The First Presbyterian Church 300 South Main Street

Greensburg, Pennsylvania The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost – September 26, 2021 – 10 a.m.

Simulcast Service

PRELUDE Partita on “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” Charles Callahan

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS -Homecoming 2021 – Mr. David McMunn & Mrs. Sandy Beauregard

CALL TO WORSHIP (responsive) From Psalm 92

It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High,

To proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night.

HYMN 366 Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)

Gracious God, you have given us the law of Moses and the teachings of Jesus to direct us in the way of

life. You offer us your Holy Spirit so that we can be born to new life as your children. Yet, O God, we

confess that the ways of death have a strong attraction and that we often succumb to their lure. Give us

the vision and courage to choose and nurture life, that we may receive your blessing. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

FIRST READING James 5:13-20

ANTHEM How Clear Is Our Vocation, Lord Hal Hopson

How clear is our vocation, Lord, when once we heed your call; to live according to your word, and daily learn,

refreshed, restored, that you are Lord of all. And will not let us fall. But if forgetful, we should find your yoke

is hard to bear; if wordly pressures fray the mind, and love itself cannot unwind. Its tangled skein of care; our

inward life repair. We mark your saints how they become in hindrances more sure; whose joyful virtues put to

shame the casual way we wear your name, and by our faults obscure your pow’r to cleanse and cure. In what

you give us, Lord, to do, together or alone, in old routines and ventures new, may we not cease to look to you,

the cross you hung upon, all you endeavored done.

SECOND READING Mark 9:38-50

SERMON Rev. Dr. Martin R. Ankrum

HYMN 341 O God, Show Mercy to Us

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – APOSTLES’ CREED (unison)

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.

OUR JOYFUL RESPONSE - TITHES & OFFERINGS

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE - THE LORD'S PRAYER (unison)

HYMN 804 Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart!

BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE Chaconne in F Major G. F. Handel

WORSHIP LEADERSHIP THIS MORNING The Rev. Dr. Martin R. Ankrum, Pastor / Head of Staff

Dr. John B. Salveson, Minister of Music / Organist

Mr. Harry Campbell, Guest Organist

Chancel Choir

Miss Gloria Christofano, Guest Conductor

Miss Anneliese Slater, Lector

Mrs. Melissa Dalansky, Video Technician

Music for this morning’s service has been made possible, in part,

by Edgar and Joanne Highberger and by gifts to the Dr. Edgar S. Highberger Music Fund.

FIRST NEWS: The News of FPC – September 26 – October 3, 2021

THE SESSION OF FPC recently discussed, via email, returning some of the COVID mitigation practices that we

have recently dropped. Due to the rise of contagion figures in Westmoreland County, we feel the community

will be best served by reversing some of the lessening of restrictions for the time being. So, we will be

encouraging the wearing of masks for entering and leaving the sanctuary, the resumption of socially distant

seating in the pews, the placement of bulletins in the pews and remaining seated for hymn singing and other

activities. Hopefully our proactive precautions will help to lessen the spread.

THE SESSION OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH of Greensburg, Pa., of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.),

in accord with its Bylaws, hereby calls a Congregational Meeting for today, following the service, for the

purpose of receiving the report of the Church Officers Nominating Committee and electing a new slate of

officers. The following are the current nominees

Ruling-Elder Trustee

Class of 2025 (2): Rick Terrill &Todd Turin

Ruling Elder

Class of 2025 (5): Paula Purnell, Doug Stone, Jeffrey Hite, Michael Pascarella & Shelley Fazi

Deacons

Class of 2025 (11): Karol Elmore, Debbie Herman, Nancy Golden, Deane Markle, Jeff Mayo,

Peggy Taylor, Linda Dickson, James Salathe & Dr. Jessica Leigey.

Class of 2024 (2): Wendy Matchett

Note: At the time of this printing three deacon vacancies remain: Class of 2025 (2) & Class of 2024 (1)

LAST TUESDAY BOOK CLUB Restarts with Some New Ways …. Join the LTBC, a monthly literary discussion

group that has met for twenty years at FPC, in September for something a bit new. The club will read three

short stories a month, paired by Dr. Ankrum from the Oxford Book of American Short Stories. These stories

are fairly easily obtained even without the book, but the procurement of the collection is a worthy investment.

In September, we will be reading the following three stories for discussion in the Dining Room on Tuesday,

September 28 at 7 p.m.: ‘Where Is the Voice Coming From?’ by Eudora Welty; ‘The Lottery’ by Shirley

Jackson; ‘A Late Encounter with the Enemy’ by Flannery O’Connor.

THRU THE BIBLE CLASS Picks Up Where We Left Off!....On the last Monday of every month, Dr. Ankrum

holds a progressive Bible study working our way through the entire canon of scripture. We meet at 7 p.m. in

the Dining Room and discuss usually a whole book of the Bible each month. In September we will be reading

and discussing the Old Testament prophecy of Hosea. We resume on Monday, September 27 at 7 p.m.

YOUTH GROUP will meet on Sunday, September 26, from 11:00 – 1:00 in the youth room. Lunch will be

provided.

FAMILY NIGHT – The CE Committee regrets to inform the congregation that the Family Night scheduled for

this evening has been cancelled. Please watch for news regarding our October gathering.

CORNERSTONE – We are in for a real treat. The October 9 Cornerstone will be at Atria’s on Route 22 in

Murrysville. In addition to their regular menu, they are celebrating OKTOBERFEST with a variety of Bavarian

delights. (Check for their special menu on their website). Due to the expected crowd, we will be meeting at

5:30 p.m. again. Atria’s has agreed to accept 14 -15 of us so be sure to get your reservation in before all the

seats are filled. To reserve your seat please contact Sandy Beauregard at 724-834-2247 or

sandbeau1@verizon.net. Reservations must be made by October 5 in order to ensure a spot.

LUNCH BUNCH - Come and join us at 11:30 a.m. on October 12 at the Boulevard Restaurant located at Town

Square Drive off of Mt. Pleasant Road. Please email Sally Rager (sallyrager@gmail.com) by October 8, if you

are interested.

WINDOW TOUR - SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3 - The FPC sanctuary tours that are held each October have been a

resounding success. This year, architectural historian David McMunn will lead a tour of our church’s stained

glass windows, explaining the significance and meaning behind their installation and overall style. Built

between 1916-1918 from designs of the well-known Boston architectural firm Cram & Ferguson, our church

stands as a testament to our faith heritage and to sound construction. The windows were installed between 1921

and 1968. The War Memorial Window high over the front entrance celebrates 100 years since its dedication this

November. Join us at the chancel steps after morning worship on Sunday, October 3. You will surely gain an

appreciation for our church home as we thank God for our next 100 years of service in our Greensburg

community.

We are following CDC and local guidelines in all our planning for the gathering and safe distancing of our

church family and friends.

Please join us!!

PRAYER LIST: Jane B., Ann & Jack Bagley, Alicia & Felipe Booher, Becky, Lisa Bulger, Sandy Cole, Edna

Mary Cox, John Depretto, Lou DeRose, Chris Dieck, Joanne & Dennis Doyle, Michael Felice, Cheri (Turin)

Gail, Richard Gracik, Ted Hammer, Edgar and Joanne Highberger, Gretchen Highberger, Frank Hodges,

Charles Hunter, Jean, Nancy Jobe, Kelly, Anna Kostrick, Kathy McIlhattan Kostrick, Ray Kuyat, Bill Lingis,

Paige Lucas, Maralynn, Marlene, George Maser, Chuck McNerny, Misty, Bill Ofcansky, Joe and Nancy

Pallitta, Chuck Phillips, Kathleen Piekut, Colton Reid, Ron Russell, John Salveson, Nico & Stacey Salvio, Joan

Scales, Vivian Schwing, Oliver Schultz, Gene & Liz Sember, Barbara Sill and family, Sharon Stoner, Janet

Sutherland, Isabelle Taylor, Amy Templeton, Colleen Triffanoff, Lynda Turin, Elsie Vanetta, Ron Vorel, Nancy

Jane Whipkey, Jay and Sue Woodward, and Marsha Zoruba.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH – GREENSBURG, PA

Homecoming 2021

CLASS OF 1938

Virginia Faye Essey

CLASS OF 1940

Carolyn S. Falcon

CLASS OF 1941

Joseph L. Bair

CLASS OF 1942

Margaret W. Carlton

CLASS OF 1944

Marjorie G. Fouts

CLASS OF 1946

John T. Hayden

Marquis M. Smith, Jr.

CLASS OF 1948

Geraldine C. Pricer

CLASS OF 1950

Will S. Brown

Edward P. Bunting

Margaret W. Carpenter

Richard W. Morford

CLASS OF 1952

Rebecca G. DeMuth

Sara A. Rager

CLASS OF 1953

Scott L. Brown

Patricia L. Clark

Judith G. Perkins

CLASS OF 1955

Alice Ann E. Templeton

CLASS OF 1956

Edna Mary Cox

Betty W. Hammer

Vivian S. Schwing

CLASS OF 1957 Raymond A. Kuyat

Dorothy B. Steele

CLASS OF 1958 Wilson G. Saul, III

CLASS OF 1959

Joanne C. McIlhattan

Joan M. Scales

CLASS OF 1960

Mary Ann F. Matthews

Linda W. Thompson

CLASS OF 1961

Lynne F. Rain

Richard M. Roth

Jeanne S. Smith

Linda M. Turin

Deborah B. Watson

CLASS OF 1962 Judith R. Breon

Wayne L. Clemens

David W. Cook, Jr.

Charles M. Feightner

Anne K. Graft

Ronald G. Perkins

Calvin E. Pollins, Jr.

CLASS OF 1963

Joanne S. Doyle

CLASS OF 1964

Jean R. Bunting

Linda N. Genard

Susan L. Pollins

CLASS OF 1965

Rebecca R. Black

Dr. William B. Courtney

Pamela P. Lezo

John Slaugenhaupt

CLASS OF 1966 Joyce R. Andrews

William C. Heffner

Judith S. Morrow

Emmy Lou Noel

Janet R. Schuchman

CLASS OF 1967

Gretchen K. Brown

Dennis L. Doyle

Cynthia Davis

Nancy A. Nemeth

CLASS OF 1968

Paula G. Purnell

CLASS OF 1969

Catherine Cook

Beth Pearson McAtee

Robert Pearson

Wesley C. Ross

Carol M. Slater

CLASS OF 1970

Robert W. Ashbaugh

Betty K. Davis

Elsie D. Vanetta

Mary R. Mills

CLASS OF 1971

Terence L. Graft