Reverend Ed Bray, Minister
201 N. Perry Street, St. Marys, Ohio 45885 419-394-3811 EMAIL
November 16, 2008 Twenty Seventh Sunday After Pentecost 10:30 am
Order of Service
ENTER TO WORSHIP
MUSIC FOR MEDITATION
CHIMES CALL US TO WORSHIP
LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES
CELEBRATING COMMUNITY
Announcements Joys and Concerns of our Church Family
Introduction of Guests
PRELUDE “Kremser” Craig Phillips
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: We come to worship with many ways of showing praise.
People: We imagine you, God, looking upon us. We extend our hands
to await your blessing.
Leader: We are humbled in your presence, God.
People: Receive our longing, our reaching, the joyful songs we raise.
Receive our humility, our relationships with one another, our
looking close to the ground.
Leader: With all our postures, we worship God.
*OPENING HYMN “Lead On, O King Eternal” No. 231 (R)
*UNISON INVOCATION
We joyfully receive your abundant gifts, God. We pause to feel the power of life within us, the potential for compassion around us, and your steady ground of hope beneath us.
ANTHEM “For the Beauty of the Earth” Bell Choir
THE CALL TO CONFESSION (You may be seated until the Gloria Patri)
Leader: Let us confess our sin to God and one another.
RESPONSIVE PRAYER OF CONFESSION (You may be seated until the Gloria Patri)
Leader: Abundant Creator, we confess our strong urge to play it safe with the
gifts you give us.
People: We want to trust in your ways, O God.
Leader: We feel we don’t have enough time for everything so we push aside the
things we most want to do and neglect the tasks that are most
important.
People: We want to trust in your ways, O God.
Leader: As the church, we hold tightly to the gifts you give us, afraid we will
lose them.
People: We want to trust in your ways, O God.
Leader: We remain silent and cautious, even when we witness wrongdoing
or injustice.
People: We want to trust in your ways, O God.
RESPONSE “Sanctuary” (Insert) (Sing twice)
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
God wants only good things for all God’s children. Wherever we are and whoever we are, God is with us. God has destined us to be free and generous. Let us live in God’s forgiveness and power.
*GLORIA PATRI
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.
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
Leader: The Peace of God be with you.
People: And also with you.
(People offer God’s peace to those nearby)
*CHILDREN’S HYMN “I’m Pressing On the Upward Way” No. 442 (B) Vrs. 1 & 2
CHILDREN’S CHAT Rev. Ed Bray
Children’s Hymn - Last Two Verses
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Old Testament Lesson Psalm 123
New Testament Lesson I Thessalonians 5:1-11
*Gospel Lesson St. Matthew 25:1-13
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Insert)
SERMON “A Christian’s Armor” Rev. Ed Bray
I Thessalonians 5:1-11
PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
INSTRUMENTAL RESPONSE
OFFERTORY “Autumn Song” Donald F. Callender
*DOXOLOGY Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here
below. Praise Him above ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost. Amen.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
*HYMN OF DEPARTURE “God of Grace and God of Glory” No. 436 (B)
*COMMISSION AND BENEDICTION
*POSTLUDE
*Denotes those who are able are invited to stand .......Depart to serve
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Altar flowers this morning are in memory of the birthday of William Engel
from Lee and Sandra Clausing and Family and
John and Becky Davis and Family.
Our Giving to God November 9th
Current - $7,115.00 and Mission - $254.00
Attendance - 198
& We would like to thank Clare Caywood for her art work on today’s bulletin. Clare is the daughter of Darren and Renee Caywood.
% We would like to thank Madison Sands for calling us to worship today on the chimes. Madison is the daughter of Jennifer Gaston.
- THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK -
“God gives every bird food, but he doesn’t throw it into the nest.”
ST. PAUL’S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
201 N. Perry St.
St. Marys, Ohio
November 16, 2008
|
|
“No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey,
you are welcome here.”
ù ADVENT BREAKFAST - women of our church are cordially invited to attend the Annual Advent Breakfast hosted by the women of Zion Lutheran Church, on Tuesday, December 2nd at 9:30 am in the auditorium of their educational building. Please RSVP to the Zion church office (419-394-3115) by Monday, December 1st.
ù CHURCH NURSERY POSITION - The Personnel Committee is looking for someone to be in charge of the nursery each Sunday during church. This is a paid position, currently $25 per week with 6 Sundays off during the year. Various volunteers will help each week. Please contact the church office if interested.
ù FREE FOR THE TAKING!! - in the process of cleaning up and organizing storage areas in the church, the Cleanup Committee has found some old Bibles, books, extra pictorial directories, etc. that are no longer needed. These items have been placed in the Elevette Room and are free to anyone wanting them. They will be located there until the end of the year and then will be recycled, donated, or disposed of (depending on the item). You may stop by during the week or on Sunday mornings before or after worship to see if there is anything you would like to have. Please note - any items of historical value to St. Paul’s (including copies of pictorial directories) have been retained and plans are to find a way to display them. Do you have a suggestion for this? If so, please contact the church office or Lynda Hadley.
THIS WEEK AT ST. PAUL’S
Today 8:30 am Choir Practice
9:00 pm Church School
9:00 pm Confirmation
10:30 am Worship with Rev. Ed Bray
6-8:00 pm Sr. Hi Youth Group
Mon. 1:00 pm Rebecca Circle - Lounge
7:00 pm Samaritan Sisters - Lounge
Wed. 9:00 am Quilters Meet - Stage in Fellowship Hall
10:15 am Bible Study - Confirmation Classroom
5:30 pm Christian Mission and Outreach Committee - Lounge
Thurs. 5:45 pm ‘Taste of Home Cooking School’ in Lima - meet in church
parking lot at this time - ‘school’ begins at 7:00 pm
Next Sun. 8:30 am Choir Practice
9:00 am Church School
9:00 am Confirmation
10:30 am Worship with Rev. Ed Bray
Budget Hearing following morning worship
ST. PAUL’S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
201 N. PERRY ST., ST. MARYS, OH 45885
(419)394-3811 (Church Office) (419)394-8733 (Church Fax)
email: smucc@bright.net website: www.stpaulsuccsm.org
email for Pastor Ed: ebray@bright.net and his home phone # is 419-300-9771
email for prayer chain requests to Kendra Strand: mstrand@bright.net
Rev. Ed Bray, D. Min. Al Baker, Minister of Visitation
Becky Anderson, Director of Music Lindsey Newlove, Director of Children's Choirs
Ann Vogel, Organist Andrea Spencer, Organist
Tom Hevlin, Organist Emeritus Peg Meyer, Administrative Assistant
Bob Schumacher, Custodian Rich Spencer, Audio and Video Kendra Strand, Web Page Coordinator Amy Keller, Confirmation Teacher
Jennifer Ginter, Church School Superintendent
Liturgist.......................................................Martha May
Acolyte.........................................................Confirmand
Children’s Offering......................................2nd, 3rd, and 4th Grade
Greeters.......................................................Bud and Bea Lehman
Missionaries.................................................Members of our Congregation
V VISITORS AND GUESTS - Welcome to St. Paul's United Church of Christ. Please sign one of the pew pads and place it in the offering plate.
V FRIENDSHIP REGISTERS - Everyone is invited to sign the register each Sunday morning during the announcements. Persons in each pew nearest the side aisles are asked to sign in the red book and pass it down their pew.
V NURSERY AND PRE-SCHOOL TODDLER CARE - for your convenience we have a staffed nursery located in the educational building. Should it become necessary for you to leave the sanctuary during worship, you can view the morning service on the TV in the nursery.
V HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE rest room is located on the sanctuary level near the elevette room and it also contains a baby changing table.
V ENLARGED BULLETINS AND HEARING DEVICES - available if needed (consult one of the ushers).
V TELEVISED WORSHIP SERVICE - our worship service here at St. Paul’s is shown on TSC cable - channel 12, every Sunday at 10:30 am and also on Monday evenings at 7:00 pm. There is a one week delay of the service shown.
**************************************************************
( CORRECTED PHONE NUMBER - Please note that the correct phone number for Marilynne Schroer while she is at Otterbein is 394-4929; she would enjoy hearing from her church family.
ù FELLOWSHIP TIME - We invite you to join us before worship TODAY in the Elevette Room for a time of fellowship, discussions, and refreshments. This is a weekly time for members of the congregation to meet and greet each other. Any committees, groups, and families may sign up to host this fellowship time. A sign up sheet is available on the bulletin board across from the lounge. The Krebs and Ginter Families are your hosts today!!
ù ATTENTION WOGALS!!! - we will have a brief meeting in the library this morning, following worship.
ù SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME PROGRAM - the Family Life Center of Auglaize County is offering this program on Tuesday, November 18th at 4:00 pm at their location - 112 S. Front St. Speaker is Jennifer Horner of the Brain Injury Association of Ohio. See the bulletin board for more information. Please call 419-300-9756 to register for this free program.
ù “TASTE OF HOME COOKING SCHOOL” - Thursday, November 20th at 7:00 pm in Lima. Tickets are $5.00 each and there are still a few tickets available - please see Mary Alice Stoner if you are interested.
ù BUDGET HEARING - Next Sunday, November 23rd, St. Paul’s will hold a hearing for discussion, questions, etc. on the 2009 Consistory approved budget. This hearing will be held immediately following Sunday morning worship. You will be receiving your copy of the 2009 Budget in the mail this week. Please bring it with you to the meeting(s).
ù ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING - On Sunday, December 14h, St. Paul's will hold their Annual Congregational Meeting immediately following the morning worship service. At this time the 2009 Consistory approved budget will be voted on. Also to be considered during this meeting will be the approval of those who have agreed to serve on the 2009 Consistory.
ù T P for AGAPE” - We are still collecting toilet paper for Agape and we need your help! Bring in your 24 roll pack and help us make our 5000 roll quota for the year!!!
ù NOVEMBER MISSION PROJECT - Our November Mission and Outreach Project is Food for Agape. We will have containers in the sanctuary during the month of November for your donations. Any canned or boxed foods are needed. Of special need are protein sources such as canned meats, beans, or peanut butter. During this time of the year, holiday items can also be used. By the end of this year Agape expects to have fed almost 10,000 clients.
ù CALL-EM-ALL - If you would like to contribute to this service, please place your donation in an envelope and indicate - ‘Call-Em-All’. Any amount is welcome and will help to offset the cost each month. Thanks!
ù NEWSLETTER DEADLINE!!! - due to the Thanksgiving holiday, the deadline for articles, announcements, etc. for the December issue of The Communicator is Monday, November 17th. Thank you.
ù CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE - the JTDM Hospital Gift Shop will conduct an Open House on Friday, November 21st from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm. All Auxiliary members receive a 20% discount on purchases anytime throughout the year. Please come and support the auxiliary.
ù COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING SERVICE - The Community Thanksgiving Service is Tuesday, November 25th at 7:00 pm here at St. Paul’s this year. We hope you will be able to attend.
ù GIVING THANKS, a community Thanksgiving dinner will be served Thanksgiving Day from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at the American Legion on SR 703 west of St. Marys. Guests will be welcomed into a restaurant atmosphere and will be entertained by area musicians. Giving Thanks...Food, Entertainment, Fellowship...it’s for everyone and it’s free! Delivery service is also available for the homebound. Those who would like a meal or meals delivered may call 419-394-8658. Carry outs are also available.
ù SOUNDS OF THE SEASON - November 30th is the date for ‘Sounds of the Season’ to be held in our sanctuary at 3:00 pm. This program of Christmas music will be presented by members of our church as well as members of the community. Plan to attend this holiday special event.
ù WINTERFEST - Their will be a live Nativity at St. Marys Memorial Park at 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm on Sunday, November 30th. Watch for more information in the December issue of The Communicator.
ù 2008 ADULT CHRISTMAS PARTY - December 7th - Fellowship Hall. Come and enjoy a night out filled with food, fun and fellowship!! Entertainment this year will be the Crescent Players. Be sure to mark this date on your calendar!! Tickets will be sold Today, and Sundays, November 23rd and 30th in the Elevette Room and also through the week in the church office. Ticket price is $7.50.