Good News, Great Joy

This morning we welcome Christine Hainer as our guest speaker.  Christine is area coordinator for Southwestern Pennsylvania for Operation Christmas Child.  She has been volunteering for the ministry for 21 years.

Gathering Around the Word
 
     Prelude           Choir
ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
CALL TO WORSHIP     Psalm 44
We have heard it with our ears, O God;
our ancestors have told us what You did in their days, in days long ago.
     It was not by their sword that they won the land,
     nor did their arm bring them victory;
It was Your right hand, Your arm,
and the light of Your face, for You loved them.
     I put no trust in my bow,
     my sword does not bring me victory;
but You give us victory over our enemies,
You put our adversaries to shame.
     In God we make our boast all day long,
     and we will praise God’s name forever.
 
INVOCATION

​*HYMN   “Come Thou Almighty King”                             # 2
                  (intro then 4 verses)
 
 *PRAYER OF CONFESSION:      (unison)
Lord, You have called us to be witnesses for You.  You have called us to tell others about You – through our words, through the way we live and the way we love.  Yet so often our lives tell a different story – that it is all about us, that it is about our comfort and our success. Forgive us, Lord. Through Your Holy Spirit, change our attitude.  Change our actions. Change our hearts. Show us the need around  us.  Help us to see those who suffer without enough food, without adequate housing, without knowing how much You love them.  Give us the power to be Your witnesses.
 
*Time of silent prayer: 
            *Assurance of Pardon
            *Response – Gloria Patri
 
            *The peace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
                         And also with you
             *Passing of the peace
 
              Children’s Chat
              Prayer of illumination
 
             Scripture reading
                      Act 1: 8       Mary Esselstyn
                      
            SERMON    “Good News, Great Joy”
 
            HYMN   “I, The Lord of Sea and Sky”      # 69
                                      Brief intro then 3 verses
*Apostles Creed
 
 Presentation of tithes and offering
            Offertory
            *Doxology
 *Prayer of dedication
           
            Concerns and Celebrations
Prayers of the people
`           The Lord’s Prayer
 
*HYMN   “Lead On O King Eternal”         # 269
                          (intro then 3 verses)
 
            *Benediction
             * Postlude                Choir        

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Remember our food collection.  And Jesus said, “You give them something to eat.” Please let
Betty Fisher know of anyone within the community that may be in need at this time.

​Congregational meeting
Next Sunday our speaker will be Pastor Clayton LaPosta, who has been student pastor at Taylorstown Presbyterian Church for 6 years.  We will hold a congregational meeting after worship to vote on calling Clayton as our pastor.  Please plan to attend the service and the meeting.
 
This is an exciting time for our church!  The sessions have agreed on how the pastoral relationship will work, including special services and holidays and a joint Vacation Bible School.  Under the plan, one church will worship at 9:45 a.m. while the other worships at 11:15.  Every 6 months, the churches will switch worship times. Detailed information will be available at the meeting. 
 
You will also have a chance to meet and talk to Clayton from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, October 28 in our fellowship hall.  Refreshments will be provided.
 
Shoeboxes and brochures for Operation Christmas Child are on the table in the back of the sanctuary.  Filled and labeled boxes need to be returned by Sunday, November 12.  If you have any questions, please contact Christine Welling.