MARCH 2, 2014 TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD THE CHURCH AT WORSHIP 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 a.m. The Saviour s Transfiguration by Theophanes the Greek Gathering VOLUNTARY Consolation No. 4 Franz Liszt Grace Jones, pianist LIFE IN THE CHURCH Rev. Dr. Monnett (8:00) Lal Rodawla (9:30) Rev. Conrad (11:00) FAITH IN ACTION Habitat for Humanity Don Redding CALL TO WORSHIP from Psalm 99 One: The Lord is king; the Lord is exalted over all the people. All: Holy is the Lord! Let us praise God s great and awesome name! One: Let us worship at God s holy mountain. All: For the Lord our God is holy. * HYMN 263 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise st. denio
PRAYER OF CONFESSION Holy God, set apart, mighty and brilliant, we confess that it is easier for us to worship you on a mountain top than during the crush of a busy day. It is easier to worship Jesus, the miracle worker, than to follow the Christ who bears his cross unto death and calls us to follow. Forgive our on again, off again faith, our callow disregard for the hardships around us, and our failure to give of ourselves as you have given yourself for us. SILENT CONFESSION ASSURANCE OF GOD S FORGIVENESS * PASSING OF THE PEACE You are invited to share signs with one another of the peace we experience as forgiven people. Greet one another saying, The peace of Christ be with you, and respond, And also with you. * CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Come, Christians, join to sing Alleluia! Amen! Loud praise to Christ our King; Alleluia! Amen! Let all, with heart and voice, before His throne rejoice; Praise is His gracious choice; Alleluia! Amen! Proclaiming PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Michele Derr (8:00) Ben Helmke (9:30) Sharon Rothwell (11:00) OLD TESTAMENT READING Exodus 24:12-18 This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. SUNG PSALM (8:00) Psalm 99 The Lord is King; with trembling bow in worship! 2006 World Library Publications A CONVERSATION WITH YOUNG DISCIPLES Children through grade five are invited to come forward. NEW TESTAMENT READING Matthew 17:1-8 This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
SERMON Enjoying God Moments Lal Rodawla (8:00) Do Not Be Afraid Rev. Dr. Fair (9:30/11:00) Responding * HYMN 487 When Morning Gilds the Skies laudes domini WELCOME Rev. Rogers (9:30) Rev. Sanderford (11:00) Please sign the Friendship Pad and pass it to others sitting nearby. OFFERING OF TITHES AND GIFTS Offertory (9:30/11:00) Christ Upon the Mountain Peak Bouman Christ upon the mountain peak stands alone in glory blazing. Let us, if we dare to speak, with the saints and angels praise him Alleluia! Trembling at his feet we saw Moses and Elijah speaking. All the prophets and the Law shout through them their joyful greeting Alleluia! Swift the cloud of glory came, God, proclaiming in its thunder Jesus as his Son by name! Nations, cry aloud in wonder! Alleluia! This is God s beloved Son. Law and prophets fade before him, First and last and only One. Let creation now adore him! Alleluia! SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION Invitation to the Lord s Table Great Prayer of Thanksgiving and the Lord s Prayer One: The Lord be with you. All: And also with you. One: Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them up to the Lord. One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
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. Words of Institution Communion of the People All communion cups contain only non-alcoholic grape juice. Gluten-free wafers are located in the center cup on each wafer tray. Communion Music Christus Paradox Alfred Fedak You, Lord, are both lamb and shepherd. You, Lord, are both prince and slave. You, peacemaker and sword-bringer of the way you took and gave. You, the everlasting instant; you, whom we both scorn and crave. Clothed in light upon the mountain, stripped of might upon the cross, shining in eternal glory, beggared by a soldier s toss. You, the everlasting instant; you who are both gift and cost. You, who walk each day beside us, sit in power at God s side. You, who preach a way that s narrow, have a love that reaches wide. You, the everlasting instant; you, who are our pilgrim guide. Worthy is our earthly Jesus! Worthy is our cosmic Christ! Worthy your defeat and victory. Worthy still your peace and strife. You, the everlasting instant; you, who are our death and life. Text by Sylvia Dunstan 1991, GIA Publications, Inc. Prayer After Communion Gracious God, thank you for gathering us and feeding us at your table. Help us maintain the unity we know in you as we go out into the world. In Christ s name we pray. Amen. Sending * HYMN 73 Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory geneva * CHARGE AND BENEDICTION * CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Lord, transfigure our perception with the purest light that shines, And recast our life s intentions to the shape of Your designs, Till we seek no other glory than what lies past Calvary s hill And our living and our dying and our rising by Your will. * VOLUNTARY Psalm 19 Benedetto Marcello * Please rise in body or spirit.
Those parts of the service of worship in which the congregation participates in word or song are noted in bold type. Hearing assistance devices and large print bulletins are available from the ushers. Welcome to all! Please know that all (including visitors and newcomers) are invited to share in the activities of the church. A full description of church events may be found online at www.firstpresbyterian.org. If you have questions, please visit the Welcome Center, just outside the Social Hall. Greeting you there today are Martin Swindle and Martha Froseth. Church Office volunteers are Ruth Weber and Michele Derr. The prayer team is available for those desiring prayer in Hillegonds Chapel, to the right of the piano, after the 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. services. Prayer team members are Meg Brown, Katie Parker, and Judy Slade at 9:30 a.m., and Ralph Winter at 11:00 a.m. The ushers are Bill Austin (head) and Marty Reineman at 8:00 a.m.; Bill Austin (head), Paul Smith (captain), Dean Gilchrist, Keith Horngren, Nicole Jolliet, Olivier Jolliet, Nancy Meyers, Len Rezmierski, Lee Roberts, and Angela Yang at 9:30 a.m., and Bill Austin (head), Jim Douglass (captain), Bev Pelletier, and Brady West at 11:00 a.m. The greeters are Paul and Meg Brown at 9:30 a.m., and Jeff and Cyndy Colton at 11:00 a.m. The Chancel Flowers are given in loving memory of Douglas Lane by Carolyn and Bob Harris. TODAY S WORSHIP Worship is at 8:00 a.m. and 7:07 p.m. in Monteith Hall, and at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Transfiguration Sunday celebrates the glorious revelation of God in Jesus Christ and Christ s manifestation as the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. Jesus radiant appearance on the mountaintop evokes the devouring fire of the glory of the LORD at Mount Sinai (Exodus 24.17). Here, as at Jesus baptism, God claims him as a beloved child, in whom God is well pleased. The Sunday immediately prior to Ash Wednesday is an appropriate time to celebrate the Transfiguration of the Lord, because this event marked a transition in Jesus ministry in which he set his face to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51), where he would die. In Jesus transfiguration, we are assured that Jesus is the hope of the ages. Jesus is the One who fulfilled the Law given through Moses, the one dreamed of by the prophets, of whom Elijah is the greatest. In celebrating this event, we rejoice in the divine majesty of Christ, whose glory shone even when confronted with the cross. It is given us for our journey through Lent toward the agony of the cross and the victory of the empty tomb. We celebrate this mystery in order that our faith may be renewed. We are transformed into the new being in Christ as we join Christ in his death and resurrection in Lent and Easter. -- An excerpt from the Companion to the Book of Common Worship (Geneva Press, 2003, 148-49) Today s Communion Sunday Food Drive donations, sponsored by Presbyterian Women, will benefit Presbytery of Detroit Hunger Ministry.
TODAY S EVENTS Join us for Coffee Hour immediately following the 9:30 a.m. worship service. Cookie bakers are Melissa Anne and Jim Rogers, Kathy Clark, and Holly Majorprice. Child-friendly, peanut-free purchased snacks are also available for children. Adult Education Opportunities: The Bible at 9:30 meets in the French Room/Library for a study of 2 Samuel led by Rev. Ed Koster. First Couples meets at 9:30 in Monteith Hall to view and discuss The Sea Inside. Adult Ed at 11:00 and Mature Singles meet in Monteith Hall where parish nurse Sandy Talbott will begin a series looking at the challenges of aging parents. Today s topic is Aging: the basics. Children s Ministry Opportunities: Sunday School classes are held for crib through fifth graders at 9:30 a.m., and for crib through young five-year olds at 11:00 a.m. Worship totes are available for children attending worship at 11:00 a.m. Youth Ministry Opportunities: Youth meet for Munch & Mingle at 9:20 in the 100 level hallway followed by Sunday School classes for sixth through twelfth graders. Youth Choir will rehearse at 4:30 p.m. in the Choir Room. Youth Dinner is in the Founders Room at 5:15 p.m. Keystones, our high school youth group, meet from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. in the Youth Room. Sunday Mids, our youth group for sixth through eighth graders, meet with Anna & crew from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Curtis Room. Orchestra Rehearsal is at 3:00 p.m. Radio Worship service is broadcast at 11:00 a.m., on WAAM (1600 AM), and on WAAM s website, www.waamannarbor.com. ANNOUNCEMENTS Join us for the Service of Installation for Reverend Jay Sanderford Sunday, March 9, at 9:30 a.m. A reception will follow in the Social Hall. Due to this special event, the 11:00 a.m. worship service will be in Monteith Hall. Daylight Savings Time returns next Sunday. Remember to set your clocks forward one hour at midnight, Sunday, March 9. The Mature Ministries Movie Morning is Tuesday, March 4, a new date and time. Join us in the Curtis Room at 9:30 a.m. to watch and discuss the 2006 film, Amazing Grace. Sign up in the Church Office or email Rev. Rogers. The popcorn is on us! Join us for Ash Wednesday worship and dinner. Please refer to the insert for times and locations. There are no Wednesday 2:42 activities this week due to Ash Wednesday services and dinner. Wednesday 2:42 resumes next week. Mature Singles will meet for dinner this Friday, March 7, at Applebee s, 2310 Green Road.
Colorado Mission Trip registration deadline is March 7. This is a high school trip with 23 youth already signed up to rehab homes and do trail maintenance in Fraser, Colorado, July 4-12. See Rev. Monnett to sign up. The first team training meeting is Friday, March 7, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., at Anna Cooke s house. Caring for a Loved One with Alzheimer s: An Emotional Journey, part of the Stephen Ministry Continuing Education series, is Monday, March 10, at 7:00 p.m., in Monteith Hall. The group will view a DVD focusing on the emotional journey of three caregivers dealing with Alzheimer s. A discussion will follow focusing on scriptures that relate to loss and taking care of oneself as a caregiver. Cold weather items are still being collected by Rev. Conrad for our friends stuck on the streets in this brutal winter. Sleeping bags, tents, propane tanks, Hot Hands hand warmers, and prayers are coveted. College of Elders will meet on Saturday, March 15, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., in the Social Hall. Rev. Dr. Fair will discuss the 221st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) which meets in Detroit in June. If you are an elder but did not receive your invitation, please call the Church Office and RSVP to Linda Robinson by Friday, March 7.
PASTORAL AND PROGRAM STAFF Reverend Dr. Fairfax F. Fair, Pastor/Head of Staff Reverend Melissa Anne Rogers, Associate Pastor Reverend Jay Sanderford, Associate Pastor Reverend Dr. James Monnett, Director of Youth Ministry Reverend Renée Roederer, Director of Campus Ministry Deborah MacVey, Director of Children s Education and Family Ministries Tom Granum, Director of Music Ministries Carol Muehlig, Associate Music Director and Organist Resident Ministers: Reverend Lindsay Conrad Reverend Kristin E. Riegel Lal Rodawla Sandy Talbott, Parish Nurse Campus Ministry Interns: Courtney King Joshua Zylstra ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Jennifer Sansbury, Facilities Manager Lynnette Conner, Finance Manager Linda Robinson, Office Manager Michael Wright, Maintenance/Repair Manager Lisa Haddrill, Technology Coordinator Mary Jones, Communications/Pastoral Assistant Berether Hill, Church Office Associate Cindy King, Children s Education Assistant Elyce Rexer, Finance Assistant 1432 Washtenaw Avenue Ann Arbor, MI 48104 734-662-4466 info@firstpresbyterian.org www.firstpresbyterian.org