First Presbyterian Church

Cranford, New Jersey

Founded 1851

 

February 7, 2010 10:00 a.m. Worship                           5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

*Those who are able, please stand.                                                                       

Thank you for turning off cell phones.

We Gather Around GodŐs Word

Prelude                                                   Gaelic Air                                                    Chapman

 Introit

*Call to Worship                                                                                                   Skip Winter  

Leader:   Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;                   

People:  We will sing the glory of GodŐs name; and give to God glorious praise!                           L:   Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of GodŐs praise be heard.

      All:   Let all the earth worship you, and sing praises to your holy name.       

 

Opening Hymn 391                             Take My Life                                                    Hendon

                                                             (verses 1,5 & 6)

 

Prayer of Preparation and Confession (unison)                                 Rev. Valencia Norman

Holy Lord, you call us to follow you, to bear witness in speech and deed to the good news of the Gospel.  But we resist your call, persistently pursuing our own desires, fearful of your claims upon us.  Forgive us for seeking to justify our refusal to heed your call.  Stir us up by your Spirit to embrace the mission of Jesus Christ – healing the broken, feeding the hungry, and proclaiming the good news that God is indeed with us.

 

                        Our silent prayers of preparation & confession

Assurance of GodŐs Love and Forgiveness

 

*We Give Glory to God (holding hands)                                                                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.

Welcome and Ritual of Friendship                                                          

(Please fill out the Friendship Pad completely, pass it along, and return it to its starting point. Be sure to include your e-mail address.)

 A Time for Children                    Souperbowl of Caring                             Youth Fellowship

(All children are invited forward.  Afterward, children may go to Sunday School classes for all ages.)

We Proclaim GodŐs Word

First Scripture Reading                (p.778 of Old Testament)                              Isaiah 6:1-8  

L: The Word of the Lord.

P: Thanks be to God.

Anthem                                        Be Glorified/We Bow Down                                 arr.Thomas

                                    Westminster Choir – Dr. Frederick, Irwin Director  

Second Scripture Reading           (p.76 of New Testament)                               Luke 5:1-11

Anthem                                           Every Gift and Blessing                                          Wagner

                                                                 Chancel Choir

Sermon                                                  ŇGone FishingÓ                                Rev. Diane Curtis

We Respond to GodŐs Word

*Hymn 515                                   Now to Your Table Spread                            Love Unknown

 

We Worship With Our Offerings              

Offertory                                                         Sarabande                                                 Bingham

*We Give Praise to God                                                                                      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

 

Sacrament of the LordŐs Supper

            Invitation

            Words of Institution

            Breaking of the Bread

            Communion of the People

Prayers of the People and The LordŐs Prayer

Our Father, who are 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

 

*Closing Hymn 388                      O Jesus, I Have Promised                              AngelŐs Song

                                        

*Benediction

 

Choral Response

 

Postlude

 

Go In Peace – to Serve in Love

 

OPTIONS FOR YOU  During worship in the main sanctuary, the service can be heard over the sound system in the Dorothy Snyder Chapel each Sunday.  Anyone who has left the service with a young child is welcome to sit in there and listen to the service with your child.  Large print bulletins and hymnals and special ChildrenŐs Bulletins are available from the ushers.  Whenever possible, please help your fellow worshipers by exiting and entering the sanctuary at times other than during prayers or scripture readings. Thank you.

WELCOME and thank you for your contribution to this service of worship.  Visitors, members and friends:  please fill in the Friendship Pad completely, noting those near you, and pass it along.  May you sense in this place, the presence and the love of God in Christ.

NURSERY CARE for children 2 years and younger is always available during worship in the Nursery, located downstairs in Memorial Hall (adjacent to the sanctuary) across from the Thomson Youth Center.  A Crib Room is also available.  Please ask an usher for directions.

SUNDAY SCHOOL classes for all ages (2 & ½ and up) are located in the Education Building.  Church School leaders are available to help students and parents locate their classrooms.

THE FLOWERS today are given to the glory of God by the Buchanan family in memory of Robert J. Buchanan; and by the Pinto family in loving memory of Mom and Nanny Judy.

 

 

 

 

 
 

                                                                                                                       

Interim Pastor & Head of Staff – The Rev. Diane Curtis

Associate Pastor – The Rev. Valencia B. Norman

Director of Music Ministries – Dr. Frederick Irwin

Assistant Music Director – Elsa G. Hahn

Organist – Robert Grube, Jr.

Director of Christian Education – Mary E. Beckhusen

Youth Director – Melissa E. Layfield           

                                            Church Administrator – Gail L. Clauer

 

Church website:  www:firstprescranford.org

 

Prayers of the Church Family

ŇIn you our ancestors trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them.  To you they cried, and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.Ó

                                                                                                                              Psalm 22:4-5

Prayer for those in the First Pres. family facing health challenges and the loss of family members.

And for loved ones & friends of the First Pres. family.

Please offer prayers for peace, for those affected by war and violence, all who have lost jobs, for all who are homeless and hungry, for families in conflict, for fighters and survivors of disease, their families and friends, and those suffering thru natural disasters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TO REACH THE PASTOR, you may contact the Rev. Diane Curtis at 908 803-6395 or by e-mail at dianecurtis@firstprescranford.org; or the Rev. Valencia Norman at 201 404-6935 or by e-mail at vbnorman@firstprescranford.org.

THE LORDŐS SUPPER at First Presbyterian Church, is celebrated the first Sunday of each month. All baptized Christians are welcome at the LordŐs Table, trusting that forgiveness and abundant life are not rewards conferred on the worthy, but gifts of grace offered by a loving God to those who come in faith, acknowledging their brokenness and need for God, and seeking reconciliation with God and neighbor. Baptized children who are being nurtured and instructed in the significance of the invitation to the Table at their level of understanding are invited to receive the LordŐs Supper.  Welcome.

THE ŇLOOSE OFFERINGÓ (undesignated monies) given today and every Communion Sunday support the DeaconsŐ Fund, providing emergency assistance to those in need in this congregation & community.

CHAPEL PRAYER TIME – Following each SundayŐs worship service, the Dorothy Snyder Chapel is open for prayer and quiet meditation.  All are welcome.

LABYRINTH WALK TODAY – You are invited to walk a canvas replica of the Chartres Labyrinth in France today from 1-4 p.m. in Bates Hall. This ancient meditative practice is a wonderful means for Christians to feel closer to God, to promote peace and healing, to focus on mindfulness, and to experience the Divine Presence.  More information is available at the walk.  First Pres. offers the Labyrinth Walk to members, friends and the community the first Sunday of each month.

THE PRESEVENTS NEWSLETTER  Beginning with the March publication, the newsletter will only be sent out via e-mail and will be available on the church website.  You will no longer receive a newsletter in U.S. Mail unless you specifically ask for it.  Please notify the church office (908 276-8440) if you wish to have it mailed.

BOY SCOUTS There will be a Candlelighting ceremory on Monday, February 8th at 7:30 in Sperry Park to celebrate the Boy ScoutsŐ100 years of Scouting.  Sperry Park is located  on North Union Avenue and Riverside Drive in Cranford.  If you have any questions, please call Michelle Freeland at (908) 276-9449.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This year is the 21st nationwide Souperbowl of Caring!  Here at First Presbyterian Church of Cranford, we have our very own Cranford-Elmora Soup Kitchen that directly benefits from Souperbowl of Caring donations.  Attendance is noticeably higher at the soup kitchen lately, a visible reminder of our nationŐs economic crisis. 

 

How can you help?  Today is the day! Place your contributions in the soup pots held by youth at each door at the end of the service.  A portion of these dollars get stretched into hundreds of meals served each and every Sunday at the Cranford-Elmora Soup Kitchen and a portion will go to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance for relief work in Haiti.

 

 Also, participate in Youth FellowshipŐs Souperbowl Service Blitz and donate much needed toiletries including toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, washcloths, tissue packets and trial size toiletries that will be combined into personal care kits.  Look for donation locations at the entrance/exits of the sanctuary.  These personal care kits have become very popular at the soup kitchen and will be distributed when Youth Fellowship volunteers today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

WhatŐs Happening This Week

at First Presbyterian Church

Sunday, February 7, 2010 – The Lord Supper – Souperbowl Sunday

  10:00 a.m.     Worship Service                                                                                    Sanctuary

  10:00 a.m.     Sunday school                                                Sanctuary & Christian Education bldg.

  11:15 a.m.     Fellowship Time                                                                  Thomson Youth Center     

  11:30 a.m.     Westminster Choir                                                                               Music Room

  11:30 a.m.     Confirmation Class                                                                                Room 302

  11:30 a.m.     Youth Fellowship (Souperbowl wrap up)                                                 Room 301

  11:30 a.m.     Membership  Exploration Class                                                                        Board Room

  11:30 a.m.     Mission Study Team                                                                                      Library

    1:00 p.m.     Labyrinth                                                                                               Bates Hall

    1:00 p.m.     Soup Kitchen – Team #2                                                               Meet at Church

     6:00 p.m.    There is no youth fellowship       

     7:00 p.m.    Journey to Wholeness – Seminar #2 -Grief Tasks                                        Mettam Lounge

Monday, February 8, 2010

    7:00 p.m.     Personnel                                                                                           Board Room

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

     8:00 p.m.    Membership Team                                                                             Board Room

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

    7:30 p.m.     PrimeTime Board meeting                                                                   Room 202

    7:30 p.m.     Trustee meeting                                                                                             Board Room

Thursday, February 11 2010

    3:30 p.m.     Caroler Choir rehearsal                                                                                   Music Room

    4:30 p.m.     Crusader Choir rehearsal                                                                     Music Room

    6:30 p.m.     Jubilee Bell Choir rehearsal                                                                 Music Room

    7:30 p.m.     Chancel Choir rehearsal                                                                                 Music Room

Friday, February 12, 2010

    6:00 p.m.     Play & Date                                                                                         Bates Hall

Sunday, February 14, 2010 – Scout Sunday

  10:00 a.m.     Worship Service                                                                                    Sanctuary

  10:00 a.m.     United Sunday school                                                                            Bates Hall

  11:15 a.m.     Fellowship Time                                                                  Thomson Youth Center     

  11:30 a.m.     Westminster Choir                                                                               Music Room

  11:30 a.m.     DeaconsŐ meeting                                                                               Board Room

    6:00 p.m.     Middle School Fellowship                                                                       Room 302

    7:00 p.m.     Youth share supper                                                                                Room 302

    7:00 p.m.     Journey to Wholeness – Seminar #3 – Coping Mechanisms                Mettam Lounge

    7:30 p.m.     High School Fellowship                                                                                        Room 302

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trustees

2009-2010

 

        Class of 2010          Al Binder

              Scott Mease

                     Jim VanderHoff

              Class of 2011          Christine Esposito

                                           Dale Pritchett    

                                           Jim Weisgerber

              Class of 2012          Karen Buchanan

                                           Matt Howard

                                                Dave Swanson

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.                                   Plan ahead for :

 

ADULT EDUCATIONŐS

 

BROWN BAG BIBLE STUDY FOR LENT

During the season of Lent, Pastor Diane will be leading an hour-long brown bag Bible study on Wednesday at noon.  Each week we will discuss one of the parables of Jesus.  Bring a lunch and join us. 

 

Wednesday February 17th

at 12 noon  to 1 p.m.

 Library

--------------------------------------------------------

 February 17th at 7:30 p.m.

 

in the main sanctuary