Give today to help Presbyterian Disaster Assistance bring hope & healing to Texas families impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
From the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA):
We are in touch with presbyteries affected areas of Texas to offer assistance. We are standing by with resources and National Response Team members ready to deploy upon invitation and when it is safe to do so.
For those who wish to support PDA's emergency response and recovery efforts, gifts can be designated to DR000169-Harvey. We need your help. Please give generously.
If you prefer to mail a check, you may send it to: Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
PO Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA, 15264-3700
You may also call us Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST), at 1-800-872-3283 and donate by phone. For updates, please go to pda.pcusa.org
178 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan, CT 06840
Tel: (203) 966-0002 / Website:
22nd Sunday inOrdinaryTimeSeptember 3, 2017
G A T H E R I N G
* All who are able are invited to stand
PRELUDE“Pieces forMusicalClocks”JosephHaydn
*CALLTOWORSHIPRev. Kathryn Kibbie Laird Minister: Feel the living presence ofChrist:
People: Dwell in the silence, Minister: Rise in the song, People: Live in the Word, Minister: Be in the prayer.
People: Feed at the table, Minister: For this is worship. People: AMEN and AMEN.
*HYMN No. 476 “O Worship the King, AllGloriousAbove”Lyons
* PRAYER OFCONFESSIONRev. Mary MarpleThies
God of love, we know the fractures and splits of community. We know the painful disagreements, the harsh words, the stub- born silences, the turned backs. We know the work needed to be together, to thrive and communicate, to abide and play together.
God of hope, you have placed in us a yearning to dwell together in unity, to live by a larger vision, to believe in a deeper trust.
You sent Christ to be our example, guide and Savior. And you have sent the Spirit to work in and through us in surprising and often hidden ways -- that we might be blessed and strengthened by our life together. Touch us once again with the mystery and wonder of being a community of faith. Through Jesus Christ, who holds us all in grace and love. Amen.
SILENT PRAYER
DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
*CONGREGATIONALRESPONSENo. 579 The GloriaPatri
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.
*THE PEACE
Minister: The peace of Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.
You are invited to greet those around you with words and signs
of God’s reconciling peace.
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please sign the card and pass it to your neighbor. As you pass it back it, 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 – NC Food Pantry & Presbyterian
Hunger Program
CHILDREN (Pre-K and up) INVITED TO SUMMER PROGRAM
T H E W O R D
OLD TESTAMENT - Exodus 3:1-15 (OT page 50)
Minister: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
People:Thanks be toGod.
ANTHEM“Rejoice in theLordalway”ChristopherWiggins
NEW TESTAMENT - Philippians 4:4-7 (NT page 198) Minister: Hear what the Spirit is saying to thechurch. People:Thanks be toGod.
SERMON“Three Prayers for TimesofChange”Rev.Laird
DEACONS’ FUND The Deacons’ Fund enables the church, on a confidential basis, to help congregants who are in need. Special envelopes are enclosed in today’s bulletin and may be placed in the offering plates with your donation. Various specific needs are great at this moment, so do give generously.
Please let the ministers know of any who might be helped by this Fund.
THIS WEEK AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
10:00 AM Holy Communion; Rev. Laird preaching 10:15 AM Children’s Summer Activities for K and up 11:00 AM Continental Breakfast and Fellowship
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4—Labor Day (offices closed) TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
9:30 AMLeadershipTeam 8:00 PMMen’sA.A.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
10:00 AMMusic Librarians 5:00 PMConfirmationClass
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
7:00 PMSpecialChurch 7:30 PMFPCChoir
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
9:00 AMOfficer Training Class 9:15 AMA.A. (closed discussion) 10:30 AMA.A. (opendiscussion)
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 - Welcome Home Sunday
10:00AMWorship Service; Rev. Gilmorepreaching
10:15AMSunday’sCool
11:15AMWelcome HomeReception
and Children’s Activities
Cents-ability:On August 6, we collected $78. Our total collection since we began Cents-ability at our church in November 2011 is
$17,586. Thank you for your awareness and generous response to hunger. If you would like more information on Cents-ability or need a Cents-ability cup, please see Robin Lewis. Remember to fill up your Cents-ability cup ‘til it runneth over! Our next collection is October1.
New Canaan Food Pantry:Items in need now due to low/no stock are Cookies, Brownie Mixes, Canned Tuna, Canned Chicken, Peanut Butter, Jelly, Cereal, Kids Juice Boxes, Kids Snacks, Tooth- brushes, Bar soap. No beans or soup are needed now. Please drop these items in the shopping cart at the back of the Sanctuary and Robin Lewis will make sure they are delivered to the New Canaan Food Pantry. Please make checks available to “FPCNC” with NC Food Pantry or Food Bank Lower Fairfield County in the memo line.
No Gift Too Small!
The Bell Tower Society welcomes gifts and bequests of all sizes. Every dollar given makes an difference in serving the long term welfare of our church. If you have questions about remember- ing the church in your estate plans, please contact Michelle in the churchoffice.
R E S P O N D I N G T O T H E W O R D
*HYMN No. 504 “Draw Us in theSpirit’sTether”UnionSeminary
PRESENTATION OF TITHES, OFFERINGS & OURSELVES
OFFERTORY“AndieMusik”FranzSchubert
*DOXOLOGYOld Hundredth
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 withyou.
Minister:Lift up yourhearts.
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...
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.
COMMUNION MUSIC
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Minister: In the end as in the beginning, God is God:
People:Loved by us, wanted by us, praised by us, served byus.
Minister: Filling folks with the gifts of the Spirit,
People:making them whole for the good of the earth. Minister: For bread and wine, this place and this time, People:Thanks be toGod.
Minister: For the peace we are promised which the world cannot destroy,
People:Thanks be toGod.
Minister: For the hope of heaven on earth and the final song of joy,
People:Thanks be to God.Amen.
S E N D I N G T O S E R V E
*HYMNNo.525“Here IamLord”Daniel L.Schutte
*CHARGE ANDBLESSING
*RINGING THE CHURCHBELL
*POSTLUDE“BassedeTrompette”Jean-FrancoisDandrieu
Our Ministers
The Entire Congregation
Our Pastors
The Rev. Paul E. Gilmore, Pastor
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, Adm. Asst. for Children and Youth Ministries Kuky and Andres Pereira, Operations Managers
Rev. T. Guthrie Speers, Jr., Pastor Emeritus
Mrs. Marilyn J. Ballantine, Minister of Music Emerita
TODAY AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN
We welcome you to the Service of Worship for the Lord’s Day.
Childcare for little ones in the Nursery School! Students in Pre-K and up should follow their teacher to the Common Room.
“Come to the Oasis!” Kids please join us for our Summer Oasis- bible story and Outdoor Water Play this summer. Bring or wear your bathing suit and towel (or not) and be ready for super soakers, the wet and wild sprinkler, and more fun!
Greeter: Marlene Powers; Worship Coordinator: Kevin Sheridan; Ushers: Margaret Cooper and Paul Martin; Communion Preparer: Julie Reeves; Guest Musician: Harper Stevenson, soprano; Refresh- ments: Elizabeth Stuart.
A Memorial Service for John Lawrence will be held on Saturday, September 16 at 1 p.m. followed by a reception in the Common Room.
Let us keep in our thoughts and prayers: Continued concerns: Neil Coakley; Ann Depuy; Elaine Foster; Graham Harden; Spencer Hinds; Vince Lombardi; Doris Mierendorf; 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 .
Welcome Home Sunday: You may not be able to go home again, as the saying goes, but you can always come back to church. No matter how far you have traveled from home this summer, no matter how many services of worship you have missed, we welcome you back with open arms on Sunday, September 10th, for Welcome Home Sunday. So come and join us for worship and lots of fun festivities following the postlude. Invite your neighbors and friends, and those members whom you haven’t seen in a while. Following worship, there will be food and fellowship, games for the children, face paint- ing and rides on “Old Faithful,” an ice cream sundae bar. For a fun new Welcome Home Sunday activity, we are going to do an old- fashioned Cake Walk. Those (including kids) who would like to participate please bring a cake or favorite familydessert.”