First Sunday in Lent

                                       Prayer Emphasis Sunday/Holy Communion                           

WORSHIP SERVICE                      Sunday, March 5, 2006                  8:30 & 11:00 A.M.

PRAYER TIME BEFORE WORSHIP: Among our prayers this morning, O God, is that your dreams for your creation would come true. Surely the call to faith is the call to trust you and your dreams enough to realign our dreams with yours, to dream our little dreams within your big dream. We admit this is not a one-time thing but a lifelong process of continually receiving and dreaming your dreams. Surely your call to us is to live the way you dream for us to live. During this Lenten season, may your dreams for us take flesh in our daily lives, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

PRELUDE          “O Lamb of God Most Holy, Who on the Cross Did Suffer”           J.S. Bach                   “In This Moment of Remembrance”                                              Wood

 

WELCOME, CONCERNS, AND GREETINGS

     (Please fill out your prayer card and place it in the offering plate.)

 

PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP

  

CALL TO WORSHIP: (Psalm 25)

Leader:               To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. Where else can I turn?

Community:      For you I wait all day long.

Leader:               Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.

Community:      For you I wait all day long.

Leader:               Lead me in your truth, and teach me.

Community:      For you I wait all day long.

Leader:               Be mindful of your steadfast love,

Community:      For you I wait all day long.

Leader:               Redirect my life, turn me in the way you would have me go.

All:                    For you I wait all day long, for you will instruct me in your way, lift me up, making my steps secure.

                         

*PROCESSING HYMN                 “I Danced in the Morning”                                No. 302

     (Processing of the Elements)

                                                                                                                         

*PRAYER OF ADORATION AND INVOCATION

 

FIRST SCRIPTURE READING                   Jonah 3:1-10                          (O.T. Page 860)

Leader:   The word of the Lord.

Community:      Thanks be to God.

                         


                                                                          -2-                                                                         

UNISON CONFESSION

Surely O God, your Son came teaching and preaching but also healing. He came to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners. And whoever follows in his footsteps will also be agents of change and healing. The healing your Son Jesus Christ brings, is not just healing to make us healthy, but to send us out to bring healing to others. If we have seen brokenness in others, and looked the other way, forgive. If we have been deaf to the pleas of the oppressed, and gave scant attention, awaken. If we could have intervened to bring about a new future, but didn’t, pardon. O God, who is in the business of restoring lives, bringing enemies together, and leading nations to a new future, make us instruments of your healing. May the distrustful learn to trust again, mend our brokenness, and a new future be your good gift, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

       

SILENT CONFESSION & DECLARATION OF PARDON

Leader:               In Jesus Christ God forgives us, molds and shapes us for that new task and

                            new mission where he wants us to go. His cross brings new life, hope and

                          joy.

Community:      Thanks be to God.

 

RESPONSE                                  “Change My Heart, O God”

 

Change my heart, O God; make it ever true. Change my heart, O God; may I be like you. You are the Potter; I am the clay, Mold me and make me; this is what I pray.

                                                                                                                                         (repeat)

 

KIDS’ CORNER    (11:00)           “For the Beauty of the Earth”

                                                               “Holy, Holy, Holy”

                                                    Kids of the Kingdom chime choir

          (After Kids’ Corner children ages 4-9 are invited to go to Steps of Faith)

                                                                          -3-

SECOND SCRIPTURE READING      II Corinthians 5:16-20                  (N.T. Page 181)

Leader:   The word of the Lord.                                                                       Dr. William J. Carl

Community:      Thanks be to God.

                                                                           

SERMON              “Becoming New Persons Altogether”                   Dr. William J. Carl

 

*CREED AND GLORIA PATRI                                                                             No. 579

We believe that God sends us to tell all nations, that Christ calls everyone to repentance, faith and obedience. We are to proclaim by word and deed that Christ gave himself to set people free, from sin and self-hatred, from ignorance and disease,

                                                                        -3-

from all forms of oppression, and even from death. We are to offer them in Christ’s name fullness of life now and forever. We must not distort the gospel by weakening its promises or demands…by pointing to ourselves instead of Christ. We invite people everywhere to believe in Christ and become his followers. We urge them to join us in telling others the good news and in struggling for justice, compassion and peace.                A Declaration of Faith, 1977

 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER (use debts and debtors)

 

PRAYER OF DEDICATION - RECEIVING OUR TITHES & OFFERINGS                       

                                                                           

OFFERTORY ANTHEM (11:00)   “O Lord, Support Us All the Day Long”                      Pote

                                                          Sarah Flemming, flute

O Lord, support us all the day long, until the shadows lengthen, and evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done.  Then in thy great mercy grant us safe lodging, and holy rest, and peace at the last; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen                                                     

    

HOLY COMMUNION

     Invitation to the Table, Scripture, Prayer

     We say as we serve each other, “The body of Christ broken for you; The blood of

          Christ shed for you.”

     Prayer of Dedication

 

*HYMN    (8:30)                         “For the Beauty of the Earth”

                                                            “Holy, Holy, Holy”

                                                 Kids of the Kingdom chime choir

 

     (11:00)                                   “My Song Is Love Unknown”                                       No. 76   

 

*BENEDICTION                                                                                       Dr. William J. Carl

                                                                         

*POSTLUDE                                   “Fugue on the Kyrie”                                           Couperin

*All Who Are Able May Stand                                        *****Ushers May Seat Worshippers   

 

THE LIGHTED CANDLE on the communion table reminds us to pray for peace.

 

GREETERS:             8:30        Wayde Zeitler, George Depee

                                 11:00        Bill H. English, Alick Kennedy

ELDERS:                  8:30        Doris Marko                                                                       

                               11:00        Larry Wichterman

LAY READERS:      8:30        Peggy Grinager

                                 11:00        Dick Spahr                                                                         

USHERS:                  8:30        Tom Englert (head usher), Dick Krotzer, James Nicola, Dave

                                                  Stanton, Judith Shifrin

                                 11:00        Bill English (head usher), Jean McClymonds, Art Groweg, Jon Goff,

                                                  Betsy Wood

STEPS OF FAITH:                Frank Stricklen

 

NORTHMONT OFFERS a well-equipped nursery that is supervised by permanent staff. All worshippers are welcome to use the nursery for infants and preschoolers for all or a portion of each service. When exiting the front doors of the sanctuary, turn right.

 

WE WELCOME EVERYONE TO WORSHIP on this first Sunday in Lent. Lent is a period of forty weekdays and six Sundays, culminating in Holy Week. In joy and sorrow the church proclaims, remembers and responds to the atoning death of Christ.

 

                                                                                  VISITORS’ GUIDE

WE ARE GLAD you have chosen to worship with us. We invite visitors to sign the friendship register pad. Look for hospitality greeters wearing nametags. To learn more about Northmont Church:

                    w     Take a visitor packet of information from an usher when they are offered.

                    w   Attend Fellowship Time after the 11:00 a.m. service.

                    w     Children are welcome in the nursery.

                    w     We invite you to participate in worship and all other programs we offer.

                    w     Check out our website: www.northmontchurch.org

 

TODAY’S CHANCEL FLOWERS are given in loving memory of Dolores Gable from her children.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BOB TAYLOR who has celebrated his 90th birthday on March 3rd.

 

OUR MEMBER OF SPECIAL CONCERN: James Grossinsky – Manor Care, 1105 Perry Highway, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 (Main # 412-369-9955)

 

WORSHIP ATTENDANCE: Feb. 26th: 8:30 – 71; 11:00 – 155, Sun. School – 121, SON – 90

 

CHILDREN WHO ARE BAPTIZED and are being nurtured in the Christian faith, are welcome to the Lord’s Table.

 

FOLLOWING WORSHIP please join us for fellowship time in Polley Fellowship Hall. The Spectrums will be our hosts.

 

STEPHEN MINISTER Tom Englert will be making hospital calls this week. If you have a special request, please call him at 412-366-2807. 

 

TODAY’S PRAYER REQUEST CARDS may be found in each prayer rack. Please pick up a card, fill it out with the name of person or a need and it would be helpful to write in your name and phone number. Place your prayer card in the offering plate. A volunteer will be at each door with a plate of cards. Please take a “Prayer Request” as you depart and pray for that person this coming week. Feel free to call them.

 

PRAYER REQUESTS: Sean Simpson, The children in Uganda & Sudan, Dick Krotzer, Symchymsky Family, Don Frick

 

TO BE REMEMBERED WITH CARDS AND PRAYERS:

        Elora Geier, Children’s Hospital, 3705 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212

        Thelma Boul, St. Barnabas Nursing Home

        Brad Guckert, discharged

                                                                                                                                                    

OUR MEMBERS IN THE MILITARY – REMEMBER WITH CARDS AND PRAYERS:

          SPC Scott, Paul M., HHC 2-70 AR, DFAC, Bldg. 7227, Fort Riley, KS 66442 (Mary Ellen Scott’s       grandson)

                  SGT Ryan W. Hey, C TRP 4-7CAV 2ID, unit # 150237, Camp Hovey, S. Korea, APO AP 96224

            (Matt Hey’s nephew)

          CPL & Mrs. David Potter, 217 Speer Ct., Camp Pendelton, Stuart Mesa, Ocean Side, CA 92054  

          (Mary Potter’s son and Bernice Dowling’s grandson)

          Fraley, David T., Naval SF Customs PAPA, APO AE 09366 (Betty Fraley’s son)

 

                                                          SON Worship Speaker

Mar. 5          Dr. David B. Antonson

Mar. 12        Frank Stricklen

 

REMINDER: All thank you notes are to placed in the Piper only, except during July and August when we do not have a monthly Piper.

 

 

WE WELCOME TO THE PULPIT this morning Dr. William. J. Carl, III. Dr. Carl is the new President of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, having begun his work officially on February 1st. His last responsibility was as pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Dallas, TX where he served since 1983. He has ties to Pittsburgh; in 1977 he received a doctorate of philosophy degree in rhetoric and communication from the University of Pittsburgh and was an instructor at the seminary. He and his wife have two sons, Jeremy who works at the White House in Washington, DC and David who is at Rutgers. Welcome Dr. Carl!

 

LENTEN DEVOTIONALS are available on the table in the Narthex. One booklet per family please.

 

PIPER DEADLINE: March 13th is the deadline for the April Piper!  Reminder – have your article mailed to the editor by noon! piper@northmontchurch.org Please send your articles by e-mail if possible! The church office is not responsible for submitting your article. Please find someone in your group to e-mail your article to the editor. Your article should be sent as an attachment.

 

ATTENTION MEN! Come to the NBC (Northmont Brotherhood Club) meeting each Tuesday morning. Starting at 8:30 A.M. – donuts, coffee, and fellowship in the kitchen. We meet at 9:00 A.M. in Polley Fellowship Hall. This week our guest is Linda Smith from Hope Hospice.

 

SMALL GROUP STUDY BOOKS Journeying Through Lent With Mark are available for you to pick up in the Narthex today.

 

LUNCH BUNCH:  This month we’ll be enjoying the food at The Willow Restaurant on

Camp Horne Road.  Ladies, please join us and feel free to bring a friend if you like.  Wednesday, March 15 is the date.  We’ll meet in the church parking lot at 11:30 AM.  Please RSVP to Linda Zmuda by the 13th of March (412) 931-6787.

 

RUMMAGE SALE COMING UP! Tell your friends and neighbors about our great bargains and delicious baked goods. Now is a great time to do your spring house cleaning and donate your gently used items – we start collecting on March 17th. Please remember we are not accepting clothing this year. Flea market/Bake Sale: Saturday, March 25th from 8:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. in Polley Fellowship Hall.

 

SPECTRUMS: You’re invited to a bowling party at Pines Plaza Lanes on Saturday, March 25th, noon to 2:00 P.M. Cost $8.25 per person and it includes two games and shoes. After bowling we’ll go to Pizza Roma. Call Anne Linaberger to RSVP at 412-364-2547.

 

BEACONS are going to dinner and a play at Community Presbyterian Church on Saturday, March 25th. Call Kathy Spitz at 724-935-1051 for information.

 

WE WANT TO THANK everyone who put together the Ash Wednesday service this past week – the  Stephen Ministers who led the anointing, our Presbyterian Women who organized the meal, our Worship Committee, and our Chancel Choir who assisted with worship.


MISSION MINISTRY encourages all to attend the WMI Mission Conference at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary March 24th and 25th. Keynote speakers include Dr. Kenneth Bailey and Dan and Beth Merry. The registration fee has been paid so Northmont may participate in the full conference or just special sessions. HOWEVER you do need to send in the form indicating your choices. Details appear in the March Piper. Please pick up a form from the church office. Jean Drumheller will coordinate car-pooling so if interested call her at 412-366-5871.

 

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE CHILDREN of the Northmont who recently raised $255.00 for the Prayers and Pennies Program for our Malawi Partners.  This is wonderful news!!!!  This money is worth at least 3 times more in Malawi than in our country, and will go far to help ease the famine gripping this nation.  Kids….you’re great!!! Please keep praying for these people, and speak to Mr. Goff if you contributed money but did not as yet get a certificate.

 

YOU CAN’T LIVE ON YOUR OWN ANYMORE. And it hurts. Giving up some of your independence, adjusting to new routines…Let a Stephen Minister share this difficult time with you.

 

PASSAVANT HOSPITAL’SExtending The Care…”ETC”’  program, an education and resource program for seniors and their caregivers, will be discussing the topic “Getting on Track for 2006: Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit” on Tuesday, March 21st at 9:00 A.M. in Passavant Assembly Hall. To register call 412-367-6643. Free to the public.

 

PRODUCT OF THE MONTH FOR NORTH HILLS FOOD BANK: Month of March   – Macaroni & Cheese.  All items are very much appreciated, especially monetary donations. Checks should be made out to Northmont U. P. Church – memo-North Hills Food Bank.


Small Group/Spiritual Growth Opportunities

 

POST-ADVENT SMALL GROUPS: Small groups are a perfect way to deepen your relationship with Jesus Christ and experience true fellowship with your sisters and brothers in Christ. And now is the perfect time to join! Call any of the group leaders for more information!

Studying Paul’s Letter to the Romans:

  Sunday @ 7:00 PM: Bart Roberts (724-933-6065)

Studying Devotional Classics:

  Monday @ 7:00 PM: Kip & Sylvia Campbell (412-364-2869) & Brian Wallace (412-974-3064)

  Wednesday @ 6:30 PM: Dr. David B. Antonson (412-364-0105)

  Wednesday @ 6:30 PM: Judy Shifrin (412-367-4299)

  Friday @ 6:30 PM (Family Friendly. Bring the kids!) Bill Baierl 412-367-4693)

 

EVERY SUNDAY

After SON Group: 7:00 P.M. in Northmont Library Contact Bart Roberts (724-933-6065)

 

EVERY THURSDAY

Spirituality and Prayer group continues our study of Eugene Peterson’s Christ Plays in 10,000 Faces this Thursday at 11:00 a.m. in the Berean Room. Led by Frank Stricklen.

 

ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION – 9:30 A.M.

 

ADULT BIBLE STUDY                                                                                      Malawi Room    

We will tackle the following texts: Genesis 9:8-17, Psalm 25:1-10, I Peter 3:18-22, Mark 1:9-15

 

TOPICS CLASS:                                                                                                Fellowship Hall

THIS WEEK: Rev. Dr. William Carl, President of the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

 

NEXT WEEK: Rev. Don Dawson will speak on the upcoming World Mission Initiative Conference (March 24, 25) and the New Wilmington Missionary Conference (July 22-29)

 

FOUNDATIONS:                                                                                                             Berean Room

Communion.  How can bread and juice carry so much significance? Why do different denominations have such different understandings about communion? What do Presbyterians believe? Is one method of serving communion better than another or are there theological reasons for doing it in different ways? For the answers to these and other questions, join us next Sunday at Foundations in the Berean Room at 9:30 a.m.  Led by Frank Stricklen.


 

                                                                   * * * * *

Pastor: Rev. Dr. David B. Antonson

Pastor Emeritus: Rev. Dr. Stephen L. Polley

Parish Associate Pastors: Rev. Alick Kennedy and Rev. Dr. Robert Forsythe

Organist and Director of Music: C. William Goff

Director of Family Ministries/Contemporary Worship: Frank Stricklen

Youth Director: Sean Kelly

Seminary Intern: Brian Wallace

Office Manager: Linda Allerton

Church Secretary: Rose Dragan

Church Treasurer: Lynn Merriman

Custodians: Colin Baldwin, Jr. and Patty Sopouchak

Northmont Child Development and Preschool Center:

Director: Margot Plant and Assistant Director: Diane Croyle

    
                         Calendar For The Week:
           March 5 – March 11, 2006

 

Sunday, March 5:                                                                                                                               Dan. 9:3-10

 8:30 & 11:00            Worship                                                                                                              Sanctuary

    9:30 AM               Sunday School

    6:00 PM                Son Service                                                                                                         Sanctuary

    6:30 PM                AA                                                                                                              Fellowship Hall

    7:00 PM                Theta Alpha Chi                                                                                         Youth Lounge

    8:30 PM                Youth Leadership                                                                                       Youth Lounge

 

Monday, March 6:                                                                                                                          Gen. 37:1-11

  9:30 AM                 PW Board Meeting                                                                                     Malawi Room

   1:30 PM                 Staff Meeting                                                                                                           Library

   7:00 PM                 Christian Education Committee                                                         Bible Study Room

   7:00 PM                 Boy Scouts                                                                                                Fellowship Hall

                                 

Tuesday, March 7:                                                                                                                        Mark 1:14-28

  8:30 AM                 NBC                                                                                                            Fellowship Hall

10:00 AM                 Northmont Homemakers                                                                             Malawi Room

   7:00 PM                 Capital Projects                                                                                                        Library

   7:00 PM                 Worship                                                                                              Westminster Room

   7:00 PM                 Mission                                                                                                         Malawi Room

      

Wednesday, March 8:                                                                                                                 Gen. 37:25-36

   9:30 AM                Knitters                                                                                                         Malawi Room

    5:30 PM                Kids Kingdom                                                                                           Fellowship Hall

    5:30 PM                Oasis                                                                                                           Fellowship Hall

    6:30 PM                Thekrew                                                                                                       Youth Lounge

    7:15 PM                Leadership                                                                                                                Library

    7:30 PM                Choir                                                                                                    Westminster Room   

                                  Pleasant Valley Shelter – Deacons

                                 

 Thursday, March 9:                                                                                                                             Psalm 27

 11:00 AM                Spirituality & Prayer                                                                                    Berean Room

    7:00 PM                Stewardship Committee                                                                                          Library

    7:15 PM                Stephen Ministry                                                                                         Berean Room

 

Friday, March 10:                                                                                                                           1 Cor. 3:16-23

   3:45 PM                 Belles                                                                                                 Westminster Room     

 

Saturday, March 11:                                                                                                                       Gen. 41:1-13