ARDMORE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 10:30 A.M., MARCH 14, 2021 - Fourth Sunday in Lent Livestreamed Worship Service
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“Transforming Lives Through the Good News of Jesus Christ” ARDMORE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Ardmore, Pennsylvania 10:30 A.M., MARCH 14, 2021 Fourth Sunday in Lent Livestreamed Worship Service
Welcome to Ardmore Presbyterian Church Welcome to worship at Ardmore Presbyterian Church! We are delighted you are joining us for worship this morning. We are eager to see you in-person when the church can gather safely to worship as a community of faith. The people of God are resilient because Jesus was, is, and will continue to be Lord of the Church. The Holy Spirit gifts Jesus-followers with praise, song, and prayer either in a sanctuary or at home on the computer. Over the centuries, Christians have worshipped in catacombs, homes, prison cells, desert monasteries, gothic cathedrals, country churches, and now, via the Internet. This virus will one day pass and we shall return to our sanctuary, but until that days arrives, let us be encouraged in Christ’s reign. Please find ways to remain connected with each other, your faith, and church. Like those who have gathered for 2000 years in unusual places, let us worship God! A message from Rev. Jason Grimes We welcome you warmly to Ardmore Presbyterian Church where we strive to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. We are especially thankful for visitors. If you have a prayer request, please email it to Rev. Jason Grimes at jgrimes@ardmorepres.org or call 610-642-6650x100. A recording or live streaming of Sunday’s service will be posted online at www.ardmorepres.org. Please spread the word to those who are interested in viewing our virtual worship. SESSION Class of 2021 Class of 2022 Class of 2023 Cathie Calkins Dick Corl Jody Brumbach Chip Cobb, Jr. Barry Jeffries Anne Conroy John DiNome Jeff Michaelson Elaine Giese Robie Lawlace Ben Yurchak Donald Poorman, Clerk of Session BOARD OF DEACONS Class of 2021 Class of 2022 Class of 2023 Eliza Brooks Katherine Anne Matt, Kristy Cobb Dan del Duca Moderator Graham Fuller Holly Frank Jessie DiNome Isla Grant Viola Terwiesch Howard Donahue Anne Toal McComiskie Maria Helena Fernandez 2
People’s response in bold type Order of Service GATHERING THE PEOPLE OF GOD PRELUDE Lift High the Cross (five variations) Charles Callahan (1994) LIFE AND WORK OF THE CHURCH Rev. Jason Grimes OPENING PRAYER CALL TO WORSHIP (from Psalm 121) Cathie Calkins I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper, the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore. HYMN To God Be the Glory See page 8 CALL TO CONFESSION (from II Corinthians 5:20) Hear these words from the Apostle Paul: “Since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” Let us confess our sins before God and one another. PRAYER OF CONFESSION Almighty God, you have lifted up our Lord so that all who see him shall be healed. We confess that we have not bowed before him or acknowledged his reign in our lives. We have gone along with the way of the world, and made careless and hurtful decisions. Forgive us, O God, and lift us out of sin as we look to the One who will restore our hearts, minds, and souls. Make us a people who will live for your praise through Christ the Lord. Amen. ASSURANCE OF PARDON (from Romans 6) Know that God is rich in mercy. Even though we are dead through our trespasses, God’s great love for us makes us alive through Jesus the Christ. We are thus saved by 3
God’s grace. Live in the assurance that, as we confess our sin, through Christ’s intercession on our behalf we are forgiven. (James G. Kirk) PASSING OF THE PEACE (from II Corinthians 5:18) All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. The peace of Christ be with you. Peace be with you. (Call two people in our church community today and pass the peace of Christ.) RESPONSE OF PRAISE CHILDREN’S MESSAGE THE WORD PROCLAIMED PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Guide us, O God, by your Word and Holy Spirit, that in your light we may see light, in your truth find freedom, and in your will discover your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. FIRST READING, Numbers 21:4-9 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. The people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.” Then the LORD sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the 4
people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD to take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.” So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live. This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. ANTHEM, Quartet God So Loved the World Franz J. Haydn (1772) Arr. A. Lovelace (1982) God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. Whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, But that the world through him might be saved. John 3:16-17 SECOND READING, Ephesians 2:1-10 You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 5
THIRD READING, John 3:14-21 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For 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. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.” This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. SERMON “Lifted-Up” Rev. Jason Grimes RESPONDING TO THE WORD HYMN In the Cross of Christ I Glory See page 9 AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Apostles’ Creed) I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. 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 6
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. PREPARING TO MAKE OUR OFFERING TO GOD OFFERTORY, Quartet God So Loved the World John Stainer (1887) God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, That whoso believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; But that the world through him might be saved. John 3:16-17 (KJV) 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. PRAYER OF DEDICATION OF OUR GIFTS HYMN Lift High the Cross See page 10 GOING FORTH TO SERVE CHARGE AND BENEDICTION POSTLUDE Lift High the Cross (final variation) Charles Callahan (1994) The flowers are given to the glory of God and in honor of Morgan Schreiner, Daisy & Morgan Schreiner, Harriet & Frank Miller, and Diane Uhlman by Sarah Schreiner and in loving memory of my beloved sister, Suzanne Hanna Smith, by Grenville Foote. 7
In-Person Worship Starting March 21st We are so pleased to announce that with the county-wide COVID-19 infection rate at 5%, Ardmore Presbyterian Church will be returning to in-person worship next Sunday, March 21st. (Our Wednesday Lenten services on 3/17 and 3/24 will also be in-person). We will adopt our model from last Fall, with masks required to enter the sanctuary and social distancing measures in place. The service will conclude with hymns, the charge, and benediction outside on the church lawn. In addition, we will be serving Holy Communion on Palm Sunday, March 28th. We are so thrilled to be together once again to worship God! Easter Sunday Services There will be 2 services on Easter Sunday: an outdoor service at 9:00 a.m. and an indoor service at 10:30 a.m. The indoor service will adjourn outdoors for singing, as we did in the summer. Easter Lilies Please contact the church office to dedicate a lily plant ($10) to a loved one or in commemoration of a special occasion. The deadline to submit a dedication is Wednesday, March 24. Thank you! Flowering of the Cross As in years past, APC will be “flowering” the cross for Easter Sunday! However, due to COVID-19, the act of flowering will be a little different this year. Instead of members individually placing flowers on the cross, we invite you to drive by and drop off your flowers on Friday, April 2nd and Saturday, April 3rd in buckets outside the church office door. Kathy Toal and her family will adorn the cross with your beautiful floral contributions on Saturday, April 3rd, at 2:00 p.m.—so please make sure to drop off your flowers before then. Thank you so much! 11
Easter Egg Hunt: Save the Date! Ardmore Presbyterian Church will be hosting our annual Easter Egg Hunt on the morning of Saturday, April 3rd, 2021. More details to follow! Save the date! APC Book Group: Rediscover Jesus by Matthew Kelly Tuesday, March 16, 7:30 p.m. on Zoom At this time, many people are spiritually disillusioned and perplexed with things that are happening in the world and in the church. This book is an invitation to seek spiritual wisdom and practical insight to help us know both Jesus and ourselves in a new way. Books are available on eBay for $3.65 with free shipping. If you need one ordered, contact Anne Foote. Additionally, there have been several suggestions for books that might be interesting for the church community to discuss. If you have any suggestions of books on any subject, please email them to kwaterson@ardmorepres.org. Preschool Registration, 2021-2022 School Year We are open for registration for the 2021-2022 school year. If you wish to reserve a place for your child(ren) for September 2021, please register on our website. Please note that the cut-off dates comply with Lower Merion School District and provide guidelines for admission: Age Requirements Two Day, 2-year-and-7-month-old Program 2-years-and-7-months-old Monday and Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. before 02/15/21 Annual Tuition: $2000.00 Three Day, 3-year-old Program 3-years-old before 09/15/21 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Annual Tuition: $3000.00 Five Day Program 4-years-old before 09/15/21 Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Annual Tuition: $4200.00 Please reach out to us if you have any questions! Michelle Butera, Director, (mbutera@ardmorepres.org) Irena Reynolds, Administrator (preschool@ardmorepres.org) 12
Sanctuary Memorial Flower dedications are needed for the upcoming weeks: March 21st, April 25th, May 2nd, and 9th. Please contact the church office to make arrangements. Thank you. Lenten Activity for All—Create a Lenten Devotional Bag! During Lent, families and individuals are encouraged to create a Lenten Devotional Bag to draw us together spiritually in this time of living apart from our church community. Click here to get started! You’ll find a list of downloadable words to cut out and place in a bag or container, which may be decorated. Every day during Lent, take a few minutes to pull out a slip of paper (containing one of the words provided) and reflect on the word you selected. Then, let your poetic side shine and write a cinquain, a form of poetry with a very special style and formula, based on the words in your Lenten Devotional Bag! All instructions (including how to write a cinquain) can be found at the link above. Please submit your cinquains to kwaterson@ardmorepres.org. Livestreaming Services: Volunteers Needed! Do you have an interest in technology? Are you looking to become more involved with worship at Ardmore Presbyterian Church? Then, look no further! APC is looking to expand our Team of dedicated volunteers to oversee the livestreaming of our Sunday worship service. Responsibilities will include initiating the livestream and adjusting the video and sound as necessary before and during the service. Training will be provided, and attendance at every service is not required. Contact kwaterson@ardmorepres.org if you’re interested in joining. Thank you! 13
Wednesday Evening Lenten Meditative Services Remember that every Wednesday in Lent (except for March 31st) at 7:00 p.m., there will be a brief Lenten Meditative service which focuses on the Fruit of the Spirit. Join us IN PERSON for some quiet time to pause, reflect, and be with God. The service will still be livestreamed as well, which you can watch by clicking here. Lenten Meditative Walks at Stoneleigh in Villanova APC community and friends are invited to walk together at Stoneleigh on Wednesdays in Lent: March 17, March 24, and March 31 from 11:15 until Noon. We will assemble in the parking lot off County Line Road in Villanova. We will each be given a word, phrase, or idea to think, meditate, or pray about for 10-15 minutes as we walk around by ourselves. Enjoy this beautiful location with extraordinary trees, sweeping vistas, and intimate garden spaces which offer us the opportunity to be inspired by nature. We will come back together socially distancing with masks to share, as desired, our thoughts and feelings. We will adjourn at noon to leave or to continue to enjoy Stoneleigh. Please check with the church office if you are not sure if the walk at Stoneleigh will be held based on weather conditions. Weekly eNewsletter Each week, we’ll be putting together and sending out an eNewsletter detailing all the wonderful things that we, at APC, have been up to in the community. Whether it’s a Lenten Medita- tive Walk or a drive-by visit to a member of the congregation, we’d love to include it in our weekly eNewsletter! Please send written blurbs and associated pictures to be included in the newsletter to kwaterson@ardmorepres.org by 8:30 a.m. on Monday mornings (as the newsletter will be going out on Wednesdays). Remember, we’re highlighting things that have occurred in the previous week, so be thinking about that as you are out and about doing good—it might make a great addition to our newsletter! Thank you so much! 14
This Week at APC Sunday, Mar. 14 9:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Adult Small Group (Zoom) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/890918410 10:30 a.m. Lord’s Day Worship, Livestreamed https://ardmorepres.org/live 12:00 p.m. Zoom Fellowship https://us02web.zoom.us/j/156738896 4:00 p.m. Youth Group, Parish House 7:00 p.m. Sunday Evening Chat https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85940579693 Monday, Mar. 15 1:00 p.m. Prayer Fellowship https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83578496052 Tuesday, Mar. 16 2:00 p.m. Safety Task Force Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81117187799 7:00 p.m. Building & Grounds Committee Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89818788994 7:30 p.m. APC Book Group (See Anne Foote for Zoom link) Wednesday, Mar. 17 11:15 a.m. Lenten Meditative Walk at Stoneleigh in Villanova 5:00 p.m. Children’s Choir Rehearsal, Church Lawn 6:00 p.m. Handbell Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary 6:15 p.m. Cherub Choir Zoom Rehearsal (See Carol Shih or Twila Garletts for Zoom link) 7:00 p.m. Meditative Lenten Service, In-Person (& Livestreamed) https://ardmorepres.org/live Thursday, Mar. 18 12:00 p.m. Thursday Mid-Day Bible Study https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88997166578 6:00 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal, Church Lawn Sunday, Mar. 21 9:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Adult Small Group (Zoom) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/890918410 9:30 a.m. Youth Ringers Rehearsal, Sanctuary 10:30 a.m. Lord’s Day Worship, In-Person (& Livestreamed) https://ardmorepres.org/live 12:00 p.m. Zoom Fellowship https://us02web.zoom.us/j/156738896 4:00 p.m. Youth Group, Parish House 7:00 p.m. Sunday Evening Chat https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85940579693 15
Lift your prayers this week for: APC Safety Task Force, Children Suffering from Anxiety, Our Church Family, Pastor Jason Grimes & Family, World Leaders & Health Care Workers, John Abrams, Dr. David Githii. Prayers for those suffering from Covid-19. Ongoing Prayers for: Kate Brooks, Jessie DiNome, Rosemary Fischer, Sandy Foote, Twila Garletts, Claire Hammonds, Julie Patterson, Christopher Rowe, Mary Schreiber, Kathy Toal. Prayers for those grieving the loss of someone they love. Friends/Family: John Beerbower, Brooks Family, Audrey Charlton, Liz Colestock, Fischer Family, Green Light Movement, Adrienne (Laura Goetsch’s Granddaughter), Barbara Hayward, Joyce (Jason Grimes’ Mother), Cil McKibben, Mary Scattergood, Schreiber Family, Kossi Sedzro. Prayer for those in care facilities. APC mission partners: APC Preschool, Ardmore Food Pantry, Caring Hands Ministry (in India), First Place, Interfaith Hospitality Network, Kuwadzana Presbyterian Church (in Zimbabwe), Maternity Care Coalition, Medical Benevolence Foundation, Pre-Med Hospice Ministry, Teachers’ Teammates, The Welcome Church, Welcoming the Stranger, and West Kensington Ministry. CHURCH DIRECTORY Ministers: Entire Congregation Assisted by: Rev. Jason Grimes, M.Div., Pastor, jgrimes@ardmorepres.org Gary Garletts, M.M., AAGO, Director of Music/Organist, ggarletts@ardmorepres.org Kaitlyn Waterson, soprano; Courtney Capriotti, mezzo-soprano; Jim Longacre, tenor; Tom Sitzler, baritone Rev. Graham Robinson, D.Min., Parish Associate, gjmtk5@gmail.com Michelle Butera, M.B.A., Director, Weekday Preschool, mbutera@ardmorepres.org Kaitlyn Waterson, Church Administrator, kwaterson@ardmorepres.org Irena Reynolds, M.A., Preschool Administrator, ireynolds@ardmorepres.org Scott Welden, M.B.A., Finance Manager, swelden@ardmorepres.org Bob Peters, A.S., Building Manager, bpeters@ardmorepres.org Eliza Brooks, O.T.D., Youth Ministry Coordinator, ebrooks35@gmail.com 5 W. Montgomery Avenue, Ardmore, PA 19003-1599 To the Admin: kwaterson@ardmorepres.org | 610.642.6650 | www.ardmorepres.org Online E-Giving — You may now give to APC at any time by going to the church’s website (www.ArdmorePres.org) and click on the green “GIVE NOW” button on the top right corner. Or, you may simply scan the QR code on the left here with your phone. Simply set up a new account and start e-giving today! 16
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