First Reformed Church of Scotia

September 7, 2014

OUR LIFE OF WORSHIP & TODAYÕS EVENTS

WELCOME .  .  . Welcome to our worship of God this morning.

After the 10:00 service all are invited to juice on the plaza for fellowship and conversation.  We thank the Eberles for hosting our fellowship hour today.

FLOWERS . . . The flowers in the sanctuary were given by The Schaefers in celebration of their sonÕs birthday.  Brian, your family sends you good thoughts for you on your birthday.

RESTROOMS .  .  . There is one restroom just off the narthex.  Others are through the door on the right hand side of the sanctuary -- then to the left, or down the long hall to the right.

LISTENING DEVICES .  .  .  are available for the hard of hearing.  Speak to an usher if you would like to try one.

LARGE-PRINT BULLETINS . . . are available for both the 8:00 and 10:00 services.  Speak to an usher if you would like one.

CHILDRENÕS BULLETINS  .  .  .  are available in two formats, ages 3 to 6, and 7 to 12.

LEADING AT 8:00                           LEADING AT 10:00

Greeting: Phil Davis                          Greeting: Tim and Sheila Dort

The Rev. Craig Hoffman, Preaching      Ushers: Paul Munson, Sue Alibozek,

Justan Foster, Organist                          Brad Coryer, Pete Lewis

                                                      Sanctuary Choir, Rebecca Shepherd, Director;

                                                         Judson Hoffman, Trumpet

                                                      Justan Foster, Organist

                                                      The Rev. Craig Hoffman, Preaching

SANCTUARY FLOWERS . . .  You can enhance our worship by providing flowers for the sanctuary.  You may place flowers in honor or in memory of someone or some event special to you.  Several fall dates are still available.  To find out more or to reserve a Sunday, please call our administrative assistant, Kristen Shave, during office hours at 370-4751.

NURSERY .  .  .  Our nursery for children through three years of age is the first room on the right after leaving the front of the sanctuary.  It is staffed from 9:30 to 11:30.  Nursery Director, Diana Ackner, coordinates volunteers, and leads regular Bible stories and prayers.  We ask that a parent stay with babies younger than six months old.

8:00 GREETERS . . .  are needed to welcome worshippers.  It's an easy way to help your church extend hospitality.  Sign up on the clipboard in the narthex after 8:00 worship.

MUSIC AT FIRST REFORMED CHURCH . . . Our church is blessed with musical talent and leadership.  Here are opportunities for you to support our worship and make music with others.  Our choirs and ensembles are open to members and friends of the church alike.

¥  Sanctuary Choir: This choir is for high school, college and adult singers.  Anthems are rehearsed far enough in advance so even non-readers can learn them.  The Sanctuary Choir rehearses in the sanctuary on Thursday evenings at 7:15.  ThereÕs plenty of time for you to join.  Call Director Rebecca Shepherd, 393-9862, to find out more.

¥  Youth Music: This program year weÕre going to musically involve our younger members in two different ways.  Music will be a regular part of our Children in Worship and rotation Sunday School classes.  From time to time these learners will share their music with us during our after-worship coffee hours.

K through 8th grade singers will begin meeting in October to learn music for Thanksgiving Sunday, November 23, and for a Christmas Eve pageant.  Watch for the time and place for the rehearsals.  Call John Hoffman, 727-2626, or Judson Hoffman, 399-3823, or Rebecca Shepherd, 393-9862, to find out more.

¥  Morning Bell Choir: This bell choir for adult ringers rehearses Thursday mornings from 9:00 to 10:00 in the Bell Room beginning September 25.  This group has a special ministry to local nursing homes and adult care facilities.  It is especially suited for new ringers.  Call Director Terry Paulson, 374-0004, to find out more.

OUR LIFE OF CHRISTIAN GROWTH

SUNDAY SCHOOL BEGINS TODAY . . .  We are pleased to begin another great year learning GodÕs way.  Students ages 4 through Grade 12 are welcome to join in our classes following the childrenÕs sermon today.  Children from birth to age 3 are encouraged to join the Little Lambs program in our nursery.  Registration forms are available in every classroom, outside the church office and electronically.  See Coordinator of Christian Living, Kristin Bodden, frcskbodden@verizon.net, for more information.

á  LITTLE LAMBS .  .  .  Nursery Director Diana Ackner will lead our littlest ones through Bible story time and guided play in Room 14 (Nursery).

á  CHILDREN & WORSHIP . . .  Joanna Clark will lead our 4 year olds through 2nd graders in a peaceful introduction to Bible stories and worship in Room 9 upstairs.

á  ROTATION .  .  .  Kristin Bodden will lead a gathering for grades 3-8 in Room 1 off Brink Hall for an introduction to this yearÕs themes.  The focus this Fall will be ÒThe ChurchÓ.

á  SENIOR HIGH .  .  .  Sunny Baldwin and Bob Baldwin will lead our High School students grades 9-12 using a new Sparkhouse ReForm program initiating connections to our faith.  They will meet downstairs in Room 12 (Youth Room).

WEDNESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDIES .  .  .  Starting Wednesday, September 24 Pastor Craig Hoffman offers a series of Wednesday morning Bible studies.  This fall Craig will lead attendees in studying and reflecting on our Sunday morning lectionary texts.  Craig will introduce the lessons for the week ahead and present background material.  Class members will reflect together on the textsÕ meaning for our lives and for the church today.  Two sessions will be offered each Wednesday morning: the first from 6:30 to 7:30 in Memorial Lounge, the second from 12:15 to 1:30 in the Lakehill Room.  Bring a brown bag lunch to the noontime session.

KERYGMA PSALMS SERIES .  .  .  This fall we are thrilled to bring back Heather Kramer for a Kerygma series entitled, Discovering The Psalms; The Passion, Promise and Praise.   This series will begin Wednesday, September 24 at 7:15 in the evening and will run through November 5.  Books are $20; assistance may be available.  Sign up on the bulletin board outside of Pastor CraigÕs office.

NEW MEMBERS CLASS .  .  .  Pastors Craig and Jan Hoffman and our Board of Elders offer a series of new member orientation classes Sundays from 11:30 to 12:15 in the Lakehill Room, October 5, 12, and 19.  Speak to either one of them to find out more.

YOUTH GROUP LEADER . . . We are delighted to announce that our own Maggie Busman has agreed to be our new Youth Group Leader.  Maggie will be working in the Anthropology Department at Union College, and coaching JV field hockey at Scotia-Glenville this fall.  She begins her work with our youth on Sunday, September 28.  High school students and family adults are invited at 12:15 in Room 1 for a simple lunch, a time of meeting and making plans.  Bring your calendars and ideas!  And bring a friend.

ADVENT DEVOTIONAL COLLABORATIVE .  .  .  Our Christian Education Council is publishing an Advent Devotional that will provide daily devotions written by people in our congregation.  It will be available prior to Advent, and will be a wonderful guide through the season.  David Walsh is our DevotionalÕs editor and will be seeking authors for daily passages.  We hope you will be a part of this creative opportunity! Watch for details.  Sign up on the bulletin board outside of Pastor CraigÕs office.

OUR LIFE AS A COMMUNITY OF FAITH

ABOUT OUR PEOPLE .  .  .

á  Mr. Gordon Wood has returned to the Scotia Mansion.

á  Mr. Jerry Hamm has been transferred to Glendale Nursing home for rehabilitation therapy.

á  Mr. Myron Hermance is a patient in Albany Medical Center.

á  Mrs. Pat Waters is a patient at Ellis Hospital.

CAREGIVERS  .  .  .  meet monthly from 11:30 – 12:45 in Memorial Lounge.  We next meet Tuesday, September 16.  This group supports those caring for family members or friends.  All are welcome to join this support group – bring a friend.  Please continue to read No Act of Love is Ever Wasted.  If you need a copy, see Pastor Jan.

DUTCH FAIR .  .  .  This yearÕs Dutch Fair is Saturday, September 20, from 9:00 to 3:00.  Justan Foster, 965-2389, and Tracy Swearingen, 944-8794, are this yearÕs chairmen.  We still need volunteers, so call them and tell them youÕd like to help out.  Or call one of the following booth chairpersons.  This year we give the first $5,000 of our Dutch Fair income to Schenectady City Mission, the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY, and new RCA missionary, JJ TenClay, Naples, Italy, who works with immigrants and refugees.  The rest weÕll use to help maintain and improve our buildings and grounds. 

PLEASE NOTE:  DONATION CUT-OFF DATE WAS THIS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5.

BOOTH                               CHAIRPERSON

á  Book Nook                        Ellen Schultz, 399-6029

á  Kiddie Fair                        Kristin Bodden, 703-1327

We need youth to help run the games! Call Kristin if you can help out.

á  Jewelry                             Marge Almy, 372-0951

á  Next to New Clothing         Becky Penn, 928-4007

á  Toy Shop                          Marty Gilgore, 393-8329

                                       Linda Naumowicz, 399-1366

á  White Elephant                  Jane Lansing, 372-6082

á  Cider & Donuts                  James and Sarah Hoffmann, 381-4689

á  Home and Garden                Fern Lee, 557-2070

á  Silent Auction                   Dorothy Horstkotte, 374-8105

á  GiffyÕs BBQ                      Natalie Monaghan, 399-1102

Dinners cost $10.00 per chicken meal, $17.50 for ½ rack of baby back ribs meal.  (Rib meals ONLY available as pre-sales.)  Get advance tickets during coffee hour today from Paul or Paul Munson, from the church office during the week, or from Mail ÔnÕ More on Route 50 in Burnt Hills.

á  Bake Sale

We need everyone who can to bake something.  We always sell out!  Bring your baked goods to the church office on Friday before the fair. 

á  Publicity                           Mike DeMasi, 371-1667

Help us get the word out.  Pick up some Dutch Fair posters from the narthex or from the church office.  Post them where you can, or put them in the back side windows of your car.

COFFEE HOUSE . . . Join us on Sunday, September 28, for a coffee house in Brink Hall during coffee hour, from 11:30 -12:15.  We will enjoy musicians and poets who have been invited to share their God-given talents with us.  This is an experiment to include a variety of Christian performers in our fellowship, both as a way of including others and a way of providing a variety of music styles, particularly for our youth.  Want to know more?  See Tracy Swearingen or Kristin Bodden.

WEST POINT ORGANIST CONCERT  .  .  .  In honor of the first anniversary of our Selke Memorial Organ, we will host an organ concert on Sunday afternoon, October 5 at 4:00 featuring Mr. Craig S. Williams.  Mr. Williams is the Organist and Choirmaster of the Cadet Chapel at West Point, where he plays the worldÕs largest church organ and directs the Cadet Chapel Choir.  He is the fourth organist to hold that position since the Cadet Chapel was erected in 1910.  This concert is made possible by a gift from Allen Organ Studios of Glenville, NY and Church Organist Justan Foster.  Please come to enjoy an afternoon of wonderful music!

LABYRINTH DEDICATION .  .  . Now that our church labyrinth is complete and ready to use, we would like to celebrate it! We will be planning a dedication ceremony this fall.  Be on the look out for dates and times for this special event.

MEMORIAL LOUNGE GLASS CASES .  .  .  See the NEW ByerÕs Choice collectibles figures, depicting the fall harvest, on one side of the case.  Some of our Dutch memorabilia are in the other side of the glass case.

OUR LIFE OF SERVICE TO THE WORLD

SEPTEMBERÕS MISSION OF THE MONTH . . . is the Samaritan Counseling CenterÕs Care Fund which supplements clientÕs fees and insurance coverage.  The Care Fund enables the Counseling Center to make up the difference between what insurance covers or what clients pay and what it actually costs to maintain the center.  The Samaritan Counseling Center is an important part of our congregationÕs ministry.  Learn more at www.samaritancounselingcenter.org.   For an appointment, call 374-3514.

OctoberÕs Mission of the Month is the Schenectady City Mission.

SAVE THE DATE! . . . Monday, October 6 is the CRTC annual Fall Celebration at the Glen Sanders Mansion.  Guest Speaker is the new Roman Catholic Bishop of Albany, Fr. Edward Scharfenberger.  Tickets cost $90 and are available through the website, crtc.org or by calling the CRTC office, 462-2470.

THE SCOTIA FOOD PANTRY .  .  . The basket in the Narthex receives our weekly food donations for the Scotia Food Pantry.  Note:  The Scotia Pantry does not need Enfamil or baby food.  Please add the "food of the week" to your shopping list to share with others.  The pantry always needs dry mixes (tuna helper, potato and noodle dishes).   We thank Kristen and Bill Shave for delivering our donations to the food pantry this month.  Would you like to volunteer to bring food donations down to the food pantry?  Call the church office, and we will add you to the list of helpers.

FOOD OF THE WEEK FOR SEPTEMBER 14:

JUICE BOXES

THE CONSISTORY OF FIRST REFORMED CHURCH OF SCOTIA

Ministers of Word and Sacrament

The Rev. Craig Hoffman

The Rev. Jan Hoffman

Elders                                                             Deacons

Russ Garrison (14)                                            Chris Bodden (14)*

Pam Walsh (14)*                                              Mike Carpenter (14)*

Diane Faubion (15)                                           Pete Lewis (15)

David Schalekamp (15)                                      Beth Vaccaro (15)

Karl Griffith (16)                                              Bill Monaghan (16)

Don Schermerhorn (16)                                      John Pierce Jr. (16) *

An * indicates a person's second term

THIS WEEKÕS CALENDAR

Sunday, September 07

   8:00      Worship, The Rev. Craig Hoffman, preaching

 10:00      Worship, The Rev. Craig Hoffman, preaching

 10:30      Sunday School

11:15      Coffee and Fellowship, Brink Hall

Monday, September 08

   7:15      Consistory Meeting, Memorial Lounge

Tuesday, September 09

   7:15      Stephen Ministry Meeting, Memorial Lounge

Thursday, September 11

   7:00      Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary

Sunday, September 14

   8:00      Worship, The Rev. Craig Hoffman, preaching

 10:00      Worship, The Rev. Craig Hoffman, preaching

 10:30      Sunday School

11:15      Coffee and Fellowship, Brink Hall