North Presbyterian Church 2nd Sunday of Easter

April 23, 2017 8:30 & 10:45 a.m.

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD

(10:45) Gathering Time Hymn 240 Alleluia, Alleluia! Give Thanks Hymn 244 This Joyful Eastertide

Greeting, Welcome, and Opportunities for Discipleship Welcome visitors! If you feel comfortable, please introduce yourself at this time. We are glad you are here. We hope you will fill out the friendship pad in the pew holder to help us get acquainted. Please join us for coffee in the Dickinson Room after the service. Everyone—please silence your cell phones.

Prelude (8:30) Nocturne Alexander Borodin (10:45) O Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing arr. Hayes

Call to Worship The Lord is risen! Alleluia! Alleluia! The Lord is risen indeed! Peace be with you. Jesus stands among us. Peace be with you. The risen Lord is here. Let us worship God.

Invocation

*Hymn 255 O Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing (Please pass “Joys and Concerns” to center aisle to be collected during the singing of the hymn.)

*Call to Confession

*Prayer of Confession God, you have made known to us the ways of life. Yet, too often, we put other things above you and turn away from the ways of life and toward the ways of death. Forgive us and guide us back into your presence, that we may know the fullness of joy. Amen.

*Silent Confession (A time for personal confession of sin)

*Assurance of Forgiveness Hear the good news! God loves us. God forgives us.

*Response Celtic Alleluia Hymn 587 Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

*Passing of the Peace Having received Christ’s peace, let us share it by turning to our neighbors and greeting them, saying “May the peace of Christ be with you!”

(10:45) Children’s Time (Children may go to their Sunday school classes.)

(10:45) Solo Lord of the Dance arr. Hayes Dale Suckow

WE HEAR THE WORD OF GOD

Prayer for Illumination

Scripture Readings I Peter 1:3-9 (8:30) p.218 (10:45) p.232 John 20:19-31 (8:30) p.108 (10:45) p.115

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church. Thanks be to God.

Sermon “Learning to Breathe Peace” Rev. William T. Hennessy

WE RESPOND AND GIVE THANKS TO GOD

*Affirmation of Faith We believe in a bright and amazing God, who has been to the depths of despair on our behalf; who has risen in splendor and majesty; who decorates the universe with sparkling water, clear white light, twinkling stars and bright colors, over and over again. We believe that Jesus is the light of the world; that God believes in us, and trusts us, even though we make the same mistakes over and over again. We commit ourselves to Jesus, to one another as sisters and brothers, and to the Maker’s business in the world. God said: Let there be light! Amen. (© The Iona Community from The Iona Abbey Worship Book, published by Wild

Goose Publications, Iona Community, Fourth Floor, Savoy House, 140 Sauchiehall St., Glasgow G2 3DH, UK)

*Hymn 250 In the Bulb There Is a Flower

Prayers of the People

Offering Offertory: (8:30) Prelude in C Minor Chopin (10:45) This Joyful Eastertide Ferguson

*Doxology Lasst uns erfreuen

Praise God from whom all blessings flow: Praise God all creatures high and low.

Alleluia, alleluia! Praise God, in Jesus fully known: Creator, Word, and Spirit one. Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

*Prayer of Thanksgiving and The Lord’s Prayer

The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

…and now we pray: 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.

WE DISPERSE TO SERVE GOD IN THE WORLD

*Hymn 254 That Easter Day with Joy Was Bright

*Charge

*Benediction

(10:45)*Congregational Amen Hymn 568

*Postlude (8:30) Come to Me O Weary Traveler Rowan (10:45) Postlude on “Gelobt sei Gott” Willan

*Those who are able, please stand.

Calendar of Events/300 North Forest Road

TODAY

8:30am Worship/Chapel

9:30 Nursery staffed until 12

Adult Ed./Lib.

Bible Study/RC

Men’s Fellowship mtg./Chapel

10:45 Worship/Sanctuary

Sunday school

11:45 Coffee hour/DR

12-1:30pm Confirmation/Lib.

Monday, April 24

4-8pm Dress-a-Girl

Tuesday, April 25

9:00am Staff mtg./Ofc.

5-9pm People, Inc./WH

7pm FJC mtg./Lib.

Wednesday, April 26

1:00pm Book group/Lib.

7-8pm Mindfulness/Chapel, Sanctuary

Thursday, April 27

7-8pm Girl Scouts/South Side

7:30pm Adult Choir/Choir Room

Saturday, April 29

8:00am Men’s Fellowship/WH

9:30-noon Workday at church

Sunday, April 30

8:30am Worship/Chapel

9:30 Nursery staffed until 12

Children’s & Youth Choir

rehearsal/south basement

Adult Ed./Lib.

Bible Study/RC

10:45 Worship/Sanctuary

Sunday school

11:45 Congregational

Meeting/Sanctuary

Coffee hour/DR

Youth Group Sub Sale/WH

Monday, May 1

7:00pm Session/Chapel

Wednesday, May 3

4-7pm Chiavetta’s chicken fundraiser

Want to see more calendar events? Go to

https://northchurchwilliamsville.org/weekly-bulletin-

and-north-star/. If you see an error or want to add

an event, please e-mail n.church@verizon.net.

EGA—Embroidery Guild

DR—Dickinson Room

FJC—Family Justice Center

FONP—Friends of Night People

Kit—Kitchen

LE3—Before and After School Program

Lib—Library

Ofc—Office

RC—Resource Center

WCF—Williamsville Christian Fellowship

WH—Westminster Hall

Congregational Meeting

The Session has called a meeting of the congregation for Sunday, April 30, following the

10:45 a.m. worship service, for the purpose of apprising the congregation about the financial

condition of the church and related issues. Please plan to be present for this informative

meeting.

Book Groups

Everyone is welcome to come to a book group discussion. They meet the third Wednesday of

each month at 10:00 a.m. and the fourth Wednesday of the month at 1:00 p.m. in the library.

April 26, 1:00 p.m.

Bring your favorite poetry and share with the group

May 17, 10:00 a.m.

Savage Inequalities: Children in America’s Schools by Jonathan Kozol

June 21, 10:00 a.m.

Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned by Walter Mosley

“Meet Socrates Fortlow, a tough ex-con seeking truth and redemption in South Central Los

Angeles—and finding the miracle of survival.” –from Amazon.com

July 19, 10:00 a.m.

Right Here, Right Now: The Buffalo Anthology by Jody K. Biehl

Sunday Adult Education Bible Study—9:30 a.m., Resource Center

We are studying The Parables of Jesus. The study leaders are volunteers. We are reading and

discussing the parables of Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels. We also study the lectionary

scriptures. Books and study guides are not required. Come join us.

Sunday Adult Education—9:30 a.m., Library

We will discuss themes from the 2016 book Faithful Resistance: Gospel Visions for the Church

in a Time of Empire. The theme for April 23, Earth Sunday, will be Reimagining Ecological

Theology, with “Watershed Discipleship” by Ched Myers and “Inhabiting the Land” by Ufford-

Chase. The first part of the book introduces current issues such as Black Lives Matter,

inclusiveness of LGBT persons, and hostility to Muslims. The second part explores creative

responses that could reshape the church for the 21st century. Each short chapter theme is

introduced by a (mostly young) church leader who has a passion for the topic, with a

responding essay by Rick Ufford-Chase, former PCUSA moderator who has worked with the

poor and suffering, particularly in Mexican border towns. Copies will be available for sharing,

and short videos will often provide a starting point for discussion.

Dress-a-Girl

Seamstresses, doll makers, ironers, cutters, and runners: come sew with us! We'll be meeting

in Westminster Hall Monday, April 24, from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Stay for the whole time or for as

long as you can. Please bring a salad ingredient for our build-a-salad supper. Dessert and

beverages will be provided.

Friends of Night People Servers Needed

We need at least six people to go to Friends (FONP) on Hudson St. in Buffalo to serve the

meal on Tuesday, April 25. Volunteers need to arrive between 4:30 and 5 and are finished

about 7 p.m. Young people 14 ½ and older are welcome without a supervising adult;

younger volunteers need to be accompanied by an adult. Contact Ann Eisenlord, 632-7487 or

anneisenlord@roadrunner.com to volunteer.

“Fatherless America”: Men’s Fellowship with Professor Azubike Kalu-Nwiwu

Men are invited to Men's Fellowship breakfast on Saturday, April 29, at 8:00 a.m. in the

fellowship hall. (Cost is $7.00 each.) Longtime church member and Professor of Social

Sciences at Erie Community College (ECC) Azubike Kalu-Nwiwu, Ph.D., will speak on

“Fatherless America: The Effects of the Absence of Fathers in Black Communities."

Save the Date: Saturday, May 13

Flight of Five Lockport Locks and Lockport Caves

This outing is tentatively on the Men’s Fellowship group’s calendar. Stay tuned for more

information.

Youth Group Sub Sale

Our combined youth group of North and University Presbyterian churches are holding a sub

sale to raise funds for upcoming Youth Group activities, including this summer’s trip to the

Montreat Youth Conference. Subs will be sold for $5 and will be available after worship on

Sunday, April 30. If you would like to order a sub, please fill out the order form found in your

bulletin and drop it in the box in the narthex between now and April 29. Additional order

forms are also available in the narthex. Sub orders can also be submitted online, by using

the following URL: http://tiny.cc/UNPCSubSale. (Please note that the link is case-sensitive).

Payment (cash or check) will be due at the time of pick-up. Thank you for supporting our

youth!

Niagara/Northeast Branch Meeting

You’re invited to this branch meeting at First Presbyterian Church of Lockport (21 Church St.)

on Thursday, May 4, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Join us as we consider possibilities for our branch,

our presbytery, and for doing mission together. What can we create together that we cannot

do alone? This meeting is on the National Day of Prayer, and will include a pasta and salad

meal, worship, and a presentation/discussion from the Presbytery Council regarding our

presbytery’s time of discernment. Meal is free but please R.S.V.P. to mbkarr@verizon.net or

716.870.6276.

Chiavetta’s Chicken Dinner—Church Fundraiser

Chiavetta’s chicken dinner is two short weeks away! We need all hands on deck to make this

a successful fundraiser. This is the first fundraiser for the year to help our budget. So how can

you help? By selling pre-sale tickets, bake desserts, or help serve and clean up on

Wednesday, May 3rd. Please let us know how you would like to help. Thank you in advance

for your help. Wendy Ayler (clnteeth63@yahoo.com) & Tim Ayler

Anyone Play Bridge?

A couple from North Church is hoping to find more people who enjoy the game and would

be interested in playing. If you are interested in joining such a group, please e-mail the

church.

Correction (from Easter bulletin)

We sincerely apologize for omitting the following names from the flowers that were donated

for Easter:

Ginny Bradley in memory of Mary Mohlke and Sister Rose Mary Cauley

Ginny Bradley in honor of the Worship Committee

Mickey & Gloria McDowell in memory of Dawn McDowell

Terry Mickelsen in memory of loved ones

The Orlando Family in memory of Lauren Raye Castanza

Marsha Villano in memory of loved ones

Mission Statement

Brought together by our shared faith in

Jesus Christ,

Called by God to live as faithful disciples,

Blessed by our diverse gifts and experiences,

We commit ourselves to:

Worship together,

Teach and learn from one another,

Nurture each other with care and love, and

Reach out in ministry and mission to

the world.

Minister The Rev. William Hennessy Coordinator: Duncan Hemink (10:45) Organist: Marlene Harrington (8:30) Pianist: Heather Randall

Liturgist: Meg Doerzbacher Lock-up: Chris D’Angelo

(10:45) Greeters: Linda Gowans, Linda Schifferle Counters: Tim Ayler, Bill Clark

Ushers (8:30): Louise Cooper, Irene Harbison Nursery: Volunteer & Matt Maldonado

Ushers (10:45): Duncan Hemink, Carol Meyers,

Rod & Ginny Bradley

Visitors—You are important to us. Please fill out a visitor card and put it in the offering plate

if you wish to be contacted. You may also approach an usher—likely wearing a yellow ribbon

today—to find out more about North Church.

Ministers: The Congregation

Pastor/Head of Staff: The Rev. William T. Hennessy Director of Sacred Dance: Olivia Ebsary

Administrative Assistant: Cynthia Machamer Accountant: Karen Thomas

Facilities Coordinator: Mike Callaghan Childcare Supervisor: Regina Koteras

Director of Music, Organist: Marlene Harrington Webmaster: Tara Martin

Director of Music, Children & Youth: Marty Shafer Sunday School Administrator: Kimberly Will

Shared Youth Director: Mack Barker Musical Assistant: Kurt Ebsary

Elders (Session)

Clerk of Session: Sylvia Bigler

Class of 2018

Joe Alber

Ralph Doerzbacher

Bill Ervin

Chris Gunther

Carol Meyers

Class of 2019

Bill Clark

Sue D’Angelo

Shevaun Donelli O’Connell

Scott Marshall

Marsha Villano

Class of 2020

Keith Alford

Anselm George

Warren Marcus

Rob Powell

Deacons

Moderator: Glenn Hopkins

Class of 2018

Glenn Hopkins

Shirley Mazourek

Garry Ostermeier

Pam Ostermeier

Class of 2019

Karen Hopkins

Connie Littlewood

Sheridan Skura

Carol Suckow

Class of 2020

Cam Cowan

Olivia Ebsary

Irene Harbison

Heather Randall

There is Sunday school today.