Order of Worship 1-28-24

SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY

3rd Sunday after Epiphany

January 28th, 2024; Ten Thirty in the morning

Minister: Reverend Aaron Ochart        

Liturgist: Mary Antill

Please silence all cell phones. 

Bold face indicates congregational participation.

✝ Please stand, in body or spirit

THE PEOPLE ARE GATHERED IN

PRELUDE “Ever Will I Praise”     J.S. Bach, arr. Geoffrey Edwards

✝PROCESSIONAL HYMN [GTG#415] 

Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy

1 Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,

weak and wounded, sick and sore;

Jesus ready stands to save you, full of pity, love, and power.

Refrain: I will arise and go to Jesus;

he will embrace me in his arms.

In the arms of my dear Savior, O there are ten thousand charms.

3 Come, ye weary, heavy laden, lost and ruined by the fall;

if you tarry till you’re better, you will never come at all. [Refrain]

WORDS OF WELCOME   

CALL TO WORSHIP       Ps. 111:1–2

ONE: Give thanks to God with your whole heart.

MANY: Great are the works of the Lord.

                                                   

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Jesus healer of mind and body, we sometimes suffer at the hands of physical,  mental, and spiritual ailments. Quiet our minds, still our hearts, and empower  our bodies so that we may be whole and healed. Amen.

✝HYMN [GTG#319] Shout To The North

  1. Men of faith rise up and sing of the great and glorious King.

You are strong when you feel weak; in your brokenness complete.     

Refrain: Shout to the north and the south, 

sing to the east and the west.

Jesus is savior to all, Lord of heaven and earth. 

  1. Rise up women of the truth. Stand and sing to broken hearts

who can know the healing power of our awesome King of love. (Refrain)

Bridge: We’ve been through fire; we’ve been through rain;

we’ve been refined by the power of your name.

We’ve fallen deeper in love with you. 

You’ve burned the truth on our lips. (Refrain)

  1. Rise up, church, with broken wings; fill this place with songs again

of our God who reigns on high; by God’s grace again we’ll fly.  (Refrain)

MESSAGE FOR THE CHILDREN                

 RESPONSE HYMN [GTG# 783] When we Are Tested

  1. When we are tempted to barter our souls,

trading the truth for the power to control,

teach us to worship and praise only you,

seeking your will in the work that we do.

REPENTANCE

CALL TO CONFESSION                                                                  

SILENT CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

God of glory, you sent Jesus among us as the light of the world, to reveal your love for all people. We confess that our sin and pride hide the brightness of your light. We turn away from the poor; we ignore cries for justice; we do not strive for peace. 

In your mercy, cleanse us of our sin, and pour out the gifts of your Spirit, that forgiven and renewed, we may show forth your glory shining in the face of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON                     

✝GLORIA PATRI [Blue#579[ [GTG581]     

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.

THE WORD READ AND PROCLAIMED

SCRIPTURE [Pew Bible NT 35 or 38]                                 Mark 5:1-20

They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him. He lived among the tombs; and no one could restrain him anymore, even with a chain; for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him; and he shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” For he had said to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” He begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now there on the hillside a great herd of swine was feeding; and the unclean spirits begged him, “Send us into the swine; let us enter them.” So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea.

The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came to see what it was that had happened. They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the legion; and they were afraid. Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. But Jesus refused, and said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.

ONE: The Word of the Lord

MANY: Thanks be to God

 

SERMON            “What is Your Name?”         the Rev. Aaron Ochart

 RESPONSE     

✝AFFIRMATION OF FAITH         Scots’ Confession

We confess and acknowledge one God alone, to whom alone we must cleave, whom alone we must serve, whom only we must worship, and in whom alone we put our trust. Who is eternal, infinite, immeasurable, incomprehensible, omnipotent, invisible; one in substance and yet distinct in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. By whom we confess and believe all things in heaven and earth, visible and invisible, to have been created, to be retained in their being, and to be ruled and guided by [God’s] inscrutable providence for such end as [God’s] eternal wisdom, goodness, and justice have appointed, and to the manifestation of [God’s] own glory.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

RECEIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY     “Ever Will I Praise”     J.S. Bach, arr. Geoffrey Edwards

✝ DOXOLOGY [GTG#606]

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

REMEMBRANCE OF BAPTISM 

ONE: The Lord be with you.

MANY: And also with you.

ONE: Lift up your hearts.

MANY: We lift them to the Lord.

ONE: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

MANY: It is right to give our thanks and praise

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever.  Amen

✝HYMN [BLUE#380] [GTG#793] O Christ, the Healer

1 O Christ, the healer, we have come

to pray for health, to plead for friends.

How can we fail to be restored

when reached by love that never ends?

2 From every ailment flesh endures

our bodies clamor to be freed;

yet in our hearts we would confess

that wholeness is our deepest need.

3 How strong, O Lord, are our desires,

how weak our knowledge of ourselves!

Release in us those healing truths

unconscious pride resists or shelves.

4 In conflicts that destroy our health

we recognize the world’s disease;

our common life declares our ills.

Is there no cure, O Christ, for these?

5 Grant that we all, made one in faith,

in your community may find

the wholeness that, enriching us,

shall reach the whole of humankind.

✝PARTING PRAYER

Everlasting God, the radiance of faithful souls, who brought the nations to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising: Fill the world with your glory and show yourself to all nations; through him who is the true light and the bright morning star, Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

✝CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

✝RESPONSE [*Blue#394][GTG#792] There is a Balm in Gilead                

There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole;

there is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.

POSTLUDE      There Is A Balm In Gilead arr. Jason Krug                             

*Note: the hymn lyrics in the bulletin and on the projection screen are from the Glory To God Hymnal (© 2013 Westminster John Knox Press), which we are transitioning to. Words in the “Blue” Presbyterian Hymnal (© 1990) in your pew may differ slightly.

Participating in today’s service are Rev. Aaron Ochart, Pastor; Louise Ochart, CE Leader; Kelly Cuppett, Music Director. Appreciation to Dennis Lauland. Mike Fortin, and David Garland for the video production of today’s service. 

The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by Permission. All Rights Reserved. 

STAFF

Church Office 504.888.1375   

Playschool Office           504.888.1378

The Reverend Aaron Ochart – Head of Staff

Louise Ochart – Christian Education Leader

Kelly Cuppett – Music Director

Lauren Crisler  – Playschool Director

Stephanie Galliano – Playschool Admin. Asst.

For more information, visit our website at www.JohnCalvinChurch.org

 or find us @JohnCalvinMetairie on



Announcements 1-28-24

 Announcements:

CLOTHING DRIVE: We are doing a clothing drive for Program of Hope. We are looking only for these specific items: men’s t-shirts and sweatshirts size XL or larger, men’s pants, and men’s shoes. We will be collecting clothing until Jan 31st when we will have a sorting party. 

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING: We will have a congregational meeting on February 4th to elect new Elders.

PROGRAM OF HOPE: We will be making lunches and serving at Program of Hope in February. Please join us on February 6th, 12th, 20th and 27th at 2:00 PM to make sandwiches and assemble lunch bags. Then join us on Wednesdays in February at First Presbyterian Church to serve at Program of Hope. See Sue, Richard, or Sharon for more details.

DEVOTIONALS FOR LENT AND EASTER: Get yourself ready for Lent by ordering your devotional now. Here is this week’s suggestion: Pause: Spending Lent with the Psalms by Elizabeth F. Caldwell. The season of Lent encourages Christians to consider a different pace—one of slowing down, noticing, pausing—than what our dominant culture values. The invitation to pause with the Psalms begins on Ash Wednesday, starting with a mark of ashes on our foreheads that reminds us that in spite of our failures—things we have done or failed to do—we belong to God. Readers are then guided into an exploration of Psalm 51 and the theme of a clean heart. Each chapter helps readers to connect an image drawn from that psalm, such as paths, faces, blessing, tables, waiting, thanksgiving, listening, being alone or abandoned, and hands, with their own lives. At the close of each chapter, readers are invited to try a different prayer practice to help them continue to reflect on the theme and psalm each day. This intentional engagement—without feeling burdensome—opens just enough space and time for a creative spiritual practice to flourish, sustaining the life of faith during the Lenten season in ways that can make a difference in God’s world.

CANTATA REHEARSALS COMING SOON: Would you like to be a part of the choir for a short time frame? Join the Palm Sunday Cantata Choir! Join us Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM starting February 7th (no rehearsal on Ash Wednesday). The Cantata will be on March 24th at the 10:30 Worship Service with a dress rehearsal on March 23rd. Music reading not required; learning tracks will be provided.

MONTHLY FOOD PANTRY DONATION: Each month we are asking you to Donate one or two items to the food pantry each week. This month we are asking for Proteins including canned chicken, tuna, SpaghettiOs pasta, pasta sauce, and soups. If you prefer to donate a small amount of money just mark it for the food pantry and we will shop for you.




ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announcement 2-4-24

 Announcements: 

SOUPER BOWL OF CARING: This week we are collecting for the Super Bowl of caring. This money will go to our own food pantry. We have been blessed to serve many people in our community through our food pantry, gas cards, and grocery cards. Please consider giving generously to this wonderful mission. 

PROGRAM OF HOPE: We will be making lunches and serving at Program of Hope in February. Please join us on February 6th, 12th, 20th and 27th at 2:45 PM to make sandwiches and assemble lunch bags. Then join us on Wednesdays in February at First Presbyterian Church to serve at Program of Hope. See Sue, Richard, or Sharon for more details.

BOOKS FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH: As we enter black history month now is a great time to recommit ourselves to understanding and supporting the call for racial Justice and Healing.This month we will be recommending books that can help us on that journey. All book are available on the PCUSA store.   No Innocent Bystanders: Becoming an Ally in the Struggle for Justice by Shannon Craigo-Snell and Christopher J. Doucot The struggle for justice is ongoing. In answering the biblical call to act justly and love mercifully, can Christians cross lines of privilege to walk humbly not only with God but with their marginalized neighbors as well? No Innocent Bystanders looks at the role of allies in social justice movements and asks what works, what doesn’t, and why. It explains what allies legitimately can accomplish, what they can’t, and what kind of humility and clarity is required to tell the difference.

This book is a start-up guide for spiritual or religious people who are interested in working for social justice but don’t know how or where to begin. Drawing on the lessons of history, the framework of Christian ideas, and the insights of contemporary activists, it offers practical guidance on how to meaningfully and mindfully advocate alongside all who struggle for a more just society.

CANTATA REHEARSALS: Join us Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM starting February 7th (no rehearsal on Ash Wednesday). The Cantata will be on March 24th at the 10:30 Worship Service with a dress rehearsal on March 23rd. Music reading not required; learning tracks will be provided.

THANK YOU: The PW wishes to express their appreciation to the Session for all the hard work they do to keep the church running. 

MONTHLY FOOD PANTRY DONATION: Each month we are asking you to Donate one or two items to the food pantry. This month we are asking for Dippers of all sizes (both adult and child), feminine products, tooth Brushes, tooth paste, soap, and hair products. If you prefer to donate a small amount of money just mark it for the food pantry and we will shop for you.