September 19, 2010

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Music in This Morning’s Worship Service

This Week at First Presbyterian

I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the understanding also. (I Corinthians 14:15)

This Morning’s Hymns: Open Now The Gates of Beauty, inspired by Psalm 118, was written by Lutheran pastor Benjamin Schmolk in 1732. The text expresses a strong desire to join the community in worship: to sing, to pray and to hear the proclamation of God’s Word. The worshipper expresses humility in the presence of the Divine, an assurance of prayer heard and a willingness to receive and follow the Spirit of God. It is, of course, the worshipping community itself that is God’s temple in which we are urged to offer supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings for all the nations and peoples of the world for There is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all. So praying, the community at worship is a blessed place filled with solace,

light and grace. Jesus, Thy Boundless Love To Me was written by Paul Gerhardt - a Lutheran theologian and hymnist. John Wesley produced this English translation during his missionary voyage to America. The hymn provides us with an appropriate response to this morning’s gospel lesson in which we are instructed that no one can serve two masters…you cannot serve God and wealth. Singing, we pray that God alone will reign as master of our hearts, that we will desire nothing other than oneness with God. Such was the prayer of both Gerhardt and Wesley, each of whom faced difficult and painful times while engaged with this text. The full hymn (9 stanzas) provides a clear indication of their emotional and spiritual turmoil. Such words as fear, care, anguish, sorrow, suffering, weakness, storms of life reveal how desperately each man yearned for and relied on a loving relationship with God - their Master. Their hymn expresses the yearning of all Christians to place Christ at the center of our lives.

As Those of Old Their Firstfruits Brought was written in 1960 by Presbyterian minister Frank von Christierson. It expresses three fundamental understandings of stewardship: • God is the creator of all life and the giver of all good; • The bounty we enjoy bespeaks Divine trust. God trusts us to gratefully share with each other and provide for those in need; • Not enslaved to wealth, we demonstrate our trust in God. Future needs are entrusted to providential care. The hymn begins with agricultural imagery drawn from scripture. The images of “first fruits, of vineyard, flock and field” are expanded to encompass the many means through which we obtain material wealth. The text makes clear that, like farmers of old, we are to bring our first and best fruits to God, the giver of all good. The second stanza emphasizes the gospel imperative of labors of love and grace as we live in a world in need. These labors are indicators that we serve God and not wealth.

Today’s Anthem There is a Balm in Gilead Text: inspired by Jeremiah 8:22

Music: African-American spiritual Arranged: William Dawson

This spiritual is included in our hymnal. You may follow along as the choir sings by locating # 394 in our hymnal.

Today 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 10:45 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m.

Neighborhood Breakfast Childcare Worship Service Children’s Education Adult Education College and Career Adult Class

11:00 a.m. 12:15 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m.

New Members Class Concert Handbell Rehearsal GVYC Girls Rehearsal Flint Scottish Pipe Band Sunday Night Pipe

Monday, September 20 8:30 a.m. Staff Devotionals 9:30 a.m. Staff Meeting 11:30 a.m. Narcotics Anonymous

5:15 p.m. Fine Arts Advisory Team Meeting 7:00 p.m. Women’s Bible Study

Tuesday, September 21 7:00 a.m. Renovare 5:00 p.m. Trustee Board Meeting 5:30 p.m. Trustee Finance Team Meeting

5:30 p.m. Trustee B&G Team Meeting 6:30 p.m Mawby Chorale

Wednesday, September 22 8:30 a.m. Renovare 10:30 a.m. Women’s Bible Study 11:30 a.m. Narcotics Anonymous 4:00 p.m. Grief Support 4:45 p.m. Choir Rehearsal Snack Gathering 5:00 p.m. Carol Choir Rehearsal 5:00 p.m. Cantus Choir Rehearsal 5:00 p.m. Cherub Choir Rehearsal

5:45 6:00 6:15 6:15 6:15 6:30 6:30

p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m.

Wednesday Evenings at First Dinner Contemplative Singers Rehearsal Praise Band Practice Wednesdays at First Program Childcare Young Ladies Small Group Bee Helpful K-6 Contemplative Service

6:00 6:00 7:00 7:00

p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m.

Gilmore/Desjardins Wedding Rehearsal Goins/Cripps Wedding Rehearsal Chancel Choir Rehearsal Narcotics Anonymous

Thursday, September 23 9:15 a.m. Women’s Bible Study 9:45 a.m. Women’s Bible Study 10:00 a.m Book Discussion Group 11:30 a.m. Downtown Kiwanis Club Friday, September 24 11:30 a.m. Narcotics Anonymous

The worker described by Jesus in Luke’s parable surveyed the direction of his life and acted "shrewdly." He used all the means at his disposal to adapt to his new reality. We should be no less shrewd in adapting to God’s reality. ~ Jennifer E. Copeland

Saturday, September 25 8:00 a.m. Men’s Bible Study 10:00 a.m. Bikes on the Bricks (outside event)

1:30 p.m Gilmore/Desjardins Wedding 4:00 p.m. Goins/Cripps Wedding

Ministers,

Director of Women’s Ministry,

Members of First Presbyterian Church

Kim Skaff

Senior Pastor,

Director of Youth Ministry,

John L. Musgrave

Jim Pope

Associate Pastor,

Community Ministry,

Paul Ytterock

Lisa Horne

Commissioned Lay Pastor,

Congregational Care Specialist,

Steve Baillie

Lee Doll

Director of Business Administration,

Gerholz Staff Counselor,

James B. Hugan

Jerry Walden

Director of Children’s Ministry,

Parish Nurse,

Jaime Powell

Frankie Bonner

Director of Gerholz Counseling Center,

Organist,

Andy Armstrong

Carl Angelo

Director of Music and Fine Arts, Mark Riddles

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Sunday, September 19, 2010 9:30 a.m.

746 S. Saginaw Street, Flint, MI 48502 810-234-8673 www.fpcf.org

The Worship of Our Lord Jesus Christ

†Late arrivals may be seated

*Doxology

The Gathering of the People of God

The Service of the Word

We gather, knowing God is with us. We bring the Bible, Chalice, and Water as visible evidence of God’s self-giving. Call to Meditation and Preparation Prelude

John L. Musgrave Silence May be Kept Carl Angelo, organist

Prayer for Illumination

Jack McCarthy

Old Testament Reading

Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 (Pew Bibles pgs. 666-667 O.T.)

*Offertory Prayer

Psalm 79

Locklair

Offertory O

God,

come to our help _____ and save

Epistle Reading

Minute for Mission

Kim Skaff

*Call to Worship Hallelujah! Give praise, you servants of the Lord. Let God’s name be blessed, from this time forth forevermore. The Lord raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap. The Lord sets them with the nobles, with the nobles of the chosen people. *Hymn 489

1 Timothy 2:1-7 (Pew Bibles pg. 196 N.T.)

Congregational Response:

Announcements

Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty

Al - le- lu - ia,

Al - le -lu - ia,

Al

Al

-

-

le - lu - ia,

le - lu - ia,

Al

Al

The Peace May Be Exchanged

Locklair

us. _____

Acolyte: Matt Mignault, 5th Grade Silently prepare your hearts for worship at the first note of the prelude.

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

- le- lu- ia, Al - le - lu - ia.

Prayer of the people, thanksgiving and the Lord’s prayer For the family of William Strutts (father of Chelsea) deceased on September 3, 2010. For the family of Herbert Whitener (father of Susan Theakston) deceased on September 13, 2010. For the family of Pam Joyner (wife of Jeff) deceased on September 15, 2010. Those hospitalized this past week: Frieda Bean, Doris Eastman, Mary Louise Hughes, Joan Miller, John Murphy, Lisa Roeser and Yvonne Wismer; Home Hospice: Mildred Davis Those in the military, world and national leaders, the church, and those distressed by natural and human disasters.

- le- lu- ia, Al - le - lu - ia.

The Sending *Closing Hymn 414

(The children may come forward) Children’s Message UNSER HERRSCHER

Call to Confession and Corporate Prayer of Confession Holy God, we confess our willingness to worship almost anything but you. Our devotion is given to our work and to our play. We spend lots of time pursuing idols, only to find them unsatisfying. We have many masters, and we trade them back and forth, hoping that one eventually will have what we need. Have mercy on us. Curb our boundless appetites and feed us with bread that will last. Focus our hearts on Jesus, who alone is worthy of our worship, who alone is able to save. Amen. (Silent Confession)

*Hymn 366

Steve Baillie

Kyrie (Congregation and Choir)

Lord, have mercy up-on us. Christ, have mercy up-on us. Lord have mer-cy upon us.

Assurance of God’s Grace: Friends, believe the good news of the Gospel: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

*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.

Paul Ytterock Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me

ST. CATHERINE

Gospel Reading

Anthem

Sermon

Luke 16:1-13 (Pew Bibles pg. 74 N.T.)

There Is a Balm in Gilead The Chancel Choir Francesca Chiejina, soprano Shrewd Investment

Dawson

Thanksgiving May Follow

Locklair

PERSONAL PRAYER Personal prayer is available in the Prayer Room on the first floor after the service of worship. Elder Joy Briggs will assist after the service. The Flowers Are Given To The Glory Of God

John L. Musgrave

*Affirmation of Faith: The Apostles’ Creed I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. *Passing of the Peace of God (You may extend the hand of peace or cross your chest as a sign of blessing.) *Offertory Sentence

FOREST GREEN

*Benediction and Response

Postlude

(The children may return to their seats)

As Those of Old Their Firstfruits Brought

Donations to the Flower Memorial Fund are used to maintain fresh arrangements for the urns in the Sanctuary and for the Fellowship Tables in the Narthex. They are delivered each week by the Deacons to shut-ins and those celebrating their birthday. In loving memory of Leola Gage Ackerman by Ruth Gage Burns and grandsons, Philip and Paul, and their families. In loving memory Betty Briggs by her daughter, Joy, and grandsons Michael and Nicholas Pugliese. Blessings for our granddaughter, Elliott Rose, on her second birthday from Bob and Linda Charney.

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~ * Indicates where those who are able may stand. Child care for infants through preschool is available on the second floor. ~ Hearing aids are available, please see an usher.

You may place an order for a CD of the whole service at the Welcome Desk for $3.00 Or Visit our website to hear the radio sermon podcast.