A SERVICE OF WORSHIP ON THE LORD S DAY STAFF RECOGNITION SUNDAY September 30, 2018 at 10:00 am Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time We Gather Around God s Word We invite you to please enter quietly during the Prelude and prepare for the service to begin. Prelude Welcome *Call to Worship (inspired by Psalm 145: 1-5) Leader: The Holy One is here in this community of faith: Leader: Let us bless the Holy Name forever and ever Leader: Let us meditate on God s wondrous works Leader: Let us bless and praise God s name forever and ever *Song of Gathering #356 Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing Bob Grube We Are Called to Confession and Reconciliation Great God, abundant in mercy and abounding in compassion, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed. We have not loved you with all our heart and soul and mind and strength; neither have we loved our neighbors as ourselves. In your mercy, forgive what we have been, help us amend what we are, and direct what we shall be, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name, and the praise of Jesus Christ in whose name we pray and offer our silent confession Congregational Response Hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord Incline thine ear to us and grant us thy peace. Assurance of Reconciliation and *Passing of the Peace Leader: The Peace of Christ be with you. People: And also with you. (Everyone is invited to share Christ s Peace with one another.) Rev. Chris Kile *We Give Glory to God (raising hands) Glory be to the Father And to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, World without end, Amen, Amen. We Proclaim God s Word Prayer For Illumination By your Spirit, Lord, as your Word is read and proclaimed, may the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to you, our rock and our redeemer. Amen. Old Testament Reading: Proverbs 8:1-36 (O.T. pg. 725) Children s Message Child care for infants to 2 ½ year olds will be held in the Nursery on the first floor across from Thomson Youth Center. All other children should go to their regular Sunday School classrooms. Anthem We Are Blessed Keveren Chancel Choir, Alison Ruth Nead, Directing New Testament Reading: John 1:1-17 (N.T. pg. 111) Leader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. Sermon: A World of Meaning We Respond to God s Word Prayers of the People and the Lord s Prayer Staff Recognition (Insert) We Worship With Our Offerings Call For Offering Offertory *Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, Ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen *Prayer of Dedication Bob Grube
*Hymn of Sending #339 Be Thou My Vision Benediction Postlude Bob Grube FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF CRANFORD 11 Springfield Avenue, Cranford, New Jersey 07016 Phone (908) 276-8440 www.firstprescranford.org Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. The Ministers of the First Presbyterian Church, Cranford NJ: The Entire Congregation of FPCC Pastor and Head of Staff Rev. John Christian Kile Associate Pastor Music Director Alison R. Nead Assistant Music Director Elsa G. Hahn Organist Robert Grube, Jr. Administrative Coordinator Carol Thee Sunday School Coordinator Beth Marshall Mission Statement As the body of Christ inspired by the Holy Spirit, we seek to be faithful disciples, living our lives as a testimony of Christ's love for all. We welcome diversity and strive to respect and care for all of God's creation. We seek to share God s Word and invite others to live Jesus' commandment to love one another as the Lord first loved us.
OPERATION WARM HEART We will host Operation Warm Heart here every Tuesday December through March. We need your help! OPERATION WARM HEART FLYER Staff Recognition Sunday Honoring the Staff of First Presbyterian Church Cranford Leader: In the Book of First Corinthians, chapter 12, verses 4-6, it is written: There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord, there are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone, it is the same God at work. We, the people of First Presbyterian Church Cranford, want to thank those being honored today for their gifts, their commitments and their service to our church over the past year. People: Thank you, Pastor Chris and Pastor Caroline, for leading us to a greater reverence for God, a deeper love of Jesus, a fuller understanding of the Bible, to a loving reconciliation with each other, and closer harmony within this church. Leader: In the Apostle Paul s Letter to the Ephesians, chapter 5, verses 18 and 19, Paul writes be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord. People: Thank you Alison, Elsa, and Bob for following the timeless wisdom of Paul, and speaking with us in the holy psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Thank you for helping us sing and make music from our hearts to the Lord. Leader: And in his Letter to the Colossians, Chapter 3, verse 17, Paul tells us that whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. People: Thank you, Carol, Beth, and Ashley for your work in word and deed in administering the church office, in leading our Sunday School, and in coordinating our Youth Fellowship. May God bless you all. Leader: Please join me in applauding our honorees. (Applause) Everyone is invited to meet and greet our honorees at coffee after the service.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 11 Springfield Avenue, Cranford, New Jersey 07016 Phone (908)276-8440 E-mail Office@firstprescranford.org www.firstprescranford.org Cut-A-Thon Flyer TO REACH THE PASTORS Pastor Chris Kile can be reached via cell phone at 215-933-8805 or at jckile@firstprescranford.org. Pastor Chris office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:30am to 2:30pm or by appointment. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pastor Caroline Unzaga can be reached at the church office (extension 13), at 609-902-4487 or at caroline.unzaga@firstprescranford.org. Pastor Caroline s office hours are Monday 9:30am to 1:30pm, Tuesday 12noon to 6pm, Friday 9:30am to 2:30pm. TODAY FLOWERS The flowers today are dedicated to those being honored for their service to our church over the past year. Walking Together The initial organizational meeting for various study groups or learning circles that will allow you to join in fellowship and opportunities for growth will be held TODAY after worship in Mettam Lounge. LOOKING AHEAD DO YOU NEED HELP WITH TRANSPORTATION? FPCC Deacons have a team of volunteers lined up who can be called upon to provide rides to doctor appointments, to church, meetings, or other errands. Please contact Deacon Carol Berns to arrange a driver, 908-276-5275, or call the church office. ROOTS AND WINGS COLLECTION IN SEPTEMBER - Last September we collected gift cards for the Roots and Wings Program. This preventative program, sponsored by the Congregational Church of Westfield, helps young adults who have been in the NJ Foster Care Program but have aged out. Roots and Wings provides a learning experience of occupational skills and independent living skills with the emotional support of a proctor. There are 6 students presently living in 3 apartments in Garwood. Items of household living are needed. Your Service and Mission Team has decided, once again, to have a gift card
Prayers of the Church Family Pray for those in the FPCC Family facing health challenges and the loss of family members. Pray for loved ones and friends of the FPCC Family. We pray for people all over the world who are seeking asylum or a better life for themselves and their families. We pray that as a nation, we respond to all people in need in a way that Christ would affirm. We specifically pray for children and parents separated at the border and for their quick reunification. We pray for the youth of FPCC and the adults who are in their lives. Prayers for peace, understanding and love for all. Please ask for God s daily blessing for all in need, for those serving in the military, for married couples facing turmoil, first responders, those in leadership of our nation, and for peace in our country and the world. Emergency and immediate prayer support is available for friends and family of the Church! Please join over 200 of us on the First Presbyterian Church Prayer Chain. We would love to have you. There are no calls to make; simply receive emails and add them to your prayer list. We are here to help you with this special Spirit-filled ministry. To add someone, contact Linda Thorn at lindathorn427@gmail.com, at 908 358 8127. If you would like someone added to the prayer list, fill out a Prayer Request form in the pew or call the office at 908-276-8440. collection. If you would like to help, please purchase a Shop Rite, CVS or Target gift card in whatever amount you would like and bring it to church between September 9th and September 30 th. There will be a basket in the Narthex and at Coffee Time after the service to receive your gifts. During the week, please give them to Carol Thee in the office. If you have any questions, call Jean Wands at 908-245-3394. Please help us help these young people help themselves. Give them a fishing pole. Thank you. Exploring Membership Class to start on Sunday, October 7. We will be offering our 4-part Exploring Membership Class beginning on Sunday, October 7 at 11:30 AM in Mettam Lounge and the class will meet at the same time on October 14, 21 and 28. Refreshments and childcare will be provided. If you are interested in becoming an active member of FPCC or if you just want to know more about what it means to be a member, this class is for you. We will cover 1) Our own Personal Faith Stories; 2) What is Presbyterianism and how does it compare with other Christian denominations?; 3) What is the story of FPCC: Past, Present and Future?; and 4) What does being an Active Member of FPCC mean for me? Come and be a part of a wonderful community of folks who want to grow in their understanding of life here at FPCC! We hope you ll join us! FISH Our FISH guests arrive today. We are still in need of two overnight hosts and people to transport luggage on Sunday, October 14 th when guests move on to their next destination. If you can help, call Skip Winter at (908) 625-9676. MOM S BIBLE STUDY - Serving the hearts of mothers. We are proud to announce the beginning of a Mom's Bible Study at the First Presbyterian Church of Cranford. We will be following the program created by Karen Stubb's Ministry for Moms, Birds on a Wire. It is our goal to provide Godly practical advice and inspire each other in God's Word. It is a journey of motherhood for a mom who has a newborn, a mom to-be, or moms who are empty-nesters. No matter where you are in your journey of motherhood, come and join us on Thursdays at 9:15 to 11a.m. in Mettam Lounge. Breakfast and childcare will be provided. We are also looking for volunteers in childcare, so please contact either Sabrina Legiec at 732-823-7684 or Ashley Kyle 215-869-8325 for details. SOCK REQUEST - It is that time of year again. Cold weather is just around the corner and so is our gifting of socks to the guests that we serve in our mission programs. There is a child s nursery rhyme that goes something like this: The north winds shall blow, and we shall have snow, What will the robin do then, poor thing? He ll sit in the barn and keep himself warm And tuck his head under his wing, poor thing.
For our Warm Heart Guests and our Soup Kitchen Guests, keeping warm can be a very difficult thing. Socks, something we all wear, often without thinking, are necessary to keep our feet warm and dry and thus help to keep our bodies warm. This year Operation Warm Heart and the Soup Kitchen are collaborating with our annual sock collection. Please consider donating unisex warm socks to these programs. Just put your donation in the Soup Kitchen box by the Main Office. Our guests will be very grateful. Thank you for your kindness! Catherine Feligi and Jean Wands ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CROP Hunger Walk The annual CROP Hunger Walk will be held this year on Sunday, October 21 at 2 PM. The walk is an easy 3 miles through Cranford and starts and ends at the Methodist Church. The CROP Hunger Walk is a walk that has been developed by Church World Services to raise funds to end hunger in the immediate community and around the world. There are 1500 communities participating in the walk each year. In many developing countries, people walk as far as 6 miles a day to get their food and water. One in nine people worldwide lack access to clean water and a healthy diet. In walking as these people walk, we are in solidarity with their struggle. While your participation in the walk, either as a sponsored walker or as a sponsor, impacts individuals and families in more than 30 countries, 25% of the money raised in Cranford goes to Cranford Family Care. Please consider either being a walker or a sponsor to support this long-time mission of the Church. For more information, please call Carol Berns at 908-276-5275 or see her in church. THIS WEEK AT FPCC Sunday, September 30 th 8:30 am Bible Explorers Board Room 10:00 am Worship Staff Recognition Sanctuary 11:15 am Adult Ed Orientation Mettam Lounge 12:00 pm FISH Guests Arrive 2:30 pm Youth Fellowship Camp Johnsonburg 6:00 pm Grief Seminar Room 202 Monday, October 1 st 7:00 pm Presbyterian Women Thomson Youth Center Tuesday, October 2 nd 1:00 pm Luncheon Planning Meeting Church Office 7:30 pm Worship and Music Church Office 7:30 pm Service and Mission Board Room Wednesday, October 3 rd 6:30 am Men s Prayer Breakfast Rustic Mill Diner 7:30 pm Members and Visitors Mettam Lounge 7:30 pm Personnel Board Room Thursday, October 4 th 9:15 am Mom s Bible Study Mettam Lounge 3:30 pm Caroler Choir Rehearsal Choir Room 4:30 pm Crusader Choir Rehearsal Choir Room 6:30 pm Jubilee Bells Rehearsal Choir Room 7:30 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal Choir Room Saturday, October 6 th 8:00 am Women s Bible Study and Prayer Thomson Youth Center 9:00 am Building and Grounds Day Sunday, October 7 th Peacemaking Sunday 8:30 am Bible Explorers Board Room 10:00 am Worship Chapel 11:00 am Fellowship Library 11:15 am New Members Class Mettam Lounge 1:00 pm Labyrinth Bates Hall 1:00 pm Soup Kitchen Team #1 3:00 pm Blessing of Animals Bates Patio 6:00 pm Grief Seminar Room 202 6:00 pm Youth Fellowship