Druid Hills Presbyterian Church welcomes you! DHPC calls everyone into Christian community to explore God’s purpose for our lives, celebrate God’s work in the world, and serve the needs of our neighbors.
Service for the Lord’s Day, November 17, 2024
GOD GATHERS US AROUND THE WORD
† You are invited to stand when you see this symbol.
PRELUDE
One Flock, One Shepherd
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
† CALL TO WORSHIP from Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel 2
Leader:My heart exults in the LORD; my strength is exalted in my God. I rejoice in my victory.
All: There is no Holy One like the Lord, no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.
The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength.
God raises up the poor from the dust; and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and on them God has set the world.
Let our hearts rejoice in the Lord!
Yes, let us worship God!
Gilbert M. Martin
CALL TO RECONCILIATION
UNISON PRAYER OF BROKENNESS
God of all grace, All that we are, all that we have, and all that we will become is a gift from you, Yet, we forget this. We assume that our time and talent are about and for us. We hoard our plenty while others do not have enough. We hold back from full commitment. Forgive us when we refuse your invitation, or fail to extend your grace and hospitality to others. Forgive us for our lack of courage, our idolatry of comfort, and our reluctance to venture forth in faith.
Send us forth, O God, according to your will and Christ’s way. Remind us of our high calling: to be the good stewards of your abundance, faithful caretakers of all that you have entrusted to us, and bold bearers of your generosity and grace in the world. Make us faithful with little, and also with much, that we may give ourselves as you did, wholly and completely, even unto the cross. Have mercy on us, and make us bearers of your mercy to the world. (time for silent reflection)
POURING OF BAPTISMAL WATER AND ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
† AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived of the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
† SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
† RESPONSE OF PRAISE #582 Glory to God
Glory to God, whose goodness shines on me, And to the Son, whose grace has pardoned me, And to the Spirit, whose love has set me free. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, Amen.
ENCOUNTERING GOD’S WORD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE LESSON
SERMON
2 Corinthians 9 p 183-184 NT
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
“Indescribable Gifts”Rev. Betsy Turner
† HYMN #712 As Those of Old Their Firstfruits Brought Forest Green
RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD
PRAYERS
OF
THE PEOPLE AND 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.
MINUTE FOR MISSION Bob Battaglin Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
INVITATION TO SHARING OUR GIFTS AND STEWARDSHIP
DEDICATION
Please support DHPC’s ministry with your time, talent, and treasure. You can give financially in the offering plate,online, or by mailing a check to the church.
Today is Stewardship Dedication Sunday. During the anthem, you are invited to come forward and place your pledge card on the communion table as a sign of how you intend to respond to God’s grace with generosity in the year ahead, using your time, energy, knowledge, skills, resources, and much more. . . .
Thank you to the Property and Admin Team for overseeing the renovation of the hall bathrooms, which are now complete and looking wonderful! We hope redoing these bathrooms will be one step in increasing hospitality and freshening our space to appeal to newcomers. Particular thanks go to Bill Armstrong who diligently pushed the project along through many delays, Cathie Magnan Power for design and oversight, and as always, to Facilities Manager Mike Williams for managing the workers, the mess, and so much more.
Earth Stewardship Invitation: Looking to get your party clothes good and clean for upcoming festivities, but want to be environmentally friendly about it? According to The New York Times, the two best things you can do to decrease the impact of your laundry routine is to use cold water as often as possible and to decrease the amount of detergent you are using. (Detergent pods may have more than double the detergent that is actually needed!) Happy washing!
ANTHEM
I Believe
Mark A. Miller
The text from this piece are the words scratched on the walls of a cellar in Cologne, Germany by a Jew hiding from Nazi persecution.
I believe in the sun, even when it’s not shining. I believe in love, even when I don’t feel it. I believe in God, even when God is silent.
† DOXOLOGY #717 For the Life That You Have Given Pleading Savior
For the life that you have given, | for the love in Christ made known, with these fruits of time and labor, | with these gifts that are your own: here we offer, Lord, our praises; | heart and mind and strength we bring; give us grace to love and serve you, | living what we pray and sing.
† LITANY OF DEDICATION
Leader:Gracious God, giver of all that is good, All:bless the gifts and the pledges we bring to you today. These pledges represent our work, our lives, and our dreams, and we offer them in thanksgiving for all we have received. May we see these pledges as a sacred offering, and not a gift of obligation or exchange. May we use them wisely for your service, to reflect your love to the world. May they move us to be more faithful disciples, and energize us for lives of generosity. In gratitude for the grace of God, we dedicate these pledges to the work of God and the ministry of Druid Hills Presbyterian Church in 2025, Thanks be to God! Alleluia! Amen.
† HYMN #309
BEARING GOD’S WORD INTO THE WORLD
Come, Great God of All the Ages Abbot’s Leigh
† CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
Following the benediction, please join us in the back of the sanctuary for cookies, lemonade, and fellowship!
POSTLUDE Fanfare
WORSHIP NOTES
Eric H. Thiman
Words for Worship: Some worship elements come fromthe “Future with Hope” series from SALT Project (saltproject.org). Litany of Dedication was written by Rev. Anna George Traynham.
Children of all ages are welcome in the sanctuary during worship. Being present is how children learn to worship, so we welcome their wiggles and whispers. However, parents of small children may also drop off their Pre-K and younger kiddos in our nursery. We also hope children will take advantage of the PrayGround, which is in the back of the sanctuary and offers room to move, color, and participate in worship in a kid friendly spot.
Health protocols : Masks are no longer required, but are welcome. Thanks for being considerate of the needs and comfort level of each person and for exercising caution, especially if you are not well or may expose others.
Assisted Listening Devices are available from ourushers for any worshiper who needs hearing assistance.
Interested in membership? We are grateful for theguests (old and new) who add to our community each week. If you are curious to learn more about joining DHPC, just talk with a pastor. They’ll answer questions about DHPC or Presbyterianism, and walk you through meeting our leadership and making your spot in our family official. Let us know if this feels like the right step for you or if you are interested to learn more.
Sunday, November 17
WEEKLY UPDATE
9:30 AM – Drop-In Coffee and Fellowship
Roundtable Adult Education Class
11:00 AM– Worship
12:30 PM – Session Stated Meeting
Monday, November 18
11:30 AM – Online Deacon Meeting
Wednesday, November 20
7:30 PM – Choir Practice
Sunday, November 24
9:30 AM – Drop-In Coffee and Fellowship
Roundtable Adult Education Class
11:00 AM– Worship
Monday, November 25 - Friday, November 29
All Day – Church Office Closed for Holidays
Upcoming Events:
● DHPC Sponsored Virginia Highlands Winterfest Kids Zone: Saturday, December 14
● Celebrating Creation Trip: Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge: January 17 -20, 2025
TURKEY SHOPPERS NEEDED!
DHPC’s neighbors at Springdale Park Elementary School (SPARK) need our help! Thirty SPARK families will enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving meal, including a DHPC-provided turkey, gifted by the SPARK social work office. The Mission Team will cover all costs, but we need shoppers! Turkeys should be in the 10lb - 17lb range and must be dropped off at DHPC on Wednesday, November 20 between 9am and 11am. To sign up, simply put your name and the number of turkeys you will buy on the sign-up sheet found in the lemonade area. Reimbursement information will be provided when you sign-up. Contact Pastor Elizabeth with any questions.
SHARE YOUR NATIVITIES THIS ADVENT
Advent plans are underway! As we have done before, we are asking you to loan us a nativity set (also known as a creche or manger scene) for display in the sanctuary during the holiday season. All sizes, materials, designs welcome – from simple children’s art to ornate figurines, from holy family to the whole barn. Advent starts December 1, so bring them in during the next few weeks. They will be incorporated into the sanctuary’s seasonal decor and can be picked up after Christmas on January 5. We’ll have a card for you to share details about your nativity such as its origin story and materials.
CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED FOR THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Monday, November 25 - Friday, November 29
The DHPC office will be closed Thanksgiving week to allow our staff to spend time with their families. Betsy will be available for pastoral needs.
DHPC ADVENT EVENT!
Sunday, December 8, Following Worship
Make plans to join in some congregational fun after worship on the second Sunday of Advent! After a tasty lunch, DHPCers will gather in the sanctuary for fellowship and mission opportunities. It’s a super fun afternoon of decorating, crafting, and caring for our neighbors. Stay tuned for more details!
MISSION OPPORTUNITY: BRING CHRISTMAS JOY TO LOCAL KIDDOS!
The Mission Team is excited to offer DHPCers a way to support our neighbors this Advent! Beginning next Sunday (November 24) an angel tree display will have wish lists from Springdale Park Elementary School children and their families who need a bit of assistance pulling off some Christmas magic. Volunteers (individuals or in groups) are invited to select a family to shop for. Unwrapped gifts are due back to DHPC by December 15. Thank you for spreading joy this Advent season!
NEW DHPC CHURCH DIRECTORY
At long last, a new church directory is available! An email version is coming to your inbox, and paper copies are available for those who indicated that they would like one - see Pastor Betsy to get yours. Remember the directory is for personal use only and should be kept private for everyone’s protection. Thank you to Ken Wideman for updating our database so diligently and for spearheading this project.
PEACE AND GLOBAL WITNESS OFFERING: THANK YOU!
On World Communion Sunday, DHPC received $300 for the Peace and Global Witness Offering, which enables the church to promote the Peace of Christ by addressing systems of injustice across the world. Thank you for your support of this important ministry of our denomination!
PRESBYTERIANS FOR A BETTER GEORGIA (PBG) LEGISLATIVE FORUM
Thursday, November 21, 6:50-8:50 PM; Zoom
The upcoming PBG legislative forum will introduce participants to key legislators and advocates who support the PBG mission of, one, equipping members of congregations with the skills to be effective advocates and, two, affecting legislation at the Georgia state house, especially in the areas of affordable housing and access to healthcare. Participants will also learn about issues for the coming legislative session and get a forecast of likely bills. Register today at https://tinyurl.com/PBG2024!
PRAYERS
If you have a prayer request you'd like to share with the congregation, please contact our prayer list coordinator Coby Armstrong ( prayerlist@dhpc.org ).
prayers of celebration
The congregation rejoices with Susan and Tom Hagood on the birth of their grandson, Finley “Finn” Thomas Heyward, born on Wednesday, October30. Finn and his parents, Margaret and Nick, are doing great and are excited to settle intolife as a family of three at home in Whitley Bay, England. Welcome, Finn! We’re so excited you’re here!
Anne Townsley is grateful for DHPC’s constant prayers for her daughter-in-law, Cathy . Cathy was diagnosed with lung cancer in the Spring. Her treatment has been a tough road, but it has done a good job. She is doing well and even joined her friends for Zydeco dancing over the weekend!
prayers of condolence
The sympathy of the congregation is extended to DeniseHuewitt following the death of her mother, Wynelle Willingham this week.
prayers for our DHPC community
Helen Woodside is home from rehab and is doing well.Cards can be sent to her at 606A WW Carr Ave, Jackson, GA 30233
prayers for our family and friends
Richard Odom, CynthiaMiddleton’s brother; Akaki and KarolinaLekiachvil and SaraTorres, friends of Adam Ralls; Kathy Moore, friend of theArmstrongs; Pam Penny, sister of Bill Armstrong; Joan Gravely , friend of Vivian Hodo; Barbara Bybee ,cousin of Robert Welborn; Debra Parker , friend of Robert Welborn; Nirmala Devi and DavidBono, friends of Susan Hagood; Ray Belcher , Nancy Merl’s brother-in-law; Chelsea Walker and TimothyCouillette , daughter and friend of Letia Henson; Brenda Perulero and family , friendsof Letia Henson; Amanda Norris as she begins treatment for cancer; Michael George and JohnFoce, friends of Helen Woodside; Bob Rosene , Jon Houghton’s brother-in-law; and Nancy Ports , friend of Lauren Merceron
CHURCH STAFF
Designated Pastor: Rev. Betsy Turner, bturner@dhpc.org
Pastor for Engagement: Rev. Elizabeth Soileau Acton,eacton@dhpc.org
Interim Director of Music, Paula Broughton, pbroughton@dhpc.org
Organist: Cliff Frierson, cfrierson@dhpc.org
Director, Handbell Choir: Denise Huewitt
Facilities Manager: Mike Williams, mwilliams@dhpc.org
Communications and Hospitality Manager: Nate Baughman, nbaughman@dhpc.org
DEACONS
Anne Soileau, Susan Rutherford, Bill Armstrong, Coby Armstrong
AND CHAIRS
Christian Education: Gigi Muirheid
Finance: Betty McIntosh
Mission: Anne Townsley
Personnel: Pete McGuire
Property & Administration: William Edmisten
Worship: Bob Beard
Clerk of the Session: Eric Dusenbury
Treasurer: Linda Davis
Elder Emerita: Cecile McRae Hooks
Druid Hills Presbyterian Church 1026 Ponce de Leon Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30306 | 404.875.7591 | www.dhpc.org
Music is used by permission and reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-710585 and CCLI #11358326 (copyright license) and #11358326(streaming license)
