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The Presbyterian Church in Leonia ORGANIZED 1899 AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY OF FAITH

November 5, 2017

GOD IS CALLING US TO LET OUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE OTHERS,

SO THAT THEY MAY SEE AND GLORIFY GOD. Matthew 5:16 The Rev. Dr. Leah Fowler, Pastor,

Renée Guerrero Harris, Organist/Choir Director Patricia Major, Church Administrator

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22nd Sunday after Pentecost 5th November 2017 10:30 a.m.

Preparing for Worship

Please silence cell phones. An asterisk (*) in the bulletin means please stand if you are able. Speak in unison at the bold face areas. Newer English speaker? English copies of the sermon are available from the ushers to help you follow along. LARGE-TYPE editions of the Hymnal are available from the ushers, as well as Chinese/English, Spanish/English, Korean/English and Japanese/English Bibles. Nursery care is available in the room adjacent to the rear hallway. Kindergartners to fourth graders remain in worship through the children’s sermon; they then may go to the activity period. Parents may also sit with restless children in the Tower room, which is located off the rear of the sanctuary. Children are welcome to remain for the entire service. Sunday School and Adult Classes meet from 9:30 to 10:15 am. GATHERING MUSIC INTROIT “I Love the Lord”

GREETING Rev. Dr. Leah Fowler

Gathering as God’s People

*CALL TO WORSHIP In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. We come today that the Word might be written on our hearts. In the Word was life, the light of all people. It is God’s legacy gift to us. We come today to discover how we might let that light shine, even beyond our own brightness. That light will be the spark of recognition, and we shall know the Lord. God, let us be your people, and you will be our God!

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*INVOCATION *HYMN #301 “Let Us Build a House” Verses 1, 3 and 5

CALL TO CONFESSION PRAYER OF CONFESSION Holy of Holies, we find that we do not live every day as though it were a day of worship and reflection. We do not set aside time for ourselves, for the questions of our children, for the company of our elders. Instead, we allow the voices we love to be drowned out by the concerns of the week. We allow the prayers of our hearts, where you have written your covenant, to go unspoken and unheard. We have forgotten that we know you, that you are our God, and we are your people. Send your Word again to dwell with us, to call us, transform us, and make us new. (Moment of Silence) ASSURANCE OF PARDON God is filled with everlasting mercy and desire for your well-being. Trust that you are forgiven, that you belong to the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer who has known you for ages.

*HYMN #699 “Fill My Cup” Verse #1: Fill my cup; let it overflow (3x’s) Let it overflow with love. Lord ,let me be your instrument, spreading sunshine in the land; let people see your works in me; Help me live the best I can. Passing of the Peace

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Listening for God’s Word to Us

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Holy Spirit, faithful teacher, come to your people, that in the words of the Holy Scriptures, we discover your legacy given to us. May the power of the Word fill us with thanksgiving. Amen. A READING FROM THE TORAH Jeremiah 31:31-34 (page 735 or page 899) A READING FROM THE GOSPELS John 1:1-18

(page 91 or page 111) The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. CHILDREN’S SERMON *HYMN #455 “Listen to the Word that God Has Spoken” Listen to the word that God has spoken; Listen to the One who is close at hand; Listen to the voice that began creation; Listen even if you don’t understand. SERMON “God’s Legacy of Love” Rev. Ellie Johns-Kelley

Responding to God’s Word

HYMN #838 “Standing on the Promises” THE WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Flowers today donated by Neu and Richter families in loving memory of our cousin, Kate Green.

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STEWARDSHIP TESTIMONY: TELL THE STORY! Venge Nyirongo SHARING OF OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS ANTHEM “Eye Has Not Seen” *DOXOLOGY Old Hundredth Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all people here below; Praise God above ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost! Amen.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

The Lord’s Supper Invitation to the Lord’s Table

God 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 our thanks and praise.

When you could have been stingy in those first days, Imaginative God, you spoke your Word and poured all that was in your heart into the silence and emptiness of chaos. Rivers rushed to the seas, mountains stretched toward the skies, animals danced in clovered fields, life sprang forth in every corner of the universe. You crafted all this goodness and beauty for your children created in your image that they might enjoy your gifts forever. When the empty promises of temptation sounded better than the choruses of the birds, you wrote your covenant on our hearts and told us “I will be your God and you will be my people.” When the glitter of sin and death blinded us to the abiding wonder of your gracious heart, you sent prophets to remind us that you are indeed a God of blessing. You opened yourself to us in love, hoping that we would come home. When we continued to waste our inheritance in the far country of despair, you sent Jesus to come

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to us, bearing the ring of redemption to slip onto our fingers, the robe of forgiveness to wrap around our broken lives.

So, with those who have received your blessings in every age and place, with those who seek to be stewards here and now, we join our voices in praise to you:

*THE SANCTUS (Hymn #1 v. 1- see hymnal for Korean and Spanish words) Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee. Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty! God in three persons, blessed Trinity. You are generous to a fault, Gracious God, with your greatest gift being Jesus Christ our Lord. When you could have selfishly kept him by your side, you sent him into our midst, so we might know that your love has no limits. When you could have hardened your heart towards us, you let yours be broken by the sacrifice of your only Child upon the Cross. When you could have demanded that we give back everything we had received from you, you sent your most precious self, that we might be reconciled to you once and for all.

As we remember the meal that is Jesus’ legacy to us, as we celebrate the wonder of redemption which is ours, we would cling to that mystery we call faith:

Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER [You are welcome to say the Lord's Prayer (and any prayers) in your native language.] 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.

Breaking of Bread/Communion of the People

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

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PRAYER OF CONSECRATION COMMUNION HYMN #526 “Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ”

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION: Bread of Life, through your abundant blessings you have offered your salvation and again united yourself to us. Now make us one with all your people. Help us to go into a world that is broken, offering wholeness and hope for the redemption of the world. May we rise like the yeast in bread; may we be full and ripe like the fruit of the vine. May we never cease in proclaiming your good story as we follow in discipleship of You whom we love. Amen.

Going Forth in Dedication and Service

*HYMN #298 “Lord, You Give the Great Commission” Verses 1, 3 and 5 *THE CHARGE and BENEDICTION Our liturgist, Suzanne Broffman, and our reader, Betsy Voreacos, are helping lead our worship this morning. Communion servers are Betsy and David Voreacos and Hyun Shim The art on the bulletin cover is a traditional Ethiopian folk art painting of The Last Supper (artist unknown).

USHERS: Susan Dindial, Maryellen Neu, Virginia Cora COUNTERS: Olivia Taylor, David Voreacos NURSERY: Judith Nyirongo We welcome our visitor today, Rev. Ellie Johns-Kelley, and gratefully thank her for her time and wisdom.

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We welcome all visitors in the name of Jesus Christ. We invite you to sign the guest register in the entry room and to join us for coffee in the entry room following the service.

Readings for Sunday November 12, 2017 Joshua 24:4-1-3a;14-25 Psalms 78:1-7 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 25:1-13

USHERS November 12: Anne Stebbins, Ammal Varky, Judith Nyirongo November 19: Jack Peters, Karen Peters, Hyung Shim November 26: Jeff Im, Kristin Richter, Jihyun Kim (Julia) December 3: Lisa VanDeWeert, Judith Nyirongo, Roberta Toolen COUNTERS November 12: Jonathan Phillips, Pete Shanno November 19: Hyung Shim, Fumio Ito November 26: Jonathan Phillips December 3: Oliva Taylor, David Voreacos FLOWERS November 12: Joyce Hamlin November 19: Virginia Cora November 26: Leah Puzzo NURSERY November 12: Yukiko Aoki November 19: Vicky Li November 26: Kristen Richter December 3: Sarah Han

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CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK After Worship Today 11:45 a.m. ESL Class Planned Luncheon on Trusts and Wills 3:00 p.m. Japanese Language Service Monday, 11/6/17 10:00 a.m. ESL Class 7:00 p.m. ESL Class 7:30 p.m. Worship Committee Meeting (off site) Tuesday, 11/7/17 10 a.m. ESL Class Wednesday, 11/8/17 9:00 a.m. ESL Class 10:45 a.m. Bible Class 7:30 p.m. Al-Anon Meeting Thursday, 11/9/17 10:00 a.m. ESL class 1:00 p.m. ESL Class 7:00 p.m. Bottles & Badges Meeting Saturday, 11/10/17 8:00 p.m. Jazz Jam Next Sunday 11/12/17 Stewardship Sunday 9:30 a.m. Sunday School for all 11:45 a.m. ESL Bible Study

ANNOUNCEMENTS Planned Giving Luncheon Have you thought about your will? Most of us try to think about it as little as

possible, but wills are an important way to plan for our and our families

futures. Did you know that you can also include our Church and other charities

in your will? Today we will have a representative from the Presbyterian

Foundation in our service and at a luncheon afterward to talk to us about

planned giving through wills and trusts. She will go over giving to the Church

but also other aspects of planning for your future such as living wills and health

care directives. Please see Joe VanDeWeert for any questions.

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Pledge Sunday—Next Sunday Don't forget to put Stewardship Sunday, November 12th on your worship schedule! Please bring your annual pledge to church that day and join us for light refreshments after worship as we await the total amount pledged. If you can't be there on the 12th or if you live at a distance, you may mail your pledge information to the church office. If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Fowler. For your reference please consult below and extra forms are included in today’s bulletin.

ANNUAL INCOME

APPROXIMATE WEEKLY COMMITMENT

PROPORTIONATE TO INCOME

15% 10% 7% 6% 5% 4% 3% 100,000 288.00 192.00 135.00 115.00 96.00 77.00 58.00

75,000 216.00 144.00 100.00 87.00 72.00 58.00 43.00

60,000 173.00 115.00 80.00 69.00 58.00 46.00 35.00

50,000 144.00 96.00 67.00 58.00 48.00 38.00 29.00

45,000 130.00 87.00 61.00 52.00 43.00 35.00 26.00

40,000 115.00 77.00 54.00 46.00 38.00 31.00 23.00

35,000 101.00 67.00 47.00 40.00 34.00 27.00 20.00

30,000 87.00 58.00 40.00 35.00 29.00 23.00 17.00

25,000 72.00 48.00 34.00 29.00 24.00 19.00 14.00

20,000 58.00 38.00 27.00 23.00 19.00 15.00 12.00

15,000 43.00 29.00 20.00 17.00 14.00 12.00 9.00

Personal Commitment Planner Weekly amounts proportionate to income are shown in the chart, or use the Commitment Planner to determine the amount of gift based on percentage of income. Proportionate giving decision: (A)____________________% Annual household income: (B) $___________________ (A)_________________% x (B) ______________=$(C)____________ Amount of bi-weekly gift: $(C)_____/26= $_______________ Amount of monthly gift: $(C)_____/12= $_______________ Amount of quarterly gift: $(C)_____/4= $_______________

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CHRISTMAS POINSETTIA PLANTS You can help to brighten the church sanctuary for Christmas by the gift of a poinsettia plant. Plants cost $15 and must be ordered no later than Friday, December 15, by filling in the forms on the Ark or calling the church office at 201-944-1358. When ordering your poinsettia, please let us know if you would like it to be in memory of someone or in celebration of a special event. Please make your check payable to the Presbyterian Church marked “Poinsettia” and let us know if you wish to take your plant(s) home after Christmas, or for us to give it to homebound friends. If you should have any questions or concerns, please see Jane Wilson or Pat Major in the church office.

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CHURCH OFFICE: 201-944-1358 181 Fort Lee Road, Leonia, NJ 07605

Web Site www.leoniapres.org The Rev. Dr. Leah Fowler, pastorleonia@gmail.com

Office Administrator, Patricia Major, secretaryleonia@gmail.com