North Presbyterian Church 2 nd Sunday of Advent December 10, 2017 8:30 a.m.
WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD Greeting, Welcome, and Opportunities for Discipleship Welcome visitors! If you feel comfortable, please introduce yourself at this time. We are glad you are here. Everyone please silence your cell phones. Prelude Lighting of the Advent Candle Today we light the candle of PEACE. You entered our world on Christmas as the Prince of Peace. Fill us with your peace. Help us share that peace with everyone we meet, especially those who need it most. ALL: Come to us in peace, Emmanuel. Invocation Hymn 88 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (vss. 1, 6, & 7) Call to Confession Prayer of Confession God of fierce compassion, you call us to make our ways straight, yet we get lost down crooked roads and selfish concern. We are to prepare the way for your reign of justice, but we choose easier paths of comfort. Have mercy on us. Forgive us and set us back to work, clearing paths of justice, building highways of peace, and preparing the world for your entry. Amen. Silent Confession (A time for personal confession of sin) Assurance of Forgiveness Hear the good news! God loves us. God forgives us. *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!
WE HEAR THE WORD OF GOD Prayer for Illumination Scripture Readings Psalm 85 from Psalms Anew Mark 1:1-8 p.32 Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church. Thanks be to God. Sermon Where Do We Find Peace? Rev. William Hennessy WE RESPOND AND GIVE THANKS TO GOD Affirmation of Faith We believe in a bright and amazing God, who has been to the depths of despair on our behalf; who has risen in splendor and majesty; who decorates the universe with sparkling water, clear white light, twinkling stars and bright colors, over and over again. We believe that Jesus is the light of the world; that God believes in us, and trusts us, even though we make the same mistakes over and over again. We commit ourselves to Jesus, to one another as sisters and brothers, and to the Maker s business in the world. God said: Let there be light! 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) 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 WE DISPERSE TO SERVE GOD IN THE WORLD Hymn 87 Comfort, Comfort, Now My People
Closing Make us worthy, O Lord, to serve the men and women throughout the world who live and die in poverty and hunger. Give them, through our hands, this day their daily bread, and by our understanding and love, give peace and joy. Amen. And may the God of peace give you peace at all times and in all ways. Amen *Those who are able, please stand.
Calendar of Events/300 North Forest Road Sunday, December 10 8:30am Worship/Chapel 9:15 Bible study/rc 10:00 Worship/Sanctuary Sunday school/north basement 11:15 Adult Ed./Lib. 11am-12:45pm Monday, December 11 Children s choir rehearsal/south basement 11:30am-1:30pm Staff Christmas party 7:00pm Property Committee/Lib, 7-9 Mindfulness/Chapel Tuesday, December 12 1:00pm Martha Circle/Lib. 7:00 Deacons/DR Wednesday, December 13 9am-8pm EGA/WH 10:15 NO CHAIR YOGA/WH 10am-2pm 4-5:30pm Musicale/Chapel & narthex Eritrea family tutoring/lib. 6:30 Sarah Circle/JoAnne Alderfer s 7-9 Mindfulness/Chapel Thursday, December 14 6:30pm Handbells/S151 7:30 Adult choir/choir room Friday, December 15 5:30-6:45 Mindfulness Yoga/Chapel 7-8:45 Peer-led Group Mindfulness Meditation/Chapel Saturday, December 16 3:30-6:30pm Monday, December 18 Children s pageant rehearsal/sanctuary 7-9 Mindfulness/Chapel Tuesday, December 19 9:30am Staff mtg./ofc. Wednesday, December 20 10:00am Book group/lib. 10:15 CHAIR YOGA/WH 4-5:30pm Eritrea family tutoring/wh 7-9 Mindfulness/Chapel Thursday, December 21 6:30pm Handbells/Sanctuary 7-8:30 Girl Scouts/south basement 7:30 Adult choir/sanctuary Friday, December 22 5:30-6:45 Mindfulness Yoga/Chapel 7-8:45 Peer-led Group Mindfulness Meditation/Chapel 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
WINTER EDITION OF YOUR CHURCH NEWSLETTER The December-January-February issue of the North Star is available online at https://northchurchwilliamsville.org/weekly-bulletin-and-north-star/. There are also printed copies at the Information Desk in the narthex. We hope you will take time to read it. The next deadline for this quarterly publication is February 15, 2018. Please send us your news at n.church@verizon.net or call the office at 716.632.1330. ADVENT ADULT ED. OFFERING Sundays at 11:15 a.m. in the library: Nov. 26, Dec. 3, 10, and 17 During this year s Advent season, we are taking a break from DVDs and planning on discussing a study from The Thoughtful Christian. Titled From Longing to Receiving, the study explores Advent texts of the Revised Common Lectionary, Year B. It emphasizes the Old Testament and Gospel lessons, and refers to the Psalter readings as well. We hope that this contemplative program will help you prepare for the Christmas season. (Study materials are available in the south entrance of the church.) BIBLE STUDY IN THE RESOURCE CENTER This study happens weekly at 9:15 a.m. We will study the Sunday lectionary. The study leaders are volunteers. GIVING TREE Today you will find our decorated Giving Tree in the Dickinson Room. This North Church Advent tradition is one of the ways we help bring joy to families in need during the holiday season. This year we have selected two of the recently arrived refugee families that North Church members have been assisting. The family of five from Eritrea had to move apartments after a fire but the girls are adjusting nicely to new schools and are receiving some special educational tutoring from NPC members. The other family arrived from Iraq to join family members in Buffalo. They are learning English and finding jobs. They sometimes attend Sunday services with us.
We will again be supporting the Homespace program, which provides a safe transitional living environment with supportive services for single-parent families in the foster care system. If you would like to take part in this project, please select a tag from the tree and sign it out so we know that all items are accounted for. A member of the Mission Committee will be there to assist you. Gifts should be wrapped with the gift tag attached and returned to the church no later than Sunday, December 17. Enclosing a gift receipt makes it convenient for the recipient. If shopping is not your thing, we can do some of it for you. Some items have already been purchased; you can simply reimburse the Mission Committee to be the donor. If you prefer to give a monetary donation, we will apply it toward purchase of some of the items. Thank you for helping to make the Christmas season special for families in our community. CHRISTMAS OFFERING The Mission Committee is happy to announce our choices for the 2017 Christmas Offering. Once again the offering will be divided between one local and one other organization. Both agencies that we have chosen work on our behalf to care for the many people in our community and world who need humanitarian assistance. The local agency is Gerard Place, a transitional home for homeless, single-parent families. Gerard Place has been working in Buffalo s east side neighborhoods since 2000 providing housing, education, vocational training, counseling, and classes in life skills. More than 90 percent of residents have transitioned to independent housing and have not returned to homelessness. The Gerard Place Community Center will soon add job readiness training and quality childcare to the neighborhood. Our contributions will help empower individuals and families toward self-sufficiency. They have a very ambitious program and you can read more about it at https://gerardplace.org The second organization sharing our Christmas Offering is One America Appeal, the hurricane relief agency set up by the five living past presidents. Our portion of the collection will be designated to assist our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico. One hundred percent of
moneys donated to One America Appeal are passed on to local agencies for distribution. In Puerto Rico the distribution agency is Unidos Por Puerto Rico (United for Puerto Rico), a private non-profit with a mission to aid individual and small businesses devastated by Hurricanes Irma and Maria by assisting with housing, food, and health needs. Their goal is rebuilding lives and communities in Puerto Rico. United for Puerto Rico reviews grant applications from local non-profits and selects recipients. As of Nov. 3, they have distributed a total of $1,598,944 for such projects as home rebuilding, zinc roofs, tarp repair kits, preparation of hot meals, transportation to doctors appointments, and a mobile clinic for medical emergencies. They assist with distribution of nonperishable goods; so far more than 75,000 items (mostly water, clothing, and food) have been delivered to those in need. There is no need to repeat the statistics here; we have all seen them. These hurricanes were exceptionally catastrophic. It will take years and billions of dollars to do what needs to be done. All donations, no matter the size, make a difference. We are all pulled in many directions this time of year and we ask you to carefully consider how you will respond to this request at Christmastime; keeping in mind the true meaning of the season will surely help. We thank you for your past generosity. CHRISTMAS PAGEANT 2017! The Inn Crowd: A Christmas Musical by Lee Dengler and Susan Naus Dengler, will be presented on Sunday, December 17, at 10:00 a.m. AND 4:00 p.m. The infamous census of the ages has made Bethlehem a busy and crowded spot, and there are some guests at a local inn who aren't very happy. F.W. Woolworth (a rich wool salesman), and Rock Starling (a hip star singer), among others, have made it clear that they want no part of the "lower class" staying in the inn. By the end of this musical, we learn who Jesus came to save and who is included in His kingdom. Alanna Carlins became the new Children's & Youth Choir director beginning October 1, 2017. Marty Shafer retired in May 2017 after having served at North for more than 30 years.
Upcoming Children s & Youth Choir Rehearsals The choir will rehearse today from 11 a.m.-12:45 p.m. and on Saturday, December 16, from 3:30-6:30 p.m. If you have any questions, please contact the director at alannaloren@yahoo.com. BOOK GROUPS Meets third and fourth Wednesday of each month in the church library December 20, at 10:00 a.m. Catch 22 by Joseph Heller January 24, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. The Shoemaker s Wife by Adriana Trigiani 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 (except the second Wednesday of the month) through December. Everyone is welcome! Questions? E-mail oliviaebsary@gmail.com. WORSHIP SERVICES ON CHRISTMAS EVE DAY AND NEW YEAR S EVE DAY Please note that we will have only one worship service at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 24, and on Sunday, December 31. There is no Sunday school on those days. On Sunday, December 24, we will also have Christmas Eve services at 4:00 and 10:00 p.m.
Minister: The Rev. William Hennessy Coordinator: Dick Mesmer Organist: Marlene Harrington Liturgist (10:00): Shevaun Donelli O Connell Lock-up: Randy Bigler Greeters: Don & Charlotte Boyer 8:30 Ushers: Mary & David Bullions Nursery: Sara Koteras 10:00 Ushers: Bill Ervin; Diane & Jim Sprague Advent Candlelighters: Kira Khayat, Sarah Hennessy Linda Gowans 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: Alanna Carlins Sunday School Administrator: Kimberly Will Youth Director, Northtowns: 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 Class of 2019 Bill Clark Sue D Angelo Shevaun Donelli O Connell Scott Marshall Marsha Villano Class of 2018 Glenn Hopkins Shirley Mazourek Garry Ostermeier Pam Ostermeier Class of 2019 Karen Hopkins Connie Littlewood Sheridan Skura Carol Suckow Class of 2020 Anselm George Warren Marcus Rob Powell Class of 2020 Cam Cowan Olivia Ebsary Irene Harbison Heather Randall Sunday School Schedule TODAY: Sunday school Dec. 17, 24, & 31 NO Sunday School Nursery Schedule TODAY: Sara Koteras Dec. 17 Christmas pageant