The Service for the Lord s Day The 19 th Sunday after Pentecost October 7, 2012 The asterisk ( * ) is an invitation to stand if able. ASSEMBLE IN GOD S NAME GATHERING Let Us Break Bread Together arr. B. Van Till WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST PRELUDE Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life arr. Kevin Sadowski CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsively) Come, dare to live! Jesus Christ is full of life no pale, placid Spirit, but life writ large in color and passion. No silent, meek presence, but one who shouts and sings without our world in a voice for good a voice for a different way. People: Come, worship our God with songs of praise and honest prayers. *HYMN #21 (Glory to God Sampler) Here in This Place Marty Haugen *CALL TO CONFESSION We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God s glorious standard. (Romans 3:22-23 NLT) Together we acknowledge our brokenness and our trust in God s redeeming grace. Muskegon, Michigan Page 2
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In unison) Gracious God, because of Jesus, we dare to acknowledge our sin before you. And despite our intention to be trusting, faith-filled people, we confess our egoistic tendency to believe that in human power we can solve any problem, settle any disturbance, overcome any obstacle in our own lives and in the world. Yet the warring within our souls and in society gives evidence that we cannot. As persons and as society, you allow us to experience our insufficiency, our weakness, and our great need for the higher power we see in Jesus. In his name, we ask for your mercy and forgiveness. Amen. *ASSURANCE OF PARDON When we humble ourselves before God, and confess our sin, Christ comes to minister release from the guilt and grief in our souls. In him God s forgiveness is revealed, and in him our hope is renewed. The new day of promise becomes reality in our lives! PROCLAIM GOD S WORD A TIME WITH THE YOUNGER CHURCH THE FIRST SCRIPTURE LESSON Jill Vande Zande Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 [p. 218 NT] People: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! SECOND SCRIPTURE LESSONS Mark 10:13-16 [p. 46 NT] 1 Corinthians 1:28 (NLT) SERMON Mere Threads Pastor Jim Rausch Muskegon, Michigan Page 3
RESPONDING TO GOD S WORD PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE The Lord s Prayer OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR SUBSTANCE Registration of Attendance OFFERTORY Beautiful Savior arr. Gordon Young *PRESENTATION OF GIFTS #592 Old Hundredth *PRAYER OF DEDICATION (In unison) Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. O God, there are so many people in the world who you would see as the little ones. We pray that our giving will add to the life of the vulnerable and that we will be encouraged to, even more generously, share what we have with others. Amen. THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD S SUPPER THE INVITATION AND GREAT THANKSGIVING *SONG OF APPROACH #29 (Glory to God Sampler) Here, O Our Lord, We See You (Verses 1 3) WORDS OF INSTITUTION DISTRIBUTION OF ELEMENTS Muskegon, Michigan Page 4
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION GO IN GOD S NAME *HYMN #435 We All Are One in Mission Es flog ein kleins Waldvögelein *CROP WALK LITANY (Responsively) People: People: People: All: We gather here to celebrate the vision of God that created a bountiful world with Enough For All. And calls us to live this vision daily in our jobs, our homes, our politics, our congregations, and our community, where far too much hunger takes its toll on life and hope. We gather to share in the struggle, not just for mere survival, but for God s justice that the earth s bounty may be enjoyed by all. We gather this day to both hear Your word, and then take our faith to the streets to walk for others in our annual CROP Hunger Walk. We ask you to bless the steps we take, and the pledges we have received from others, and to multiply them for the hungry. Our walk is a witness in our community, recognizing the many who walk to neighborhood food pantries. Our CROP Hunger Walk is also a reminder of all who must walk daily to survive as refugees, to walk for clean water or for firewood, to cook tonight s meal. As God s people, we also commit to other steps that include serving as a voice for the world s people 30,000 of whom will die of hunger by tomorrow. We affirm that your Divine purpose means working for justice on behalf of nearly a billion hungry people, including 1 in 8 Americans. God, on this day, use our community s CROP Hunger Walk to unify our community and all houses of worship in your vision of Enough For All as we commit our lives to your service always. Muskegon, Michigan Page 5
*CHARGE AND BLESSING *CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE We Are Walking *POSTLUDE Fanfare Mark Otterstad Muskegon, Michigan Page 6
CHURCH SCHOOL - October 7, 2012 Children 6 11: Youth 12 18: Adults: Youth Groups: Middle School: High School Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:4-25): God made the world and everything in it. God also made sure to make people - Adam & Eve - who could take care of the land and sea, and all of the plants and animals that God created. We call that stewardship. We are going to care for the earth and God's creatures by making a birdfeeder today. God created us, and uses us to take care of creation. Your teacher this week is Jill Vande Zande. She ll meet you in the youth room with couches. Today s sermon talked about what holds the world together when everything seems to be falling apart. What makes your world fall apart? How do you keep your sanity? Your teacher this week is Glenn DeCormier. Adult class is held in the library. What events from your life do you remember? Are they good or bad? Why do you remember them? How did God sustain you through them? Where did you see him work? Middle school youth group will be held on Wednesday, October 10 at 6:30pm at church. Come for food, see your friends, learn about conflict. Conflict is well, no one really likes it. This class can help you deal. Today is the CROP Walk, so if you re planning on participating in that, thank you for Youth Group: stomping out hunger! If walking s not your thing, there WILL be youth group this afternoon at church. Time is 2:00-ish get firmer details from Jill. We ll watch John the Baptist: the Rustic Herald or Simon Peter: the Earnest Blockhead from our Re:form series. Fun games and food to go along with a funny video! What more could you want? NOTE: Jill will be out of the office and out of the state from Friday, October 12 Monday October 15. Cousin Katie is getting married! She will be back in the office on Tuesday, October 16. There will be no Kerygma classes on Monday, October 15. Muskegon, Michigan Page 7
CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 7, 2012 10/07 10:00 am Worship Sun 11:00 am Hospitality/BFW Bread Sale 11:00 am Blood Pressure Clinic 11:15 am Church School 1:00 pm CROP Walk Registration 2:00 pm CROP Walk 2:00 pm High School Youth Group 10/08 1:00 pm Kerygma Class Exodus Mon 3:00 pm Kerygma The Bible in Depth 5:00 pm Stewardship Orientation Meeting 6:30 pm Leadership Class 10/09 10:00 am Hunger Committee Meeting Tue 10:00 am Staff Meeting 12:30 pm Sarah Circle 5:15 pm Member Care Council Meeting 10/10 5:30 pm Worship & Music Council Meeting Wed 6:30 pm Middle High Youth Group 7:00 pm Finance Council Meeting 7:00 pm Mission Council Meeting 10/11 5:00 pm O & C Council Meeting Thu 6:45 pm Faith Development Council Meeting 10/12 Fri 10/13 10:00 am AGO Pipes & Pizza Sat 10/14 10:00 am Worship Sun 11:00 am Hospitality 11:15 am Church School 11:15 am Deacons Meeting 5:30 pm New Member Get-Together Muskegon, Michigan Page 8
ASSISTING WITH WORSHIP LAY LEADER: Miles DeVoogd GREETERS: Sherman Entrance Russ & Barb Reckell Wickham Entrance Gary & Rhonda Bogner USHERS: Bob & Yvonne Friel Mike & Pam Foster AFTER WORSHIP HOSPITALITY: Len & Molly Green COUNTERS: Bob & Cheryl Hartman ANNOUNCEMENTS OCTOBER 7, 2012 Remember Our Friends in Care Centers: Nan Weatter, Lorraine Priefer, Harold Hines, Kathleen Joy, Mickey Paulsen Welcome Guests! We re so glad you joined our church family in worship today. Please join us following the worship service in the chapel for coffee and a time of fellowship. If you are interested in further information concerning First Presbyterian Church, please ask an usher for our welcome packet or contact our church office at 759-1275. We will be happy to assist you. Welcome and thank you Betty Van Till for sharing your musical talents with us this morning. Betty will be here next week as well, filling in for Jackie while she is on vacation. The sanctuary flowers this morning have been provided by Mike and Donna Hansen. The Blood Pressure Clinic will be held following the worship service in Room 7. The service is available to anyone. A record of your reading can be given to you to take to your doctor if so desired. It is helpful for the nurses to know what medications you are taking to help monitor your blood pressure. We look forward to seeing you! This year marks the 32 nd anniversary of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program. Join other Presbyterians and churches of the PC(USA) in taking steps that lead to the wholeness and wellbeing of peace. Please give generously to the Peacemaking Offering. Envelopes can be found in the pew racks. Muskegon, Michigan Page 9
Cents-Ability Offering, Presbyterian Hunger Program, will be collected in the bread pans this morning. The offering assists with a Feeding America truck twice a year, serves as our contribution to the MAP Supper House and assists with the Saturday Neighborhood Breakfast at First Congregational Church. The Bread for the World Bread Sale will be held in the chapel this morning. Bread Sales provide our contribution as a Covenant Church to BFW as an advocate on behalf of hungry and poor persons in the United States and throughout the world. Everyone is invited to contribute to the sales. CROP WALK IS TODAY! It s not too late to register to walk! Sign up at the CROP Walk table after church. There s still time to make a pledge for a walker to help reach our church goal of $7,000. Walkers, please turn in the top sheet of your pledge envelope when you register at Central United Methodist Church this afternoon at 1:00 p.m. Refreshments will be served for returning walkers at St. Paul s Episcopal Church. You may turn in your pledge envelopes at church any Sunday during the month of October. Increasing Our Awareness and Love for Those Affected by Serious Mental Illness Churches enable recovery when we welcome people with serious mental illness into our fellowship. While churches cannot cure mental illness, they can work with a person with mental illness toward his or her unique recovery goals. Grasping the concept of recovery is fundamental to understanding the role of Christian communities in welcoming those with mental illness and working to meet their needs. Health and wholeness are not dependent on the absence of impairment or on physical perfection. One can be injured or possessed of a disabling condition and yet be healthy, quite able to function well if given assistance and opportunity by the community (Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) s 1988 policy, Life Abundant: Values, Choices and Health Care, 1988, Part I, p. 536). The Christian community is clearly called to provide that assistance and opportunity. Muskegon, Michigan Page 10
The Presbyterian Church (USA) is committed to reaching out to people wrongly exiled by church and society due to stigma and misunderstanding associated with serious mental illness. Read here weekly for facts and statements for raising awareness. People affected by serious mental illness, their loved ones and caregivers are invited to full participation in this church. There are members here who have experienced these unique challenges and are willing to welcome, listen, support and pray. Muskegon, Michigan Page 11