SOUTH
PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
“…John answered them all, “I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with God’s Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
(Luke 3:16f.)
SOUTH CHURCH AT WORSHIP
January 11, 2004
10 o'clock
“I hate to seem greedy- I have so much to be thankful for already.
But I want to get up early one more morning, at least.
And go to my place with some coffee and wait.
Just wait, to see what’s going to happen.”
(Raymond Carver, “At Least”)
(Worship at South Church begins with meditation. The music of the organ, the quotes just above, the quiet of this place is all meant to encourage and deepen your own inner work. Thank you for entering the spirit of this place, this hour, by honoring the silence.)
(4th through 6th graders go directly to the Chapel)
PRELUDE
*HYMN 483 “Sing Praise to God, Who Reigns Above”
UNISON PRAYER
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See whether or not we have rightly read thine own heart, God before the world; God of all the ages gone, those we share, and all those yet to come; God, still, when the universe is created new and without us: gratitude should be our most native tongue, the lingua franca with which we express our humanity. We should be glad for joy when it comes in the window, and we should leave a window open for its return. We should stand beside others in their grieving, and welcome others beside us in our own. We should remember that faith is a matter of trust and not orthodoxy. We should not be surprised by ambiguity, and light-hearted about what we think we know for dead certain. We should refuse to hide out in the plural of obfuscation- “we all,” “we think,” “we believe,” “our opinion.”
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We should be as gracefulaccepting forgiveness as we are occasionally generous in offering it.
We should be sated with war and hungry for peace.
We are to be longing for, praying for, and working to create an economy of sufficiency, within which “enough” is the guiding, shaping principle.
We should be offended by institutions designed to keep people the way they are: including prisons, schools, and churches.
Looking at the river, we should remember that our injuries help shape us.
If these things are not written on thine own heart, do not leave us in our ignorance; if they are, create new hearts within us, we beseech thee.
Surely a new world will follow.
Joseph H. Gilmore |
A PRAYER OF JESUS (see insert, please)
RESPONSE “Amen, amen, it shall be so, amen, it shall be so.” Iona
(Interval for seating. Thank you for waiting.)
A FIRST READING Isaiah 43:1-7
MOMENT FOR REFLECTION
AT THE OFFERING “And I Saw A New Heaven” Malcolm Archer
A GIVING BACK “Open my eyes that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see;
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!”
LIFE IN COMMUNITY (Please notify the Church Office of all program
announcements by Thursday.)
(Church School goes to class)
*HYMN 476 “O Worship the King, All Glorious Above”
(Suggested language change, verse 1: “O Worship the One, all glorious above”)
PROVOCATION “Jesus and Mae West” Joseph Gilmore
RESPONSE “Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me;
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.”
BENEDICTION (congregation seated)
POSTLUDE (congregation seated)
*Indicates congregation standing
Worship ends after the postlude. If you need to leave before it ends, please do so quietly, using the main doors.
You are welcome in this place of peace and truth telling and freedom. This vaulted space
maybe a sanctuary but it is not a hideout. All of life, every life, wholeness of life matter. None of the lines which divide us outside of these walls apply: not between old and young, male and female, rich and poor, homed and homeless, black and white, gay and straight, physically challenged or not, members and non-members, Christians and non-Christians. Because you are here, you are welcome here.
We intend our worship to include everyone. We also believe that language shapes thought and action, as it, in turn, is surely given shape by thought and action. When historical elements (including hymns, prayers, and texts) sometimes use less inclusive language, we urge you, when possible, to substitute inclusive language in clear awareness that either God is beyond gender or God is not God.
Please note that photos and videos are not permitted during the service. Audiocassettes of sermons at SPC may be borrowed from the Church Office.
IN THE GALLERY - Featuring Artist Kim Degaris at the Donald Gallery from December 7, 2003 to January 11, 2004. The Gallery hours are Sundays from 11:30AM to 1PM and on Tuesday through Saturday from 10AM to 5PM All are welcome.
SOUTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH is located at 343 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522. We can be reached at 914-693-0473; fax, 914-693-7497; Web page, www.southpres.org.
OUR STAFF INCLUDES:
Joseph H. Gilmore, Susan G. De George, Ministers
Lydia Aretakis, Office Manager
Scott Williamson, Director of Music (Michael Conley, in his absence)
Shawn Hall, Organist
John Radomski, Sexton
Linda Jo Platt, Community Nursery School Director