North Presbyterian Church 1 st Sunday Season of Creation September 3, 2017 9:30 a.m.
WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD Prelude Brethren, We Have Met to Worship arr. Carter Greeting, Welcome, and Opportunities for Discipleship Welcome to our guests and visitors! We invite you, if you feel comfortable, to introduce yourself at this time. We are glad you are here. We hope you will fill out the welcome pad (in the pew holder) to help us get acquainted. We also invite you to join us for lemonade following worship. Everyone please silence your cell phones. Call to Worship O God, who called all life into being, the earth, sea and sky are yours. Your presence is all around us, every atom is full of your energy. Your Spirit enlivens all who walk the earth, with her we yearn for justice to be done, for creation to be freed from bondage, for the hungry to be fed, for captives to be released, for your kingdom of peace to come on earth. ( The Iona Community from The Iona Abbey Worship Book, published by Wild Goose Publications, Iona Community, Fourth Floor, Savoy House, 140 Sauchiehall St., Glasgow G2 3DH, UK) Invocation *Hymn 37 Let All Things Now Living (During the singing of the hymn, please pass prayer requests to center aisle.) *Call to Confession *Prayer of Confession O God, your fertile earth is slowly being stripped of its riches, Open our eyes to see. O God, your living waters are slowly being choked with chemicals, Open our eyes to see. O God, your clear air is slowly being filled with pollutants, Open our eyes to see. O God, your creatures are slowly dying and your people are suffering,
Open our eyes to see. God our maker, so move us by the wonder of creation, That we repent and care more deeply. So move us to grieve the loss of life, That we learn to cherish and protect your world. Amen. ( The Iona Community from The Iona Abbey Worship Book, published by Wild Goose Publications, Iona Community, Fourth Floor, Savoy House, 140 Sauchiehall St., Glasgow G2 3DH, UK) *Silent Confession (A time for personal confession of sin) *Assurance of Forgiveness Hear the good news! God loves us. God forgives us. *Response Halle, Halle, Halleluja! Halle, Halle, Halleluja! Halle, Halle, Halleluja! Halleluja! Halleluja! Halleluja! Hymn # 591 (Refrain) *Passing of the Peace Having received Christ s peace, let us share it by turning to our neighbors and greeting them, saying May the peace of Christ be with you! Prayer for Illumination WE HEAR THE WORD OF GOD Scripture Reading Genesis 2:4b-22 p.2 Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church. Thanks be to God. Sermon Giving Trees Pastor Bill Hennessy
*Affirmation of Faith WE RESPOND AND GIVE THANKS TO GOD Women We believe that God creates all things, renews all things and celebrates all things. Men We believe Earth is a sanctuary, a sacred planet filled with God s presence, a home for us to share with our kin. Women We believe that God became flesh and blood, became a piece of Earth, a human being called Jesus Christ, who lived and breathed and spoke among us, suffered and died on a cross for all human beings and for all creation. Men We believe that the risen Jesus is the Christ at the core of creation, reconciling all things to God, renewing all creation and filling the cosmos. Women We believe the Holy Spirit renews life in creation, groans in empathy with a suffering creation and waits with us for the rebirth of creation. All We believe that with Christ we will rise and with Christ we will celebrate a new creation. *Hymn 22 God of the Sparrow Prayers of the People Offering Offertory: This Is My Father s World *Doxology Hymn 300 (vs. 4) All praise to the Father, From whom all things come, And all praise to Christ Jesus, God s only Son, And all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one: And they ll know we are Christians by our love, By our love; yes they ll know we are Christians by our love.
*Prayer of Thanksgiving and The Lord s Prayer The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. and now we pray: 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 WE DISPERSE TO SERVE GOD IN THE WORLD *Hymn 291 Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness *Charge *Benediction *Congregational Amen Hymn 568 *Postlude Postlude on Ash Grove arr. Leavitt *Those who are able, please stand.
Calendar of Events/300 North Forest Road Sunday, September 3 9:30am Worship/Sanctuary Monday, September 4 Labor Day Church office closed Tuesday, September 5 9:00am Staff mtg./ofc. Wednesday, September 6 10:15-11:00am Chair yoga/wh 7:00-8:00pm Thursday, September 7 7:00pm Sunday, September 10 8:30am Mindfulness/Chapel Adult choir/chapel Worship/Chapel 9:15 Bible study/lib. 10:00 Worship/Sanctuary Sunday school/north basement 11:15-11:45 Light lunch (for those who 12-2pm registered for workshop) Workshop: Opioid Crisis/WH Monday, September 11 11:00am 6:00pm Pastoral Care/Lib. Mission/Lib. 7:00 Session/Chapel Tuesday, September 12 9:00am 1:00pm Staff mtg./ofc. Martha Circle/Lib. Wednesday, September 13 9am-8pm 7:00pm 7:00-8:00pm EGA/WH Thursday, September 14 6:30pm 7:30pm Sarah Circle: McConnells Mindfulness/Chapel Bells/S151 Adult choir/chapel Friday, September 15-Saturday, September 16 Boy Scout Tradoree/WH Saturday, September 16 9am-1pm Sunday, September 17 Service Sunday! Lay Academy/Lib. Want to see more calendar events? Go to https://northchurchwilliamsville.org/weekly-bulletinand-north-star/. If you see an error or want to add an event, please e-mail n.church@verizon.net. EGA Embroidery Guild DR Dickinson Room FJC Family Justice Center FONP Friends of Night People Kit Kitchen LE3 Before and After School Program Lib Library Ofc Office RC Resource Center WH Westminster Hall
Labor Day The office is closed on Monday, September 4, to celebrate Labor Day. New Worship Time Set to Begin Next Week Beginning September 10, our worship times will be 8:30 and 10:00 a.m. to better meet the needs of our congregation. Please save the bulletin insert today and post it on your refrigerator as a reminder. The Opioid Crisis and You: Workshop Next Sunday You are invited to a free workshop at North on Sunday, September 10, from noon to 2 p.m., sponsored in partnership with the Buffalo Police Department, the Erie County Department of Health, and Horizon Health and Evergreen Health services. (We must have at least 20 participants to hold this workshop. Participants must be age 16 and older.) After the workshop you will be able to: Understand the severity of the crisis in our own backyard Recognize the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdoes Properly administer naloxone Know the necessary follow-up steps For North Church folks, join us for a light lunch preceding the workshop from 11:15-11:45 a.m. The lunch and workshop will be held in Westminster Hall. Sign up for the lunch and workshop following the service at the table in the Dickinson Room. You may also register online for the workshop only at https://northchurchwilliamsville.org/2017/07/30/the-opioidcrisis-and-you/ Have you registered for Service Sunday? Service Sunday September 17 is a joint effort this year of North and University Presbyterian churches. We ll join together for worship then disperse for service activities in Buffalo and Amherst. Service Sunday is designed to exemplify how worship and service are tied together. We gather for worship to be rejuvenated and refreshed through song, prayer, and preaching.
Then we go out into the world to be the body of Christ, using our talents to serve others. There are service opportunities for all physical abilities. We hope you will join us. Visit https://northchurchwilliamsville.org/ for more information or simply call the church office at 632-1330 if you have questions. Booklets with the registration page are in the narthex. You should either register online OR fill out the registration form, but not both. Help for Victims of Hurricane Harvey Most of us have spent much of the week watching in horror as Hurricane Harvey devastated Texas. And we have wondered how we can help. The best way is by making a financial donation. The NPC Mission Committee suggests you wait a few weeks and allow them to research how/where you can provide the most help, but if you prefer to make a donation now, here are three ways you may do so: Make a donation directly to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance by choosing a method below: Secure website: https://pma.pcusa.org/donate/make-a-gift/giftinfo/dr000169/?appeal=pda&package=hh17-abb By check: made out and mailed to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A), P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700; with DR000169-Harvey in the memo line By phone: using your credit or debit card, Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, to 1-800-872-3283 AND KEEP PRAYING! The effects of this disaster are not going away anytime soon. We have all witnessed incredible acts of selflessness in the rescue of thousands. Recovery will require continued self-sacrifice. North Star (fall issue) Is Available We hope you received the email with the link to the online newsletter, North Star. We also have some printed copies in the south entrance.
Bible Study in the Resource Center This study will resume on Sunday, September 10, at 9:15 a.m.. We will study the Sunday lectionary. The study leaders are volunteers. Women s Circles Martha Circle will meet at North on Tuesday, September 12, at 1:00 p.m., in the library. Sarah Circle will meet at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Ellie McConnell, 83 Wickham Dr, Williamsville. Our regular meeting time will now be 7:00pm unless otherwise noted. Wednesday Chair Yoga with Olivia Grab a friend and head (to) North for chair yoga! Our favorite instructor, Olivia Ebsary, will lead us. No experience necessary. We provide the chairs! Classes will be offered from 10:15-11:00 a.m. on Wednesdays through September 6. Everyone is welcome! Questions? E-mail oliviaebsary@gmail.com. New Season for Choirs Adult Choir will gather at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7, in the Dickinson Room for a welcome back time. Rehearsal will follow at approximately 7:30 in the choir room. New singers are welcome to join us. Celebration Ringers will resume their season on Thursday, Sept. 14 in the bell rehearsal room. Kenan Speaker Series Presents Sister Joan Chittister on the Radical Christian Life Saturday, September 23 at 3pm First Presbyterian Church of Lockport (21 Church St, Lockport) Joan Chittister is one of the most influential religious and social leaders of our time. For 40 years she has passionately advocated on behalf of peace, human rights, women s issues, and church renewal. A much sought-after speaker, counselor, and clear voice that bridges across all religions, she is also a best-selling author of more than 50 books, hundreds of articles, an online column for the National Catholic Reporter, and a blog for the Huffington Post. Sister Joan s talk will draw from her newest book, Radical Spirit: 12 Ways to Live a Free and Authentic Life. Book signing immediately following with limited books available for purchase.
Advance registration is strongly recommended by calling 716-433-2617. The event is free to the public; at will donations graciously accepted. Generous funding is provided by the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust. Book Groups Everyone is welcome to come to a book group discussion. Sept. 20, 10:00 a.m. Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance Dress-a-Girl Begins Again Seamstresses, doll makers, ironers, cutters, and runners: come sew with us! We'll be meeting in Westminster Hall Monday, September 25, from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Stay for the whole time or for as long as you can. Please bring a salad ingredient for our build-a-salad supper. Dessert and beverages will be provided. Dress-a-Girl meets the fourth Monday of each month. Friends of Night People We serve a meal at Friends of Night People at 394 Hudson St., Buffalo, the fourth Tuesday of every month. We need volunteers on Tuesday, September 26. At 8:00 a.m., volunteers prepare the meal in the kitchen at North Church. That evening at 5:00 volunteers help serve the meal. If you would like to become involved in this ministry, contact Barb Beall at beaschwa87@yahoo.com or call 716.479.5794. Chiavetta s Fundraiser Come on out to North Church on Wednesday, September 27, between 3 and 7 p.m. and enjoy a delicious dinner. Presale tickets will be available and a limited supply of at-the-door tickets as well. Eat in or take out available. Stay tuned for how to buy tickets and how to help out for this fundraiser to benefit the church.
Free Workshop: Intro. to Systemic Racism You are invited to a free workshop at Gates Presbyterian Church in Rochester, NY, on Saturday, October 21, from 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., titled Unite against Racism, hosted by Crossroads Anti-Racism Organizing and Training. This event is fully funded by the Synod of the Northeast. The purpose of the workshop is to explore racism as an institutional problem of power that goes beyond personal prejudice. Pastor Bill has registered and invites you to join him in moving forward toward a more egalitarian society and healing our racist past. (North Star, fall issue). To sign up and indicate your desire to carpool, call North Presbyterian Church at 716.632.1330; to register for the workshop only, you may also call the church or register online at https://pbygenval.org/crossroads-workshop/
Minister: The Rev. William Hennessy Pianist: Marlene Harrington Lock-up: Byron Mohlke Counters: Linda Gowans, Sheridan Skura Coordinator: Randy Bigler Liturgist: Mary Beth Karr Ushers: Marilyn & Tony Link Greeters: Deenie Miethaner, Ellen Stancliffe Visitors You are important to us. Please fill out a visitor card and put it in the offering plate if you wish to be contacted. You may also approach an usher likely wearing a yellow ribbon today to find out more about North Church. Mission Statement Brought together by our shared faith in Jesus Christ, Called by God to live as faithful disciples, Blessed by our diverse gifts and experiences, We commit ourselves to: Worship together, Teach and learn from one another, Nurture each other with care and love, and Reach out in ministry and mission to the world. Ministers: The Congregation Pastor/Head of Staff: The Rev. William T. Hennessy Coordinator of Sacred Arts: Olivia Ebsary Administrative Assistant: Cynthia Machamer Bookkeeper: Karen Thomas Facilities Coordinator: Mike Callaghan Childcare Supervisor: Regina Koteras Director of Music, Organist: Marlene Harrington Webmaster: Tara Martin Director of Music, Children & Youth: Marty Shafer Sunday School Administrator: Kimberly Will Shared Youth Director: Mack Barker Musical Assistant: Kurt Ebsary
Elders (Session) Clerk of Session: Sylvia Bigler Deacons Moderator: Glenn Hopkins Class of 2018 Joe Alber Ralph Doerzbacher Bill Ervin Carol Meyers Class of 2018 Glenn Hopkins Shirley Mazourek Garry Ostermeier Pam Ostermeier Class of 2019 Bill Clark Sue D Angelo Shevaun Donelli O Connell Scott Marshall Marsha Villano Class of 2020 Anselm George Warren Marcus Rob Powell Class of 2019 Karen Hopkins Connie Littlewood Sheridan Skura Carol Suckow Class of 2020 Cam Cowan Olivia Ebsary Irene Harbison Heather Randall Sunday school begins on September 10.