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Calvary Presbyterian Church of Wyncote, PA |
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Visitors, you are most welcome! Join us in worship on Sunday morning, talk with us at Coffee Hour afterwards, attend a Fine Arts concert, join in any activity of the church, study with us in Sunday School or Adult Forum classes. Join one of our choirs and sing or play bells with us. Participate in Youth Group activities or Circles. Eat with us at our potluck luncheons. You are invited to join in any activity and get to know us. If you have any questions, feel free to talk to our Pastor, Stan Wherry, or our Church’s Administrative Assistant, Donna Benner, after the service or on a weekday. Please sign our Friendship Pad, located next to each center entrance to the sanctuary, or fill in a pew card and drop it in the offering plate, to have someone contact you at home. We would be happy to stop by with information about our church, and a bag of our Fair Trade Coffee as our gift to you. We can answer any questions you might have about Calvary. Feel free to attend our services and join in all of our activities while you decide whether you would like to make Calvary Presbyterian your church home. If you simply want to attend our concerts or classes, or your children would like to be in our Fun and Music program, you’re welcome to join in any of our activities without being a member. Our doors are always open to the community. If you are new to the Presbyterian church and would like to know more about our beliefs and form of government, click here. To become familiar with our church and our service before your first visit, you can read a quick overview, or a detailed description of our service. Once you’ve gotten to know us, and you have decided you would like to make Calvary your church home, you may enter into active church membership by profession of faith, reaffirmation of faith, or by letter of transfer from another Protestant church. Membership is open to all who profess their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and who desire to make an active commitment to the life of the church. For those with a faith background in another denomination, or who are beginning their faith journey as a Christian or as a Protestant, orientation classes will be conducted by Rev. Wherry to familiarize you with the unique aspects of our Presbyterian faith. You may wish to begin the process by requesting an opportunity to join an Inquirer’s Class where you may ask questions without feeling obligated to join the church. Youth and adult membership in the church requires that you have been baptized in another church or will be baptized when you join the church. We also ask that Calvary’s elders have the opportunity to meet you and get to know you a little. This is accomplished at a Session meeting, held at a time convenient to you. You will be asked to publically profess your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Once you have been introduced to the Session, you will be voted into membership by the elders. The second step is to be presented to the congregation in a simple ceremony during a worship service on the following Sunday. Those who are not already baptized will be baptized at this time. Some families may choose to have only the husband, wife, or children join the church. We recognize that sometimes the decision to join is reached at different times by different members of a family. Calvary Presbyterian welcomes everyone to join with us in worship and church activities regardless of whether they have become members of the church. If you wish to celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism for your child in our church, we warmly welcome you to our church. Please consider joining with the congregation of Calvary Presbyterian in making an active commitment to raise your child as a Christian. We ask that parents demonstrate that commitment by having at least one parent become a member of the church and attend regularly. We offer support to parents who are themselves beginning a faith journey in the Christian church, or returning after time away from church activities. Many parents find the birth of their first child a turning point in their lives, and enjoy the opportunity for spiritual growth within themselves as they guide their children in their own spiritual journeys. Calvary supports families by offering Christian Education for children from pre-schoolers through youth, family-oriented activities, children’s choirs, Youth Groups, and informal discussion groups for parents. We happily include children in our service with a special message from the pastor, and they are welcome to remain with their families during the service if they chose. All baptized children are encouraged to join in the sacrament of Communion. Parents and children can jointly decide when each child feels comfortable with their understanding of the meaning of the celebration. As children reach approximately 10 to 13 years of age, they are invited to join a confirmation class, at the conclusion of which they may choose to become members of the church. Visit with us and explore all the ways our church can support you as you raise a happy, well-grounded child with a strong moral character. We also joyfully welcome youth and adults who have made a decision to be baptized. Please contact Rev. Wherry to discuss the details of baptism for you or your child. A Quick Overview of our Service Calvary’s Sunday morning worship begins at 10:45 a.m. (September through mid-June) and at 10:00 a.m. during the summer. Visitors are most welcome. The following is a short summary of a typical service, which generally runs an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes: Preparation for the Word
The Proclamation of the Word
The Fellowship of the Word
The sacrament of Communion is generally celebrated on the second Sunday of the month. All baptized Christians are invited to join us. During the school year, Sunday School is held in the Fellowship House beginning at 9:15 a.m. All visiting children are welcome to drop in on any Sunday to join in the fun. Children then join their families for the beginning of the service and go to supervised play areas after the Children’s Message. Very young children may stay in the nursery for the entire service. After the service, all are invited to join the members of the congregation downstairs for Coffee Hour. Frequently Adult Forums are held on Sunday mornings at 9:15. All are welcome. A detailed description of our service The following paragraph is from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Book of Order. The Book of Order includes a description of forms and orders of worship that are appropriate for Presbyterians to use, and suggested prayer texts, along with a clear exposition of the theology reflected in our worship.
If you have not experienced a Presbyterian worship service before and would like to know exactly what you’ll find when you join us for worship, read on. General Information Calvary has one service on Sunday morning at 10:45 from September through mid-June. It begins at 10:00 during the summer (beginning June 12, 2005). If you are visiting us for the first time and want to know what to expect, here is a detailed description of a typical service. The service does change in small ways each week, but the order of worship remains constant. Periodically throughout the year we worship in a completely different format to stimulate our appreciation of the meaning of worshipping God with a glad heart and open mind. Services generally run about an hour, or slightly longer. Welcome – Our Doors are Open Once you’ve figured out where we’re located, you may park on the street, or in the circle in front of the church. Enter the church from the Bent Road entrance, the Fernbrook Avenue entrance, or at the corner of Fernbrook and Kent Road (walk through the office, go down the hall and turn to the right to find the sanctuary). Worshipping with Children Children are welcome to attend the service with their families for all or part of the service. Children from toddlers through fourth grade may wish to stay at the service through the “Message for God’s Children” and then leave as a group to go to supervised childcare in the nursery or Fellowship House. Children younger than second grade may spend the entire service in the Nursery on the lower level of the church with our professional child care provider. Ask a greeter or an usher (the people handing out bulletins) for help if you would like to visit the Nursery or Fellowship House before the service. You may also ask for a tote bag containing paper and crayons, and a special children’s activity brochure to give your child a focused activity during the service. Your children may also enjoy reading A Children’s Guide to Worship, a paperback book with a drawing of mice on the cover. Look for one in the pews, tucked behind the Hymnals and Bible throughout the church. If your baby or child becomes tearful during the service, don’t be embarrassed. We love to have children worship with us and understand that it is a long time for a small one to be perfectly quiet. If you wish, feel free to step into the hallway to calm your child, or to take them to the nursery downstairs at any time. Help from Greeters and Ushers At the Fernbrook Avenue entrance and the Bent Road entrance you will be greeted by members of the church. Just inside the doors to the center of the sanctuary are Friendship Pads where you can sign in to let us know you were visiting. Ushers will be standing in the center of the sanctuary handing out bulletins listing the order of worship. Feel free to ask questions if you need help. They can offer you a larger-print bulletin, a hearing assistance device, direct you to child care rooms, tell you how to find Derr Hall where Coffee Hour is held after the service, show you where the bathrooms are, or where to hang your coat. Please let them know if you would like to use the lift after the service to attend Coffee Hour or to exit from the Bent Road doorway. They will be glad to help with the operation of the lift. Have a Seat Sit anywhere! We have plenty of room to accommodate visitors and enjoy sharing our pews with anyone. As you settle in, look around. In the racks in front of you, you will find both the Bible and our main hymnal (blue). A supplemental hymnal (red), which we use occasionally, is located at the ends and centers of the pews. (Learn more about our hymnals.) Everything you need to know about the service is printed in the bulletin. Tucked into a small holder on the back of each pew, you’ll also find a collection of envelopes. We are happy to have you visiting with us and do not expect you to make a contribution. However, if you wish to contribute, please use a white Pew Envelope and check off that you are a visitor. We also have envelopes designated for specific mission projects which you may use if you like. If you have any special requests that you would like to discuss with Rev. Wherry, please fill in the small card with the red banner at the top (“Welcome to Calvary Presbyterian Church”) and drop it in the collection plate. A Typical Service Before the service starts, our organist, Kathy Wirth, plays two preludes on the organ or piano to give us a chance to sit quietly and center our thoughts on the upcoming worship experience. Our service follows a standard pattern followed by all Presbyterian churches. It is usually divided into three parts. 1. The Preparation for the Word. The ringing of the bell in the bell tower signals the start of the service. Rev. Wherry says good morning to the congregation, and we respond, “Good morning.” He begins by leading a responsive Call to Worship, printed in the bulletin, then gives a signal to rise and sing the first hymn. We always stand to sing hymns, and also at other points in the service, as noted in the bulletin by an asterisk. (Presbyterians do not kneel during the service.) After the first hymn we sit and listen to the Call to Confession and Silent Prayer. This is a quiet opportunity for us to make a personal confession to God of our shortcomings as Christians. We then join together as a congregation in the Community Prayer of Confession printed in the bulletin. Rev. Wherry follows this with an Assurance of Pardon, to remind us that, through God’s grace, our sins are forgiven. Next we stand to sing the Gloria Patri, which we sing from memory. If you are unfamiliar with it, you may find it on page 579 of the blue hymnal (you’ll find that page noted in the bulletin). The words are, 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. Christians have been singing the Gloria Patri for nearly 2,000 years. Calvary strives to blend the beauty of traditional worship elements with new approaches to worshipping God, to respond to an ever-changing world. 2. The Proclamation of the Word A member of the congregation steps up to the lectern to deliver the First Reading from the Bible, greeting the congregation, to which we again respond, “Good morning.” He or she will begin with a Prayer of Illumination to ask God’s help in our understanding of the Word. The page number of the reading is noted in your bulletin so you may follow along in your pew Bible, if you wish. We use the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. This is usually followed by an Anthem reflecting the liturgical theme for the day, sung by the church’s soloists. (During the summer the soloists and choir take a break, and we enjoy musical offerings of individual members.) The pastor then calls the children forward for a special Message for God’s Children. He joins them on the steps at the front of the sanctuary for a short story and discussion, followed by a prayer. If your children are a little shy about coming forward, feel free to accompany them and sit with them and the other children. At the conclusion, the children may go to supervised childcare or rejoin their families. Member volunteers will escort them to the appropriate childcare area, but parents may also accompany their children if they wish. Rev. Wherry then continues with the Second Reading from the Bible as an introduction to his Sermon. On a morning where special activities are added to the order of worship, he may shorten his sermon to a “Meditation.” The sermon is followed by another hymn, and we remain standing for the Affirmation of Faith. We often recite, from memory, the Apostle’s Creed (found on page 14 of the blue hymnal). The words follow. 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. We vary our Affirmation of Faith from time to time with other creeds, printed in the bulletin, or with a responsive Litany of Affirmation. 3. The Fellowship of the Word At this point Rev. Wherry will ask the congregation to share news of family or friends who may be in need of our prayers, or members may share special joys that have come into their lives. Feel free to raise you hand to be recognized if you wish to stand and share any prayer requests you may have. Rev. Wherry concludes with a Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer. The words we recite may be slightly different than what you are used to. 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. As the choir stands to sing the Offertory, the ushers move along the aisles, passing the collection plates. They stand at either end of the pews and hand the plate to the first person in the pew. The plate is passed down to the center of the pew, then passed back to the same usher. Don’t feel obligated to donate; we are happy to have you as a guest. When the ushers bring the collection plates forward and place them at the front of the Sanctuary, we rise and sing the Doxology from memory. You can find the words printed on page 592 of the blue hymnal. The words are: Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise Him, all creatures here below; praise Him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen. We remain standing for the Prayer of Dedication of our offerings to do God’s work. Next, Rev. Wherry asks for Announcements of upcoming church events or meetings. Occasionally members add comments about activities outside of the church that other members may be interested in. Finally, we rise for our last hymn, and remain standing for the Benediction from Rev. Wherry. It is with this “good word” that we are reminded that we go into God’s world to do God’s work. We then sing a simple Choral Amen as Rev. Wherry walks to the center of the Sanctuary to greet worshippers at the conclusion of the service. But wait! There’s more. Fellowship Calvary members look forward each week to greeting each other and catching up on news. We begin in the sanctuary by greeting those around us as the organ Postlude plays gently behind us. You may find it slow going as you work your way to the door. Take time to say hello to those around you, and to introduce yourself to Rev. Wherry. If you haven’t signed the Friendship Pad, now is a good time to do so, and look over the newsletters and brochures that are on the table nearby. But don’t leave yet. Follow the crowd downstairs to Derr Hall where we have Coffee Hour. It often is a full hour of meeting and greeting and eating. Calvary members love to share good food, and we promise you’ll find a savory or sweet you like. The warmth of fellowship in our church is often noted as a highlight of membership here. It’s why we call ourselves, “The Little Church with the Big Heart.” If your older children joined the others in surpervised play during the remainder of the service, they’ll be waiting for you at Coffee Hour in Derr Hall. If they are younger than second grade, they’ll be waiting for you in the Nursery. While this describes a typical service, some services have more elements. The Sacrament of Holy Communion is celebrated once a month at Calvary. (click here to read more about Communion.) We also celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism during our worship service. Palm Sunday, Easter, Advent and the Christmas Eve service all add their own special acts of worship. Additionally, we enjoy the enthusiasm, energy and the fresh perspective of our children as they perform their annual Spring Musical as part of one Sunday’s service. In June, the youth of our church lead the congregation in worship by crafting their own service with a unique interpretation of God’s word. Mid-summer brings a vibrant and introspective approach to worship as our music director, Steve Rowe, inspires us with Rock n’ Roll Sunday and a Gospel Sunday. Rural Life Sunday is another interesting blend of old and new in the worship service. While rooted in centuries of Reformed tradition, the unique elements of each service at Calvary Presbyterian are decided on by the Worship and Music Committee. Church members are encouraged to find ways to lead and inspire fellow congregants in worshipping God by contributing their ideas and talents. Our service is based on a cherished traditional order of worship. But Calvary finds vibrancy and excitement in its rich mix of new and old elements, and by blending a variety of musical genres in with our many beloved traditional hymns. The services are very much a reflection of the contributions of many members, young and old alike, in the Presbyterian tradition of joint decision making. A large number of our members come to us from other denominations, finding our form of worship appealing on a spiritual and intellectual level, and our congregation welcoming and inclusive. Please visit us this Sunday. We look forward to meeting you. Calvary considers music a vital part of our worship experience, and we seek to include a wide range of musical offerings as a joyful expression of our love of God. We enjoy the beauty of the traditional hymns found in the Presbyterian Hymnal (Westminster/John Know Press, 1990, blue cover), and use it as our main resource for hymns during our Sunday morning worship service. They are kept next to the Bibles in the racks on the back of each pew. Occasionally we use a second hymnal, This Far by Faith, An African American Resource for Worship (Augsberg Fortress, 1999, red cover) to add variety to our worship experience. The use of This Far by Faith is noted as “red hymnal” in the bulletin and by red-bordered numbers on the hymn boards at the front of the sanctuary. The red hymnals are located at the ends and middle of the pews. The website of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (PCUSA) contains a wealth of information about our denomination, our history, our beliefs and practices, and many resources for information on our activities. www.pcusa.org Following are excerpts from their website that give an overview of what it means to be Presbyterian. Presbyterians are distinctive in two major ways: they adhere to a pattern of religious thought known as Reformed theology and a form of government that stresses the active, representational leadership of both ministers and church members. In many larger Presbyterian churches, members elect representatives to serve in three groups: the Session, the Trustees, and the Deacons, each with its own assigned tasks. At Calvary, we have combined the functions of the three groups into one Session comprised of fifteen Elders. Elders then are assigned to chair committees that focus on specific activities of the church. All members of the church are encouraged to serve on committees along with the Elders, and may attend Session meetings if they wish. Calvary belongs to the Presbyterian Church USA. The PCUSA has approximately 2.4 million members, 11,100 congregations, and 14,000 ordained and active ministers. Presbyterians trace their history to the 16th century and the Protestant Reformation. Our heritage, and much of what we believe, began with the French lawyer John Calvin (1509-1564), whose writings crystallized much of the Reformed thinking that came before him. Calvin did much of his writing from Geneva, Switzerland. From there, the Reformed movement spread to other parts of Europe and the British Isles. Many of the early Presbyterians in America came from England, Scotland and Ireland. The first American Presbytery was organized here, in Philadelphia, in 1706. The first General Assembly was also held here in 1789. The first Assembly was convened by the Rev. John Witherspoon, the only minister to sign the Declaration of Independence. Portions of the Presbyterian church in the United States have separated from the main body, and some parts have reunited, several times. The greatest division occurred in 1861 during the American Civil War. The two branches created by that division were reunited in 1983 to form the PCUSA, currently the largest Presbyterian group in this country. Some of the principles articulated by John Calvin remain at the core of Presbyterian beliefs. Among these are the sovereignty of God, the authority of the scripture, justification by grace through faith and the priesthood of all believers. What they mean is that God is the supreme authority throughout the universe. Our knowledge of God and God's purpose for humanity comes from the Bible, particularly what is revealed in the New Testament through the life of Jesus Christ. Our salvation (justification) through Jesus is God's generous gift to us and not the result of our own accomplishments. It is everyone's job - ministers and lay people alike - to share this Good News with the whole world. That is also why the Presbyterian church is governed at all levels by a combination of clergy and laity, men and women alike. Our position on social issues In the 1958 Statement of the PCUA, p. 537: The General Assembly:
As far back as 1837 the General Assembly declared that the church, by its very nature, is a missionary society whose purpose is to share the love of God in Jesus Christ in word and deed and with all the world. Witnessing to the good news of Jesus Christ throughout the world, Presbyterians engage in mission activities, seek to alleviate hunger, foster self-development, respond to disasters, support mission works, preach the gospel, heal the sick, and educate new generations for the future. In partnership with more than 150 churches and Christian organizations around the world, the missionary efforts of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) involve approximately 1,000 volunteers and compensated personnel. The Constitution The Constitution of the PCUSA consists of two parts. The first volume is the Book of Confessions; the second is called the Book of Order. Along with the Bible, these books guide us in our daily activities. Presbyterians confess their beliefs through statements that have been adopted over the years and are contained in the Book of Confessions. These statements reflect our understanding of God and what God expects of us at different times in history, but all are faithful to the fundamental beliefs described above. Even though we share these common beliefs, Presbyterians understand that God alone is Lord of the conscience, and it is up to each individual to understand what these principles mean in his or her life. The Book of Order consists of the Form of Government, Directory for Worship, and Rules of Discipline. It offers guidance to congregations about how the church should conduct its affairs and offers guidelines for worship services. Some rules are mandatory, while others are strongly recommended, or commended as suitable and appropriate. Using the Book of Order for guidance, each church is allowed to create a worship experience that reflects the interests and spiritual needs of the members of that church and draws on their collective talents. Each church is allowed to choose their own ministers, with support and guidance from the local Presbytery. Church members vote to choose members of a selection committee which interviews prospective candidates. Members then vote to accept or reject the recommendation of the committee. At Calvary, the fifteen Elders who make up the Session and the Minister meet monthly to review the needs of the church and hear reports from each committee. Committees make recommendations on the activities and day-to-day functioning of the church, and all Elders have the opportunity to vote on the recommendations of the committees. Elders represent the interests of all members of the church, and members may approach them directly to discuss issues of concern. Members may also attend committee meetings and Session meetings to express their concerns. Periodically throughout the year the Session is required to hold a congregational meeting to vote on specific issues, as outlined in the Book of Order. Elders serve a three-year term, and may choose to serve more than one term. |
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