Sunday, October 2, 2011

World-Wide Communion

 Visitors:  Welcome to our church.  Please sign our guest book!  If you do not have a church home, we pray that you will find one with us.  We have large-print bulletins available, as well as hearing assistance devices.  Please ask an usher if you require either of these.  Restrooms are located in the church school building.  Go through the door next to the choir loft, and straight ahead.  We also have restrooms downstairs in Fellowship Hall.  Again, exit through the door next to the choir loft, turn left down the hall, and go down the steps. 

 We Gather To Worship

Prelude

 Announcements

Chime Interlude

 *Call To Worship

Leader:    The sun rises without fail bringing a new day to Earth and we rise to embrace this time of worship.  Flowers, trees, grasses, and plants flourish and give praise with unfolding leaves, waving blades, and fragrant offering.

All:         May we join them and praise the Creator with our being.

 *Hymn:  “I Sing the Mighty Power of God”….. ………………..#52

*Opening Prayer (We light the Christ Candle.)

Leader:    We gather as those who wonder and wander; we participate and pull back; we are faithful at times and frail at others.

People:   May life-giving ways be opened for us and within us.

Leader:    Some know what it is to struggle, to be broken but not crushed, to despair yet be held by unseen love.

People:   May life-giving ways be opened for us and within us.

Leader:    As a river carries life within its flowing currents, may we encounter, this day, the Spirit of the One in whom is life and love for all.

People:   May life-giving ways be opened for us and within us.

 *Response:  “Hear Our Prayer, O Lord”………………….…#817

 Prayer Of Confession

Leader:    distance, separation, division, broken-hearts

People:   harm, neglect, pollution, extinction  

Leader:    disregard, injustice, uncaring, selfishness

All:         Surely, God, we are guilty of all these ways of separation from you.   (A time for silent prayers of confession; Music:  “Draw Me Nearer.”)

 Assurance Of God’s Forgiveness

Leader:  Hear now these life-giving words:  receive, welcome, reconcile, enfold; restore, conserve, beautify, care; attend, share, compassion, love; forgiven, forgiven, forgiven.  May these words take root within us and become the living reality among and through us.

Affirmation:    “Moment by Moment”. . ………….…….#529

We Hear The Word

 ReadingOf The Scripture:    Exodus 20: 1-4, 7-9, 12-20

A Time For Children

Anthem:       “Come to the Water” ……………………Foley/Shrader

Reading Of The Gospel:    Matthew 21:  33-46

Message For This Day                                        

 We Respond To God

 *Hymn:  “I Come with Joy”…………………………………#768

Pastoral Prayers And The Lord’s Prayer

   (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 sins as we forgive those who sin against us.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.  Amen.)

 Our Offering

Offertory

 *Doxology:  “Praise God from Whom All Blessings” ……………….#809

*Prayer Of Dedication

 

World-Wide Communion

(We practice open-communion, which includes non-members and children.  We do not commune children in the nursery.)

*Words Of Institution

 Leader:.. Friends, this is a table of welcome and grace.  Come, not because I invite you; it is the Spirit of God who gathers us and sheds love in our hearts.  May the Spirit of Christ be with you,

People:.. And also with you.

Leader:… Lift up your hearts.

People:.. We lift our hearts to God.

Leader:… Let us give thanks to God who is Wisdom and Love.  It is right to give our thanks and praise.  God of light and great mystery, in time beyond the dreaming, your breath hovered over the waters and called our world into being; a dance of rare beauty and complexity that continues to unfold around and in us.  Down through the ages your Spirit urged us on, through the giving of law, in the distillation of wisdom, the composition of verse       and music, through the prophetic cry for justice, and most visibly in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ.  And so God of Life, we give you thanks that as we are welcomed around this table we are able to celebrate our unity, honour our differences, and rejoice in a common humanity that is embodies in Jesus Christ.  With the faithful of every time and age, therefore, we enjoin our voices in praise:

People:.. Holy, holy, holy Lord.  God of power and might.  Heaven and earth are full of your glory.  Hosanna in the highest!  Blessed in the One who comes in the name of our God.  Hosanna in the highest!  (please be seated.)

Leader:… We again re-live that special moment in the upper room when Jesus broke the bread, passed it around the table and said to his friends,

People:.. This is my body given for you; each time you do this, remember me.

Leader:… And then taking the cup of wine, after supper,

People:.. This cup is the new relationship possible with God, sealed in my self-giving; each time you drink of it, remember me.

Leader:… Upon these common elements of bread and wine, we seek the blessing and life-giving presence of the Spirit.  Through our sharing may we become more fully at one with Christ, one with each other, and one in our service to the world.  In and through these symbols, may the strength and compassion of Jesus continue to stir our hearts, so as to help make whole the world of God’s making.

Blessing Of The Bread And Cup

Leader:… Holy Spirit, make this bread to be for us the Bread of Life that we might know you deeply, that all who hunger might be filled, that we might be sustained through all that comes our way.  And make this cup to be the cup of mercy, compassion, and wholeness, that you might fill us again with your great love for us, that we might spill that mercy into all the world, and that we may be assured your abundance is enough for always. 

Sharing Of The Elements (Please note the grape juice is in the outer ring and the wine is in the inner ring.  The round wafers are gluten-free.)  (Please hold each element so we may eat and drink together.)

*Prayer Of Thanksgiving

All:…….. We give thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us at your table by granting us the presence of Jesus Christ.  Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one another, and send us forth into the world in courage and peace, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Savior.  Amen.

 *Closing Hymn:  “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise” ………………….#62

*Blessing

Leader:   Go in the wisdom of Christ that enables all creation to flourish in the ways of love:  forgiving, healing, restoring, creating, life.

 *Choral Benediction:  “Christ Beside Me”………………….……#543, V 1

*Chime Meditation

Postlude

*Where noted, please stand if able.                                           

October’s Proverb:

All deeds are right in the sight of the doer, but the Lord weighs the heart.    Proverbs  21: 2

A Greeter is needed for each remaining Sunday in October, including next Sunday, October 9.  Bulletin sponsorship for October 9 is also available.  Please sign the clipboard.

A One-Year Term exists for the 2012 consistory.  Please consider serving.  Contact Fred, Consistory President.

On October 29 we will once again host a Wounded Warriors’ Group for a fly fishing event at the Bennett’s lodge.  Volunteers are needed to greet the Wounded Warriors and prepare lunch at the site.  All are welcome to provide cards of encouragement and thanks for their service that will be distributed to the group.

Neighbors In Need helps make another world possible.  It needs your support.  Please give generously today.  Extra contribution envelopes may be found in the pew racks.

Our next Trivia Nite is coming up on Sunday, October 16, beginning at 6:00.  We enjoy a light supper followed by two rounds of questions.  We then break for homemade desserts and coffee and recommence for two more rounds of questions.  Why not get a team together and join us for a very enjoyable and entertaining evening?  If interested, contact Gina.

Decorate This Christmas With Mixed Pine Wreaths and Yuletide Cheer Swags.  Orders are due by October 16. 

The Consistory will meet on Tuesday, October 11, for Strategic Planning discussion.

The Mission Committee will meet on Thursday, October 13, at Zion House at 7:00 p.m.

Soup Kitchen Update:  There are three remaining Soup Kitchens for the year – Saturday, October 28; Tuesday, November 29; and Saturday, December 31.  The Soup Kitchen committee is open to all suggestions and recommendations on menus or help.  As the holiday season approaches, everyone is caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays.   Please keep in mind the need of those who attend the Soup Kitchen – any effort is always so appreciated.  There are several people who attend on a daily/yearly basis and are known by their first name along with their likes and dislikes.  It especially means a great deal to those particular people thatZion goes the extra mile in helping provide food.  Also, note – all food donations are always picked up on Saturdays by 9:30 a.m.   October sign-up sheet is on the back credenza.  Thank you to everyone for your help!

 Thank You To Everyone Who Participated In Our Community Night At Hoss’s.  We made $129.40.  Our next Community Night will be Monday, December 5.

The Upper Adams Community CROP Walk will be held on Sunday, October 16, starting at 1:00 p.m. from the Wenksville churches.  The purpose of the CROP Walk is to raise funds to feed, clothe and house people; install water sources; and provide self-help programs and recovery programs during national and worldwide disasters. This year once again, 25 percent of the money will go to the Gettysburg Soup Kitchen.  Please join family, friends, and neighbors of the Upper Adams Community to support those less fortunate.  Funds may be turned in anytime, by sending to the church office, placing in the offering plate or giving your donation to Wayne (Chairperson).  Please specify for the CROP Walk.  As in the past, we will pass the volleyball in church.  Checks may be made payable to CWS/CROP.   “Ending hunger one step at a time.”

Habitat For Humanity Update.  The Gettysburg Habitat house still needs volunteers for every Saturday through at least January 7, 2012, and especially on November 12, Zion’s assigned date to provide volunteer workers and a snack.  The work day is from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; but if it only suits for part of the day, that would also work.  Anyone interested in working on any Saturday should please contact Roger.

A pianist is needed to accompany the rotational model youth each Sunday during the Sunday School year.   We have song time from 11-11:10 each morning then perform for the church approximately one time per month.   If you would be willing to help with this project, please see Jessica.  We are looking for someone to fill November at this time.

Our Spring Rotation still has many openings.  Please see sign up sheets and sign up as able.  Thank you!

Greeters Needed for Oct. 9, 16, 23, 30; Nov. 6, 13, 20, 27; Dec. 4, 11, 18, 24, 25.

Nursery Attendants for all Sundays.

Bulletin  Sponsors Needed for Oct. 9, 30; Nov. 13, 27; Dec. 11, 18, 25.

 Coming Up Next Week:

Oct. 3, Something More, Oakside Park, 12 noon

Oct. 5, Bible Study, Fellowship Hall, 6:30 pm

Oct. 5, Choir Practice, Sanctuary, 7:30 pm

Oct. 8, Habitat for Humanity,Gettysburg, 8 am – 4 pm

 Looking Forward:

 Oct. 11, Consistory Strategic Planning Mtg, ZionHse, 7:00 pm

Oct. 13, Mission Mtg,ZionHse, 7:00 pm

Oct. 16, CROP Walk, Wenksville, 1:00 pm

Oct. 16, Trivia Nite, 6:00 pm

Oct. 17, Christian Ed Steering Team, Main SS Rm, 7:00 pm

Oct. 19, Christmas Choir Practice Begins, Sanctuary, 7:30 pm

Oct. 24, Consistory Mtg,ZionHse, 7:00 pm

Oct. 29, Soup Kitchen, Prince of Peace, 10:45 – 1 pm

Oct. 29, Wounded Warrior Fly Fishing, Rob Bennett’s Lodge

Nov. 6, All Saints Sunday, 9:00 am

Nov. 13, Veterans’ Day Observance, 9:00 am