Collingswood Presbyterian Church

“A Friendly Church Where Jesus Christ Is Lord”

Ringing in the New Year!

30 Fern Avenue, Collingswood, New Jersey 08108

Telephone: 856-854-4523

Website: www.collingswoodpres.com

E-mail: collspres@verizon.net

William Powell, Director of Music

Gretchen Kolecki, Director of Christian Education

Janis Danielewicz, Secretary

Paul Ciarrochi, Church Caretaker

Within the Father’s house

the Son has found his home; and to his temple suddenly the Lord of Life has come.

The doctors of the law gaze on the wondrous child,

and marvel at his gracious words of wisdom undefiled.

Lord, visit then our souls, and teach us by your grace

each dim revealing of yourself with loving awe to trace; till we behold your face,

and know, as we are known, you, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

co-equal Three in One.

-Robert Kruschwitz

COLLINGSWOOD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY

December 27, 2015 1st Sunday After Christmas

ASSEMBLE IN GOD’S NAME

Silent Prayer Loving God, in your child Jesus Christ our eyes have truly

seen your glory and the wonder of your saving power. By your Spirit, send us out in peace—

proclaiming good news to all people, sharing the light of your revelation, growing in strength and in wisdom,

and worshiping you night and day; through Christ, your promised Word. Amen

Welcome and Announcements

We welcome you in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ! Please sign the guest book in the narthex so we can send you a welcome packet.

Gathering of Prayer Concerns and Joys Please raise your hand to share your joys or concerns to be included in the prayers of the people this day. You may also write your concern on the pink sheets and hand to the Pastor. Please mail a prayer card from the narthex to your loved one.

Centering Music - (Please stand for items marked with an asterisk. GTG is the purple “Glory to God” hymnal. STF is the “Sing the Faith” smaller blue hymnal)

Call to Worship Leader: The Christmas tree lights have dimmed. People: The once-wrapped gifts have been shared. Leader: But the awesome love of God still shines brightly in our hearts. People: Our spirits resound with the good news of salvation. Leader: God is with us! People: Thanks be to God! AMEN.

*Hymn - “Once in David’s Royal City” GTG #140 tune - Irby *Prayer of Confession God our Savior, we confess that we fail to live in your light. You reveal your saving love, but we hide your love from others. You claim us as your children, but we do not claim you as our God. Forgive us, God of grace. Let your will be done in our lives so that we may live in peace according to your word; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen *Words of Assurance Leader: People of God, feel the presence of God right now, in this place, warming your hearts, forgiving your fears and strife; preparing you for joyful service. People: In the name of Jesus Christ, we are beloved and forgiven. AMEN. Response - Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice; give ye heed to what we say: Jesus Christ is born today ox and ass before him bow, and he is in the manger now. Christ is born today! Christ is born today!

*Sharing of the Peace Leader: The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: And also with you.

PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD

Anthem - “God So Loved the World” by John Carter Chancel Choir Old Testament Lesson - Isaiah 61:10 - 62:3 (pages 679-680)

*Hymn “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice” GTG #132 tune - In Dulci Ubilo

Gospel Lesson: Luke 2:22-40 (page 961)

Sermon: “Blessings and Bucket Lists” Rev. Marie Branigan Offering

“We are privileged to contribute out of our abundance that the Christian message might be proclaimed

among us and to our children. We are challenged to give all that we have - our time, our talents, our work,

and our leisure as witnesses to the love of God. The extent to which we invest ourselves is a measure of our commitment.”

Musical Meditation

*Hymn of Dedication “As with Gladness Men of Old” GTG #150

As they offered gifts most rare at thy manger, rude and bare so may we with holy joy, pure and free from sin’s alloy; all our costliest treasures bring, Christ, to thee, our heavenly King.

*Prayer of Dedication (unison)

To you, O God of all glory, we offer the gifts of our lives as a way of bearing witness to the gift of your Word made flesh. Use the humble things we offer as signs of your grace and truth so that all may know your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. - Amen

Prayers of the People

Leader: The Lord be with you People: And also with you. Leader: Prayers of thanksgiving, intercession, petition,

All: 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, for ever. Amen.

*HYMN “Gentle Mary Laid Her Child” GTG #146 tune -

Benediction Leader: Lord let your servants go in peace. We have been given the Great Light, which has come into the world. People: This light of peace and hope, joy and love, shines on us, in us, and through us, to all whom we meet. Leader: Go now in peace, and let the light of God’s great love go with you. AMEN.

GO IN GOD’S NAME

*Hymn - “Longing for Light, We Wait in Darkness ” GTG # 314

tune- Christ Be Our Light

*Benediction

*Choral Response

Go Forward and Serve! Be a part of God’s work through CPC!

Please join us in the Lounge for coffee and fellowship time.

Sunday, December 27, 2015 Large print bulletins and hymnals are available for your convenience. If you have difficulty hearing, personal amplifiers are available in the

narthex. Parents, please pick up a worship activity bag for your children.

Please return the bags to the narthex after the service.

PLEASE BRING THE HEARING AIDS BACK TO THE DEACON OF THE DAY.

Thank you for your service!

Worship Leaders: Candace Lowden Deacon of the Day: Karen Mazak Greeter/Ushers: Karen Mazak, Susan & Liam Berkelbach Fellowship Hosts: Susan Wilson and Louanna Sills

Mitten, Hat and Sock Tree

Our congregation will be collecting hats, scarves, mittens and socks this Christmas to donate to help families in crisis and homeless in our coun-ty. Please help us warm as many people as possible by donating to this collection. Our “Charlie Brown” tree will be placed in the Narthex in a few weeks. Hang your gifts of gloves, hats, scarves and socks from its branches. The tree will stay up until January 2016.

If you have gently used or new coats which you would like to donate, you can place them on the pew in the Nar-thex. Thank you

Youth Group and Sunday School will resume January 10, 2016

Red Cross Blood Drive December 29th

In the Dining room at CPC from 2-7pm. Go online to sign up for a time redcrossblood.org or you can just show up to give this important gift this holiday season!

We will be supporting the IHOC hosting at First Bap-tist Church December 26 - January 9. Please sign up to stay over night men!!! The IHOC men will be staying with CPC March 6th thru March 20th next year. We will need for men to stay overnight and volunteers to make meals. Please contact Rich Herzog or Martha Jane to sign up.

Prayer List If you would like someone on the prayer list, please fill out one of the pink forms. There are several names on the prayer list that we are not sure should still be there so we will start a new prayer list

Nominating Committee This church is so blessed to have the dedicated and supportive membership that we do! There are many ways we can give, not just financially but also we can give our time and talents toward the future of Collingswood Presbyterian Church. Candace Lowden, Lorrie Heuser, and Martha Jane Caldwell Bates are serving as your Nominating Committee this year, and it is time to prayerfully consider your place in the future of our church. We have places for Deacons and Session members (Elders) starting in early 2016. We are also looking for a member of our Senior High youth to be a Youth Deacon. Please prayerfully consider your role in the future of our church; the direction you’d like to see us go in, the activities and programs you want to see in place, and how we can continue to grow in spirit and fellowship with each other in this service. Any member of the Committee would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS

Birthdays: Nancy Celebre, Anthony Tumminia Seminarians: Chris McNabb and Noha Khoury (graduates this December!) Those who serve in government, our military personnel, & those who work in other countries. Our country, our president, and our leaders Jessica Lowden - working in Ghana

Those at home or in care facilities Elizabeth Baggett Harry Binder Robert Johnson

Dorothy Varnum Eleanor Kelley Art Moffett

Pray for Health and Wellness Ray Burns Sam Jang Do-Soon Barbara Miner Carol Rowand Jay Sills Barbara Parker Paul Beatty Bob Whenna Rachel Minnick Art Moffett Marion Mills Becky Rule Sal Ferraro Jean Fink Jane Heinle Cindy Kielbania Diane Blakesley Lori Hunter Ruth Hanson Donald Sharp Diane Gebert Juliana Minyon Michael Arizzi Robert Johnson Rev. Katherine Killebrew Please pick up a prayer card in the narthex

and mail it to these loved ones for whom we pray.

Rev. Debby Brincivalli & Staff of West Jersey Presbytery The Presbyterian Church at Woodbury, Woodbury, NJ Our PCUSA mission in The People’s Republic of China

Juan G. Hall Presbyterian Church, Cardenas, Cuba Njikob Presbyterian Church, Cameroon

If you are going into the hospital or would like a pastoral visit, please call or have a family member call the church office or one of the deacons or elders.

If you don’t call, we are going to assume you don’t want a visit!

Please remember to fill out a new pink form. with each update for the prayer list.

CHURCH STAFF AND OFFICERS - 2015 The Rev. Dr. Katherine G. Killebrew, Pastor

William Powell, Director of Music Gretchen Kolecki, Christian Ed Janis Danielewicz, Church Secretary

Paul Ciarrochi, Church Caretaker Maryann Kelly, Bookkeeper

THE SESSION

(Meets second Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m.) William Ostrem, Clerk of Session

Candace Lowden, President, Board of Trustees Barbara Bockmann, Financial Secretary & Treasurer

BOARD OF DEACONS

(Meets fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m.) Tom Wolfe, Moderator Susan Wilson, Vice-Moderator Karen Mazak, Secretary Martha Jane Caldwell Bates, Treasurer

Class of 2015 Class of 2016 Class of 2017

Mike Amato Jennifer Giordano Candace Lowden

William Ostrem Jeff Hirt Carol Longmire

Karen Schuehler

Committees of Session Chair

Christian Education Karen Schuehler, Carol Longmire

Finance and Stewardship Jeff Hirt

Mission and Outreach Moderator, Deacons

Memorial Candace Lowden

Personnel Jennifer Giordano

Nominating Candace Lowden

Property Mike Amato, William Ostrem

Worship and Arts Moderator

Class of 2015 Class of 2016 Class of 2017

Louanna Sills Tom Wolfe Susan Wilson

Martha Caldwell-Bates Jean Harle Dalton Aversa

Karen Mazak Richard Herzog

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT CPC THIS WEEK

Sun., 12/27 9:00 am - Choir Practice 9:00 am - Book Study Group 11:30 am - Fellowship Time - Lounge NO YOUTH GROUP Tues., 12/29 2:00 pm - Blood Drive Wed., 12/30 5:30 pm - Bell Choir Practice 7:00 pm - Adult Bell Choir Practice Sun., 1/3 9:00 am - Choir Practice 9:00 am - Book Study Group 10:30 am - Worship 11:30 pm - Fellowship Time - Lounge WEEKLY COMMUNITY USE Kaleidoscope Kids Preschool 8:15 to 12:30 Monday - Friday School Closed December 24-January 3 for Christmas break Girl Scouts Troop 30113 6:15 - 7:30 pm 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month Spring of Life Church

Sunday - 1:00 - 2:30 pm - Sanctuary (& nursery) 2:30- 5:00 pm Dining room Wed. & Fri. - 8:00 - 9:30 pm - Jr. Rm.

Our Vision Statement (What we want to be)

We seek to become:

A church that witnesses to the community

and the world by sharing and demonstrating our relationship

with Christ.

A church that encourages all people to know God’s great love

revealed in Jesus Christ.

A church that faithfully listens for God’s will for our lives and

our community

A community of God that is an open, inviting, caring family of

faith where all are embraced, accepted and loved.

Our Mission Statement

(How we will accomplish this vision)

The Collingswood Presbyterian Church Congregation, as part of the

Christian Church, Presbyterian Church USA, is called to Worship and

Serve the Lord by:

Constantly seeking renewal through God’s Grace and Wisdom.

Welcoming and reaching out to all of God’s community.

Providing for education in Christian and Presbyterian principles

Ministering to everyone through community and worldwide

mission.

Sharing the Christian message as expressed in the Gospel.