The Presbyterian Church in Leonia ORGANIZED 1899 AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY OF FAITH January 29, 2017 MISSION OF THE MONTH FAMILY PROMISE SHELTER Twice a year our church volunteers with Family Promise of Bergen County, which provides hospitality to families who are temporarily homeless. Local congregations host up to 14 people for a week at a time. Our congregation is a support congregation, meaning we provide the evening meal, overnight supervision, and breakfast for families who have become homeless because of fire, unemployment, or an abusive situation at home. On December 28 and December 29, our congregation provided support at the Methodist Church in Leonia. Future dates will be forthcoming. GOD IS CALLING US TO LET OUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE OTHERS, SO THAT THEY MAY SEE AND GLORIFY GOD. Matthew 5:16 Rev. Leah Fowler, Interim Pastor Renee Guerrero Harris, Organist/Choir Director 1
5 th Sunday after Christmas Day 29 January 2017 10:30 a.m. Preparing for Worship Please silence cell phones. An asterisk (*) in the bulletin means please stand if you are able. Speak in unison at the bold face areas. Newer English speaker? English copies of the sermon are available from the ushers to help you follow along. LARGE-TYPE editions of the Hymnal are available from the ushers, as well as Chinese/English, Spanish/English, Korean/English and Japanese/English Bibles. Nursery care is available in the room adjacent to the rear hallway. Kindergartners to fourth graders remain in worship through the children s sermon; they then may go to the activity period. Parents may also sit with restless children in the Tower room, which is located off the rear of the sanctuary. Children are welcome to remain for the entire service. Sunday School and Adult Classes meet from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. GATHERING MUSIC Come Sunday Foreign Exchange GREETING Rev. Leah Fowler *INTROIT Glory to God Glory to God, whose goodness shines on me, and to the Son, whose grace has pardoned me, and to the Spirit, whose love has set me free! As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen 2
Gathering as God s People *CALL TO WORSHIP: Blessed are the poor in spirit, the downtrodden and despairing, They will rejoice in God s reign forever. Blessed are those who mourn, who are grieving, They will be comforted in God s reign forever. Blessed are the ones who seek justice and righteousness, They will find it in God s reign forever. Blessed are we when we love our neighbors and seek their needs, We will live in God s reign forever. Blessed are we all when we seek to serve others in God s name. Let us worship together, serving one another and serving our Mighty God. Amen. *INVOCATION *HYMN #408 There s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit CALL TO CONFESSION If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. PRAYER OF CONFESSION What have we done to you, dear God? We dishonor you every time we treat another with disrespect. We shatter your heart when we find it easier to break our word, then to take the risk to keep it. We fill your ears with the gossip, lies, and slander we speak about those around us. You are wise enough to forgive our foolishness; you are strong enough to overcome our weakness; you are loving enough to heal the hurt we cause to you and to others. We ask that you give us new hope and new life in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. 3
(silent meditation) ASSURANCE OF PARDON What has God done to us? Shown mercy! What has God done for us? Forgiven us! This is the good news for us. We will not boast, for it is not our doing. We will give thanks to God for such grace and hope. Amen. HYMN #582 Glory to God, Whose Goodness Shines on Me World without end, with-out end. Amen. World without end, with-out end. Amen. World without end, with-out end. Amen *As it was in the beginning, is now and evershall be. Amen WELCOMING OF NEW MEMBERS Joining by Reaffirmation of Faith: Jihyun Kim, Sueyeong Chelsea Woo, Allen Terrell, Joanne Terrell Passing of the Peace Listening for God s Word to Us PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Holy God, your blessings are abundant, and your wisdom exceeds our grasp. Fill us with your Spirit as we hear your word this day, that we may be justice seekers and peacemakers, sharing your life among those who are forgotten, weak, or persecuted, and revealing all to your glory. Amen. 4
A READING FROM THE PROPHETS: Micah 6:1-8 (page 866 or 1,060) A READING FROM THE GOSPELS: Matthew 5:1-12 (page 4 or 4) The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. CHILDREN S SERMON HYMN #172 Blest Are They Verse 1 Blest are they, the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of God. Blest are they, full of sorrow; they shall be consoled. Rejoice and be glad! Blessed are you; holy are you! Rejoice and be glad! Yours is the kingdom of God. SERMON Living the Reward Rev Leah Fowler Responding to God s Word *HYMN #721 Verses 1-3 Lord You Have Come to the Lakeshore THE WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Flowers today are donated by Angie Chung INVITATION TO OFFERING Please share your prayer requests by filling out the blue card in the pew rack; place it in the offering to be shared in the Prayers of the People. ANTHEM What the World Needs Now Hoshiko Ito, soloist 5
*DOXOLOGY Old Hundreth Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all people here below; Praise God above ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost! Amen. *DEDICATION OF OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS We thank you, God, that you have blessed us with an abundance of gifts for the flourishing of your world. May this offering of our life and labor reveal your love as we seek to share your promised reign with all creation. Amen. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE with LORD S PRAYER (Please speak this prayer in whatever language leads you closest to God.) 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. Going Forth in Dedication and Service *HYMN #835 Verses 1-2 Just a Closer Walk with Thee *THE CHARGE and BENEDICTION SENDING MUSIC It Don t Mean a Thing Our liturgist, Suzanne Broffman and our second reader, Kristen Richter are helping lead our worship this morning. 6
We are especially thankful for our musicians today from the band Foreign Exchange! They are: Michael Hinton (Piano), Yoshi Koyama (Sax), April Johnson (Keyboard), Yoshi Fukuchi (Bass), Max Wang & Nick Iannantuano (Drums/ Percussion), and Mike Ito (Guitar). Thanks also for soloist Hoshiko Ito. We bless Yoshi Fukuchi, who will be returning to Japan this Spring, and thank him for all he has shared with Jazz Jam and our church. USHERS: COUNTERS: GREETER: NURSERY: Susan Dindial, MaryEllen Neu, Virginia Cora Ginny Brown, David Voreacos Linda McGarry Keyla Garcia We welcome all visitors in the name of Jesus Christ. We invite you to sign the guest register in the entry room and to join us for coffee in the entry room following the service. Readings for Sunday February 5, 2017 Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12); Psalms 111:1-9 (10) 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16); Matthew 5:13-20 USHERS February 5: Anne Stebbins, Ammal Varky, Judith Nyirongo February 12: Jack Peters, Karen Peters February 19: Jeff Im, Kristen Richter, Jihyun Kim (Julia) February 26: Lisa VanDeWeert, Roberta Toolen, Christine Banas OFFERING COUNTERS February 5: Hyung Shim, Jonathan Phillips February 12: Diane Borer, Pete Shanno February 19: Hyung Shim, Fumio Ito February 26: Ginny Brown, Pete Shanno 7
NURSERY CARE February 5: Kristen Richter February 12: Elizabeth Evan-Ezra February 19: Angie Chung February 26: Judith Nyrongo CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK After Worship today: Wednesday 2/1/2017: Thursday 2/2/2017 Next Sunday 2/5/17: Overview of 2017 Mission Trips (see below) 12noon ESL Bible Study 10:45 a.m. Bible Study 7:30 p.m. Al-Anon Meeting ESL Registration 10:00 a.m.-12noon 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. CoFia Meeting 9:30 a.m. Sunday School For All 10:30 a.m. Worship 11:30 a.m. Lunar New Year Celebration 12:00noon ESL Bible Study 3:00 p.m. Japanese Language Service Immediately following worship today, meet with Pastor Leah Fowler in the Fireplace Room to hear about two upcoming Mission Trip opportunities. The first is to Washington DC for Ecumenical Advocacy Days, April 21-24, 2017. Make your voice heard with legislators! The second trip is to Washington State, where we would serve at Presbyterian Community Center, Campbell Farm, on the Yakima Indian Reservation. This trip will be July 9-15, 2017, but we want at least 15 people to make it a go. 8
ANNOUNCEMENTS ANNUAL CHURCH MEETING Please come to our church s Annual Meeting on Sunday, February 12 directly following worship. A simple lunch will be served and we will present the Annual Report for 2016 and vote on the church s 2017 budget. JOIN A BIBLE STUDY Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. we have a weekly Bible Study. Our Wednesday Bible Study meets at 10:45 am and our ESL Bible Study meets every Sunday from noon-1pm, and includes lunch. New members are always welcome to any of these classes. Come and explore faith together and make closer relationships in the process. OFFICE HOURS Generally speaking, our Church Administrator Pat Major is in the office Mondays from 8-10 am, Tuesday and Thursday 1-5 pm, and Friday 8-1 pm. Rev. Leah Fowler is in the office Monday- Thursday and takes Friday off. It is better to call or email before you come as Leah is sometimes out visiting parishioners or attending meetings. You can call Leah at church or by cell: (404)219-2166 or by email, pastorleonia@gmail.com. Pat s email is secretaryleonia@gmail.com. TIME AND TALENTS SHEETS Please find enclosed in today s bulletin a Time & Talents Sheet. Every parishioner has a special gift to share with the congregation and we would like to capture your commitment. Please consider your commitment time and talents and fill in the sheet. Completed sheets can be left in the collection plate or sent to the church office. 9
LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION service in worship is 2/5/17. This year s animal is the Rooster. A Korean fan dance will be performed by Hyunju Lee who is the one of the best Korean traditional dancer in USA. After the service, we will have Lunar New Year luncheon. Please bring any dish to share with people. If you cannot make a dish, suggested donation is $5.00 and family max. is $15.00 Signup sheet is ready and waiting for you in the Fireplace Room. 2016 and 2017 PLEDGES If you are able to fulfill your financial commitment for 2016, please do so as soon as possible. Your personal envelopes for 2017 are now available and will be on the Ark today. Please pick up your box with your name attached. Any questions or concerns, contact Pat Major or Rev Leah. ESL PROGRAM The spring classes for English as a Second Language will be starting February 6th and run until May 26 th. Registration for these classes will be February 2 at 10:00 a.m. to 12 Noon and 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. If you or someone you know would like to pursue these classes and have questions or concerns, please contact Fumio Ito at mike.ito@verizon.net. Everyone is welcome from beginners to intermediate and advanced. Students will practice speaking English, learn about American culture, and meet new friends. Please tell any friends or neighbors who you feel might benefit from these classes. Fliers in English, Japanese, Korean and Spanish are available on the Ark table for you to take to anyone who would be interested in these ESL conversational classes. 10
11 WORSHIP THOUGHTS Feel free to draw a picture of something in the service, write a question to ask about the service or write your reflections on the service.
12 CHURCH OFFICE: 201-944-1358 181 Fort Lee Road, Leonia, NJ 07605 www.leoniapres.org Rev. Leah Fowler, pastorleonia@gmail.com Office Administrator, Patricia Major, secretaryleonia@gmail.com