OAK HILL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH October 4, 2015 27 th Sunday in Ordinary Time 10:30 a.m. TIME OF QUIET PREPARATION As you arrive in the sanctuary, please quiet and prepare yourself for worship. Relax your body; quiet the inner dialogue of your mind; be open and receptive to God s Spirit in our midst. *those who are comfortable, please stand THE WORD CALLS US TOGETHER PRELUDE Arietta Mozart *CALL TO WORSHIP Adapted from Psalm 34 One Taste and see that the Lord is good! Many Happy are those who rest in God. One Come and listen, children of God. Many Teach us the way of truth and life. One Let us depart from evil and do good. Many Let us seek peace and pursue it. *SHARING THE PEACE (Share the peace of Christ as you feel led, with a wave, a smile, a kind word, or a handshake.) *OPENING HYMN Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love No. 203 PRAYER OF CONFESSION Unison: God of every people and nation, we confess that we have not lived as global citizens in your new realm of justice and peace. We build up dividing walls in the world. We contribute to division in the church. We ignore the suffering in distant nations and live in fear of our closest neighbors. Forgive us, God of grace. Pour out your Spirit of peace upon us, break down the dividing walls among us, and raise us up to be a holy temple, to be your temple of peace in the world, built on the cornerstone of Jesus Christ, in whose holy name we pray, Amen. Silent Prayer of Confession Assurance of Pardon RESPONSE OF PRAISE (Cantor sings responses through first, followed by the congregation) Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. Praise God, all creatures high and low. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! (Repeat) TIME FOR GROWING DISCIPLES (At the conclusion of the Time for Growing Disciples, children ages birth to 3 rd grade may stay in worship or go to the nursery.) ANTHEM Lord, Speak for Me Sowerby Chancel Choir PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION FIRST SCRIPTURE READING Revelation 7:9-17 SECOND SCRIPTURE READING Mark 8:1-10 SERMON The Rev. Erin Counihan MEDITATION IN MUSIC *AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (unison) Excerpted from the Confession of Belhar We believe that God has entrusted the church with the message of reconciliation in and through Jesus Christ. We believe that the church is called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We believe that the church is called blessed because it is a peacemaker. We believe that the church is witness both by word and by deed to the new heaven and the new earth in which righteousness dwells. *HYMN Loaves Were Broken, Words Were Spoken No.498
OFFERING OUR GIFTS (Please sign the Friendship Register found at the end of the pew. Complete information, including your email, and pass pad along to those worshiping with you. ) *Prayer of Dedication Offertory He s Got the Whole World in His Hands Traditional Spiritual *Doxology Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow No. 607 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise Christ, all people here below; praise Holy Spirit evermore; praise Triune God whom we adore. Amen. CONGREGATIONAL JOYS AND CONCERNS AND PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD S SUPPER MINUTE FOR MISSION LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY (Not merely announcements, but the activities of our life together that reflect our day-to-day responses to God s call for faithfulness, and your invitation to join in!) *CLOSING HYMN Praise, I Will Praise You, Lord No. 628 *BENEDICTION POSTLUDE Send Me, O Lord, Send Me Hoffman 4111 Connecticut St. Louis, MO 63116 (314) 664-5525 office@oakhillpcusa.org (office) www.oakhillpcusa.org Sunday, October 4, 2015 World Communion Sunday
THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD S SUPPER THE INVITATION TO THE TABLE One: Christ came to us proclaiming peace- peace to all those who are near, peace to all who are far away. En el cuerpo de Cristo estamos unidos juntos. Many In Christ s body we are joined together. One: Im Leib Christi werden wir eines gemacht. Many: In Christ s body we are made one. THE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING One: The Lord be with you. Many: And also with you. One: Lift up your hearts. Many: We lift them to the Lord. One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. Many: It is right to give our thanks and praise. SANCTUS Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest. THE LORD S PRAYER (unison) 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. THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION SHARING AND RECEIVING THE BREAD AND CUP The Bread: You are invited to partake of the bread when you receive it. The Cup: You are asked to wait until everyone has been served so that all may partake of the cup together. Communion Meditation John Holt, piano Brian Beckmann and Paul Bordeaux, guitar PRAYER OF COMMITMENT Unison: God of all nations, we give you thanks for this feast of your goodness and grace. As you have nourished us in Christ Jesus, send us forth to feed and serve others sharing your peace with the whole community and showing your faithful love in the world; through Jesus Christ, bread of life for all. Amen. Rev. Erin Counihan, Pastor Rev. Dr. Alan Meyers, Parish Associate Mrs. Susan Brown, Minister of Music Ms. Carole Adams, Secretary Bulletin Deadline: Wednesday, 12:00 noon in writing. ACTIVITIES THIS WEEK October 4, 2015 Sunday 9:00 a.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal 9:30 a.m. Sunday School for All Ages 10:30 a.m. Service of Worship Monday 7:45 8:00 a.m. Prayer Pause Tuesday 9:45 11:45 a.m. MOMS Club of St. Louis in the Nursery Wednesday 11:00 a.m. Bible Study in the Faith and Fellowship Room 6:30 p.m. Evangelism and Membership Committee in the Faith and Fellowship Room Friday 6:30 p.m. Arts and Crafts Club at the AMEN House We welcome you to worship at Oak Hill. We greet everyone in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and celebrate the gift of God s incarnate love through our worship and service. Everyone is invited to a time of fellowship and refreshment in the Large Assembly Room (downstairs) immediately following worship.
Today s Chancel Flowers are given by Christine and Will Woodward in celebration of their fourth wedding anniversary which is October 7, 2015. Today s Liturgist is Joe Bradshaw. Greeters are Steve Stoltz and Deb Wiethop. Communion Servers are Kim McMullin and Kim Smith. Ushers are Karl Kelley, Kim McMullin, Mel Soles, and Rick Soles. Banner Bearer is Caitlin Stanford. Nursery Caregivers are Shannon Sowell and Lisa Thompson. The Stewardship and Propeerty Committee is hosting the time of fellowship in October. As a church family, we shall be praying this morning for the following members and friends. Please pray for them as you worship today and in your own private and family prayers during the week. You may wish to contact them to indicate your interest and ask if they have any special prayer concerns. Donna Cook and Rick Soles Carol Moehle Christine and Will Woodward If you have a specific prayer request to share with the congregation, please fill out the yellow prayer request form in the pew and place it in the offering plate. For prayers and congregational support during the week, call Pastor Erin or the church office. With your permission, prayer requests are given to our phone and email prayer chains. If you know of someone in the hospital, please notify the church office at (314) 664-5525. Today we celebrate World Communion Sunday and receive the Peace and Global Witness Offering. The first Sunday in October is designated as World Communion Sunday, which celebrates our oneness in Christ with all our brothers and sisters around the world. Paul tells us that we are to discern the body when we partake of Holy Communion, mindful that we note our relationship to all our brothers and sisters in Christ in the celebration. One is not to go hungry while another is drunk! (I Cor. 11:21). This is scandalous behavior opposed to the Way of Christ. Thus it is appropriate that World Communion Sunday is also a time when we receive the annual Peacemaking Offering as a way of continuing the ancient Christian practice of sharing what we have with brothers and sisters in need. Halloween Candy It's that time again. We are asking for the good folks at Oak Hill to support the outreach project at Halloween. Every year at least 100 bags of treats are distributed to those who come by Oak Hill. That means we need lots of candy. Please bring a bag or two of candy and drop them off in the boxes located in the Large Assembly Room and the church office. On the Sunday before Halloween, October 25, we invite you to help us fill the treat bags after church in the Large Assembly Room. You are also invited to come by the church on Halloween at 5:30 p.m. to give out the treats to our costumed friends and neighbors. You can even dress in your favorite costume. Join in the fun! 2016 Church Giving Pledges Letters were mailed this week with pledge cards for the 2016 Oak Hill budgeting process. Over the next few weeks, members of the church will take a moment during worship to share a bit about why they love Oak Hill and why they give to support our ministry. The Stewardship and Property Committee invites all Oak Hill members and regulars to join in considering how they are called to support the mission of our church- to pray and think about it, and then to respond by turning in a pledge card on Dedication Sunday- October 18 th. We have a goal of getting 70% of regular attendees to turn in a pledge card! So, whether you have a lot or a little, whether you re going to be here all year, or you re not sure, whether your giving is changing or if it is the same as it has always been, we invite you to jot something down, let us know what you re thinking right now, and we ll work together from there. And know that we are so very thankful for every penny, every talent, every moment, every effort, every smile, every song, and every prayer that every person offers in celebration and service to God through the ministry of Oak Hill Presbyterian Church. Webinar on Advocacy and Action to Enact Common Sense Gun Legislation Join PCUSA s Office of Public Witness Director, Rev. Dr. J Herbert Nelson as he discusses gun violence, its underlying causes, and effective ways you can lift your voice to tell your elected officials that NOW is the time to enact common sense measures to reduce gun violence in the United States. Tuesday October 6, 2015 2 PM CST, from any computer anywhere. For more info see our church blog at www.oakhillpcusa.org.
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING Revelation 7:9-17 9 After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10 They cried out in a loud voice, saying, Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb! 11 And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 singing, Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen. 13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from? 14 I said to him, Sir, you are the one that knows. Then he said to me, These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. 16 They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; 17 for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. SECOND SCRIPTURE READING Mark 8:1-10 1 In those days when there was again a great crowd without anything to eat, he called his disciples and said to them, 2 I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way and some of them have come from a great distance. 4 His disciples replied, How can one feed these people with bread here in the desert? 5 He asked them, How many loaves do you have? They said, Seven. 6 Then he ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute; and they distributed them to the crowd. 7 They had also a few small fish; and after blessing them, he ordered that these too should be distributed. 8 They ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 9 Now there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. 10 And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha. Leader: This is the Word of the LORD; People: thanks be to God! Leader: This is the Word of the LORD; People: thanks be to God!