The Parkway Community Church
95 Stewart Avenue
Hicksville, NY 11801
516-938-1233
First Sunday in Lent
March 1, 2015
Welcome to worship this morning here at The
Parkway Community Church. We are glad that you have
joined us to praise God. We ask everyone to sign an
attendance sheet and hand it to an usher as you leave the
sanctuary at the conclusion of worship.
Today is the Second Sunday in the Season of Lent.
We the church have begun our journey to the cross and
empty tomb of Jesus. Along the way we will hear Jesus
teach us how to live on the journey. Today he explains to
us the deep meaning of God’s commandments. He encourages us to say with the psalmist: “I have made up my
mind to obey your laws forever.” Guided by the Spirit of
Jesus, the laws of God lead us to life and peace.
Today we celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion. All who seek Jesus are invited to receive.
You will find a Request for Prayer card in the pew
rack. Feel free to fill it out and give it to an usher at the
time of the offering. Your concern will be included in our
morning prayers.
May God be with you this day and always. We look
forward to your return.
March 1 2015
WE MEET WITH GOD
Organ Prelude
Michael Zeiger
Choir Introit # 486
“Have Thine Own Way, Lord”
Welcome
Pastor Lay
* Responsive Call to Worship
L:
P:
L:
P:
“Draw near to God's statutes,” the Psalmist writes,
“So that we may observe them to the end.”
Let us be led in the paths of God's commandments,
So that we may delight in the richness of
God's life.
L:
Worship God in honesty and forthrightness,
P:
So that Christ's Spirit may perfect us for the
Kingdom of God!
* Hymn # 695
“As We Gather at Your Table”
Call to Confession of Sin
Prayer of Confession of Sin (in unison)
God our Source and Christ our foundation, we
confess to you that we have often been careless in
our construction of community. Even in the church,
we do not live as if we are the temple of your
Spirit, much less conform our individual lives to the
wisdom of the cross. Yet you are still faithful in
your love for us, calling us to be more than we
because of Christ, and filling us with the grace of
your Spirit so that we may yet embody your
holiness and peace. Bless us, we pray, with the gift
of love, that we may see you at all times, in all
people. Amen.
(Worship Ways)
Choir - “Lord, Have Mercy upon Us”
Words of Divine Love and Mercy
Words with our Children - Random Acts of Kindness
The 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 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.
Children Dismissed to Church School
WE HEAR GOD'S GOOD NEWS
Prayer for Divine Guidance
Scripture Lesson:
Matthew 5: 17-48 (excerpts) (Pew Bible, p. 1143)
Sung Response
#664
Your Word is a lamp unto my feet
and a light unto my path. (sung twice)
* Sermon Hymn # 665 “Break Now the Bread of Life”
Sermon
Pastor Lay
“Words that Lead to Life”
Prayer for God’s blessing
The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper (see insert)
Passing of the Peace of Christ
WE RESPOND TO GOD'S GOODNESS
Offering for the Whole Work of Christ’s Church
(Please hand in Prayer Requests to an usher)
Offertory Music
Adult Choir
“There Is a Green Hill Far Away” by Dana Mengel
* Doxology
Sung to Hymn Tune # 34
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise God, all creatures here below!
Praise God above, you heavenly host!
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost!
Prayer of Dedication (in unison)
Generous God, in grace you freely give, and in
love you joyfully command us to imitate you. Let
these gifts bear witness to the justice for which
you long and offer a faithful response to the loving
care that you have first given us in your law, your
prophets, and your Son. Amen.
(Worship Ways)
Choir Response
“O Bless the Gifts”
Sharing of our Prayer Concerns
Prayers for Ourselves and Our World
“Hear our Prayer, O Lord”
Choir Response #490
Community Church News
* Hymn # 453
“Christ Be My Leader”
* Benediction
* Unison Response # 499
He leadeth me, he leadeth me,
by his own hand he leadeth me;
his faithful follower I would be,
for by his hand he leadeth me.
Organ Postlude
News and Views
Among Our Pews
www.ParkwayChurch.org
Email: [email protected]
MARCH ..........................
2
Craft Group will NOT meet until April
3
10:00 am Bereavement Group meets
6:00 pm Ladies Night Out
4
10:30 am Lenten Devotional
Noon - Retirees Lunch
7:30 pm Lenten Devotional
5
2:00 pm Thursday Devotional Group
7
9:00 am Men’s Communion Breakfast
8
10:00 am Worship.
Preteen youth group meets following worship
11:30 am Membership Class
CHURCH SCHOOL
In addition to reviewing the children's
"Acts of Kindness" done during the week,
they will be making bagel bird seed
feeders. Next week, March 8, we will
begin our March Mentor Month. Look for
many exciting events to take place that morning in the
church school.
MEMBERSHIP CLASS
There are people who worship here at The Parkway Church who know little of our history and the
beliefs and practices of the Reformed Church in America. Any interested persons are invited to attend our
Membership Class next Sunday after worship. It is an
opportunity to ask questions, learn, and perhaps
decide to join this church call Parkway. See Pastor
Lay for information.
LADIES NIGHT OUT ~ GAME NIGHT ~ March 3
Rescheduled from last month due to snow storm, a
buffet dinner from Chicken Sensation will be served.
The menu will include zucchini sticks, battered
broccoli, chicken, ribs, shrimp and salads. Dessert and
beverages will be available. The cost is $12.00. Feel
free to bring your own dinner and beverage. We will
be enjoying an evening playing BINGO! Please see
Gladys for your envelope. A RESERVATION AND
PAYMENT IS REQUESTED BY TODAY so that the
order may be placed tomorrow. Please sign up.
FOOD DRIVE CONTINUES
United Methodist Church food pantry collections
continue. March’s requested donation is instant
oatmeal. “Souper” Bowl Sunday collection results are
in, totaled $214. Thanks to all.
MEN’S COMMUNION BREAKFAST
Saturday, March 7 at 9 am here at Parkway. Please
sign up on the attendance sheet.
FIRST STEP NURSERY SCHOOL
EARLY ENROLLMENT DISCOUNT
Our own First Step Nursery School is offering a
tuition discount of 5% to families who enroll their
children by March 31. Members of Parkway
Community Church receive an additional 10% off
tuition. For further information, please call Miss Jo at
516-938-4080 or visit www.firststepnursery.org
CHURCH CLEAN UP
Saturday, March 21 @ 9 am. Helpers will be
needed to spruce up the church for the coming Easter
holiday. Please volunteer. Sign up on the attendance
sheet. Thank you.
LENTEN DEVOTIONAL STUDY
WEDNESDAYS 10:30 AM
and 7:30 PM
CONTINUES THRU
MARCH 25
MESSAGE FROM PROPERTY
The property committee is looking for volunteers
to join. Interested, please sign up on the attendance
sheet. There are many projects that we need help
with.
ANNUAL FLEA MARKET
START SAVING YOUR “TREASURES”
Our Annual Flea Market will be held on
Saturday, May 9, 2015
If you are interested in helping on the
committee, please see Kelly Pedone.
TRIP TO NYC’S 911 MEMORIAL MUSEUM
Plans are being made to visit the 911 Memorial
Museum in NYC on Saturday, June 6, 2015. The
cost is $105 per person ($99 Seniors 65+) and
includes bus, museum tour and an early dinner at
LaNonna’s in Little Italy. Medical cancellation
insurance is available for an additional $8.00 per
person.
Checks should be made payable to the Parkway
Community Church and are due ASAP to reserve your
seat. We must sell 40 seats in order to book the
trip. Please sign up using the attendance sheet or
see Kelly Pedone if you are interested in attending.
SUMMER CAMP WARWICK
“A Love that Never Ends” is this year’s camp
theme. For children grades 2-12, brochures can be
found on the table in the hall. For more information
call 845-986-1164 or visit on the website at:
www.campwarwick.com
PARKWAY “BOOK CLUB”
Parkway’s next Book Club meeting will be held on
Thursday, March 19 at 7:00 p.m. in the church coffee
room. March’s book is “A Place at the Table” by
Susan Rebecca White. Contact Kelly Pedone with any
questions.
THANK YOU’s
A special Thank You is extended to all that added
so much enthusiasm and fun to our Lenten Luncheon
last Sunday. Special thanks also to Figarelly’s Deli in
East Meadow for the great food.
Palm Sunday March 29
Children’s Parade
—————————–
Holy Thursday April 2
Communion Service 7:30 pm.
————–
Good Friday April 3
Candlelight Service 7:30 pm
———
EASTER SUNDAY April 5
PRESENTATION BY PASTOR HANK LAY
Jesus is viewed by Islam as a most honored
prophet, second to the Prophet Muhammad himself.
Jesus is viewed by Jews as a rabbi whose views about
how to love God and love one's neighbor were in
harmony with what became rabbinic Judaism in the
Christian Era. Christians differ from both these
religions in that they see God present in Jesus acting
in a decisive way to save the world from its sinful,
destructive pathway. Though using diverse and
multi-faceted theological explanations, most Christians
see Jesus as in some way "divine" and therefore
embodying the true understanding of God and life.
With this understanding both Islam and Judaism
disagree.
Pastor Hank Lay will speak at the Multifaith
Gathering at 8:00 pm on March 27 at the Brookville
Reformed Church in Brookville. He will share his
studies into how Jesus is viewed by Judaism,
Christianity and Islam.
He will share common
understandings as well as differences and suggest
possible ways that the followers of these three key
world religions might find a common future regarding
Jesus and their interactions in the world.
LENTEN SEASON
STEWARDSHIP
Reminder, if you have not pick up your
envelopes for 2015, please do so now. It will
enable us to keep an accurate record of your giving
for your end of year statement. Thank You!!!
~ WORSHIP ASSISTANTS ~
Reader:
Scripture:
Organist:
Bell Ringers:
Acolytes:
Greeters:
Ushers:
Servers:
Host:
Marilyn Lay
Howard Applegate
Michael Zeiger
Jack and Nathaniel Thomas
Molly Baer, Paul Bodkin,
Melanie Hock
Gail Bucci, Caden McDaniel
Richard Gruber, Ruth and
Joe Leuci, Johnny Schroter
Anna Bishop, Bob Hampson,
Kelly Pedone, Bob Schroter
Martine Hackett
The Rev. Harold Lay + Pastor
The Late Rev. Douglas R. MacDonald+Founding Pastor
The Late Rev. Theodore S. Grant+Pastor Emeritus
The Rev. Dr. Joseph Cusack+Retired Pastor
This is the most blessed Sabbath
on which Christ sleeps,
but on the third day
he shall rise again.
Therefore, O Lord our God,
we sing to you a hymn