Mount of God’s unchanging love! 26, 2017 MARCH · Seater, Lucille Von Rotz—mother of Diane Lehmann, Mary Larscheidt— sister of Carrie Massey, and the mothers of Elizabeth Tews

MARCH 26, 2017

9:30 A.M.

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*DOXOLOGY

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above ye heavenly host.

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. ~ Amen

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND 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.

GOING FORTH TO MINISTER

*CLOSING HYMN “Live Into Hope” [332]

*BENEDICTION

*SUNG BLESSING [356 V.1]

Come, Thou fount of every blessing,

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;

Streams of mercy, never ceasing,

Call for songs of loudest praise.

Teach me some melodious sonnet,

Sung by flaming tongues above;

Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,

Mount of God’s unchanging love!

POSTLUDE Alejandro Alumbreros

*Please stand as you are able.

[Bold type] indicates text to be spoken or song to be sung by the congregation.

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GATHERING WITH PRAISE

PRELUDE Alejandro Alumbreros

FIRST THOUGHT

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen; not

because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.

C. S. Lewis

One: The Lord be with you.

All: And also with you.

CALL TO WORSHIP

One: Startle us again, God, with the wonder of Your love

All: Open our hearts that knowing Your love, we may love

others.

One: Startle us again, God, with the truth of Your Word

All: Open our minds that we may hear and understand

One: Startle us again, God, with Your amazing grace

All: Open our eyes that we may see the true extent of Your

grace reaching into every life.

One: Come, let us worship God who startles us day by day

with the wonders of His grace

*HYMN “Morning Has Broken” [469]

PRAYER OF THE DAY

WELCOME

Welcome! Whoever you are, wherever you have come from, welcome to

this sanctuary. Here we celebrate the love of God and are inspired by the

hospitality of Jesus who welcomed all. May you find something of God’s

peace, love and grace as we worship together.

CALL TO CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION Kathi Wilson

Holy God, we turn to You and seek Your forgiveness. We have been

blind to the wonders of the world around us, and failed to rejoice in

the beauty of creation. Our eyes have been blinded to the sheer joy of

life and we have complained more than we have been grateful for the

many blessings. We look at what is wrong and fail to see all that is

(Prayer of Confession—continued on page 11)

(Prayer of Confession—continued from page 2)

good and worthy of praise. Open our eyes that we may see all that is

beautiful, good and wholesome. Open our hearts to Your forgiveness

and our lives to Your guidance. Through Jesus You have given us an

example to follow and a clear vision of how to live. May we rise to the

challenge to live as people who work for peace, who share love and

who forgive even as we have been forgiven. ~ Amen

(Let us continue to pray in silence.)

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

One: Friends, hear the good news of the Gospel.

All: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven

*ACT OF PRAISE [310 V.1]

Jesus, the very thought of Thee

With sweetness fills my breast;

But sweeter far Thy face to see,

And in Thy presence rest.

PROCLAIMING THE WORD

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

TIME WITH THE CHILDREN

CHANCEL CHOIR “All Glory, Love and Power to Thee”

” by Ludwig von Beethoven

SCRIPTURE John 9:1-12 [102]

SERMON “Sight for Sore Eyes” Rev. Gillian Weighton

LIVING THE WORD

PASSING THE PEACE

One: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

All: And also with you.

(During this time, children and their teachers leave for Sunday School.)

*SONG OF RESPONSE “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say” [p.8]

OFFERING/OFFERTORY “One of Us”

by Eric Bazilion

Mark Paffrath and Kathi Wilson—vocalists

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WELCOME, ALL!

Welcome to this sanctuary.

Welcome to this time of worship and wonder.

Welcome to this family of faith.

WELCOME TO FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

We’re glad you’re here today and pray that your experience

with us in worship is both challenging and uplifting!

9:30 a.m. Worship * 10:15 a.m. Sunday School

Fellowship to follow

Nursery care is available during worship service in Room 205.

STAY CONNECTED

WEB SITE: firstpresracine.org

PASTORS’ EMAIL: [email protected]

[email protected]

OFFICE EMAIL: [email protected]

OFFICE HOURS: Tues. thru Fri. — 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

TELEPHONE: 262.632.1686

ADDRESS: 716 College Avenue

Racine, WI 53403

To receive our mid-week E-votional along with news about

what’s going on in the church, call/email the office

and ask to be added to the list!

Soups * Stews * Hash * Chili

THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE FOR THE FOOD PANTRY:

WED., MAR. 29 — CLOSED

THURS., MAR. 30 — CLOSED

If you cannot make your shift, please find a sub and let LuAnn or Karin know.

WHAT THE FOOD PANTRY

NEEDS THE MOST!

Canned meats: Think beyond

tuna and soup, which food

banks get tons of. Instead go

for canned beef, canned ham,

canned chicken. Or hearty ready

-to-go meals like beef stew and

chili with meat.

Canned fruit: Not pineapple.

This is the most commonly

donated fruit. Any other fruit,

particularly those in fruit juice

without extra sugar, would be

great.

Boxed meals THAT REQUIRE

ONLY WATER. Hamburger

Helper is not helpful if you

don’t have hamburger.

Peanut butter, jams and jellies

Instant oatmeal, instant grits

Cans of beans—other than

green beans (i.e., baked, pinto,

great northern, cannellini, etc.)

Biscuit or baking mixes (again

that only require water)

Cans, cartons or boxes of

powered and evaporated milk

Snack items for kids to take to

school: juice boxes, apple-sauce

containers, granola bars

Spices like cinnamon, oregano,

basil, salt, pepper

Bags of apples or potatoes.

Diapers in sizes above newborn,

plus wipes toiletries: soap,

toothbrushes, toothpaste, warm

socks, lotion, shampoo & condi-

tioner, Chapstick® (consider

someone living outside at this

time of year)

Feminine hygiene products: un-

scented pads will be most uni-

versally used, not tampons

Soaps – body wash, dish soap,

laundry detergent

Chocolate. It’s not a necessity

but a great pick-me-up when life

gets to be too much! (for volun-

teers only)

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MARCH 26, 2017

GREETER: Linda Schubert

USHERS: Larry Dickerson, Sharon Campbell, Jen Seversen, Martha Fusco

PERK-N-POUR: Dennis & Nancy Reeser, Jerry & Nancy Ritter

LITURGIST: Kathi Wilson

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 26, 2017

Sun., Mar. 26 9:30 a.m. Worship

Mon., Mar. 27 Office Closed

Tues., Mar. 28 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Office Open

12:00 p.m. Newsletter Prep Party

Wed., Mar. 29 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Office Open

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Bible Study

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Food Pantry Closed

5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Supper and Substance

7:00 p.m. Handbell Choir Rehearsal

Thurs., Mar. 30 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Office Open

2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Food Pantry Closed

Fri., Mar. 31 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Office Open

7:30 p.m. “Station Keeping”

by Belle Ensemble

Sat. Apr. 1 Please see page 7 for information regarding

Peg Rendall’s service

Please join us Sunday the 2nd

at 9:30 a.m. for Worship and

Communion with Scripture reading from John 11:17-27

Wed., Apr. 5 6:30 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. Lenten Taizé Service*

Sun., Apr. 9 9:30 a.m. Palm Sunday Service

Thurs., Apr. 13 6:30 p.m. Maundy Thursday Service

Fri., Apr. 14 12:00 noon - 3:00 p.m. Tre Ore Service

(Holy Communion Lutheran Church)

6:30 p.m. Good Friday Service

Sun. Apr. 16 9:30 a.m. Easter Worship Service

*A 45-minute Lenten Taizé service will be held in the Sanctuary.

Taizé (pronounced “Tezzay”) provides an opportunity to gather

in a contemplative, prayerful setting for a time of reflection

and meditation. Pastor Gillian will lead the service. Music will

be provided by soprano Ami Bouterse, pianist Alejandro

Alumbreros, and UW-Parkside music students. A freewill

offering will be accepted. All are welcome!

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This season’s final “Supper and Substance” will be held on

Wednesday, March 29 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. in Ihrman Hall.

Please bring a simple dish to share.

Pastor Gillian will lead this weekly discussion series,

“Longing for Light.”

Prayers for our church family—including Pam

Simpson—who is recovering from unexpected

surgery, Bonnie Eastman, Don and Nancy Tobias, Lissy Blandford, Mar-

lene Wilson, Evelyn Vanderheyden, Annette Anderson, Beth Elzinga,

Peggy Taylor, Mary Lou Hill, Evelyn Gayhart, Larry Cardwell, Maggie

Seater, Lucille Von Rotz—mother of Diane Lehmann, Mary Larscheidt—

sister of Carrie Massey, and the mothers of Elizabeth Tews and Nicole

Higgs. Special prayers at this difficult time for John & Patt Reitsma, as

they mourn the passing of John’s brother, Richard.. Additionally,

please keep Doris Deschler (our financial secretary) and her husband,

Dick, in your prayers as they cope with the unexpected death of Dick’s

brother.

Prayers for our military—Lt. Col Jay Brooke, Kyle Sondergaard, Andy

Loth, Nicholas Hansen, Jordan Smith, Scott Pence, Chad Lawrence,

Christopher Hansen, Captains Mary & Eddie Callahan.

Prayers for our friends— Lt. Col. Matt Brooke—Army, Retired,

Jeff Erickson from the Caledonia Fire Dept., Rose Truckey—friend of

Pam Simpson, Karen Schneider—friend of Bill & Lissy Blandford and

Alex Stinefast—nephew of our church secretary. Healing prayers for

those who are going through rough times—whether emotionally,

physically or spiritually.

Also keep those in your thoughts and prayers who remain bright,

cheery and positive, although they may not have a comfortable place

to lay their heads or food to fill their bellies. And a special prayer

for all those who lend a helping hand to make the world a brighter

place for others.

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Today’s flowers are given by

Jim & Georgia Hall in honor of their

42nd wedding anniversary.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, JIM & GEORGIA!

Looking for a new job? We have a wonderful one right here at our

church. The pay is not so hot, but the rewards are worth every

second you spend with the children, teens and adults who come

to see our beautiful church architecture, our quilt display, our

Henry “Box” Brown box and to hear the lore about the Underground

Railroad that was active when the church was built.

We will train you and give you all the information that you need to

thrill our visitors. We need a few more docents, especially in the

Spring. If you would like to help, please contact Linda Schubert,

[email protected] or call 262.632.7537.

Please come in to see gorgeous things in the Cuba Benefit Art

Show. There is beautiful artwork by a variety of local artists, and

also Georgia Herrera's fabulous jewelry and colorful knit caps made

by one of her friends. Everything you spend goes 100% to our Cuba

Fund to present during our summer visit to Cuba. And we still have

more room for donations as this Art Show will continue until the

end of April. For more information, please contact Ellen Cardwell,

[email protected] or (262) 456-6336.

Following is the timeline for Peg Rendall’s service, scheduled for

Saturday, April 1st.

10:00 a.m. Committal service

West Lawn Cemetery—9000 Washington Avenue

11:00 a.m. Visitation

First Presbyterian Church—Sanctuary

1:30 p.m. Funeral

First Presbyterian Church—Sanctuary

2:30 p.m. Luncheon

First Presbyterian Church—Ihrman Hall

"Station Keeping" - Friday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m. A special

masterworks concert by Belle Ensemble at First Presbyterian

Church. Featured performers: Fumi Nakayama on harpsichord,

tenor John Stumpff, mezzo-soprano Karen Archbold, soprano

Kristin Knutson, baritone Nicholas Barootian, bass-baritone

Gregory Berg; Darlene Rivest, violin and viola; Jessica DeBoer,

viola; Michele Venturella, cello; Pat Badger, recorder; and Mary

Beth O'Halloran, recorder. No charge for admission, freewill

offering accepted at the door.

The baby grand piano in our parlor upstairs is available on a

first come-first served basis. It does need repairs and you are

solely responsible for its removal. If interested, please call the

office— 262.632.1686.