First Presbyterian
Church
Third Sunday After
Epiphany
Sunday, January 24,
2010 8:30 and 10 a.m.
The Prelude: A time to be
silent in preparation for worship
“Blessed Assurance” by Bennett
Welcome and
Announcements
Ringing Our Historic
Church Bells
*The Opening Hymn (insert) The Summons
The Call to
Worship (unison)
Look
around. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Some we can see. Some
are invisible to our earthly eyes. We recognize, too, the presence of Jesus
Christ among us because we are gathered in his name. We recognize Christ in one
another because we are members of his body. Let us come together and rejoice
not just in the gift that God has given us in Christ, but in the gift God has
given us in one another and in the entire church – that great mystery which is
the body of Christ.
The Anthem: “I Sought the Lord” by
Broughton
Prayer of Confession (unison)
All
too often, merciful God, we have not recognized your presence among us. All too
often, we have not seen you in one another, particularly in those we consider
different from ourselves. All too often we have failed in proclaiming you to
others through the way we live and act. Forgive us and open our eyes of faith
that we may see you more clearly in the many ways you come to us. Help us to
act lovingly toward our brothers and sisters as we would act toward you.
Forgive us when we fail. May we, by your wisdom, recognize and learn from our
failures so that we may serve ever more faithfully day to day. Amen.
Assurance of
Pardon
Hymn #487 vs. 1 & 3 “Room at the
Cross for You”
The Pastoral
Prayer/The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s
Sermon
Offertory
—
As a tangible expression of our gratitude to God, we
joyfully offer our monetary gifts to financially support God's work at First
Presbyterian Church
Offertory Music “Blessed Assurance” by Crosby
Jennifer
Haskell
*Doxology # 815
*Prayer of Dedication
(unison)
These
gifts, Lord, represent our lives, our possessions, all that we are and have. We
offer them now to you as symbols of ourselves, so that you may take us and
bless us and, through the power of your Spirit, shape us into the light of your
Son our Risen Lord. Amen.
Prayer of Illumination
First Reading of Scripture Luke 4:14-21 p. 61
8:30:
Youth
10: Carol Sinclair
*The Hymn of
Preparation
#589 “Here I Am, Lord”
Second
Reading 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a p. 174
The Sermon “So Great A Cloud of Witnesses” Rev. Shafer
*The Closing Hymn # 433 “Rise Up, O Church of
God”
*Greeting Each Other In Christian Love
*The Pastoral
Benediction
The Postlude
“This is My Father World” with “Joyful, Joyful We Adore
Thee”
First
Presbyterian Church
PROCLAIMING
THE WORD IN THE REFORMED TRADITION SINCE 1874
A Congregation of The Presbyterian Church (USA)
404 Spruce Street
Elk Rapids, Michigan 49629
(231) 264-8167
FAX (231) 264-0162
A Stephen Ministry Congregation
Church Email: info@erfpc.org
Website: www.erfpc.org
INTERIM SENIOR PASTOR
The Rev. Harold (Hal)
Shafer
ASSOCIATE PASTOR
The Rev. Sandra K.
Murray
DIRECTOR OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Pamela Bekkering
DIRECTOR OF YOUTH MINISTRY
Gary Bekkering
THE SESSION
|
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Brenda Corner |
Brandon Darin |
David Branding |
|
Melvin (Mel)
Matchett |
Peter (Pete) Eckardt |
William Clark |
|
Sarah Miller |
John Moore |
Susan Cook |
|
Nancy Muhlig |
Ramona (Mona) Nelson |
Penny Novarro |
|
Dale Wagner |
Betty Tezak |
John West |
THE BOARD OF DEACONS
|
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Shanna Branding |
Sandra (Sandy)
Davids |
Saundra Blackmore |
|
Mary Anne Frey |
Janet (Jan) Johnson |
Dianne Hall |
|
Denise Heeke |
Leonard Orzechowski |
Mark Haskell |
|
Eleanor (Ellie)
Holdsworth |
Diane Thompson |
Phyllis Staley |
|
Adam Schuler |
Margaret (Marge)
Weitschat |
Cathy Weidman |
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
|
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
James (Jim) Goodall |
Loyal Cobb |
Mark Blackmore |
|
Donald (Don) Shurte |
Jane Croftchik |
Thomas Calkins |
|
Peter (Pete)
VanDenBerge |
Charlene Hansen |
Kenneth Cook |
|
Kenneth (Ken)
Weitschat |
Jonathan (Jon) Heeke |
James (Jim) Mottern |
|
Harry Widman |
Richard (Dick)
Schurch |
David West |
PASTOR EMERITUS
The Rev. Dr. Daniel K. Herlein
|
This Week’s Activities |
Next Week’s Activities |
|
TODAY, January 24 8
a.m. Prayer Time 8:30 a.m. Worship
Service 10 a.m. Sunday
School 10 a.m. Worship
Service 5
p.m. MS Youth @ LH 7 p.m. HS
Youth @ LH MONDAY, January 25 3
p.m. Personnel MT 3 p.m. Confirmation
@ LH TUESDAY, January 26 8:30 a.m. Building Committee 9
a.m. 1st Place 4 Health @ LH Exercise 10 a.m. Garden Club 3 p.m. Stephen Ministry 7
p.m. HS Bible Study @LH WEDNESDAY, January 27 6:30 a.m. Breakfast
Club at LH 10 a.m. Bible Study 1 p.m. Staff
Meeting 4:30 p.m. Choir
Rehearsal 7 p.m. Session THURSDAY, January 28 9
a.m. Bulletin Items Due 9
a.m. 1st Place 4 Health @ LH Bible Study FRIDAY, January 29 9
a.m. Bulletin Print 9
a.m. Annual Report Due 5
p.m. Alden/White [R] SATURDAY,
January 30
3 p.m. Alden/White [W] (FPC)
6 p.m. Praise & Worship @ LH |
SUN., Jan. 31 8
a.m. Prayer Time 8:30 a.m. Worship
Service 10 a.m. Sunday
School 10 a.m. Worship
Service 5 p.m. MS
Youth @ LH 7
p.m. HS Youth @ LH MON., Feb. 1 1
p.m. Blood Drive 3 p.m. Confirmation
@ LH 6:30 p.m. Christian Education MT TUE., Feb 2 9
a.m. 1st Place 4 Health @ LH Exercise 3 p.m. Outreach
Ministry Team 7
p.m. HS Bible Study @LH WED., Feb. 3 6:30 a.m. Breakfast
Club at LH 10
a.m. Bible Study 1 p.m. Staff
Meeting 4:30
p.m. Choir Rehearsal 7 p.m. Youth
MT @ LH THU., Feb. 4 7 a.m. Men’s
Bible Study 9 a.m. Bulletin
Items Due 9
a.m. 1st Place 4 Health @ LH Bible Study FRI., Feb. 5 9
a.m. Bulletin Print 9
a.m. Community
Cupboard Del SAT., Feb. 6 7
p.m. Movie Night for Grownups |
|
|
|
GREETERS 8:30 Youth
GREETERS 10:00 Bill
& Lou Letsche
USHERS 10:00 Jill
Donberg & Linda Sisson
_________________________________________________________________
FOR YOUR SAFTEY, WE ARE
ASKING EVERYONE TO PLEASE STAY OUT OF THE CONSTRUCTION AREA UNTIL THE
CONTRACTOR FINISHES HIS WORK.
OUR ACOLYTE TODAY is
Dillon Thompson.
PRAYER
REQUESTS: Helen Martin (mother of Jan
Zander)
CHILD
CARE facilities are available
to keep our services in the spirit of worship.
Infants and children through three years of age are invited. Katie
Atkinson, Paul & Judith Wonacott are assisting our Childcare Coordinator,
Melissa West, today. Katie DeRosha is scheduled to assist next week.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED IN THE
NURSERY: With the growing numbers of little ones in our
nursery, we are in need of extra hands. If you can help, please stop by the
nursery and see Melissa West.
Also,
a new nursery schedule is posted. Please stop by and sign up for a Sunday or
two.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (U.S.A.) is responding to the Haiti earthquake through
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and its partners. Presbyterian World Mission
is gathering information on the safety and status of our mission personnel and
ecumenical partners in the area. For updates on the earthquake and the church’s
response, please
visit PDA. Initial reports indicate a large number of casualties and
widespread damage especially in the capital city of Port-au-Prince.
You,
too, can be part of God’s answer to prayer for those affected by this disaster.
Information on the situation and prayers and worship resources are available
through Presbyterian
Disaster Assistance. Funds from One Great Hour of Sharing are
already helping with the initial response. You can give to the ongoing relief
through PDA account number DR000064. Gifts can also
be made by phone at (800) 872-3283 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. (EST) and
checks can be mailed to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, P.O. Box 643700,
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700.
WE NEED EMPTY BOXES: We are
preparing for the move to the new offices and we need boxes to pack up our
stuff. If you have any boxes, please drop them off in the office. Thank You!
SUNDAY SCHOOL LOCATIONS
|
Toddlers (18 – 36 months) |
Nursery Lower Level |
|
Pre-K – Grade 5 |
Lower Level |
|
Jr. & Sr. High |
Lighthouse |
|
Parenting Class |
Fellowship Hall |
|
Adult Education |
Fellowship Hall |
RULING
ELDERS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS: The
January Session packets and Ministry Teams reports have been placed in your
mailbox located near the Fellowship Hall.
PRAYER FOR
YOUTH AND CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES: Let
us pause to thank God for the children and young people of our church. Let us
also thank the youth for ushering and greeting on the fourth Sunday of each
month.
YOUR 2010 GIVING ENVELOPES are
ready to be picked up! They are on the table by the front entrance, in
alphabetical order. PLEASE, help the church save postage by taking
your envelopes home today.
ANNUAL REPORTS DUE - 2009 Ministry Teams & Group
Chairpersons
Now
is the time to begin putting together your Annual Report, covering the
activities of your particular group or ministry team for 2009. The deadline for submission of these reports
is this Friday, January 29, 2010. If
possible, please put your report in a Word document and email them to the
office (info@erfpc.org). This will
facilitate putting these reports together.
If you have any questions, please contact Sandy Lake (264-8167).
2009 CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS ARE NOW
AVAILABLE. Please pick yours up
today. They are located on the table with the name tags in Fellowship
Hall. If you have a mailbox, you
will find your statement there. Thank you!
The Mission Statement of First Presbyterian Church
SHARING, GROWING, AND LIVING OUR FAITH IN CHRIST
This we seek to accomplish by
Introducing Jesus Christ to those who do not know Him;
Deepening the faith and commitment of those who already know
Him;
Demonstrating Christ’s way of love in service to the world.
THE FAMILY OF WALTER (WALLY) DUST wishes to thank everyone for their many prayers,
hugs, and cards. A special thanks to Pastor Hal, Pastor Sandy, Carol Sinclair,
and Margaret VanDenBerge. Also, thank you to the Deacons for a beautiful
luncheon.
AFFORDABLE SNOW REMOVAL AVAILABLE FOR
AREA SENIORS: The Antrim County Commission on Aging offers snow
removal to area seniors who are year-round residents of Antrim County. Seniors who are 60 years of age or older can
take advantage of the program for just $10 for each snow removal. Snow removal is free for those seniors at or
below the poverty level.
Snow
removal can be provided when four or more inches of snow has accumulated in the
senior’s driveway. Funds are limited, so
those who can afford to pay private contractors are asked to do so and allow
this program to be available to those with limited income.
More
information and necessary vouchers are available at the Commission on Aging in
Bellaire or by calling the office at 533-8703.
The
Commission on Aging in Grand Traverse County offers snow removal based on a
sliding scale for area seniors. More
information on snow removal in Grand Traverse County is available by calling
Commission on Aging at 922-4688.
HYGIENE KITS FOR HAITI EARTHQUAKE
VICTIMS: Outreach Ministry Team is preparing to send hygiene
kits to Church World Service. Plastic
bags with a list of the specific items needed (hand towels, toothbrush, soap
etc.) are located under the display case in the narthex. Please take a bag or two and return the
completed kit(s) by noon on Tuesday,
February 2, to the same box. If you
prefer to make a monetary donation, the cost of one kit is $10.00. Make checks out to First Presbyterian Church
and note “Hygiene Kits” on the memo line. Enclose checks in an envelope and put
them in the kit collection box.
FREE MOVIE NIGHT FOR GROWNUPS
– Saturday, February 6, 2010:
Mesdames et messieurs, Welcome to an
evening of French frolic and fellowship fun when we celebrate the art of French
cooking! We’ll begin our culinary delight by creating and sampling our own
French hors d’oeuvres. And then we’ll enjoy the film, “Julie & Julia.” Free
admission, but please sign up on the signup sheet in the Narthex between
services so we can estimate the quantity of ingredients for our pre-movie
fantastique gastronomique extraordinaire! See you at 7 p.m. in Fellowship Hall
on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010.
Fellowship
Ministry Team
CONTINUOUS, ONGOING, YOUTH FUND RAISER: You can donate your returnable (only) bottles and
cans to help fund scholarships for mission trips and retreats for our Youth.
We know how quickly your New Year calendars can fill
up. Please make these important dates in
your
calendar.
Milestone Sunday: April 11, 2010 at 11:15
a.m. The
Milestones program is an opportunity
for the church to partner with families to provide instruction that promotes
spiritual growth. We celebrate as
children learn age appropriate steps in their faith walk with the Lord. Milestones are for children four years old
through the fifth grade.
Children’s
Ministry Sunday: April 18
All
children that participated in a Milestone program will be recognized and
celebrated during church services on Sunday, April 18. There will be no Sunday School.
Vacation
Bible School Week
Get ready to set sail on the “High Seas Adventure,” to explore the mighty love of God. Vacation Bible School will be held during the week of June 21-25. Families, children, and volunteers please mark this special week on your calendar!
Are You Hungry
WE
HOPE SO.....
The
Youth are serving a hot lunch!
Next
Sunday, January 31
in
the Fellowship Hall
(following
the second service)
MENU
Choice
of Home-made Soups
Fresh
Baked Bread
COST
$5.00
/ person or $20.00 / family
