WORSHIP for SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY JANUARY 17, 2016 10:30 AM Grounded in the grace of God, we are a vibrant Christian community, disciples of all ages, gathered for worship and nurture, scattered to serve and to love. -MPC Mission Statement adopted by the Session March 31, 2008 Life is like a bike ride.
Welcome to Morrisville Presbyterian Church WE WELCOME GUESTS AND VISITORS to our service today. If you are not a member, we invite you to consider membership with us. If you would like more information about how we can serve you, please speak to a pastor. THE CHANCEL FLOWERS are offered to the glory of God and are given in celebration of our parents, Carl and Cynthia Lang, and their forty-fifth wedding anniversary. God is good. - from Ross, Rebekkah, Dan, Casey, Michael and Caroline. USHERING AT TODAY S SERVICE: Andy Beidler, Head Usher, Harry Dent, Kym Bowser, Geoff Smith, Dave Stoneburner, Susan Manning and Rachel Truelove. Jr. Deacons are James Gilbride, Alyssa Manning and Gavin Smith. TODAY S ACOLYTE: Jesus once said, I am the light of the world. (John 8:12) We are grateful to our acolytes who each Sunday morning carry the light into the sanctuary, symbolizing the presence of Christ in the worshiping community. At the conclusion of the service, the acolyte bears the light out into the world, where we are called to follow Christ and serve others in his name. Today s acolyte is Ashley Flesch. CHILDCARE FOR CHILDREN UP TO AGE 4 is provided in the Nursery/Pre-School room from 10:15 a.m. 11:45 a.m. Infants and toddlers are also welcome in worship. Visitors, please feel free to worship with your children for as long as they are able. If he or she gets wiggly and needs a stretch break, audio from the service is available in the chapel, until your child is ready to return to the sanctuary for you to continue to worship together. 2 PASTORAL CARE REMINDER Members of the staff truly want to be attentive when members or friends of MPC are experiencing health difficulties. If you (or a family member) have been admitted to a hospital, please let us know by contacting the church office, and one of the pastors will be pleased to visit. You may also reach the pastors on their mobile phones Bruce Ballantine at 215-337-5623 and Debbie Heffernan at 267-342-0089. Thank you for your assistance. HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICES are available for use anywhere in the sanctuary during worship. These pocketsized receivers are available from Deacons in either Narthex and are to be returned after the service. HYMNALS, BIBLES, & BULLETINS WITH LARGE PRINT are available during worship each Sunday morning from a Deacon in the Narthex. Please return the Hymnal and/or Bible after the service. WORSHIP NOTE * The asterisk indicates that those who are able may please stand. Please forward any announcements you would like included in the Bulletin by noon Tuesday of each week to Bulletin@MPCusa.net. Articles for Currents are due by the 10th day of the preceding month. Send articles to Currents@MPCusa.net. C ONTACT US M ORRISVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH STAFF 771 North Pennsylvania Ave. Morrisville, PA 19067 215.295.4191 Office@MPCusa.net Bruce Ballantine, Interim Pastor & Head of Staff (ext. 234)... BruceBallantine@MPCusa.net Deborah Heffernan, Interim Associate Pastor (ext. 225)... DebbieHeffernan@MPCusa.net Jack McAnlis, Minister of Visitation...JackMcAnlis@MPCusa.net Timothy Carpenter, Interim Director of Music... TimCarpenter@MPCusa.net Geoffrey Shoffstall, Principal Organist... GeoffreyShoffstall@MPCusa.net Rich Drabb, Property Manager (ext. 231)... RichDrabb@MPCusa.net Laurie Jacobson, Bookkeeper (ext. 226)... LaurieJacobson@MPCusa.net Damon Miller, Communication Coordinator... DamonMiller@MPCusa.net Elizabeth Scully, Administrative Assistant (ext. 0)... LizScully@MPCusa.net
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY G A T H E R I N G PRELUDE Jesu, Joy of Man s Desiring J. S. Bach WORDS of WELCOME Geoffrey Shoffstall Pastor Heffernan MINUTE for MINISTRY MPC Men s & Women s Retreats Elder Ruth Workman INTROIT *CALL to WORSHIP One: O sing to the Lord a new song; All: Sing to the Lord, all the earth. One: Sing, and give praise to God s name; All: tell the glad news of salvation from day to day. *HYMN 487 When Morning Gilds the Skies Andrew Neiman LAUDES DOMINI *PRAYER of CONFESSION Unison Gracious God, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo. Forgive what our lips tremble to name, what our hearts can no longer bear, and what has become for us a consuming fire of judgment. Set us free from a past that we cannot change; open to us a future in which we can be changed; and grant us grace to grow more and more in your likeness and image; through Jesus Christ, the light of the world. *SILENT PRAYERS of CONFESSION *RESPONSE Amen (DANISH) Here each worshiper may offer silent prayers of confession. Congregation *PROMISE of FORGIVENESS One: The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. I declare to you, in the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. May the God of mercy, who forgives you all your sins, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. All: Amen. 3
*RESPONSE to GOD S PARDON 567 Glory Be to the Father GLORIA PATRI *THE PEACE One: The Peace of Christ be with you. All: And also with you. One: Let us greet one another with the Peace of Christ. As a sign of their reconciliation in Christ, the people share the peace of Christ, greeting one another with these or similar words: The peace of Christ be with you, Peace be with you, or simply, Peace. PRAYER for ILLUMINATION L I T U R G Y o f t h e W O R D PSALTER READING Psalm 25:1-10 (Old Testament, page 475) One: This is the Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God. ANTHEM A Stable Lamp is Lighted - Music by David Hurd A stable lamp is lighted whose glow shall wake the sky; the stars shall bend their voices, and every stone shall cry. And every stone shall cry, and straw like gold shall shine; a barn shall harbour heaven, a stall become a shrine. Chancel Choir This child through David's city shall ride in triumph by; the palm shall strew its branches, and every stone shall cry. And every stone shall cry, though heavy, dull and dumb, and lie within the roadway to pave his kingdom come. Yet he shall be forsaken, and yielded up to die; the sky shall groan and darken, and every stone shall cry. And every stone shall cry for gifts of love abused; God's blood upon the spearhead, God's blood again refused. But now, as at the ending, the low is lifted high; the stars shall bend their voices, and every stone shall cry. And every stone shall cry in praises of the child by whose descent among us the worlds are reconciled. Text by Richard Wilbur 4
Time for YOUNG DISCIPLES Children may leave for music with Mrs. Carpenter in room 104. GOSPEL READING Matthew 5:1-12 (New Testament, page 4) One: This is the Gospel of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God. SERMON Life Is Like a Bike Ride Pastor Ballantine *HYMN 339 Be Thou My Vision SLANE PRAYERS of THANKSGIVING and SUPPLICATION THE LORD S PRAYER (debts and debtors) OFFERING Invitation to Give Presentation of Gifts Offertory Music How Bright Appears the Morning Star Paul Manz *Doxology Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow *Prayer of Dedication OLD HUNDREDTH S E N D I N G *HYMN 281 Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah CWM RHONDDA *CHARGE and BLESSING *CHORAL BENEDICTION *POSTLUDE The Day that is so Joyful J. S. Bach Announcements OFFERING ENVELOPES Offering envelopes are available for pick-up outside of the choir room. The envelopes are available to all members and not just to those that have pledged. Please note that your envelope number may have changed from the prior year. YOUTH IN MISSION An informational meeting for the Youth in Mission trip to Pipestem, West Virginia (July 16 July 23, 2016) will be held at 11:45 a.m. Sunday, January 31 in the Conference Room. 5
FLOWERS NEEDED FOR JANUARY If you would like to donate flowers for one of our Sunday worship services in January, please contact DeeAnn Martin at 215-493-3855 or email deemar918@aol.com. These flowers not only add beauty to our services but are also an outreach ministry, as they are delivered to those who are unable to attend worship. Each arrangement is $30 and can be given in memory of a loved one, in celebration of someone or a special event, or in gratitude for a ministry or act of kindness. FORGIVENESS AND HEALING WORKSHOP RESERVATIONS DUE! Congregational Ministry Committee invites you to a Saturday workshop focused on forgiveness and healing sponsored by Cancer Treatment Centers of America here at MPC, February 13 from 9:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Research has validated the importance of forgiveness in maintaining good emotional, physical and spiritual health. During the program, we will explore how we can optimize our health by releasing possible hurts and disappointments that we may be hanging onto and much more. Registration at 9:00 a.m., breakfast 9-9:50 a.m., program promptly at 10-12:30 p.m. The cost is only $5. Please join us for this most meaningful program, beneficial to all ages. The last day to register for this workshop is tomorrow, Monday, January 18. Please call the church office to reserve your space. FREE SEMINAR The Ivins Outreach Center in partnership with Infinity Healthcare Services and LIFE St. Mary present The Encore Series Aging Gracefully into Your Encore Years. Please join us for this free, open-tothe-public seminar, Housing and Care Options, at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 21 in the Lounge at the Morrisville Presbyterian Church. Please RSVP to Jaime at 215-428-0500 ext. 101. Announcements 6 ADULT RETREAT OPPORTUNITIES Save the dates for opportunities for spiritual growth and deepening friendships. Two adult retreats will be offered in 2016. MPC MEN'S RETREAT will be held at Pendle Hill in Wallingford, PA February 19-21, 2016. The theme, One Anothering One Another, will be explored by Rev. Stuart Spencer. Registration deadline is Thursday, January 21. MPC WOMEN'S RETREAT will be held March 11-13, 2016 at Emmaus House, one block from the beach in beautiful Ocean Grove, NJ. This retreat on Spirituality and Creativity will be facilitated by Rev. Nancy Schongalla Bowman. Brochures with registration forms are available in the information racks or through the church office. MISSION TRIP OPPORTUNITY Ridley Park Presbyterian Church, located southwest of Philadelphia and near Swarthmore, invites all who may be interested in going on a mission trip to South Carolina. They are considering a mission trip in April or May. If people are interested, please contact Pastor Debbie Heffernan at 215-295-4191 or by email. They will be meeting on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. in the parlor of their church. If there is enough interest, we could send a representative from MPC to the initial meeting and possibly have a team go to work alongside the Ridley Park Presbyterian Church.
PULPIT EXCHANGE In observance of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, on Sunday, January 24, Morrisville Presbyterian Church will take part in a pulpit exchange with Morrisville United Methodist Church and St. John Lutheran Church. As part of the exchange, Pastor Ballantine will preach at Morrisville United Methodist, and Rev. Michael McKillip will preach at MPC. Pastor Heffernan will take part in leading the service at MPC. Please be sure to join us for worship that day as we pray for the unity of Christ s church. TV RAFFLE Win a 48 Samsung Smart TV (model UN48J5200AFXZA) for the Super Bowl! Boy Scout Troop 3 members and parents are selling tickets for only $5.00 each. All proceeds will be used for troop equipment and activities. Drawing will be held the evening of February 1, 2016. Only one prize will be awarded. Please contact Bill Burgess for tickets or more information. Thank you for supporting Boy Scout Troop 3. THEATRE OUTING The next MPC theatre outing will be on Sunday, February 14 to see Julia Cho's The Language Archive: A Love Story followed by a Theology discussion group. The performance starts at 3:00 p.m., tickets are reasonable ($41-47), the Theatre Theology discussion enriches the experience and rides are available. In The Language Archive, George, a linguist who studies dead and dying languages, finds he is unable to communicate with his estranged wife and wonders at how difficult it is to say exactly what we mean. If you are in awe of the power of love, words and wordplay, join us for a Valentine treat. Announcements SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY On January 31, drop a dollar into a soup pot and unite with thousands worldwide who are putting God s love into action. Bring a can of soup to feed the hungry. Both the money and the soup will go to those in need through the MPC Food Center. The youth of this church will be in the north and south narthexes, to collect your offerings after the worship service. Please be generous with your donations. Hunger is prevalent in our area. Log on to www.souperbowl.org and get the total picture of the good that is being done. This is just one of the many ways we can serve God and our neighbor. Please be a part of this important event. YOUTH SUNDAY On January 31, come and celebrate Jesus with the Youth of MPC. Worship will include personal reflections by two of our high school seniors, great hymns of faith, and special music by the Teen Choir. Join us for this special day of worship. SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE DINNER On Tuesday, February 9, a pancake dinner will be served from 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. The cost for tickets are: adults $7.00 and children (ages 3 through 12) $3.00. Please support this Youth in Mission fundraiser. BOOK DISCUSSION GROUPS The group discussing Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet will meet Monday, February 1 at 7:30 p.m. in Room 200. Discussion will cover pp. 147-95 (for Kindle users through "Camp Anyway"). Discussion of letters 16 through 20 of The Screwtape Letters will occur on Tuesday, February 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the Lounge. 7
MPC Weekly Calendar Pulpit Exchange Preaching: Rev. Michael McKillip from St. John Lutheran Sunday, January 24, 2016 10:30 a.m. SUNDAY, January 17 8:30 a.m. God s Thunder Chapel 9:10 Weekly Prayer Meeting Room 202 9:30 Sunday School for All Ages 9:30 Get Acquainted Breakfast Room 210 10:30 Worship Sanctuary 11:30 Fellowship Time Reception Lounge Deacons 11:45 Greeter Ministry Conference Room 11:45 Teen Choir Choir Room MONDAY, January 18 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day Church Office Closed 7:00 p.m. Cub Scouts Rooms 125, 220, 221 7:00 Boy Scouts Fellowship Hall 7:00 Food Packing Room 4 7:00 Trustees Conference Room TUESDAY, January 19 10:00 a.m. Clothing Center Room 4 10:00 Food Center Set-Up Fellowship Hall 10:00 Seekers Lounge 6:00 p.m. GSEP Senior Troop 2030 Room 125 7:00 EMC Room 200 7:30 Alcoholics Anonymous Room 220 WEDNESDAY, January 20 9:00 a.m. Food Center Fellowship Hall 9:00 Ivins Outreach Center Conference Room Noon Brown Bag and Bible Conference Room 6:00 p.m. Youth Club Fellowship Hall THURSDAY, January 21 10:30 a.m. Lower Makefield Women Fellowship Hall 11:00 Food Stocking Room 4 Noon Alcoholics Anonymous Room 222 2:00 p.m. Ivins Outreach Center Lounge 6:30 Oakville Girl Scouts Room 220 6:45 Chancel Choir Music Room 8:15 Chancel Ringers Chapel FRIDAY, January 22 6:30 p.m. Confirmation Retreat 7:30 Alcoholics Anonymous Room 122 SATURDAY, January 23 SUNDAY, January 24 8:30 a.m. God s Thunder Chapel 9:10 Weekly Prayer Meeting Room 202 9:30 Sunday School for All Ages 9:30 Get Acquainted Breakfast Room 210 10:30 Worship - Pulpit Exchange Sanctuary 11:30 Fellowship Time Reception Lounge Jr. Deacons 11:45 Teen Choir Choir Room To view upcoming events and meetings, please visit www.mpcusa.net and click on the MPC Events Calendar under the About Us tab. M O R R I S V I L L E P R E S B Y T E R I A N C H U R C H 771 NORTH PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE MORRISVILLE, PA 19067 215.295.4191 WWW.MPCUSA.NET 8