CHIMING OF THE HOUR
PRELUDE FOR ORGAN Thirty-five Miniatures [op. 55]: 6. Larghetto Flor Peeters (1903-1986)
WELCOME Pastor: May the peace of the Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
PEALING OF THE BELL AND SILENT PRAYER OF PREPARATION Gracious God, patient God, trustworthy God,
keep my mind’s eye and my heart’s trust on you, the One who has made promises and keeps them.
Make your presence tangibly felt in the midst of silence and longing, in early morning hope and late evening tears. Amen.
-Adapted from Arianne Braithwaite Lehn, Ash & Starlight
* CALL TO WORSHIP Pastor: Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises to our God; for God is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting. People: God heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds. God determines the number of stars and
gives to all of them their names. Leader: Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; God’s understanding is beyond measure. People: Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre. Leader: Let us worship God.
* HYMN (see page 6) Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart Morecambe
* PRAYER OF THE DAY
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Isaiah 40:21-31 David Walker, layreader
after each reading: Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.
MUSIC FOR SOLO VOICE AND ORGAN Michael McAvoy, baritone Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee Dorothy K. Bunday (1928-2012)
Jesus, the very thought of thee No voice can sing, nor heart can frame, with sweetness fills the breast; nor can the memory find but sweeter far thy face to see, a sweeter sound than thy blest name, and in thy presence rest. O Savior of humankind.
O hope of every contrite heart, O joy of all the meek, to those who fall, how kind thou art! How good to those who seek!
-attr. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), transl. Edward Caswall, 1849; alt.
GOSPEL LESSON Mark 1:29-39
SERMON “A Change in Perspective” Rev. Marshall
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (by Sarah Are | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org) We believe in a wilderness God who breathed life into dust, turned seeds into flowers, and flooded the sky with stars. We believe in a wilderness God who went hungry in the desert, walked barefoot on water, and taught from the mountainside. We believe in a wilderness God whose love could be described as nothing short of wild. So with confidence and hope, we long to follow our wilderness God who walks with people on their darkest nights, who sings hope into places of grief, isolation, and suffering, and who exists in the form of untamed joy, relentless love, and impossible hope. Step by step, may it be so. Amen.
CALL FOR THE OFFERING (Go to website https://ryepc.com/give/ or see below to give online.)
FEBRUARY 7, 2021
THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY WORSHIP at 10:00 a.m.
THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD ’S SUPPER INVITATION AND GREAT THANKSGIVING
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is truly right and our greatest joy to give you thanks and praise, O God of majesty and splendor.
By your power you created all that is, making a universe out of chaos, and ruling over all things in love.
Throughout the ages you called your people to love and serve you, and to be your light among the nations.
When we failed you, you did not fail us and sent prophets to call us back to your ways. We praise you that in
the fullness of time, you revealed your love by sending your Son Jesus to be the light of the world. He came to
heal our brokenness and to set before us the ways of justice and peace.
Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with the angels of light who envelop us, and with all the saints
before and beside us, who forever sing to the glory of your name:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
You are holy, O God of majesty, and blessed is Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord. He was born to dwell among
us, full of grace and truth. He lived as one of us, knowing joy and sorrow. He healed the sick, fed the hungry,
welcomed sinners, and proclaimed food news to the poor. Dying on the cross, he gave himself for the life of the
world. Rising from the grave, he won for us victory over death. Seated at your right hand, he reigns with you in
glory and will come again to make all things new.
Remembering the risen Christ, we take from your creation this bread and wine and joyfully celebrate his
dying and rising as we await the day of his coming. With thanksgiving we offer our very selves to you to be a
living and holy sacrifice, dedicated to your service.
Great is the mystery of faith:
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this bread and wine, joining us in true
communion with Christ and with all who share this feast. May this feast illumine our hearts with the radiance
of Christ’s presence, that our lives may show forth his love in this weary world.
Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory belongs to you, O God, full of
grace and truth. Amen.
THE 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.
BREAKING OF THE BREAD AND POURING OF THE CUP
COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE
If you are joining at the table from home, please take part in Communion with whatever elements you have.
In the sanctuary, communion elements are available from an usher.
MUSIC FOR ORGAN
Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God Karen Lafferty, 1971; arr.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Gracious God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. As we go
out in the world, set our feet in your holy way, that all we do may show forth your love and proclaim your
hope. Amen.
* HYMN (see page 7) In the Midst of New Dimensions New Dimensions
* CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE FOR ORGAN
Thirty-five Miniatures [op. 55]: 13. Allegro maestoso Flor Peeters (1903-1986)
*indicates standing for those who are able.
During the Postlude, people on YouTube are invited to move to Zoom to participate in the Annual Congregational
Meeting. Following the Congregational Meeting, online Zoom participants will be given
the opportunity to unmute themselves and to greet one another.
Welcome to Rye Presbyterian Church If you are new to Rye Presbyterian Church, we welcome you and hope you are enriched and inspired by this
time of worship. So that we may get to know you better, or if you would like more information about RPC,
please go to: https://ryepc.com/im-new/ and fill out the Welcome Form.
The chancel flowers are given to the glory of God.
In Memoriam
Connie Reilly, on January 29, mother of Katie Reilly and grandmother of Maddie Reilly.
To families with young children: Welcome! We are glad you’re here! Jesus not only welcomed children, he also blessed them. Know that your
children’s presence in worship is both welcomed and a blessing to us all!
Here are some ideas to help make the most out of worship as a family:
Please make sure to register to attend worship each week so we know how many from your family will be
attending.
Bring crayons or colored pencils from home so your children can color the provided coloring pages and
illustrated children’s bulletins. It might also be helpful to bring a hard surface (a book or clipboard) for them to
use while coloring.
Explain what is happening during worship and what is coming next. Let children cross things off in the bulletin
as they happen. Whispering is okay!
When it’s time to stand, allow children to kneel on the pews if they would like.
Allow children to participate in the offering by putting in your envelope or putting in their own gift in the
offering plates near the doors as you leave. A picture drawn for God is appropriate!
Most importantly, relax and be at peace. We know that God made children to be full of energy and excitement!
TODAY
Youth Choir, 11:00 a.m., via Zoom Note time: Confirmation Class, 2:45 p.m., via Zoom and 4:00 p.m., Assembly Room
ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING following the 10:00 a.m. worship service.
The 2021 Annual Meeting of the congregation and corporation of the Presbyterian Church in the Town of Rye is called for today, Sunday, February 7, following 10:00 a.m. worship in the Sanctuary and via Zoom. A brief summary of year-end reports will be followed by the presentation of the 2021 budget, acting on the terms of call for the pastors, and acting on changes to our by-laws. –Katy Ridley, Clerk of Session
The Davidson T. Gordon Quiet Service Award will be presented during the meeting.
The 2020 Annual Report and proposed changes to the By-laws are available on the Resources page of the RPC Website (https://ryepc.com/about-rpc/resources/).
VIRTUAL SUNDAY SCHOOL This Sunday, February 7, we will talk about how, when Jesus taught his disciples to pray,
“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,” he was calling for a world where people weren’t divided. We will reflect on forgiveness as restoration and renewal. It’s bringing harmony back to a relationship!
All children in PreK-5th grade are welcome to join us on Sunday mornings for a small combined 30-minute class via Zoom at 9:00 a.m.! If you would like your child(ren) to participate via Zoom, please fill out the registration form on our website https://ryepc.com/ministries/children/.
We are also including a Take-Home Sheet and a Lord’s Prayer booklet in our weekly Christian Ed newsletter so families can join us as we explore our belongingness and connectedness with each other, the world, and God through the Lord’s Prayer! If you would like to receive these materials and are not already signed up for our weekly Christian Ed newsletter, please contact Rev. JP ([email protected]).
THIS WEEK
Monday, February 8 9:30 a.m. Monday Morning Bible Discussion, via Zoom, contact Dan Love ([email protected]) Wednesday, February 10 8:30 a.m. Women’s Discipleship, via Zoom – contact Alicia Baldwin ([email protected]) or Courtney Bennett ([email protected]) for the link. 7:30 p.m. Deacons, via Zoom Thursday, February 11 3:30 p.m. Children’s Choir, via Zoom 6:30 p.m. Stephen Leaders – Prime Ministers, via Zoom 7:30 p.m. Testimony, Adult Education, via Zoom – contact John Miller ([email protected])
GENERAL NOTICES
E-MAIL PRAYER GROUP Our e-mail prayer group is going strong. Please join us in our ministry of prayer for others. Or if you have a prayer request, please do not hesitate to contact [email protected].
WEEKDAY HOURS The church is open 10-2, Monday through Friday. Only one door will be open - the door facing
Parsons Street near the Assembly Room. If you need access to the building at some other time during the day, please contact the church office at 967-0842, or at [email protected]. If you do come to the church, please take careful note of the guidelines that are in place so that we may all safely use the church building together (https://ryepc.com/article/weekday-reopening-of-rye-presbyterian/).
ONLINE GIVING Online donation options are available on the RPC Website Giving page (ryepc.com/give/), or you may Scan the QR Code to the right with your cell phone.
We can also accept your donations with Zelle from your mobile banking app.
Please contact the church office to register with us first, 914-967-0842, or email Maida Robinson (below). Please contact Maida Robinson at [email protected], if you have any questions.
Many thanks for your continued generosity and support of the church!
CONNECTION & HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP Both our middle school Connection and High School Youth Group are meeting with a mix of Zoom and in-person gatherings! Please visit the “Youth Ministry” page of the website – https://ryepc.com/ministries/youth/ - to get a glimpse of what our youth are up to this year.
Adult Education
Thursdays, February 11, 18, 25, March 4, 7:30-9:00 p.m., via Zoom
Do you want to: ● Wrestle with the language of faith and its relevance for today? ● Discern what it means to have an embodied faith? ● Consider ways of living that reflect your faith beyond the church doors?
If so, then gather virtually with others and spend six weeks exploring this new adult curriculum for Presbyterian people of faith! "Testimony" offers six stand-alone sessions exploring what we believe about God, the Imago Dei, covenant, grace, love, and Christian community. It invites participants to reclaim it for our own particular time and context, and reinterpret it in daily living.
Contact John Miller for more information, materials, and Zoom link.
Wednesday Mornings Women’s Discipleship Group
8:30-10:00 a.m., Via Zoom Join us for our study: Learning to Love THE PSALMS
For details, email either Alicia Baldwin ([email protected]), or
Courtney Bennett ([email protected]).
THE RPC THRIFT SHOP IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED At this time, our ability to take donations is limited. If you have specific items you
would like to donate, please email us at: [email protected]. Thank you for your continued support!
Permission to reprint music in this Order of Worship and to livestream it obtained
from ONE LICENSE License #A-725535.
Thirty-five Miniatures, op. 55, by Flor Peeters
© 1947 by McLaughlin & Reilly Co. Copyright assigned 1972 to A. P. Schmidt Co. Copyright renewed 1974.
Printed in U.S.A. All rights reserved.
Morecambe (harmonized by Noel Rawsthorne) © 1996 Kevin Mayhew Ltd., Stowmarket, Suffolk, U.K.
Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee (music by Dorothy K. Bunday)
Music © 1992 Abingdon Press (a division of The United Methodist Publishing House, Brentwood, TN).
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
In the Midst of New Dimensions
Text and Music © 1994 Julian B. Rush. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The Rev. Daniel Love, Co-Pastor
The Rev. Dr. John Miller, Co-Pastor
The Rev. Jean-Paul Marshall, Associate Pastor for Christian Education
Jason Charneski, Director of Music and Organist
Lisa Rawson, Director of Choirs for Children and Youth Maida Robinson, Chief Administrative Officer
Peggy Berretta, Administrative Assistant
Denise LeVan, Pastoral Assistant
Juan Velasquez, Head Sexton/Building Manager
Alonso Osorio, Sunday Sexton
We are a Stephen Ministry church.
February 17 Worship at 7:30 p.m.
In-person and
via Zoom and YouTube
Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart Morecambe
text: George Croly, 1867
music: Frederck C. Atkinson, 1870; st. 5 harm. Noel Rawsthorne (1929-2019)
In the Midst of New Dimensions New Dimensions
Text and music: Julian B. Rush, 1979; rev. 1985