Welcome to worship at Northminster!

Thank you for worshipping with us today. If you are visiting with

us this morning we hope you feel the presence of God and the

hospitality of this congregation. If you have any questions about our

church please ask one of the pastors or a greeting host wearing a red

“Ask Me” badge.

SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

April 22, 2018

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* Those who are able, please stand.

Congregation responds in bold.

APPROACHING GOD

Please silence your cell phone before worship begins.

WELCOME Teri Thomas

PRELUDE Festival Voluntary Flor Peeters (1903-1986)

*CALL TO WORSHIP Stella Shannon

Faithful ones, sing praises to the Lord.

For God’s anger is but for a moment, God’s favor is for a

lifetime.

1660 Kessler Boulevard, East Drive

Indianapolis, IN 46220

317-251-9489

www.northminster-indy.org

God has turned our mourning into dancing;

God has clothed us with joy.

Let us praise the Lord and not be silent.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God!

*HYMN NO. 649 Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound

AMAZING GRACE

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION Isabel Ruegger

Creator God, hear us as we confess our sins and seek your

forgiveness.

In these moments, help us strip away all pretense so we may

know ourselves as you know us.

We confess the inner conflicts and fears that rob us of the full

life you make possible.

Help us to see unrest in our life not as something to run from,

but as a deep call to change and to grow.

Forgive us for all the ways we fall short of who you call us to

be.

Enable us to sense your life within our own that our joy may

be full.

*SILENCE FOR PERSONAL PRAYER AND REFLECTION

*DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS

Friends, because of God’s great love and rich mercy for all, you

are fully forgiven.

We will live as those who are truly loved and truly forgiven

through the gift of God’s grace.

*GLORIA John Weaver

*SHARING THE PEACE Lauren Robinson

The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

And also with you.

(Worshippers may greet one another with words of Christ’s peace.)

LISTENING FOR GOD’S WORD

CHILDREN’S TIME This Little Light of Mine Emily Zubler

(Children may be excused to go to Church School at this time.)

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

FIRST LESSON Acts 9: 1-9, 17-20 (Pg. 127)

PSALM 30 Hal Hopson

(9:00) Section Leaders

(11:00) Chancel Choir

GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 15: 21-28 (Pg. 17)

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

SERMON Welcome to the Family 2018 Confirmation Class

SILENCE FOR REFLECTION

RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD

*HYMN NO. 701 Sanctuary SANCTUARY

CONFIRMATION (11:00)

ANTHEM The 23rd Psalm Bobby McFerrin

(born 1950)

(9:00) Section Leaders

(11:00) Chancel Choir

The Lord is my Shepherd, I have all I need,

She makes me lie down in green meadows,

Beside the still waters, She will lead.

She restores my soul, She rights my wrongs,

She leads me in a path of good things, and fills my heart

with songs.

Even though I walk through a dark and dreary land,

There is nothing that can shake me,

She has said, She won’t forsake me, I’m in Her hand.

She sets a table before me, in the presence of my foes,

She anoints my head with oil, and my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and kindness will follow me all the days

of my life,

And I will live in Her house, forever and ever.

Glory be to our Mother and Daughter, and to the Holy of

Holies,

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,

world without end, Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

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.

OFFERING(Please sign the pew pad and pass it to your neighbor.)

OFFERTORY Fugue in C Major J. S. Bach

(1685-1750)

*DOXOLOGY LASST UNS ERFREUEN

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise God, all creatures here below. Alleluia! Alleluia!

Praise God, the source of all our gifts!

Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts!

Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

GOING FORTH

*HYMN NO. 853 We Are Marching in the Light of God

SIYAHAMBA

* BLESSING AND CHARGE

POSTLUDE (9:00) Toccata in E Minor Johann Pachelbel

(1653-1706)

CHORAL RESPONSE (11:00) Stay With Us Egil Hovland

(1924-2013)

Chancel Choir

Stay with us, Lord Jesus, stay with us.

Stay with us, it soon is evening.

Stay with us, Lord Jesus, stay with us, it soon is evening

and night if falling.

esus Christ, the world’s true light!

Shine so the darkness cannot overcome it!

Stay with us, Lord Jesus, it soon is evening.

Stay with us, Lord Jesus, for night is falling.

Let your light pierce the darkness and fill your church with its

glory.

Stay with us, Lord Jesus, stay with us.

Stay with us, it soon is evening.

Stay with us, Lord Jesus, stay with us, it soon is evening,

and night is falling.

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MUSIC IN WORSHIP

This morning the Chancel Choir sings Bobby McFerrin’s setting of

the 23rd Psalm. Sprinkled with feminine language, the piece is

dedicated to McFerrin’s mother, who was the “driving force” of his

religious and spiritual education. In composing the psalm, McFerrin

claims he had been reading the Bible and thinking about God’s

unconditional love. “I realized one of the ways we’re shown a

glimpse of how God loves us is through our mothers,” says

McFerrin. “They cherish our spirits, they demand that we become

our best selves, and they take care of us.”

Born in Manhattan, New York City, McFerrin is a song writer,

vocalist, jazz musician, conductor and music educator. His 1988 hit

“Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” received Grammy Awards for Best Song

and Record of the Year. A ten-time Grammy Award winner, he is

known for his unique vocal techniques, which include

improvisation, scat, polyphonic overtone singing and vocal

percussion, usually sung a cappella. He has collaborated with Chick

Corea, Herbie Hancock, Yo-Yo Ma and others. He has conducted

the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the

Cleveland Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Los

Angeles Philharmonic, the London Philharmonic, the Vienna

Philharmonic and many others.

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Last week the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Indianapolis

Symphonic Choir, and the Indianapolis Children’s Choir

participated in the 2018 SHIFT Festival of American Orchestras at

the Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington D.C. Just four

orchestras were invited for the event.

Northminster was well represented: Marko Petričić served as the

organist, Marilyn Baumgardt, Robbie Foote and Becky Peterson

sang in the choir, and Blake Schlabach played the trombone in the

orchestra.

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Worship Leaders:

Teri Thomas

Maureen Wilson

CONFIRMANDS AND THEIR MENTORS

Stella Shannon and Maureen Purcell

Lauren Robinson and Sally Gray

Isabel Ruegger and Gail Rothrock

Emily Zubler and Monica Brase

Please join in a celebration honoring the confirmands

at 10am in the Gathering Place.

To give by text message on a smartphone, text the amount you

would like to give to 317-316-3009. Our online giving system,

ShelbyNext, will then prompt you through a one-time set up for

giving.

What’s Next?

Sunday Worship

April 29 – Our scriptures talk about loving, gardening, and

baptizing.

May 6 – Communion will be celebrated. As we continue the

Easter Season we’ll focus on Jesus’ farewell discourse.

May 13 – 7th Sunday of Easter. Jesus’ farewell discourse

continues through the Gospel of John and the focus this week is

on prayer. What does Jesus ask when he prays for us? Bring

your mom to church today.

May 20 – DAY OF PENTECOST. Today is about the church, the

Spirit, flames, wind and more. Wear RED and join in the

celebration! We will honor graduates and recognize teachers.

May 27 – Trinity Sunday. This will be Marland’s last Sunday

with us and he will be preaching. Drop in before the Race.

Mission and Outreach

Habitat for Humanity Sign-Up – TODAY

Habitat for Humanity Build – April 28

Race for the Cure – April 28

Back to School Extravaganza – Washing and sorting of

clothing will begin in late May or early June

Events and Education

Fourth Sunday Adult Education – Painting the Stars, TODAY,

10am

Umoja Ministry Discussion with Kenyan Staff Members –

TODAY, 10am

Youth Fellowship – TODAY, 5:30pm

NorthStars Link Observatory Trip – April 24, 9am

Adult “Middlers” Dinner – April 28, 6pm.

Abrahamic Traditions Dinner – April 30, 6:30pm, FREE.

RSVP: cenk@niagarafoundation.org

Spring Plant Sale Pick-Up – Friday, May 4, until 6pm

Offering of Letters – May 6, 10am and Noon

Marland Pittman tells about his Reformation Tour in Germany

and Rome and a Civil Rights Tour in the South – May 6, 10am

NorthStars Tour of Richmond’s Tiffany Windows – May 9,

8:30am

Youth Fellowship – May 11, Movie Night

Sound & Spirit – The Tannahill Weavers in Concert – May 18,

7pm, FREE

Reception for graduates, Marland Pittman, and Cheryl

Plunkett – May 20, 10am

Youth Fellowship – May 20, 5:30pm

For more information, check out our website

(northminster-indy.org).

MINISTRY

Teri L. Thomas

Pastor

Ruth Chadwick Moore

Associate Pastor

John M. Wright

Director, Music Ministries

Cheryl Plunkett

Acting Director, Christian Education

Maureen Wilson

Acting Director, Youth Ministry and

Kids Club

Marko Petričić

Music Associate/Organist

Marland Pittman

Seminary Intern

Denise Harrington

Senior Ministry Consultant

Carol McDonald

Parish Associate

Barbara A. Sloop

Parish Associate

Carol Campbell

John Reed

Tony Dzwonar

Stephen Ministry Leaders

Donald R. Durrett

Associate Pastor Emeritus