WORLDCOMMUNIONSUNDAYOCTOBER 1,2017
* ALL WHO ARE ABLE ARE INVITED TO STAND.
GATHERING
Please prayerfully allow the silent, sacred space of the sanctuary
and the quiet stirrings of the Spirit to prepare your heart and mind for worship.
PRELUDE“Fantasy onTorahSong”CraigPhillips
* CALLTOWORSHIPRev. Paul E.Gilmore
Minister: The world belongs to the Lord, the earth and all its people.
People:How good and lovely it is to live together inunity.
Minister: Love and faith come together, justice and peace join hands.
People:With joyful hearts, we come to meet our Lord, gathered at histable.
* THE PROCESSIONAL HYMN No. 507 “I ComewithJoy”DOVE OFPEACE
LITANYOFCONFESSIONRev. Kathryn KibbieLaird Minister: Because you made the world, intended it to be a good place, and called its people yourchildren;
because when things seemed at their worst you came in Christ to bring out the best in us; so, gracious God, we gladly say:
People: Goodness is stronger than evil, truth is stronger than lies, light is stronger than darkness, love is stronger than hate.
Minister: Because confusion can reign inside us, despite our faith; because anger, tension, bitterness, envy distort our vision; because our minds sometimes worry small things all out of proportion; because we do not always get it right; we want to believe:
People: Goodness is stronger than evil, truth is stronger than lies, light is stronger than darkness, love is stronger than hate.
Minister: Because you have promised to hear us, and are able to change us, and are willing to make our hearts your home, we ask you to confront, control, forgive, and encourage us, as you know best. Then let us cherish in our hearts that which we proclaim with our lips:
People: Goodness is stronger than evil, truth is stronger than lies, light is stronger than darkness, love is stronger than hate.
SILENT PRAYER OF CONFESSION
KYRIEELEISONJamesMacMillan
DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
* CONGREGATIONALRESPONSE“Halle, Halle,Halle”
Halle, halle, hallelujah. Halle, halle, hallelujah. Halle, halle, hallelujah. Hallelujah, hallelujah.
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please sign the card and pass it to your neighbor. As you pass it back to the center, take note of who is here so we can become better acquainted. Visitors, please give your address, telephone, and e-mail information.
CENTS-ABILITY COLLECTION – New Canaan Food Pantry & Presbyterian Hunger Program Children are invited to bring “a buck and a can” offerings and follow Rev. Kibbie to Sunday’s Cool
T H EW O R D
ANTHEM“HineyMaTov”trad. Israeli FolkSong Hiney mah Tov umah naʿiym sheveth aḥiym gamyaḥadh
Transition: Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
PRAYER FORILLUMINATION(unison)DedeBartlett Revealing God, whether you whisper or shout, sing or preach, we ask that you make yourself heard in this place today. May we be eager students of your Word, and live the lessons we learn.Amen.
SCRIPTURELESSONMatthew 21:28-32 (NTpages23-24)Dede Bartlett (English), Spencer Reeves (Mandarin), Andrietta Weber (Swiss-German), Kate Otiwaa(Twi-Ghana)
Leader:Hear what the Spirit is saying to thechurch.
People:Thanks be toGod.
SERMON“The ‘Yes’ &‘No’Brothers”Rev.Gilmore
R E S P O N D I N G T O T H E W O R D
* HYMNNo.367“Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us withYourLove”CHEREPONI MISSION OF THECHURCH:Stewardship The Gilbert Family PRESENTATION OF TITHES, OFFERINGS ANDOURSELVES
OFFERTORY“JabulaJesu”StephenHatfield Sithi jabula, Jesu, jabula. Wake up in the moonlightsinging.
Sithi thandaza, Solly thandaza. Heaven is a waiting for you,
The sun is retreating. My whole heart is beating. No Jesu jabul, no Jesu.
The daylight is dying, My whole heart is crying. Weh Solly thandaza Solly. Lalela! Sithi jabula, Jesu, jabula, Heaven is a waiting for you,
Sithi thandaza, Solly thandaza. Wake up in the moonlight singing!
English translation of Zulu words: We say, be joyful with Jesus. We say, play Solly, have a good time. Hey, Solly, have a good time. Listen!
*DOXOLOGYOLDHUNDREDTH
Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise God all creatures here below; Praise God above ye heavenly host; Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE
PRAYER OF GREAT THANKSGIVING
Minister:The Lord be withyou.
People:And also with you. Minister:Lift up your hearts. People:We lift them to theLord.
Minister:Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People:It is right to give our thanks andpraise. Minister: It is truly right and our greatestjoy...
The whole congregation sings:
LORD’S PRAYER (unison)
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.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE
Communion will be served by intinction in which the bread is dipped into the cup. The wine is served in two chalices: the larger chalice contains wine, the smaller, grape juice. Gluten- free crackers are available on each plate. “Thanks be to God,” is a proper response to the receiving of communion. We will begin with people in the back rows and work our way to the front.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Gracious God, you have made us one with all your people in heaven and on earth. You have fed us with the bread of life, and renewed us for your service. Help us who have shared Christ’s body and received his cup, to be his faithful disciples, so that our daily living may be part of the life of your kingdom, and our love be your love, reaching out into the life of the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
S E N D I N G
*HYMNNo.514“Let Us Talents andTonguesEmploy”LINSTEAD
*CHARGE AND BLESSING (Please be seated for the Choral Response & the Ringing of the Church Bell) CHORALRESPONSE “There is a Spirit of Love inthisPlace” MarkMiller RINGING THE CHURCHBELL
*POSTLUDE“Afro-Cuban (In diristFreude)”Johannesburg MatthiasMichel
TODAY AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN
Today is World Communion Sunday. On the first Sunday of October, the faithful of all races and nations will gather to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. In this holy meal, the many are made one, united with Christ and with the church in every place. This unity, which God gives in the Sacrament, is a sign of the unity God wills for all creation – all races, all nations, all tongues, all classes. Thus made one at the table of our Lord, we offer ourselves anew in obedient service to God’s reign, as we await the fulfillment of the kingdom Christ proclaimed.
Welcome to the Service of Worship for the Lord’s Day. Parents of infants through age four are encouraged to take their children to the Nursery School classrooms during our services. Students in Pre-K-7th grade should follow their teachers to the Common Room.
Today in Sunday’s Cool we will have a special chapel dedicated to learning about the Lord’s Supper in honor of World Communion Sunday. We will ask all kinds of questions (like who prepares the bread? Why do we serve juice and wine? And where is Christ present in the meal? And everything else you have ever wanted to know.) Please bring your buck and a can and join us. Then we will partake of communion with the adults.
Teachers assisting with Chapel today (no rotations, because of the special chapel)—Traci Pascarella, Whitney Childs, Jess Dooley; 5-7th grade in the Barn for Feasting on the Word with Katrina Parkhill and Elizabeth Stuart
Youth News: What is happening at FPC for our ESYG (3th- 5th graders and their friends),
MSYG (6th-8th graders and their friends), and HSYG (9th-12th graders and their friends). All are welcome!
ESYG (3rd - 5th) / MSYG (6th-8th) / HSYG (9th-12th)10/13 5-8pm Harvestfest-
Pumpkin Carving-food truck / 10/13 5-8pm Harvestfest-Pumpkin
Carving with food truck / 10/1 11:30-12:30 Lunch at New Canaan Diner!
10/29 TBD Corn Maze & Hayride
@Outhouse Orchards in N. Salem / 10/13 5-8pm Harvestfest-Pumpkin Carving with
food truck
10/29 TBD Corn Maze & Hayride@Outhouse
Orchards in North Salem
Greeters: The Parkhill family; Worship Coordinator: Nancy Flournoy; Ushers: Paul Martin, Bob Spangler, Wendy Stahl, Caroline Turpin; Cross Bearer: Jim Bartlett; Lay Reader: Dede Bartlett; Communion Preparers: Linda Martin and Rose Scott Rothbart; Communion Officers: Mary Jane Bolin, Ruth Laird, Linda Martin; Musicians: The First Presbyterian Church Choir, CarolChoir.
Let us keep in our thoughts and prayers: New Concerns: for the family of Elaine Foster. Continued concerns: Neil Coakley; Ann Depuy; Anita Gilmore; Graham Harden; Spencer Hinds; Vince Lombardi; Doris Mierendorf; Marlene Powers; The Stricos family (friends of Joe and Diana Ruszkowski); John Voorhies. The Abo Noktah family (our Syrian refugees): Khaldoun (father), Khawla Alzob (mother), daughters Hanin and Zain, and sons Yaman and Ahmed.
Flower Memorials: If you wish to have flowers in the sanctuary to celebrate an anniversary, a baptism, a birthday, or to memorialize a loved family member or friend please call Barbara Wentzel, Flower Coordinator, at 203-966-5402 or email at .
No Gift Too Small! The Bell Tower Society welcomes gifts and bequests of all sizes. Every dollar given makes a difference in serving the long-term welfare of our church. If you have questions about remembering the church in your estate plans, please contact Michelle Olsen in the churchoffice.
“To Learn Continuously” Tuesday Morning Biblical Study ● September 19 - October 31 - 11:00am-12:30pm in the Common Room. Taught by the Rev. Paul E. Gilmore with an assist from the Rev. Adam Hamilton (via video & book). Credo is the first word of the Apostles’ Creed in Latin. It means “I believe.” This study will help us to examine what it is that we believe as Christians, why we believe it, and why it matters, making use of the Apostles’ Creed as a guide. Most likely, originally intended as a baptismal creed, the Apostles’ Creed will help us to explore the deeply held beliefs that have the power to motivate Christians to live out their baptismal vows in lives of action, sacrifice, andservice.
Cents-ability: On September 3, we collected $57. Our total collection since we began Cents-ability at our church in November 2011 is $17,643. Thank you for your awareness and generous response to hunger. If you would like more information on Cents-ability or are in need of a Cents-ability cup, please see Robin Lewis. Remember to fill up your Cents-ability cup ‘til it runneth over! Our next collection is November 5.
New Canaan Food Pantry: Items in need now due to low/no stock are Brownie Mix, Mayonnaise, Canned chicken, Chicken broth, Pasta Sauce, Cookies, Crackers, Taco kits, Pancake Mix - add water only, Pasta Sides. Nobeans or soup are needed at this time. Please drop these items in the shopping cart at the back of the Sanctuary and Robin Lewis and Paul Hartley will make sure they are delivered to the New Canaan Food Pantry.
The First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan is privileged to have the opportunity to prepare and serve dinner on the first Saturday of each month at the New Covenant House of Hospitality in Stamford. This is a rewarding way to give your time and efforts. We are seeking volunteers for these upcoming dates: - October 7, November 4, December 2, February 3, March 3, April 7, May 5 and June 2 - to help prepare meals (2-4 pm) or serve meals (4-6 pm). To sign up, or if you have any questions, please contact Glenn Mierendorf at , or 203-564-3448. Also, if you are interested in being part of the soup kitchen shopper team, please let Tina in the church office know. Thank you!
Pastors’ Forum – October 15 – Following Worship with Michael Turpin Healthcare 2017: Beginning of the End or End of the Beginning?
With all the acrimony and bitter debate in Congress over the Affordable Care Act and its perceived shortcomings, there has been a universal cry for change in our private and public health systems. While everyone has an opinion on healthcare, it often breaks down beyond each person's ability to pay and personal experiences.
Most Americans don't understand the differences between Medicare, Medicaid, Public Exchanges and Employer Sponsored Healthcare. Heated debate is certain when we discuss whether healthcare is a right or a privilege, how we can rein in costs, who it might affect and what the cost is for remaining on our current course.
We've asked Michael Turpin, former CEO of Oxford Healthcare and United HealthCare Northeast to offer an explanation of the politics, social issues and opportunities we have to fix and improve healthcare. With so many dependent on Medicare and Medicaid as well as 30M uninsured Americans, the need is great. However, we have finite resources and infinite demand. Who plays Solomon to make some of the tougher choices to rein in costs in the next twenty years is of interest to everyone.
A self-professed, health executive in recovery, Michael Turpin relies on humor, candor and some private stories about his experience running a region generating over $2B in revenues. He brings an interesting and humanistic lens to an industry that is certain to change in our lifetimes. The more informed we are as a congregation and as consumers, the more influential we can be as the national debate drags on. Where we have information and understand the intended and unintended consequences of change, we can look past the rhetoric and dystopian predictions of what lays in store for healthcare and participate in helping shape the debate.
Mike is a frequent speaker and columnist on the subject of healthcare inside and outside the USA.
Concert and Autumn Harvest IceBreaker! Event
Jennifer Gliere, soprano ● Saturday, October 21, 2017 ● 4:00 p.m.
Join us for an evening of music and fellowship, featuring soprano, Jennifer Gliere. A descendent of Russian composer Reinhold Gliere, she has toured the world carrying on his legacy. “A sensitive artist who knows how to turn a phrase while giving urgent meaning to the text”, Ms. Gliere has appeared in recital and oratorio in Austria, Germany, Italy, Russia, Ukraine, and throughout the United States. Recent highlights include recital tours in Ukraine and France and performances in Washington, D.C. She will be presenting works by Bach, Debussy, Weill, and Gliere. Ms. Gliere will be accompanied by pianist, Christopher Fecteau. Admission is $20 for adults, and children 18 and under are free. Donations above the admission amount would be donated to Presbyterian Disaster Relief for assistance in Puerto Rico.
Following the concert will be our Autumn Harvest IceBreaker! event. Celebrate autumn with the artists and members of the First Presbyterian Church family with wine, food and bonfire. Come for the concert, stay for the fellowship. This is FPC at its best so come join us for this fantastic evening event!
The Peacemaking Offering was created in 1980 to support the efforts of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to live out a deeper commitment to peacemaking as part of our faithfulness to God. It is one of four special offerings designated by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly. It is traditionally received on World Communion Sunday. Each congregation is encouraged to retain 25 per cent of the offering it receives to use for local ministries of peacemaking within the church and community.
THIS WEEK AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
178 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan, CT 06840 Tel.: 203-966-0002 // web page:
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1: World Wide Communion
10:00 AM Worship; Rev. Paul Gilmore preaching 10:15 AM Sunday’s Cool Classes for Grades PreK-7 11:00 AM Blood PressureClinic
11:15 AMCoffee Hour 11:15 AMCherub Choir 11:15 AMChrysalisChoir
11:30 AMMembership Involvement Committee 11:30 AMHSYG Lunch at the New CanaanDiner 11:45AM Worship, Music and ArtsCommittee
MONDAY, OCTOBER 2
2:00 PMMeditationGroup
6:30 PMPurple HeatherDancers
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3
9:30 AMLeadershipTeam
11:00 AMTuesday Morning BiblicalStudy
11:30 AMGentlemenSongsters 8:00 PMMen’sA.A.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4
10:00 AMMusicLibrarians 5:00 PMCarolChoir
5:00 PMCherub Choir
5:00 PMConfirmationClass
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5
3:30 PMSpecialChurch 7:30 PMFPCChoir
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7
9:15 AMA.A. (closeddiscussion) 10:30 AMA.A. (opendiscussion)
2:00 PMPreparing dinner at New CovenantHouse 4:00 PMServing dinner at New CovenantHouse
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8
10:00 AM Worship; Rev. Paul Gilmore preaching 10:15 AM Sunday’s Cool Classes for Grades PreK-7 11:15 AM CoffeeHour
11:15 AMCherub Choir 11:15 AMChrysalisChoir
OUR MINISTERS
The Entire Congregation
OUR PASTORS
The Rev. Paul E. Gilmore, Pastor
The Rev. Kathryn Kibbie Laird, Associate Pastor for Children, Youth and Families
OUR STAFF
Victoria Shields, Director of Music / Sherry Tate, Cherub Choir director Michelle Olsen, Church Administrator / Tina St. Armand, Office Manager Erika Hagan, Administrative Assistant to Children and Youth Ministries
Kuky and Andres Pereira, Operations/Security Managers / Edgar Torres, Day Sexton
THE SESSION
Our Pastors
Scott Beyer, Clerk of Session
George Benington, Bell Tower Society
Sue Benko, Communications
Laurel Carlson, Youth Ministries
Carole Clarkson, Worship, Music and Arts
Linda Ferguson, Nominating
Lisa Gifford, Congregational Life
Jennifer Gulden, Personnel
Julie Hoffman, Member-At-Large Freia Mierendorf, Co-Youth Glenn Mierendorf, Outreach Dede McEvoy, StrategicPlanning Andy Petitjean,Finance
Lynn Quinn, Adult Education Julie Reeves, MembershipInvolvement Kevin Thomson, AdvisoryCommittee
Spencer Reeves, Co-Youth
Jenny Volanakis, Children's Ministries
Barbara Wentzel, Stewardship
THE DEACONS
Jen and Steve Van de Graaf, Co-Moderators
Carson Allsteadt, Co-Youth
Erica Bergmans,Member-At-Large Mary Jane Bolin, Senior Lunch Peg Bull, FlockProgram
William Dooley, Co-Youth
Cindy Hagopian, Inspirica
Karen Hanson, Memorial Services and Receptions
Beth Hersam, Flowers and Cards Chris Kniffin, Member-At-Large Nichole LaBadie, Co-Youth
Linda Martin, Baptisms; Flock Program Sarah Robinson, Pastoral Care Team Kristen Rodgers, Member-At-Large Kathleen Servidea, Member-At-Large Elizabeth Stuart, Flowers and Cards Ashley Walker, Co-Youth
Rev. T. Guthrie Speers, Jr., Pastor Emeritus - Mrs. Marilyn J. Ballantine, Minister of Music Emerita