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

February 12, 2012 – 8:15 AM

*Indicates those able may stand

PRELUDE “Andantino Espressivo” Baronchelli

SHARING JOYS, CONCERNS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

passing the friendship pad

*Call to Worship¹(responsive)

Leader: God is in his holy place; let all the earth rejoice!

People: We rejoice and give thanks to our God and King.

Leader: God is in his sanctuary and beckons us into his presence.

People: By God’s grace, we gladly enter into the presence

of our Maker and Creator.

Leader: In whose name do we gather for worship?

People: We gather in the name of Jesus our Lord for the glory of God

the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

*Opening Hymn “Just As I Am” #214 (The Hymnal)

*Invocation

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession¹ (unison)

Purifying God, we know we are yours, and in you is abundant life, yet we continue to forge our own paths, as if we know better than you.

You bless us with many gifts, yet we convince ourselves that our blessings are simply from our hard work and luck. In you is rest and resurrection, yet when we are tired and weary we seek renewal through possessions, people and chemicals. Forgive us when we reject your claim upon our lives. Remind us of the power of baptism, and help us remember that we are your beloved children. Through Christ we pray. Amen.

SILENCE FOR RELECTION AND PRAYER

PRAYER FOR MERCY (Kyrie) #518 (The Hymnal)

assurance of pardon (responsive)

Leader: Just as God called Jesus “beloved” at his baptism, so are we God’s

beloved children. Through Christ Jesus we are made whole. Peace

and pardon are ours.

People: We are renewed in God’s grace. Amen.

*RESPONSE OF PRAISE (Gloria Patri) #493 (The Hymnal)

SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Old Testament : 2 Kings 5:1-14 page #336

Psalm 30 page #505

New Testament: Mark 1:40-45 page # 35

*SERMON HYMN “Breathe on Me, Breath of God” #191 (The Hymnal)

SERMON “It’s the Simple Things” Rev. Christian B. Creyer

SILENCE FOR RELECTION AND PRAYER

THE APOSTLES’ CREED Page 6 (The Hymnal)

*Pastoral Prayer and lord’s prayer (Debts and Debtors)

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

Invitation to the Offertory

OFFERTORY “Love Divine, All Love Excelling” Klotz

*offertory response “Doxology” #551 (The Hymnal)

*Prayer of Dedication¹ (unison)

We bring our gifts, our tithes and our offerings to you, God, because we have received them from you. We bring to you our lives, as well, because we have received them from your generous hand. Bless all that we bring

so that our gifts and our lives may be of service to you. Amen.

*Closing Hymn “The Church’s One Foundation” #322 (The Hymnal)

*Commission and benediction

Leader: May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half- truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart. May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace. May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy. And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.

– Benediction of St. Francis

*three fold amen

*SILENT MEDITATION / EXTINGUISHING OF THE ALTAR CANDLES

*POSTLUDE “Aurella” Wesley

WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS

Ministers: The Congregation

Pastor: Rev. David Goode *contact number: (717) 823-1735

Guest Speaker: Rev. Christian B. Creyer

Praise Team Director: Suzanne Kopp

Organist: A.J. Young

Ushers: *Bill Snyder, Bill Snyder Jr.,

Liturgist: Michael or Carla Snyder

Altar Guild: Mary Ann Linde

Children’s Story Tellers: Jean Martin

Counting Team: Betty Ludwig and Bebe (Mary) Buch

Nursery Volunteers: Tom and Cheryl Weaver

Sexton: Penny Klopp

ANNOUNCEMENTS

02/12/12

ALL WORSHIPERS – Please sign the Friendship Pad.

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.

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 of healing for:

H. Scott Poole Brenda Sollenberger Craig Cahill Galina Kozhevnik Pat Carpenter

Lee Curley Annabelle Weaver Jack Frost Sophie Stauffer Steve Witmer

ALTAR FLOWERS are in loving memory of Donald Martin by Sylvia Martin and family

Information

PLEASE WELCOME REV. CHRISTIAN B. CREYER, who has been serving St. Paul’s UCC, in Bowmansville since May of 2010. Pastor Christian resides in Allentown with his wife, Stephanie and daughter, Courtney. Pastor Christian was a CPA and worked for several public as well as private companies. He also owned his own practice near State College for several years. Most recently, Pastor Christian graduated from Lancaster Theological Seminary in May of 2011 and was ordained in July, 2011 at St. Paul’s UCC. Pastor Christian, in his spare time, loves to spend time with his family, friends, and work on cross-stitch projects.

BECKY SNYDER is working on her Silver Award for Girl Scouts. The project will consist of leading in the collection of items to be donated to the Ronald McDonald House. Items like magazines printed on shiny paper, sample size toiletries, single serve food items and soda can tabs. Any donation would be greatly appreciated. Collection boxes and a complete list of what items may be donated are in the Narthex and the Breezeway between Zwingli and Bachman Halls. Collection will be during the months of February and March. Thanks!

Thank You

THANK YOU ST. STEPHEN CONFIRMATION CLASS for your 2012 “Souper Bowl” collection. You raised $211 and 135 food items. Thanks to your efforts this year, more dollars have been raised, more lives have been changed and the nation has seen the impact of people working together to help those in need. Thank you for working to transform the time around the Super Bowl into the nation's largest celebration of giving and serving. Tracy Bender, President /CEO

Education

CONSISTORY MEMBERS please have your consistory reports into the office by Thurs, Feb16^th.

DR. KEN MILLER FROM EVANGELICAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY will present a two-evening seminar entitled “Finding Truth in the Postmodern Era” on Feb 13 & 20 at 7pm. in the Garden Spot Village Chapel. Dr. Miller teaches in the theology department at ETS and has presented this seminar at various locations. Event is free and open to the public. More info at 355-6203.

CONFIRMATION WILL BE MEETING during the Sunday School hour for March 4, 11, 18 and 25 due to Mid-week Lenten services during March.

9:15 SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS SPEAKERS: Our speaker today is Haydn McLean. February 19 – Gary Carter is our guest speaker. He is a convicted felon, a drug dealer, alcoholic, adulterer, ex Pagan with a bad reputation justly deserved. Through all this, God saw fit to redeem him, justify and sanctify his position into the Kingdom of God. February 26 – Ron Bensinger.

Mission / Outreach

CONFIRMATION CLASS made 15 dozen cookies to give to veterans on Valentine’s Day. The cookies will be delivered to veterans at the VA hospitals in Coatesville and Lebanon. They will go along with the Valentine cards from the Special Class, church members and other sources.

CROSS CONNECTION MINISTRIES invites you to our 2012 Annual Fundraising Banquet on Tues, March 27, at Shady Maple Banquet Center! Join us in celebrating God’s faithfulness with student and family testimonies, our guest speaker Shawn Harper and updates from the Director. For more details call 355-2454 or visit www.newhollandcross.org. RSVP by March 20!

THINK SPRING! The Garden Spot Village Woodshop volunteers and Piecemakers invite you to attend the 4^th annual Bird House Show and Silent Auction from Feb 1^st - Feb 29^th at 5pm. The event being held in the Village Square Indoor Park features more than 40 unique bird houses, feeders and quilted wall hangings/pillows with a bird theme. You are invited to come enjoy the display and bid on an item for yourself or to give as a gift. Since events are periodically held in the Indoor Park, call 355-6000 to inquire if the Park is open before visiting. Funds raised through this event will be given to the Garden Spot Village Benevolent Fund.

OUTREACH FOR FEBRUARY-Auxiliary of UCC Homes-please use the pink envelope for your contribution. Your continued support for our Homes is much appreciated.

DON’T FORGET TO LEAVE YOUR COOKIES AND CARDS for the Lebanon and Coatesville VA Hospitals today. Contact Betty McKelvey at 431-6994 with any questions. Thank you!

Fellowship

COME JOIN IN AN EVENING OF COMPASSION with Point of Grace and Bebo Norman on Sunday, February 26 at Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster. For tickets or info call 459-3701.

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS

THIS WEEK’S EVENTS…

Today ***Pulpit Exchange***

8:15 am Traditional Worship Service

9:15 am Sunday School

10:30 am Blended Worship Service

Tuesday Happy Valentine’s Day J

Wednesday 6:30 pm Confirmation Class

7:00 pm Finance Committee Meeting

Thursday Consistory Reports Due!

Friday 6:00 pm heART of Friendship Benefit Auction

FUTURE EVENTS…

Monday 02/20 Office Closed!

Tuesday 02/21 6:00 pm Spiritual Council Meeting

7:00 pm Consistory Meeting

Wednesday 02/22 7:00 pm Ash Wednesday Service @ Trinity

Friday 02/24 Gleanings Reports Due

NEXT SUNDAY – February 19, 2012

Last Sunday after Epiphany / Transfiguration

SERMON: “On a Mountaintop with Jesus”

SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 2:1-12; Mark 9:2-9

GENERAL FUND OFFERING FOR FEBRUARY 5, 2012:

Attendance: 8:15 - 48 Offering $ 1,198.25

10:30 - 56 $ 1,381.00

Amount received for General Fund only: $ 2,579.25

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