. \

"A TRAGIC vlASTE"

A Sermon By

Rev. Philip A. C. Clarke

Park Avenue United Methodist Church New York City, New York January 15, 1989

\

"A TRAGIC HJl.0TE"

INTRODUCTION In 1977 Patrick Bisse 1 was a fast-rising star with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre. Critic Clive Barnes

had nothing but praise for Bi.ssel. In his column Barnes hailed ''The emergence of a major new star". Hm..J"ever, Bissel never fulfilled that prophecy. He died earlier this year from an overdose of cocaine.

Rissel' s story made the headlines because all who knew him recognized the tragedy of such vast potential wasted. At the age of 20, Patrick Bissel had been drafted from the ranks to perform roles normally reserved for prin­cipal artists. Mikhail Baryshinikov, artistic director of the American Bal­let Theatre, believes Bissel was "one of the brightest lights •• in the entire ballet world".

But the lights flickered out when his fiancee found him lying dead on a couch in his apartmrmt. One obituary read, "His friends -rear he died the same way he Hved - disastrously, on drugs." Such rrrasted brilliance is indeed a tragedy.

DEVELOPMENT This morning, hot·rever, I want to draw your attention to another tragedy. It is the tragedy of the waste of potential

gifts and talents and abilities within the Body of Christ.

Many of us •• most of us ••• in this church family have been richly blessed! Perhaps ours are not great worldly talents comparable to Patrick Bissel 1 s, but still rrre have been blessed. vJe, too, have gifts - "spiritual gifts" -and those gifts in some instances are being tragically wasted. And to squander a gift, whether it be for world-class ballet or church-wide service, is one of the greatest tragedies of all.

Think for a moment. What is your spiritual gift? And are you using that gift for the glory of God? These are the questions before us this morning.

EACH OF US HAS A SPIRITUAL GIFT

that each of us has a spri tual gift.

Now the obvious place for us to begin this sermon is •11 i th the asserion, first-off,

What are those gifts? You may have a difficult time discovering your gift among those that St. Pa•tl lists in his Letter to the Corinthians: prophecy, healing, the v.rorking of miracles, and so on. Some of these need interpretation.

For example, what is a worker of miracles.

Dr. Donald Strobe told about an amusing story which was featured on a commedy program on televtsion recently. One of the segments of the program dealt with two or three short movies by a man who had discovered a terrific gimmick. He found out v.rhen buildings were to be demolished here in the city, and then arranged to film them being blown up or torn dmm. In splicing the film, he later intenrove himself and his own dialogue into the picture.

In his film, he t-Jould talk to passerbys as though he were actually directing them to walk along the street, as though nothinp.: unusual were about to happen.

' \

- 2 -

Then he would say to his assistant, "I don't like that red brick building in the background. Get rid of it!" And at t,th ich - on r.ue - the building wonld come tumbling rlmm with a mighty crashl An unsophisticated person who did not know of the wondruous world of television illusion would srrrear that his command had brought the building tumbling d~~. Is that what it means to be a worker of miracles?

I've known some workers of miracles through the years, but they have gone about their way in a quiet and non-spectacnlar way. I've known individuals and churches that have been turned completely around because they came into contact with a miracle worker whose faith, devotion and vision were so contagious that others were insnired to exceed their own inclinations. I believe there are some potent j_a 1 workers of miracles sitting here this morning in this very con­gregation. Yes. "Hello Somebody".

\'-'hat is the gift of the "evangelist?" One noted expert in church growth has estimated that 10% of the people in any local congregation have the gift of the evangelist. Does that mean that one out of ten of us ought to be a Billy Graham? No, I think not. Rather it means that one out of ten has the gift from God to share our faith with someone else in such a positive and compelling way that they might be brought into the family of Christ. Not every one of us can do that. But can you imagine what might happen here in this Church if 10% of our church body thought of themselves as evangelists and sought to exercise that gift by being actively engaged in the business of seeking out persons who need the love and fellowship of Christ and the Church family? 1rle would see grmvth - numerical and spiritual - as we have never seen it before.

Each of us has certain "spiritual" gifts. For some it is pre.<tching, for others teaching, for others singing, for others P.Vangelism. I'm sure that · St. Paul did not mean for his list to be exhaustive. There are surely other gifts not listed here in the scripture that Linda read for us earlier. And as 1,re have noted, some of the gifts he listed need to be interpreted.

For example, is the gift of healing to include only praying for the sick 11 a la Oral Roberts"? Or, are there others who have the gift of healing of a different sort - the healing of damaged feelings or the healing of fractured families by a quiet, sympathetic ministry of listening? The rna in point is that everyone of us has a "spiritual" gift that c.:m be used for God for his glorificati.on and for service to others in His name. That's the first thing .,e must "nail down" here this morning. Hhat is your gift?

DIFFERENT GIFTS, BUT ALL ARE ESSENTIAL TO GOO 1 S PLAN It is also important for us to understand

that each of us has dj fferent gifts, but all are essential to God's plan and e(lual in God's si.ght. He need to he reminded that there are no superstars in God's work. In God's perfect plan for the world each of us has different talents, interests anri abilities. Hot all of us can be teachers. ~Vho would feed or clothe us? 1:Jhom would we teach? Not all of us can be farmers? 'vJho ~vould bandage our wounds when we are hurt? Our world functions as smoothly as it does because Gorl has "gifted" us in uniQue and wonderful vrays.

So it is with the work of the Kingdom. Each of us has a different spiritual gift. r,lhen He all use our gifts as God intends, then the world is blessed anri our own lives are enriched.

., ' ,...,

- 3 -

There is a popular story about a group of animals who decided that they needed to exp::mrl their gifts. They set up a curriculum for themselves that reouired everyone to master the activities of running, flying, hopping, jump­ing and swimming.

The experiment '.Jas a disaster ••• a. real disaster. A rabbit, an expert in hopping, spent so much time in the areas in which he "'ras deficient - swimming, climbing and flying - that he nearly forgot hou to hop. And the eagle, who was a superb flyer, got waterlogged and rearly drown in the swimming class. The squirrel, a superior r.limber, only thought he could raster flying- much to his r.hagrin. And the turtle, an excellent swirrrrner, was a miserable fe.ilure in the jumping contest. The duck looked absurd trying to climb a tree. Soon it was evident thn.t it was far more profitable for them to make use of the eifts they rltd have rather than to seek gifts that they were not intended to have.

As s oneone has said, "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It just wastes your time and annoys the pig".

V.le all have different gifts. All great leaders have recognized that to be effective, vre must use the gi.fts God has given us. Grady ~lilson for years has handled evangeli.st Billy Graham's business affairs. I remember once reading that WHson ,,ras faced with a decision about ,,rhether to move the Billy Graham organization to larger ouarters. Unable to arrive at a decision, he called Dr. Graham for advice. Graham answered kindly, but firmly. "I don't call you and ask you 1,rhat I should preach" he said to Grady, "please ••• don 1 t call me about vrhat you should do with buildings".

In the same article I read that one of the secrets of Billy Graham's success has been tn locating people with gifts and entrusting them to use those gifts. E,gch of us ha.s different gifts. ThP key to successful living is not to grieve over the gifts ~ve do not ha,re, but to take those r,m do have and use them to the utmost. In other warns, take the ball and rtl'1 ~Tith it. Give it your very best effort.

Once there was a young boy who was j n a class studying the multiplication table. The teacher asked him to recite the nines. The boy stumbled along and did not do very "'ell. Finally, he said to the teacher, "1'e.:1cher ••• I don't know the nines very "rell, but I'm a tiger when it comes to the sevens".

He had discovered a great lesson even thot~h it did not help him succeed with his math teacher. He discovered the part he could handle and gave it his utmost. He was a tiger v-.rhen it came to the sevens.

AND USf: WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN US / HE wiLL GIVE US GREAT VICTORIES This brings us to the

final thing we need to say. If we use what God has given us, He will grant us grea.ter victories than we e\•er imagined possible. Even persons with limited abilities can succeed H they will give it thetr all.

?rank llettger was a st:::tr insurance salesman in the period following ltlorld ''Jar II. Bettger was so successful that he had earned enough by the age of Lo to rettre comfortably. Admirers called him a born salesman. His ability to close a sale vms legendary. It is said that he could sell Hhat would be the

--~----~--

- L -

eouivalent of a multimillion dollar policy in today' s nollars in about 15 minutes.

1·!e need to know, hoHever, that at the age of 29 after one year of selling, Bettger considered himself a hopeless failure. He was not a born salesman. to/hen he discovered that. there was only one ~ray he •rould succeed and that would be to give it everything he had, he was then able to begin his ,journey that led him to some astounding accomplishments.

So it is with us ••• both in our work in the •rorld and in our service in the body of Christ. Just because you have never been comfortable in front of people noesn't mean that you have not beon given the gift of teaching. It is amazing hmr many of the ;10rld 1 s great orators have had to conquer such impedi­ments as a lisp, an unimpressive appearance or some other hindrance. Their very determination to overcome their handicap helped make them great.

Let me add this thought too for your consideration. I am not certain t-1here commitment ends and God's blesstng begins, but a spiritual gift is not necessarily a talent. Availability and depennahility are as important as ability itself when it comes to Kingdom building. Little things like attend­ing a meeting and getting there on time, or making a pledge cormnitment and getting it in "on time" and not three months later. Hello somebody. Ouch.

Look at the people God chose to serve Him in Bible times. The towering figure of the first part of our Bible was an Ro year old man who spoke with a stammer. His name? Hoses. None of the men who surrounded Jesus gave any indication of their later greatness. And so it is in the church today. God uses people 'Arho are Hilling to offer themselves and all they have to Him. And praise God for such people. And more important than our individual talents or abilities or intellect is the spirit with which they are given to God, the underlying attitude.

Have you a gift which can be used to the glory of God? Of course you have. And if so, how are you using it?

CLOSING ILLUSTRATION Sometime back TV host Merv Grlffin i.ntervieued some body builders. Herv asked one of his muscle-

bound guests this memorable (luestion, "V<lho do y~m use all those musbles for?"

One of the body buUders ansvrered by striking one of the "flex" poses that you have seen body builders in. "No ••• you don't understand me" said Merv. "vlhat do you use all those musbles for?" The guy said, "I '11 show you". And he ''flexed" again, posing in another way.

"No ••• no ••• you sttll do not understand my question" 1 Merve asked insistently. "Read my lips. irlhat do you use then for?" And the guy posed again. He still did not umerstand. All those beautiful muscles. But no apparent use for them except for display.

You have a gift that God has bestowed upon you. As a follower of Christ, i.t is not enough to stMply display it and not really use it. Much more can be done. Think a.bout it and f!Uietly here in these moments, ask God to help you to make greater use of those talents and abtlities that are yours to help make thts world a little bit better for your having walked through it.

- s -

LET US PRAY For the spiritual gifts th.:Jt you have bestowed upon each of us, n God, we thank you. Help us to use those talents and

those abilities wisely ••• to the glory of Yollr name and for the benefit of others. Confirm within us the intentions and the resolutions and the decisions of this hour. Renew within us that right spirit. Help us to serve Thee more fai.thflllly. 'fl give and not to count the cost. To labor and not to ask for any reward sa.ve that of knowing that we are doing Thy wHl. In the snirit of Christ, our Lord. Amen.

"A TRAGIC 1rlASTE"

A Sermon By

Rev. Ph Hip A. C. Clarke

Park Avenue United Methodist Church New York City, New York January 15, 1989

I I

"A TRAGIC WASTE"

INTRODUCTION In 1977 Patrick Bissel was a fast-rising star with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre. Critic Clive Barnes

had nothing but praise for Bissel. In his column Barnes hailed "The emergence of a major new star" • Hm.fever, Bisse l never fulfilled that prophecy. He died earlier this year from an overdose of cocaine.

Bissel's story made the headlines because all who knew him recognized the tragedy of such vast potential wasted. At the age of 20, Patrick Bissel had been drafted from the ranks to perform roles normally reserved for prin­cipal artists. Mikhail Baryshinikov, artistic director of the American Bal­let Theatre, believes Bissel was "one of the brightest lights •• in the entire ballet world".

But the lights flickered out when his fiancee found him lying dead on a couch in his apartment. One obituary read, "His friends fear he died the same way he lived - disastrously, on drugs." Such vrasted brilliance is indeed a tragedy.

DEVELOPMENT This morning, hm·rever, I want to draw your attention to another tragedy. It is the tragedy of the waste of potential

gifts and talents and abilities within the Body of Christ.

Many of us •• most of us ••• in this church family have been r ich ly blessed l Perhaps ours are not great worldly talents comparable to Patrick Bissel's, but still we have been blessed. v.re, too, have gifts - "spiritual gifts" -and those gifts in some instances are being tragically wasted. And to squander a gift, whether it be for world-class ballet or church-wide service, is one of the greatest tragedies of all.

Think for a moment. What is your spiritual gift? And are you using that gift for the glory of God? These are the questions before us this morning.

EACH OF US HAS A SPIRITUAL GIFT

that each of us has a spritual gift.

Now the obvious place for us to begin this .~rmon. i~ 5w1tb!1 tb~eassertion_, fir~t-off,

What are those gifts? You may have a difficult time discovering your gift among those that St. Paul lists in his Letter to the Corinthians: prophecy, healing, the working of miracles, and so on. Some of these need interpretation.

For example, what is a worker of miracles.

Dr. Donald Strobe told about an amusing story which vras featured on a commedy program on television recently. One of the segments of the program dealt with two or three short movies by a man who had discovered a terrific gimmick. He found out when buildings were to be demolished here in the city, and then arranged to film them being blown up or torn down. In splicing the film, he later inter;..rove himself and his own dialogue into the picture.

In his film, he would talk to passerbys as though he were actually directing them to walk along the street, as though nothing unusual were about to happen.

- 2 -

Then he would say to his assistant, "I don't like that red brick building in the background. Get rid of itt" And at 1..;hich -on cue -the building would come tumbling down with a mighty crash! An unsophisticated person who did not know of the wondruous world of television illusion would swear that his command had brought the building tumbling d~vn. Is that what it means to be a worker of miracles?

I've known some workers of miracles through the years, but they have gone about their way in a quiet and non-spectacular way. I've known individuals and churches that have been turned completely around because they came into contact '1-rith a miracle worker whose faith, devotion and vision were so contagious that others were inspired to exceed their own inclinations. I believe there are some potential workers of miracles sitting here this morning in this very con­gregation. Yes. "Hello Somebody".

What is the gift of the "evangelist?" One noted expert in church growth has estimated that 10% of the people in any local congregation have the gift of the evangelist. Does that mean that one out of ten of us ought to be a Billy Graham? No, I think not. Rather it means that one out of ten has the gift from God to share our faith with someone else in such a positive and compe,lling way that they might be brought into the family of Christ. Not every one of us can do that. But can you imagine what might happen here in this Church if 10% of our church body thought of themselves as evangelists and sought to exercise that gift by being actively engaged in the business of seeking out persons who need the love and fellowship of Christ and the Church family? We would see growth - numerical and spiritual - as we have never seen it before.

Each of us has certain "spiritual" gifts. For some it is preaching, for others teaching, for others singing, for others evangelism. I'm sure that · St. Paul did not mean for his list to be exhaustive. There are surely other gifts not listed here in the scripture that Linda read for us earlier. And as 11Te have noted, some of the gifts he listed need to be interpreted.

For example, is the gift of healing to include only praying for the sick "a la Oral Roberts"? Or, are there others who have the gift of healing of a different sort - the healing of damaged feelings or the healing of fractured families by a quiet, sympathetic ministry of listening? The main point is that everyone of us has a "spiritual" gift that can be used for God for his glorification and for service to others in His name. That 1 s the first thing :-re must "nail down" here this morning. 1tlhat is your gift?

DIFFERENT GIFTS, BUT ALL ARE ESSENTIAL TO GOD'S PLAN It is also important for us to understand

that each of us has different gifts, but all are essential to God's plan and equal in God's sight. We need to be reminded that there are no superstars in God's work. In God's perfect plan for the world each of us has different talents, interests and abilities. Not all of us can be teachers. \.fuo would feed or clothe us? Whom would we teach? Not all of us can be farmers? Who would bandage our 1111'ounds when vJe are hurt? Our world functions as smoothly as it does because God has "gifted" us in unique and wonderful vrays.

So it is with the work of the Kingdom. Each of us has a different spiritual gift. lfJhen vre all use our gifts as God intends, then the world is blessed and our own lives are enriched.

- 3 -

There is a popular story about a group of animals who decided that they needed to expand their gifts. They set up a curriculum for themselves that required everyone to master the activities of running, flying, hopping, jump­ing and swimming.

The experiment was a disaster .•• a real disaster. A rabbit, an expert in hopping, spent so much time in the areas in which he v-ras deficient - swimming, climbing and flying - that he nearly forgot hou to hop. And the eagle, who was a superb flyer, got waterlogged and nearly drown in the swimming class. The squ irre 1, a superior climber, only thought he could rm ster flying - much to his chagrin. And the turtle, an excellent swimmer, was a miserable fa.ilure in the jumping contest. The duck looked absurd trying to climb a tree. Soon it was evident that it was far more profitable for them to make use of the gifts they did have rather than to seek gtfts that they were not intended to have.

As someone has said, "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It just wastes your time and annoys the pig" •

We all have different gifts. All great leaders have recognized that to be effective, ~re must use the gifts God has given us. Grady H'ilson for years has handled evangelist Billy Graham's business affairs. I remember once reading that Wilson was faced with a decision about "rhether to move the Billy Graham organization to larger auarters. Unable to arrive at a decision, he called Dr. Graham for advice. Graham answered kindly, but firmly. "I don't call you and ask you what I should preach" he said to Grady, "please ••• don't call me about vThat you should do with buildings".

In the same article I read that one of the secrets of Billy Graham's success has been in locating people with gifts and entrusting them to use those gifts. Each of us has different gifts. The key to successful living is not to grieve over the gifts we do not have, but to take those vTe do have and use them to the utmost. In other words, take the ball and run with it. Give it your very best effort.

Once there was a young boy who was in a class studying the multiplication table. The teacher asked him to recite the nines. The boy stumbled along and did not do very V~rell. Finally, he said to the teacher, "Tea.cher ••• I don't know the nines very vJell, but I'm a tiger when it comes to the sevens".

He had discovered a great lesson even though it did not help him succeed with his math teacher. He discovered the part he could handle and gave it his utmost. He was a tiger v-rhen it came to the sevens.

AND USE WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN US / HE WILL GIVE US GREAT VICTORIES This brings us to the

final thing we need to say. If we use what God has given us, He will grant us greater victories than we ever imagined possible. Even persons with limited abilities can succeed if they will give it their all.

?rank Bettger was a star insurance salesman in the period following World 1N'ar II. Bettger was so successful that he had earned enough by the age of 40 to retire comfortably. Admirers called him a born salesman. His ability to close a sale was legendary. It is said that he could sell what would be the

- 4 -

equivalent of a multimillion dollar policy in today's dollars in about 15 minutes.

He need to know, hoHever, that at the age of 29 after one year of selling, Bettger considered himself a hopeless failure. He was not a born salesman. t-Jhen he discovered that there was only one way he would succeed and that would be to give jt everything he had, he was then able to begin his journey that led him to some astounding accomplishments.

So it is with us ••• both in our work in the ~rorld and in our service in the body of Christ. Just because you have never been comfortable in front of people doesn't mean that you have not been given the gift of teaching. It is amazing how many of the 1tJorld's great orators have had to conquer such ilnpedi­ments as a lisp, an unimpressive appearance or some other hindrance. Their very determination to overcome their handicap helped make them great.

Let me add this thought too for your consideration. I am not certain where commitment ends and God's blessing begins, but a spiritual gift is not necessarily a talent. Availability and dependability are as important as ability itself when it comes to Kingdom building. Little things like attend­ing a meeting and getting there on time, or making a pledge commitment and getting it in "on time" and not three months later. Hello somebody. Ouch.

look at the people God chose to serve Him in Bible times. The tovJering figure of the first part of our Bible was an 80 year old man who spoke with, a stammer. His name? Moses. None of the men who surrounded Jesus gave any indication of their later greatness. And so it is in the church today. God uses people 111rho are willing to offer themselves and all they have to Him. And praise God for such people. And more important than our individual talents or abilities or intellect is the spirit with which they are given to God, the underlying attitude.

Have you a gift which can be used to the glory of God? Of course you have. And if so, how are you using it?

CLOSING ILLUSTRATION Sometime back TV host Merv Griffin intervievJed some body builders. Merv asked one of his muscle-

bound guests this memorable question, "Who do you use all those musbles for?"

One of the body builders ansVJered by striking one of the "flex" poses that you have seen body builders in. "No ••• you don't understand me" said Merv. "1rJhat do you use all those musbles for?" The guy said, "I'll show you". And he "flexed" again, posing in another way.

"No ••• no .•• you sttll do not understand my question", Merv.! asked insistently. "Read my lips. 'V/hat do you use them for?" And the guy posed again. He still did not understand. All those beautiful muscles. But no apparent use for them except for display.

You have a gift that God has bestowed upon you. As a follower of Christ, it is not enough to simply display it and not really use it. Much more can be done. Think about it and quietly here in these moments, ask God to help you to make greater use of those talents and abilities that are yours to help make this world a little bit better for _your having walked through it.

- s -

LET US PRAY For the spiritual gifts that you have bestowed upon each of us, 0 God, we thank you. Help us to use those talents and

those abilities wisely ••• to the glory of Your name and for the benefit of others. Confirm within us the intentions and the resolutions and the decisions of this hour. Renew within us that right spirit. Help us to serve Thee more faithfully. T;a give and not to count the cost. To labor and not to ask for any reward save that of knowing that we are doing Thy vJill. In the spirit of Christ, our Lord. Amen.

"A TRAGIC vlASTE"

A Sermon By

Rev. Philip A. C. Clarke

Park Avenue United Methodist Church New York City, New York January 15, 1989

"A TRAGIC i1Jl.GTE"

INTRODUCTION In 1977 Patrick Bissel was a fast-rising star with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre. Critic Clive Barnes

had nothing but praise for IFssel. In his colwrm Barnes hailed ''The emergence of a major new star". Hm-lever, Bisse l never fulfilled that prophecy. He died earlier this year from an overdose of cocaine.

Bissel's story made the headlines because all who knew him recognized the tragedy of such vast potential wasted. At the age of 20, Patrick Bissel had been drafted from the ranks to perform roles normally reserved for prin­cipal artists. Mikhail Baryshinikov, artistic director of the American Bal­let Theatre, believes Bissel was 11 one of the brightest lights •• in the entire ballet world".

But the lights flickered out when his fiancee found him lying dead on a couch in his apartment. One obituary read, "His friends ~ear he died the same way he Uved - disastrously, on drugs." Such 1-rasted brilliance is indeed a tragedy.

DEVELOPMENT This morning, hot-rever, I want to draw your attention to another tragedy. It is the tragedy of the waste of potential

gifts and talents and abilities within the Body of Christ.

Many of us •• most of us ••• in this church family have been richly blessed~ Perhaps ours are not great worldly talents comparable to Patrick Rissel 1 s, but still we have been blessed. v.re, too, have gifts - "spiritual gifts" - and those gifts in some instances are being tragically wasted. And to squander a gift, whether it be for world-class ballet or church-wide service, is one of the greatest tragedies of all.

Think for a moment. What is your spiritual gift? And are you using that gift for the glory of God? These are the questions before us this morning.

EACH OF US HAS A SPIRITUAL GIFT

that each of us has a spri tual gift.

Now the obvious place for us to begin this sermon is TtJ'ith the asserion, first-off,

What are those gifts? You may have a difficult time discovering your gift among those that St. Pa•1l lists in his Letter to the Corinthians: prophecy, healing, the working of miracles, and so on. Some of these need interpretation.

For example, what is a worker of miracles.

Dr. Donald Strobe told about an amusing story which was featured on a commedy program on television recently. One of the segments of the program dealt with two or three short movies by a man who h-"ld discovered a terrific gimmick. He found out v-rhen buildings were to be demolished here in the city, and then arranged to fi.lm them being blown up or torn down. In splicing the film, he later inter1,rove himself and his own dialogue into the picture.

In his fi.lm, he t-Jould talk to passerbys as though he were actually directin~ them to walk along the street, as though nothing unusual were about to happen.

- 2 -

Then he would say to his assistant, "I don't like that red brick building in the background. Get rid of i t1" And at r,rh ich - on cue - the building wo11ld come tumbling rlown with a mighty crash! An unsophisticated person who did not know of the wondruous world of telPvision illusion would swear that his command had brought the building tumbling down. Is that what it means to be a worker of miracles?·

I've known some workers of miracles through the years, but they have gone about their way in a quiet and non-spectacular way. I've known individuals and churches that have been turned completely around because they came into contact with a miracle worker whose faith, devotion and vision were so contagious that others were inspired to exceed their own inclinations. I believe there are some potent b 1 workers of miracles sitting here this morning in this very con­gregation. Yes. "Hello Somebody".

~,That is the gift of the "evangelist?" One noted expert in church growth has estimated that 10% of the people in any local congregation have the gift of the evangelist. Does that mean that one out of ten of us ought to be a Billy Graham? No, I think not. Rather it means that one out of ten has the gift from God to share our faith with someone else in such a positive and compelling way that they might be brought into the family of Christ. Not every one of ns can do that. But can you imagine what might happen here in this Church if 10% of our church body thought of themselves as evangelists and sought to exercise that gift by being actively engaged in the business of seeking out persons 1rrho need the love and fellowship of Christ and the Church family? ltfe would see grmo~th - numerical and spiritual - as we have never seen it before.

Each of us has certain "spiritual" gifts. F'or some it is preaching, for others teaching, for others singing, .for others evangelism. I'm sure that St. Paul did not mean for his list to be exhaustive. There are surely other gifts not listed here in the scripture that Linda read for us earlier. And as Fe have noted, some of the gifts he listed need to be interpreted.

F'or example, is the gift of healing to include only praying for the sick "a la Oral Roberts"? Or, are there others who have the gift of healing of a different sort - the healing of damaged feelings or the healing of fractured families by a quiet, sympathetic ministry of listening? The main point is that everyone of us has a "spiritual" gift that c3n be used for God for his glorificatjon and for service to others in His name. That's the first thing ···e must "nail down" here this morning. i'Jhat is your gift?

DIFFERENT GIF'TS, BUT ALL ARE ESSENTIAL TO GOO 1 S PLAN It is also important for us to understand

that each of us has dj fferent gifts, but all are essential to God's plan and eoual in God's si.ght. vle need to be reminded that there are no super:::;tars in God's work. In God's perfect plan for the 1rrorld each of us has different talents, interests and abilities. Not all of us can be teachers. ~Vho would feed or clothe us? 1,fuom would we teach? Not all of us can be farmers? Hho 'VOUld banrlage our wounds Hhen we are hurt? Our world functions as smoothly as it does because God has "gifted" us in unirme and wonderful Hays.

So it is with the work of the Kingdom. Each of us has a different sriritual gift. 1~1hen vre all use our gifts as God intends, then the world is blessed anri our own lives are enr icbed.

- 3 -

There is a. popular story about a group of animals who decided that they needed to expa.nrl their gifts. They set up a curriculum for themselves that reouired everyone to master the activities of running, flying, hopping, jump­ing and swimming.

The expPriment '-laS a disaster .•• a real disaster. A rabbit, an expert in hopping, spent so much time in the areas in which he v.ras defi.cient - swimming, climbing and flying - that he nearly forgot hou to hop. And the eagle, who wa: a superb flyer, got waterlogged and rearly drown in the swimming cla.ss. The squirrel, a superior r.limber, only thought he could rnster flying - much t,o his r.hagrin. And the turtle, an excellent swimmer, was a miserable fcdlure in the jumping contest. The duck looked absurd trying to climb a tree. Soon it was evident thnt it was far more profitable for them to make use of the gifts they rlid have rather than to seek gifts that they were not intended to have.

As s one one has said, "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It just wastes your time and annoys the pig".

1rle all have dirff~rent gifts. All great leaders have recognized that to be effective, r,re must use the gtfts God has given us. Grady ifilson for years has hand led 8''Hngellst Billy Graham's business affairs. I remember once reading that WHson •,ras faced with a decision about ,,rhether to move the Billy Graham organization to la.rgcr ouarters. Unable to arrive at a decision, he called Dr. Graham for advice. Graham answered kindly, but firmly. "I don 1 t call you and ask you Hhat I should preach" he said to Grady, "please ••• don't call me abc vrhat you should do with buildings".

In the sRme article I read that one of the secrets of Billy Graham's success has been i.n locating neople with gifts and entrusting them to use those gifts. E~ch of us ha.s different gifts. The key to successful living is not tc grieve over the gi.fts we do not have, but to take those ,,:e do have and use therr to the utmost. In other words, take the ball and run ~Ti th it. Give it your ve best effort.

Once there wa.s a young boy who was in a class studying the multiplication table. The teacher asked him to recite the nines. The boy stumbled along and did not do very v.rell. Finally, he said to the teacher, "Teacher ••• I don't know the nines very ~rell, but I'm a tiger when it comes to the sevens".

He ha.d discoverf'd a great lesson even though it did not help him succeed with his rna tb teacher. He discovered the part he could handle and gave it his utmost. He wa.s a tiger v-1hen it came to the sevens.

AND USE WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN US / HE wiLL GIVE US GREAT VICTORIES This hrin1

us to the Tinal thing we need to say. If we use what God has given us, He will grant us grea.ter victorles than we ever imagined possible. Even persons with limited abilities can succeed if they will give it their all.

rr<'lnk Pettger was a stA.r insurance salesman in the period following ltlorld r,•Jar II. Rettger was so successful that he had earned enough by the age of uO to rettre comfortably. Admirers called him a born salesman. His ability to close a sale HrlS ler,endary. It is said that he could sell 1rrhat would be the

- L -

eauiva.lent of a multimillion dollar policy in today' s O(Jllars in about 15 minutes.

1·!e need to know, hovrever, that at the age of 29 after one year of selling, Bettger considered himself a hopeless failure. He was not a born salesman. ~-Jhen he discovered that there was only one ~ray he v-rould succeed and that would be to give it everything he had, he was then able to begin his .journey that led him to some astounding accomplishments.

So it is with us ••• both in our work in the v-rorld and in our service in the body of Christ. Just because you have never been comfortable in front of people doesn't mean that you have not been given the gift of teaching. It is amazing how maily of the '<rorld 1 s great orators have had to conquer such imped i­ments as a lisp, an unimpressive appearance or some other hindrance. Their very determination to overcome their handicap helped make them great.

Let me add this thought too for your consideration. I am not certain t-1here commitment enos and God 1 s blesstng begins, but a spiritual gift is not necessarily a talent. Availability and dependability are as important as ability itself when it comes to Kingdom building. Little things like attend­ing a meeting and getting there on time, or making a plerlge commitment and getting it in "on time" and not three months later. Hello somebody. OUch.

Look at the people God chose to serve Him in Bible times. The towering figure of the first part of our Bible was an 80 year old man who spoke with a stammer. His name? Hoses. None of the men who surrounded Jesus gave any i.nd ica t ion of their later greatness. And so it is in the church today. God uses people v..rho are Hilling to offer themselves and all they have to Him. And praise God for such people. And more important than our individual talents or abilities or intellect is the spirit with which they are given to God, the underlying attitnne.

Have you a gift which can be used to the glory of God? Of course you have. And if so, hovr are you using it?

CLOSING ILLUSTRATION Sometime back TV host Merv Griffin intervi et-red some body builders. Herv asked one of his muscle-

bound guests this memorable (luestion, "V<lho do yon use all those musbles for?"

One of the body buHders a.nst-Jered by striking one of the "flex" poses that you have seen body builders in. "No ••• you don't understand me" said Merv. "vlhat do you use all those musbles for?" The guy said, "I' 11 show you". And he "flexed" again, posing in another way.

"No ••• no ••• you still do not umerstand my question" 1 Merve asked i.nstst.ently. "Read my lips. vJhat do you use then for?" And the guy posed a.gai.n. He still did not understand. All those beautiful muscles. But no apparent use for them except for display.

You have a gift that God has bestowed upon you. As a follower of Christ, j t is not enough to si_mply display it and not really use it. Much more can be done. Think a.hout it and r"!Uietly here in these moments, ask God to help you to mnke greater use of those talents and abilities that are yours to help make this world a little bit better for your having walked through it.

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LET US PRAY For the spiritual gifts th-:1t you have bestowed upon each of us, n God, we thank you. Help us to use those talents and

those abilities wisely ••• to the glory of Your name and for the benefit of others. Confirm within us the intentions and the resolutions and the decisions of this hour. Renew within us that right spirit. Help us to serve Thee more faithfully. 'I) give and not to count the cost. To labor and not to ask for any reward se1.ve that of knowing that we are doing Thy will. In the snirit of Christ, our Lord. Amen.

PA3TcrVtL FRAYER: January . ],5, 1989

AIJUGH1'"[ GOD, our loving and carin~ Father, we turn to You this day -..rith eager, expectant and 5ratcful h~arts ••• fully aware that Your thouchts are above our thoughts and Your ways are higher than out ways.

HELP US TO REHD-fBER that You are truly the hope of our days, the strength of our weakness. And fgp this w p1·aise Your tlgly Aame.

WE OATHI::R here this morning· with hanpy recollection of our experience of You and of Your saving and redeeming po~rer in ti'lles past •

. IF THERE are fears and frustrations that haunt ug at this year 1 s bc­~nning, let us hear Your coun~el and let us feel Your com­fort and supportive power.

MAY there be inroads of You st;·ength in our lives to mako us conquerors in times of crisis.

}~Y there be wells of soiritunl reserve in our souls for the valleys throurh which we shall surely walk in weeks ahead.

MAY there be deposits of divine guidance firmly planted in our minds f'or those times of temptation and decision that will be curs in the months of this year.

HELP US FATi~, to face the fUture with definite courage and with deep commitment. ·

·;. GRANT to each of us a sensitive heart - a heart of truo concern that will resnond to the hurts and ills of those about us.

1. WE ASK for wisdom in the hour of opportunity and for patience in the moment of failure •

.]~' HELP US ahmys· to renemher that You are the craftsman of life, and that ae are only Your tools. Hake us instruments of Your spirit.

. tf,f}.£EJr( . . THAT THIS ~r may be one of victory through venture,· one of

accomplishment through action.

WE N0.·7 ASK YOOR SPECIAL BLESSirJGZ uoon those who are sad and lonely, uocn 'those who are sick and suffering from illness. There are others present' this hour who need guidance and love and support because of difficulties and problems they face. tJ c _ _ /'. AtJJ/L

~ 1(, L'L.C L I J 1::1 f;J 'ITj WE ASK YOUR blessing upon ~e President and his cabinet; upon all leaders who have a~·icsone resoonsibilitles. Guide them, Father, in the. path of pen.ce. All this ltek ask in the urune and spirit of · Christ, ·nr Lord.

AUNOUNCEf·lENTS: Sunday, January 1.5, 1989

A. A word of 1rrelcorne to the visitors in the congregatton this morning. 'l'A.ke a moment to fill out a visitor card, or slgn a guest book before you depart.

B. Be free in the sharing of your name. Hake yourself known to us. Join us dovmstairs for the coffee hour. Work with us in our programs of service.

c. Our church has deep roots in the soil of this part of the city. Founded in lfl37, this is the fourt building ••• we minister in the name of Christ and it is in His loving spirit that we greet you this morning.

II. PARISH CONCERNS

A. Pick up: parish news sheet. "A Year Hith the Bible"••.• On the table by the door and also dorcmstairs in the Russe 11 Room.

R. He are still in the midst of our 1989 Stewardship Program, so if you have not yet prayerfully considered your pledge for the ministries of this parish, please do so. Our pledges sustain the life of this church and enable us to do many good things.

c. Boxes of offering envelooes are avaUa 1:le in the Russell Room for those who requested them at the time of making their pledgeo Pick up the box that has your name on it .•

D. Corning week: Trustee Neeting on Tuesday evening. Finance Committee on Thursday evening.

E. Next Sunday: Super Bowl party at see the game with church friends. t sha 11 !'O up to the mountain top on mxt Sunday's game and have my in next Sunday's service.

the parsonage.o.a chance to Be in touch with Jay Brown.

this coming v-ree k and reflect Super B01vl prediction for you

F. Next Sunday: Yorkville Common Pantry ••• bring in warm clothing­mittens, gloves, scarfs, coats, jackets, hats, socks, blanketso Food: Hot cereal, soup and herbel teaso

III. TOIHGHT: FELWlr/SHIP SUPPER

.A. Flrst Fellol<rship Supper of the yearo Six o'clock. Supper. Chlcken. Donation of$ 3.00. Collecting it at coffee hour. Richmond Bates. Following supper, Rev. Gloster B. Current vrill speak on "King: Hm-1 Fares the Dream?" Former Administrator.

- 2 -

A. NAACP. Retired minister of our conference. Former Pastor of the Westchester tm Church in the Bronx.

IV. OFFERING: JI:SUS SAID :

A. "It is more blessed to give than it is to receive". In this spirit, let us worship God •••

"And all things •• owhatsoever you shall. ask in prayer, believing ••• you shall receive. And as many as touched Him were made wholel"

11 Wai t on the lArd. Be of good course and He shall strengthen thine heart. For we dwell in the shelter of the Almighty. He is our refuge and our strength. 11

"We know that in everything, God works together for good with those who love Him! 11

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint".

"God so love the world that He gave His only Son, that who­soever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life".

"Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases~.

"Thou wilt keep Him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in thee".

"In the name of Jesus Christ, I share with you the Good News: We are forgiven" o

PRAYERS / LORD'S PRAYER 0 Thou, who hearest prayer, hear our prayers ••• for others, as well as for ourselves. Touch with

healing, 0 God ••• Father of us all, those whom we mention in our prayers this hour:

1.

4. -------------------

2.

5.

).

6.

••• beloved members and friends of this congregation. Comfort the bereaved and the broken hearted among us ••• and especially be close to who in recent days has lost a loved one. Abide among us as a healing benediction. Heal each of us at the point of our deepest need.

Answer the upspoken prayers now offered to thee on the altars of our hearts, spoken in the name and soirit of Jesus, who taught us to say when we pray •••• For we ask all of this in the powerful name and lifting spirit of Jesus who taught us to say when we prayo•o

"Our Father, who art in heaven. Hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom came. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And _lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power and the gl•ry, forever. Amen"

FIRST INTRODUCTION The week of toil has ended. Our day of rest is at hand. May the rest and the quiet of this hour of

worship refresh our inner life. And may it renew in all of us a sense of God's holy and abiding Presence.

In silence, let each now pray as the heart may prompt.

SECOND INTRODUCTION Remaining in ~ prayerful spirit, let us enter now into a time of silent meditationooo•a time in which

we prepare ourselves expectantly ••• that the Spirit of the living God may be made real to us in this hour of worship.

In quietness, let each now pray as the heart may prompto

THIRD INTRODUCTION Remaining in a prayerful spirit, let us enter into a time of silent meditation as we come into the

Presence of Him whom our faith declares to be the Source of all life and love, all peace and power, the Source of all hope and healing.

In silence, let each now pray as the heart may prompt.

FOURTH INTRODUCTION Remaining in a prayerful spirit, let us enter now into a time of silent meditation. In these moments,

let us ponder the pattern our lives have been weaving as we come into the Presence of Him whom our Faith declares to be the Source of all life and love, all peace and power, the Source of all hope and healing.

In silence, let each now pray as the heart may prompt.

MEDITATION We rest our hearts in the Promise of Jesus who said:

"Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me, for My yoke is easy and My burden is light".

"Ask, and it will be given you. Seek and you will find. Knock, and it will be open unto you."

"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father, but by Me. If you love Me, you will keep my commandments"

"For I te 11 you ••• do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat ••• or drinkeonor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food? And the body more than raiment."

11 But seek ye first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well."

"Fo~ r.am ~e~suaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor pr1nc1pallt1es, nor powers, nor things present •• to come nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature - shall be able to sep!rate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, Our Lord."

I I,

PI.S'l'CFV'J, FRAYER: January . l.S, 1989

AI.MIGlil'I con, our loving and carin~ Father, we turn to You this day Hith eager, expectant and grateful hMrts ••• fully aware that Your thouchts are above our thoughts and Your ways are higher than out ways.

HELP US TO RENE:·tBER that You are truly the hope of our days, the strength of our weakness. And for this we praise Your holy~.

WE OATHI::R here this morning· with hanpy recollection of our experience of You and of Your saving and redeeming po~rer in times past •

. IF THERE are fears and frustrations that haunt us at this year's bc­~nning, let us hear Your coun~el and let us feel Your com­fort and supportive power.

<

MAY there be inroads of You strength in our li"les to mak!1 us conquerors in times of crisis. .

J~Y there be wells of soiritunl reserve in our souls for the valleys through which we shall surely walk in weeks ahead.

MAY there be deposits of divine guidance firmly planted in our minds for those times of ternrtation and decision that will be ours in the months of this year.

HELP US FATHER, to face the fUture with definite courage and with deep commitment.

GRANT to each of us a sensitive heart - a heart of truo concern that will resnond to the hurts and ills of those about us.

WE ASK for wisdom in the hour of opportunity and for patience in the Iiloment of failure.

HELP US ahrays to reremher that You are the craftsman of · life, and that He are only Your tools. riake us instruments of Your spirit •

. THAT THIS year may be one of victory through venture, one of accomplishment through action.

.. . .,. ,,~., ..... -. WE Na·T ASK YOOR SPECIAL BLESSIIJG3 uoon those who are sad and lonely, upcn those

who are sick and suffertng ftom illness. There are others present· this hour who need guidance and love and support because of difficulties and problems they face.

WE ASK YOUR blessing upon the President and his cabinet, upon all leaders who have a: .. icsorle resoonsibilities. Guide them, Father, in the. path of pe:1ce. All this wek ask in the name and 9p1r1t of Christ, ~r Lord.

- 2 -

A. NAACP. Retired minister of our conference. Former Pastor of the Westchester UM Church in the Bronx.

IV • OFFERING: JJ:SUS SAID :

A. "It is more blessed to give than it is to receive". In this spirit, let us worship God •• o

ANNOUNCEt•1ENTS: Sunday, .January 15, 1989

I. GREETING / VISITORS

A. A word of welcome to the visitors in the congregation this morning. TA.ke a moment to nn out a visitor card, or stgn a guest book before you depart.

B. Be free in the sharing of your name. Make yourself known to us. Join us dot-mstairs for the coffee hour. vJork with us in our programs of service.

c. Our church has deep roots in the soil of this part of the city. Founded in lfl37, this is the fourt building ••• we minister in the name of Christ and it is in His loving spirit that we greet you this morning.

II. PARISH CONCERNS

A. Pick up: parish news sheet. "A Year Hith the Bible"••.• On the table hy the door and also do1.1nstairs in the Russell Room.

B. \rJe are still in the midst of our 1989 Stewardship Program, so if you have not yet prayerfully considered your pledge for the ministries of this parish, please do so. Our pledges sustain the life of this church and enable us to do many good things.

c. Boxes of offering envelooes are availa 1'le in the Russell Room for those who requested them at the time of making their pledgeo Pick up the box that has your name on it..

D. Coming week: Trustee Heeting on Tuesday evening. Finance Committee on Thursday evening.

E. Next Sunday: Super Bowl party at see the ga.me with church friends. I shall !'O up to the mountain top on ooxt Sunday 1 s game and have my in next Sunday's service.

the parsonage ••• a chance to Be in touch with Jay Brown.

this coming v.reek and ,reflect Super Brn-rl prediction for you

F. Next Sunday: Yorkville Common Pantry ••• bring in warm clothing -mittens, gloves, scarfs, coats, jackets, hats, socks, blanketso Food: Hot cereal, soup and herbel teaso

III. TOIHGHT: FELLOHSHIP SUPPER

.A. First FelloHship Supper of the yearo Six o'clock. Supper. Chicken. Donation of $ 3.00. Collecting it at coffee hour. Richmond Bates. Following supper, Rev. Gloster B. Current will sper-;.k on "King: Hov1 Fares the Dream?" Former Administrator.

- 2 -

A. NAACP. Retired minister of our conference. Former Pastor of the Westchester lm Church in the Bronx.

IV. OFFERING: J:CSUS SAID :

A. "It is more blessed to give than it is to receive". In this spirit, let us worship God •• o

.---------------~-- --------

ANNOUNCEf,1ENTS: Sunday, ,January 1.5, 1989

A. A word of welcome to the visitors in the congregation this morning. Take a moment to fill out a visitor card, or sign a guest book before you depart.

B. Be free in the sharing of your name. Hake yourself known to us. Join us do~omstairs for the coffee hour. vJork with us in our programs of service.

C. Our church has deep roots in the soil of this part of the city. Founded irJ lf337, this is the fourt building ••• we minister in the name of Christ and it is in His loving spirit that we greet you this morning.

I I. PARISH CONCERNS

A. Pick up: parish news sheet. "A Year 1·,Tith the Bible" ••-• On the table by the door and also do1cmstairs in the Russell Room.

B. \rle are sti 11 in the midst of our 1989 Stewardship Program, so if you have not yet prayerfully considered your pledge for the ministries of th i.s parish, please do so. Our pledges sustain the life of this church and enable us to do many good things.

c. Boxes of offering envelooes are avaHa 1 ~le in the Russell Room for those who requested them at the time of making their pledge. Pick up the box that has your name on it .•

D. Coming week: Trustee ~1eeting on Tuesday evening. Finance Committee on Thursday evening.

E. Next Sunday: Super Bowl party at see the ga.me with church friends. I shall co up to the mountain top on next Sunday Is game and nave my in next Sunday's service.

the parsonage.o.a chance to Be in touch with Jay Brown.

this coming •reek and reflect Super Brnvl prediction for you

F. Next Sunday: Yorkville Common Pantry ••• bring in warm clothing -mittens, gloves, scarfs, coats, jackets, hats, socks, blanketso Food: Hot cereal, soup and herbel teaso

III. TONIGHT: FELLOlrlSHIP SUPPER

.Ao First Fello.rship Supper of the yearo Six o'clock. Supper. Ch i.cken. Donation of $ 3.00. Collecting it at coffee hour. Richmond Bates. Following supper, Rev. Gloster B. Current -v;ill speak on "King: Hm-1 Fares the Dream?" Former Administrator.

· ALMIGH'l'"l COD, our loving and carinG Father, we turn to You this day Hith eager, expectant and gratefnl h8arts ••• fully aware that Your thouehts are above our thoughts and Your ways are higher than out ways.

HELP US TO RENEl1BER that You are truly the hope of our days, the strength of our weakness. And for this we praise Your holy .na.me.

WE GATHffi here this morning· with happy recollection of our experience of You and of Your saving and redeeming po~rer in times past •

. IF THERE are fears and frustrations that haunt us at this y·ear's bc­~nning, let us hear Your counsel and let us feel Your com­fort and supportive power.

<

MAY there be irJ"oads of You strength fn our lives to make us conquerors in tD~es of crisis.

J.IAY there be \-Tells of spiritual reserve in our souls for the valleys through which we shall surely walk in weeks ahead.

MAY there be deposits of divine guidance firmly planted in our minds for those times of temptation and decision that will be ours in the months of this year.

HELP US FATHER, to faee the fUture with definite courage and with deep commitment.

GRANT to each of us a sensitive heart - a heart of true concern that will resoond to the hurts and ills of those about us.

WE ASK for wisdom in the hour of opportunity and for patience in the r.wment of failure.

HELP US ahrays to renember that You are the craftsman of life, and that He are only Your tools. Make us instruments of Your spirit.

_THAT THIS year may be one of victory through venture, one of accomplishment through action.

WE N<M ASK Y<l.JR SPECIAL BLESSillGZ upon those who are sad and lonely, uncn those who are sick and suffertng from illness. There are others present-this hour who need guidance and love and support because of difficulties and prQblems they face.

WE ASK YOOR blessing upon the President and his cabinet, upon all leaders who have a~·icsone resoonsibilities. Guide them, Father, in the. path of peace. AU this \otek ask in the name and spirit of Christ~ ·~r Lord.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Sunday, January 15, 1989

I. GREETING / VISITORS

A. A word of welcome to the visitors in the congregation this morning. Take a moment to fill out a visitor card, or sign a guest book before you depart.

B. Be free in the sharing of your name. Make yourself known to us• Join us downstairs for the coffee hour. Work with us in our programs of service.

c. Our church has deep roots in the soil of this part of the city. Founded in 1837, this is the fourt building ••• we minister in the name of Christ and it is in His loving spirit that we greet you this morning.

II. PARISH CONCERNS

A. Pick up: parish news sheet. "A Year ~Tith the Bible"., •. l!i On the table by the door and also dovmstairs in the Russell Room.

B. We are still in the midst of our 1989 Stewardship Program, so if you have not yet prayerfully considered your pledge for the ministries of this parish, please do so. Our pledges sustain the life of this church and enable us to do many good things.

c. Boxes of offering envelooes are available in the Russell Room for those who requested them at the time of making their pledge. Pick up the box that has your name on it.

D. Coming week: Trustee Meeting on Tuesday evening. Finance Committee on Thursday evening.

E. Next Sunday: Super Bowl party at see the game with church friends. I shall go up to the mountain top on next Sunday's game and have my in next Sunday's service.

the parsonage ..... a chance to Be in touch with Jay Brown.

this coming week and reflect Super Bowl prediction for you

F. Next Sunday: Yorkville Common Pantry ••• bring in warm clothing -mittens, gloves, scarfs, coats, jackets, hats, socks, blankets. Food: Hot cereal, soup and herbel teas.

III. TONIGHT: FELLOlrfSHIP SUPPER

'~A. First Fellowship Supper of the year. Six otclock. Supper. Chicken. Donation of $ 3.00. Collecting it at coffee hour. Richmond Bates. Following supper, Rev. Gloster B. Current will speak on "King: How Fares the Dream?" Former Administrator.

- 2 -

A. NAACP. Retired minister of our conference. Former Pastor of the Westchester UM Church in the Bronx.

IV. OFFERING: JESUS SAID :

A. "It is more blessed to give than it is to receive". In this spirit, let us worship God •••

ANTHEM: "Adorarnus te"

"We adore Thee, Christ, our Lord, and we worship Thy name, Jesu. Who, by Thy sacred cross, and by Thy sacred passion hast redeemed the world".

ANTHEM: "Cause Us, 0 Lord"

"Cause us, 0 Lord our God, to lie down each night in peace, and to awaken to re­newed life and strength. Hear our prayer, 0 Lord our God, and to awaken to renewed life and strength.

Lord, help us to order our lives by Thy council. Lead us in the paths of right­eousness. Lord, be Thou a shield about us, protect us. Save our world from sorrow, from hate and from war. Curb Thou within us the will to do evil. Shelter us beneath the shadow of Thy wings.

Cause us, 0 Lord our God, to lie down each night in peace, and to awaken to re­newed life and strength. Amen."

ORGAN POSTLUDE

The organ postlude - a final offering of our praise to God - is played after the Benediction. Time permitting, we invite you to share in the beauty of it.

FOR THOSE WHO SING

New members are always welcome to audi­tion to sing in the Choir. Rehearsals are held on Wednesdays at 6:15 prn in the down­stairs Choir Room.

ADULT FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE TO MEET

The Adult Fellowship Planning Committee will meet today after the service. "We will gather in the narthex and then go to a local eatery for our meeting and brunch". (JJ)

"HOUNDS OF HEAVEN"

The "Hounds of Heaven" meet on evening at 6:30 in Fellowship Hall. friends are always welcome. George is class leader. Corne and share in

Tuesday New

Leopold the

study of Dieterich Bonhoeffer's book, The Cost of Discipleship.

ALDERSGATE CLASS

The Aldersgate Class meets on Wednesday evening for Bible study in Fellowship Hall. The class meets at 7:30 prn. New friends are always most welcome.

FINANCE COMMITTEE TO MEET

The Finance Committee will meet on Thursday evening at 7:30 prn in the Russell Room. All members are urged to make a special effort for this meeting.

PICK UP YOUR COPY

Be sure to pick up your copy of the January issue of our monthly news sheet, "A Word in Edgeways". Copies are by the door in the narthex as well as on the table in the Russell Room. It's not mailed out to members unless requested.

.. '

;f •

.. I

THE NEW HYMNAL

Gifts for the new hymnal of the United Methodist Church continue to be received. A new hymnal costs $10.50. The price goes up after January 31st. Our Church will need 350 new hymnals. We're pleased to re­port that over one-third of the amount needed has already been received. For further information see Donna Hayes. There's an envelope in the pew if you're tempted to respond with a gift of a hymnal - or two -in memory of a loved one.

PLEDGE CARDS STILL BEING RECEIVED

Pledge cards are still being received in the Church office. To date, we have gratefully received 206 pledges totalling $135,873. Our goal for 1989 is 240 pledges. Another 34 pledges would put us well over our dollar goal. Perhaps we can tempt you to respond with a pledge. See John Simms for further details.

WEEKLY OFFERING ENVELOPES

The 1989 weekly offering envelope boxes are on the table in the rear of the Russell Room. Pick up the box that you have requested. If you haven't pledged, and would like a box of 1989 weekly offer­ing envelopes for your gifts, see John Simms.

'PONIGHT

The first of several Fellowship Suppers planned for 1989 will be held this evening. Sponsored by the Outreach Committee, we shall come together around six o'clock in Fellowship Hall to celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr ..

Supper will be served from 6:30 to 7:15. A donation of $3.00 will cover the cost of the evening meal. See Richmond Bates at the coffee hour today with your supper donation.

Following the evening meal, Dr. Gloster B. Current, a former Administrator of the NAACP and a retired Minister of the New York Annual Conference, will speak on the subject, "King, How Fares the Dream Today?"

It promises to be a good evening and we anticipate 50 to 60 people here for it.

NEXT SUNDAY

Next Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday and the Adult Fellowship invites you to a Super Bowl Party at the parsonage (21 East 87th Street, llD). Plan to arrive around 4:30 and watch the game with church friends. The cost is $5.00 to cover soda, hot dogs and other munchies so all you fans can keep up your strength.

See Jay Brown at the coffee hour today for the sign up sheet.

,

PARK A VENUE

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 106 East 86th Street

New York, N.Y. 10028

AT 9-69CJ7

CHURCH DIRECTORY

Rev. Philip A. C. Clarke . . .. .. ....... . ..... Minister Mr. Lyndon Woodside ... . ..... Organist-Choir Director Mr. Jack Schmidt ... .. . . .......... Business Manager Mrs. Judy Ferland ...... ....... ... . . ..... Secretary Mrs. Judith Keisman ....... . . . ... Day School Director Mr. Roberto Meriles ... . . . . . . .. . .. ... . . . Custodian

GENERAL OFFICERS

Lay Members, Annual Conference ..... Mr. William Bell Mr. Edward J. Brown

President, Board of Trustees . ... . .. ... Mr. William Bell Chairman, Administrative Council .... Mrs. Bobbie Heron Chairman, Education Committee . .... Mrs. Kathy Simms Chairman , Fellowship Committee .... . .. Mrs. Pat Henry Chairman , Finance Committee ... . . .. Mr. Larry Morales Co-Chairmen , Membership Committee .. Mrs. Ann Bryant

Mr. Robert Gardner

Chairman, Outreach Committee .. . . ... Miss Janet Ernst Chairman, Worship Committee ... Mr. Michael Schaffield Co-Chairmen, Day School .......... Mrs. Anette Lewis

Mrs . John Lombardo

Chairman, Ushers . ... . . . . . .. . ... . . Ms. Effie French Mr. Len Williams

Superintendent, Sunday School ... . .. Mrs. Holly Galgano

PARK AVENUE

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

ORGAN

SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY January 15, 1989

ORDER OF WORSHIP 11 A. M.

"Aberystwyth" CALL TO WORSHIP HYMN NO. 77 "Come, Christians, Join to Sing" PRAYER OF CONFESSION (seated)

Huston

Most merciful Father, we have done little to forward Thy Kingdom in this world, to foster the brotherhood of man, and to establish love as the law of life. We have allowed self to blind us, pains to embitter us. Pardon our shortcomings; forgive our neglect, give us a pure heart intent on pleasing Thee. Help us in all our seeking to seek first Thy Kingdom and Thy righteousness. And make us to come, as came Thy Son, not to be ministered unto, but to minister. We ask this in the spirit of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

SILENT MEDITATION - WORDS OF ASSURANCE - LORD'S PRAYER ***

PSALTER "The Eternity of God" GLORIA PATRI AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

*** ANTHEM SCRIPTURE PASTORAL PRAYER PARISH CONCERNS

"Adoramus te" I Corinthians 12: 12 - 30

No. 580 No. 792 No. 741

Lotti Page 999

ANTHEM "Cause Us, 0 Lord" Nelson PRESENTATION OF THE OFFERING WITH THE DOXOLOGY HYMN NO. 56 "Through All the Changing Scenes of Life" SERMON "A Tragic Waste" Mr. Clarke HYMN NO. 462 "Spirit of Life, in This New Dawn" BENEDICTION ORGAN "Allegro"

*** Interval for Ushering

Clokey

LAY READER

We welcome Ms. Linda Henderson ' Quinn to the lectern today. A native of the Bronx, a graduate of the Parsons School of Design, Linda is a Fashion Designer with C. R. + Me here in the city. A recent new member of our Church, Linda is. sharing in the Aldersgate Class.

GREETERS AND USHERS

The greeters today are Lynn MacShane and Tina Red­wine. The ushers are Lillian and Richmond Bates, Bill Bell, Larry Morales, and Philip Yu.

AN INVITATION

Coffee and tea will be served in the Russell Room following the service. Members and friends are invited to share in these moments of warmth made possible for us today by Pat Henry, Anna Delson, Mary Frances Johnston, Cheryl Kinchen, Wendy Larrabee and Pat Werner.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

Sessions of Sunday School for children are offered Sunday mornings from ten-thirty to twelve. Nursery care for infants and toddlers is available on the 4th floor.

ADULT BIBLE CLASS

The Adult Bible Class meets on Sunday morning at 9:30 in Fellowship Hall. John Simms is serving as the teacher for the study of the Gospel of Matthew .

ALTAR FLOWERS

)

Now's the time to sign up for an Altar Flower Memor­ial on the Flower Chart (Russell Room Bulletin Board) as the list is prepared for the coming months. The cost is forty dollars which is not due til the Sunday selected.