Covenant Presbyterian Church
Butler, Pennsylvania
Stewardship Sunday
November 16, 2014
“At its best, giving is an act of worship.”
— Cornelius J. Dyck (1740-92), colonel
under the command of Gen. George Washington
“You have not lived until you have done
something for someone who can never repay you.”
— John Bunyan (1628-88),
English Puritan writer and preacher
The Rev. Dr. James E. Swanson, Pastor
Pastor’s Phone: 724-752-8383 / 724-712-1407
Church Office Phone: 724-287-7731
Website: http://covenantbutler.org
Order of Worship for the Lord’s Day
November 16, 2014
Eleven O’clock, A.M.
Rev. Dr. James E. Swanson, Pastor
Choir Director /Organist: Miss Beverly Antis
Liturgist Today: Leanne Heaton
THIS IS GOD’S HOUSE ~ ALL ARE WELCOME HERE !
To all who are spiritually weary and seek rest; to all who mourn
and long for comfort; to all who struggle and desire victory; to all
who sin and need a Savior; to all who are strangers and want
fellowship; to all who hunger and thirst after righteousness; and to
all who will come – this church opens wide her doors and offers
warmest welcome in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince
of Peace and the Light of the world.
Prelude on "Beach Spring"
PRELUDE
CHORAL INTROIT
Wilbur Held
I Will Worship the Lord
John Rutter
I will worship the Lord all the days of my life;
I will tell of his glory and will show forth his praise;
I will sing and rejoice, for the Lord is my stronghold.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
*PROCESSIONAL HYMN 422
God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending
BEACH SPRING
*PRAYER OF ADORATION
PSALM OF THE DAY
Psalm 121
(Pew Bible OT p. 547)
INVITATION TO CONFESSION
CORPORATE PRAYER OF CONFESSION (in unison)
Gracious God: our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide,
and too deep to undo. Forgive what our lips tremble to name,
what our hearts can no longer bear, and what has become for
us a consuming fire of judgment.
Set us free from a past that we cannot change; open to us a
future in which we can be reborn; and grant us grace to grow
more and more in your likeness and image, through Jesus
Christ we pray.
A TIME FOR SILENT CONFESSION
THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Pastor: In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us.
We are not alone!
Friends, believe the good news of the gospel:
People: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
*THE GLORIA PATRI 579
*THE AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
GLORIA PATRI
A Contemporary Profession of Belief
Auburn University
We believe in God the Father, infinite in wisdom, power and
love, whose mercy is over all his works, and whose will is ever
directed to his children's good.
We believe in Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of man, the gift
of the Father's unfailing grace, the ground of our hope, and the
promise of our deliverance from sin and death.
We believe in the Holy Spirit as God’s divine presence in our
lives, whereby we are kept in perpetual remembrance of the
truth of Christ, and find strength and help in time of need.
We believe that faith should manifest itself in the service of
love as set forth in the example of our blessed Lord, to the end
that the kingdom of God may come upon the earth.
Glory be to the immortal and all-wise God, in whom we have
had our birth, in whose care we are constantly kept, and unto
whom we shall return when our days on earth are ended.
*THE GREETINGS OF PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP
A FEW MINUTES FOR MISSION ~ Audrey Carlson
~A reminder about Operation Christmas Child
& Presbyterian Giving Opportunities
A FEW MINUTES FOR STEWARDSHIP ~ Bill Hallie
~The Butler Warming Center
SHARING OF JOYS, CONCERNS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CHORAL PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
Prayer of Illumination
Quiet our thoughts, focus our minds,
Open our hearts to heed your voice,
to heed your voice, O God.
Beverly Antis
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON
Deuteronomy 8: 1-18
(Pew Bible OT p. 162)
Liturgist: This is the Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
2 Corinthians 9: 6-15
EPISTLE LESSON
(Pew Bible NT p. 173)
Liturgist: Here ends the epistle lesson.
All: Praise be to you, O Lord.
*GOSPEL READING
Matthew 6: 19-24
(Pew Bible NT p. 5)
Pastor: The Gospel of our Lord.
All: Glory to You, O Christ.
*CONGREGATIONAL CANTICLE 333
Seek Ye First - LAFFERTY
Seek ye first the kingdom of God And His righteousness,
And all these things shall be added unto you.
Allelu, alleluia.
Ask and it shall be given unto you. Seek and ye shall find,
Knock and the door shall be opened unto you.
Allelu, alleluia.
SERMON
“BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING”
Pastor Jim
SERMON TEXT: Genesis 12:12
And I will make of you a great nation,
and I will bless you, and make your name great;
and you shall be a blessing:
Ecclesiastes 5: 8-16
~
Riches Are Meaningless
8 If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and
rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official
is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher
still. 9 The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself
profits from the fields. 10 Whoever loves money never has
money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his
income. This too is meaningless. 11 As goods increase, so do
those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the
owner except to feast his eyes on them? 12 The sleep of a
laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the
abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep. 13 I have seen a
grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its
owner, 14 or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when
he has a son there is nothing left for him. 15 Naked a man
comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he
departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his
hand. 16 This too is a grievous evil: As a man comes, so he
departs, and what does he gain, since he toils for the wind?
PASTORAL PRAYER AND SILENT PRAYER
THE LORD’S PRAYER (using debts and debtors)
Three-fold Amen
CHORAL AMEN
Beverly Antis
PRESENTATION OF TITHES, OFFERINGS & GIFTS
OFFERTORY ANTHEM
I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes
John Rutter
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills:
from whence cometh my help.
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills:
from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the Lord:
who hath made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved:
and he that keepeth thee will not sleep.
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep,
shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord himself is thy keeper:
the Lord is thy defense upon thy right hand;
So that the sun shall not burn thee by day:
neither the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil:
yea, it is even he that shall keep thy soul.
The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in:
from this time forth,
from this time forth forever.
Amen, amen. Amen, amen. Amen.
—Psalm 121
*THE 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.
*UNISON PRAYER OF DEDICATION
In gratitude and love, O God, we pour out our thanksgiving
and praise for all your blessings. Receive our gifts and shape
our lives by your grace so that we may work for peace and tell
the good news of your love for all peoples. Amen.
*THE RECESSIONAL HYMN 428
We Give Thee but Thine Own
SCHUMANN
*THE BENEDICTION
*THE CHORAL RESPONSE A Prayer of Saint Patrick
John Rutter
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ above me, Christ beneath me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
*THE TIME OF SILENCE
*CHARGE AND DISMISSAL
Pastor: Friends, by the most generous grace of God
we have been forgiven, healed and made whole.
Go now, giving witness to God's love by sharing it
with others, as we work for and witness to
the power of the Holy Spirit to make all things new.
Go in peace! Serve the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God!
*POSTLUDE
Voluntary in G
Henry Heron
* THOSE WHO ARE ABLE, PLEASE STAND
YOU WERE GREETED TODAY by Helen
Ferguson
A special note of Thanks & Appreciation to
Lars Morrison
for conducting the choral anthem this morning.
PLEASE JOIN US FOR
FELLOWSHIP TIME !
Immediately following worship each Sunday
we gather for a time of fellowship. If you
are a visitor, please join us for conversation (and food!).
Hosting today: Karen & Jim Swanson
Please Order your Christmas Poinsettias early !
… so that the Fellowship Committee has an idea of how many
plants will be needed.
The Fellowship Committee will be
decorating the Sanctuary in a few
weeks on Saturday, December 6th
beginning at 9:30 am. Helpers are
always needed! Come, join in the fun!
See form for ordering Christmas Flowers below.
Please make checks payable to: Covenant Presbyterian Church
marked Session Flower Fund in the memo
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY MEMORIAL FUND
The Session invites you to participate in this memorial project. Checks
should be made payable to Covenant Presbyterian Church designated
Session Flower Fund in the memo portion, and sent or given to Tom
Davidson, Church Treasurer.
If possible, please submit payment with your order form.
Christmas decorations including poinsettias will be in place during Advent
and Christmas Eve. Poinsettias will be shared with those unable to attend
worship during the Holiday season. Please fill out the information below.
I (we) would like to make _____ memorial donation(s)
of $10.00 per plant.
Name(s) of donor(s)
Please check below:
____In Memory of: __________________________________________________
____In Honor of: ____________________________________________________
____Please use the flower(s) as a gift to one of our members in the hospital or at home.
I suggest
Thank you for your donation.donation.- The Session
Stewardship Kickoff
Begins Today!
A letter containing the 2015
Pledge Card will be mailed soon
to every household sometime
next week, so watch your mailbox!
Pledge Dedication Sunday
Sunday, November 23rd
Worshippers will be invited forward
with their pledge cards
for Dedication and Blessing.
$ $ Financial Snapshot ~ November 1, 2014 $ $
Total Expenses for October
$ 18,808
Income for October
from All Regular Sources*
$ 11,239
Taken from Reserve Funds
to meet expenses
$ 7,569
* includes: pledges, offerings and gifts; income from
Montessori, parking lot, building use, etc.
37 pledges have been received for 2014, totaling $104,029
(or an average of $8,770 per month)
SEEKERS’ ADULT CLASS
Sundays at 9:45 am
Current Discussion Topic:
“ Toxic Charity ”
Moderated by Pastor Jim
Tea, coffee and a snack served from the small kitchen
Beginning @ 9:30 a.m. before class.
The New Testament word for stewardship is oikonomia, from
which we derive the word economy. This word means
"management of a household," and it refers to the responsibility
that is entrusted to a manager. A steward acts as an
administrator of the affairs and possessions of another. As
Christians, we have been entrusted with all that we have; the
things we call “our own” are not really ours, but God's – given in
trust for us to manage. Whether we have much or little, our key
responsibility as His stewards remains the same: faithfulness,
full commitment and generous, cheerful giving.
“The earth will not continue to offer its harvest,
except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say
we love the land and then take steps to destroy
it for use by future generations.”
― Pope John Paul II
COMMITTEE MEETING THIS WEEK—
SESSION
This Wednesday, November 19th
@ 7:00 pm in the Shaffer Memorial Room
____________________________________________________________
“The People
People for Peace”
Peace”
This Thursday,November 20th
at 11 AM in the Assembly Room
(FINAL CLASS: DEC. 11TH)
Study Book: Who Is This Man? by John Ortberg
ASSIGNED READING FOR DISCUSSION:
Chapters 11 & 12 (pp. 137-163)
This class is open to everyone! Don’t forget to bring your lunch!
If you have questions,
please contact Nancy Rice, class leader
at 724-256-5366.
____________________________________________________________
FYI
Montessori Preschool
“Open House”
Today, November 16th ~ 2pm-4pm
(Sarver Hall Classrooms)
As part of the school’s 40th Anniversary
Celebration, children under the age of
12 are invited to an Open House from
2:00 PM until 4:00 PM in the
Montessori classrooms in Sarver Hall.
Parents and children will be able to tour the school. Refreshments
will be served.
Operation Christmas Child
“Shoe Box Gifts”
A project of the Samaritan’s Purse
organization, endorsed by the Session
of Covenant Church
Attention! Deadline Extended!
Next Sunday, November 23rd is the last day
to bring “shoe box gifts” to Covenant Church
Please bring your completed
shoe box gift with you to the 11am
worship service on Sunday,
November 23rd when prayers of
consecration will be offered during the
worship service.
If anyone would like to prepare a shoebox for
Operation Christmas Child but cannot do the
shopping, please contact Nancy Rice (724-256-5366).
She is willing to shop for the items for you.
The People for Peace group will be packing shoeboxes
following their meeting on November 20th. The boxes will
then be delivered to St. John’s Reformed Church on Sunday
afternoon, November 23rd.
Community collection point:
St. John’s Reformed Church, Butler
(Evans City Rd. across from the Sheetz Gas Station)
FLIERS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE NARTHEX.
If You Have Questions… Please Call Audrey Carlson
(late afternoon / evening) ~ 724-287-3512
____________________________________________________________
SUNDAY, NOV. 23
RD
@ 11AM Pledge Dedication Sunday
Consecration of the
“Shoe Box Gifts”
SUNDAY, NOV. 30TH @ 11AM First Sunday in Advent
Sacrament of Holy Communion (“seated”)
SATURDAY, DEC. 6
TH
@ 9:30AM Decorating the Church for Christmas
_________________________________
Stewardship as Care . . .
One way to think about stewardship is to
talk about care and taking care of all
that makes up and surrounds our lives.
Think for a minute about the promises
and arguments that a child might make
in order to convince a parent or
caregiver to get a pet.
“I’ll feed it every day, take it for walks, clean up after it, provide
shelter, and make sure that it is healthy and well behaved.” This is a
great illustration of stewardship in the sense of taking care of
something.
Imagine for a moment that we, like children stating a case for
obtaining a pet, were to make promises to God about how we would
take care of the earth and all its creatures. What might we promise
to do? This could be a starting point for talking about environmental
stewardship. It is the means by which we glorify and enjoy God
through God’s gift of a good earth.
_______________________________________
In The Life of Our Church
Prayer Concerns, Birthdays and Anniversaries:
available in the printed bulletin
but removed from the online version
to ensure confidentiality
From Synod of the Trinity
During this Thanksgiving season
as we gather with family and friends,
let us remember those involved in
mission work around the Synod as
well as mission co-workers in foreign
lands. Let us also give thanks for our Synod staff, the Synod
commissioners, outgoing moderator James Robinson, incoming
moderator Barbara Chaapel and vice-moderator Johnnie Monroe.
Keep our Covenant mission partners
in your prayers:
Becca Lawson (Manila, the Philippines)
Dr. Eric & Dr. Rebecca Hinderliter (Lithuania)
Dr. Joshua Yoder & Rev. Rebecca Kirkpatrick,
and their teenage son, Owen (Cairo, Egypt)
Dr. Martha Sommers
(now serving in the Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Antiques Roadshow !
Wondering if you got a bargain at the flea market, or if your
“priceless valuables” are really valuable? Then come to North
Sewickley Presbyterian Church in Ellwood City this coming
Saturday, Nov. 22nd from 9 am to 1 pm. A career antiques
dealer will appraise what you bring for $5 per item. All proceeds
benefit the Church Retreat Scholarship Fund. For directions or
more information, call 724.777.4880
_____________________________________________
From Diana Mermon,
Beaver Butler Presbytery Youth Coordinator
Thanksgiving
Prayer Ideas
We all know about the Twelve Days of
Christmas. This year, let’s celebrate the
Twelve Days of Thanksgiving, so we can
enjoy the fullness of this holiday as well!
Use the following suggestions to focus your gratitude to God during
the twelve days leading up to Thanksgiving. Each day, thank God
for…
Nov. 16: A special person in your life.
Nov. 17: The beauty of creation.
Nov. 18: An opportunity that God opened up for you recently.
Nov. 19: A treasured possession.
Nov. 20: How he got you through a difficult time.
Nov. 21: A way you were able to help someone else.
Nov. 22: Your favorite recreational activity.
Nov. 23: Something that makes church special.
Nov. 24: A gift or talent God has given you.
Nov. 25: A favorite memory.
Nov. 26: Something special that happened this year.
Nov. 27: Your family.
All of YOU !!!!