“Within these walls let no-one be a stranger” 9th November 2014 Prelude Ciacona E minor, J. Pachelbel Welcome and announcements Call to Worship and Approach to God: God is our refuge and our strength, a timely help in trouble. Come, see what the Lord has done, the astounding deeds he has done in the earth; in every part of the wide world he puts an end to war: He breaks the bow, he snaps the spear, he burns the shield in the fire. Stop fighting: learn that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted in the earth. -Psalm 46: 1, 8-11 Hymn 63 All people that on earth do dwell Prayer, ending with the Lord's Prayer (please say this in whichever language or version you prefer) Our Father, which 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, the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. The Word of God: Children's Talk Introduction to the silence: They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old, age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. All: We will remember them The silence Hymn 543 Longing for light, we wait in darkness First Lesson: Matthew 25: 1-13 (New Testament, p.27) Music in worship Choir: Wings of the Morning, J. Rutter Second Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (New Testament, p.202) Reading: extract from ‘Meditation of a Dying German Officer’ by Herbert Read: ‘… Life ebbs with an easy flow and I’ve no anguish now. This failing light is the world’s light: it dies like a lamp flickering for want of oil… Hymn 473 Thy kingdom come Sermon: Darkness and delay Time for Reflection Response to the Word: Hymn 706 For the healing of the nations Prayers of Intercession Offering Choir: Beloved, let us love one another, J.W.Peterson Prayer of Dedication (All Stand) Hymn 456 Christ is the world’s true light The Blessing (Sung Amen) Postlude Theme and Finale from VIst Sonata, F. Mendelssohn The congregation are asked to remain in place until the Minister and Consistory members have left the Church. The Service is conducted by our minister, Revd Dr Lance Stone. The reader is Nick Thomas. Officebearers on duty are Elisabeth van Oudgaarden & Thorsten König. Notices             Visitors are invited to sign the Visitors’ Book after the service. If you are here for more than a holiday, we hope you will return again. Notices should be submitted to [email protected] by Tuesday before the service for inclusion in the liturgy sheet. We have Coffee and Tea in the Church Hall after the service today. Everyone is invited! Parents of Sunday School children are requested to let the teachers know as you collect your children from the hall after the service. Children’s Ministry –There is a crèche for children under four years old (led today by Alice Duah & Rosemarie Tiggelovend), please ask at the door for more information. Sunday School (led today by Je Hart & Veronica Garcia Robles) meets in the church hall. Junior Church (led today by Esther Kuyvenhoven) meets in the Deaconry. The Bible Study meets every Wednesday evening from 7:30pm at the manse, J.W. Brouwersstraat 9-II in Amsterdam. We are currently looking at the book of Nehemiah: the courage to face opposition. All are welcome to attend! For more information please speak to the minister or to either Peggy Krol or Mattia Falcone. The monthly BREAD Service takes place this Thursday evening, 13 November, in the church. We will share a meal of soup and bread at 7:30pm and the informal, intimate service begins at 8:00pm, with some coffee and tea afterwards. Everyone is invited to join us! For more information please contact the minister or Veronica Garcia Robles. The 20s/30s group will be having a bible study after the service next week, 16 November, at the manse. All 20s/30s are welcome to attend-put it in your diary! Our choir sings monthly and on special occasions. They rehearse on Tuesday evenings at 7:30pm. For more information about joining the choir, please contact our organist and choir director, Olja Bučo, at [email protected]. Cooking at De Kloof! De Kloof is a shelter for homeless people in the centre of Amsterdam. Our church is committed to cooking lunch at the shelter every second Monday of the month. If you are interested in helping, or if you would just like to know more about this project, please contact Gillian Walker at [email protected]. We have a weekly collection of non-perishable food and household goods for distribution to those who are in need locally. These can be left in a box in the vestibule of the church before the service. It’s a good way to help your neighbour! Thanks for your help! We are looking for new volunteers for helping with the coffee and tea time after church services. If you are interested in either making the coffee and tea, serving it, or helping with the washing-up afterwards, please see Johan de Villiers or speak to one of the Consistory members on duty. This liturgy sheet is available in large print. If you would like a large print version, please speak to one of the consistory members on duty. Church Contacts Rev Dr Lance Stone, Minister [email protected], 020 672 2288 Jan Willem Brouwersstraat 9/2, 1071 LH Amsterdam Ms Heleen Koning, Interim Scriba [email protected], 06 13097756 Dr Thorsten König, Treasurer [email protected], 0294 772934 Mr Seppo Stout, Property Convener [email protected], 020 679 8698 Mrs Susan Polstra, Church Officer [email protected], 020 622 4158 Miss Olja Bučo, Organist and Choir Leader [email protected], 020 470 1980 Mr Kenneth Ewen, Concert Manager [email protected] Don’t forget to connect with the church online for all the latest news and information: www.ercadam.nl www.facebook.com/ERCAmsterdam @ERCAmsterdam Our Congregation Our congregation was founded on 4 February 1607 to serve the English speaking population of Amsterdam. We welcome worshippers from many countries, backgrounds and walks of life. Founded within the Reformed Tradition we are part of the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) and the Protestant Church of the Netherlands. The first church in the Begijnhof was built as a private chapel in about 1390; it was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in the 1490s. The church was closed by the Town Council in the Reformation and lay unused for 30 years till in 1607 it was given to English-speaking worshippers in Amsterdam. Our congregation relies on the support of worshippers, members and friends to maintain our ministries and buildings. We aim to be financially self-supporting both in our own work and in order to give to others in mission. There are different ways to support our congregation; through the gifts of time, talent, and finance. We invite everyone to be involved, and to prayerfully consider how you can support and share the ministry of the congregation. Bank Accounts English Reformed Church: NL44 ABNA 0547 6235 50 Maintenance Fund: Friends of the English Reformed Church: NL90 ABNA 0624 1800 69 Request for Information . Fill in the form below  and hand it in as you leave or send it to the Scriba. 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