Service – 9:00 AM November 13, 2011

Scripture Reading:1 Chronicles 17:1-14 click to read at Biblegateway.com.

Message: by Jim Hardman, Lakeview Presbyterian Church in Vernon Hills, IL

1 Chronicles 17:1 After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent.” 2 Nathan replied to David, “Whatever you have in mind, do it, for God is with you.” 3 That night the word of God came to Nathan, saying: 4 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in. 5 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from one tent site to another, from one dwelling place to another. 6 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their leaders whom I commanded to shepherd my people, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”‘ 7 “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel. 8 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name like the names of the greatest men of the earth. 9 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 10 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies. “‘I declare to you that the LORD will build a house for you: 11 When your days are over and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. 14 I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever.'”

Service Order for 9:00AM Sunday, November 6, 2011
Nemmers Family Chapel at Advocate Condell

Call to Worship/Welcome

Worship in song provided by the Village Church of Gurnee and Joy! Lutheran Church

• “How Great is Our God”  (Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, Ed Cash)
• “Awesome God” (Rich Mullins)
• “Our God Saves”  (Paul Baloche, Brenton Brown)

Scripture reading 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

• “His Strength is Perfect” (Steven Curtis Chapman, Jerry Salley)

Scripture reading Philippians 4:11-13

Message:  God is Our Deliverer–In the Life of David by the Rev. Jason Richard Tan

1 Samuel 17:23-50

Response “How He Loves Us” (David Crowder Band )

Benediction

Service Order for 9:00AM Sunday, October 30, 2011
Nemmers Family Chapel at Advocate Condell

Call to Worship/Welcome

Hymn # 37  Great is Thy Faithfulness

Scripture reading Romans 8:28-39

Blessings (words and music by Laura Story) performed by Barbara Hunt (sign language of worship), sung by Kat Metzger, both of Christ Church Lake Forest; and accompanied by Sara Pogue of Christ Church Highland Park.

Message:  “WE HAVE A REDEEMER!” from the story of Ruth, presented by The Rev. Patricia Handley

Ruth: 1:1-27, 4:13-22  Matthew 6:25-34

1. Sometimes it is difficult to believe the promises of God in His Word for ourselves. How do you respond to the amazing words of Paul in our Scripture reading today of Romans 8:28-39?
2. Can you believe those words are true for you too, or do you believe there are some things which can separate you from the love of God? If so, what might those things be? Can you hand them over to Him?
3. In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 6, Jesus tells us we are not to worry, that we cannot add one day to our life by worrying. Do you find encouragement or comfort from those words? If so, how might they help you today?
4. Do you find any parallels between your current life circumstances and the story of Naomi Ruth and Boaz?
5. In the beautiful story of Naomi and Ruth, in what ways might you find meaning for the idea of God as your Redeemer?
6.  God wants us to know Him personally as not only the One who gave us life, who desires to be in relationship with us, as the One who redeems us, but also as our Lord and Savior. Is this, the “Good News of the Gospel” easy or difficult for you to believe? Why?

——

Response In Christ Alone

Benediction

It’s the end of the season–the last of the glories of 2011.  There’s something sentimental about the last of the best from a season gone by and preparing to close the book on another year’s gardening.  As we go from October to November, I want to finish well.

How do I ripen green tomatoes?  I picked the last of this year’s tomatoes and placed them into a cardboard box to ripen.  They don’t need light to ripen, but a little boost of additional natural ripening agent called ethylene goes a long way in helping them to develop fully.  I used an apple as my source of ethylene since bananas, often recommended, attract fruit flies way too easily and turn brown way too quickly.  You can see the apple, the Black Krim, Green Zebra, Early Girl, and Northern Lights easily as they rest upon layers of newspaper in a cardboard box.  I closed up the box, placed it in an out-of-the-way location until they began to develop colors like this.  I remove the ripened tomatoes as their color becomes characteristic of their varieties.  I don’t want them to over-ripen since one rotten tomato spoils the whole bunch really quickly.

Eventually, almost all of the tomatoes turned color and were suitable for eating.  I may have lost 2 or 3 to a lesion on the fruit, but most were perfect for roasting in the oven with olive oil, onion, garlic, salt and pepper.   The flavor of fresh tomatoes ripened off the vine is never quite as intense as those ripening on the vine in the heat of July, but oven roasting them intensifies the flavor by evaporating away much of the water that most fruits contain in large quantities.  Freezing the mixture allows me to have a happy remembrance of summer on some cold winter night.  It tastes particularly good as seafood cioppino.  The last of the garden tomatoes sees a happy ending as a bit of Italian heaven.

I pause long enough to enjoy the last of the outdoor bloomers.  Some flowers are at their height of glory during the crisp days of fall.  Japanese Anemone, Aconitum, Asters, and Sedum are showstoppers with their floral display at this season.

Even the colorful foliage of some plants can take your breath away.  My ‘Burgundy Cotton’ crape myrtle turns an intense red-orange that simply cannot be beat and makes it worth overwintering this plant in my garage.  I fed it for the last time a month ago with a “winterizer” fertilizer.  With its higher potassium (K) ratio, it prepares the plant to go dormant.  I avoid high nitrogen fertilizers on everything but houseplants this time of year.  I want to keep my plants from staying active and growing new leaves.  Instead, I want them to think about their roots, going dormant, and staying alive through the winter.  The root system of my crape myrtle can survive down to freezing, so I leave it outdoors until we start to experience frosts.  This actually helps to convince the plant to enter dormancy.

I’m trying again with my mandevilla vine, treating it the same way.  I’ve not had much success in the past, so I’m going to try using the same approach with this as I’ve found helpful with my hibiscus (another zone 8-9 plant).  Perhaps this year, there will be survival–a welcome alternative–and another plant kept alive through the winter.  Gardening is often a matter of trial and error: you win some, you lose some…inevitably.

I know what works with my roses and hydrangeas.  It’s still too early though to prepare them for winter.  My collection of potted roses, garden roses, and my marginally hardy hydrangeas (including Nikko Blue) need special winter protection in my area.  But this must wait until we’ve had a few hard frosts.  These eager growers are stubborn about giving in to a good winter’s rest.  The hard frosty nights produce frost resembling a thin layer of snow, and I’m waiting for this necessary occurrence before I can prepare these outdoor plants for winter.

My supplies are on hand and I’m ready to dress these plants for survival.  I have bags of mini-pine bark nuggets which pour even if frozen a bit.  These will be used to cover the graft union of the roses.  My trench is prepared in my compost pile in the back woods.  It’s filled with leaves at present.  I also have paper yard waste bags filled with leaves that will surround my cold sensitive hydrangeas after they drop their leaves.  I am all prepared, waiting for the hard frosts to come.  I will do an update showing how to overwinter roses and hydranges in a week or two.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: 

a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

Service Order for 9:00AM Sunday, October 23, 2011
Nemmers Family Chapel at Advocate Condell

Leading worship today are members of the choir from Libertyville Covenant Church

Welcome/ opening prayer –

Call to Worship

“Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah” (Hymn #448)

Prayer of Confession

Assurance of Pardon

Scripture Reading – selected verses from Exodus 13:17- 15:2

Choir Anthem “Saints Bound for Heaven”

Prayer for Illumination –

Message (a dramatic presentation)—Seeing God’s Deliverance in the Hard Places

• Sometimes God lets us experience the hard places so that we’ll cry out for deliverance.
• Between a rock and a hard place is often where God does His best work.
• When we’re between a rock and a hard place and are squeezed, it brings doubt and worry to the surface so God can dispel it
• Doubt and worry serve to remind us that with man, things are impossible, but with God, all things are possible!
• When God has delivered us, the only right response is to praise Him.

“O, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” (Hymn # 90)

Choral benediction

Service Order for 9:00AM Sunday, October 16, 2011
Nemmers Family Chapel at Advocate Condell

Leading worship today is Jeremy Woods, Crossroads Church

Invocation

Worship Song — You Never Let Go (Matt Redman)

OT Readings — Genesis 15:12-14, Psalm 102

Prayer for World Missions — Prayer for Romania

NT Reading — Hebrews 11:23-28

Worship Song — You Are My All in All (Jesus, Lamb of God)

Message — God Hears Our Cry by Jeremy Woods

Brief Introduction to the text:
God’s promise to Abraham included a promise that there would be a period of slavery in a foreign land, and that the nation would be judged and his people would be delivered (Gen 15:13-14). Thus, it is no surprise that they have ended up in Egypt. Many years after Joseph, the people of Israel were enslaved and cried out to the Lord.

There are three major movements of Exodus 2-12:
Movement I: The Birth of Moses (2:1-10)
There was great faith in the mother of Moses, who preserved Moses’ life through the basket. The Lord also used the midwives’ actions to preserve life, as well as Pharaoh’s daughter who took pity on the child. In situations that seem hopeless, it is good to know that we have a God who is able to do all things well.

Movement II: Moses in the Wilderness (2:11-4:17)
Moses questions his call from God, and does not think that God has chosen the right person. Yet God tells him not to rely on his own power, but rather on the power of God. Have we questioned our calling? Perhaps God is using us as instruments in answering the cries of others. The most amazing thing is that God chooses to use us for his kingdom purposes!

Movement III: Moses Returns to Egypt (4:18-12:51)
Initially, the Israelites were overjoyed that God sent Moses to deliver them. But Pharaoh’s initial reaction of increased labor changed their minds quickly. Moses again questioned his calling, but God is faithful to his promises, and encourages Moses. God then acts mightily through Moses by afflicting Egypt with ten plagues. The final plague is the most significant one. God promises to rescue Israel through the blood of the Passover, smeared on the doorposts of their houses. This event looks forward to a final Passover sacrifice: Jesus Christ, who died to make atonement for the sins of his people. God has ultimately heard our cry for salvation, and he has sent his Son on our behalf. Have we cried out to Jesus for deliverance?

Closing Meditation — Just As I Am (Poem by Charlotte Elliot, 1835)

Benediction

The Nemmers Family Chapel
Advocate Condell Hospital
Order of Service for the Worship of God for October 9, 2011
First Presbyterian Church of Libertyville
Presiding – The Rev. Dr. Brian R. Paulson

 A Word of Welcome — Deacon Holland
Opening Sentences of Scripture — Dr. Paulson

Come to me, all you that are weary And are carrying heavy burdens,  And I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28

 The Lord is my light and my salvation Whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?  Psalm 27:1

Opening Hymn (#344)– Be Thou My Vision SLANE
The Call to Confession —Dr. Paulson
Prayer of Confession —Deacon Jepsen
(Rachel Henderlite ~ The first woman ordained as a minister in the Presbyterian Church: 1905-1991)

 We come to You, O Christ, confessing to You the fears that twist our  lives and keep us from the inner calm and peace that come from You:  The fear of ourselves, that we cannot do what is expected of us;  The fear of being found out for our littleness and pride in ourselves;  The fear of being left out when joy and richness come to others;  The fear of not being ready when opportunities present themselves  for service;  The fear of death, that when it comes out time to die,  we shall not have done the things we would have done, because we were afraid to venture out.  We find ourselves shrinking back before the unknown,  wanting assurance where we must have faith;  We find ourselves hesitating to follow You, O Christ, afraid the cost may be too great, and life may pass us by.  Give us the strength and peace that only You can give. Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness–Dr. Paulson 

Summary of the Law (sung)  

Prayer for Illumination–Deacon Holland

Guide us, O God, by your Word and Holy Spirit, That in your light we may see light, In your truth find freedom, And in your will discover your peace; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Reading of Scripture

Genesis 39:20-41:40

Solo— My Shepherd Will Supply My Need Virgil Thompson– Robert Orth, baritone

Sermon

Transforming Dreams Dr. Paulson

Notes:

• Steadfast Love–Regardless of our circumstance, God is ever beside us with eternal strength and love that never fails.
• On Being Forgotten–Even the most stalwart spiritual giants have known a sense of abandonment. – It can be an occasion that forges the strength of your spirit.
• Caretaking the Dreams of Others–Dreams are an undeniable gift in the prison places of life.  You can find purpose even in the hidden places.
• Allowing Meaning to Come from God–Resist the temptation to control your process of spiritual discovery
• Wisdom Drawn from the Steadfast Love of God–The steadfast love and mercy of God never ceases and as we open our lives to that constancy, a wisdom is found to sustain us through every trial.

Solo–How Can I Keep from Singing? arr. G. Krumes 

Prayers of Thanksgiving, Intercession—Deacon Jepsen 

& Lord’s Prayer

(Gail A. Ricciuti and the Book of Common Worship, PCUSA)

For all things bright and beautiful, For all things dark and mysterious and lovely, For all things green and growing and strong, For all things weak and struggling to push life up through rocky earth, For all human faces, hearts, minds, and hands which surround us, And for all nonhuman minds and hearts, paws and claws, fins and wings, For this Life and the life of this world, For all that you have laid before us, O God, We lay our thankful hearts before you.  Faithful Healer of the sick, In your loving mercy, Embrace each person in this hospital during their time of need. Guide the nurses, doctors, And others who attend to each person here.  Use their skills to restore each one to health and joy.  By your power, great God, Our Lord Jesus healed the sick, And gave new hope to the hopeless.  Though we cannot command or possess your power, We pray for those who want to be healed.  Mend their wounds, soothe fevered brows, And make broken people whole again.  Help us to welcome every healing as a sign that, Though death is against us, You are for us, And have promised renewed and risen life In Jesus Christ the Lord, who taught us to pray as we join in saying…

Solo–The Lord’s Prayer A.H. Mallotte, Bob Orth, Baritone

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.

The Blessing– Deacon Holland
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord be kind and gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor
And give you peace.
~Numbers 6:24-26

Worship Leaders:
The Rev. Dr. Brian R. Paulson, Jane Orth, Robert Orth
Deacons: Maureen Jepsen, Gary Holland

Stephen Ministers are trained in care-giving for difficult situations or faith struggles.
Can you benefit? Contact Rev. Amy Heinrich at 847-362-2174

Service Order, October 2, 2011

Welcome and Prayer

Worship led by Kate Haslar and Michael Webb on guitar:
Come Thou Fount
Blessed Be Your Name

Reading of the Text: Gen 32:9-30 (ESV)

Sermon by Matthew Haslar: Jacob’s Deliverer

A Hymn of Response:
Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus

Benediction by Matthew Haslar

Sermon Outline/Guide:

Jacob’s Deliverer: Genesis 32:9-30

This story teaches us that we need to surrender to God, for he alone can deliver us.

I.  Jacob’s Prayer (32:9-12)
A.  To understand this text we need to know what has happened before:
1.  Before Jacob was even born he is promised by God to inherit a great blessing
2.  But from Jacob’s his birth he was known as deceiver and trickster
3.  Jacob deceives his family to try to gain God’s blessing for himself, but has to flee
4.  Under Laban, Jacob meets his own match in deception, but battles back
5.  Now his ways of trying to earn God’s blessings have backfired and he is trapped

B.  A closer look at Jacob’s prayer (mix of good and bad)
1.  Doesn’t address God as “my God” for he hasn’t fully surrendered himself
2.  But acknowledges God as the provider for his ancestors and good on his word as he appeals to God’s promise.
3.  Very real and honest as all good prayers are.

II.  Jacob’s Plan of Action (32:13-21)
A.  This plan shows a mixture of faith, fear and doubt
1.  Never inherently bad to plan and there is good stewardship in this
2. Jacob is giving back “the blessing” he stole from Esau
B.  Jacob is doing what he can, but this shows the gravity of the situation.
1.  God has Jacob exactly where he wants him- desperate.  Sometimes this is exactly what we need too.  God will do what it takes to get us to depend on him, but it is never too late to do so.

III.  Jacob’s Encounter With God (32:22-30)
A.  The wrestling match (22-26)
1.  The man is totally mysterious, the story doesn’t tell us too much to keep us in suspense.  What is happening?  Who is this?  You can’t escape a wrestling match; Jacob has to fight.
2.  The man has supernatural strength (v. 25) and wounds him–that means the fight should be over in a wrestling match.  But Jacob clings to his opponent, refusing to quit
B.  The new name and new blessing (27-30)
1.  So Jacob receives his blessing and his new name.  Names are clues to people’s characters in the Bible.  Jacob was a deceiver, but now his name is Israel which means “Strives with God” or “God strives (for)”
2.  Calls the place “Peniel” the face of God.  Normally seeing God’s face means death but God has delivered him anyway and Jacob knows surely then God will save him from this situation as well
C.  If we look forward
1.  God makes good on his promise; it’s a true miracle
2.  Jacob is forever changed.  Lives his life as Israel, says God is his God, and gives birth to a nation.

What does this mean for us?
Remember that God gave Jacob a promise, but has also given us a promise of his own: that all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved!  Like Jacob, many of us go through life trying to earn this promise of our own accord.  Sometimes it looks like we are succeeding; most times it is obvious we are not.  We cannot deliver ourselves, but must learn to trust in God.  Christ died for our sins and now we can turn to him for salvation!  The deliverer of Jacob who is always fulfills his promises is our deliverer too!