Fairfax Presbyterian Church

April 20, 2008

Mission-Minded, Small-Group Centered

Prelude Theme and Variations in D Major F Mendelssohn
Donna Whited, Organist

Welcome and Concerns of the Church Nancy Stevens
You are encouraged to greet people you don’t know during our welcome. Please print your name in the friendship pad and return it to the end of the pew. If you are visiting, please include your name, address, and phone number.

Minute for Rebuilding Together Sal Sparacino

Introit Look! Here Is the Light K Martin
Look! Here is the light that reminds us that Christ shines among us;
For Christ is the light that lightens the whole world,
And Christ is the light that brightens our worship.

The Lighting of the Christ Candle

Call to Worship (responsive) Henry Brinton
L: In turbulent times, when the knot of fear tightens,
P: We take heart, trust God and step out.
L: When doubt needles us and despair encircles us,
P: We take heart, trust God, follow Jesus and walk on.
L: As depression threatens to sink us and grief tries to bury us,
P: We take heart, trust God, follow Jesus, and sing our song.
L: Let us sing our faith,
P: And rejoice together in our praise of God.

* Hymn 478 Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven Lauda Anima

* Call to Confession
L: Jesus died for our sins, and was raised to give us new life. Let us confess our sins to God.

* Prayer of Confession (unison)
Creator God, you made us to walk the paths of peace, but we turn aside and fight with those around us. You filled us with compassion and courage, yet we often act with caution and timidity. We know your intentions for justice, yet we keep silent, or yield to the complexity of issues and do nothing. We are grateful for your love, yet are hesitant to mention your name to another. We have been forgiven much, yet we harbor old resentments, hold on to past hurts, and turn away from reconciliation and fellowship. Forgive us, Lord, and restore us to clear thinking and right action. Fill our hearts with compassion, and lead us to bold deeds in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen.
(Time for silent confession.)

* Assurance of Forgiveness (responsive)
L: Christ came not to condemn us, but to save us.
P: All who believe in him will not perish, but will be given forgiveness and new life.
L: Hear the good news and believe: In Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
P: Thanks be to God! Amen.

* Response to Our Assurance Gloria Patri #579, The Hymnal
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen, amen.

The Sacrament of Baptism (11:15)
Calling Forth
Meaning of Baptism
Question to the Parents
Question to the Congregation
Affirmation of Faith The Apostles’ Creed (p. 14, The Presbyterian Hymnal)
Thanksgiving over the Water
Act of Baptizing
Welcome
Hymn 492 Baptized in Water (verse 1 only)

Song Hallelujah – Praise Ye the Lord; I Am a ‘C’ Traditional
Carol Choir, Vanessa Mueller and Elizabeth Bowen, Directors

Conversation with Children
At 8:45, children in Kindergarten to grade 2 may go to Godly Play in room 243. Storytime is available in room 252 for children age 3 to 5. The nursery (in room 245 for children under 3) is available during all services.

Anthem All We Like Sheep (8:45) GF Handel
Sanctuary Choir, Kenneth Martin, Director
Fairest Lord Jesus (11:15) Arr RS Willis
Brass Quintet

Prayer for Illumination Charlene Griffiths (8:45); Cole Bevis (11:15)

Scripture Lessons Acts 7:55-60
55But filled with the Holy Spirit, Stephen gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’ 57But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. 58Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ 60Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died.
L: This is the Word of the Lord.
P: Thanks be to God.

Sermon Hot Faith, Cool Faith Henry Brinton

* Hymn for the Easter Season 107
Celebrate with Joy and Singing Evelyn Chapel
(Pass Prayer Cards to the center aisles.)

Morning Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer

Offering of Christ’s People
Call to Respond
Offertory Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds (8:45) arr M Sedio
Contrapunctus III (11:15) JS Bach

* Doxology 592 Old Hundredth
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow,
Praise God, all creatures here below,
Praise God above, ye heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

* Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Lord, you are our Shepherd, we shall not want. As we live in faith, may we be empowered to share our resources in a most generous way. May we learn the joys of giving as well as receiving. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

* Hymn 281 Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah Cmw Rhondda

* Extroit Now Carry the Light K Martin
Now carry the light that reminds us that Christ goes before us,
For Christ is the light that lightens the whole world,
And Christ is the light that brightens our living.

* Benediction

* Postlude Good Christian Friends, Rejoice and Sing arr J Leavitt
*CCLI License #824089

NOTES ON WORSHIP
THE SANCTUARY CHOIR anthem at 8:45 is a preview of tonight’s Abendmusik concert. This chorus from Handel’s Messiah is based on Isaiah 53:6. The music is almost jubilant that we have all gone “astray,” but then becomes stark with the realization that all of our sins have been laid upon Jesus. You can hear more of this music tonight! We are proud to feature our Brass Quintet at 11:15: Beau Nygaard and Elizabeth Brauer, trumpets; Mike Egan, horn; and Tim & Mark Schroeder, trombones; and our Carol Choir at 8:45.

TODAY AT FPC
THE LARDER is bare and the need is great: Requests for food assistance in the past year are up 30 percent nationwide, according to a recent article in The Washington Post. Thank you for bringing your donations for FPC’s Food Drive today!
FPC ELDERS will meet with representatives of National Capital Presbytery at 10 a.m. in the parlor today.
THE GOLDEN AGE MINISTRY meets after the 11:15 a.m. service today in the multipurpose room to hear a discussion of Nutrition for Seniors. All are invited.
THE GOD AND COUNTRY program begins at 4 p.m. today in the pastor’s office.
ABENDMUSIK means “evening music.” We hope our program this evening 7 p.m. in the sanctuary will inspire our congregation and deepen our faith. The program will consist of selected choruses from Handel’s Messiah by The Sanctuary Choir. Plan to attend with your whole family as well as friends. The concert is free, but an offering will be received to support the music program at FPC. Childcare will be provided.

NEWS OF FPC
BAPTIZED this morning is Dominic Arthur Sharrock Chutuape, son of Arthur Douglas Disini Chutuape and Kate Suzanne Sharrock Chutuape. Also present are his grandparents Mariano & Desideria Chutuape, aunts and uncles Martha Sharrock, Mary Ann & David Stephens, Mariano & Jeanne Chutuape, Haidee Cabasuro & Michael Campoli and cousins Zachary Sharrock, David & Amanda Stephens and Adam, Cole & Ava Chutuape. Dominic’s sponsors are Angie Kearns, Haidee Cabasuro, Mariano Chutuape Jr. and David Stephens Jr.

WE WELCOME visitors from National Capital Presbytery to our 8:45 a.m. service of worship this morning. They will meet with elders in the parlor at 10 a.m. for a visit from the presbytery that occurs every three years.

THE FLOWERS in the sanctuary this morning are given by The Maschino Family in celebration of John & Elizabeth Woods’ 40th wedding anniversary.

JOIN MICHELLE FINCHER in a celebration of her ordination as a minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA) at FPC at 3 p.m. next Sun, Apr 27.

IMPROVING OUR ORDER FOR WORSHIP. Pentecost is the birthday of the church, when we remember the gift of the Holy Spirit to the apostles (Acts 2:1-21). This Pentecost Sunday, May 11, certain elements of the service will be reordered to enhance our worship. The FPC staff and Worship Ministry want you to know this is not meant to change the feel of our service, but to alter the order of particular elements for the following reasons: We want our children to hear the reading of the scripture. Scripture is the story of our faith; we want the children to hear these stories and a Conversation rooted in them. To accomplish this, the Conversation with Children will be moved to a point after the Scripture Lesson. We want our service to begin with a call to worship. Currently, the service starts with announcements that pertain to the life of the church rather than the worship of God. We want to begin with a focus on God and later, as a response to the Word heard in the service, focus on our life together. Moving announcements also gives late-comers a chance to hear this news. We want to include an Affirmation of Faith in each service to unite us as one body. Except for baptismal Sundays, when we say the Apostles’ Creed, we rarely stand as one community and affirm what we believe. The inclusion of an Affirmation of Faith will enable us to do this, in words ranging from the ancient Nicene Creed to the modern Brief Statement of Faith. The staff and Worship Ministry will be open to hearing about your experience with this new order for worship.

SERVICE and STEWARDSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
REBUILDING TOGETHER is Sat, Apr 26. Help us make a difference in the life of Mrs. O’Brien of Falls Church. Please contact Sal Sparacino, Mac Mercer at or Kevin Strickler with questions. To confirm your availability, please complete the form on the kiosk and put it in the offering.

IF YOU MISSED the opportunity to help with the recent Glebe clean-up, please schedule some time to help on the morning of Sat, May 10, when we will plant annual flowers. If you can dig just a few small holes, you can help make a big impression on our Glebe all summer! Our volunteer forces have been seriously depleted of late, so newcomers are most welcome.

DESSERTS NEEDED! Various goodies are needed for a reception in appreciation of FPC’s fine choirs after the Abendmusik concert mentioned above. The Worship Ministry is also privileged to be hosting a reception in honor of Michelle Fincher’s ordination on April 27 and will need donations of desserts, sandwiches, fruit, cheese and healthy finger food for that, as well as willing helpers for both receptions. Contact Michelle Coon or Serena Mercer.

FREE PLANTS: The two palms in the narthex extension are in need of a good home. If you have the space to house them, please take them away at your convenience!

YOUTH NEWS
THEOLOGY CLUB. This new youth small group is dedicated to studying the roots of
Christianity. What does it mean to be a Christian? What does it mean to believe in God? Any 9th to 12th grade youth is welcome to join us for open discussions on Sun, May 25 from 6 to 7 p.m. in the parlor. Contact Abbey Giordano or Jessica Tate for more information.

ON THE CALENDAR
THE GOD AND COUNTRY program will begin at 4 p.m. today, Apr 20, for boys and girls in scouting programs who wish to earn a religious medallion. Led by Henry Brinton, the program will be held every two weeks through June 1, with medallions presented in worship on June 15.

CHAPEL CHOIR will attend a concert of The Children’s Chorus of Washington at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House at 3 p.m. Sun, Apr 27. A free-will offering will be taken to benefit an orphanage in Kenya. All are invited to join them. For more information contact Donna Whited at donnakaywhited@aol.com

COMING May 4: Tools and Blankets Sunday!

CATHERINE LARSEN will host a talk on Sun, May 4 to share stories and images of her recent medical mission trip to Ghana in West Africa, which was made possible by generous financial and spiritual support from the FPC congregation. Please join her at 12:30 p.m. in the multipurpose room to share refreshments and hear about her trip with Joni and Friends.

LACE UP YOUR RUNNING SHOES! Runners and walkers of all ages are invited to join “Team FPC” for the 2nd Annual Run to End Domestic Violence at Fort Washington National Park in Maryland on Sat, May 17 at 8 a.m. The $20 entry fee benefits a worthy cause – forms are available on the kiosk. Contact Mike Watson.

A BAPTISM CONFERENCE for persons desiring baptism for themselves or their children will be held Tue, May 20 at 6:45 p.m. in the multipurpose room. Please call the church office at 703 273-5300 if you plan to attend.

This Week at FPC

Sunday, April 20
Food Drive
8:45 a.m. Worship, sanctuary
10:00 a.m. Church School, various
10:00 a.m. Session, parlor
11:15 a.m. Worship, sanctuary
12:30 p.m. GAM, MPR
12:30 p.m. Teen Choir, 235
4:00 p.m. God & Country
4:30 p.m. Youth Fellowship, various
7:00 p.m. Abendmusik, sanctuary

Monday, April 21
9:00 a.m. Sewing, MPR
7:00 p.m. Cub Scouts, MPR
7:00 p.m. Elizabeth Circle, Thapa home
7:15 p.m. Radiant Ringers, 232, sanctuary
7:30 p.m. Girl Scouts, 135

Tuesday, April 22
10:00 a.m. Staff Meeting, 110
10:00 a.m. Purly Gators, library
7:15 p.m. Joyful Ringers, 235, sanctuary

Wednesday, April 23
12:30 p.m. FPP Soccer, Quad, FH
7:00 p.m. Youth Mission, MPR
7:00 p.m. Companions in Christ, parlor

Thursday, April 24
6:30 p.m. Christmas in April, MPR
7:30 p.m. Sanctuary Choir, 235, sanctuary

Friday, April 25
11:00 a.m. Basic Bible, parlor
12:00 p.m. Midday Prayer, sanctuary

Saturday, April 26
Rebuilding Together

Sunday, April 27
8:45 a.m. Encounter Worship, sanctuary
10:00 a.m. Church School, various
11:15 a.m. Worship, sanctuary
3:00 p.m. Fincher ordination, sanctuary
4:30 p.m. Youth Fellowship, various
4:30 p.m. Chapel Choir, 234
4:30 p.m. Carol Choir, 233

Upcoming Messages
Apr 27 8:45 (Encounter Service) & 11:15 a.m. Sermon by Henry Baumann,
Matthew 28:16-20; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
May 4 8:45 and 11:15 a.m. A How-To for the Christian Woo, Acts 1:6-14
May 11 Pentecost & Mothers Day, 8:45 & 11:15 a.m., Catching the Wind, Acts 2:1-21
May 18 8:45 & 11:15 a.m. Sermon by Jessica Tate, Genesis 1:1-2:4a
May 25 9:30 a.m. Encounter! Worship

Christian Education/Children’s Activities
The Nursery is open Sunday mornings in room 245 for infants from 6 weeks to 3 years of age. Storytime is held for children ages 3 through 5 during the 8:45 a.m. service and for children ages 3 through 1st grade during the 11:15 a.m. After the Conversation with Children, please take your child up to room 252. During the 10 a.m. Sunday School hour, Fairfax Kids normally meets as follows:
Ages 3-4 in room 255 * Ages 5-K in room 257 * Grade 1-2 in room 244
Grade 3-4 in room 234 * Grade 5-6 in room 233

Youth Classes
There are No Youth B&B classes meet today. Youth are encouraged to assist with the Food Drive in Fellowship Hall today. Youth Fellowship will meet at 4:30 p.m. as usual.

10 a.m. Adult Christian Education, Spring 2008
Basic Bible. This in-depth look at the week’s lectionary reading is led by Pastor Henry Brinton in the multipurpose room. No previous Bible study experience required!
Jessica Tate & Cate Rodman’s class on individual and corporate Christian practices will continue through spring, using the book Christianity for the Rest of Us.
Parenting Your Teenager. Celebrate with fellow adventurers on the path to raising adolescents. This class will meet in room 134.
Morning Mingle. This casual, drop-in class uses videos and short studies to explore faith and life connections. They’re found in room 135.

FPC’s Teddy Bear Ministry is flourishing, thanks to ongoing donations of new bears from members and friends. If you know someone who is ill, lonely or depressed, please take them one of our bears. We ask only that you sign it out in the Bear Ministry book in the narthex so we know where its new home is. In order for this ministry to remain successful, we must constantly replenish our bear supply and we appreciate your continuing donations of new bears.

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Fairfax Presbyterian Church - Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-6985
(703) 273-5300 - FAX (703) 591-4246
fpc@fairfaxpresby.com
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