The flowers appear on the earth;; the time of singing has come, (Song of Solomon 2:12) August 30, 2015 Rev. Anne Stewart Miller, Interim Pastor Mrs. Kathleen Andresen, Youth Director Mr. Kenneth Friese, Director of Music Mrs. Diane Starost, Director of Youth Choir
ENTER SILENTLY. WAIT PRAYERFULLY. WORSHIP REVERENTLY AND EXPECTANTLY. Let all the earth keep silent before him O R D E R O F W O R S H I P August 30, 2015 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time Gathering Prelude Improvisation Ken Friese Welcome and Announcements Call to Worship Based on Psalm 34: 3 Minister: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Minister: O praise the Lord with me, People: let us exalt God s name together. Prayer of the Day *Hymn No. 473 For the Beauty of the Earth DIX Invitation to Confession Prayer of Confession God of mercy, you sent Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost. We confess that we have strayed from you and turned aside from your way. We are misled by pride, for we see ourselves pure when we are stained, and great when we are small. We have failed in love, neglected justice, and ignored your truth. Have mercy, O God, and forgive our sin. Return us to paths of righteousness through Jesus Christ, our risen Savior. Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy. Assurance of Pardon Minister: People: *Gloria Patri No. 579 The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. I declare to you, in the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. May the God of mercy, who forgives us all our sins, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, keep us in eternal life. Amen.
*The Peace Minister: People: 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. And also with you. Word Prayer of Illumination First Lesson Song of Solomon 2: 8-13 O.T.p.623-P.765 Leader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. Anthem It Is Enough - ( Elijah ) F. Mendelssohn Gary Lorentzson, Baritone Second Lesson Romans 12: 1-8 N.T.p.161-P.196 Leader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. Third Lesson Mark 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23 N.T.p.42-P.51 Leader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. Sermon Bringing Out the Best in You Rev. Anne Stewart Miller *Hymn No. 356 Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing NETTLETON *Affirmation of Faith 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. Pastoral Prayer & 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 Offertory Prayer Receiving of our Tithes and Offerings Offertory Is Not His Word Like Fire? - ( Elijah ) F. Mendelssohn Gary Lorentzson, Baritone *Doxology No. 592 *Prayer of Thanksgiving & Choral Response Sending *Hymn No. 414 As Those of Old Their First Fruits Brought FOREST GREEN *Benediction *Congregational Response The Hymnal, No. 586 Amen, Amen, Amen Organ Postlude Fanfare P. Dukas *Please stand, as you are able Jerry Kessler is the worship assistant today. The flowers this morning are given to the glory of God By Marge Sammis in memory of her loving husband, Quentin Sammis
Worship Notes for Sunday, August 30 This morning is a unique Sunday lucky you re here! Lucky that we heard read in worship a lesson from the Song of Solomon. The 22nd Sunday in Ordinary-Year B is unique because it is the only Sunday in our three year lectionary cycle that we hear a lection read from this book. What is the Song of Solomon? Over generations, the book, also known as Song of Songs, Canticles, and the Song is a rich and sensual love song. (Selections from the Song of Solomon are suggested as readings for our Presbyterian marriage ceremony liturgy.) In the Jewish tradition, it is considered a religious allegory recounting God s love for Israel and the history of their relationship. For Christians, it is an allegory of Christ s love for the Church. These allegorical interpretations enabled the Song to become sacred scripture and be included in the Bible (or Canon). Judging from the art and control of language, the Song is a product perhaps composed by a professional singer for entertainment at festivities. And, like Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, the Song is attributed to King Solomon, the quintessential wise man and lover. But nothing in the poem supports that attribution;; the title is probably a later addition. The Song s actual author is unknown. The Harper-Collins Study Bible New Revised Standard Version All this said, down through time the book has vexed ancient rabbis and modern theologians when they have debated the canonicity (authenticity/orthodoxy) of this anthology of love songs: What theology is implied here? There are two possible answers: One, as explained above, is that these poems, often sensual, are allegories of the love between God/Christ and the community of faithful people. The other approach is to read the poems literally as the Bible s affirmation of the divinely endowed realities concerning creation and procreation. Values may be found in either method of interpretation done in a careful and balanced way. The familiar words of Romans 12 (again, suggested for use in Presbyterian marriage ceremonies) may strike readers as a moment when Paul turns from a theological to an ethical discussion. Yet such a characterization overlooks the essentially theological nature of the entire Book of Romans. For in reality, Paul is calling for the transformation of people through the power of God. The imperative is be transformed, not transform yourselves, thus placing primary emphasis on the activity of God in our lives. The reading from Mark contrasts those who place great emphasis on liturgical requirements for faithfulness with those whose qualities impart faithfulness from within. This is not to be understood as an argument for individualism in religious belief but as statement concerning the critical matter of the orientation of the human heart. Persons spoil or redeem their life and others lives not by whether they wash before eating (or some other ritual) but by their commitment and devotion The subsequent healings of the possessed young girl and of the deaf man neither of whom observed the right liturgy, serve as an exclamation point to Jesus words. Texts for Preaching-Year B A Lectionary Commentary based on the NRSV-Year B
In Our Prayers Pray at every opportunity in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18) This list is prepared each Thursday at Noon. Please notify the office of names to be included. NEW ADDITIONS: (none) Continue to pray for those who remain on our prayer list: Kevin Behrens (Brian s son), Charla Bolton (former member and friend of OFC), Paige Burkeholder and Family (Melissa Terc s sister and family), Ellen Correll and Family (OFC Financial Secretary), Kerry Degnan (member), Joy Eipel (Mark Mandrakos mom), Lee & Gail Forker (Melissa Terc s parents), William Gray (Dorothy Mandrakos father), Dave and Else Haddock (members), Betty Hasteadt (member), Janet and Bill Higby (former OFC members), Pat Horner (member), Clarissa Jost (member), Wendy Kennedy (Peter Storey s sister), George Korinek (friend of Judy Kahrs), Mike Macchiaroli (Barbara Macchiaroli s son), Kay McCann (Ellen Correll s mom), Priscilla McGuire (member), Kim Myers (member), Robert and Cindy Raynor (Brett s parents), Rebecca Raynor (Brett s sister), Norma Richards (former OFC member), Dan Rooker (Laure McKenna s brother), Carol Saenger (member), Johnny Salgado (friend of the Gunthner family), Bradley Samuel (Mary s son), Winifred Slater (member), Peter and Daphne Storey (members), Ruth Terc (John Terc s mother), Brad Thayer (former member), Diane Walker (member), Peg Weigers (member), Grace Youngquist (member). Removed from our prayer list this week: (none) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please call the church office to remove names from the prayer list. Thank you. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer (Romans 12:12 - New International Version NIV)
Old First Presbyterian Church Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect. and sacrifice to God. (Romans 12:2) 125 Main St., Huntington, NY. 11743 Phone 631-427-2101 Fax 631-427-2116 www.oldfirstchurchhuntington.org I/We would like further information about: Prayer Requests Membership Christian Education and Youth Programs Music Programs Community Outreach and Support Please have the Pastor contact me Name: Address: Please submit all information and announcements for the Sunday Bulletin by Wednesday of each week at the latest. Either e-mail - (MS Word preferred ) at cheriecornell@oldfirstchurchhuntington.org or drop off at church office. Thank you. Phone: E-mail: Please fill out, tear off, and leave in offering plate.
Old First Presbyterian Church 125 Main Street, Huntington, NY Phone: 631.427.2101 Fax: 631.427.2116 www.oldfirstchurchhuntington.org
First Lesson Song of Solomon 2: 8-13 August 30, 2015 Jerry Kessler The voice of my beloved! Look, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills. My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look, there he stands behind our wall, gazing in at the windows, looking through the lattice. My beloved speaks and says to me: Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. Leader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.
Second Lesson Romans 12: 1-8 August 30, 2015 Jerry Kessler I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness. Leader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.
Third Lesson Mark 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23 August 30, 2015 Jerry Kessler Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands? He said to them, Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines. You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition. Then he called the crowd again and said to them, Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.
For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person. Leader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.
weekly events calendar Sunday, August 30 Monday, August 31 Tuesday, September 1 Wednesday, September 2 Thursday, September 3 Friday, September 4 Saturday, September 5 Sunday, September 6 9:30a Prayers 10a Worship 6:15p AA 7a-6p The Learning Center (CLOSED FOR THE WEEK) 9:15a WC-Gentle Bends 7:30p NA (AA Room-downstairs) 7a-6p The Learning Center (CLOSED FOR THE WEEK) 11a-4p Thrift Store 1-2p AA (AA Room-downstairs) 7a-6p The Learning Center (CLOSED FOR THE WEEK) 9:15a WC-Gentle Bends 7p AA (AA Room-downstairs) 7:30-9p BS Troop 32 (Gym) 7a-6p The Learning Center (CLOSED FOR THE WEEK) 11a-4p Thrift Store 5-9:30p Giant Steps (102) 7a-6p The Learning Center (CLOSED FOR THE WEEK) 9:30a Al Anon (101) 11a-4p Thrift Store 9:30a Prayers 10a Communion Worship 6:15p AA We warmly welcome and greet all who have joined us for worship this morning. Please join us for Hospitality Hour, sponsored by our Board of Deacons, in the Parish Hall after worship. To get to the Parish Hall, please leave the sanctuary by the door in the front of the church, turn right and go down the hall. If you are currently seeking a church home and would like more information about Old First, please fill out the tear off form in the announcement section of the bulletin and place in offering plate or see the pastor. If you have any special needs, please alert an usher. Our sanctuary is handicapped accessible. Large print hymnals are available as well as personal PA receivers for those with hearing disabilities. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sanctuary Flowers The flowers that grace our Sanctuary during Sunday worship are donated by church members or friends of Old First. Often these flowers are delivered to our homebound members to brighten their day. If you would like to give flowers in honor or memory of someone special, or to celebrate a special occasion, please sign up on the sheet in the front hallway, or contact the church office. May the Peace of God be with you and Have a Blessed Week.
ANNOUNCEMENTS Sunday, August 30, 2015 THANK YOU!!! Thank you to Pastor Willis Todd for waiving his honorarium guest minister fee and donating it back towards the Deacons Thanksgiving Baskets fund. Both he and his wife, Michelle, are truly generous and spirit-filled and we were so blessed to have his presence with us as a guest minister while Pastor Anne was away! YOUTH GROUP NEWS - from Katie: Kids & Youth Club is just around the corner!!!!! Kids and Youth club begins again September 9th at 5 pm with prayer service, crafts, open gym and dinner. Mark your calendar see you then. Youth Music Program: Rehearsals for the Kids Choir and the Youth Choir are on Wednesdays in the choir room beginning Wednesday, September 9th, 2015. Kids Choir (grades 1-3) 5:00-5:30 pm Youth Choir (grades 4-8) 5:30-6:00 pm. Singers, instrumentalists, and grades 9-12 are welcome. If you have any questions, see Mrs. Starost on Sundays or email youthchoir@oldfirstchurchhuntington.org. PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN: Save the Date! The Presbyterian Women of Long Island Retreat, October 6th & 7th. Please plan to join us for this special time of reflection and spiritual renewal. It will be held in the beautiful setting and retreat house at Comaria in Sag Harbor Bay, (www.comaria.org). We would love to have a group of OFC women attend together! More information will be forthcoming. DEACONS POTLUCK AND BINGO NIGHT: Friday, September 18, 2015 in Parish Hall. Dinner @ 6-7pm and Bingo @ 7-9pm. Come and bring your family, friends, and a main dish or salad to share for a pot luck meal and Bingo with lots of prizes and great fellowship. Cost is $8.00 per person or $25.00 per family. All Ages Welcome! This is a fundraiser. Proceeds for Thanksgiving Basket Program. R.S.V.P. - Call Heather Tucker @ 631-424-6807 or Kathy Porter @ 631-423-6318. by Monday, September 14th. For more information, see flyer insert and check the September 2015 issue of the Weathervane. OFC BOOK CLUB: Seven Men and the Secret of Their Greatness, New York Times" bestselling author Eric Metaxas presents seven exquisitely crafted short portraits of widely known-- but not well understood--christian men, each of whom uniquely showcases a commitment to live by certain virtues in the truth of the gospel. Book discussions are planned for the fall, on Sundays, September 27, October 11, and October 25 at 11:15 am in the Fiske Room led by Tom Bosch and Anne Gunthner. Books will be available for $12 in the church office starting September 1 st. All are welcome. The Clothes Line Mission Thrift Store: 1. The next meeting of THE CLOTHES LINE will be a potluck lunch & meet at Fiddlers Green Beach on Wednesday, September 9, 12:00 - ALL WELCOME - Bring a bathing suit and towel and a food dish to share... 2. Annual Back-to-School Sale Friday, September 11th and Saturday, September 12th, 11am to 4pm. Volunteers needed to help sort and sell. Please contact Cynthia phone: 516-780-2185. 3. We are open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 11:00am to 4:00pm and accept all clothing donations when open. THE FISKE ROOM: In a joint cooperative action between OFC Presbyterian Women and the Board of Trustees, the Fiske Room is being renovated starting Monday, July 13th, thru the rest of the summer. The Fiske Room will not be available for use until after August. Please contact the church office for available alternate meeting space. PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN: E-mail list: All women who would like to receive PW Google e-mails for PW updates and other information - please submit your e-mail address to the church office to be put on the list. Presbyterian Women Giving: If you would like to contribute to the missions that Presbyterian Women support, you may use the envelopes in the pews. Please mark PW on the envelope and on your check make check payable to the Presbyterian Women. With our blessings and thanks, PW of Old First Church. Fundraiser: Have a special child or grandchild in your life? Love to help OFC? Then we've got a deal for you! Session has approved a wonderful fundraiser! Local toy shop Little Switzerland Dolls and Toys on Main Street has offered to donate to the church 10% of sales from customers who say "I'm from Old First Church." This is both a wonderful fundraiser and a fine way to find a lovely gift for your special child. Check them out at littleswitzerlanddolls.com. Layette: The Layette is in need of infant boys clothing, (sizes newborn -12 mos.) From The Worship Committee: Please feel free to join us any Sunday morning at 9:30am for open prayer for our church, community, and personal concerns. Worship Assistants Needed: See Anne Gunthner. Volunteers are also needed for the Children's Moments in Worship. If you are inspired and would be available to talk with our children for a few moments during the worship service on Sundays, please contact Carole Witkowski: Email: carjjoywit@optonline.net. Any questions or helpful suggestions regarding worship services and weekly worship bulletins, please contact Anne Gunthner (Worship & Music Chairperson) either by phone or e-mail. Do you have our addresses? WEBSITE: www.oldfirstchurchhuntington.org (or connect to Facebook from our home page) FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/oldfirstchurchhuntington and please "Like" and comment on our posts. And if there's anything you need posted on Facebook just email it to Dana Richter at danion@mac.com or send it to Cherie Cornell in the church office. Lending Library Book Club: Books are available during coffee hour on Sunday mornings. During the week, this cart can be found in Room101. Take a book, return it or replace it with another. Happy Reading! Community Food Council: Items in particular need this month are Cereal and Soup. Thank you for your generous donations. TO POST YOUR NOTICE ON THE WEEKLY E-MAIL UPDATES, please get them to Rev. Anne Stewart Miller or the church office by Wednesday at noon. Rev. Anne may be reached at church or by email, annestewartmiller@comcast.net. please call her on her cell phone, 503-504 8337. For pastoral emergencies,