EASTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH A Stephen Ministry Congregation (717) 755-6222 ~ www.eastminster-york.org 311 Haines Road York, PA 17402 September 10, 2017 Welcome to Worship My grace is sufficient for you. II Corinthians 12:9
September 10, 2017 RALLY DAY 10:00 a.m. Worship +Please silence cell phones during the worship service+ * = Please stand, if you are able. Child Care is available in the Nursery during church services and the Christian Education Hour in Rm. 9 on the 2 nd floor of the C.E. Building, which is accessible through the right-side door in the front of the sanctuary. If you would like the Pastor to announce and pray for a joy or concern during the Prayers of the People, please complete a gold Prayer Request form (located in the Friendship Pads) and place it in the offering plate when it is passed. WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS PASSING OF FELLOWSHIP PADS WE GATHER BEFORE GOD PRELUDE All Creatures of Our God and King arr. George Beverst CALL TO WORSHIP PRAYER OF APPROACH Sing, and bless God s name. Tell the glad news of salvation from day to day. Proclaim God s glory to all nations, God s marvelous deeds to all peoples. The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us pray. Creator God, all creation is your handiwork; your touch gives life to all that is. You who shape and form us by the breath of your Spirit and the touch of your grace, you alone are able to call forth from the depths of our being the beauty of your Spirit in us. May we in this celebration, surrender more deeply to your loving touch, as you fashion and form your heart s desire in us. This we pray in your Spirit. Amen
*HYMN OF PRAISE In Christ Alone Getty & Townend (see words & music in back of bulletin) *CALL TO RECONCILIATION Our sins are not to be hidden from God. Rather, we bring them into the Light and lay them on the Table, trusting in the One who shaped us for goodness and will transform our brokenness into wholeness. Please join me as we pray, saying, *THE PRAYER OF CONFESSION O Lord, you search us and know us. You know the secrets of our hearts, even better than we do. You know how we have run away from your call; still you are ready to receive us again. In mercy, forgive and heal our inclination to wander. Fashion us by your Spirit into vessels fit for good use; that we may bear faithfully what you have entrusted to our care -- treasures of Christ s saving work for a lost and broken world. Amen *ASSURANCE OF GOD S GRACE With gentleness, God speaks to us; with graciousness, God forgives us; with joy, God embraces us. With our lips, we praise God; with our words, we thank God; with our silence, we find God in our hearts. Thanks be to God. Amen. CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Come Just as You Are Joseph Sabolick
*PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. WE LISTEN TO GOD S WORD DEDICATION OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION TEACHERS, HELPERS AND LEADERS TIME WITH THE CHILDREN (11:00) ANTHEM The Lord is My Strength and My Song Lloyd Larson Chancel Choir OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Isaiah 43:8-13 (pg. 623 in pew Bibles) NEW TESTAMENT LESSON Acts 8:26-39 (pg. 955 in pew Bibles) The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. SERMON Witness Stand *HYMN 522 Lord, When I Came Into This Life Land of Rest WE RESPOND TO GOD S GRACE OFFERING OFFERTORY I Love to Tell the Story arr. Earl E. Byrd *OFFERING RESPONSE No. 592 Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow Doxology
OFFERTORY PRAYER PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE THE LORD'S PRAYER (Traditional) PH, pg. 16 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. *HYMN NO. 525 Here I am Lord Daniel Schutte *THE CHARGE AND BENEDICTION WE DEPART FOR SERVICE *BENEDICTION RESPONSE Go Ye, Therefore Gretchen Dekker POSTLUDE Go Forth in Faith Franklin Ritter Please silence cell phones during the worship service. Green children s worship bags are available and hanging on the wall in the Narthex at the rear of the church. Wireless personal listening devices are available in the Sanctuary by contacting an usher. The Presbyterian Hymnal is available in large print. If you would like to use one, please ask an usher. PARTICIPATING IN THE SERVICE Dr. Gregory Seckman, Pastor Randy Yoder, Director of Music Ushers: Gary Hoffman, Steve Cassel, Dave Lewis, Sandy Lewis
CHANCEL FLOWER DEDICATION The flowers in the chancel today are given to the Glory of God by Lois and Bill Moore in memory and honor of the Eastminster Church family, the charter members, and in celebration of Grace Ailes 100 th birthday. ANNOUNCEMENTS NEXT SUNDAY, September 17, is Gifts of Women Sunday. The women of the church will be in charge of both services, including our Chrysalis Choir, led by Randy. Our guest speaker will be Marion Haynes Weller, known to many of you. She was pastor at Kreutz Creek Presbyterian Church for many years, and is now retired. Please join us as we celebrate the women of our church, collect our annual Thank Offering, and have a blessing of our prayer shawls. TODAY is RALLY DAY and the FISH BOWL RAFFLE the Multi-Purpose Room is full of beautiful and interesting gift baskets. Spend some time this morning studying the baskets and buying raffle tickets 1 for $1; 6 for $5; and 25 for $20. Stephen Ministers have chosen to donate the proceeds from the Fish Bowl raffle to Dan and Denise (Peterson) Anderson who are Urban Missionaries in North Philadelphia, associated with Servant Partners, Inc. There will be only one winner per person. You do not need to be present to win a basket - we will call you. However, we hope that you will attend the Rally Day picnic and enjoy the fun. PRAYER SHAWL BLESSING The next blessing of the Prayer Shawls will take place on Gifts of Women Sunday on September 17 th. Completed Prayer Shawls may be dropped off no later than Wednesday, September 13th, between 10 12 noon in the Haines Reception room, where we meet for Cool Knitting and Warm Fellowship. Or you may contact Jan Witzke to make other arrangements. KINGSTON MANOR -- The congregation is invited to attend worship with the residents of Kingston Manor Care and the EPC Deacons on Sunday September 17 at 2:00. No preparation is needed; just join us in sharing the love of Jesus with these remarkable residents! NEW MEMBERS CLASSES -- A small group experience will start October 8, 2017 and continue for 4 weeks from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room.
During the four-week classes we will explore important questions of faith, where it comes from and what it means, the core convictions of Christ and God's emphasis on community. At the conclusion of this class there will be an opportunity to unite with us and become a member of the church. Participating in this class will not obligate you to do so. Check future bulletins and newsletters for dates and more information. If you would to speak to someone regarding the classes, please contact Pastor Greg Seckman (818-0813) or Lois Moore. ADVENT DEVOTIONALS -- By popular demand Stephen Ministers will again provide a devotional for the Advent season. These are done in-house, using devotionals and/or stories that are submitted by YOU, the congregational members. The scripture verses will again be a time-line of Christ s birth, from the prophet Isaiah and the Gospels. These daily writings are special because they are our ideas and thoughts about Christmas and the birth of Christ. So.please consider composing a devotional. We ask that they be short between 250 to 275 words. Send via email to Lois Moore. The deadline is Friday, October 27th. For questions, feel free to call Lois, Nancy Dostal, or Kate Strickler. CALLING ALL LITURGISTS The fall church schedule is beginning and with that comes the opportunity to participate in our worship service by volunteering as a liturgist. The Sign-up Chart is posted in the Narthex. It s easy -- select the date and worship hour by listing your name and email address. You will receive via email the bulletin and the liturgist guide on the Wednesday or Thursday prior to your selected Sunday. No email? List your telephone number in case there is a question, and the bulletin and guide will be placed in the box on the office porch. We welcome your participation and commitment to enhance our worship experience. Questions? Contact Kate Strickler. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! During the 11:00 a.m. service each Sunday morning, the scripture reading and sermon are recorded so that they can be placed on our website. Volunteers are needed to start and stop the recorder during the service. It's very easy to do, so if you can help, please see Randy or send an email to him at rdy1949@gmail.com.
Give today to help Presbyterian Disaster Assistance bring hope & healing to Texas families impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Eastminster Presbyterian Church is committed to helping those in need in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. If you would like to make a donation, please make the check out to Eastminster Presbyterian Church. Please write PDA Harvey in the memo.
*HYMN OF PRAISE In Christ Alone Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
The calendar in the bulletin gives this week s events. Copies of our latest newsletter are available in the Narthex in the back of the Sanctuary. The newsletter contains our worship schedule and information about the activities, events, and opportunities for ministry and mission offered at Eastminster. CALENDAR Please see our website, eastminster-york.org, for possible updates and changes. Sun Sept 10 10:00-11:00 a.m. Worship Sanctuary 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Sunday School C.E. Bldg & Haines House 12:00-3:00 p.m. Rally Day Picnic Church Grounds 7:00-9:00 p.m. Honors Choir Opening Meeting Sanctuary & F. Hall Mon Sept 11 6:30-8:30 p.m. Worship Committee Library 7:00-9:00 p.m. Trustees Meeting Tue Sept 12 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Staff Meeting -- MPR Wed Sept 13 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Cool Knitting/Warm Fellowship Haines Reception Room 7:00-8:30 p.m. New Generation Ministry Youth F. Hall & Room 13 Thur Sept 14 3:00-4:00 p.m. Admin & Personnel Meeting MPR 6:30-9:00 p.m. Deacons Meeting MPR 7:00-9:00 p.m. Mission Committee Haines Reception Room Fri Sept 15 Church Offices Closed
Please keep these people in your prayers this week: +All our military men and women around the world and their families back home+ +Eastminster Presbyterian Church its congregation, mission, and ministry+ + Stephen Ministers and their care receivers+ Brooks Argento The family and friends of Dick Bowen Yvonne Eichelberger Glenda Fleshman Linda & Jim May Jerry and Tania O Hearn Robert Johnson Phil & Tana Rarick and family Walter & Frann Ross Jim Sheely Dee Smith Bonnie Spancake Lee Spancake If you would like to have someone placed on the prayer list, please first obtain that person s permission and then drop a note in the offering plate or contact Beth Anne by e-mail at epcyorkoffice@gmail.com or phone 755-6222.