THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF NEW CANAAN3RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME JANUARY 21, 2018

* ALL WHO ARE ABLE ARE INVITED TO STAND.

GATHERINGPlease prayerfully allow the silent, sacred space of the sanctuary

and the quiet stirrings of the Spirit to prepare your heart and mind for worship.

“But the judgment of God is upon the church as never before. If today's church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an

irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century.”-The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Letter from a Birmingham City Jail

PRELUDE “No. 2 in A-flat from Moments Musicaux, Op. 94” Franz Schubert

* CALL TO WORSHIP Rev. Shannan Vance-OcampoMinister: As we gather for worship, O Lord, help us let go . . .People: Of the things that trap us, the fears that silence us, the anger that haunts us.Minister: As we gather for worship, O Lord, help us let go . . .People: Of the worry, stress or anxiety that have filled us since the last time

we gathered in your presence.Minister: As we gather for worship, O Lord, help us let go . . .People: Of grief, sadness, or a desire for something else.Minister: As we gather for worship, O Lord, help us pick up . . . People: The gift of your grace, your love and your life that fills us. Minister: As we gather for worship, O Lord, help us pick up . . .People: The gift of each other, the gift of this community, the gift of this time of worship.Minister: As we gather for worship O Lord, help us say together,People: We are here. We are not alone. Minister: Jesus Christ is among us today. All: Alleluia! Amen.

* PROCESSIONAL HYMN No. 459 “Father, We Praise Thee” CHRISTE SANCTORUM

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison) Rev. Kathryn Kibbie Laird O Lord our God, we confess that too often we are seduced by the ways of this world: power, prestige and control. Too often we have placed our trust in things that are not of you, and have gone down roads that are not connected to your call to follow Jesus the Christ. We have given our lives over to anxiety and fear and forgotten that you created all and called it good, even our lives. How turned around we have been, how far we are from you! And yet, in your great love you offer to knit us back together. In your grace, you offer to save us once again. In your mysterious ways, you offer new life and new beginnings. Hear our prayers of confession today and once again offer us the opportunity to “follow you.” In Christ, we pray... Amen.

TIME OF SILENT CONFESSION…

KYRIE ELEISON James MacMillan

DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS

* CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE No. 579 The Gloria PatriGlory 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.

SHARING OUR LIFE AND MINISTRYPlease sign the card and pass it to your neighbor. As you pass it back to the center, take note of who is here so we can become better acquainted. Visitors, please give your address, telephone, and e-mail information.

TIME WITH CHILDREN

CHILDREN ARE INVITED TO SUNDAY’S COOL ROTATION(Please bring your buck and a can offering with you to Sunday’s Cool)

THE WORD

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION (unison) Barbara BeallOpen our hearts O Lord, to your Word. Open our minds O Lord, to your Word. Open our souls O Lord, to your Word. Open our lives O Lord, to your Way. Amen.

FIRST LESSON Psalm 62 (OT pages 526-527)Minister: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.People: Thanks be to God.

ANTHEM “In Your Light We See the Light” David McCarthy All life comes from you, O God! And in your light we see the light. O Lord, your constant love covers the sky. Under your wings we find protection. You give us the food we eat. We drink from the river of your goodness. All life comes from you, O God! And in your light we see the light. Amen!

SECOND LESSON Mark 1:14-20 (NT page 35)Minister: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.People: Thanks be to God.

SERMON “Following” Rev. Shannan Vance-Ocampo

RESPONDING

* HYMN No. 343 “Called as Partners in Christ's Service” BEECHER

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Rev. Mary Marple Thies Leader: The Lord be with you.People: And also with you.Leader: 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.

PRESENTATION OF TITHES, OFFERINGS AND OURSELVES

OFFERTORY “O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High” arr. Victoria Shields O love, how deep, how broad, how high, how passing thought and fantasy, that God, the Son of God, should take our mortal form for mortals’ sake! He sent no angel to our race, of higher or of lower place, but wore the robe of human frame, and He Himself to this world came. For us baptized, for us He bore His holy fast, and hungered sore; for us temptations sharp He knew, for us the tempter overthrew. For us to wicked men betrayed, scourged, mocked, in crown of thorns arrayed, He bore the shameful cross and death for us at length gave up His breath. For us He rose from death again, for us He went on high to reign, for us He sent His Spirit here to guide, to strengthen, and to cheer. All glory to our Lord and God for love so deep, so high, so broad — the Trinity whom we adore forever and forevermore.

* DOXOLOGY OLD HUNDREDTHPraise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise God all creatures here below; Praise God above ye heavenly host; Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

* PRAYER OF DEDICATION

SENDING

* HYMN No. 132 “Come, Great God of All the Ages” ABBOT'S LEIGH

* CHARGE AND BLESSING (Please be seated for the Choral Response & the Ringing of the Church Bell)

CHORAL RESPONSE “O Send Thy Light” M.A. Balakireff

RINGING THE CHURCH BELL

* POSTLUDE "Hope" from Songs Without Words, Op. 38, No. 4 Felix Mendelssohn

The Rev. Shannan R. Vance-Ocampo serves as General Presbyter for the Presbytery of Southern New England. Ordained in 2001, she previously served as Associate Pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Rumson, NJ; Pastor at Watchung Avenue Presbyterian Church; and Transitional Presbyter for Albany Presbytery. In the larger church, she serves as the Co-Moderator of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship and as an Elected Member of the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board, A Corp. Her husband, Juan Gabriel Ocampo Valle is a native of Bogotá, Colombia (South America) and they have one daughter, Sofia Elena who is in 10th grade. Shannan’s blogs, sermons and published writings can be found online at http://srvoconsulting.com

TODAY AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN

Welcome to the Service of Worship for the Lord’s Day. Parents of infants through age four are encouraged to take their children to the Nursery School classrooms during our services. Students in preK-7 should follow their teachers to class.

Today in Sunday’s Cool we will learn about the Disciples by playing games and making snacks that tell a story! The younger grades will play Stop, Drop, and Roll and make cheesy crescent rolls to practice dropping what we’re doing to follow Jesus. The older grades will play Jesus Says and a Fishing Relay as they learn that God wants us to be disciples. Please bring your buck and a can and join us. In the Barn, our Tweens will ponder how they, like the fishermen, could respond to Jesus’ call to follow him and share in God’s exciting work by exploring Mark 1:14–20. Teachers assisting with preK-4th grade Spark Rotations today – Kimberly Loner, Kristie Godina, and Daska Campbell; 5-7th grade in the Barn for Feasting on the Word with Kristen Rodgers.

Greeters: Paul and Linda Martin

Worship Coordinator: Nancy Flournoy

Ushers: Jim Beall, Marlene Powers, Charlie and Sarah Robinson

Cross Bearer: Jim Beall

Lay Reader: Barbara Beall

Musicians: First Presbyterian Church Choir; English Handbell Choir

Let us keep in our thoughts and prayers: Continued concerns: Neil Coakley; Ann Depuy; Graham Harden; Vince Lombardi; Jim Mierendorf; Nancy Russell; Alanna Ruszkowski; The Stricos family (friends of Joe and Diana Ruszkowski). The Abo Noktah family (our Syrian refugees): Khaldoun (father), Khawla Alzob (mother), daughters Hanin and Zain, and sons Yaman and Ahmed.

Flower Memorials: If you wish to have flowers in the sanctuary to celebrate an anniversary, a baptism, a birthday, or to memorialize a loved family member or friend please call Barbara Wentzel, Flower Coordinator, at 203-966-5402 or email at barbarawentzel@mac.com.

No Gift Too Small! The Bell Tower Society welcomes gifts and bequests of all sizes. Every dollar given makes a difference in serving the long-term welfare of our church. If you have questions about remembering the church in your estate plans, please contact Peter Flournoy in the church office.

Cents-ability: On January 7, we collected $171. Our total collection since we began Cents-ability at our church in November 2011 is $18,561. Thank you for your awareness and generous response to hunger. If you would like more information on Cents-ability or need a Cents-ability cup, please call the church office. Remember to fill up your Cents-ability cup ‘til it runneth over! Our next collection is February 4.

New Canaan Food Pantry: Items in need now due to low/no stock are Pancake Mix – Add Water Only, Syrup, Herbal Tea, Taco Kit, Corned Beef Hash, Cookies, Crackers, Tortilla Chips, Pretzels, Kids Juice Boxes. No beans or soup are needed now. Please drop these items in the shopping cart at the back of the Sanctuary and we will make sure they are delivered to the New Canaan Food Pantry.

Giving Up the Organ for Lent: It’s a little early for Lent, actually. But due to the new roof being put on the sanctuary, we will be without the beautiful sounds of the organ for a few months. It is necessary to cover the organ console and certain pipes during the roof project so dust cannot damage more sensitive pipes. We will still present beautiful music with piano accompaniment and a Capella anthems, which we are already accustomed to. The organ should be in use by Sunday, March 18th, in time for the choir's presentation of Gabriel Fauré's Requiem with Round Hill Community Church, Greenwich.

You are invited to suggest members of the congregation of this church to be considered by the Nominating Committee for leadership roles in the life of the church as elders or deacons. As a very general distinction, elders are responsible, together with the pastors, for congregational life, church policy, program administration, management and caregiving, while deacons are responsible for ministries of compassion, witness and service.

Officers to be elected by the congregation on June 3, 2018 include both elders and deacons who will be installed on September 9, 2018. We also welcome your suggestions for the names of people to serve on the 2018-2019 Nominating Committee. You may nominate yourself.

Please recommend members by completing the Church Officer Suggestion Form as soon as possible. Once you have completed your form, please deposit it in Linda Ferguson’s Elder mailbox next to the church office.

Sunday, February 11, at 11:30 a.m.

VALENTINE'S DAY COFFEE CONCERT:Isn't It Loverly?

Back by popular demand, we will be doing a Valentine's Day Coffee Concert again this year! Featured performers this year are YOU!Anyone wishing to sing or play a song about love in this cabaret-style performance, please contact Victoria at . I hope you will consider sharing your talents for this fun time together! If you're not singing, I hope you'll come to enjoy the loverly music and treats!

THIS WEEK AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH178 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan, CT 06840

Tel.: 203-966-0002 // www.fpcnc.orgChurch Office Hours are Monday-Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

SUNDAY, JANUARY 2110:00 AM Worship10:15 AM Sunday’s Cool for Grades preK-7 11:15 AM Coffee Hour11:15 AM Cherub Choir11:30 AM Choir Luncheon and Rehearsal 11:30 AM Board of Deacons11:30 AM Membership Involvement Committee

MONDAY, JANUARY 222:00 PM Meditation Group6:30 PM Purple Heather Dancers

TUESDAY, JANUARY 231:00 PM Leadership Team8:00 PM Men’s A.A.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2410:00 AM Music Librarians5:00 PM Carol Choir5:00 PM Confirmation Class

THURSDAY, JANUARY 2511:45 AM Pastoral Care Team

3:30 PM Special Church7:30 PM FPC Choir

SATURDAY, JANUARY 279:15 AM A.A. (closed discussion)

10:30 AM A.A. (open discussion)

SUNDAY, JANUARY 2810:00 AM Worship

Rev. Mary Marple Thies preaching 10:15 AM Sunday’s Cool for Grades preK-7 11:15 AM Cherub Choir11:15 AM Coffee Hour11:30 AM Children’s Ministry Committee11:30 AM Shareholders’ Luncheon in Common Room

Youth Happenings….

Shareholder’s Luncheon: January 282017 Shareholder’s Luncheon following Worship on Sunday, January 28. The youth who went on our summer mission trips to Providence, RI and to Palmer, Alaska will give short talks about the work and ministry of these incredible weeks. We will show brief slideshows of each trip so you can better understand what we did and the relationships we built. We are extremely grateful for your help in making these trips possible and for providing scholarship funds for those in need. We could not have done it without you.

Souperbowl Sunday Café: February 4Transforming Super Bowl weekend into the nation's largest youth-led weekend of giving and serving.

Since 1990, young people have been leading the charge and inspiring others to collect dollars and food weeks leading up to the Big Game. Teaming up with local partners, these groups give 100% of donations to local charities, changing the nation’s largest weekend of football into the largest weekend of caring.

On Feb 4th, our Middle and High School Youth Groups will be raising money for the New Canaan Food Pantry by selling soup in the common room following Worship. Bring $5, and either stay and eat or take some to go!

Youth Sunday: February 11On February 11, our youth will lead us in worship for Youth Sunday. This is always an inspiring service, and we hope you will come hear how God is working in our youth’s lives and support them with your presence and prayers. Our theme for 2018 is “Christians Under Construction.”

O UR M INISTERS

The Entire Congregation

O UR P ASTORS The Rev. Kathryn Kibbie Laird, Interim Acting Head of Staff

The Rev. Mary Marple Thies, Interim Minister for Pastoral CareThe Rev. Christopher G. Tate, Interim Minister for Children’s Ministries

O UR S TAFF Victoria Shields, Director of Music / Sherry Tate, Cherub Choir director

Peter Flournoy, Interim Church Administrator / Tina St. Armand, Office ManagerErika Hagan, Administrative Assistant to Children and Youth Ministries

Kuky and Andres Pereira, Operations/Security Managers / Edgar Torres, Day Sexton

T HE S ESSION Our Pastors / Scott Beyer, Clerk of Session

George Benington, Bell Tower SocietySue Benko, Communications

Laurel Carlson, Youth MinistriesCarole Clarkson, Worship, Music and Arts

Linda Ferguson, NominatingLisa Gifford, Congregational Life

Jennifer Gulden, PersonnelJulie Hoffman, Member-At-Large

Freia Mierendorf, Co-Youth Glenn Mierendorf, Outreach

Dede McEvoy, Strategic Planning Andy Petitjean, Finance

Lynn Quinn, Adult Education Julie Reeves, Membership Involvement Kevin Thomson, Advisory Committee

Spencer Reeves, Co-YouthCharlie Robinson, Co-Buildings and Grounds

Rose-Scott Rothbart, Co-Buildings and Grounds Jenny Volanakis, Children's Ministries

Barbara Wentzel, Stewardship

T HE D E ACONS Jen and Steve Van de Graaf, Co-Moderators

Carson Allsteadt, Co-Youth Erica Bergmans, Inspirica

Mary Jane Bolin, Senior Lunch Peg Bull, Flock Program

William Dooley, Co-Youth Cindy Hagopian, Inspirica

Karen Hanson, Memorial Services and ReceptionsBeth Hersam, Flowers and Cards Chris Kniffin, Member-At-Large

Nichole LaBadie, Co-YouthLinda Martin, Baptisms; Flock Program

Sarah Robinson, Pastoral Care Team Kristen Rodgers, Cards and Flowers

Kathleen Servidea, Cards and FlowersElizabeth Stuart, Flowers and Cards, Treasurer

Ashley Walker, Co-Youth

Rev. T. Guthrie Speers, Jr., Pastor Emeritus - Mrs. Marilyn J. Ballantine, Minister of Music Emerita

Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men – Matthew 4:19