OPMH E Gram (Oct 21, 2007)

Meeting House Worshipers: Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

Morning Services (8:30 and 11:00 am)

Scripture

Deuteronomy 26:1-11

I Corinthians 16: 1-4

Sermon

Two Andrews from Pittsburgh — The Rev. Dr. William R. Phillippe

Hymns

I Greet Thee Whom My Sure Redeemer Art

We Thank You, Lord, for Strength of Arm

As Those of Old Their Firstfuits Brought

Other Special Music

Prelude:                      I Stand at the Threshold – Bach

Introit                          Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now – Bach

Anthem:                      Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – Bach

Offertory:                    God’s Time is Best – Bach

Postlude:                     Fugue in C ‘Fanfare’ – Bach

Coffee Hour: Join us in Fellowship hall after the 11:00 am service.

Christian Education. Sunday morning education classes and Bridges to Worship resume this Sunday

Children’s Education: Classes for children, age 3 years through Grade 12 meet at 9:30 in the Education Building and Flounder House. Children in grades 1-5 continue their study of Stewardship – check the board in the Education Building entrance for your grade’s room assignment.

Bridges to Worship (B2W): (formerly Godly Play) continues during the 11:00 am worship service. Children ages 5 years through grade 2 are invited to the Education Building following the Time with the Children. Parents of first time B2W children are encouraged to join your child as they leave the Sanctuary if this will help your child feel more comfortable. All parents of children who attend B2W are asked to pick their children up from our new locations in the Education Building (Rm. 26 or Heaven) and to sign up to serve as doorkeeper for one Sunday.

Third Graders will receive their Bibles next week, Sun. Oct 28 during the 11:00 worship service.

Adult Education

Wednesday Evening Bible Study: The Book of Acts, 7:30-8:30 pm, Flounder 1b, through Nov. 28. Led by the Rev. Ann Herlin. Please RSVP to the Church Office; books are $12.

Presbyterians and Peacemaking continues this Sunday. The Rev William Yolton will lead this discussion of the history of peacemaking in the Presbyterian tradition. This class meets in Heritage Hall (in Elliot House) at 9:40 am.

Sunday Morning Bible Study: The Gospel of Matthew, 9:40-10:40 am, through Dec. 23, Flounder Westminster Hall. What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? The early church had a manual on discipleship – the Gospel of Matthew. Come join us for an in-depth study of the book that comes first in the New Testament because of its importance in the life of the church. Please contact the Church Office to register; books are $6. Class facilitators: Lee Posey, Tom Roberts, Ed Willis, and Hal Collums.

Special Event! Theologian John de Gruchy will be here all the way from South Africa for a presentation, Christian Humanism and Reformed Identity, to be held here at OPMH on Sat., Nov. 3, from 10 am to noon in Heritage Hall. For more information or to register, go to www.reformedinstitutue.org or call 703.518.5125.

Reformed Institute: Look on the web site for these special offerings.

Fellowship, Study, and Prayer Groups:

Youth:

No Youth Fellowship this Week.

20s/30s: This group is open to all in their 20s and 30s (married, single, members, visitors, friends). We meet on Monday nights at 913 Oronoco Street at 7 pm. All are welcome! For more info., call Mike Campagna at 703-785-4736 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

First Sundays with the Stephen Ministers: An informal time of fellowship on the first Sunday of each month in the Elliot House Parlor. We welcome all who are experiencing loss or struggling to find joy in their lives to meet, one-on-one, with a Stephen Minister. Call Susan Grandy (703-780-4134 or 703.836.6701) if you have questions.

Celebration’s Second Annual Harvest Fest – “Sharing Our Bounty” will take place Oct. 27 at 5:30 pm at Jim and Cindy Foley’s home. This event is for married couples of all ages. We are again asking that you bring canned and boxed foods that will be given to “ALIVE”. This is a very informal get together – jeans and a sweatshirt/sweater affair. Please bring your favorite beverage to enjoy and share. RSVP to the Foleys at 703.768.4167 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Mission

Community Coalition for Haiti: This fall we have three mission trips planned. The dates are: Oct 23-30, and Nov 6-13. Both have space available and we would love to get some more participation from OPMH. Call or e-mail John Klousia with questions at 703-407-5287 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Music:

Our organist and choir director for this Sunday and the remainder of the year is Robert Saladini.

Adult Choir rehearses on Thursdays, at 7:30 pm in the balcony. Everyone is welcome!

Children’s Choir’s rehearses on Sundays, in room 22, Education Building. 12:05-12:50 pm.

Hymn Festival, Nov. 4: As we celebrate the tenth anniversary of the “new” Lively-Fulcher organ, we are delighted to have Michael Burkhardt with us at both worship services on Sun., Nov. 4 to lead a hymn festival titled “I sing a Song of the Saints of God!” Through readings and hymns, we will remember with thanksgiving those who have lived and died in the faith, and sing together the praises of the god who brings life out of death. A special offering will be received at both services to benefit the Family to Family program of the Meeting Hosue, witch provides emergency assistance to the working poor.

The Concert With A Cause, From Sea to Shining Sea, raised $1,022 for the Katrina recovery efforts of the Bay St. Louis (Mississippi) Presbyterian Church.

If you’ve ever thought about singing with our adult choir but don’t have the time to devote to it permanently, you might consider joining for only a few weeks. On Sun., Dec 2, the choir is performing Antonio Vivaldi’s “Gloria” during both worship serivces and we welcome you to join us. Rehearsals begin at 8:15 pm on the Thurs evenings in Nov. You don’t need to be a budding Pavarotti or ‘American Idol’ finalist to join, a nice voice and the ability to read music is helpful. For more information contact Robert Saladini at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Churchwide News:

Church-wide Retreat. The pasotr and much of the congregation is away at Massanetta Springs this weekend for the Church Retreat. Thank you to the Rev. Dr. William Phillippe, a regular worshipper at the Meeting House, for leading worship this morning.

All are invited to attend a flower arranging demonstration on Sat., Oct 27 at 9:30 am in the Sanctuary. Anne Irving will give advice and a demonstration on arranging flowers, with particular emphasis on the liturgical church calendar and how it can be reflected in our Sanctuary flower arrangements. Coffee and light refreshements will be available before and after the demonstration. Pleas let Denise Ferguson know if you plan to attend at 703.535.1537 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Flower Dedications/Memorials: Kerri Stevens, the new point of contact for OPMH’s flower dedications, is seeking contributors for the next three months. Dedications are needed for Sunday, Oct 21^st onward. Donation cost is $65. Please contact Kerri at 703.966.3895 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Are You Ready? A book entitled A Letter to My loved Ones is available for sale in the church Office. The book is offered for $10 by the Spirit organization of the church.