Welcome! May 17, 2015 11 AM Worship We aspire to be a church where the Gospel of Jesus Christ is faithfully proclaimed and faithfully lived in grateful response to God s love. Sewickley Presbyterian Church 414 Grant Street Sewickley, PA 15143 412.741.4550 www.sewickleypresby.org
LIVE GROW SERVE We welcome you this morning to Sewickley Presbyterian Church. We are glad you are worshipping with us today. Please see one of our Ushers if you have any questions or need assistance. Sunday Worship Times 8, 9 & 11 AM Sunday Morning Classes 10 AM Rev. Kevin J. Long, Pastor klong@sewickleypresby.org Rev. Sarah R. Bird Associate Pastor sbird@sewickleypresby.org R. Craig Dobbins Director of Music Ministries cdobbins@sewickleypresby.org Brian Mack Director of Children s Ministries bmack@sewickleypresby.org KJ Norris Interim Youth Director kjnorris@sewickleypresby.org Amy Simpson, Music Associate asimpson@sewickleypresby.org Church Office 412.741.4550 M-F 9 AM - 5 PM www.sewickleypresby.org Visit our website for a complete list of SPC staff members. Welcome Center Join us for coffee in the Robinson Room, before and after worship. Childcare Children are always welcome to attend worship with their families. However, if you would like to take advantage of our nursery you are invited to do so. Our nursery is located on the 2 nd fl oor. Parents are also welcome to care for infant children in the Robing Room, which is located down the stairs near the sound booth at the back of the sanctuary. Friendship Pads Please sign and pass the Friendship Pads at the end of the pews. Fill in your information so that we know you came today. Prayer Requests Please write any prayer requests on the pew prayer cards and place them in the offering plates. The pastors read and pray for these requests. Any requests marked public will be shared with weekly prayer groups. Large Print Bibles & Hearing Devices If you would like a large print Bible and/or a hearing device, please contact an Usher. Sermon on CD The 11 AM sermon is available on CD by request from the church offi ce. You may also fi nd a recording online at www.sewickleypresby.org. Photography We request that photography not be taken during worship. Thank you for your cooperation. Handicap Accessibility A wheelchair lift is available for your convenience. Follow the sidewalk that curves around to the back of the building from Grant St. for easiest access. A ramp is accessible from the Grant Street driveway near the Sanctuary. An elevator is available on the Main level. Please access it by using the wheelchair lift or the ramp. A secondary lift is available to reach the Mezzanine level. Take the elevator to the basement. The lift is to the left of the elevator.
Order of Worship 3 The beginning of the prelude is a call to silent preparation for the worship of God. Prelude Concerto for Three Trumpets, Two Oboes, Strings, and Tympani Georg Telemann I. (Moderato) - Grave - Allegro Instrumentalists * Call to Worship One: Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven that he might rule over all things as Lord. Many: He is alive and reigns with God and the Holy Spirit. One: Do not stand looking up toward heaven, for Jesus will come again. Many: Alleluia, Alleluia! - based on Acts 1:11 * Hymn 260 Alleluia! Sing to Jesus Hyfrydol * Corporate Prayer of Confession Forgive my sins, O Lord, the sins of my soul and the sins of my body, the sins I have done to please myself and the sins I have done to please others. Forgive those sins which I know, and those which I know not. Forgive them all in thy mercy. -Lancelot Andrews, d. 1626 Welcome and Announcements At the end of each pew is a Friendship Pad. Please indicate your presence by signing it and passing it along the row. Members, make a point to greet visitors sitting near you. Reception of New Members Congregational Response Blest Be the Tie That Binds Dennis Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love: The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. Children grades 3 and under are invited to take part in our Young Children and Worship program in Studio B on the mezzanine level. Prayer for Illumination Rob Leighton Scripture Reading Acts 1:6-11 So when they had come together, they asked him, Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel? He replied, It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. When he had said this,
as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven. One: Many: The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. The Word Sung (See Insert) Offering Offertory Chorus from Messiah, Part II Georg Frederic Händel Chancel Choir and Instrumentalists Hallelujah! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever. King of kings and Lord of lords. Hallelujah! - Revelation 19:6b, 11:15b, 19:16b Prayers of the People and the Lord s Prayer ( And forgive us our debts... ) * Hymn 804 Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart! Marion * Benediction Postlude Six Pieces for Organ, Op. 50 Joseph Willcox Jenkins VI. Deo Gratias (Dr. Jenkins served this congregation as Organist-Choirmaster 1970-1979.) * Those who are comfortably able may stand. The flowers today are given by June and David Nimick in loving memory of David s parents (Francis and Mary), sister (Eleanor), brothers (Fran and Charles) and their wives (Chris and Carolyn) (all of whom were, at one time, members of this congregation) Thank you: Ushers: Carol Perkovich, Liza Thornton, Deborah Tranter and Claude Whalen. Sunday Morning Greeters: Maleet Gordon and Joanna Sarsfi eld. Sound Personnel: Don Slater. Childcare Workers: Heather Taylor- Martin (Childcare Supervisor), Morna Murray, Chelsea Safran, Lucinda Safran and Kaylee Torres.
The Word Sung Sunday, May 24, 2015 during the 11 AM worship service Ascension Oratorio, BWV 11 by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) The Chancel Choir Anna Singer, soprano Xiu-Ru Liu, mezzo-soprano Angelo Ragghianti, tenor Raymond Blackwell, baritone Members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Amy Simpson, organ Craig Dobbins, conductor
According to the New Testament in the Bible, Jesus Christ met several times with his disciples during the 40 days after his resurrection to instruct them on how to carry out his teachings. It is believed that on the 40 th day he took them to the Mount of Olives, where they watched as he ascended to heaven. Ascension Day officially observed on a Thursday, is one of the earliest Christian festivals dating back to the year 68 CE. Ascension Day marks the end of the Easter season and occurs ten days before Pentecost, which this year is observed on Sunday, May 24. * * * * * * Ascension Oratorio 1. Chor 1. Chorus Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen, Praise God in His riches, Preiset ihn in seinen Ehren, Praise Him in His honor, Rühmet ihn in seiner Pracht; Extol Him in His splendor; Sucht sein Lob recht zu vergleichen, Seek to rightly imitate His praise Wenn ihr mit gesamten Chören When with full chorus Ihm ein Lied zu Ehren macht! You make a song in His honor! (Anonymous) 2. Rezitativ (Tenor) 2. Recitative (Tenor) Der Herr Jesus hub seine Hände auf und segnete The Lord Jesus lifted up His hands and blessed His seine Jünger, und es geschah, da er sie segnete, schied disciples, and it so happened, that as He blessed them, er von ihnen. (Luke 24:50-51) He departed from them. 3. Rezitativ (Bass) 3. Recitative (Bass) Ach, Jesu, ist dein Abschied schon so nah? Ah, Jesus, is Your departure already so near? Ach, ist denn schon die Stunde da, Ah, is the hour then already there Da wir dich von uns lassen sollen? When we must let You leave us? Ach, siehe, wie die heißen Tränen Ah, behold, how hot tears Von unsern blassen Wangen rollen, Roll down our pale cheeks, Wie wir uns nach dir sehnen, How we yearn after You, Wie uns fast aller Trost gebricht. How all our consolation is nearly destroyed. Ach, weiche doch noch nicht! (Anonymous) Ah, do not withdraw from us yet! 4. Arie (Alto) 4. Aria (Alto) Ach, bleibe doch, mein liebstes Leben, Ah, just stay, my dearest Life, Ach, fliehe nicht so bald von mir! Ah, don t flee so soon from me! Dein Abschied und dein frühes Scheiden Your farewell and Your early departure Bringt mir das allergrößte Leiden, Brings me the greatest of all sorrows, Ach ja, so bleibe doch noch hier; Ah, truly, just stay awhile here; Sonst werd ich ganz von Schmerz umgeben. Otherwise I will be completely undone with grief. (Anonymous) 5. Rezitativ (Tenor) 5. Recitative (Tenor) Und ward aufgehoben zusehends und fuhr auf gen And He was apparently lifted up and journeyed to Himmel, eine Wolke nahm ihm weg vor ihren Augen, Heaven, a cloud enveloped Him before their eyes, und er sitzet zur rechten Hand Gottes. and He sits at the right hand of God. (Acts 1:9 and Mark 16:19)
6. Choral 6. Chorale Nun lieget alles unter dir, Now everything is subject to You, Dich selbst nur ausgenommen; You Yourself only excepted; Die Engel müssen für und für The angels must for ever and ever Dir aufzuwarten kommen. Come to wait upon You. Dir Fürsten stehn auch auf der Bahn The princes stand still on their way Und sind dir willig untertan; And are willingly in service to You; Luft, Wasser, Feuer, Erden Air, water, fire and earth Muß dir zu Dienste werden. Must be of service to You. (Johann Rist) 7. Rezitativ & Duet (Tenor & Bass) 7. Recitative & Duet (Tenor & Bass) Und da sie ihm nachsahen gen Himmel fahren, siehe, And as they watched Him ascending to Heaven, behold, da stunden bei ihnen zwei Männer in weißen Kleidern, two men in white garments stood beside them, welche auch sagten: Ihr Männer von Galiläa, was stehet who also said: You men of Galilee, why do you stand ihr und sehet gen Himmel? Dieser Jesus, welcher von and look at Heaven? This Jesus, who has been euch ist aufgenommen gen Himmel, wird kommen, taken from you to Heaven, will return, just as you wie ihr ihn gesehen habt gen Himmel fahren. have seen Him ascend to Heaven. (Acts 1:10-11) 8. Rezitativ (Alto) 8. Recitative (Alto) Ach ja! So komme bald zurück; Ah yes! Then come back soon; Tilg einst mein trauriges Gebärden, remove at last my sorrowful bearing, Sonst wird mir jeder Augenblick otherwise every moment Verhaßt und Jahren ähnlich werden. shall be hateful to me and all the years alike. 9. Rezitativ (Tenor) 9. Recitative (Tenor) Sie aber beteten ihn an, wandten um gen Jerusalem They however prayed to Him, turned around toward von dem Berge, der da heißet der Ölberg, welcher ist Jerusalem away from the mountain, which is called nahe bei Jerusalem und liegt einen Sabbater-Weg davon, the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem and lies und sie kehreten wieder gen Jerusalem mit großer Freude. a Sabbath-day s journey away, and they returned again (Luke 24:52a, Acts 1:12, and Luke 24:52b) to Jerusalem with great joy. 10. Arie (Soprano) 10.Aria (Soprano) Jesu, deine Gnadenblicke Jesus, Your merciful gaze Kann ich doch beständig sehn. I can continually see. Deine Liebe bleibt zurücke, Your love remains behind, Daß ich mich hier in der Zeit So that here, in mortal time, An der künft gen Herrlichkeit I can refresh myself spiritually Schon voraus im Geist erquicke, Already with future glory, Wenn wir einst dort vor dir stehn. When one day we shall stand (Anonymous) there before You. 11. Choral 11. Chorale Wenn soll es doch geschehen, When shall it happen, Wenn kömmst die liebe Zeit, When will the dear time come, Daß ich ihn werde sehen That I shall see Him In seiner Herrlichkeit? In His glory?
Du Tag, wenn wirst du sein, O day, when will you be, Daß wir den Heiland grüßen, When we will greet the Savior, Daß wir den Heiland küssen? When we will kiss the Savior? Komm, stelle dich doch ein! Come, present yourself now! ( Gottfried Wilhelm Sacer) - trans. Pamela Dellal * * * * * * ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Jennifer Johnson William Betts Laura Mikush Stephanie Smith Funding for the instrumentalists for this morning s service is made possible through the Sarah Murdock Music Endowment, a generous gift from the late Sarah Elizabeth Murdock. SOPRANO Jennifer Berg Ann Boyer Kathryn Doebler Nancy Morrisey Anna Singer VIOLIN Ellen Chen-Livingston Louis Lev VIOLA Paul Silver VIOLONCELLO David Premo BASS Betsy Heston * * * * * * * ALTO Elizabeth Andrews Carolyn Dietrich Toby Graham Ellen Hitchins Xiu-Ru Liu Virginia Morrow Mary Anne Riley Barbara Swan Amy Szuba Janice Wendt * * * * * * * FLUTE Jennifer Steele Rhian Kenny OBOE Scott Bell Harold Smoliar BASSOON Philip Pandolfi BASS Timothy Bingman Raymond Blackwell Keith Boyer John Orndorff, Jr. David Wise TENOR Dwight Dietrich Thomas Graham Angelo Ragghianti Joseph Melichar Joshua Taylor-Martin TRUMPET Charles Lirette Chad Winkler Jarrett Kocan TYMPANI Paul DeChancie ORGAN Amy Simpson FUTURE MUSIC EVENTS... Should you like to be on the mailing list for other musical events of this congregation, please complete the form below and give it to an usher. NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP E-MAIL ADDRESS