Forest Hill Church, Presbyterian Discovering God’s call, celebrating the Spirit’s presence, Witnessing to Christ’s transformative power! 3031 Monticello Blvd, Cleveland Hts OH 44118 216-321-2660 Fax: 216-320-1214 Email: office@fhcpresb.org Website: www.fhcpresb.org Dr. John C. Lentz, Jr., Pastor Rev. Clover Reuter Beal, Assoc. Pastor Rev. Tricia Dykers-Koenig, Parish Assoc. Anne Wilson, Ministry of Music Keon Abner, Dir. of Youth Ministries Dacia Prins, Dir. of Children’s Ministries Service of Worship October 12, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. Welcome! Thank you for joining us today for worship. If you are visiting, please join us in wearing a name tag so that we might greet you. Our ushers have large print editions of the Bible and today’s bulletin; hearing devices; activity bags with quiet activities for children staying in worship; and directions to our Monticello Wing nursery for babies and young children. Prayer of Preparation We praise you, O God, our Redeemer, Creator; In grateful devotion our tribute we bring. We lay it before you; we kneel and adore you; we bless your holy name; glad praise we sing. Welcome Prelude Forest City String Band Greeting Our God with Joy Call to Worship Elder Doris Bartlett Leader: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. People: And also with you. Leader: This morning, Lord, we want everything to be for your glory. People: We want our thoughts, our words, our songs, our church, our community, our resources, our time, our lives: all to be for you. Leader: Everything ours is yours, and we come together to declare this to be so, People: On this holy day of thanksgiving, bless our time together with your holy presence. Leader: Amen. 2 * Processional “If I Had a Hammer” 1. If I had a hammer, I'd hammer in the morning, I'd hammer in the evening, All over this land, I'd hammer out danger, I'd hammer out a warning, I'd hammer out love between my brothers and my sisters, All over this land. 2. If I had a bell, I'd ring it in the morning….. 3. If I had a song, I'd sing it in the morning… 4. Well, I've got a hammer and I've got a bell and I've got a song to sing All over this land It's the hammer of justice, It's the bell of freedom It's a song about love between my brothers and my sisters All over this land It's the hammer of justice, It's the bell of freedom It's a song about love between my brothers and my sisters All over this la-a-and Renewing Our Relationship with God Prayer of Confession Elder Keon Abner Leader: Forgive hearts consumed with selfish gain. People: Turn our hearts toward love for others. Leader: Forgive eyes gazing at worthless things of this world. People: Turn our eyes toward your presence, your action, within us and around us. Leader: Forgive hands that push people away. People: Turn our hands to welcome the stranger, the outcast, the enemy. Leader: Forgive feet kicking up dust on dead-end roads. People: Turn our feet onto your path of righteousness and life. Leader: By the grace of the forgiving, transforming People: Forgive us, turn us, O God. Time of Silent Confession Song of Forgiveness Appalachian folk melody 3 Affirming the Good News in Our Lives Assurance of Pardon * Response Paul Vasile “Glory to God” Anthem Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs “I’m Working on the Road” Opening Our Hearts to God’s Word Shannon and LaDon Headen Minute for Mission “Stewardship” * Hymn No. 623 “I’ve Got Peace” Prayer requests may be passed to the ushers during this hymn Scripture Lesson 2 Corinthians 9: 6-15 After the reading Leader: Hear what the Holy Spirit is telling God’s people. People: Thanks be to God. Sermon Rev. Dr. John C. Lentz, Jr. “Cheerful Giving” Prayers of the People 4 Lord’s Prayer 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. Ritual of Friendship all are asked to sign Offertory Sara Watkins “Take Up Your Spade” * Response South African song “Hallelujah! We Sing Your Praises!” Going Forth to Live as God’s People * Closing Hymn No. 837 “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” * Commission and Blessing * Passing of the Peace 5 Postlude Scottish trad. “Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine” Forest City String Band *please stand if able Welcome Visitors! We look forward to greeting you and answering any questions you may have. Visitor welcome bags are available in the foyers and the narthex. Take one home with you! Be sure to visit our website, www.fhcpresb.org, to find a complete list of upcoming events, education programs for all ages, and texts and audio of past sermons. Congregational Notes Chancel Flowers Today’s flowers are given by Jon Newton in memory of his son Jeffrey Robert Newton; and by Joyce Pope to the glory of God and in thanksgiving for the Bible and Bagels study group. Prayer Concerns this Week Prayers are requested this week for the following: Kay Currie, Elaine Dannefer, Flora Dannemiller, Joanne Dawson, John Dugard, Jean Duncan, Jack Lentz, Sr., Mary Lewis, Joanne Marunowski, Connie Sekerak, Margaret Sentell, Debbie Ungemach. Please remember these homebound members in your prayers: Dick Bloomquist, Bill Currie, Pat Drake, Marge Drollinger, Betty Farnfield, Iris Gilbert, Ron and Florence Klein, Emelia McGuire, Joyce Peters, Elaine Tapié. We invite you to write prayer requests on a slip of paper from the envelope rack and pass it to an usher during the singing of the middle hymn, to be included in the prayers later in the service. Lists of ongoing prayer concerns are in each month’s TOWER. This Month’s Ushers Joe Andrews, Nick Baumgartner, Charles Ishler, Jane Ishler, Kate Monaghan, Daryl Musick, Victoria Sampson. Roger Heineman, Head Usher 6 Nursery care for babies and young children is available on the second floor of the Monticello Wing. Attendance last week (including Pathways children): 251 Announcements TODAY Today’s Music Today we welcome the Forest City String Band, a group which plays popular music from the ‘50’s to the present and both black and white traditional gospel music. The band’s style is predominantly “bluegrass” with banjo, fiddle, guitar and bass. Brit Stenson plays banjo and played in a professional band after graduating from UVA. He currently designs golf courses. Reed Simon plays the fiddle in almost any style you want and teaches at Notre Dame College. Bo Shiverick has played the guitar since high school and tries both finger-picking and flat-picking styles. He currently runs a small manufacturing business. Lloyd Bell plays the bass and the band is continually challenging him to expand his styles, but he maintains he has had his own style since high school and doesn’t see any reason to change. Lloyd currently manages business deals for a major accounting firm. Alana Andrews adds vocals and harmony and sings with the St. Paul's Church choir. She also teaches at Ursuline College when she is not singing. Shifting Gears in the Second Half of Life Oct. 5 – Nov. 2 Sundays, 12:30 pm, South Hall This is a five-week course for those facing retirement and for those whose parents are facing issues of aging. How does a person navigate the passage to retirement and beyond with confidence and optimism? Topics will include everything from housing options and important legal documents to wellness, spirituality, and reinventing yourself in your older years. The class meets after church, from 12:30 – 2:00 pm in Bodwell Hall. Contact Chris Henry (216-3921563 or cehenry@ameritech.net) or Consuelo Heineman (rogedoge@aol.com or 216-371-6395) for more information. This week: Where Shall We Call Home? Senior Living Options Next week: When It’s Time to Go – End of Life Options 7 Lay Reader Orientation and Training Interested in being a lay reader but not sure what to do? Come to the sanctuary after worship today to attend a brief orientation on “Being an FHC Lay Reader.” We will cover everything from how to sign up to how to pronounce “Merodachbaladan.” Drop by the sanctuary between 12:15 – 12:45 and we’ll answer your questions and introduce you to the mic. Questions? Contact Derek Duncan (duncan5oh@yahoo.com or 216-921-9580). Labre Project The Labre Project is having a cookout this evening at 5 pm at Our Family Home Center in East Cleveland. See Jack Breisch for more information. THIS WEEK Bible and Bagels Bible and Bagels meets Wednesdays from 7:30 to 8:30 am in the Jin Room. All are welcome! The lesson this week is Psalm 99 and Galatians 3:19 – 4:11. NEXT SUNDAY Adult Education, 9:30 in South Hall Kerygma small groups will resume. Christianity for Seekers (and others), led by Rev. Dr. John Lentz Oct. 19 – Nov. 23 Sundays, 5 pm, South Hall Have you been wondering just what a progressive Christian faith is about? Maybe you have no idea about Christianity and would like to learn a little; maybe you’ve joined the church recently, or you’ve returned to church as an adult, or you’ve been in the church for decades and you realize that you’d like to learn more about what you’re doing. This could be the class for you! Join us from 5 – 7 pm Sundays, beginning October 19. Please contact Pastor John Lentz for more information (pastorlentz@fhcpresb.org or 216-321-2660). We encourage you to invite friends outside the church! ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Exploring Membership Class Nov. 1 (9-12) and Nov. 2 (9-10:30) Interested in FHC membership? Curious about what makes FHC tick? Been attending for a while but think you might like to make more of a commitment? Mark your calendars for the next Exploring Membership class (dates above). RSVP to the church office. 8 Care Group The Bethlehem Care Group is responsible for meeting members’ needs during October. Please call the church office to report an illness, hospitalization, family emergency, birth or death. Information will then be passed on to the Care Group leaders. Members of this month’s Care Group are: Kemp Jaycox, Deacon leader Jon Adams & Pam Conover Dick Bloomquist Carole Boyd Clarence & Elsie Boyd Chris & Rhonda Chapman Kay & Bill Currie Peter & Kathryn Eloff Sharon Hansen Shannon & LaDon Headen & family Kemp Jaycox & Cindy Fink & family Joan Kandare Morag & Tom Keefe Karen & Clyde Loughridge Ted Mueller Bethany & Joe Pinzone Ron Register Jean Reinhold Baldwin Sawyer Mollie & Dick Secor Dorothy Turick Carolyn Vrtunski Mark & Julie Waring & family Beth & Tom Zych & family Social Groups and Circles Iris Circle (all women of the church) Iris Circle will meet on Tuesday, October 21 at 10:30 am at Ten Thousand Villages, 12425 Cedar Rd in Cleveland Hts. After shopping we will walk just a few blocks to Nighttown (12387 Cedar) for lunch. Reservations are required; please contact Nancy Burcham by October 17 (Burcham@roadrunner.com or 440-446-0832). Youth News Every Sunday • Mid and Sr High classes meet from 9:30 – 10:30 am. • Youth Fellowship meets at 5 pm 9 FHC Staff Emails and Phone Extensions Program Staff Rev. Dr. John Lentz Jr. / pastorlentz@fhcpresb.org ext. 200 Rev. Clover Beal / pastorbeal@fhcpresb.org ext 201 Dacia Prins / dacia@fhcpresb.org ext. 206 Anne Wilson / annew@fhcpresb.org ext. 208 Keon Abner / keon.abner@fhcpresb.org ext. 207 Office Staff Becky Austin / beckya@fhcpresb.org ext 203 Lynda Bernays / office@fhcpresb.org ext 202 Stavros Gazis / office@fhcpresb.org ext 202 The Partnership for Middle East Peace presents Voices Across the Divide At the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque 11141 East Blvd in University Circle Sunday, November 2 at 4 pm Voices Across the Divide is a powerful documentary and oral history project exploring the Israeli/Palestinian conflict through rarely heard personal stories. It is narrated by Alice Rothchild, and American Jew raised on the tragedies of the Holocaust and the dream of a Jewish homeland in Israel. Dr. Rothchild says “The film follows my personal journey as I begin to understand the Palestinian narrative, while exploring the Palestinian experience of loss, occupation, statelessness, and immigration to the US.” She will be present for conversation after the film. One showing only! Contact FHC member Jennifer Blakeney for more information 10 Calendar: October 12-19, 2014 Sunday, October 12 Wednesday, October 15 7:30 am Bible and Bagels 8:45 Nominating Committee 9:00 Child care begins 12:00 pm Bullshevicks (at Alfredo’s) 12:30education pm Wednesday Women’s AA 9:30 Adult education in South Hall Youth 1:00 pm Hilltop Garden Club Descant Choir 10:15 Descant Choir activity Thursday, October 16 10:30 Continental Breakfast 1:00 pm Abundance Pantry food Chancel Choir distribution Cherub Choir 5:00 pm Fitness Fusion exercise class 11:00 WORSHIP: 6:20 pm Voices in Bronze AWE – Forest City Bluegrass Band 7:30 pm Chancel Choir Children in Worship Pathways to the Promise Land Friday, October 17 12:15 Coffee Hour Lay Reader orientation and training 7:00 am TOWER deadline 9:30 am Al Anon Adult Ed: Shifting Gears in the Second Half of Life 1:00 Hilltoppers: Lunch and Concert Saturday, October 18 8:00 am Men’s Group Young Adult Brunch 4:40 Labre Project cookout Sunday, October 19 5:00 Youth Fellowship 9:00 Child care begins 9:30 Adult education Monday, October 13 Yo 6:00 pm Progress not Perfection (AA) Descant Choir 10:15 Descant Choir activity 7:00 pm Al Anon 7:30 pm AA: Borton Group 10:30 Continental Breakfast Boy Scout Troop #403 Chancel Choir 11:00 WORSHIP Tuesday, October 14 Children in Worship 12:00 pm Abundance Pantry 11:15 Pathways to the Promise Land food distribution 12:15 Coffee Hour 5:00 pm Fitness Fusion exercise class Adult Ed: Shifting Gears in the Second Half of Life Sine Nomine choir Blood pressure check 5:00 Youth Fellowship Adult Ed: Christianity for Seekers 11 The Lessons 2 Corinthians 9: 6-15 The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As it is written, “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others, while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! Next Sunday: The Revised Common Lectionary lessons are Exodus 33: 12-23; Psalm 99; 1 Thessalonians 1: 1-10; Matthew 22: 15-22. The Kerygma lesson is Galatians 3:19 – 4:11. As part of your daily devotions, read the lessons. What image or word catches your attention? How do they settle or challenge you? Keep notes of your observations in a journal. Set aside part of each day for prayer and study. 12