reclothe us in our rightful mind, in purer lives thy service find, in deeper reverence, praise.
2 In simple trust like theirs who heard beside the Syrian sea
the gracious calling of the Lord, let us, like them, without a word rise up and follow thee.
3 O Sabbath rest by Galilee, O calm of hills above,
where Jesus knelt to share with thee the silence of eternity, interpreted by love!
4 Drop thy still dews of quietness, till all our strivings cease;
take from our souls the strain and stress, and let our ordered lives confess the beauty of thy peace.
5 Breathe through the heats of our desire thy coolness and thy balm;
let sense be dumb, let flesh retire; speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still, small voice of calm!
WORDS OF WELCOME
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ADORATION
CALL TO WORSHIP Micah 6:8
ONE: What does the Holy One require of us?
MANY: to be just, kind, and humble before God.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Holy God,
You challenge the ruling powers of this world and show favor to the lowly. Make us to hunger and thirst for righteousness, and keep us steady in peeking peace, that we may be your faithful children and know the blessedness of your kingdom, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Hymn [BLUE #] [GTG#720] Jesus Calls Us
1 Jesus calls us: o’er the tumult of our life’s wild, restless sea;
day by day his sweet voice soundeth saying, “Christian, follow me.”
2 Jesus calls us from the worship of the vain world’s golden store,
from each idol that would keep us, saying, “Christian, love me more.”
3 In our joys and in our sorrows, days of toil and hours of ease,
still he calls, in cares and pleasures, “Christian, love me more than these.”
4 Jesus calls us: by thy mercies, Savior, may we hear thy call,
give our hearts to thy obedience, serve and love thee best of all.
REPENTANCE
CALL TO CONFESSION
SILENT CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of mercy,
you sent Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost. We confess that we have strayed from you and turned aside from your way. We are misled by pride, for we see ourselves pure when we are stained, and great when we are small. We have failed in love, neglected justice, and ignored your truth. Have mercy, O God, and forgive our sin. Return us to paths of righteousness through Jesus Christ, our savior. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
GLORIA PATRI [Blue#] [GTG#762]
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
THE WORD READ AND PROCLAIMED
1ST SCRIPTURE Psalm 19
The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;
yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat.
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults.
Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
2ND SCRIPTURE Luke 4:14-30
Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” He said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will say, ‘Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.’” And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.
ONE: The Word of the Lord
MANY: Thanks be to God
Sermon “The Homecoming Game” CP Ford Dieth
CALL TO ORDER and DECLARATION of QUORUM
ANNUAL MEETING
- Brief Overview of CE: The Christian Education Committee has the duties of educating children, youth, and adults of John Calvin and providing a time of Christian Education to the children at the Playschool. We seek to help you deepen your faith through personal study, discernment, and fellowship activities for all ages. Through adult Sunday School, Youth Group, Children’s Church, Children’s Sermons, Youth Events, Youth Work Projects, Community Events, and Playschool Bible Time.
- What we did in 2024:
- Good Friday Day of Prayer with activities for all ages.
- Montreat: Kelly Cuppett attended. One of our youth’s that graduated, Jonathan Zea, went as well. We were able to assist him in paying for it through the youth garage sale fund.
- We celebrated the graduation of High School Seniors with cake and gifts.
-
- Community Events, and Playschool Events
- Easter Egg Hunt: On April 1st with snacks, egg hunts, pictures with the Easter Bunny, and crafts.
- One All Church and Community Picnic for the Teacher’s Appreciation service. With food, Water Fun, get-to-know-you games, and The Saints game
- Adult Education
- Linda Lowry started off the year with a series, Messy People. She also led a series on Prayer after Easter. I had two “Off the Deep End” series. One for Lent where we went through the Book of Numbers. The other one was through 1 Corinthians where we focused on different themes Paul discussed in his letter to the church of Corinth. Rev. Jan Condren picked up after my fall series with a Study of Six themes from Genesis. She also led an Advent study of the different people who found their place at the manger.
- We continue to offer topical books and Devotional recommendations each week.
- Youth Sunday School and Children’s Church
- From Jan to March all ages were invited to join the intergenerational Sunday School.
- After the video, the kids had a brief discussion and then a time of fellowship.
- In the fall we started Fellowship time for youth instead of traditional Sunday School.
- Every other Sunday we had middle and high School Sunday School during this time using Spice Rack Curriculum.
- We continue to use the narrative lectionary curriculum for elementary age so the kids are learning about the same scripture we are studying in Church, during our Children’s Church time
- Once a month and most Sundays in Summer we had Bible Builds:
- This program continues to be a wonderful way to get the kids to engage with the Bible in a way that they enjoy and are excited about.
- Playschool
- Every 1st and 3rd Wednesday, I host a Bible Time for the PK and TK classes here in the Sanctuary. We open with questions about the topic of the day, read a bible story, hear from Theophilus the faithful retriever, learn a new song, and close with prayer. I give them a take-home sheet with what they learned and a coloring sheet that reflects what we discussed during class.
- Special visit
- Elder Cameron took us on a tour of the sanctuary and the special things we use in worship. He also taught the kids different instruments used in worship and they were allowed to use the stick hand bells to play a song.
- The kids also spent time learning about the bible stories told through our stained glass windows.
- Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday, I teach Bible Time for the 3’s in their classroom. This includes a story, a song, prayer, and a handout to take home so their parents know what we studied and a coloring activity that matches what we talked about.
- VBS
- We were unable to find a director for VBS therefore it was decided to cancel it last year. I may try to do it this year just depending on how my schedule will look around Playschool summer camp and if any members are able to volunteer with the kids we will have. I will start a google document to send to playschool parents and other congregations’ youth for any interest to do so.
-PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN (PW) of
JOHN CALVIN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
2024 ANNUAL REPORT
PW Council 2024:
Robin Bush Sandy Cranfill
Emily Garland Beverly Kennedy
Paula Palermo Ernie Price
Barbara Remmelts Beverly Ross
Evelyn Tobey Jananne Lankard
Ann Trapani Sheryl Wise
The Presbyterian Women of John Calvin serve the church through Mission, Bible Study, and Fellowship. We meet the first Thursday of every month at 10:00a in the library.
MISSION
- Each year the PW sponsor a special offering in order to buy school supplies for our neighboring school, Alice Birney. The supplies are given at the beginning of the first and second semester.
- In the fall, the PW coordinated a food drive with the church and the playschool. This years food collection was brought to Jefferson Presbyterian Church for their community food pantry.
- We also assisted Sue Crawford with the clothing drive by sorting, folding and boxing the clothes.
- Diane’s Food Pantry in our church is manned by Beverly Kennedy. Food items are donated and given to people in our community who are in need.
- In December, we requested 15 Salvation Army Angels who were then adopted by women in the church. Gifts were purchased to bless needy children with a nice Christmas.
- Each spring, the PW supports a PCUSA special Birthday Offering. These funds provide much needed financial assistance to several programs both domestic and international. A birthday cake was served in the narthex.
- Grace Circle contributes to a Sunshine Fund at each meeting. Funds were used to purchase a gift card from Austin’s Restaurant. The card was donated to the playschool to be auctioned off at their Fair.
- The PW assisted with a garage sale that was led by Sue Crawford. This involved a week of work setting up tables in the fellowship hall, sorting, pricing, displaying and selling hundreds of items. Proceeds were given to the church.
- Presbyterian women assisted with the Playschool Fun Fair by working in the kitchen, selling tickets, passing out the food and sweet booth items.
Many thanks to the John Calvin congregation for their generosity in reaching out to those in need!
BIBLE STUDY – GRACE CIRCLE
A Bible study is scheduled for the third Tuesday of each month at 10:00 in the church library. All are welcome to attend. We are now studying “Let Justice Roll Down – God’s Call to Care for Neighbors and All Creation.” The curriculum comes from the PW of PCUSA.
FELLOWSHIP
- The Presbyterian women hosted two successful Tablecloth Dinners. One was at Orleans Bistro and the other at Mr. Ed’s.
- The PW hosted a Potluck Dinner after the Christmas cantata, and invited the members of the Chinese Presbyterian church and Little Farms United Church of Christ.
- We assisted Mary Antill as she chaired the Palm Sunday Potluck after the Easter cantata. Members from Little Farms, Chinese Presbyterian, Jefferson Presbyterian, and John Calvin were invited.
- The White Elephant party was held at the home of Emily and David Garland. It was well attended and much fun was had by all.
The PW hosts a Game Day on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. They meet in the church library at 10:00a. All are welcome to attend.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Remmelts
Many thanks to the John Calvin congregation for their generosity in reaching out to those in need!
BIBLE STUDY
A Bible Study for Presbyterian Women is scheduled for the 3rd. Tuesday of each month. It’s called the Grace Circle. The group meets at 10:00 AM in the church library. All women (and their friends) are welcome to attend. The curriculum comes from The Presbyterian Women of PCUSA. In January, the group study was Celebrating Sabbath: Accepting God’s Gift of Rest and Delight. The September Study was Sacred Encounters: The Power and Presence of Jesus Christ in Luke-Acts.
FELLOWSHIP
- Game Day – The PW sponsors a Game Day on the second and fourth Thursday of each month (with some exceptions). Anyone is welcome to attend.
- Palm Sunday Luncheon – The PW hosted a potluck luncheon after the Palm Sunday Cantata and invited the congregations of John Calvin, Chinese Presbyterian, and Little Farms United Church of Christ. Over 100 people attended.
- The PW hosted a Tablecloth dinner at Outback Steakhouse in May for any interested member of the congregation. A second Tablecloth dinner was offered in September at Sawgrass.
- Christmas Cantata Luncheon – The PW hosted a luncheon after the Christmas Cantata and invited the congregations of John Calvin, Chinese Presbyterian, and Little Farms United Church of Christ. Approximately 100 people attended.
- White Elephant Party – The annual White Elephant Party was held in December and was well attended, as usual.
- The PW worked in the kitchen and sweet booth for the Playschool Fair on March 11th.
For more information on the Presbyterian Women of the PCUSA, go to
www.presbyterianwomen.org
OUTREACH COMMITTEE
ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Committee Elders: Sue Crawford(chair), Beverly Kennedy, Joan Albright, Briana Mayfield.
Volunteers: Richard Britson, Andrew Crawford and Sharon Fortin
Guests: Mary Antill, Worship Chair; (Until June-Rev. Aaron Ochart, Linda Lowry, Diaconate Chair, and Louise Ochart, CE Chair)
Building Congregational Vitality
Again, “Thank You” to the Presbyterian Women who picked up the Tablecloth Dinner activity along with the White Elephant Christmas Party.
An Outreach member provided babysitting for a tablecloth dinner.
CHURCH AND COMMUNITY PICNIC
We invited Little Farms UCC , Chinese Presbyterian, Parkway Presbyterian and Jefferson Presbyterian and, of course, the Playschool to our Community Picnic on Sunday, September 15, after worship. The picnic was sponsored by Outreach and Christian Ed, with lots of help from the congregation! Thank you to Bri and Cameron Mayfield for grilling hamburgers and hotdogs, and setting up, and to all participants for bringing side dishes and cleaning up. The kids enjoyed outside water activities and inside, the Saints Game. Thank you to Briana, Cameron and Sue and Andrew for putting it all together!
PROJECT REGENERATION
Outreach committee members attended the “Sailboat Church” Project Regeneration sessions.
RECYCLING
Glass Half Full is a New Orleans grassroots company which converts glass jars and bottles that have been going to landfills into sustainable and functional resources. JCPC’s glass is recycled locally into sand and gravel for disaster relief and prevention. Glass Half Full has converted millions of pounds of waste glass. ‘Glass Half Full’ collected our glass recycling bin monthly from our parking lot as there were no glass drop-off locations outside of Orleans Parish. JCPC’s efforts diverted 1,540 pounds of glass from landfills. 3,070 bottles were diverted from landfills. We used our portion of the Peace & Global Witness Offering and Pentecost offerings to pay for the monthly fee charged for pick-up.
Because East Jefferson Parish has now opened up a glass recycling centre on David Drive, and residents now have a place to take their glass, we will no longer pay for the Glass Half Full services after December, 2024.
HYMNS AND BEER
April 25, Kelly Cuppett gathered us and played hymns at Blue Ruin on Metairie Road for our Hymns and Beer. Even tho it sounds like an odd place to praise God, maybe some benefitted from our evangelising.
Thank you to Kelly Cuppett for organizing a ‘Hymns and Beer’ Fund Raiser for Program of Hope at Zony Mash November 14. We had a large turn out from several different local Presbyterian Churches, and from Loyola. Participants had a blast singing and visiting. On top of the fun, Kelly helped us raise $400.00 for the Program of Hope. This money will be used to purchase bus tokens for our clients at PoH.
LABYRINTH
April 28, Outreach member, Joan Albright, Beverly Kennedy and Sue, and Linda Lowry prepared and delivered a hot meal for the Loyola and Tulane students worshiping at the Labyrinth
Support for Church Activities
As always, the Outreach Committee is involved in support of the events that the other committees put together: the Easter Egg Hunt, the Playschool Fair, the Church Work Day(s), etc.
Dismantling Structural Racism
This possibly the toughest of the Matthew 25 focus areas to tackle. Our work with Program of Hope and our donations to some of the PCUSA offerings go toward dismantling structural racism, but nothing we are doing directly affects this problem. With the climate building up in Washington, we will need to look into actions we can take to do our share to help the voices of the oppressed be heard.
Eradicating Systematic Poverty
Program of Hope (PoH)
We continue to be involved in Program of Hope, with four other Presbyterian congregations. Program of Hope is a mission to the housing-challenged in New Orleans. We provide lunch, a voucher for a night at the Salvation Army shelter, day bus passes, toiletries, clothing, worship leadership, and most importantly a dignified, respectful, loving respite from the world, on Wednesday mornings throughout the year.
Sharon Fortin and Sue Crawford serve on the Advisory Board for Program of Hope which meets via our zoom account monthly. Program of Hope is pursuing becoming a New Worshipping Community to expand our ability to help our clients. Beverly Kennedy and Sue have joined in the PoH Vision meetings. Sue will be serving on the Presbytery New Worshiping Communities Committee.
We thank the congregation for the support by monetary donations, clothing donations and time and energy given. Because of the years of dedication by Richard Britson, Sharon Fortin and Lorraine Hicks, and many others, John Calvin has served PoH for eleven years.
Sue and Mary Antill have worked with PoH board members, attending Loyola School of Communication & Design Immersion Presentations. Students were selected by their presentations to launch a PR campaign to expand the involvement of New Orleans churches, business organizations and students, then to expand the number of under housed we can reach out to help. John Calvin PC has been involved with Program of Hope for over 11 years, since PoH was advertised at a Presbytery meeting years ago.
But it all comes down to the actual activities of which we have many to thank:
Mary Antill has helped Sue with food and clothing procurement.
Little Farms United Church of Christ is sending 2 people some Wednesdays when it is our turn to serve. This is really helping, and the rest of the POH folks are getting to know and appreciate them. Rev. Susan Lasalle has given her services.
Aaron provided communion and a worship messages in February, and Sue provided a worship talk based on Mike Isham’s Sunday worship message in June. We are becoming more comfortable connecting with our PoH guests, one on one as Aaron so vividly modelled for us.
All of you who stop by on Tuesday afternoons at 3:00 to make the sandwiches! You are vital to making this work. A huge thanks to our folks who come to serve on Wednesday’s. Thank you’s to Beverly, Joan, Mary, Sharon, Janet, Suzanne, Jane, Lorraine, Richard, Barbara, Amy, Linda, Louise, Sandy, Paula, Emily, Sue and Andrew and all who helped.
In 2024, we’ve had much more of a role in working with the clothing, and our team is doing a great job of making it feel like a bit of a fun shopping experience for the clients, instead of a handout.
Clothing Drives
We held 2 clothing drives and subsequent sorting parties in 2024: one in May for summer clothes, and the other in September for winter clothing.
Thank you to everyone who donated the wonderful clean and well-kept seasonal clothing for the clients at Program of Hope! And thank you to all of the sorters who came to package the clothing for easy use at POH.
This year Sue and Mary teamed up to search for good clothing at estate sales. Fantastic bargains have been made shopping for clothes, shoes and coats. Occasional Wife, especially, has given us cut rates. These clothes are sorted, labeled, folded and delivered bi-weekly to First Presbyterian Church which hosts Program of Hope.
Many clothes from our church garage sale were selected and brought to PoH. We also had a PoH Cash Jar/Tree at the sale check-out, which was donated to PoH
Berean Presbyterian Church Christmas Party
JCPC Playschool, as well as the church, holds a coat drive every year. It is wonderful and many coats for children and adults are collected. But what happens to those coats? Did you know that the Outreach Committee are the ones who take care of distributing those coats? In 2024, the coats collected from the Playschool and JC church coat drive as well as the fifty or so adult coats Mary and Sue had from estate sales went to Program of Hope as part of their extra Christmas help for the clients. Over 125 adult coats were donated from our church family and school.
The children’s coats collected from the playschool all went to Berean Presbyterian Church for the children’s Christmas party.
JCPC also collected toys and comic books and brought them to the Children’s Christmas party at Berean. Our church family is so very generous, with special thanks to Sharon and Mike Fortin. Thank you all for your contributions!
BLACK MOUNTAIN, North Carolina HURRICANE RELIEF
A collection was taken up for hurricane relief for those loosing their homes in N.C. Toiletries and money were delivered to the church in Black Mountain. Thank all for their contributions!
NEW ORLEANS MEDICAL MISSION
In the narthex is a collection box for empty medicine bottles and containers. Joan Albright takes this supplies to Elmwood so they can be shipped to South/Central America so when doctors give medicines, there are containers to send home with the patients. Other medical supplies are welcome.
JCPC PANTRY
Thank you to Beverly Kennedy for your leadership in maintaining the food pantry.
PCUSA Offerings
This wonderful congregation always gives generously to the four PCUSA Offerings. Thank you!
One Great Hour of Sharing
Pentecost – 40% stays here to impact the lives of young people within our community.
Peace and Global Witness Offering – 25% stays here for peace projects.
Christmas Joy Offering
You also give generously to Evergreen Life Services a long-time mission of this congregation.
Tackling our Money Troubles
JCPC GARAGE and BAKE SALE
The 2024 Garage Sale was spearheaded by the Outreach committee, Beverly Kennedy, Joan Albright, and Sue with tremendous leadership from Sandy Cranfill, Evelyn Toby, Mary Antill and Ernie Price. $5000.00 was raised to offset church expenses.
Building Use
The Outreach Rooms were used by 12 different Anonymous type groups and 2 additional groups for a fee. The Outreach Committee with much help from Louise Ochart and Briana Mayfield, screens these groups and supports their need for space, tables, chairs, and a screen for internet.
Thank yous to Andrew Nolan for controlling the mildew and painting the anonymous closet, and to Tony Hill for making the welcome to worship service sign.
The Fellowship Hall and Sanctuary are used for various events for a substantial fee. The Outreach Committee members, do minor set up and take down, and monitor for cleanliness when the group is done. Louise Ochart and Briana Mayfield handle the paperwork for each group. Thank you for this work!
Examples:
Use of the Sanctuary for a piano recitals.
Use if the Fellowship Hall for bridal shower, birthday parties, funeral reception
Changes to the Building Use Policy
Looking at any given space, it cannot be rented out for commercial use (insubstantial purpose) more than it is used by the church.
When we “rent” space to a group, we need a written contract (our building use form). Our insurance carrier needs to know we are using our space for these purposes.
For continued uses by a non-profit we need: the written contract, their letter that states that they are a non-profit, proof of their insurance, and we need to tell our insurance carrier.
The Outreach Committee will need help in rewriting the Building Use Policy to reflect this new information.
New Outreach Committee for 2025
The Outreach Committee for 2025 is: Session Members: Sue Crawford, Beverly Kennedy, Joan Albright. Volunteers: Andrew Crawford, and Sharon Fortin (Advisor)
-PLAYSCHOOL COMMITTEE
Playschool Committee Annual Report
Committee Members: Jeremy Moore- Chair, Sheryl Wise, Emily Garland, Lauren Crisler, and Stephanie Gagliano
The purpose of the Playschool Committee is to provide a liaison between the Playschool and the Church. The Committee works to make sure the Playschool has everything it needs from the Church to make it the best Playschool in the area. The Playschool has over 150 students with 26 teachers and staff. The Playschool has been in operation over 50 years and has received numerous awards and accreditations throughout the years. Enrollment has been excellent as there is usually a waiting list at registration.
John Calvin Presbyterian Church has a role in the development of the students as the Playschool was the first mission of John Calvin Presbyterian Church. This continues to be a mission for our congregation. Once a week, Briana leads a “Bible Time” with the students. The children are learning about the joy and love our Lord provides. We have Church volunteers doing maintenance work around the campus and playground. We have Church volunteers to help with the Playschool events, especially the Fair. The Church has a Blessing Service at the beginning the school year for teachers and staff along with a end of year luncheon to thank the teachers and staff. The Playschool works with the Church on clothing and food drives during the year.
Highlights of Playschool Events from 2024
Fundraisers- Little Caesar’s/Gift Wrap/Cookies/Cane’s Night
Open House
Grandparents Week
Scholastic Book Fair
Big Red Barn Farm Tour
Art and Fun Fair
Family Fun Night Disney Dinner
Trunk or Treat
Thanksgiving Performance and Feast
Christmas Pictures with Sant
Easter Egg Hunt
Angel Angel Christmas Play
Summer Camp
Thank you to everyone who has helped with the Playschool. There are so many to name, I believe mist of our congregation has touched the lives of our wonderful students.
It takes a village to raise a child. We have an unbelievable village of teachers, staff, parents, grandparents, and volunteers that love these children and have a desire to make a positive Christian influence in their lives. We can always use more villagers to help. If you have a desire to help in any capacity, please talk to a member of the committee.
-WORSHIP COMMITTEE
Worship Committee Annual Report For the Year 2024
The Worship Committee is responsible for all church functions that are held in the sanctuary. Music and Technology for the worship service are also the responsibility of this committee. The committee meets monthly to discuss the worship and music plans. Any technology issues related to the airing of the worship service are discussed. The committee is responsible for securing qualified people to work the “Sound Booth”.
Each week the committee prepares the sanctuary for the service. This involves placing flowers in the sanctuary, lighting the candles, arranging the appropriate paraments, and placing the chalice and plate on the communion table. Following any service they must straightened out the sanctuary.
The committee secures weekly greeters, ushers and liturgists. Communion is also the responsibility of the committee. This involves securing and preparing the elements for the worship service and securing elders to serve the communion. Following the service, they must collect the used cups from the pew racks then clean all the trays for storage.
The Worship Committee works with the minister on Lent and Christmas preparations. At Easter this includes putting up the Cross and any other special items needed for the services. At Christmas the committee organizes the decorations for the sanctuary and narthex, as well as ordering and placing poinsettias in the sanctuary. Participants are secured for the weekly Advent readings. Candles must be ordered and assembled for the Christmas Eve candlelight service. After these special services, all decorations must be removed and stored for the next year.
In April we were informed that the minister, Rev Aaron Ochart, would be leaving John Calvin on
June 2, 2024 to return to South Carolina. The Worship Committee immediately began the process to secure someone to preach each Sunday until the Session secured a pastor in some more permanent arrangement. From June through July we had various people filling the pulpit. Beginning in August we were able to secure Ford Dieth and Rev. Dr Martha Robson on a more permanent basis, each serving two weeks of the month.
Music Director, Kelly Cuppett, organized a series of musical concerts during the summer. “Sundays at Six” began July 7 and ended August 4. These concerts were opened to the public and were very successful.
Kelly and the choir presented two cantatas this year—one at Easter and another at Christmas. Singers were recruited from several churches.
In the Fall, Kelly Cuppett, resigned her position effective at the conclusion of the Christmas Eve service—December 24, 2024. Kelly assisted us by posting that John Calvin needed substitute organists or pianists. Several people applied and we have been able to fill this position weekly.
The responsibilities of the Worship Committee have been greatly increased since the absence of a permanent pastor. Thank you to all the many church members who have assisted us with these duties. We are always grateful and eager for any help.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary Antill, Chair
-FACILITIES COMMITTEE
-FINANCE COMMITTEE
The finance committee was formed in August at the request of the session to give the session and congregation a better understanding of the financial situation of the church and advise in financial matters. As part of these responsibilities the committee submits the budget and financial information that is included in the weekly bulletin, and delivers monthly detailed reports to the session.
The year 2024 ended with a small surplus in our budget due to the lack of a pastor and Christian Education director. The committee is currently finishing a draft budget to submit to the session at the February meeting. If the current situation continues, we are projected to have another small surplus this year. Pledges and giving have been generous given the small size of the congregation.
The committee is currently exploring options for someone to take on the task of managing the playschool finances day to day.
A further report will be given to the congregation after the 2025 budget is approved by session.
In Christ,
Cameron Mayfield, Chair
RESPONSE
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Apostles’ Creed
I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick 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.
RECEIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY
DOXOLOGY [GTG#606]
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
THE LORDS’ 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
HYMN [BLUE#] [GTG#451] Open My Eyes that I May See
1 Open my eyes, that I may see glimpses of truth thou hast for me.
Place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free.
Chorus
Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see. Open my eyes; illumine me,
Spirit divine!
2 Open my ears, that I may hear voices of truth thou sendest clear.
And while the wave notes fall on my ear, everything false will disappear. Chorus
3 Open my mouth, and let me bear gladly the warm truth everywhere.
Open my heart, and let me prepare love with thy children thus to share. Chorus
PARTING PRAYER
Almighty God,
You sent Jesus to proclaim your kingdom and to teach with authority. Anoint us with your Spirit, that we, too, may bring good news to the afflicted, bind up the brokenhearted, and proclaim liberty to the captive; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
RESPONSE [BLUE#] [GTG#171] Be Thou My Vision Verse 1
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art;
thou my best thought, by day or by night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
POSTLUDE Be Thou My Vision Reprise
*Note: the hymn lyrics in the bulletin and on the projection screen are from the Glory To God Hymnal (© 2013 Westminster John Knox Press), which we are transitioning to. Words in the “Blue” Presbyterian Hymnal (© 1990) in your pew may differ slightly. The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by Permission. All Rights Reserved.
