Welcome to Our Celebration of Worship To all who live joyfully and long to share their excitement to all who mourn and need comfort to all who are weary and need rest to all who are homeless and desire sheltering love to all who pray or are in need of prayer to all who sin and need a Savior to all who recognize Christ in their midst and hunger to share God s love with all the world Old First Presbyterian Church opens wide its doors and in the name of Jesus Christ, says WELCOME! *Those who are able, please stand in body or spirit. (The congregation is invited to join in speaking or singing items in bold.) We Gather in Community before God Prelude Improvisation K. Friese Greetings in the Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Opening Prayer Introit The People Are Gathered Together J.N. Beck Call to Worship from Psalm 65 Leader: All praise and honor are due to you, O Lord, our God; to you alone shall our worship and praise be given! People: God answers our prayers! When sin overwhelms us, God forgives our transgressions and our disobedience. Leader: Happy are those who have been chosen by God; they are satisfied in the goodness of God s holy presence. People: God of our salvation and hope of the earth, you answer our prayers through awesome deeds of power. Leader: By your creating power you establish the mountains and girded with strength, you silence our restlessness. People: We are your people awed by your mighty deeds and overjoyed by signs of your eternal presence. Leader: Rejoicing in the greatness and wonder of the Lord, our God; let us lift our voices in praise as we worship God together! *Hymn 661 Invitation to Confession Why Should I Feel Discouraged? Prayer of Confession Gracious God, we confess that in the distraction of work and play selfish interests and desires and thoughts, words, and deeds that often wander far from your purpose for our lives; we have failed to listen, hear, and respond to your invitation to draw close to our Christ. You call us to live as your faithful disciples, but we neglect to listen for and hear your voice. You invite all people to follow, but we are tempted to exclude those who are different from us. You welcome us without qualification, but we make excuses for why we cannot respond to your invitation to draw close sit at your feet learn from you and grow in our faith. Loving God, in your unconditional love and everlasting mercy, forgive our sins and free us to live joyful lives. Show us your grace; that we may draw close to our Christ with hearts, minds, bodies, and spirits prepared to live as your servants. Renew our faith; that we may fully devote ourselves to growing in discipleship, not content to sit on the sidelines of the life of faith, but committed to living as faithful followers of Jesus, our Savior, in whose name we pray (Continue in silent prayer of confession.) Together, let all God s people say, Amen. Hymn 551 (Kyrie Eleison) Lord, Have Mercy Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy upon us. Assurance of Forgiveness Leader: God acts with justice and mercy. In everlasting love, God redeems us and sets us free. All: God forgives us, frees us and gives us peace. To God, we are ever thankful. Amen. *Congregational Response (Hymn 581) *Passing of the Peace Leader: Since God has forgiven us in Christ, we also ought to forgive one another. The Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: And also with you. Prayer for Illumination We Listen for God s Word Glory Be to the Father First Lesson Romans 11:1-6, 29-36 New Testament, p.160 / P.195 Leader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. Anthem O Christ the Same C. Courtney Pegeen Friese, French Horn / Sanctuary Choir Time with Our Young Disciples Congregational Invitation (Sung) This, this is where children belong, welcomed as part of the worshipping throng. Water, God s Word, bread and cup, prayer, and song: This is where children belong. (Church school is available for children preschool through 6th grade.) Second Lesson Matthew 15:21-31 New Testament, p.17 / P.20 Leader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. Sermon *Hymn 418 Drawing Close We Respond in Word and Deed Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling *Affirmation of Faith The Apostles Creed (Traditional) 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; 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. Invitation to Receive our Tithes & Offerings Receiving of our Tithes & Offerings Offertory O Clap Your Hands J. Rutter Sanctuary Choir *Congregational Response (Hymn 606) *Prayer of Dedication and Choral Response Sharing Our Joys and Concerns Doxology The congregation is invited to share our prayer requests with one another. If you would like to share a prayer request, please raise your hand and the Pastor will invite you to share your need for prayer. Recognition of Our Veterans With deepest gratitude and sincere humility, let us join together in grateful thanksgiving for those who have offered their lives in service to our country. *Hymn 338 O Beautiful for Spacious Skies Prayers of the People and the 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. Offering of Our Time and Talent *Charge and Benediction *Choral Benediction Sung to the tune of Edelweiss Come, O Lord, be with us. Fill us with joy and thanksgiving. May our hearts, flow with peace. Come with your love and surround us. Friendship and love, may they bloom and grow, bloom and grow forever. Bless us now. Bless our friends. Bless all people forever. *Postlude Jubilation G. Young ****************** This Morning s Worship Leaders: Rev. Matthew T. Means, Pastor Becca Terc, Lector Ken Friese, Director of Music Dan Degnan, Usher Captain Roger Ketcham and Bill Roe ********* The flowers in the chancel are given to the glory and honor of God by the Presbyterian Women in joyful thanksgiving for a wildly successful Fall Fair and in grateful appreciation of all who gave of themselves in support. If you would like to honor or memorialize a loved one with flowers, please call the church office at your convenience to make arrangements.
In Our Prayers: New to the prayer list this week: The congregation and community of First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas Continue to pray for those who remain on our prayer list: Family and Friends of Iris Field (Mother of Todd Field), William Gray (Dorothy Mandrakos father), Dave and Else Haddock, Ken Peterson, Cynde and Robert Raynor (Brett Raynor's parents), Rebecca Raynor (Brett Raynor's sister), Angelica Richter, James Schubauer, Gerry Schult, Laura Jane Tiberia (Joan Lobasso s Daughter), and Grace Youngquist. Names on our prayer list will remain for a month. If you would like to add a prayer request, please contact Pastor Means. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- In recognition of our nation s observance of Veterans Day this weekend, we honor with grateful thanksgiving the names of our congregation listed below, who have freely given of themselves in service to our country. We offer our thanks for your sacrifice and lift in prayer all who have served throughout the years and continue to serve today. May God continue to bless and protect all who serve always. United States Navy Paul D. Burgess, Sr. Glenn Jahier Richardson Pratt, Jr. Brett Raynor Lawrence Joseph Salzano United States Army / Army Reserve Tom Bosch Pete Fetterolf Jerry Kessler Roger Ketcham Gerry Schult United States Marine Corps Howard Blackmore Linda Newell Confalone Lawrence Joseph Salzano United States Coast Guard Dan Degnan Bob Miller Old First Presbyterian Church 125 Main Street Huntington, NY 11743 (631) 427-2101 www.oldfirstchurchhuntington.org Reverend Matthew Means, Pastor pastor@oldfirstchurchhuntington.org Prelude Key elements of today s service of worship include... The pre-service music is an opportunity for us to be called out of the world and into the presence of God, preparing our hearts, minds, and spirits to worship God together. Welcome / Opening Prayer / Call to Worship We gather together in the name of Jesus Christ, in whose name we are called to worship in Spirit and Truth. We pray for an awareness of God s presence in our worship and share a responsive Call to Worship, based upon the lectionary Psalm of the day. Confessional Liturgy Recognizing that all have fallen short of the glory of God by failing to love and serve God perfectly, we are invited to join together in confessing our corporate and individual sin. After sharing the Prayer of Confession, we sing our desire for God s mercy ( Kyrie Eleison ). We listen for the Assurance of Our Forgiveness in Jesus Christ and then proclaim our gratitude both in song ( Gloria Patri ) and through the sharing of God s peace with our brothers and sisters in Christ ( Passing of the Peace. ) Prayer for Illumination and Scripture Readings Given the importance of hearing and heeding God s Word, we pray for God to open our hearts, minds, and spirits to receive and live the Word of God read and proclaimed. We believe that Scripture (the Bible) is the Spirit-inspired Word of God for the people of God. Usually, two Scripture passages are read, each one relating to the Pastor s message as well as the overall spirit, theme, and direction of the service of worship. Time with Our Young Disciples Children and their faith growth are very important to our church family. Jesus called God s children to his presence to love and teach them and it is our great joy to do the same! Our children have special time in worship to hear the message in ways that help them consider God s Word for their faith and lives. Those who are between preschool and sixth grade are then given the opportunity to exit worship for a time of church school. Sermon The pastor then enters the pulpit to deliver the sermon, which is intended to offer some comment or instruction on the Bible readings in the service and some challenge to the congregation to live the Christian life, understand the Christian faith, or affirm the Christian commitment. The sermon usually lasts between 15 and 20 minutes. Affirmation of Faith Following the proclamation of God s Word, we are given the opportunity to respond to God s action in our lives as we affirm the faith we share by reciting the Apostles Creed. Offering The ministry of Old First is supported by members and friends of the congregation responding to God by giving our financial gifts. The offering is the moment in the service when, out of gratitude to God, members of the community of faith freely choose to give financial gifts to Christ s ministry in and through Old First as an expression of our faith. Prayers of the People / Lord s Prayer One of the great joys of being called to live together as brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ is our opportunity to pray for and with one another. We share our prayer requests as a family of faith, gather in a pastor-led prayer, and conclude our prayers by praying the Lord s Prayer together, showing our desire to live our lives as followers of Jesus Christ. Charge and Benediction We are sent out into the world with a charge and benediction from the pastor, inviting the spirit of today s worship to go with us as we seek ways to share our faith with others! Twenty-Third Sunday After Pentecost November 12, 2017 10:00 am
Becca Terc, Lector Romans 11:1-6, 29-36 New Testament, p.160 / P.195 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 3 Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars; I alone am left, and they are seeking my life. 4 But what is the divine reply to him? I have kept for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal. 5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they have now been disobedient in order that, by
the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. 32 For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all. 33 O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? 35 Or who has given a gift to him, to receive a gift in return? 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Matthew Means, Pastor Matthew 15:21-31 New Testament, p.17 / P.20 21 Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon. 23 But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us. 24 He answered, I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 He answered, It is not fair to take the children s food and throw it to the dogs. 27 She said, Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters table.
28 Then Jesus answered her, Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish. And her daughter was healed instantly. 29 After Jesus had left that place, he passed along the Sea of Galilee, and he went up the mountain, where he sat down. 30 Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. They put them at his feet, and he cured them, 31 so that the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.