The First Presbyterian Church

Delhi, New York

July 5, 2020 9:30 a.m.

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

This service will be recorded. All chat messages will be displayed in the recording. By staying in this meeting you

consent to be recorded.

Please take a moment to prepare your Communion elements.

You will want to gather: Bread (or crackers, tortilla, etc.) and grape juice. If you do not have

grape juice, use your best judgment on a replacement (i.e. juice, water, wine).

“The voice of my beloved! Look, he comes, leaping upon the mountains…” Song of Songs 2:8

GATHERING AROUND THE WORD

Prelude

Welcome and Church Life Notes

Introit

Call to Worship (from Psalm 145)

One: Let us worship the Lord who is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.

All: The Lord is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds. The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.

One: The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.

All: My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord; all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever. Praise belongs to God!

Hymn “God of the Ages, Whose Almighty Hand” vs 1, 2, and 4 #332

God of the ages, whose almighty hand leads forth in beauty all the starry band of shining words in splendor through the skies, our grateful songs before they throne arise.

Thy love divine hath led us in the past. In this free land by thee our lot is cast. Be thou our ruler, guardian, guide, and stay. Thy word our law, thy paths our chosen way.

Refresh thy people on their toilsome way. Lead us from night to never ending day. Fill all our lives with love and grace divine, and glory, laud, and praise be ever thine.

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession

All: God, we confess that we have sinned in your sight. Despite our best efforts and intentions,

we have failed to consistently live in ways that bring honor to your name. Forgive us.

Through the grace of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, set us free from the

grip of sin—from attitudes and actions that do not lead to life, but only hurt ourselves and

others. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

(A moment for silent personal prayer of confession)

Assurance of Pardon One: We rejoice in God’s saving grace!

All: Once we were slaves to sin, living lives that led only to death. But thanks be to God! In his mercy, he has set us free from the power of sin and death, and has offered us forgiveness and eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Choral Response “Praise to God the Father” #605

Praise to God the Father; praise to God the Son; praise to God the Spirit: praise to the Three-in-One. Sing praise, sing praise to the Lord on high. Praise to God Almighty; praise to the Holy One.

Sharing the Peace

One: The peace of Christ be with you.

All: And also with you.

PROCLAIMING THE WORD

Interlude Billy Meredith

Prayer for Illumination Gracious God, as we turn to your Word for us, may the Spirit of God rest upon us. Help us

to be steadfast in our hearing, in our speaking, in our believing, and in our living. Amen.

Song of Solomon 2:8-13 (attached) Leader: The Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

Sermon “Arise, My Love” Rev. Dr. Lisa Ruth Mays

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

Affirmation of Faith One: Let us confess our faith in God.

All: We believe in God the Father, who reveals his love to us in Christ. We believe in God the Son, who pours out God's Holy Spirit on us. We believe in the Holy Spirit, who teaches us God's truth. We believe in one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Eucharist

Presentation of Gifts & Offerings

Call to the Offering

Offerings may be made online at https://fpcdelhi.org/content/offering or by USPS mail service.

Offertory

Choral Response “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” #608

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise Christ all creatures here below; praise Holy Spirit evermore; praise Triune God, whom we adore.

Prayer of Dedication All: We ask you to bless our gifts to your service, O Lord, and bless us, your servants,

that we may be generous of heart and hand in the ministry of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Invitation to the Lord's Table

Communion Hymn “Take, O Take Me as I Am” #698

Take, O take me as I am; summon out what I shall be; set your seal upon my heart and live in me.

Prayer of Thanksgiving and The Lord’s Prayer … “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”

Words of Institution

Communion of the People Using the elements which you have prepared prior to the service, please follow as Pastor Lisa leads us in Communion.

Prayer after Communion Lord, we meet you in your Word, and we meet with you at the Table of grace. We cannot find the strength we need to live life without your familiar and blessed presence with us. May the meal we have shared with you and with one another, sustain us in times of struggle, and knit us together in the bond of love as one body. May we go forth into the world with the love you give to all peoples everywhere. Amen.

Hymn “O Beautiful for Spacious Skies” #338

O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain, for purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.

O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife, who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life! America! America! God mend thy every flaw; confirm they soul in self-control, they liberty in law.

O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years thine alabaster cities gleam, un dimmed by human tears! America! America! May God they gold refine till all success be nobleness and every grace divine!

Benediction

Song on the Way “Blessed Assurance” #839

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his love.

Refrain: This is my story; this is my song, praising my savior all the day long. This is my story; this is my song, praising my savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, all is at rest; I in my Savior am happy and blest, watching and waiting, looking above, filled with his goodness, lost in his love. (refrain)

Postlude CCLI License # 275648

*****

Leading us in worship this morning:

Rev. Dr. Lisa Ruth Mays, Pastor Billy Meredith, Music Director

Elder Renee Maxwell, Liturgist

Thought for the Day: “Your worth consists in what you are and not in what you have. What you are will show in what you do.” —Thomas Davidson

First Presbyterian Church

of Delhi, New York July 5, 2020

Welcome to worship this midsummer day! May faith and hope grow in each of us, as crops and flowers and fruits ripen all around us these days.

King of the nations, thank you for the freedoms we enjoy. Empower us to work for basic freedoms for all people worldwide. Amen.

A special welcome is extended to all who are visiting with us this morning. We hope that your virtual worship experience will be meaningful and enjoyable. If you are interested in learning more about First Presbyterian Church or becoming a member of this congregation, please speak with Pastor Lisa Ruth, the Church Office or any Elder.

Today you are invited to share the Lord’s Supper. Since we will be worshipping virtually, please take a moment to prepare your Communion elements prior to worship. You will want to gather: Bread (or crackers, tortilla, etc.) and grape juice. If you do not have grape juice, use your best judgment on a replacement (i.e. juice, water, wine).

Your tithes and offerings may be made online via PayPal, click the donate button at https://fpcdelhi.org/content/offering , or by regular USPS mail service (4 Clinton Street, Delhi, NY 13753).

Our first Sanctuary Service for the summer is planned for July 19th at 9:30, our summer hours. Please watch for an email with all protocols for this event. We will also continue to offer virtual worship for those wishing to worship from home, phone or camp.

The last Sunday of each month is a BOUNTIFUL GIVING SUNDAY. Only cash donations can be accepted from donors at any site providing emergency food pantries in Delaware County. We ask that you please hold your food solid donations until the restrictions are lifted. The food already at the closed church will be forwarded at that time. We recommend online https://fpcdelhi.org/content/offering and cash donations, designated for food bank, in the meantime. Please make checks out to First Presbyterian Church. Checks may be mailed via regular mail to the church at 4 Clinton Street, Delhi NY 13753.

Stay connected with God!

Check out Pastor Lisa’s Ministry Moments by clicking on the “Ministry Moment” graphic.

Several new moments each week!

Devotional booklets (Upper Room and Daily Bread) are available on the table of the gazebo in a box. Please take one for your daily devotions touching only those you intend to take with you. Please respect all social distancing rules during pick up.

If you do not have access to internet or cell phone or computer and would like to have a hymnal and bulletin delivered to you, please contact Pastor Lisa or the church office and we will arrange to have a hymnal left at your door.

Monday evening Spiritual Fitness has begun a study on the book of Ephesians. The group meets at 5:00 pm on Monday evenings. All are welcome to join in the new study! Please contact Pastor Lisa to receive online meeting information.

Summer Mission Emphasis – Local School Supply Collection

The First Presbyterian Church of Delhi is heading the School Supply project for the Delhi Community.

There will be a basket outside the First Presbyterian Church Office for school supply donations when the

building reopens. Thank you for your help with this important local mission! If you have any questions, please

call the First Presbyterian church office at 607-746-2155. A list of items needed may be found in the Summer

Courier, on the church website or obtained by contacting the church office. Cash donations may be made

online https://fpcdelhi.org/content/offering via the link on the church website (be sure to note “school

supplies” in the notes. Checks should be made payable to “First Presbyterian Church” with ‘school supplies’

on the memo line and may be placed in the offering when we return to worship or mailed to First Presbyterian

Church, 4 Clinton Street, Delhi, NY 13753. Please submit all donations by Monday, August 24 so they can

be sorted and distributed. Cash donations will be used to purchase needed items.

First Presbyterian Church of Delhi is currently accepting applications for the position of church secretary. Details may be obtained by contacting Jeff Gearhart at (607)435-2125 or at gearhartj@aol.com. Cover letters and resumes may be sent to Jeff at 93 Delaware Avenue, Delhi, NY 13753 or emailed to the address given. All applicants must have sent information by July 15th.

THOUGHTS ON GIVING: “For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Matthew 11:30) When we think of being good stewards, we may think that God is asking too much of us when God calls us to generously share our time, talent, and treasure. However, we must remember that we are not “owners” of anything, we are merely “stewards” of the gifts God has given us. All God is asking is that we give back a small portion, in gratitude, of what God has already given to us. STEWARDSHIP PRAYER: That, in gratitude for all that God has given us, we joyfully return a portion of God’s gifts to help build the kingdom of God on earth.

The Per Capita amount for 2020 has been set at $40.55 per member.

Virtual Attendance Sunday 6-28-20 Approximately 60

The amount needed each week The amount given week of 6-28-20

$2,245.00* $3,228.50

The amount needed year-to-date The amount given YTD as of 6-28-20 Fuel Fund given YTD as of 6-28-20

Kirk Receipts week of 6-21 to 6-27 Mission giving week of 6-28-20 Mission giving YTD as of 6-28-20

$58,370.00 $54,349.28 $3,191.00

$0 (shop closed) $10.00

$1,953.00

Apportionment Needed 2020 Apportionment received YTD as of 6-28-20

$7,380.10 $1,915.75

**The amount needed each week is total expenses minus budgeted savings transfers.

The volunteers are working hard to get the KIRK back in operation.

Donations will be accepted Mondays and Thursdays from 10 - 12 AM at the Boyd entrance. Items will be checked and accepted or refused by a volunteer using pre-established guidelines. We will take Fall as well as Summer clothes and decor at this time. After the store reopens, donations will be accepted on Fridays and Saturdays also from 10 - 12.

If you are unable to bring your donations during these hours, arrangements may be made to meet someone at another time. We can also pick up items from your address.

There are NO tubs in the upstairs hallway for accepting items - they must be brought to the receiving area at Boyd entrance.

Volunteers are desperately needed for receiving and pricing and/or working in the store when it is open. Other needs are taking surplus to the dump or a donation receiving location once a week. We continue to need handle bags of all sizes as well.

Thank you for your understanding and patience as we discover new ways to be the church. We are called by God to serve in creative ways during these ever-changing times!