Forest Hill Church, Presbyterian

Forest Hill Church, Presbyterian
Discovering God’s call, celebrating the Spirit’s presence,
Witnessing to Christ’s transformative power!
3031 Monticello Blvd, Cleveland Hts OH 44118
216-321-2660
Fax: 216-320-1214
Email: office@fhcpresb.org
Website: www.fhcpresb.org
Dr. John C. Lentz, Jr., Pastor
Rev. Clover Reuter Beal, Assoc. Pastor
Rev. Tricia Dykers-Koenig, Parish Assoc.
Anne Wilson, Ministry of Music
Keon Abner, Dir. of Youth Ministries
Dacia Prins, Dir. of Children’s Ministries
Service of Worship
October 12, 2014 at 11:00 a.m.
Welcome! Thank you for joining us today for worship.
If you are visiting, please join us in wearing a name tag so that we might greet you.
Our ushers have large print editions of the Bible and today’s bulletin;
hearing devices; activity bags with quiet activities for children staying in worship;
and directions to our Monticello Wing nursery for babies and young children.
Prayer of Preparation
We praise you, O God, our Redeemer, Creator;
In grateful devotion our tribute we bring.
We lay it before you; we kneel and adore you;
we bless your holy name; glad praise we sing.
Welcome
Prelude
Forest City String Band
Greeting Our God with Joy
Call to Worship
Elder Doris Bartlett
Leader: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
People: And also with you.
Leader: This morning, Lord, we want everything to be for your glory.
People: We want our thoughts, our words, our songs, our church, our
community, our resources, our time, our lives: all to be for you.
Leader: Everything ours is yours, and we come together to declare this to be
so,
People: On this holy day of thanksgiving, bless our time together with your
holy presence.
Leader: Amen.
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* Processional
“If I Had a Hammer”
1. If I had a hammer, I'd hammer in the morning, I'd hammer in the evening,
All over this land,
I'd hammer out danger, I'd hammer out a warning,
I'd hammer out love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.
2.
If I had a bell, I'd ring it in the morning…..
3.
If I had a song, I'd sing it in the morning…
4.
Well, I've got a hammer and I've got a bell and I've got a song to sing
All over this land
It's the hammer of justice, It's the bell of freedom
It's a song about love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land
It's the hammer of justice, It's the bell of freedom
It's a song about love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this la-a-and
Renewing Our Relationship with God
Prayer of Confession
Elder Keon Abner
Leader: Forgive hearts consumed with selfish gain.
People: Turn our hearts toward love for others.
Leader: Forgive eyes gazing at worthless things of this world.
People: Turn our eyes toward your presence, your action, within us and
around us.
Leader: Forgive hands that push people away.
People: Turn our hands to welcome the stranger, the outcast, the enemy.
Leader: Forgive feet kicking up dust on dead-end roads.
People: Turn our feet onto your path of righteousness and life.
Leader: By the grace of the forgiving, transforming
People: Forgive us, turn us, O God.
Time of Silent Confession
Song of Forgiveness
Appalachian folk melody
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Affirming the Good News in Our Lives
Assurance of Pardon
* Response
Paul Vasile
“Glory to God”
Anthem
Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs
“I’m Working on the Road”
Opening Our Hearts to God’s Word
Shannon and LaDon Headen
Minute for Mission
“Stewardship”
* Hymn No. 623
“I’ve Got Peace”
Prayer requests may be passed to the ushers during this hymn
Scripture Lesson
2 Corinthians 9: 6-15
After the reading
Leader: Hear what the Holy Spirit is telling God’s people.
People: Thanks be to God.
Sermon
Rev. Dr. John C. Lentz, Jr.
“Cheerful Giving”
Prayers of the People
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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.
Ritual of Friendship
all are asked to sign
Offertory
Sara Watkins
“Take Up Your Spade”
* Response
South African song
“Hallelujah! We Sing Your Praises!”
Going Forth to Live as God’s People
* Closing Hymn No. 837
“Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”
* Commission and Blessing
* Passing of the Peace
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Postlude
Scottish trad.
“Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine”
Forest City String Band
*please stand if able
Welcome Visitors!
We look forward to greeting you and answering any questions you may have.
Visitor welcome bags are available in the foyers and the narthex. Take one
home with you! Be sure to visit our website, www.fhcpresb.org, to find a
complete list of upcoming events, education programs for all ages, and texts
and audio of past sermons.
Congregational Notes
Chancel Flowers
Today’s flowers are given by Jon Newton in memory of his son Jeffrey Robert
Newton; and by Joyce Pope to the glory of God and in thanksgiving for the
Bible and Bagels study group.
Prayer Concerns this Week
Prayers are requested this week for the following:
Kay Currie, Elaine Dannefer, Flora Dannemiller, Joanne Dawson, John Dugard,
Jean Duncan, Jack Lentz, Sr., Mary Lewis, Joanne Marunowski, Connie Sekerak,
Margaret Sentell, Debbie Ungemach.
Please remember these homebound members in your prayers:
Dick Bloomquist, Bill Currie, Pat Drake, Marge Drollinger, Betty Farnfield, Iris
Gilbert, Ron and Florence Klein, Emelia McGuire, Joyce Peters, Elaine Tapié.
We invite you to write prayer requests on a slip of paper from the envelope
rack and pass it to an usher during the singing of the middle hymn, to be
included in the prayers later in the service. Lists of ongoing prayer concerns are
in each month’s TOWER.
This Month’s Ushers
Joe Andrews, Nick Baumgartner, Charles Ishler, Jane Ishler, Kate Monaghan,
Daryl Musick, Victoria Sampson. Roger Heineman, Head Usher
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Nursery care for babies and young children is available on the second floor of
the Monticello Wing.
Attendance last week (including Pathways children): 251
Announcements
TODAY
Today’s Music
Today we welcome the Forest City String Band, a group which plays popular
music from the ‘50’s to the present and both black and white traditional gospel
music. The band’s style is predominantly “bluegrass” with banjo, fiddle, guitar
and bass. Brit Stenson plays banjo and played in a professional band after
graduating from UVA. He currently designs golf courses. Reed Simon plays the
fiddle in almost any style you want and teaches at Notre Dame College. Bo
Shiverick has played the guitar since high school and tries both finger-picking
and flat-picking styles. He currently runs a small manufacturing business. Lloyd
Bell plays the bass and the band is continually challenging him to expand his
styles, but he maintains he has had his own style since high school and doesn’t
see any reason to change. Lloyd currently manages business deals for a major
accounting firm. Alana Andrews adds vocals and harmony and sings with the
St. Paul's Church choir. She also teaches at Ursuline College when she is not
singing.
Shifting Gears in the Second Half of Life
Oct. 5 – Nov. 2
Sundays, 12:30 pm, South Hall
This is a five-week course for those facing retirement and for those whose
parents are facing issues of aging. How does a person navigate the passage to
retirement and beyond with confidence and optimism? Topics will include
everything from housing options and important legal documents to wellness,
spirituality, and reinventing yourself in your older years. The class meets after
church, from 12:30 – 2:00 pm in Bodwell Hall. Contact Chris Henry (216-3921563 or cehenry@ameritech.net) or Consuelo Heineman (rogedoge@aol.com
or 216-371-6395) for more information.
This week: Where Shall We Call Home? Senior Living Options
Next week: When It’s Time to Go – End of Life Options
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Lay Reader Orientation and Training
Interested in being a lay reader but not sure what to do? Come to the
sanctuary after worship today to attend a brief orientation on “Being an FHC
Lay Reader.” We will cover everything from how to sign up to how to
pronounce “Merodachbaladan.” Drop by the sanctuary between 12:15 – 12:45
and we’ll answer your questions and introduce you to the mic. Questions?
Contact Derek Duncan (duncan5oh@yahoo.com or 216-921-9580).
Labre Project
The Labre Project is having a cookout this evening at 5 pm at Our Family Home
Center in East Cleveland. See Jack Breisch for more information.
THIS WEEK
Bible and Bagels
Bible and Bagels meets Wednesdays from 7:30 to 8:30 am in the Jin Room. All
are welcome! The lesson this week is Psalm 99 and Galatians 3:19 – 4:11.
NEXT SUNDAY
Adult Education, 9:30 in South Hall
Kerygma small groups will resume.
Christianity for Seekers (and others), led by Rev. Dr. John Lentz
Oct. 19 – Nov. 23
Sundays, 5 pm, South Hall
Have you been wondering just what a progressive Christian faith is about?
Maybe you have no idea about Christianity and would like to learn a little;
maybe you’ve joined the church recently, or you’ve returned to church as an
adult, or you’ve been in the church for decades and you realize that you’d like
to learn more about what you’re doing. This could be the class for you! Join us
from 5 – 7 pm Sundays, beginning October 19. Please contact Pastor John
Lentz for more information (pastorlentz@fhcpresb.org or 216-321-2660).
We encourage you to invite friends outside the church!
ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Exploring Membership Class
Nov. 1 (9-12) and Nov. 2 (9-10:30)
Interested in FHC membership? Curious about what makes FHC tick? Been
attending for a while but think you might like to make more of a commitment?
Mark your calendars for the next Exploring Membership class (dates above).
RSVP to the church office.
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Care Group
The Bethlehem Care Group is responsible for meeting members’ needs during
October. Please call the church office to report an illness, hospitalization,
family emergency, birth or death. Information will then be passed on to the
Care Group leaders.
Members of this month’s Care Group are:
Kemp Jaycox, Deacon leader
Jon Adams & Pam Conover
Dick Bloomquist
Carole Boyd
Clarence & Elsie Boyd
Chris & Rhonda Chapman
Kay & Bill Currie
Peter & Kathryn Eloff
Sharon Hansen
Shannon & LaDon Headen & family
Kemp Jaycox & Cindy Fink & family
Joan Kandare
Morag & Tom Keefe
Karen & Clyde Loughridge
Ted Mueller
Bethany & Joe Pinzone
Ron Register
Jean Reinhold
Baldwin Sawyer
Mollie & Dick Secor
Dorothy Turick
Carolyn Vrtunski
Mark & Julie Waring & family
Beth & Tom Zych & family
Social Groups and Circles
Iris Circle (all women of the church)
Iris Circle will meet on Tuesday, October 21 at 10:30 am at Ten Thousand
Villages, 12425 Cedar Rd in Cleveland Hts. After shopping we will walk just a
few blocks to Nighttown (12387 Cedar) for lunch. Reservations are required;
please contact Nancy Burcham by October 17 (Burcham@roadrunner.com or
440-446-0832).
Youth News
Every Sunday
• Mid and Sr High classes meet from 9:30 – 10:30 am.
• Youth Fellowship meets at 5 pm
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FHC Staff Emails and Phone Extensions
Program Staff
Rev. Dr. John Lentz Jr. / pastorlentz@fhcpresb.org ext. 200
Rev. Clover Beal / pastorbeal@fhcpresb.org ext 201
Dacia Prins / dacia@fhcpresb.org ext. 206
Anne Wilson / annew@fhcpresb.org ext. 208
Keon Abner / keon.abner@fhcpresb.org ext. 207
Office Staff
Becky Austin / beckya@fhcpresb.org ext 203
Lynda Bernays / office@fhcpresb.org ext 202
Stavros Gazis / office@fhcpresb.org ext 202
The Partnership for Middle East Peace presents
Voices Across the Divide
At the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque
11141 East Blvd in University Circle
Sunday, November 2 at 4 pm
Voices Across the Divide is a powerful documentary
and oral history project exploring the
Israeli/Palestinian conflict through rarely heard
personal stories. It is narrated by Alice Rothchild,
and American Jew raised on the tragedies of the
Holocaust and the dream of a Jewish homeland in
Israel. Dr. Rothchild says “The film follows my
personal journey as I begin to understand the
Palestinian narrative, while exploring the Palestinian
experience of loss, occupation, statelessness, and
immigration to the US.” She will be present for
conversation after the film.
One showing only!
Contact FHC member Jennifer Blakeney
for more information
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Calendar: October 12-19, 2014
Sunday, October 12
Wednesday, October 15
7:30 am Bible and Bagels
8:45 Nominating Committee
9:00 Child care begins
12:00 pm Bullshevicks (at Alfredo’s)
12:30education
pm Wednesday Women’s AA
9:30 Adult education in South Hall
Youth
1:00 pm Hilltop Garden Club
Descant Choir
10:15 Descant Choir activity
Thursday, October 16
10:30 Continental Breakfast
1:00 pm Abundance Pantry food
Chancel Choir
distribution
Cherub Choir
5:00 pm Fitness Fusion exercise class
11:00 WORSHIP:
6:20 pm Voices in Bronze
AWE – Forest City Bluegrass Band
7:30 pm Chancel Choir
Children in Worship
Pathways to the Promise Land
Friday, October 17
12:15 Coffee Hour
Lay Reader orientation and training 7:00 am TOWER deadline
9:30 am Al Anon
Adult Ed: Shifting Gears in the
Second Half of Life
1:00 Hilltoppers: Lunch and Concert Saturday, October 18
8:00 am Men’s Group
Young Adult Brunch
4:40 Labre Project cookout
Sunday, October 19
5:00 Youth Fellowship
9:00 Child care begins
9:30 Adult education
Monday, October 13
Yo
6:00 pm Progress not Perfection (AA)
Descant Choir
10:15 Descant Choir activity
7:00 pm Al Anon
7:30 pm AA: Borton Group
10:30 Continental Breakfast
Boy Scout Troop #403
Chancel Choir
11:00 WORSHIP
Tuesday, October 14
Children in Worship
12:00 pm Abundance Pantry
11:15 Pathways to the Promise Land
food distribution
12:15 Coffee Hour
5:00 pm Fitness Fusion exercise class
Adult Ed: Shifting Gears in the
Second Half of Life
Sine Nomine choir
Blood pressure check
5:00 Youth Fellowship
Adult Ed: Christianity for Seekers
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The Lessons
2 Corinthians 9: 6-15
The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the
one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as
you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God
loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in
abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share
abundantly in every good work. As it is written, “He scatters abroad, he gives to
the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the
sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and
increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way
for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us;
for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but
also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. Through the testing of this
ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of
Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others,
while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of
God that he has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Next Sunday: The Revised Common Lectionary lessons are Exodus 33: 12-23;
Psalm 99; 1 Thessalonians 1: 1-10; Matthew 22: 15-22. The Kerygma lesson is
Galatians 3:19 – 4:11. As part of your daily devotions, read the lessons. What
image or word catches your attention? How do they settle or challenge you?
Keep notes of your observations in a journal. Set aside part of each day for
prayer and study.
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