8:15 AM Worship

8:15 AM Bulletin

10:30 AM Bulletin

Gleanings (Monthly Newsletter)

ST. STEPHEN UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

249 E. Main St., New Holland, PA 17557

Twenty-Third Sunday After Pentecost

November 8, 2009 – 8:15 A.M.

*Indicates those able may stand

PRELUDE

SHARING OF JOYS AND CONCERNS – pass the friendship pad

*CALL TO WORSHIP

One: You notice when we come to worship, O God.

All: Your heart is warmed by our praise.

One: You notice when we respond to your word, O God.

All: Your heart is warmed when we go your way.

One: You notice when we notice the downtrodden.

All: Your heart is warmed when we work with them for change.

One: You notice each one of us and know us by name.

All: Your heart is warmed when we bring glory to your name.

*OPENING HYMN

“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” #272 (The Hymnal)

CALL TO RECONCILIATION

One: We bring our flawed lives to God, not so much to be made perfect,

but to be whole. Let us confess our sins to God, trusting the One who builds joy

from our despair.

UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION

All: Bountiful Love: our self-focus causes us to imagine how poor we are.

We are convinced we don't have enough: enough honor, enough respect, enough recognition, enough to live on. And so, in our poverty, we cannot

trust you, we cannot see the emptiness of others, we cannot help but cling

to more than we need.

Forgive us, Bestower of Blessings. Tell us we can be more loving;

whisper to us of how we can be more compassionate; sing to us of how we

can serve others - all in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

SILENCE FOR REFLECTION AND PRAYER

PRAYER FOR MERCY (Kyrie)

“Lord, Have Mercy Upon Us” #518 (The Hymnal)

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

One: The good news is that we are made whole; not by our efforts,

not by any work we have done, not by any word of ours.
All: Out of the riches of grace, God pours forgiveness into our lives,

giving us all we need in Jesus Christ, so we might live in hope and joy.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

*RESPONSE OF PRAISE

“The Gloria Patri” #493 (The Hymnal)

PRAYER OF THE DAY

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Epistle Lesson: Hebrews 9:24-28 page #224

Gospel Lesson: Mark 12:38-44 page #49,50

*SERMON HYMN

“O God of Earth and Altar” #370 (The Hymnal)

SERMON

"Giving Your Two Cents Worth” Rev. Bradley Rentzel

ANTHEM

“With All I Am” Davis

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND LORD’S PRAYER

PRAYER RESPONSE

“Hear Our Prayer, O Lord” #501 (The Hymnal)

INVITATION TO THE OFFERING

OFFERTORY

“How Lovely Shines the Morning Star” Praetorius

*OFFERTORY RESPONSE

“Doxology” #551 (The Hymnal)

*UNISON PRAYER OF DEDICATION

O God, we offer these gifts and our lives, not for the sake of their appearance, but in gratitude for all you have given to us. Above all, we thank you for the great gift of Jesus, for his selflessness and sacrificial love. May our discipleship possess these same qualities. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen

*CLOSING HYMN

“Now Thank We All Our God” #72 (The Hymnal)

*COMMISSION, BENEDICTION AND THREE FOLD AMEN

*SILENT MEDITATION

*EXTINGUISHING OF THE ALTAR CANDLES

*POSTLUDE

WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS

Ministers: The Congregation

Pastor: Rev. David Goode

Music Director: Kelly Saylor

Organist: A.J. Young

Greeters: Sylvia Martin

Acolyte: Becky Snyder

Liturgist: Connie Gehman

Ushers: *William Snyder, William Snyder Jr.

Nursery Volunteers: John and Anne Tennis

Counting Team: Vi Helenthal and Dot Koble

Altar Guild: Betty Ludwig

Office Administrator: Charlene Good

Sexton: Penny Klopp

ANNOUNCEMENTS 11/08/09

ALL WORSHIPERS – Please sign the Friendship Pad today.

WELCOME GUESTS!! We are happy that you are with us.

Our purpose is to share Christ through all our ministries.

Please sign the guest register in the Narthex.

Remember that our sanctuary is set aside for holy worship,

so please no food or drink inside.

Nursery is offered during our 10:30 worship service

for children of Kindergarten age or younger.

REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS:

All of our homebound members and also prayers for healing for:

Tom Payne Lee Curly H. Scott Poole

Brandon Styer Family David Ferris Jr. Helen Sheaffer

Brenda Sollenberger Galina Kochevick

Names will be retained on Prayer list for three weeks unless renewed

by the responsible person for the listing.

Thank you for your help in keeping our “prayers” up to date.

ALTAR FLOWERS are given in loving memory of Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Mentzer and Russell Weaver by Ann Weaver and family.

PASTOR GOODE is on vacation Nov. 4-18. Pastoral coverage is: Rev. Jeff Pretz, Rev. Haydn Mclean, Connie Gehman and Rod Stauffer. Call the church office with your pastoral needs.

OX ROAST is available in 1lb packs for $4 and 7lb bags for $20. The broth is free. See Tom Weaver if you are interested in purchasing any Farm Show leftovers.

Worship

REV. BRAD RENTZEL is preaching and leading worship, along with Connie Gehman and Jean Martin. Brad graduated from Lebanon Valley College in 1967 and later from Union Seminary in New York. After 20 years of farming he went into full time pastoral ministry. Brad is now retired and enjoys his farm, reading, being with friends and spending time with his wife Cathy.

Discipleship (Spiritual Growth)

CONSISTORY MEMBERS please have your reports into the office no later than Thurs, Nov. 12.

BIBLE STUDIES on the “Essential Truth: Knowing Christ Personally” will meet Tues. Nov. 24 at 7 pm in the Pastor’s Study. The next day time Bible study will be Tues., Dec 1 at 12:30 pm.

NEW MEMBER CLASS will meet November 22 & 29 from 9:30 am to 10:00 am in the pastor’s study. New members will be received on the First Sunday of Advent, November 29^th.

9:15 CLASS SPEAKERS: Today- Andrew Maines on his mission trip. Nov 15 - Ron Bensinger, Nov 22 - Joan Groh w/ Hospice, Nov 29 - Bob Piper on “Our Christian Purpose, Our Christian Inheritance” Dec 6 - Dale Moffet, Dec 13 - Ron Bensinger. Dec20 - Bob Piper on “Jesus’ Birth”

Fellowship

MEN’S HARMONY CONCERT – This free-will offering event will take place at 7pm on Nov 21 at Forest Hills Church, 100 Quarry Rd., Leola. The evening features vocal groups: Forest Hills Men’s Ensemble, Spare Parts, Landisville Mennonite Church Men’s Quartet and Friendship Five.

COMMUNITY SHOPPING NIGHT –Dec 3, Ten Thousand Villages, Ephrata hosts Friendship Community for a benefit shopping night from 5-9 pm when Friendship will receive 15% of all proceeds. Plus, thru Dec., when you show coupon (on the round table in the narthex) 15% of your rug purchase supports Friendship’s ministry! Ten Thousand Villages carries over 2,000 Oriental hand knotted rugs, with designs ranging from intricate floral to naturally dyed tribal.

PLEASE JOIN US Sunday, Nov 22 at 4 pm, when Trinity Lutheran will host “An Afternoon of Music”, including hymns sung by the congregation, Trinity’s Adult Choir, the Sunday School Singers (grades k-2), the Kids Praise Singers (grades 3-6) and the Festival Choir. Instruments include Trinity’s pipe organ, a brass quartet, flute and violin, percussion, and CHOIRCHIMES.

Ministry (Service)

THANKSGIVING DINNER: The following are needed: plastic grocery bags, homemade cookies, cakes, and pies (not pumpkin), individual cans of soup, snack size packs of crackers, single size applesauce, fruit, or pudding, dinner rolls, and butter. Put items in the kitchen marked "Thanksgiving". Sign up sheets in narthex with a list of how you can help. God is sure to bless you as you reach out to those in need at this time of year. Call Nancy 445-4636 with questions.

Evangelism (Outreach into the Community)

ARE YOU UP FOR THE CHALLENGE to help provide over 900,000 meals to starving people? Find out how YOU can make a difference with “The Cookie Sale” on Nov 22nd!

NOVEMBER OUTREACH: Auxiliary of UCC Homes needs sponsoring congregations to share Christmas with residents by providing them with “new and unwrapped” gifts of love. Money donations will be used to purchase gifts. Make checks payable to UCC Homes, and indicate (1) that it’s for a resident gift (2) which facility it is to go. Gift bags, ribbon, wrapping paper and gift tags are also needed. A list of items is on the Bulletin Board. Gifts should be in by Dec. 5.

THE THANKSGIVING SERVICE is Wed. Nov 25^th, 7 pm at the Evangelical UMC. Judy Zook, pastor at New Holland Mennonite Church will have the sermon. The Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and their leaders will be recognized. A table for food for the NH Food Bank will be available.

BAKE SALE/SUB SALE –The Auxiliary Homes will have a Bake/Sub sale on Fri., Dec. 4^th, from 9am – 4pm and Sat., Dec. 5^th, from 9am – 1pm. We need baked goods, candies, jams & jellies. Donations may be brought to the Manor on Thurs, Dec. 3^rd by noon, W. Cedar St. that morning or call Joan Jacobs at 354-5276. A quilt by Bethany Quilters (Antique bricks – 69” by 106”) is on display and tickets may be purchased for $1 or 6 for $5 from Betty Hillard or Joan Jacobs.

THERE’S A CHILL IN THE AIR and it’s time to rid your closet of clean, gently used coats, jackets and snowsuits. The Lancaster County Council of Churches donation box is in the narthex. Thanks! Outreach committee.

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS

THIS WEEK’S EVENTS…

Today 8:15 am Traditional worship Service

9:15 am Sunday School / Adult Bible Class

10:30 am Blended worship Service

Monday 6:00 pm Praise Team Practice

6:45 pm Bell Choir Practice

7:00 pm Property Meeting

7:45 pm Adult Choir Practice

Wednesday 7:00 pm Finance Meeting

Thursday CONSISTORY REPORTS DUE!

FUTURE EVENTS…

Monday 11/17 6:00 pm Spiritual Council

7:00 pm Consistory Meeting

Thursday 11/19 7:00 pm Educational Ministry Meeting

Thursday 11/20 CONSISTORY REPORTS DUE!

Saturday 11/21 8:30 am Lancaster Association Mtg.

Tuesday 11/24 7:00 pm Bible Study

NEXT SUNDAY, – November 15, 2009

Sermon: Rev. Brad Rentzel

Scripture: Hebrews 10:11-14, 19-25; Mark 13:1-8

8:15 am Traditional Service

9:15 am Sunday School

10:30 am Blended Worship

OFFERING AND ATTENDANCE FOR November 1, 2009

Attendance: 8:15 - 74 Offering $ 1,785.00

Sunday School 79 $ 31.50

10:30 - 86 $ 2,326.00

Amount received last week: $ 4,142.50

Amount needed weekly: $ 3,273.85

11/02/08 151 $ 3,570.00

Church Office Hours: Monday – Friday 9 A.M. – 1 P.M.

Telephone (717) 354-7871 Fax (717) 355-2565

Church Office Email: ststephenucc@frontiernet.net

Website address: http://www.frontiernet.net/~ststephenucc

Pastor Goode’s cell phone number: 823-1735