THE FIRST CHURCH IN ALBANY (Reformed Church in America) 110 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12207 ~ (518) 463-4449 Email: info@firstchurchinalbany.org ~ Website: www.firstchurchinalbany.org ~ Sunday Worship: 10:30 am Founded in 1642; Continuing in Ministry Today In response to God's unconditional love for all people made known to us in Jesus Christ, we are called to be a welcoming and affirming community. The First Church in Albany includes young and old, families, couples and singles, rich and poor, persons of various races, ethnicities, backgrounds, sexual orientation and gender identities, differing physical and mental abilities, believers and seekers. We welcome into the full life of the church all those whom God sends us. Centered in Christ, we commit ourselves to breaking down dividing walls and building a community where all are loved. The Third Sunday after Pentecost June 25, 2017 When you consider Stephen and Jesus together, it s pretty hard to deny that this is what Christian success looks like: not converting other people to our way of thinking; not having the oldest, prettiest church in town; not even going out of our ways to be kind and generous, but telling the truth so clearly that some people want to kill us for it. I do not think you can seek martyrdom any more than you can avoid it. I think it just happens sometimes, when people get so wrapped up in living God s life that they forget to protect themselves. They forget to look out for danger and the next thing you know it s raining rocks. --Barbara Brown Taylor, Blood of the Martyrs THE APPROACH TO GOD Prelude Sonata from Die Bänkelsängerlieder Anonymous Arranged by Robert King Announcements Call to Worship Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. Amen. Psalm 124:8
The world belongs to God, the earth and all its people. How good and wonderful it is to live together in unity. Love and faith come together. Justice and peace join hands. If Christ s disciples should keep silent the very stones would shout aloud. O Lord, open our lips, and our mouths shall proclaim your praise. *Hymn 460 Holy God, We Praise Your Name GROSSER GOTT Prayer of Confession If we have followed other spirits, rather than the spirit of Jesus, If we have refused to give full reign to the Spirit in our deeds and words, Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. So that we may be filled with the loving fruits of the Spirit, (The prayer may continue in silence.) Assurance of Pardon and Call to New Obedience The Peace As God s forgiven people, let us lead lives worthy of the calling to which we have been called, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (from Galatians 5: 22-25; Ephesians 4: 1-3) The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. And also with you. 2
*Response Where charity and love prevail, there God is ever found; Brought here together by Christ s love, by love we thus are bound. Let strife among us be unknown, let all contention cease; Be Christ the glory that we seek, be ours Christ s holy peace. Tune: ST. ANNE Text: Ubi Caritas, 8th century hymn translated by Omer Westendorf 1960, ren. 1988 World Library used by permission of Onelicense # A-700689 The Prayer for Illumination THE WORD OF GOD The Epistle Lesson Hebrews 11:1-2, 13-16, 32-40; 12:1-2 The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Music Alleluia Randall Thompson Arranged by Barret Germain The New Testament Lesson Acts 6: 8-15; 7: 51-60 The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. The Sermon Costly Truth-Telling The Prayer for Blessing on the Word Offering THE RESPONSE TO GOD Offertory Simple Gifts Traditional Arranged by Jari Villaneuva 3
*Doxology (Hymn 591) Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Christ, all creatures here below; Praise Holy Spirit evermore; Praise Triune God, whom we adore. Amen. The Joys and Concerns of the Church Prayers of the People 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, for ever. Amen. *The Hymn 420 God of Grace and God of Glory CWM RHONDDA *Charge and Blessing *Postlude Canzoni per Sonare No. 4 J.S. Bach Arranged by Steven Winick A *Those who are able please stand. WORSHIP LEADERS: Liturgist: The Rev. Susan Vincent-Cox; Preacher: The Rev. John Paarlberg; The Route Fifty 5 brass quintet: Ben Richards, trumpet; Judson Hoffman, trumpet; Kara Pangburn, French horn; Ryan Pangburn, trombone; Michael Silvagnoli, tuba. WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS: The entire congregation. We welcome all who gather to worship God this morning, especially visitors and friends from near and far. Please join us for refreshments in the lounge after the worship service today. 4
The flowers this morning are given by Heather Cameron DiScala and family in loving memory of her mother Nancy Althiser Cameron on her birthday. Next Sunday, July 2, we will join the other FOCUS covenant congregations in joint worship at 9:30 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church at the corner of Lark and Lancaster. The Lord s Supper will be celebrated. FOCUS Advocacy Coordinator Joe Paparone will be preaching and leading a conversation afterwards: The Poor People s Campaign: Then and Now. Drive-in worship services at First Church are held each Sunday at 9:00 a.m. through September 3. In July and August the sanctuary service will be at 10 a.m. What happened at the 2017 Reformed Church General Synod and what does it mean? Marilyn Paarlberg and Becky Hudak were delegates to the Synod. After worship you are invited to join them in the parlor for discussion. At Camp Fowler this week (June 25- June 29) are Haleigh Bliss, Mela Jensen, Jamol Franklin, Anthony Brown, and Uncle John Paarlberg. Welcome home reception for Gregg and Vicki Mast! We are delighted to share the news that Drs. Gregg and Vicki Mast will greet old and new friends at the First Church in Albany on this afternoon between 3 PM and 5 PM. Gregg and Vicki are retiring at the end of June and returning to their home in East Nassau. This will be an opportunity to welcome them back to the Capital District after their 15-year absence and to honor Gregg for his service as President of New Brunswick Theological Seminary. A new book in the Historical Series in Gregg s honor, edited by Al Janssen and bearing the title A Ministry of Reconciliation, will also be available for purchase. The theme for the 2017 Room for All National Conference, A Kaleidoscope of Intersections, focuses on the multiple identities that LGBTQ people embody and which shape their experiences; specifically, the intersections of LGBTQ identity and race, faith expression, and life journey. Full details are at https://roomforall.com/events/nationalconferences, including a link to online registration. If you need help with registration, please call 201-364-4538 or see Marilyn Paarlberg. Early-bird discount registration deadline: July 28. Final deadline: August 25. 5
The First Church 2017 Directory is under way. At the beginning of Coffee and Conversation today we will be taking photos of the some of the boards. Our goal is to have the directory ready for distribution at the 375 Anniversary Luncheon on Sunday, October 29 th. A letter explaining the details will be mailed to everyone in the next few weeks. Smile! Spring Fling Concerts Wednesdays in June at Noon Join us for a series of noon-time concerts in our sanctuary each Wednesday in June from 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM. We ll have special music from our soloists as well as guest instrumentalists. June 28 Summertime Dreaming Soprano Rose Hunsberger sings working of Mozart and Schubert with Michael Clement, pianist Pocket Prayer Shawls are available at today s Worship. Please ask one of our greeters and they can provide a basket of pocket prayer shawls to choose from. Pocket Prayer Shawls are made and filled with prayers and can be given to someone in need of comfort, healing, or a reminder of the closeness of God. 6
Sunday THIS WEEK AT FIRST CHURCH 6/25 Third Sunday after Pentecost 10:00 AM Clee Park Outdoor Worship Service 11:30 AM Coffee and Conversation/ General Synod discussion (Parlor) 3:00 PM Gregg Mast Retirement Reception Monday 6/26 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM - Food Pantry Open Tuesday 6/27 12:00 NOON Bible Study Wednesday 6/28 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM - Food Pantry Open 12:00 NOON AA Meeting 12:00 NOON Spring Concert Summertime Dreaming Sunday 7/2 Fourth Sunday after Pentecost 9:00 AM Drive-In Worship 9:30 AM FOCUS Combined Worship @ Trinity United Methodist Church Monday 7/3 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM - Food Pantry Closed Office Closed Tuesday 7/4 Office Closed Wednesday 7/5 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM - Food Pantry Open 7