Northminster Presbyterian Church...If you have a concern or request that you would like included in the Pastoral Prayer, please jot it down on the index card found in the pew rack

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Northminster Presby terian Church 7720 Alaska Avenue, N.W. - Washington, D.C. 20012

(202) 829-5311 Email: [email protected]

Web Page: http://www.northminsterdc.org

Second Sunday After Epiphany

The mission of Northminster Presbyterian Church, PC (U.S.A.) is to give, through God’s grace and power, glory to God and to be a community of inspired Christians nurtured and equipped to become effective witnesses of Jesus Christ by reaching out to others with hands that serve, hearts that welcome, and voices that carry the Good News of God’s redeeming love to all. January 15, 2017 11:00 A.M

WE GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

PRELUDE Joya Follette

*CALL TO WORSHIP Chinyere Sims Hubbard To all who are bereaved and need comfort, to all who are confused and need answers, to all who are wandering and need direction, to all who are wounded and need restoration, to all who are merely curious, this congregation opens its arms and bids you welcome. *OPENING HYMN “My Faith Looks Up to Thee” No.383 Congregation

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OPENING PRAYER Chinyere Sims Hubbard Open our ears, Lord, to your truth. Open our bodies to your healing. Open our souls to your cleansing. Open our wills to your molding. PRAYER OF CONFESSION (in unison) Chinyere Sims Hubbard We confess, gentle Savior, For the pride that erects a barrier between ourselves and others, let us pray for pardon. (Pause) For the hidden thoughts that we dare not reveal to others, let us pray for pardon. (Pause) For the jealousy that we allow to smolder in our souls, let us pray for pardon. (Pause) For the covetousness that fuels our discontent, let us pray for pardon. (Pause) For the good deeds that we allow to go undone, let us pray for pardon. Amen WORDS OF ASSURANCE Reverend Gay L. Byron The words of John the Baptist are our words of assurance: “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” —John 1:29 *DOXOLOGY “Gloria Patri” No. 579 Congregation *THE APOSTLES CREED (page 14 in front of the hymnal) Congregation WELCOME TO VISITORS Chinyere Sims Hubbard PRAYER REQUEST –If you have a concern or request that you would like included in the Pastoral Prayer, please jot it down on the index card found in the pew rack and hand it to a deacon as they walk the aisle during the singing of the Welcome Song. THE WELCOME SONG Congregation THE LIFE OF NORTHMINSTER Chinyere Sims Hubbard THE CHILDREN’S MOMENT Elder Mimi Stevenson *PASSING THE PEACE (To your North, South, East, and West, pass the peace and love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.)

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WE PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD PRAYER OF INTERCESSION Reverend Gay L. Byron (For equality and justice in race relations) On this weekend during which we remember the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we acknowledge that our nation has not yet attained the full goal of equality and justice that Dr. King struggled to achieve. Skin color can still be a stigma, and many minority peoples still struggle for full social and economic opportunity. We acknowledge that all too often the church of Jesus Christ has dragged its feet on issues of civil rights, and that people who do not claim to be Christians have sometimes put us to shame in the area of race relations. Yet we thank you for the progress that has been made over the past fifty years. We thank you for the brave men and women who have risked their own safety in the struggle for human rights. Help us, Lord of all the earth, to fully understand and to put into practice the truth that all of us are created in the image of God. PRAYER RESPONSE “Blessed Assurance” No.341 v.1 Congregation FIRST SCRIPTURE LESSON (Old Testament) Chinyere Sims Hubbard Psalm 121 (pew bible page 547) One: The Word of the Lord All: Thanks be to God! ANTHEM “In Times Like These” GOD”S MEN SECOND SCRIPTURE LESSON (New Testament) Reverend Gay L. Byron Matthew 5:43-48 (pew bible page 5) One: This is the Gospel of the Lord All: Praise be to you, O Christ SERMON "STRENGTH TO LOVE" Reverend Gay L. Byron

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WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE Reverend Gay L. Byron THE LORD’S PRAYER (Congregation in Unison) OFFERTORY SENTENCE Chinyere Sims Hubbard As we present our offerings, we want our giving to be a personal involvement, not just an exercise we do at a certain point in the church service. Let us resolve to follow these gifts with our interest, concern, and prayers. OFFERTORY ANTHEM “Great Day” GOD’S MEN *DOXOLOGY “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” No. 592 Congregation OFFERTORY PRAYER Chinyere Sims Hubbard As we give, we pray for those who will benefit from our gifts, for we know that somewhere, sometime, real people will experience the results of what we do here today.

WE GO IN GOD’S NAME *CLOSING HYMN “We Shall Overcome” (see insert) Congregation BENEDICTION Reverend Gay L. Byron [God] will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. —1 Corinthians 1:8-9 *CHORAL BENEDICTION “Three Fold Amen” No.587 Congregation POSTLUDE Joya Follette

Please keep these members of our community in your prayers: Debra Bennett • Jackye Lee • Patricia McTill Martha Parker • Wardley Patterson • Aggie Trantham

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND MEETINGS Leading us in worship today:

Dr. Reverend Gay L. Byron Gay L. Byron is associate dean for academic affairs and professor of New Testament at the Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, DC. Before relocating to Howard, she was the Baptist Missionary Training School Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins and dean of the Program of Black Church Studies at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School. She is the author of Symbolic Blackness and Ethnic Difference in Early Christian Literature (Routledge Press, 2002) and the recipient of a Luce Fellowship through ATS for her research, which identifies and

examines ancient Ethiopic (Ge`ez) sources for the study of the New Testament and other early Christian writings. She has also received fellowships and grants from the Ford Foundation, Lilly Endowment Inc., and the Fund for Theological Education. An ordained minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Byron pastored a congregation in the Bronx, New York, for nearly three years before pursuing full-time faculty responsibilities. She holds an MBA from Clark Atlanta University and an MDiv and PhD from Union Theological Seminary.

Angel Tree Program – The Board of Deacons would like to thank you for your support of the annual Angel Tree program. Northminster touched the lives of 31 children in a special way. Your donations of time, money, food and gifts were greatly appreciated. The Angel Tree party was a success despite the challenging weather! Our guests (caregivers and children) enjoyed an afternoon of fun and fellowship with food, games, Christmas carols by the DC Boys Choir and a visit from Santa (Nathaniel Sims, Sr.). It takes a village! The participation of the Boys Scouts for a second year was invaluable. Thanks to Andrew Rivears and the other scout leaders for organizing them. They put down ice melt to ensure the safety of our visitors, and assisted with setup, serving, cleanup, as well as entertaining our guests. Thanks to Herb Scott for coordinating the outstanding choir, a new addition this year. Tots & Teens Associates provided a generous gift of $125. Finally, Dan Acker delivered the gifts before Christmas to those who could not attend the party. The Board of Deacons is grateful to all for the continued commitment to this outreach effort. Thanks again! Worship Committee will meet on Sunday, January 22 immediately following service The Community Biblical Dialogue holds explorations of spiritual disciplines every second Saturday of the month from 10:00 to 12:00 p.m. in the Library. This year discussions will be on the Letters of Paul. The next Biblical Dialogue will be held on Saturday, February 11. We hope to see you there. Bring a friend.

The children’s Church Teachers meet every first Sunday in the Church Library immediately following Sunday service. Bible study class for adults meets Sunday mornings, 9:30–10:55 am, in the church library (Room 203). Sunday school for students ages 3-15, meets on 2nd, 3rd and 4th Sundays from 11:15am to 12:45pm. New students are welcomed. Northminster Sewing Circle meets on Wednesday mornings. For more information please contact Bettie Coles at (202) 882-7951. Boy Scouts meet on Fridays. Please contact Franklin Austin at (202) 829-6577 for more information. Cub Scouts meet on Saturdays. Please contact Keith Dean at (202) 841-4094 for more information. GOD’S MEN meet for rehearsals on Friday at 6:30 p.m. in the church music room, under the direction of Joya Follette. New members are welcome. For more information please contact Reginald L. Holt at 202-882-4446. CHANCEL CHOIR meets for rehearsals on Thursdays at 7:00 pm in the choir room. New members are welcomed. For more information contact Elder Herb Scott at 202-327-4902. Fitness for Life Program (physical fitness for mature adults) has sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please contact Debra Floyd at (202) 607-8118 for more information.

NORTHMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH — MINISTRY DIVISIONS The Session of Northminster Presbyterian Church is organized into four ministry divisions: The Administrative Division oversees the Budget, Finance and Fund Raising activities of the Church. In addition, this Division is responsible for nominating new officers (Elders and Deacons) and coordinating Trustee and Deacon Activities. The Administrative Division meets on the first Sunday of the month after church. The Communication Division coordinates Northminster’s Worship & Music, Christian Education, Mission, and Social Witness activities. The Communication Division meets on the second Sunday of the month after church. The Stewardship Division directs the Stewardship activities of the Church and is responsible for Personnel matters. The Division meets after church on the third Sunday of each month. The New and Current Membership Division oversees Northminster’s Fellowship and Evangelism activities and coordinates the continuing nurture of our members. The Membership Division meets on the fourth Sunday of each month after church. All ministry Division meetings are open (unless otherwise stated) and we want to hear from you. We invite you to participate in the life of Northminster Presbyterian Church!

NORTHMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OFFICERS

Board of Elders (Session) Reverend Fay Acker – Acting Moderator

Class of 2017: Michael Kauffman, Kosi Kumi, Nathaniel Sims Class of 2018: Lorethea Davis, Jackie Holt Class of 2019: Dan Acker, Sandra Riviears, Mimi Stevenson

Board of Deacons

Class of 2017: Renee Butler, Theresa Wilson, Marie Richardson Class of 2018: Stacey Jones, Henry Jones, Maya Jones, Gloria McClure, Barbara Mecaley,

Zayani Sims Class of 2019: Andrea Rander, Willie Williams, Adolph Tengen, Evelyn Ngeloh, Renee Hutchins

Board of Trustees

Class of 2017: Serah Kauffman, Mark Sturdivant Class of 2018: Andrew Mickens, Nathaniel Sims Jr. Class of 2019: Celestine Brown, Juliane Tengen, Carole Woolfork

Leading us in Worship: Reverend Gay L. Byron Liturgists: Chinyere Sims Hubbard Music Director/Pianist Joya Follette Administrator: Anne Pillay Custodian: Nilbert Clarke

January 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 COMMUNION SUNDAY NEW YEAR’S DAY

2

3 Physical Fitness for Mature Adults

4 Sewing Circle


6 EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

Cub Scouts

7 Boy Scouts

8 BAPTISM OF THE LORD

Adult Bible Study

9

10 Physical Fitness for Mature Adults Girls Scouts

SESSION MEETING

11 Sewing Circle


13 God’s Men Rehearsal Cub Scouts

14 The Community Biblical Dialogue Boy Scouts

15 2ND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

Adult Bible Study

16 BIRTHDAY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.


18 Sewing Circle


20 God’s Men Rehearsal

Cub Scouts

21 Boy Scouts

22 3RD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

Adult Bible Study

23


Girl Scouts

25 Sewing Circle


27 Cub Scouts

28 Boy Scouts

29 4TH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

Adult Bible Study SHEPHERD’S PARK POT LUCK DINNER

30


February 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1


3 Cub Scouts

4 Boy Scouts

5 COMMUNION

SUNDAY SCOUT SUNDAY

Adult Bible Study

6

7 Physical Fitness for Mature Adults Girls Scouts

8 Sewing Circle



11 The Community Biblical Dialogue Boy Scouts

12 Adult Bible Study

13

14 VALENTINE’S DAY

Physical Fitness for Mature Adults SESSION MEETING

15 Sewing Circle



18

Boy Scouts

19 Adult Bible Study

20 PRESIDENT’S DAY

21 Physical Fitness for Mature Adults Girl Scouts

22 Sewing Circle


24 Cub Scouts

25 Boy Scouts

26 TRANSFIGURATION

OF THE LORD

Adult Bible Study

27

28 Physical Fitness for Mature Adults Girl Scouts

Documents

Northminster Presbyterian Church...If you have a concern or request that you would like included in the Pastoral Prayer, please jot it down on the index card found in the pew rack