WEST CENTER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, New York 10708
Tel No. (914) 337-3829
www.westcenterchurch.org
I’m so hSEPTEMBER 15, 2024, SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 11:00 AM
WORSHIP THROUGH PRAISE
PRELUDE: “TRUMPET TUNE” (G. TELEMANN)
INTROIT:
* RESPONSIVE CALL TO WORSHIP:
Pastor: Come to the One who hears our praise and tears.
People: Who knows our joys and sorrows?
Pastor: Open the deep places of your life to God.
People: We wait for God, our spirits waits in hope!
Pastor: Taste and see that God is good.
People: Blessed are those whose refuge is God.
Pastor: Let us trust in God’s steadfast love.
People: And God’s power will redeem us.
* OPENING HYMN: NO. 343 “CALLED AS PARTNERS IN CHRIST’S SERVICE”
* UNISON PRAYER OF INVOCATION: Contemporary Collect – pg. 1
UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE: As we come before you, O Christ, we want to speak confidently that you are the Messiah. We give you thanks and praise that through the power of the Holy Spirit, you give us the courage to speak boldly. Words of proclamation may come to our lips, but so often our actions lack consistency with our speech. We confess that we are fearful of what it means to follow you. We regret our tendency to put ourselves ahead of others. We desire to repent, but we know that true repentance comes with a cost we’d rather avoid. We beg your forgiveness for our reluctance to follow. Have mercy on us. Give us confidence in you and make us willing and eager to follow you regardless of the cost.AMEN.
MOMENT OF SILENT MEDITATION/SELF REFLECTION:
LORD’S PRAYER (“DEBTS”)
* RESPONSIVE READING OF PSALM 19 pg. 2.
* GLORIA PATRI: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be.
World without end. AMEN.
WORSHIP THROUGH CARING, PRAYING AND GIVING
MEDITATIONAL HYMN: NO. 396 “FOR A CLOSER WALK WITH GOD”
PRAYER OF INTERCESSION AND THANKSGIVING:
SHARING OF OUR GIFTS, TITHES AND OFFERING PRECEDED BY PRAYER
PRAYER OF DEDICATION: We bring to you, our God the tithes and offerings, receive what we can give, even as you continue to give us so much more than we are able to receive. In your consistency, may we find our inspiration; in your generosity, our gratitude;
in your commitment, our assurance; in your grace, our wonder; and in your love, our home. Amen.
OFFERTORY: “HE SHALL FEED HIS FLOCK” (G. F. HANDEL)
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd and He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead chosen that are with young
* DOXOLOGY AND PRAYER OF GRATITUDE
PASSING OF PEACE, JOYS, CONCERNS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
WORSHIP THROUGH REFLECTION AND MEDITATION
FIRST READING: PROVERBS 1: 20 - 33, pg. 1.
SOLO: “HUMBLY I ADORE THEE” (PLAINSONG)
Humbly I adore Thee, verily unseen, Who Thy glory hidest ‘neath these shadows mean; Lord, to Thee surrendered, my whole heart is bowed,
Tranced as it beholds Thee, shrined within the cloud.
O memorial wondrous of thew Lord’s own death; Loving Bread, that givest all Thy creatures breath; Grant my spirit ever by Thy life may live,
to my taste Thy sweetness never failing give.
Jesus, Whom now veiled, I by faith descry, What my soul doth thirst for, do not, Lord, deny, that Thy face unveiled,
I at last may see with the blissful vision blest, my God, of Thee.
THE GOSPEL WITNESS: ST. MARK 8: 27 - 38, pg. 4
PREACHING OF THE WORD: “WHO IS JESUS?” - REV. DR. CHRISTOPHER PONNURAJ
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – A NEW CREED
Leader: We are not alone; we live in God’s world.
People: We believe in God: who has created and is creating, who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new, who works in us and others by the Spirit. We trust in God. We are called to be the Church: to celebrate God’s presence, to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope. In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God. (United Church of Canada-1980, The New Century Hymnal No. 887)
* CLOSING HYMN: NO. 420 “GOD OF GRACE AND GOD OF GLORY”
* BENEDICTION:
RESPONSE:
POSTLUDE: “CHACONNE” (L. COUPERIN)
*Please stand as you are able and comfortable standing.
In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ a cordial welcome to those who have come to this house of worship. We thank you for worshiping with us today. Your presence encourages and strengthens us. Guests are invited to sign the guest book in the narthex. We look forward to seeing you again.
Our Friendship and Fellowship Coffee Hour will be held in Bodge Lounge. Come and share the joy of Christ’s love with us.
COVENANT OF CARE
Ted St. Angelo, Nargis Abbas, Cindi Barna, Dave Carbray, Dante Ferraro, Judy Ross Francis,
Frank Ingram, Ann Jamison, Edie Jamison-Koenig, Jeanette Johnson, Peter Koenig, Manoris Long,
Ray Lopat, Rick Macerata, Joe Miller, Martin Morua, June Nickerson, Sue Nuding,
Master Sgt. Timothy Peters, John Polvere, Nancy Protzman, Tony Roque, Rev. Allan Ross,
Anthony Russo, Richard Z. Steinhaus Jr., Edith Unger, Maryella Ward Leigh, Amanda Wilson
Friends & Family of Jack Steinkamp, Partner of former Music Director, Arnold Ostlund, Jr.
Family and Friends of Tina Burchell, granddaughter of former minister Dr. E. Roy Burchell and Virginia Burchell and daughter of Roger Burchell
Family and Friends of Jeff Ringel, former co-worker & friend of Susie Reisinger
Family and friends of Rev. Chris for the loss of his brother P. Devaraj in India.
WEST CENTER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH (UCC)
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, New York 10708
Tel No. (914) 337-3829 www.westcenterchurch.org
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj – Minister
[email protected] (917) 743-1574
Mr. John Strybos – Director of Music & Pianist
[email protected] (203) 921-5210
Soloist: Kelly Guerra Sedgwick
WORSHIP THROUGH PRAISE
PRELUDE: “TRUMPET TUNE” (G. TELEMANN)
INTROIT:
* RESPONSIVE CALL TO WORSHIP:
Pastor: Come to the One who hears our praise and tears.
People: Who knows our joys and sorrows?
Pastor: Open the deep places of your life to God.
People: We wait for God, our spirits waits in hope!
Pastor: Taste and see that God is good.
People: Blessed are those whose refuge is God.
Pastor: Let us trust in God’s steadfast love.
People: And God’s power will redeem us.
* OPENING HYMN: NO. 343 “CALLED AS PARTNERS IN CHRIST’S SERVICE”
* UNISON PRAYER OF INVOCATION: Contemporary Collect – pg. 1
UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE: As we come before you, O Christ, we want to speak confidently that you are the Messiah. We give you thanks and praise that through the power of the Holy Spirit, you give us the courage to speak boldly. Words of proclamation may come to our lips, but so often our actions lack consistency with our speech. We confess that we are fearful of what it means to follow you. We regret our tendency to put ourselves ahead of others. We desire to repent, but we know that true repentance comes with a cost we’d rather avoid. We beg your forgiveness for our reluctance to follow. Have mercy on us. Give us confidence in you and make us willing and eager to follow you regardless of the cost.AMEN.
MOMENT OF SILENT MEDITATION/SELF REFLECTION:
LORD’S PRAYER (“DEBTS”)
* RESPONSIVE READING OF PSALM 19 pg. 2.
* GLORIA PATRI: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be.
World without end. AMEN.
WORSHIP THROUGH CARING, PRAYING AND GIVING
MEDITATIONAL HYMN: NO. 396 “FOR A CLOSER WALK WITH GOD”
PRAYER OF INTERCESSION AND THANKSGIVING:
SHARING OF OUR GIFTS, TITHES AND OFFERING PRECEDED BY PRAYER
PRAYER OF DEDICATION: We bring to you, our God the tithes and offerings, receive what we can give, even as you continue to give us so much more than we are able to receive. In your consistency, may we find our inspiration; in your generosity, our gratitude;
in your commitment, our assurance; in your grace, our wonder; and in your love, our home. Amen.
OFFERTORY: “HE SHALL FEED HIS FLOCK” (G. F. HANDEL)
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd and He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead chosen that are with young
* DOXOLOGY AND PRAYER OF GRATITUDE
PASSING OF PEACE, JOYS, CONCERNS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
WORSHIP THROUGH REFLECTION AND MEDITATION
FIRST READING: PROVERBS 1: 20 - 33, pg. 1.
SOLO: “HUMBLY I ADORE THEE” (PLAINSONG)
Humbly I adore Thee, verily unseen, Who Thy glory hidest ‘neath these shadows mean; Lord, to Thee surrendered, my whole heart is bowed,
Tranced as it beholds Thee, shrined within the cloud.
O memorial wondrous of thew Lord’s own death; Loving Bread, that givest all Thy creatures breath; Grant my spirit ever by Thy life may live,
to my taste Thy sweetness never failing give.
Jesus, Whom now veiled, I by faith descry, What my soul doth thirst for, do not, Lord, deny, that Thy face unveiled,
I at last may see with the blissful vision blest, my God, of Thee.
THE GOSPEL WITNESS: ST. MARK 8: 27 - 38, pg. 4
PREACHING OF THE WORD: “WHO IS JESUS?” - REV. DR. CHRISTOPHER PONNURAJ
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – A NEW CREED
Leader: We are not alone; we live in God’s world.
People: We believe in God: who has created and is creating, who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new, who works in us and others by the Spirit. We trust in God. We are called to be the Church: to celebrate God’s presence, to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope. In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God. (United Church of Canada-1980, The New Century Hymnal No. 887)
* CLOSING HYMN: NO. 420 “GOD OF GRACE AND GOD OF GLORY”
* BENEDICTION:
RESPONSE:
POSTLUDE: “CHACONNE” (L. COUPERIN)
*Please stand as you are able and comfortable standing.
In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ a cordial welcome to those who have come to this house of worship. We thank you for worshiping with us today. Your presence encourages and strengthens us. Guests are invited to sign the guest book in the narthex. We look forward to seeing you again.
Our Friendship and Fellowship Coffee Hour will be held in Bodge Lounge. Come and share the joy of Christ’s love with us.
COVENANT OF CARE
Ted St. Angelo, Nargis Abbas, Cindi Barna, Dave Carbray, Dante Ferraro, Judy Ross Francis,
Frank Ingram, Ann Jamison, Edie Jamison-Koenig, Jeanette Johnson, Peter Koenig, Manoris Long,
Ray Lopat, Rick Macerata, Joe Miller, Martin Morua, June Nickerson, Sue Nuding,
Master Sgt. Timothy Peters, John Polvere, Nancy Protzman, Tony Roque, Rev. Allan Ross,
Anthony Russo, Richard Z. Steinhaus Jr., Edith Unger, Maryella Ward Leigh, Amanda Wilson
Friends & Family of Jack Steinkamp, Partner of former Music Director, Arnold Ostlund, Jr.
Family and Friends of Tina Burchell, granddaughter of former minister Dr. E. Roy Burchell and Virginia Burchell and daughter of Roger Burchell
Family and Friends of Jeff Ringel, former co-worker & friend of Susie Reisinger
Family and friends of Rev. Chris for the loss of his brother P. Devaraj in India.
WEST CENTER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH (UCC)
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, New York 10708
Tel No. (914) 337-3829 www.westcenterchurch.org
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj – Minister
[email protected] (917) 743-1574
Mr. John Strybos – Director of Music & Pianist
[email protected] (203) 921-5210
Soloist: Kelly Guerra Sedgwick