WORSHIP for the
FIFTH SUNDAY of
EASTER
MAY 3, 2015 | 10:30 AM
Grounded in the grace of God, we are a vibrant Christian community, disciples of all ages, gathered for worship and nurture,
scattered to serve and to love. -MPC Mission Statement adopted by the Session March 31, 2008
Welcome to Morrisville Presbyterian Church
your child is ready to return to the sanctuary for you
to continue to worship together.
WE WELCOME GUESTS AND VISITORS to our
worship service today. If you are not a member, we
invite you to consider membership with us. If you
would like more information about how we can
serve you, please speak to a pastor.
PASTORAL CARE REMINDER—Members of the
staff truly want to be attentive when members or
friends of MPC are experiencing health
difficulties. If you (or a family member) have been
admitted to a hospital, please let us know by
contacting the church office, and one of the pastors
will be pleased to visit. You may also reach the
pastors on their mobile phones–Bruce Ballantine at
304-914-2108 and Debbie Heffernan at 267-3420089. Thank you for your assistance.
FRIENDSHIP PAD: During the Words of Welcome,
please pass the Friendship Pad to the outside aisle
and back again to the center. This allows worshipers
to recognize people in their pew, and helps staff
members identify those who may need attention.
THE CHANCEL FLOWERS are offered to the glory
of God and in memory of Wendi Mershon, loving
wife and mother, given by George and Brooks
Mershon. The Chancel flowers are also offered in
loving memory of Mary Ann Johnson who would
have celebrated her 71st birthday on May 2. .
HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICES are available for
use anywhere in the sanctuary during worship.
These pocket-sized receivers are available from
Deacons in either Narthex and are to be returned
after the service.
USHERING AT TODAY’S SERVICE: Head Deacon
Carol Hernandez, Alastair Brunton, Beth Keys, Fran
Wiser, Wes Gardner, Lisa Kutch, Jeff Morruzzi,
Amy Schnurr and Jr. Deacons Evan Schnurr,
Brandon Schnurr and Blake Becker.
HYMNALS, BIBLES, & BULLETINS WITH LARGE
PRINT are available during worship each Sunday
morning from a Deacon in the Narthex. Please
return the Hymnal and/or Bible after the service.
WORSHIP NOTE
TODAY’S ACOLYTE is Anna Flook.
* The asterisk indicates that those who are able, may please stand.
CHILDCARE FOR CHILDREN UP TO AGE 4 is provided in the Nursery/Pre-School room from
10:15–11:45 a.m.. Infants and toddlers are also wel- Please forward any announcements you would like included in
come in worship. Visitors, please feel free to wor- the Bulletin by Tuesday of each week to [email protected]
ship with your children for as long as they are able.
Articles for “Currents” are due by the 1st day of the
If he or she gets wiggly and needs a stretch break,
preceding
month. Send articles to [email protected].
audio from the service is available in the chapel, until
CONTACT U S
M O R R I S V I L L E P RE S B Y T E R I A N C H U R C H C H U R C H S T A F F
771 North Pennsylvania Ave. | Morrisville, PA 19067 | 215.295.4191 | [email protected]
Bruce Ballantine, Interim Pastor & Head of Staff (ext. 234) ................................................................................................. [email protected]
Deborah Heffernan, Interim Associate Pastor (ext. 225) ................................................................................................... [email protected]
Linda Seaman, Director of Older Adult Ministry (ext. 232) ........................................................................................................ [email protected]
Steve McBride, Director of Music & Communications Coordinator ............................................................................................ [email protected]
Rich Drabb, Property Manager (ext. 231)........................................................................................................................................ [email protected]
Laurie Jacobson, Bookkeeper (ext. 226) ................................................................................................................................ [email protected]
Elizabeth Scully, Administrative Assistant (ext. 0) ............................................................................................................................. [email protected]
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Fifth Sunday of Easter
G A T H E R I N G
PRELUDE
WORDS of WELCOME
Pastor Ballantine
INTROIT—Come, Let us Sing! (WAGNER)
The Chancel Choir
Come, let us sing and make a joyful noise to God! Come let us sing!
*CALL to WORSHIP
One: Our help is in the name of the Lord;
All:
who made heaven and earth.
One: This is the day that the Lord has made;
All:
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Sarah Zazzu
*HYMN 285—God, You Spin the Whirling Planets
AUSTRIAN HYMN
*PRAYER of CONFESSION—Unison
Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have
broken your law, we have rebelled against your love. We have not loved our
neighbors, and we have refused to hear the cry of the needy. Lord, have mercy
upon us; heal and forgive us. Set us free to serve you in the world as agents of
your reconciling love in Jesus Christ.
*SILENT PRAYERS of CONFESSION
Here each worshiper may offer silent prayers of confession.
*RESPONSE—Amen (DANISH)
The Chancel Choir
*ASSURANCE of FORGIVENESS
One: The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. I declare to you, in
the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. May the God of mercy, who forgives you all your sins, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of
the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life.
All:
Amen.
*RESPONSE to GOD’S PARDON 567—Glory Be to the Father
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GLORIA PATRI
*THE PEACE
One: The peace of Christ be with you.
All:
And also with you.
One: Let us greet one another with the peace of Christ.
As a sign of their reconciliation in Christ, the people share the peace of Christ, greeting one another
with these or similar words: “The peace of Christ be with you,” “Peace be with you,” or simply, “Peace.”
L I T U R GY of the W OR D
PRAYER for ILLUMINATION
EPISTLE READING—1 John 4: 7–21
One: This is the Word of the Lord.
All:
Thanks be to God.
(Old Testament, pages 226-227)
ANTHEM—With A Voice of Singing (SHAW)
The Chancel Choir
With a voice of singing declare ye this, and let it be heard, Alleluia. Utter it even unto the ends of the earth. The Lord hath delivered his
people, Alleluia. O be joyful in God, all ye lands, O sing praises to the honor of his name, make his praise to be glorious.
TIME for YOUNG DISCIPLES
Children in grades K-2 may leave for Cherub Choir in Room 104.
GOSPEL READING—John 15: 1–8
One: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
All:
Thanks be to God.
SERMON
(New Testament, page 103)
Since God So Loved Us
*HYMN 335—Though I May Speak
O WALY WALY
*AFFIRMATION of FAITH—Unison
(EXCERPT FROM A BRIEF STATEMENT OF FAITH)
We trust in God, whom Jesus called Abba Father. In sovereign love God created the world good and makes everyone equally in God’s image, male and female, of every race and people, to live as one community. But we rebel
against God; we hide from our Creator. Ignoring God’s commandments, we
violate the image of God in others and ourselves, accept lies as truth, exploit
neighbor and nature, and threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care.
We deserve God’s condemnation. Yet God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation. In everlasting love, the God of Abraham and Sarah chose a
covenant people to bless all families of the earth. Hearing their cry, God delivered the children of Israel from the house of bondage. Loving us still, God
makes us heirs with Christ of the covenant. Like a mother who will not for4
sake her nursing child, like a father who runs to welcome the prodigal home,
God is faithful still.
In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, we strive to serve Christ in our
daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God’s new
heaven and new earth, praying, “Come, Lord Jesus!” With believers in every
time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from
the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.
PRAYERS of THANKSGIVING and SUPPLICATION
THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts and debtors)
OFFERING
Invitation to Give
Presentation of Gifts
Offertory Music
*Doxology—Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow (OLD HUNDREDTH)
S E N D I N G
*HYMN 429—Lord, You Give the Great Commission
ABBOT’S LEIGH
*CHARGE and BLESSING
*CHORAL BENEDICTION—Sevenfold Amen (LUTKIN)
*POSTLUDE
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The Chancel Choir
Worship Notes & Announcements
MAY 3 – THE BE-INFORMED SERIES:
MAKING SENSE OF FINAL ARRANGEMENTS
Rev. Bruce Ballantine is joined by Steve Ullrich
from J. Allen Hooper Funeral Chapel to provide
valuable insight from their respective positions.
Please join us in Fellowship Hall immediately following worship; a complimentary luncheon is offered.
SAVE THE DATE FOR THE IVINS OUTREACH
CENTER’S ANNUAL AUCTION
An Afternoon of Wine and Food Pairings on Sunday, June 7, 2015 from 3:00 until 6:00 p.m. at the
Falls Banquet Hall. We hope you will join us for an
early summer afternoon of wine, food, music and
live silent auctions, all to support of The Ivins Outreach Center.
BOOK GROUP MEETINGS
The Gilead Group will continue discussion
of Marilynne Robinson's Lila this coming Tuesday,
May 5 in the MPC Lounge at 7:00 p.m. The Wings
Group will discuss pages 87-149 of Sue Monk
Kidd's The Invention of Wings on Friday, May 15 at
1:00 p.m. in the MPC Lounge. The Narnia
Group will discuss The Silver Chair on Wednesday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED MAY 9
FOR ANNUAL POSTAL FOOD DRIVE
The National Association of Letter Carriers’ Stamp
Out Hunger Food Drive will be held Saturday, May 9.
Our Food Center benefits greatly from this Food
Drive, and we need volunteers to help us to unload,
sort and move the food to MPC. Volunteers are
needed May 9 for shifts that run between noon and
8:00 p.m. First, help is needed at the Morrisville
YMCA building to sort the incoming food and load.
Then MPC’s portion is driven to our church, where
volunteers are needed to unload the trucks. For insurance reasons, volunteers at the Y must be at least
18; but at MPC teens can volunteer to unload the
trucks. A sign-up sheet is available in the Communication Center. Contact Jack Glock, 215-736-0357,
for more information. Thank you!
CLOTHING CENTER
The last day for Clothing Center donations will be
May 31. The Clothing Center’s last day of shopping
will be on June 16. We will re-open on September
8.
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MPC Weekly Calendar
SUNDAY, May 3
8:30am
Weekly Prayer Meeting Conference Room
9:00
Teen Choir
Music Room
9:30
Education
Conference Room
10:00
Chancel Choir
Music Room
10:30
Worship
Sanctuary
11:00
Cherub Choir
Room 104
11:30
Fellowship Time
Lounge
Congregational Ministry Committee hosts
11:35
Congregational Ministry Comm.
FH
Making Sense of Final Arrangements over Lunch
11:45
Agape Choir
Room 104
MONDAY, MAY4
7:00
Boy Scout Troop 3
Fellowship Hall
7:00
Cub Scouts
Room 220, 122, 210
7:00
Food Packing
Room 4
7:30
Youth Ministry Comm. Conference Room
TUESDAY, May 5
10:00am Clothing Center
Room 4
10:00
Food Center Set-up
Fellowship Hall
11:00
Ivins Center
Lounge
A Matter of Balance
Conference Room
3:00pm
Staff Meeting
Conference Room
6:00
Girl Scouts
Room 122
7:00
Food Center
Fellowship Hall
7:00
Gilead Book Group
Lounge
7:30
Alcoholics Anonymous
Room 220
WEDNESDAY, May 6
9:00am
Food Center
Fellowship Hall
Noon
Brown Bag and Bible
Conference Room
6:00pm
Youth Club Graduation
Chapel &
Fellowship Hall
THURSDAY, May 7
11:00am Food Stocking
Noon
Alcoholics Anonymous
6:00
God’s Thunder
6:30
Oakville Girl Scouts
7:00
Chancel Choir
7:00
Weekday Nursery Board
8:30
Chancel Ringers
Room 4
Room 222
Chapel
Room 220
Music
Lounge
Chapel
FRIDAY, May 8
7:30
Alcoholics Anonymous
Room 122
SATURDAY, May 9
8:00am
Food Center Annual Postal Food Drive
SUNDAY, May 10 Mother’s Day
8:30am
Weekly Prayer Meeting Conference Room
9:00
Teen Choir
Music Room
9:30
Education
Conference Room
10:00
Chancel Choir
Music Room
10:30
Worship & Baptism
Sanctuary
11:00
Cherub Choir
Room 104
11:30
Fellowship Time
Lounge
Weekly Prayer Group hosts
11:45
Agape Choir
Room 104
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
When sending mail to the church, please be advised we no longer have mail delivered to Post Office Box 240.
Please mail all correspondence to our street address: 771 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Morrisville, PA 19067.
Our phone number, fax and email address remain the same. Thanks!
M
O R R I S V I L L E
P
R E S B Y T E R I A N
C
H U R C H
771 N OR TH P ENNSY LVANI A A VENUE | M OR RIS VILLE , P A 19067
215.295. 4191 | W W W .MPC US A . NE T
PASTORS & PROGRAM STAFF
Bruce Ballantine, Interim Pastor & Head of Staff | Deborah Heffernan, Interim Associate Pastor
Louise Shoemaker, Parish Associate | Linda Seaman, Director of Older Adult Ministry
Steve McBride, Director of Music and Principal Organist