First Presbyterian Church

November 17, 2019

WELCOME

Welcome to all who are worshipping with us!

Children are always welcome in the sanctuary, but if you prefer, child care is

available for children, birth through kindergarten, in the education building. Please, as you enter this holy space and time, silence your cell phones.

GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

CHIMING OF THE BELL

PRELUDE Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing CHESTER KINSBURY

Arr. Gilbert Martin

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

CHORAL INTROIT (11:00) Rejoice C.O. Beck

Voices of Oakwood University

*CALL TO WORSHIP

One: Let us worship the eternal God, the source of love and life, who creates us.

Many: Let us worship Jesus Christ, the risen one, who lives among us.

One: Let us worship the Spirit, the holy fire, who renews us.

Many: To the one true God be praise in all times and places, through the grace of Jesus Christ.

*OPENING PRAYER

*HYMN 838 Standing on the Promises PROMISES

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison) Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word,

and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have

not loved you with our whole heart and mind and strength. We have not

loved our neighbors as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been,

help us amend what we are, and direct what we shall be, so that we may de-

light in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name.

(In silence, let us offer our personal confessions.)

Amen.

KYRIE Lord, Have Mercy Hal H. Hopson FPC Bicentennial Commissioned Service Music

(the congregation is invited to sing each line of the kyrie) Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

One: Friends, God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone

who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world

might be saved through him. Know that you are forgiven and be at peace.

Many: Thanks be to God! Amen!

*Those who are able, please stand.

Worship bags and materials for children are available by the front door. Children are encouraged to share their “Worship Art” by placing it in the marked baskets by the front door after the service.

The turn from the praise of God to corporate confession, established on the promise of God’s grace, is one of the hallmarks of the Reformed tradition

A call to worship, typically drawn from sentences of scripture, expresses God’s invitation to gather as Christ’s body in this place. A greeting in the name of Jesus Christ or the triune God establishes the context for worship as an encounter with the Holy One who calls all things into being.

*Those who are able, please stand.

*HYMN 581 Glory Be to the Father GLORIA PATRI

*THE PASSING OF THE PEACE (8:30)

One: The peace of the Lord be with you. Many: And also with you.

PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD

TIME FOR YOUNG DISCIPLES (11:00) Kathy Gillmore At this time all children will be invited to come to the chancel steps. Afterward, par-ents of children KINDERGARTEN AND YOUNGER may then walk them to the nursery for sign-in to the child care program. 1ST GRADE AND UP should remain in the sanctuary with their parents.

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

FIRST LESSON Matthew 6:25-30

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you

will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and

the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not

of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to

your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the

field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all

his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the

field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

One: This is the Word of the Lord.

Many: Thanks be to God.

ANTHEM (8:30) How Lovely Are Thy Dwellings Samuel Liddle

Katie Buckner, soprano

(11:00) Festival Piece of St. Anne’s Eugene Buttler

Voices of Oakwood University

SECOND LESSON Jeremiah 17:5-8

Thus says the LORD: Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the LORD. They shall be like a

shrub in the desert, and shall not see when relief comes. They shall live in the

parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed are those

who trust in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. They shall be like a tree planted

by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it

does not cease to bear fruit.

One: This is the Word of the Lord.

Many: Thanks be to God.

It is a true treasure to have a heart that is in the right place. Here and throughout this sec-tion, Matthew uses metaphors that envision this life of right-eousness as the eschatological reign of God. As always, it points in hope to a future that is not yet, but it also imagines a life that lives this day and each day in confident faith in the Father who knows and responds to all human needs. The heart of faith which the Sermon imagines recognizes and welcomes the reign of God as a gift and places all of life in the hand of God.

Jeremiah is a prophetic book that reports the ministry of the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Israel both before (primarily) and after the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians in 587 B.C.E. The preaching of Jeremi-ah speaks sharp words of in-dictment and judgment to an idolatrous people.

SERMON “The Precursor to Sin”

The Rev. Dr. Tara W. Bulger

*HYMN 39 Great is Thy Faithfulness FAITHFULNESS

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH from Our Song of Hope

We believe Jesus Christ is the hope of all the world. In His death, the jus-tice of God is established; forgiveness of sin is proclaimed. On the day of

the resurrection, the tomb was empty; His disciples saw Him; death was de-

feated; new life had come. God's purpose for the world was sealed. Thanks

be to God. Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER The pastor will begin praying and then invite the congregation to join in saying the Lord’s Prayer together.

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.

PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY (8:30) This is My Father’s World Arr. Bill Wolaver

(11:00) Hallowed Be Thy Name Lilly White

Voices of Oakwood University

DOXOLOGY OLD ONE HUNDRETH 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.

*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND DEDICATION

SHARE GOD’S LOVE WITH THE WORLD

*HYMN 547 Go, My Children, with My Blessing AR HYD Y NOS

*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

*CHORAL RESPONSE May His Peace Be With You Kirk Franklin

Voices of Oakwood University

POSTLUDE Humoresque “L’organo primitive” Pietro A. Yon

*Those who are able, please stand.

An affirmation of faith is a written, formal statement that acknowledges, declares, and gives evidence of religious beliefs. The affirmation speaks internally, to the church that makes the declaration, and as such it informs the vision and mission of the church. It is also an outward statement that defines who the church may be in the world. Today’s affir-mation of faith is a contempo-rary statement of faith from the Reformed Church in Ameri-ca.

TODAY AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN

CHURCH

Pastors The Rev. Dr. Tara W. Bulger Music Dr. Patricia Hacker, Director of Music Dr. Lois K. Lee, organist/pianist Chancel Choir Voices of Oakwood University Ushers 8:30 Willie Anderson 11:00 Dianne Bowling Andrew Bevel Ed Green Susan Brooks Davis Carter Liturgists 8:30 Becca Phillips 11:00 Patrick Rentz

Calendar Legend: BR - Bell Room CH - Carriage House (GBH) CER - Christian Ed Resource upstairs CR - Choir Room FH - Fellowship Hall GBH - Gideon Blackburn House

HR - Historical Room JAH - John Allan Hall (GBH) LIB - Library SAN - Sanctuary SMR - Stephen Ministry Room (GBH)

First Presbyterian is a Congregation of the

Presbyterian Church (USA) and a Stephen Ministry

Congregation We welcome you as a participant in worship today.

We pray that you will find this service meaningful. Wor-

ship is but one of the many ministries of First Presby-

terian Church.

Have questions about the Church? Please speak to

the usher after the 8:30 service or the “Ask Me” person standing at the rear of the church after the 11:00 ser-

vice, who this week is Karen Brown. Mrs. Brown is

available to answer questions about First Presbyterian

Church, our programs, or finding locations within our

building. If you would like to receive our Weekly E-News,

please call the church office, at 256-536-3354 or send

your name and email address to officeadmin@fpchsv.org. FLOWER GUILD HONORS AND MEMORIALS

The flowers this morning are given to the Glory of

God.

THIS WEEK AT FPCHSV

Sunday, November 17, 2019 8:30 a.m. Worship Service/JAH

9:30 a.m. Handbell Choir/BR

9:30 a.m. Special Advent Workshop Sunday

School/FH

9:30 a.m. Sunday School

11:00 a.m. Worship Service/SAN 3:00 p.m. Oakwood University Singers/SAN

5:00 p.m. PYC Service

Monday, November 18, 2019

9:00 a.m. FF Preschool 9:00 a.m. Vine PCC/GBH

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

9:00 a.m. FF Preschool

9:00 a.m. Transformation Yoga Basic/CH

11:00 a.m. Transformation Yoga Gentle/CH 6:30 p.m. Boy Scouts 633/GBH

6:30 p.m. HMC Rehearsal/CR

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

7:00 a.m. Men’s Bible Study/FH 9:00 a.m. FF Preschool

1:30 p.m. K & C Group/LIB

5:00 p.m. WNL Children and Youth

5:30 p.m. WNL Adult class and dinner/LIB/FH

7:15 p.m. Chancel Choir Practice/CR

Thursday, November 21, 2019

9:00 a.m. FF Preschool

9:00 a.m. Transformation Yoga Basic/CH

9:30 a.m. Preschool Chapel

11:00 a.m. FPC Prayer Group/LIB 11:00 a.m. Transformation Yoga Gentle/CH

12:15 p.m. Al-Anon/GBH

Friday, November 22, 2019

9:00 a.m. FF Preschool

11:00 a.m. FF Preschool Thanksgiving Lunch

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Sunday, November 24, 2019

8:30 a.m. Worship Service/JAH 9:30 a.m. Handbell Choir/BR

9:30 a.m. Sunday School

11:00 a.m. Worship Service/SAN

Worship of the Living God is not confined to one

place or time. We encourage you to take this bulle-

tin home and use it to guide you in private mo-ments of worship for the next week.

Discuss: What situations or events cause you to

feel anxious?

Read Scripture: Monday: Matthew 17:1-13

Tuesday: Matthew 17:14-21

Wednesday: Matthew 17:22-27

Thursday: Matthew 18:1-9

Friday: Matthew 18:10-20 Saturday: Matthew 18:21-35

Pray: For the places in your life that spark anxiety.

Santa for Seniors

For our November Mission of the Month, once

again this year, FPC has the opportunity to part-ner with TARCOG-Area Agency on Aging to pro-

vide Christmas gifts for 75 low income, disabled,

homebound seniors.

TARCOG provides assistance in the home for

these seniors through the Medicaid Waiver pro-gram which allows them to remain in their homes

rather than having to go into a nursing facility.

Many of these clients have no family support or

assistance from family members and the gifts they will receive from us are the only gifts they will get

for Christmas.

During the month of November, there will be a

Christmas tree in the fellowship hall. On this tree

will be names and information about these indi-viduals along with their Christmas wish list.

Please take a name from the tree and record on

the clipboard the number of the client you have

selected.

Please WRAP the gifts, bag them altogether and

return them to the fellowship hall BY SUNDAY,

NOVEMBER 24. We will transport these gifts to

TARCOG and the case managers will deliver them

to the seniors as they do their December monthly

home visits.

If you have questions, please contact Marilyn

McCorkle or Karen Madison.

Stewardship Update

A big THANK YOU to all of you who have pledged

your support of the church in 2020. Below are the totals we have raised so far, but several pledges

have not been made. In order to support the budget

for next year, please make a pledge to the church.

Pledge cards are available in the narthex.

I am so looking forward to seeing what God will do

in our church in 2020! General Fund $732,356

Capital Fund $24, 290

1818 Fund $10,700

CCLI # 1345744

NOVEMBER

17th: Sunday School @ 9:30-10:30 in GBH

PYC @ 5-7pm (all grades) 24th: Joint Sunday School in FH

No PYC // Thanksgiving Week

DECEMBER

1st: Sunday School @ 9:30-10:30 in GBH

PYC @ 5-7pm (all grades) ICE SKATING 8th: Sunday School @ 9:30-10:30 in GBH

CAROLING + CHRISTMAS PARTY @ time + location

TBD

15th: Sunday School @ 9:30-10:30 in GBH

No PYC // Christmas Break 22nd: Sunday School Special @ 9:30-10:30 in FH

No PYC // Christmas Break

29th: NO Sunday School No PYC // Christmas Break

The University Choir, also known as Voices of

Oakwood University, is comprised of students ma-

joring in music and other disciplines. The ensemble has been a part of Oakwood University's rich musi-

cal tradition for several decades under the direction

of conductors such as Drs. Jon Robertson, Marcus

Thompson, and Eurydice Osterman.

The ensemble studies a diverse body of repertoire each semester. Most recently, the ensemble per-

formed Johann Sebastian Bach's Cantata #26: Ach wie fluchtig, ach wie nichtig with guest soloists and

the Oakwood University Orchestra. In Spring

2019 the choir joined forces with the Huntsville

Community Chorus and other choirs within the Huntsville area in the performance of Mozart's

Mass in C minor with the Huntsville Symphony

Orchestra. The choir is presently under the direc-

tion of Dr. Andrew Marshall.

Visit the signup bulletin board to donate refresh-

ments for Christmas Pageant Reception, at which

adorable actors and actresses greet their biggest fans!

If your child would like to be part of the Christmas

Pageant email Kathy Gillmore at dce@fpchsv.org to

challenge her to find just the right spot!

PRAYER LIST

Newest prayer requests are in bold print

To add or remove a prayer request, please contact the Office Administrator

Members and Relatives in Specialty Care:

Ray Rose (Diversicare of Big Springs)

Marge Sharp (Birmingham).

Jonancy (Jo) Edwards (Redstone Village)

Dolly Shuey (WBC @ Magnolia Trace)

The Church:

The Rev. Dr. Tara W. Bulger, and her family

The Rev. Dr. James W. Roberts, and his family

First Presbyterian Church, the Session, the

Board of Deacons, the North Alabama Presbytery, and for all the church staff

NAP seminary students Devon Reynolds (New

Market), Sara Jane Bush Nixon (First,

Athens), and Joe Lundy (First, Huntsville).

Military & International: All those serving in the

armed forces.

Our Nation: President Trump and our

representatives.

First Presbyterian Missions & Ministries:

Appalachia Service Project (ASP)

Good Samaritans

International Missionary Fellowship

(HaitiHospital.org)

The Vine Pastoral Counseling Center

The Presbyterian Home for Children

Second Mile Preschool

The CUP program

Camp Maranatha

Mission Aviation Fellowship

Other Prayers:

Let us remember all those who have suffered

and continue to suffer from natural disasters,

our Presbyterian Disaster Assistance program,

and other benevolent agencies.

In case of a pastoral emergency, you may

contact Dr. Bulger at 256-655-1818.

(The 11:00 a.m. worship service is broadcast

over WLOR AM 1550 or FM 98.1)

Church Members:

Sharron Abernethy

Lou Horn

Cay Lambert

Carsten Schroer

Jim Bond

Julie Fowler

Sherry Smith

Alicia Beam

Friends and Family:

Stella Fair - Sister of David Galloway

Robert Guynes - Son of June and Buddy Guynes

Richard Hartley - Friend of Tam Bevel

Beverlee Leo - Mother of Lori Smith

Diana Rose - Mother of Serena Neely

Scott Sedlitz - Stepson of Annewhite Fuller

Leigh Vincent - Friend of Linda and Woodward

Howard

Paige Olmo - Daughter of Paula Weider

Sean Larkin - Friend of Linda Howard and Bryce

Connor

Dylan Greiner- Son of Cay Lambert

Pegge Murphy- Friend of FPC PW

Luke Wylie - Mary Darsey’s granddaughter’s

friend

Brandon Greiner-grandson of Cay Lambert

Janice Culbertson - sister-in-law of Betty Duna-

way

Dale Brown - brother of Doug Brown

Nell Pike - mother of Charlie Pike

Eula Battle - friend of the congregation

Margaret Bruce Walker - Friend of Janis Williams

Leigh Steele - goddaughter of David Hatch

Jim Gamble - brother of Mary Adams

Sean and Joy Conway - friends of Houston Mat-

thews

Greer McCallion - mother of Louise McCallion

Derrick Dahl - nephew of Peggy Galloway

Rachel Beard - friend of Tam Bevel

Mitzi Summers - wife of Glen Adams

DeWayne Satterfield - friend of Daniel Carter

ATTENTION COLLEGE STUDENTS

Please send your updated addresses to Vicky Good-

win at goodwingoodwins@gmail.com.

LEADERSHIP AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

ELDERS:

Class of 2019

Leigh Brown, Christian Education Committee Charlie Bozeman, Mission and Outreach

Committee

Leslie Ecklund, Worship Committee

Steve Cornelius, Finance Committee

Class of 2020 Mary Adams, Christian Education Committee

Karen Madison, Mission and Outreach Committee

Mac Martinson, Worship Committee

Marshall Schreeder, Finance Committee

Class of 2021

Michael Lastovic, Christian Education Committee

Andrew Bevel, Mission and Outreach Committee

Al Steenwyk, Worship Committee

Angela Rawls, Finance Committee

DEACONS:

Class of 2019

Lou Horn, Care Committee

Anne Brigance, Hospitality Committee Bryce Connor, Fellowship Committee

Class of 2020

Paula Hatch, Care Committee

Ed Green, Hospitality Committee

Stephanie Hyatt, Fellowship Committee

Class of 2021

Willie Anderson, Care Committee

Marilyn McCorkle, Hospitality Committee

Karen Clayton, Fellowship Committee

TRUSTEES:

Class of 2019

Jim Daughtry

Bill Lummus

Class of 2020

Sara Graves

Andy Watson

Class of 2021

Dag Rowe

Gary Tucker

Presbyterian Women Jo Recio, moderator

MINISTRY TEAM AND STAFF 256-536-3354

The Rev. Dr. Tara W. Bulger, Senior Pastor seniorpastor@fpchsv.org Ext. 122

256-655-1818 (cell) The Rev. Dr. James W. Roberts,

Parish Associate parishassociate@fpchsv.org Ext. 127 Dr. Patricia Hacker, Director of Music music@fpchsv.org Ext. 126

Dr. Lois K. Lee, Organist/Pianist Louise McCallion, Youth Director youth@fpchsv.org Ext. 131

Kathy Gillmore, Director of Christian Education dce@fpchsv.org Ext. 129 Lacey Guthrie, First Friends Preschool Director ffdirector@fpchsv.org Ext. 128

Ellen DeAngelo, Finance Assistant finance@fpchsv.org Ext. 121 Gary Whited, Facilities Coordinator facilities@fpchsv.org Ext. 136

Julie Boykin, Office Administrator Ext. 132 officeadmin@fpchsv.org Michelle Lester, Nursery Coordinator Freda Clark, Sexton