Westminster Presbyterian Church PC (USA) SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER EARTH DAY CELEBRATION Please enter the sanctuary prepared to prayerfully experience the presence of God. God Brings Us Together and Encounters Us April 23, 2017 11:00 AM
Prelude For The Beauty of the Earth arr. Carol Tornquist Welcome Call to Worship (Responsive) Thank you, lord, for the people gathering around us today. let us take this time to give thanks for these things of the earth that give us the means of life. Thank you for the plants, animals, and birds that we use as food and medicine. Thank you for the natural world in which we find the means to be clothed and housed. Thank you, lord, for the ability to use these gifts of the natural world. Help us to see our place among these gifts not to squander them or think of them as means for selfish gain. may we respect the life of all you have made. may our Spirit be strengthened by using only what we need and may we use our strength to help those who need us *Opening Hymn Come, Now Is the Time to Worship (page 11) Invitation to Confession Silent Prayers of Confession...Transforms Our Hearts and Minds... Prayer of Confession (Responsive) Giver of life, in the midst of a plundered earth we groan with creation: Have mercy on us. Giver of life, in the midst of poisoned waters we groan with creation: Have mercy on us. Giver of life, in the midst of polluted air we groan with creation: Have mercy on us. Giver of life, in the midst of mountains of waste we groan with creation: Have mercy on us. Giver of life, we who are made in the image of God have gone astray. Attitudes of conquest and greed harm us all. Creation groans with us. Have mercy on us. Assurance of Pardon (Responsive) Thank you, lord, for all that you have given us. Thank you for the beauty of the universe that you created: the trees, the sky, the mountains, the rain. All things hold beauty in themselves and all are related and touch each universe of the earth. You created the rhythm and pattern of the universe in a harmony of movement, sight, and sound. Help us to appreciate your creation and to live with our eyes, ears, and hearts open to your message. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! Thanks be to God. Sing Gloria Patri Glory Be to the Father 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 of Christ The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.
Page 3 Hymn Lord I Need You (page 13 & 14) Prayer of Illumination. First Scripture Reading Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Page 185 The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Offering of Food Items (The children will collect the food items and bring them to the tubs near the pulpit) A Time for Children (The children are invited to come forward at this time) Joys and Concerns of the Congregation (Please note the printed announcements) Prayers of the People Second Scripture Reading Revelations 22:1-3 Page 1133 The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Proclamation of the Word Pastor Larry Green *Affirmation of Our Faith (Unison) Apostle's Creed (Traditional) Page 35 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. *Offering of Our Hearts and Gifts of Income Offertory Music *Response Hymn #609 Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. Praise God, all creatures high and low. Alleluia, alleluia! Praise God, in Jesus fully known: Creator, Word, and Spirit one. Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Prayer of Dedication of Offerings *Parting Hymn #20 *Benediction *Congregational Response #547 All Things Bright and Beautiful Go, My Children, with My Blessing Go my children, with my blessing, never alone. Waking, sleeping, I am with you, you are my own. In my love s baptismal river I have made you mine for ever. Go, my children, with my blessing, you are my own.
Page 4.and Leads Us Out to Be Witnesses to the Risen Christ, to Rest and to Live Joyfully. Ministers Each of Us Pastor Rev. Larry Green Parish Associate Rev. Dr. Ina Boyd Refreshments Al & Nancy Hult Nursery Volunteer Deanna Henriksen Nursery Worker Katie Parrish Clerk of Session Linda Spurny Treasurer Helen McCune Organist Hye Jin Park Music Director Dr. Will Kesling Venturers & Friends Lucille Schlichting NEWS FOR GOD S PEOPLE. We are glad that God has brought us together to worship. We invite everyone to enjoy refreshments, conversation and fellowship with us at 10:30am. We look forward to talking with you. The church belongs to Christ. We are a caring, inclusive, diverse church and welcome people of all races and nationalities, those struggling with addictions, rich and poor, regardless of marital status or sexual orientation. Christ welcomes all, and so do we. We are committed to lives of service to people in need and to changing the unfair systems that keeps them in need, and we invite you to join us in our ministries. Trust in Christ is the sole requirement for membership. Anyone wishing to take this important step is cordially invited to contact the church office. Children, even noisy children, are very welcome during worship. A changing station, available to all, is located in our Nursery (room#1) and In the family bathroom in the back hallway. Large print bulletins/hymns are available. If needed, please ask a greeter for a copy. TODAY: Worship 9:30 Refreshments 10:30-11:00 Sunday School 11:00 Worship 11:00 Message from Pastor Larry Your presence here is a gift to us, and we thank you for worshiping with us today.
The Children s Connection Page 5 NURSERY CARE is available for children birth 5 years old during Worship through Sunday School. (9:15am- 12:15pm) Please register your children to ensure the best care for them. CHILDREN'S BULLETINS and WORSHIP BAGS with activities are available on the Children s table in the Dickson foyer. At home go to games.childrensbulletins.com and enter the secret code for the week to unlock games related to this weeks Scripture readings. Ages 3-6 EMZNG3 is & 7-12 is VPDTC8. TIME FOR CHILDREN during worship provides a way for children to become more involved in the service. All children are invited and encouraged to come forward at this time or they can remain seated with their families. Sunday School Classes for Elementary age children will meet in Classroom #2. Middle & High School age will meet in the Community Building. Adult Seminar I meets in Classroom #3 and is studying The Common Good by Jim Wallis. Don Eitzman is the discussion leader. Adult Seminar II meets in the Christian Education Office. This is an interactive opportunity open to anyone who wants to extend their understanding of the scripture and sermon in today's worship service. Paul Carter is the discussion leader. Adult Seminar III meets in Classroom #4. and is studying the book Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Half's of Life by Fr. Richard Rohr. Gwen Lombard is the discussion leader.. Andy & Ryan (Friends of Amber Switzer) Sherie Baker Lina Colondres & Family Linda Ellwood Bea Farmer Marissa Fisher David & Chris Flagg Jonathan Gil Norma Green Kenneth Jones (Norma Green s Godson) Rev. Charles Landreth Bryn Livingston Lori Nason Lucille Schlichting Adela vanantwerp (friend of the Carters) All students Our Country & those that serve in all military branches Missionaries from the Presbytery of St. Augustine Dr. Hector Mendez & our sister church in Havana, Cuba That the Sheriff, undersheriff & staff of Baker County Jail have compassion for the detainees in their care.
Page 6 Westminster s Weekly Newsletter TODAY AT WESTMINSTER 9:30 am Earth Day Worship Service 10:30 11:00 am during the refreshment time: 1. Tour the Butterfly Garden with Earth Care Ministry Team members to answer questions and get ideas about planting your own butterfly garden. 2. Visit the information tables on the loggia for information and handouts about different ways and ideas for caring for the environment and reversing the effects of climate change and lowering your carbon footprint. 3.Visit the plant exchange where you can bring a plant and exchange it for another for your garden or if you have no plant to exchange, get a plant with a small donation which will go to buy more plants for the church butterfly and pollinator garden. 11:00 am In the Community Building attend the power point presentation about Alachua County Solar Co-op which is a neighborhood effort to increase solar power and make it more affordable for home owners. This effort is sponsored by the Sierra Club and League of Women Voters among other organizations. The presenters will be Gordon Hart and Whitey Markle of the Sierra Club-Suwannee St. John s Group. Join Us each Tuesday, at 10:30 am each Wednesday 6:00 pm-7:30 pm The Worship Committee will meet on Wednesday, April 26th at 7:30pm in Classroom #3 Civics Classes: Learn about our government and how it works. Every Tuesday, March 21 May 9th 1:30 3:30 pm at the Senior Recreation Center, 570 NW 34th Blvd, Gainesville. All classes are Free. See flyer on bulletin board for additional information. Pastor s Coffee Hour: each Thursday from 9-11am at the Coffee Culture (2020 NW 13th St). Stop by and spend some time chatting about anything you d like. No appointment is necessary, just stop by and get a cup of coffee. Everyone Welcome!
Climate Change It s Up To Us! Accepting The Challenge. Over the past few weeks, the Earth Care Ministry team has presented numerous ways that each of us can take action to mitigate the impacts of climate change and conserve our natural resources. Some of these changes are easy (e.g., turn off the water when brushing your teeth) and some of them are much harder to implement (walk or ride your bike to the store instead of taking the car). To change a habit or develop a new behavior, common wisdom says it take a minimum of two weeks focusing on this every day. The web offers several fun ways to help us change our behaviors. One site is the Earth Day Network (http://www.earthday.org/ takeaction/about.html) that asks you to commit to your own one act of green and post it on the website. A fun website to check out is EcoChallenge powered by Northwest Earth Institute (https://ecochallenge.org) where you can develop your own team or join an existing team online. As a part of the team, you commit to one change in one category that will reduce your impact on the planet and track it with your team over a two-week period in October. Another great way to challenge you to explore and learn about saving our planet is to join our Earth Care Ministry team! Special thanks to the following members for writing our weekly articles on Climate Change: Jeanette Hostetler, Anne Newman, Gabe Thompson, Nancy C. Griffin, Lynne Webster, Meta Bennett and Betty Jax. Copies of all articles are available at the table on the loggia. Treasurer s Note: March Year-to-Date Expenses $18,835 $58,310 Income $16,533 $60,052 One Great Hour of Sharing $1470 The Men of the Church will meet on Saturday, April 29th from 8:30am 9:30am for breakfast, Bible study and fellowship. Eggs and bacon will be provided. Please bring fruit, juice, or bread to share with the group. Healthy Women, Healthy Families Mother s Day cards will be available April 30 and May 7. This is a program of PCUSA to support work with women and families to help address problems of poverty. There will be a table in the Dickson Foyer where you can honor your mother or other important women in your life through supporting this work. The next Congregational Covered Dish Luncheon will be Sunday, April 30th at noon. Bring enough to share will all. Everyone is welcome. The Administration Committee will meet at on Sunday, April 30th in Classroom #4 After the Luncheon.
At our last meeting of Session, the Session spent considerable time discussing the topic of Sanctuary Church. What seems to be clear from Session s point of view is that there is a clear Biblical call to be involved in this ministry and to become a Sanctuary Church. There is considerable angst about how to make that happen. There remain legitimate concerns about doing things decently and in order and about making Westminster House safe and habitable. In the end, Session voted to move forward with becoming a Sanctuary Church with a couple of stipulations. First, Session will need to review and approve the policies and procedures which will guide the work and ministry of all parties involved in the process. This includes the Sanctuary Church Coalition, Westminster Presbyterian Church, our supporting Churches, and Madres Sin Fronteras. The policies and procedures will assist us with creating the framework by which the ministry will operate. It is hoped that these policies and procedures will help us to anticipate the various challenges we will face so that we can be as prepared as possible if and when we take an individual or family into Sanctuary. The policies and procedures will be developed through a collaborative effort involving the Sanctuary Church Coalition, our supporting congregations, and Madres Sin Fronteras. While the goal will be to create a very clear and thoughtful document, it will be impossible to anticipate and be prepared for every possible situation we may encounter. However, we hope to create a document which will help us to develop a thoughtful and sustainable ministry. The second condition relates to the safety and habitability of the Westminster House. Realizing the house is mature, we anticipate it may need some improvements or updates as we go along. The Westminster House is a fairly large home which contains two bedrooms, a living room/den, 2 kitchen areas, and 2.5 baths. To begin this process, we will collaborate with a licensed home inspector to provide us with a list of items to be addressed. Generally, the list includes identification of items which must be addressed, items which should be addressed if possible, and a list of recommendations of things which can improve the property. The home inspector generally evaluates the electric, plumbing, and structure to ensure it meets code. Once we have this list, we will reach out to the Sanctuary Church Coalition, our supporting churches, and Madres Sin Fronteras to help address the items identified by the inspection. Session will approve and authorize any and all repairs, updates, alterations to the building prior to work beginning. There are some general contractors on the Coalition who have offered their services. It is anticipated that the costs for any repairs/updates/alterations will be covered through donations from the Coalition members and supporting congregations, as well as from support within Westminster. Though there is a general sense of excitement and support for Sanctuary Church, I fully realize some have reservations/concerns and some are entirely opposed. While I wish unanimous
From the Pastor continued... support were possible, it s unrealistic to expect that everyone would agree or support it. Historically, many of the responses from the faith community to political and social issues have been fraught with division: slavery, women s rights, civil rights, LGBTQIA equality, and immigrant rights are some examples. It is my hope and prayer that we, as a community of faith, will continue to be united as One Body with many parts as we move forward with Sanctuary Church. First Corinthians reminds us, there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; there are varieties of services, but one Lord; and there are varieties of activities but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good (12:4-7). No part of the body is more or less important than any other part of the body. Nobody is expected or required to support Sanctuary Church. What is expected is that we respect one another and continue to love one another regardless of one s position on this or any topic/issue. What is expected is that we continue to lift high the cross that symbol which unites us and binds us together. What is expected is that we continue to walk forward into the future already created by God, holding firmly to the command to love God and to love neighbor. From a reformed perspective, we believe that each person who calls Westminster home has been called to be here, and we truly value and appreciate your response to that call. There is plenty of space around the table for all of us, regardless of one s perspective on Sanctuary Church (or really any issue for that matter).
Page 10 Congregational Care If you or someone in the congregation would like a visit or phone call from the Pastor or someone else from the church, please share this information with the Pastor, one of the Elders, or contact the Church Office. If you are ill or aware of someone else that is ill, please contact the church office or the Congregational Care Committee (CCC) representative for the month. The CCC members will handle the following parish nurse responsibilities for a short term need following surgery, traumatic event or birth: resource for transportation to medical appointments when feasible and appropriate, medical equipment loan outs, provision of meals, and general emotional support. Congregational Care Comm. Representatives April Barbara Scott @ 372-7191 Nancy Dickson @ 316-0295 Elder of the Month for April is Nancy Morris @ 316-5370 Please contact the Elder regarding emergencies in the absence of the pastor. APRIL Sun 23 Earth Day Sunday Worship Service @9:30am Refreshments @ 10:30am Earth Date Events @10:30am Earth Day Presentation@11:00am Sunday School @ 11:00 am Worship Service @ 11:00 am Tues 25 Bible Study@10:30am Wed 26 Choir Practice @ 6pm Worship Comm. Mtg@7:30pm Thur 27 Pastor s Coffee Hour @ 9am Sat 29 Men s Breakfast @ 8:30am Sun 30 Worship Service @ 9:30am Sunday School @ 11:00am Worship Service @ 11:00 am Congregational Lunch @ 12 A reminder that Westminster has a medical closet for our church family. We give out medical equipment such as wheelchairs, shower chairs, bedside commodes, canes, etc. for short and long term use. If you have usable equipment in good repair you would like to donate, please remember us. How to reach us at WPC Pastor: Rev. Larry Green Email: larry.green@wpcgainesville.org Cell# 352-210-8753 Parish Associate: Dr. Rev. Ina Boyd Email:.Ina.Boyd@yahoo.com Cell# 352-538-4909 Admin. Assistant: Gail W. Acree Email: gail.acree@wpcgainesville.com Church Website: http://www.wpcgainesville.org Email: contact@wpcgainesville.com Church phone#: 352-378-4032 Church fax#: 352-378-0914
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My Sermon Notes