25 May 2008 Bulletin

Memorial Day Commemoration

We welcome in a spirit of silence as the prelude begins our service.

OUR APPROACH TO GOD
Prelude
Introit "If My People's Hearts are Humbled"

Welcome

Call to Worship: Psalm 97
The heavens proclaim God's righteousness;
AND ALL THE PEOPLES BEHOLD GOD'S GLORY.
For You, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;
YOU ARE EXALTED FAR ABOVE ALL GODS.
Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
AND GIVE THANKS TO GOD'S HOLY NAME!

*Hymn 573 "God of Our Fathers"

Let us be before our God in silence.

Unison Prayer: Eternal God,
Creator of years, of centuries,
Lord of whatever is beyond time,
Maker of all species and master of all history –
How shall we speak to you
from our smallness and inconsequence?
Except that you have called us to worship you
in spirit and in truth;
You have dignified us with loves and loyalties;
You have lifted us up with your loving kindnesses.
Therefore we are bold to come before you without groveling
[though we sometimes feel that low]
and without fear
[though we are often anxious].
We sing with spirit and pray with courage
because you have dignified us;
You have redeemed us from the aimlessness
of things’ going meaninglessly well.
God, lift the hearts of those
for whom this holiday is not just diversion,
but painful memory and continued deprivation.
We remember with compassion those who have died
serving their countries
in the futility of combat.
There is none of us but must come to bereavement and separation,
when all the answers we are offered
fail the question death asks of each of us.
We believe that you will provide for us
as others have been provided with the fulfillment of
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

Kyrie (sung)
LORD, HAVE MERCY ON US.
CHRIST, HAVE MERCY ON US.
LORD, HAVE MERCY ON US.

A Word of Assurance

The Summary of the Law (Mark 12:29-31)
This is the first commandment:
HEAR O ISRAEL,
THE LORD OUR GOD,
THE LORD IS ONE!
THEREFORE YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD
WITH ALL YOUR HEART,
WITH ALL YOUR SOUL,
WITH ALL YOUR MIND,
AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.
This is the second commandment:
YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.
There is no greater commandment than these.

Anthem: "We Praise Thee O God Our Redeemer"

THE WORD OF GOD
*Responsive Reading: (insert) Memorial Day Poem
*Gloria Patri (Hymn No. 623)
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!

The Greeting of Peace
Announcements
Children's Moment

Scripture Lessons:
Acts of the Apostles 1:15-17, 21-26
Epistle: 1 John 5:9-13
*The Celtic Alleluia!
Gospel: John 3:11-17
Sermon "State of Grace" Rev. Robert Peterson, preaching

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD
*Hymn "This is My Song"
*The Offering
*Doxology (625) and Prayer
PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW;
PRAISE GOD ALL CREATURES HERE BELOW;
PRAISE GOD ABOVE YE HEAVENLY HOSTS;
PRAISE FATHER (CREATOR), SON (CHRIST) AND HOLY GHOST. AMEN.

A Time of Giving Thanks & Praise
The Prayer of the People & the Lord's Prayer
*Hymn 569 "Battle Hymn of the Republic"
*Benediction
*Choral Response
Postlude

*Please stand if you are able.

The flowers gracing the sanctuary are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of all the soldiers fallen in the current wars of Afghanistan and Iraq. God grant mercy on their souls and return the living safely home!

This Is My Song

Tune: Finlandia St. 1-2, Lloyd Stone; st. 3, Georgia Harkness

1. This is my song, O God of the nations,
a song of peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my home, the country where my heart is,
here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine;
But other hearts in other lands are beating
with hopes and dreams as true as high as mine.

2. My country's skies are bluer than the ocean,
and sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine;
But other lands have sunlight, too; and clover,
and skies are everywhere as blue as mine.
O hear my song, thou God of all the nations,
a song of peace for their land and for mine.

3. This is my prayer, O Lord of all earth's kingdoms,
thy kingdom come, on earth thy will be done;
let Christ be lifted up till all shall serve him,
and hearts united learn to live as one:
O hear my prayer, thou God of all the nations.
Myself I give thee - let thy will be done.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

18 May 2008 Bulletin

Trinity Sunday

OUR APPROACH TO GOD
Prelude
Introit “Praise Ye the Triune God”

Welcome and Call to Worship: Isaiah 6:3b, 5
Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts;
THE WHOLE EARTH IS FULL OF GOD’S GLORY!
— Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a person of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips;
YET MY EYES HAVE SEEN THE KING, THE LORD OF HOSTS!

*Hymn 267 “Come Thou Almighty King”

Let us be before our God in silence.

Unison Prayer: Psalm 28
TO YOU, O LORD, I CALL; MY ROCK, DO NOT REFUSE TO HEAR ME. HEAR THE VOICE OF MY SUPPLICATION, AS I CRY TO YOU FOR HELP, AS I LIFT MY HANDS TOWARD YOUR MOST HOLY SANCTUARY.

Kyrie (sung)
LORD HAVE MERCY UPON US.
CHRIST HAVE MERCY UPON US.
LORD HAVE MERCY UPON US.

A Word of Assurance and The Summary of the Law (Mark 12:29-31)
This is the first commandment:
HEAR O ISRAEL,
THE LORD OUR GOD,
THE LORD IS ONE!
THEREFORE YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD
WITH ALL YOUR HEART,
WITH ALL YOUR SOUL,
WITH ALL YOUR MIND,
AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.
This is the second commandment.
YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.
There is no greater commandment than these.

Anthem “Holy, Holy, Holy” J. Dykes

THE WORD OF GOD
*Responsive Reading: Psalm 8
*Gloria Patri (Hymn No. 623)
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!

The Greeting of Peace
Announcements & Children’s Moment
*Hymn 265 “Father, I Adore You”

Jewish Scriptures: Exodus 34:1-9
Epistle: 2 Corinthians 13:11-13
The Celtic Alleluia!
Gospel: John 17:1-13
Sermon

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD
Hymn 281 "We Are One in the Bond of Love"
*The Offering Doxology (625) and Prayer
PRAISE GOD FROM ALL WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW;
PRAISE GOD ALL CREATURES HERE BELOW;
PRAISE GOD ABOVE YE HEAVENLY HOSTS;
PRAISE FATHER (CREATOR), SON (CHRIST) AND HOLY GHOST.

A Time of Giving Thanks and Praise
The Prayer of the People and the Lord's Prayer
*Hymn 12 “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name”
Benediction
*Response to the Benediction
Postlude

*Please stand if you are able.

The flowers gracing the sanctuary this morning are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Charles B. Lood from Rose and Susan

11 May 2008 Bulletin

Mother's Day and Pentecost Sunday

The flowers gracing the sanctuary are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of our beloved mother, Josephine, grandmothers, Concettina Costarella and Mary Safay, and great grandmothers Louisa Santoro and Mary Tootikan by the Safay Family.

OUR APPROACH TO GOD
Prelude
Introit "She Will Be Called Blessed"

Welcome and Call to Worship: The Magnificant
My soul magnifies the Lord!
AND MY SPIRIT REJOICES IN GOD MY SAVIOR!...
God's mercy is for those who fear God from generation to generation.
GOD HAS HELPED THIS SERVANT ISRAEL, IN REMEMBRANCE OF GOD'S MERCY ACCORDING TO THE PROMISES GOD MADE TO OUR ANCESTORS, TO ABRAHAM AND TO HIS DESCENDANTS FOREVER!

*Hymn "Faith of Our Mothers"

Let us be before our God in silence.

Unison Prayer: Prayer of Judith
O GOD, MY GOD, HEAR ME, A WIDOW...FOR YOUR STRENGTH DOES NOT DEPEND ON NUMBERS, NOR YOUR MIGHT ON THE POWERFUL. BUT YOU ARE THE GOD OF THE LOWLY, HELPER OF THE OPPRESSED, UPHOLDER OF THE WEAK, PROTECTOR OF THE FORSAKEN, SAVIOUR OF THOSE WITHOUT HOPE. PLEASE, PLEASE, GOD OF MY ANCESTORS, LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, CREATOR OF THE WATERS, RULER OF ALL CREATION, HEAR MY PRAYER...LET YOUR WHOLE NATION AND EVERY TRIBE KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE GOD, THE GOD OF ALL POWER AND MIGHT, AND THAT THERE IS NO OTHER WHO PROTECTS PEOPLE BUT YOU ALONE!

Kyrie (sung)
LORD, HAVE MERCY ON US.
CHRIST, HAVE MERCY ON US.
LORD, HAVE MERCY ON US.

A Word of Assurance: Joel 2:28ff

The Summary of the Law (Mark 12:29-31)
This is the first commandment:
HEAR O ISRAEL,
THE LORD OUR GOD,
THE LORD IS ONE.
THEREFORE YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD
WITH ALL YOUR HEART,
WITH ALL YOUR SOUL,
WITH ALL YOUR MIND,
AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.
This is the second commandment:
YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.
There is no greater commandment than these.

Anthem "O Blessed Day of Motherhood"

THE WORD OF GOD
*Responsive Reading: Mother's Day Proclamation

*Gloria Patri (Hymn No. 623)
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!

The Greeting of Peace
Announcements
Children's Moment
Hymn 247 "Spirit of the Living God"

Scripture Lessons:
First Reading: Acts 2:1-11
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13
*The Celtic Alleluia!
Gospel: John 20:19-23
Sermon

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD
*The Apostles' Creed
*The Offering
*Doxology (625) and Prayer
PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW;
PRAISE GOD ALL CREATURES HERE BELOW;
PRAISE GOD ABOVE YE HEAVENLY HOSTS;
PRAISE FATHER (CREATOR), SON (CHRIST) AND HOLY GHOST. AMEN.

Giving Thanks & Praise
The People's Prayer & the Lord’s Prayer
*Hymn "Every Time I Feel the Spirit" and 252 "There's a Sweet, Sweet Spirit"
*Benediction
*Choral Response
Postlude

*Please stand if you are able.

Faith of Our Mothers

St. Catherine
A. B. Patten, H. F. Hemy
Arranged by James G. Walton
1. Faith of our mothers, living still,
In cradle song and bedtime prayer;
In nursery lore and fireside love,
Thy presence still pervades the air.
Faith of our mothers, living faith,
We will be true to thee till death.

2. Faith of our mothers, loving faith,
Fount of our childhood's trust and grace,
Oh, may thy consecration prove
Source of a finer, nobler race;
Faith of our mothers, loving faith,
We will be true to thee till death.

3. Faith of our mothers, guiding faith,
For youthful longing, youthful doubt,
How blurred our vision, blind our way,
Thy providential care without,
Faith of our mothers, guiding faith,
We will be true to thee till death.

4. Faith of our mothers, Christian faith,
In truth beyond our stumbling creeds,
Still serve the home and save the Church,
And breathe thy spirit through our deeds;
Faith of our mothers, Christian faith,
We will be true to thee till death.

Mother's Day Proclamation - 1870

by Julia Ward Howe

Arise then...women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts!
Whether your baptism be of water or of tears!
Say firmly:
"WE WILL NOT HAVE QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY IRRELEVANT AGENCIES,
OUR HUSBANDS WILL NOT COME TO US, REEKING WITH CARNAGE,
FOR CARESSES AND APPLAUSE.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
WE, THE WOMEN OF ONE COUNTRY,
WILL BE TOO TENDER OF THOSE OF ANOTHER COUNTRY
TO ALLOW OUR SONS TO BE TRAINED TO INJURE THEIRS."
From the voice of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says: "Disarm! Disarm!
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."
BLOOD DOES NOT WIPE OUR DISHONOR,
NOR VIOLENCE INDICATE POSSESSION.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil
At the summons of war,
LET WOMEN NOW LEAVE ALL THAT MAY BE LEFT OF HOME
FOR A GREAT AND EARNEST DAY OF COUNSEL.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace...
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God -
TOGETHER:
IN THE NAME OF WOMANHOOD AND HUMANITY, I EARNESTLY ASK
THAT A GENERAL CONGRESS OF WOMEN WITHOUT LIMIT OF NATIONALITY,
MAY BE APPOINTED AND HELD AT SOMEPLACE DEEMED MOST CONVENIENT
AND THE EARLIEST PERIOD CONSISTENT WITH ITS OBJECTS,
TO PROMOTE THE ALLIANCE OF THE DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES,
THE AMICABLE SETTLEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL QUESTIONS,
THE GREAT AND GENERAL INTERESTS OF PEACE.

4 May 2008 Bulletin

Ascension Sunday

OUR APPROACH TO GOD
Prelude
Introit "Jesus Shall Reign"

Welcome

*Call to Worship: Psalm 97
The heavens proclaim God's righteousness;
AND ALL THE PEOPLES BEHOLD GOD'S GLORY.
For You, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;
YOU ARE EXALTED FAR ABOVE ALL GODS.
Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
AND GIVE THANKS TO GOD'S HOLY NAME!

*Hymn 97 "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name"

Let us be seated and be before our God in silence.

Unison Prayer: Wisdom 12:12a, 13, 15, 16, 18
WHO WILL SAY, LORD, "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" FOR THERE IS NOT ANY GOD BESIDES YOU WHOSE CARE IS FOR ALL PEOPLE...YOU ARE RIGHTEOUS AND YOU RULE ALL THINGS RIGHTEOUSLY...YOUR STRENGTH IS THE SOURCE OF YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS...AND ALTHOUGH YOU ARE SOVEREIGN IN STRENGTH, YOU JUDGE WITH MILDNESS, AND WITH GREAT FORBEARANCE YOU GOVERN US.

Kyrie (sung)

LORD, HAVE MERCY ON US.
CHRIST, HAVE MERCY ON US.
LORD, HAVE MERCY ON US.

A Word of Assurance: Psalm 97:10, 11 and The Summary of the Law (Mk 12:29-31)
This is the first commandment:
HEAR O ISRAEL,
THE LORD OUR GOD,
THE LORD IS ONE!
THEREFORE
YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD
WITH ALL YOUR HEART,
WITH ALL YOUR SOUL,
WITH ALL YOUR MIND,
AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.
This is the second commandment:
YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.
There is no greater commandment than these.

Anthem "Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!" R. Prichard

THE WORD OF GOD
*Responsive Reading: Psalm 47:2-9

*Gloria Patri (Hymn No. 623)
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!

The Greeting of Peace
Announcements and Children's Moment
*Hymn 206 "There is a Redeemer"

Scripture Lessons:
First Reading: Acts 1:1-11
Epistle: Ephesians 1:15-23
The Celtic Alleluia
Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20
Communion Meditation

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD
The Offering, Doxology (625) and Prayer
PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW;
PRAISE GOD ALL CREATURES HERE BELOW;
PRAISE GOD ABOVE YE HEAVENLY HOSTS;
PRAISE FATHER (CREATOR), SON (CHRIST) AND HOLY GHOST.
AMEN.

The Invitation to the Table
*Hymn 88 "Fairest Lord Jesus"
The Breaking of the Bread
Thanksgiving Prayer & the Lord’s Prayer

*Hymn insert "Hail the Day that Sees Christ Rise"
*Benediction
*Choral Response
Postlude

*Indicates please stand if you are able.

The flowers gracing the altar are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of our beloved Josephine Costarella-Safay's fifth anniversary in heaven with our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ, by her family.

Please join us next week as we celebrate the gift of motherhood with all our women worshippers!

Consistory members: Join us for consistory at 1 PM today. Thank you.