Prayer: That we are generous with our visible gifts of charitable works and generous giving, but that we are more generous with our invisible gifts of love, mercy and forgiveness. Mission Emphasis for November Thank Offering The Per Capita amount for 2018 has been set at $37.83 per member. Attendance week of 10-28-18 58 The amount needed each week $2,774.27 The amount given week of 10-28-18 $2,508.00 The amount needed year-to-date $118,293.61 The amount given YTD as of 10-28-18 $73,956.85 Fuel Fund given YTD as of 10-28-18 $3,771.00 Mission giving week of 10-28-18 Mission giving YTD as of 10-28-18 Apportionment Needed 2018 Apportionment received YTD as of 10-28-18 $496.00 $5,565.00 $6,960.72 $2,138.65 Taizé Prayer A service of song, silence and contemplation will be held Thursday, December 13, 7:00 pm at Saint John s Episcopal Church. These services are sponsored by the Delhi Clergy Association. HOLIDAY COOKIE WALK & BOOK SALE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1ST 9-2 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH NEW NARTHEX AND HALLWAY What is a Cookie Walk? It is a bakery in the church! Plates of homemade cookies - donated by First Pres bakers - are displayed on tables. Shoppers are given a container which is filled with their choices. Payment is by the pound - just like a real bakery! There will also be plates already filled for those who can t choose. SO when you are called and asked to bake some cookies...please say YES. We would like at least 6 dozen from each baker. All cookies need to be at the church on Friday or by 8AM on Saturday. Books may be dropped off starting Nov. 1. Thank you for your support of this fundraiser.
Bountiful Giving Sundays the last Sunday of each month! Offerings of sustaining food will be placed in the front of the sanctuary. A CALL has been issued by the Session for a Meeting of the Congregation to be held immediately after 10:30 a.m. worship on Sunday, November 18, 2018. The purpose of the meeting will be to elect Elders to fill the class of 2020 and Deacons and Trustees to fill the class of 2021. No other business may come before the Congregation at this time. The Nominating Committee is seeking one volunteer to serve a two-year term on the Session. The term will start in January of 2019 and end in December of 2020. Session meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm. If you feel God s call to serve His church, or if you have any questions about the position, please contact Tom Philion at (518)929-3273. The Annual Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner, will take place on November 22 nd, 2018 from Noon until 3:00 pm at the Delhi Fire Hall. This event is sponsored by the Congregations of the Delhi Clergy Association and is hosted this year by The United Ministry. All are welcome. Reservations are appreciated but not required. The public is invited free of charge (free will offerings will be accepted). Delivery is available to shut-ins only with advance notice to Deb Kearney, (746-2191). Food donations as well as volunteers are needed. All food items should be brought to the Delhi Fire Hall from 3pm-7pm on Wednesday, November 21 st. Sign-up sheets are found throughout the church or you may contact the church office. Please help our Care package for college student collection by donating snacks to be sent off to students during finals week at college. We are collecting granola bars, cup of soup, gum, candy, fruit, popcorn and homemade cookies and cash donations to offset the cost of postage. We will gather to assemble the boxes on November 27, 2018 at 6:30 PM. Please let the office know the names and addresses of college students that you would like to receive a care package. Your generosity is appreciated. The Annual Ecumenical Community Thanksgiving Service sponsored by the Delhi Area Clergy Association will be held Sunday, November 18th at 4:00 pm at the Delhi Alliance Fellowship. A Soup and Bread Supper will follow with all churches invited to bring a pot of soup. Please bring canned goods or other food staple items to benefit the Delaware County Food Bank. THE NOVEMBER DECEMBER EDITION OF THE COURIER IS AVAILABLE FOR PICK UP THROUGHOUT THE CHURCH.