Easter Sunday

WORSHIP SERVICE                       Sunday, April 8, 2007                   8:30 & 11:00 A.M.

PRAYER TIME BEFORE WORSHIP: Mighty God, we praise and bless your name this morning for the raising of your son Jesus, from death to life. We rejoice that he overcame sin, death and the evil one. With thanksgiving we affirm again that his death on a cross was not the last word; that Joseph’s tomb could not hold him. With praise on our lips we rejoice that his Reign is breaking into this old world and beginning a New Age of His kingdom. With the angels and archangels of heaven we bless your great name. Amen.

 

PRELUDE                                “Toccata on Jesus Shall Reign”                                     Beinke

                                    “Toccata on All Creatures of our God and King”                        Miller

                                                   “Toccata on The Strife is O’er”                                    Helman

                                                         “Holy is God the Lord”                                 Mendelssohn

                                                              Brass Ensemble

 

WELCOME, CONCERNS, AND GREETINGS

 

PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP

  

CALL TO WORSHIP 

Leader:               Christ is risen!

Community:      He is risen indeed!

Leader:               Christ is risen!

Community:      He is risen indeed!

All:                    All praise and glory to God, for raising His son Jesus Christ, by the power of your Spirit, who is alive now and forever!

                                                                           

*PROCESSING HYMN                  “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today”                             No. 123

                         Chancel Choir, Congregation, Northmont Belles, Brass Ensemble

  

*INTROIT                                    “Easter Call to Worship”                                    Grosvenor

                                           Minister, Chancel Choir, Brass Ensemble

                                                                         

*UNISON PRAYER OF PRAISE

O God of new beginnings, we give thanks and praise that a terrible Friday of death gave way to a blessed Sunday of life and new discoveries. We praise you that the memory of the cross is transformed by the discovery of the empty tomb. Disciples hiding for fear of their lives were welcomed back into living fellowship by the risen Christ who said to them, “Greetings! Welcome!” We praise you that a new governance has entered the world, overcoming the powers of despair, alienation, fear and violence. We give thanks that in the presence of the risen Christ, we can

                                                                        -2-

 

now live as those who have been raised with Christ. Your world will never be the same again. It is in the name of your risen Son we pray. Amen.                                                                                             

        

SOLO                                    “I Know that My Redeemer Liveth”                         G.F. Handel

                                                               From Messiah

                                                 Dorothea Fisher, mezzo-soprano

 

FIRST SCRIPTURE READING           Psalm 118: 1, 2, 14-24                  (O.T. Page 565)

Leader:   The word of the Lord.

Community:      Thanks be to God.

                                                                           

EASTER PRAYER

Together with your Church in every place, we praise your name for your Son, who laid down his life and was raised to new life by God. You shattered the bonds of death that held him. We rejoice, that in his resurrected body, your Son showed himself alive to many witnesses, on a road and along a sea shore. In your son’s resurrection we have a sign as to the hope of the world. We know who sits on the throne and who is in charge. Help us to now live and believe that we have been raised with Christ to a new kind of living, no longer for ourselves but for him who was raised on our behalf. We rejoice that death is finished, love prevails, and Christ is here. All glory, praise and honor be unto you, O God, now and forever. Amen.

                                                                           

ANTHEM   (8:30)                        “We Welcome Glad Easter                                arr. Bedford

                                 Chancel Choir, Sue Swick, piano; Tim Lucas, trumpet

                           The congregation is encouraged to sing verse 4 with the choirs.       (see insert)    

                                                                         

(11:00)                                          “We Welcome Glad Easter”                               arr. Bedford

                                 Chancel Choir, Sue Swick, piano; Tim Lucas, trumpet

                       Kids of the Kingdom and Kuyimba Choirs, Leslie Scheuer, director

                           The congregation is encouraged to sing verse 4 with the choirs.       (see insert)    

   

*HYMN                                             “Thine Is the Glory”                                           No. 122

                                 Congregation, Chancel Choir, Brass Ensemble, Organ

 

SECOND SCRIPTURE READING             Matthew 28:1-10                    (N.T. Page 33)

Leader:   The word of the Lord.                                                                                                  

Community:      Thanks be to God.

             

SERMON           “Another Easter Sermon”                    The Rev. Dr. Donald R. Ewing       

 

                                                                        -3-

*EASTER AFFIRMATION AND GLORIA PATRI                                            No. 579

Leader:               We believe that in the death of Jesus on the cross, God achieved and

                          demonstrated once for all the costly forgiveness of our sins.

Community:        Jesus was dead and buried, but God raised him from the dead. The

                          risen Lord appeared to his followers. They recognized him as their

                          Master who had been crucified.

Leader:               Before Jesus left them, he commissioned them to proclaim to all people

                          the good news of his victory over death, and promised to be with them

                          always.

Community:      We are certain that Jesus lives. He lives as God with us, touching all of    human life with the presence of God. He lives as one of us with

                          God…His resurrection was a decisive victory over the powers that

   deform and destroy human life. Jesus is Lord! He has been Lord from    the beginning. He will be Lord at the end. Even now he is Lord.

                                                                                                                 A Declaration of Faith, 1977

 

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

 

RECEIVING OUR GIFTS & ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING             

                                                                           

OFFERTORY ANTHEM               “Now Let the Heaven’s be Joyful”                      arr. Wolff

                                                             Chancel Choir, Brass Ensemble

                                                                         

Now let the heavens be joyful, Let earth her song begin!  The round world keep high triumph and all that is therein.  He is risen, Christ the Lord is risen, Our joy, that hath no end.  From death to life eternal, From earth onto the sky, Our Christ hath brought us over With hymns of Victory.  He is risen.  Christ the Lord is risen, Our joy that hath no end.  Let all things seen and unseen, Their notes of gladness blend.   For Christ the Lord is risen, Our joy, that hath no end.  He is risen, Christ the Lord is risen, Our joy, that hath no end.  Amen!

 

*OFFERTORY PRAISE & PRAYER OF DEDICATION

Praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise God all creatures here below. Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise God above ye heavenly host, Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Alleluia!

 

*RECESSIONAL HYMN                   “The Strife is O’er”                                        No. 119

                                    Congregation, Chancel Choir and Brass Ensemble

 

*CHARGE & BLESSING                             

 

 

                                                                                                -4-

 (Are you in need of prayer? If you have a joy, or a concern, or a prayer request and would like to speak to a Stephen Minister, at the 8:30 A.M. service Jo Shore and Tom Englert and at 11:00 A.M. service Nancy Garver and Alick Kennedy will be at the front of the sanctuary after the service.)

 

*POSTLUDE                            “Now Thank We All Our God”                                Karg-Elert

                                                              Brass Ensemble                                                            

*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           Dick & Pat Krotzer, Morey Buirge, Ed Scullion

                               11:00         Linda Cunko, Harry Rittenour, Chuck McClure

ELDERS                 8:30           Doris Marko                         11:00      Helen Traynor              

LAY READERS     8:30             Elaine Peters                         11:00      Bill Baierl                     

USHERS                8:30          Hayes Stover (head usher), Roy Anderson, Bruce Sardon, Richard

                                                  Sutter  

                             11:00         Bill H. English (head usher), Karen or Mark Nootbaar, Lisa Behm

STEPS OF FAITH                                                                     No Steps of Faith today

 

NORTHMONT OFFERS a well-equipped nursery that is supervised by permanent staff. Families 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.

 

*Please turn off your cell phones and pagers. 

                                                                                  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

 

PRAYER REQUEST CARDS are in each pew rack as well as on the table in the back of the church. If you have a prayer request, please fill out the card and place it in the basket on the table in the back of the church and those needs and names will be given to the person giving the morning prayer and will be included that day.

PRAYER CARD REQUESTS: Dr. William Z. Nasri, Huck Reel – Ginny Reel’s husband, Joanne Neugebauer, Magdalene Molas- Crete Vandeval’s sister, Mom and two children, Caroline Seapker

THE CONGREGATION IS INVITED to take the white ribbons, prepared by the Worship Committee and passed out to you by the ushers, and wave them during the singing of the first and last hymns, as the Holy Spirit moves you.  Please hand them to the ushers as you exit the services this morning.

WE WISH TO THANK the members of the Northmont Chancel Choir, the Northmont Belles, the Kuyimba and Kids of the Kingdom choirs for making these services so special today. May all of the music be offered up to the Glory of the Risen Christ.

 

WE ALSO WISH TO THANK the brass ensemble for their participation in our Easter Services of Resurrection:  trumpets:  Tim Lucas, Scott Davis, Matt Fuchs, Logan Davis, trombones: Jeff Lucas, Lenny Lavelle, euphonium: Andy Goff.

 

FOLLOWING WORSHIP please join us for Fellowship Time following the service in Polley Fellowship Hall hosted by the Reach Out Committee.

REMINDER TO ALL GROUPS & COMMITEES: It is the responsibility of each group or committee using the church to be sure the church is totally locked and all lights are out before leaving the church if your group is the last group to leave the church!

CONGRATULATIONS to Eleanor Barton upon the birth of her granddaughter, Mia Evalyn Barton, who was born on Tuesday, March 27th in Philadelphia. Jeffrey and Lisa Barton are Mia’s parents.

 

OUR MEMBER OF SPECIAL CONCERN: Sandy Guckert – 370 Inwood Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 (412-366-6138)

WORSHIP ATTENDANCE: April 1: 8:30 - 145, 11:00 – 203, SON - 35

STEPHEN MINISTER Jan Baty will be making hospital calls this week. If you have a special request, please call her at 412-367-7973.

 

OUR STEPHEN MINISTRY program has placed blue and white cards in each pew rack entitled “A Great Way You Can Help a Hurting Friend.” Please read this card.

 

THE SON WORSHIP SPEAKER leading worship on April 15th is Rev. Don Ewing and on April 22nd is Chris Brown. There will be no SON service on Easter Sunday.

PIPER DEADLINE: April 13, 2007 is the deadline for the May 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.

TO BE REMEMBERED WITH CARDS AND PRAYERS:

        Ed Halboth, C/O Jim Bendel, 121 Hilton Road, Greensburg, PA 15601

       

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

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

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

          PFC Roach, Justin, C Co. 1st BN 17th IN Regt., Camp Taji, Unit Number 50102, APO AE 09378 –

              Jason Elizeus’s cousin

          SSG Jonathan Falk, A Co. 1-506 2nd Plt., Camp Corregidor, APO AE 09381 – Art & Lois Groweg’s

              Grandson

        Sgt. Glen P. Archey, HHT 2-17 CAV (S3), 101st ABN Div., APO AE 09335 – nephew of Ed & Pat

               Scullion (prayers only until further notice)

 

BULLETIN DEADLINES have changed. Your bulletin announcements are due in the church office the Sunday before the Sunday you would like to have your announcement published in the bulletin!

AS THE BUTTERFLY BURSTS ITS PRISON of the cocoon, so the butterfly banners used in the morning’s services represent symbols of the new life that is now ours through the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We wish to thank Ross Holtgraver and Adam Reckless who carried these banners this morning.

THE RESURRECTION CROSS IN THE CHURCH YARD is waiting to receive your flowers this morning.  This is a wonderful symbol of life reborn.  It uses one of God’s great achievements in natural beauty – the flower – to remind us of His power to create, recreate, and resurrect. Children and adults are encouraged to participate, and parents have a natural opportunity to explain the cornerstone of our Faith, Christ’s resurrection, to their children. The beauty of our cross adorned with flowers is enjoyed by all who pass by!

 

HELP REV. EWING GET TO KNOW US. Please wear your nametag!

 

2007 DIRECTORIES are now available in the church office today or during normal office hours. We ask for a $1.00 donation to help defray printing costs.

 

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 speaker is Mike Turzai.

BEACONS: Fellowship Time is our responsibility on April 15th. Any help would be appreciated. Please call Marilyn Brown at 412-766-6997 with what you are bringing, if you can help, serve, or clean up.

 

CALLING ALL SPECTRUM'S - please join us on Sunday, April 15 (following the 11:00 AM service) for brunch at the Taj Mahal, McKnight Rd.  Please RSVP by emailing Sherry and Barry at sherryandbarry@gmail.com.  We hope you will join us for Fellowship and brunch on April 15th.  HAPPY EASTER!

GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP: Samaritan Counseling Center, Inc. and Northmont’s Stephen Ministry Program, are co-sponsoring a six (6) week Grief Support Group.  The sessions will be held on Monday evenings beginning Monday, April 16, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in the Berean Room.  This program is co-led by Phil Jamison, M.Div., an experienced Bereavement Counselor and Gwen Spahr, a Northmont Stephen Minister.  The group meets for an hour and a half and will provide participants with information about the grieving process, managing your grief and emotional support.  There is no charge for this program, however, registration is a must. To register or if you have any questions, please call Gwen at 412-364-1850.

PASTOR NOMINATING COMMITTEE (PNC) would like to thank everyone for participating in the survey.  We are happy to report that 252 people took the survey which should give us a very good representation across Northmont's active membership.  PNC and session will be setting up an interpretation and readout with the group who administers the survey.  We hope to present the results of the survey sometime in May.  If you have any questions or additional input for PNC consider, please don't hesitate to contact any PNC member:  Bill Baierl, Sylvia Campbell, Jean Eckert, Andy Fraley, Bob Koehler, Jessica Molnar, Karen Reckless, Leonard Stewart, Christy Wenger.  Thank you again for your participation!

 

THE SEARCH COMMITTEE for Director of Family Ministries and Contemporary 
Worship continues to meet on a regular basis.  We are currently reviewing resumes
and will soon be interviewing candidates.  If you know of anyone who may be
interested in this position contact any of the members of the search committee
or access the church website for details. The members of the search committee
are Bill Baierl, Vicky Dellaquila, Nancy Garver, Bart Roberts, and
Bruce Sardon. Please remember that this search committee is for Director of Family
Ministries and Contemporary Worship, NOT the Pastoral Search Committee.

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.

PRODUCT OF THE MONTH FOR NORTH HILLS FOOD BANK: Month of April   – Cereal. 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

EVERY SUNDAY

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

EVERY WEDNESDAY

6:00-7:00 PM A women’s study: “I’m Too Young to be this Old?” led by Kathy Spitz and Liz Hamilton.

 

6:15-7:15 PM George and Barb Schweiger are leading a small group Bible study in the Library. The book, “Jesus’ Final Week,” is an 8-week Lenten series. All are welcome.

EVERY THURSDAY

Spirituality and Prayer: Thursday at 11 a.m. in the Berean Room. 

 

EVERY FRIDAY @ 6:30 PM: Family Friendly – Bring the kids! Bill Baierl 412-367-4693

 

ADULT BIBLE STUDY – 9:30 A.M.

ADULT BIBLE STUDY                                                                                      Malawi Room

NEXT WEEK: Acts 5:27-32; Ps. 118:14-29; or Ps. 150; Rev. 1:4-8; John 20:19-31

ADULT TOPICS CLASS                                                                                 Fellowship Hall

TODAY: Class will not meet today.

NEXT WEEK you will want to be with us as Dr. Ron Schafer, who recently returned from a trip to Egypt and the Middle East, begins a 3 week class on Islam. Currently presenting the same topic at Shadyside Presbyterian Church, Dr. Shafer will be examining the religion’s many facets and a very interesting few weeks can be anticipated.

FOUNDATIONS Led by Rev. Doyle Snyder                                                          Berean Room

We are considering how the Bible came to be and will soon look at introductions to each of the 66 books of Holy Scripture, which is our truly fascinating and very helpful treasure. Welcome.


 

 

 

* * * * *

Interim Pastor: Rev. Dr. Donald R. Ewing

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

Youth Director: Sean Kelly

                     Seminary Intern: Chris Brown

Office Manager: Linda Allerton

Church Secretary: Rose Dragan

Church Treasurer: Lynn Merriman

Custodian: Colin Baldwin, Jr.

Northmont Child Development and Preschool Center:

Director: Margot Plant and Assistant Director: Jan Moreland
                      Global Mission Partnerships with:
Our Mission Family currently serving in the Middle East
Michael & Rachel Weller Family serving in Ethiopia

* * * * * *


Week of April 8, 2007

 

Sunday, April 8  Psalm 143

7:15a Sunrise Service - Sanc.

7:45a Easter Breakfast - FH

8:30a Worship - Sanc.

9:30a Sunday School

11:00a Worship - Sanc.

6:30p AA - FH

 

Monday, April 9  Zech. 9:9-12

7:00p Boy Scouts - FH

Office Closed

 

Tuesday, April 10  2 Cor. 1:1-7

8:30a NBC - FH

9:30a Sarah Circle - MR

10:00a Staff Mtg. – Lib.

6:30p Staff Relations - BR

6:30p Youth Committee Mtg. - YL

7:30p Boy Scout Committee Mtg. - FH

7:30p Esther Circle - MR

 

Wednesday, April 11  Lam. 1:17-22

 9:30a Knitters - MR

 1:00p Stephen Leader Mtg. - Lib.

4:30p Roots - YL

4:30p Kids of the Kingdom – Wildwood

           Highlands

 7:15p Leadership Committee - Lib.

 7:30p Choir - WR

Pleasant Valley Shelter - PW

 

Thursday, April 12  Psalm 47

11:00a Spirituality & Prayer - BR

6:30p Cub Den Mtgs. - FH

7:00p Stewardship Committee Mtg. - Lib.

7:15p Stephen Ministry - BR

 

Friday, April 13   Acts 4:1-12

12:00p Piper Deadline

3:45p Belles - WR

7:00p Cub Committee Mtg. - MR

 

Saturday, April 14  Isa. 25:1-9

 

For the latest information, see www.my.calendars.net/northmontchurch. Contact Linda Allerton at (412) 364-0105 to add entries to church calendar. Meeting locations noted in weekly calendar view below: FH = Fellowship Hall, SANC = Sanctuary, LIB = Library, KIT = Kitchen, MR = Malawi Room, BR = Berean Room, YL = Youth Lounge, WR = Westminster Room, PS = Pastor’s Study, BSR = Bible Study Room