Sunday bulletin for June 1, 2014 06.01.2014

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OFFICERS
SESSION AND TRUSTEES
BY CLASS AND TERM

Clerk of Session
Janet Hill
BOARD OF DEACONS
BY CLASS AND TERM
Class of 2014
Pat Brown (1)
Russell Carlson (2)
Mary Field (2)
Karen Frieder (2)
Olga Rico-Armesto (1)
Lou Ann Luther Riegle (1)
Class of 2014
Mark Armesto (T) (1)
John Darby (T) (2)
Lauren Hill (T) (2)
Marv Riegle (2)
Erica Wichtowski (1)
Class of 2015
Liz Kamke (1)
Tina Osei (1)
Judith Paradzai (2)
Phil Sims (2)
Denis Wettlaufer (2)
Class of 2015
Jean Hess (2)
Tim Hess (1)
Janet Hill (2)
Don Houck (T) (2)
Susan Koeppel (1)
Virginia McIntyre (1)
Class of 2016
Jackie Addo (1)
Cleo Alexander (2)
Mark Juan Armesto (2)
José Gomez (2)
Gifty Koramoah (1)
Ken Madell (2)
Class of 2016
Ian Bradford (T) (2)
Mike Henry (T) (2)
Stephanie Smith (1)
Ryan Nadbrzuch (T) (1)
Maria Oakley (1)
(T) indicates that the Elder has also been nominated or elected to serve as a Trustee while on
Session.
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First Presbyterian Church
(716) 884-7250 ▪ Fax: (716) 884-7253
[email protected] ▪ www.firstchurchbuffalo.org
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Church Calendar for the Week
Sunday, June 1
The mission of historic First Church is to bring diverse people of
metropolitan Buffalo together to follow Jesus Christ through worshiping
God, fostering spiritual growth, and serving the community.
12:15 p.m.
12:15 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
Ascension Sunday
June 1, 2014
Wherever ◊ appears, you are asked to stand if you are able to do so.
Text in bold print indicates congregational responses.
Partita on St. Flavian
Prelude
Healey Willan
◊Call to Worship:
Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with joy! Sing praises to God; sing praises!
Christ is risen from the dead and reigns in heaven. How majestic is the Lord on high.
◊Prayer of the Day (responsive)
The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray:
Eternal God, by raising Jesus from the dead you proclaimed his victory, and by his
ascension, you declared him Lord of all. Lift up our hearts to heaven where he lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
“Come, Christians, Join to Sing”
◊Hymn 150
Living God, we confess that we look for the living among the dead. You made Christ
the head of the church; still we seek to exalt ourselves. You put all things under his
feet; still we seek to humble others. Forgive us; give us new life! Lift up our hearts to
heaven, where your new life awaits us, the life that death cannot destroy; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness (responsive)
All of us, like sheep have gone astray, but now we have returned to the shepherd and
guardian of our souls. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! Thanks be to God.
“Glory to the Father”
Richard Wetzel
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as in the beginning, so now, and forever. Amen.
Christian Education Recognition
Adult Christian Education — Pastor’s Study
Worship & Communion,
Rev. Dr. Philip S. Gittings preaching — Sanctuary
Fellowship Time — Narthex
Women’s Association Hat Tea—Chapel
Potluck Supper—Chapel
Jazz worship service — Chapel
Monday, June 2
Building Closed
Tuesday, June 3
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
12:30 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
Staff Meeting — Pastor’s Study
Food Bag Assistance — Historical Hall
Literacy Tutoring — Chapel
Lands & Buildings Committee Meeting — Historical Hall
Wednesday, June 4
1:00 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
Church Office Closed
Bible Study — Pastor’s Study
Literacy Tutoring — Chapel
Thursday, June 5
Church Office Closed
No events
Friday, June 6
Church Office Closed
No events
Saturday, June 7
No events
Sunday, June 8
Pentecost
PC(USA) Pentecost Offering (see insert for more information)
Adult Christian Education — Pastor’s Study
Worship, Rev. Dr. Philip S. Gittings preaching — Sanctuary
Sunday School — Classrooms
Fellowship Time — Chapel
Board of Deacons Meeting — Historical Hall
Madrid
Prayer of Confession (unison)
◊Canticle
9:30 a.m.
11:15 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
11:15 a.m.
11:30 a.m.
12:15 p.m.
12:15 p.m.
◊Passing of the Peace
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
SUNDAY, JUNE 1, 2014
Today’s Liturgist is Maria Oakley.
WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION HAT TEA
TODAY after worship in the chapel. Don your
favorite hat and enjoy special delicacies to satisfy
your sweet tooth! Proceeds to be donated to Child
& Family Services!
JAZZ WORSHIP SERVICES
TONIGHT! 5:30 PM Potluck Supper
7:00 PM Worship service with Jazz music
by pianist Michel McNeill
Sponsored by the Church Life Committee
Other dates: Sundays, July 6 & August 3
The flowers in the chancel are given to the glory of
God, and with gratitude for all Christian Education
volunteers.
Welcome to all visitors— you have a friend at
First Church! If you would like to learn more about
our diverse, welcoming faith community, please
speak to a Deacon after worship.
If you have a prayer request to include during
Prayers of the People, please use one of the blue
prayer cards available in the Narthex or by asking a
Deacon. Please write neatly and give your card to
a Deacon.
JUNE ADULT EDUCATION
Phil Gittings has challenged, asked, and prayed for
all our young adults and everyone else interested
in ministry with young adults to attend the very
special discussions on Sunday mornings during
June! We hope you’ll come— no matter what your
age.
LIMITED CHURCH OFFICE HOURS THIS WEEK
Please note, Christina Banas will be outside the
office Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this
week.
TODAY IS FOOD PANTRY SUNDAY
The first Sunday of the month is designated “Food
Pantry Sunday.” Donations of canned goods can
be placed near the chancel. Monetary donations to
the Lyon Food Pantry are also appreciated. First
Church feeds an average of 20 hungry people
every Tuesday, right here in our neighborhood.
This is an opportunity for hands-on mission that
helps many. Thank you!
During the month of June our Adult Sunday School
will be sharing a very special few weeks together.
At 9:30 a.m. on June 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 we will
meet to discuss the June 2014 issue of our
denomination’s magazine, “Presbyterians Today.”
The issue is totally given over to articles by and
about young adults and their vision for the church.
The articles focus on a variety of topics including
embracing new leaders, 11 practical ways to
engage young adults, and one called “Preach this,
tweet that”! There’s even an article called “The
Word Made Flesh” that talks about tattoos as a
spiritual practice.
FOOD PANTRY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
If you can help with the food pantry this month,
please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex.
So if you want an interesting, exciting and
absolutely wonderful experience of learning in
June, then come to Sunday school at 9:30 a.m.
each Sunday. Maybe God’s Spirit will teach us all
some wonderful new things if you join us for this
class.
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Christian Education Recognition
Today we celebrate and recognize the many gifts of our Sunday School Teachers,
CE Committee and staff! We are blessed!
CE Chair: Erica Wichtowski
Staff to CE: Meg Doerzbacher
Nursery Care: Cassondra Sheriff and Kayra Clark
Sunday School Teachers:
Jen Doerr, Daisy Genrich, Jose Gomez, Janet Hill,
Maria Oakley, Celina & Jason Robinson, Stephanie Smith, Katherine Woodard
Children’s sermons & Banners: Maria Oakley
Bible Study Leader: Rev. Dr. Philip Gittings
Acolyte Coordinator: Olga Rico-Armesto
CE Committee:
Jennifer Doerr, JoAnn Doerr, Rev. Dr. Philip Gittings, Ellen Henry,
Janet Hill, Liz Kamke, Rebecca Laubenstein, Lou Ann Luther-Riegle, Ingrid Meyer,
Virginia McIntyre, Olga Rico-Armesto, Erica Wichtowski, Katherine Woodard
Reverend Gittings: Through all that we do as a congregation, we seek to form faithful
disciples of Jesus Christ who live out their faith in service and witness to the world. To that
end, each of us is called to be on a life-long journey of learning. As we celebrate the
educational ministries of our congregation, we recognize the need for spiritual growth that
involves a commitment to practicing the disciplines of the faith.
Let us express our gratitude to God in prayer:
We give thanks, O God, for the gifts of teaching and learning. Bless those who have
answered your call to lead in our educational ministries. Give each of us full awareness
of your presence, as together we seek to inform and to form, to lead and to follow, to
strengthen and to be strengthened. We give you praise and thanksgiving for all that we
are and for all that we will be through your guidance. Amen.
Announcements
Recognition of May Food Pantry Volunteers
Mark Armesto, Susan Koeppel, Karen Lewis, Sheila Miller, Sue Snyder, Katherine Woodard
First Reading: Psalm 47
OT page 518
Anthem
God Is Gone Up!
Michael McCabe
God is gone up with a merry, merry noise. The Lord with the sound of the trumpet. O sing
praises unto the Lord. Alleluia. O King of glory, Lord of hosts, who on this day ascended in
triumph far above all heavens: we beseech thee leave us not comfortless, but send to us the Spirit
of Truth, promised of the Father; who livest and reignest with the Father and Spirit, world
without end. Amen. God is gone up with a merry, merry noise!
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Second Reading: Acts 1:1-11
NT page 118
“Up & Away”
Sermon
◊Hymn 144
“Alleluia! Sing to Jesus”
Rev. Dr. Philip S. Gittings
Austrian Hymn
The Eucharist
Offertory
Bread of the World
Austin Lovelace
Bread of the world in mercy broken, wine of the soul in mercy shed, by whom the words of life were
spoken, and in whose death our sins are dead. Look on the heart by sorrow broken, look on the tears
by sinners shed; and be thy feast to us the token that by thy grace our souls are fed. Bread of the
world in mercy broken, wine of the soul in mercy shed. Bread of the world, wine of the soul.
“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”
Old Hundredth
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Christ, all people here below;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore; Praise triune God, whom we adore. Amen.
◊Doxology 591
The Minister continues and says:
Great is the mystery of faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
The Minister continues and says:
Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are
Yours, almighty Father, now and forever. Amen.
And now, with the confidence of the children of God, let us pray:
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
◊Prayer of Dedication (responsive)
Yours, O Lord, are grandeur and power, majesty, splendor, and glory.
All in the heavens and on the earth is Yours, and of Your own we give You. Amen.
Invitation to the Lord's Table
Great Thanksgiving (responsive)
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give God our thanks and praise.
The Minister continues and then says:
Therefore we lift our hearts in joyful praise, joining our voices with choirs of angels and
with all the faithful of every time and place, who forever sing to the glory of your name:
Distribution of the Elements & Communion of the People
Prayer after Communion (unison)
Gracious God, You have made us one with all Your people in heaven and on earth.
You have fed us with the bread of life, and renewed us for Your service. Help us who
have shared Christ's body and received His cup, to be His faithful disciples so that our
daily living may be part of the life of Your kingdom, and our love be Your love
reaching out into the life of the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
◊Hymn 151
“Crown Him with Many Crowns”
Diademata
Prelude in C
J. S. Bach
◊Charge and Benediction
Postlude
♦♦♦♦♦
What to expect in worship next week:
June 8 — The Day of Pentecost
On Pentecost the Holy Spirit came whooshing down in to Jerusalem with the gift of
tongues and new understanding of the mission of the church. Pentecost is called “The Birthday
of the Church” for good reason, and we hope you’ll come celebrate our birthday together. Our
young people will share in a special observance of Pentecost during the service and all of us will
look and listen for God’s Spirit in our lives.
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