Announcements

NORTHMINSTER

PRESBYTERIAN

CHURCH

SERVICE OF WORSHIP

ASCENSION SUNDAY

MAY 17TH, 2015

Week of May 17th— 24th 2015 Today Teacher Appreciation Sunday Sunday School—9:00 a.m. Worship—10:30 a.m. Member Care Committee Meeting—after worship Vesper Service—6:30 p.m.

Monday Monday Morning Bible Study—10:30 a.m.

Tuesday PW (Presbyterian Women)—7:00 p.m.

Wednesday Choir Practice—7:30 p.m.

Thursday Prayer—7:00 p.m.

Next Sunday Pentecost Sunday Sunday School—9:00 a.m. Worship—10:30 a.m. Spring Picnic—after worship

Church Staff: Rev. Dr. Robert E. Weston Pastor Rev. Dr. Roger M. Sobin Pastor Emeritus Rev. Bill Bischoff Parish Associate Sara Holland Director of Christian Education Jay Young Youth Director Melynn Young Minister of Music Steve Richards Assistant Minister of Music Sheryl Dinklage Accompanist Natalie Mendoza Nursery Attendant Joyce Heath Nursery Attendant Leslie Lencioni Church Administrator

Greeters: Lowell & Nancy Cornelius

Ushers: Don & Suzanne Taubert

Lay Leader: David Pinner

Elders on Duty: Byron Barnett and Tom Lowman

Last Week’s Attendance: 192

Deacons Class of 2015 Lynn Carroll, Yvette Lowman, Janet McDaniel, Rachel Salazar, Elizabeth Doyle Class of 2016 Sandy Doyle, Donna Green, Tom Miller, Holly Perry Class of 2017 Marjorie Brown, Jeanette Courchesne, Margie Porter, Irma Sandoval

Elders Class of 2015 Pat Downey, Ricki Driffill, Camille Fiorillo, Clay Henry, Tyler Grant Class of 2016 Robin Atiyeh, Randy Baker, Byron Barnett, Jay Young Class of 2017 Dan Green, Oduenyi Kalu, Tom Lowman, Ray Reyes

Welcome to Northminster

First-time visitors, please see one of the ushers after worship. There is a gift for you and some information about Northminster.

Join us after worship for Fellowship Time with refreshments in the Family Room.

Following each worship service, Elders from the Session will meet at the Baptismal Font with those who wish to join our Church.

Prospective members are received in one of three ways: 1. Affirmation of Faith

2. Reaffirmation of Faith 3. Letter of Transfer from another church.

Deacons Table— Thank you to Dale Gattis for bringing in the cookies last week, the cake was given in honor of Roger Sobin's birthday! VBS registration is open! Come One Night or Come All, but please plan to join us to be “Called to Serve”! June 14th – 16th from 5:30 – 7:45pm. Sign up in the Family Room -- and make a fish to add to our bulletin board. Invite your friends to join us!

GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE

WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE

CHORAL INTROIT The Choir

The Worship, Music & Arts Committee will be providing this year’s

Spring Vesper Services on May 17 and May 31 at 6:30 p.m. Our

vesper services are offered in the cooler seasons of the year to

be able to enjoy them outside in our Chapel in the Woods. It is a

quiet peaceful time in nature to worship God and reflect on

God’s presence in our lives. Led by volunteers and held in the

early evening hours, the service includes prayer, a lay-led

devotional, meditative music, and a quiet reflective time. It is a

perfect setting for a peaceful worship experience.

Please join us in the Chapel in the Woods located by the large

parking lot tonight at 6:30 p.m., and again on May 31 at 6:30 p.m.

For more information or to volunteer to help, please contact

Robin Atiyeh at robin.atiyeh@swri.org.

Laurie Owen

Donna Green

Danielle Courchesne

Rachel Salazar

Robyn Atiyeh

Clay Henry

Bill Bischoff

Byron Barnett

Helen Richards

Deanie Bluschke

Jennifer Carson

Jill Morris

Jay Young

Bob Weston

The next Adult Sunday School Class will begin again with Dr. Weston. May 24th and 31st the class will examine a newspaper article in the Washington Post by religious editor, Rachel Held Evans, entitled "Want Millennials Back in the Pews? Stop Trying to Make Church Cool." Beginning June 7th on the first Sunday the class will look at Paul's concept of freedom as outlined in his letters to the various New Testament churches.

May 24 is Pentecost Sunday -- and our tradition is to wear red to church on that day. Red reminds us of the tongues of fire (Holy Spirit) that rested on each disciple that first Pentecost.

*Please remember to silence your cell phone before worship*

*Indicates when standing is appropriate

KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS— (* new on the prayer list)

Check the website prayer wall for prayer requests added by members and to add requests at any time.

To add a name to the prayer list or to take a name off the prayer list, please contact the Church office. Members of Northminster: *Jim Serna Upcoming surgery *Jennifer Carson Upcoming surgery Helen Richards Recovering from surgery Melynn Young Recovering from surgery Analiese Guizar Health concerns Isaac and Irving Magee Twin sons of Amanda and Nick—health concerns Sharon James Health concerns Dave George Health concerns Genie Sobin Health concerns Ronnie Morrison Health concerns Jimmy Driffill Chemotherapy John Brown Health concerns Jim Rickerson Health concerns Ruby Rickerson Health concerns Elsie Coleman Health concerns Wilson Cloud Health concerns Michelle Cuellar Health concerns Jack Young Skilled nursing center Mary Williams Jennifer Carson’s mother - health concerns

Friends of Northminster: *Angelica Larson Ida Reyes’ sister—loss of her husband Robert Larson Marsha Stamper Health concerns Steve Stamper Health concerns Sandy & Beto Pina Friends of Sandy Parrish—loss of their son Johnny Brett Kniss Deanie Bluschke’s son-in-law—heath concerns Pastor Oliver Davis Friend of the Perry family—health concerns Brittainy Smith Friend of Judy Tyrling—personal concerns Smith Family Friends of Judy Tyrling—personal concerns Judy Brakebill Friend of Dave and Sheron George— health concerns Barbara Mackiewicz Friend of Edie MacNeil—recovering from surgery Al Cuellar Friend of Ricki Driffill— undergoing chemotherapy Steve George Dave’s brother—health concerns Aida Cordeau Daughter of friend of Leslie Lencioni - health concerns Lynx Family Friends of Ricki Driffill - personal concerns Gert Feuersanger Eva Eckburg’s cousin - health concerns Randy James Brother of Bob James - cancer treatment Reggie W Friend of the Sobins - cancer Isaac Sandoval Great grandson of John & Margie Brown suffering from Tay-Sach’s disease

6800 TEZEL ROAD - SAN ANTONIO, TX 78250 (210) 680-4825

www.npcsatx.org npcoffice@npcsatx.org

Plan Actual Variance

Over/(Under) Plan Actual Variance

Over/(Under)

$25,516 $21,801 $(3,715) Total

Revenues $102,014 $96,850 $(5,164)

Current Month - April Year - To - Date

*GREETING Jesus said: “Do not cling on to me. Go and tell my friends that I am ascending to my God and your God.” Our lord has gone up with a shout, like the sound of the trumpet! While he blessed them, Jesus parted from them, and a cloud took him out of their sight. Clap your hands, all peoples! Applaud God with songs of happiness! The man wearing the crown of thorns is now Lord of all the earth! Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our king, sing praises!

*HYMN OF PRAISE No. 138 “Holy, Holy, Holy!...”

*INVOCATION Your love, O God, rules all, and your Christ is forever close to your heart. Uncloud our spirits, unfetter our lips, set free the joy that too often subsides behind familiarity, or is kept in a corner by our reticence or formality. Let us thank you with unabashed delight, and through the hallowed gifts of precious music, praise you with uninhibited worship. Through this same Christ Jesus, our Brother and Lord we pray…

*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 debt-ors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

TEACHER APPRECIATION

HYMN No. 2036 “Give Thanks”

THE ACT OF CONFESSION Let us confess how far we have strayed from Christ and his ways as we recount the times when we forget Christ and value each other by the outward trappings of social status, power and wealth...the times when we applaud the humility and sacrifice of Jesus, yet we live by the rules of so- called “movers and shakers” in the community…for the times when we even try to measure our faith and churches by the kind of success applauded by this arrogant yet lost and bewildered world… God of mercies, heaped up and full to overflowing, please continue to have pity on our vain ambitions and degraded methods of dealing with the pressures of life. By your Spirit bring us to our senses, reestablish our souls in the fields of your grace, and banish forever the shame that would eat away our peace and lead us back into sin. Through Christ Jesus our redeemer. Amen!

DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS Hear then Christ's simple word of grace to us: your sins are forgiven. Thanks be to God. Peace be with you. And also with you.

*THE PEACE CONTINUES

TIME WITH CHILDREN

PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

HISTORICAL LESSON - Promised power of the Holy Spirit Acts 1:1-11

*GOSPEL LESSON - Jesus ascends to the Heavenly Father Luke 24:44-53

RESPONSE This is the word of the Lord for the people of God. Thanks be to God!

ANTHEM “Walk Worthy” by Joseph M. Martin The Choir

SERMON “Jesus Prays for Us” Dr. Weston

OFFERTORY

RECEIVING THE TITHES AND OFFERINGS

*DOXOLOGY Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH - Book of Common Worship Apostles' Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord. Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

SENDING

HYMN No. 525 “Here I Am, Lord”

*WORD OF MISSION Jesus promises the gift of God’s Holy Spirit for our comfort and to enable us to do something. After we gaze into heaven, then it’s time to go to work.

*BENEDICTION Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Amen.

*CHORUS “People Need The Lord” People need the Lord, people need the Lord; at the end of broken dreams, he’s the open door. People need the Lord, people need the Lord; when will we realize people need the Lord.

POSTLUDE

April Finances