THE FIRST CHURCH IN ALBANY
(Reformed Church in America)
110 North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12207 ~ (518) 463-4449
Email: ~ Website: Sunday Worship: 10:30 am
Founded in 1642; Continuing in Ministry Today
In response to God's unconditional love for all people made known to us in Jesus Christ, we are called to be a welcoming and affirming community. The First Church in Albany includes young and old, families, couples and singles, rich and poor, persons of various races, ethnicities, backgrounds, sexual orientation and gender identities, differing physical and mental abilities, believers and seekers. We welcome into the full life of the church all those whom God sends us. Centered in Christ, we commit ourselves to breaking down dividing walls and building a community where all are loved.
First Sunday after Pentecost
May 27, 2018
THE APPROACH TO GOD
Prelude Fugue in E-flat (The St. Anne) Johann Sebastian Bach
Announcements
Call to Worship
Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 124:8
Amen.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless God’s holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all God’s benefits:
Left: Forgiveness,
Right: Healing,
Left: Redemption,
Right: Steadfast love and mercy.
The Lord satisfies us with good as long as we live so that our youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
from Psalm 103.1-5
*Hymn 138Holy, Holy, Holy NICAEA
Prayer of Confession
We give thanks, merciful God, that in Christ you seek to unite all things in heaven and in earth, and to reconcile all people to one another and to you. If we are honest with ourselves and with you, we must confess that the new creation is not yet complete in us, and that we feel everywhere the barriers that separate humankind. Forgive us and fill us with your Spirit of oneness. Reveal to us those places where pride and selfishness rebuild the walls once torn down in Christ; through the power of your Spirit, we pray.
The prayer may continue in silence.
Assurance of Pardon
*The Peace
With the Psalmist, we proclaim: Bless the Lord, O my soul! For the Lord has blessed us in countless ways. God invites us to live into the peace that passes all understanding, and to share it with our neighbors.
The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
Let us greet one another with the peace of Christ.
*Response (Tune: amzon - #386 in the hymnal)
O for a world where everyone respects each other’s ways,
Where love is lived and all is done with justice and with praise.
O for a world preparing for God’s glorious reign of peace,
Where time and tears will be no more and all but love will cease.
THE WORD OF GOD
The Prayer for Illumination
Eternal God, in the reading of the Scripture, may your word be heard; in the meditation of our hearts, may your word be known; and in the faithfulness of our lives, may your word be shown. Amen.
TheGospel LessonMark 2:13-22
The Gospelof the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
A Word with Children
Anthem O Holy Spirit, Lord of Grace Christopher Tye
O Holy Spirit, Lord of grace,Eternal source of love,Inflame, we pray, our inmost heartsWith fire from heav'n above.As thou dost join with holiest bondsThe Father and the Son,So fill us all with mutual love,And knit our hearts in one.
Text: Charles Coffin 1676 - 1749 trans. John Chandler
The Sermon Making the Right Moves
The Prayer for Blessing on the Word
THE RESPONSE TO GOD
*Hymn 421The Church of Christ in Every Age wareham
Offering
Offertory Anthem: Listen Sweet Dove Grayson Ives
Listen sweet dove unto my song,and spread thy golden wings in me;
hatching my tender heart so long,till it get wing and flie away with thee.
Such glorious gifts thou didst bestowthe earth did like a heav’nappeare,
the starres were coming down to knowif they might mend their wages and serve here. The sunne which once did shine alone,hung down his head and wisht for night,when he beheld twelve sunnes for onegoing about the world and giving light. Lord though we change thou art the same,
the same sweet God of love and light: restore this day for thy great name,
unto his ancient and miraculous right.
Text: Georg Herbert
*Doxology (Tune: old hundredth)
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Christ, all creatures here below;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore;
Praise Triune God, whom we adore. Amen.
The Joys and Concerns of the Church
Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer
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, for ever. Amen.
*Hymn 450O Day of Peace jerusalem
*Charge and Blessing
Postlude: Come, Holy Spirit, Lord and God Johann Sebastian Bach
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*Those who are able please stand
WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS: Preacher: The Rev. Lynn Carman Bodden; Minister of Music: Mary Bon; the First ChurchChoir.
We welcome all who gather to worship God this morning, especially visitors and friends from near and far. Please sign our guest book or complete a visitor’s card (found in the pew rack) and place it in the offering plate. Please join us for refreshmentsand conversation after worship downstairs in Zimmerman Hall.
Children 4 and under are welcome in the Nursery following “A Word with Children.”
First Church is an accessible building:
- We have an elevator so you can reach every floor.
- Hearing assist devices are available for your use. Please ask an usher.
An Automated External Defibrillator “AED” is located in the lobby attached to the wall outside of the workroom.
The flowers this morning given by Carol & Philip Labatte to thank First Church for the thoughtfulness extended to the Labatte Family over the many years.
Drive-in Worship Service continues each Sunday at 9 a.m. through the first Sunday in September. Worshippers gather in the Sheridan Avenue parking lot and in Clee Park for a half hour worship service led from the outdoor pulpit. If you arrive before 9:30 a.m. for the Sanctuary Service, please park in the Orange Street Lot or in the large lot against the wall that borders North Pearl Street.
Pocket Prayer Shawlsare available at today’s Worship. Please ask one of our greeters and they can provide a basket of pocket prayer shawlsto choose from.Pocket Prayer Shawls are made andfilled with prayers and can be given to someone in need of comfort, healing, or a reminder of the closeness of God.
Parking Sticker Reminder: All First Church members should have the orange parking stickers displayed in the rear driver sidepassenger window of your vehicles. If you need of a parking sticker,please fill out the Parking Sticker Registration Application located on the lobby display table and in the Narthex then return it to Valerie Williams, parish administrator to receive the parking sticker.
First Church Readers will meet on June 3rd when we will discuss Best to Laugh by Lorna Landvik.
Pride 2018: On Sunday, June 10 between noon and 5pm, the Capital Pride Parade and Festival will take place. Peter Subers has agreed to gather members of First Church to carry the First Church Room for All banner and to march in the parade. We’ll make our way to the park after worship. Please join us!
FOCUS Churches
UPDATE on Special Spring Appeal: We have raised over $12,721, thank you!
Are You Called to Volunteer? Here are several VOLUNTEERS OPPORTUNITES AT FOCUS: Contact Belinda for more information or to sign up now for any of these: 518-443-0460
- CURRENT: Sandwich Maker on Mondays 10-11 am.
- JUNE/GARDENING IN A BUCKET
Volunteers sought for this fun community project for youth scheduled for weekdays throughout the month of June.
FOCUSstill hasa great need for volunteers for theJuly FOCUS Food Pantry Overhaul. It is imperative that we accomplish these renovations during the summer months when there is a lull in Breakfast Club activity. In order to avoid future code violations, certain updates must be made to the food pantry within the next few months.If you are able to help a few hours between July 30th and August 9th, please call the FOCUS office at (518) 443-0460.
THIS WEEK AT FIRST CHURCH
Sunday5/27First Sunday after Pentecost
9:00 am Drive-In Worship
10:30 amSanctuary Service
The Rev. Lynn Carman Bodden, preaching
Post Service:Coffee & Conversation
Monday5/28Church Office Closed
Tuesday5/2912:00 noonBible Study
6:00 pmNVC Group
Wednesday5/309:00 am – 11:30 am – Food Pantry Open
12:00 pmAA Meeting
12:00 pmPrayer for the Church – Sanctuary
6:30 pmJoint Board Meeting – Parlor
Thursday5/317:00 pmChoir Rehearsal
Sunday6/3Second Sunday after Pentecost
9:00 am Drive-In Worship
10:30 amSanctuary Service
The Rev. Sue Vincent-Cox, preaching
11:45 amFirst Church Readers – Powell Room
12:00 pmCare Callers Meeting – Parlor
Post Service:Coffee & Conversation
Music note: The great Fugue in E-flat, nicknamed the “St. Anne” because the subject sounds like the hymn tune, St. Anne(“O God, our help,”) is the final piece in a collection of pieces illuminating the Catechism. The Fugue is associated with Trinity Sunday because is actually 3 fugues in one - the first, solid and majestic, representing God the Father; the second, active and flowing representing the Son; the third, buoyant and energetic with running passages in a triple meter, representing the Holy Spirit. Bach was fascinated by religious symbolism, particularly the Trinity, and the fugue reflects this: the fugue subject enters 27 times (3x3x3); the key signature is three flats; the time signature is divisible by three.
Spring Fling Concerts
Wednesdays in June atNoon
Join us for a series ofnoon-time concerts in our sanctuary eachWednesdayin June from12:00 PM to 12:30 PM.
June 7 Mary Bon, Organist at First Church in Albany
June 13 David Bon-Keen, bassoon and Neil Keen, piano
June 20 Peter Subers,baritone soloist at First Church in Albany; Gene Marie Callahan, piano
June 27 Rose Hunsberger, soprano soloist at First Church in Albany
Come listen to beautiful music and offer your prayer for the church.
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