Service for the Lord's Day

Worship on Rally Day

September 13, 2026

10:00 a.m.

This week's Glad Tidings announcements:

Glad Tidings for Rally Day - September 13, 2026

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“Miracle of the Loaves and Two Fish”

By Lucas Cranach (1472-1553)

PRELUDE

Come, Christians, Join to Sing

(Sanctuary Choir)

 

Copyright information:

Text: Christian Henry Bateman, 1843. Music: Spanish folk melody; arr. Benjamin Carr, 1824; harm. David Evans, 1927

Music Harm.1927 Oxford University Press. #267 from Glory to God Presbyterian Hymnal

One License Licensing Permission:

Reprinted/Podcast/Streamed with Permission under One License #A-737632. All rights reserved.



GREETING/ANNOUNCEMENTS

 



PRAYER FOR HEALING ON THE 25th ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11

 


INTROIT

Rally Day Song

(Sanctuary Choir)

 

Copyright information:

F. A. Blackmer. Frances G. Hallgreen. Copyright, 1906, by F. A. Blackmer.

One License Licensing Permission:

Reprinted/Podcast/Streamed with Permission under One License #A-737632. All rights reserved.

 


CALL TO WORSHIP

When we think there is not enough,

God satisfies with abundance.

Come, let us worship God. 

In Christ, God gives more than we can imagine.

Come, let us worship God. 

Even when we are afraid, God fills us with courage.

Come, let us worship God. 

 


GATHERING PRAYER

 


* HYMN GtG 187

Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us

Copyright Information:

Text: Thrupp's Hymns for the Young, 1836, alt. Music: William Batchelder Bradbury, 1859, alt. All rights reserved.

One License Licensing Permission:

Reprinted/Podcast/Streamed with Permission under One License #A-737632. All rights reserved.

 


COMMISSIONING OF THE TEACHERS, HELPERS,

AND FAITH FORMATION ELDERS

 


SENTENCES OF SCRIPTURE (Pastor)

As many of you as were baptized into Christ

have clothed yourselves with Christ.

There is no longer Jew or Greek,

there is no longer slave or free,

there is no longer male and female;

for all are one in Christ Jesus.

Lead a life worthy of the calling

to which you have been called,

making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit

in the bond of peace.

There is one body and one Spirit,

just as we were called to the one hope of our calling,

one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

one God and Father of all,

who is above all and through all and in all.


 

CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP (Book of Order, F-1.0304)

We are called by God to be the church of Jesus Christ,

a sign in the world today of what God intends for all humankind.

The great ends of the Church are

the proclamation of the gospel

for the salvation of humankind;

the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship

of the children of God;

the maintenance of divine worship;

the preservation of the truth;

the promotion of social righteousness;

and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.



QUESTIONS FOR THE CONGREGATION

Do you, members of First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown,

confirm the call of God to Kathy Seymour, Jessica and Layla Carbonara, Phyllis Oakes, Suzanne and Mary Perri, Lori Yastrub, Lori Kenney, Kerrianne Albarella, Isabel Buse, Debbie Rosenberg, Nicole and Brianna Swanson, Gie Garupa, and Gianna Carroll as Sunday School teachers, helpers, and Faith Formation elders in the service of Jesus Christ? We do.

Will you support and encourage them in this ministry? We will.


 

COMMISSIONING PRAYER

Faithful God, in baptism you claimed us;

and by your Holy Spirit you are working in our lives, empowering us to live a life worthy of our calling.

We thank you for leading Kathy, Jessica, Layla, Phyllis, Suzanne and Mary, Lori and Lori, Kerrianne, Isabel, Debbie, Nicole and Brianna, Gie, and Gianna to this time and place.

Establish them in your truth,

and guide them by your Holy Spirit,

that in your service they may grow

in faith, hope, and love,

and be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ,

to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,

be honor and glory, now and forever.

 

Almighty God,

in Jesus Christ you called disciples

and, by the Holy Spirit,

made them one church to serve you.

Let your Spirit rule your church,

so that we may be joined

in love and service to Jesus Christ,

who, having gone before us,

is coming to meet us

in the promise of your kingdom. Amen.


 

ANOINTING EACH TEACHER, HELPER, FAITH FORMATION ELDER



THE PEACE

May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance. The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. And also with you.

 

The people may exchange signs of God’s peace.

 


TIME WITH YOUNG DISCIPLES

 


BACKPACK BLESSING

Gracious God, we lift up to you today these students. They stand here ready to receive your blessing, and they commit themselves to study and learning in the school year ahead. We ask your blessing on each of them. Please watch over them and keep them in your tender care. And we ask your blessing on these backpacks. They will hold the schoolwork of each student and will be carried from home to school and back again.

 

As these students carry these backpacks, may they be reminded of the love of the Lord and their church family that surrounds them each school day.

 

We pray for the teachers and administrators in our schools. May they also be sustained by your blessing.

 

May they be reminded that their church embraces their call to teaching and surrounds them with love and care.

 

We pray in the name of Jesus whom we seek to follow day by day. And we continue our prayer with all the children of God in this place.

 


LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.



SENDING SONG: GtG 547 v. 1

Go, My Children, with My Blessing

 

Go, my children, with my blessing, never alone.

Waking, sleeping, I am with you, you are my own.

In my love’s baptismal river, I have made you mine forever.

Go, my children, with my blessing, you are my own.

 

Copyright Information:

Text By Concordia Publishing House. Tune by Jaroslav J Vajda, Welsh traditional; arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams. ©1983 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved.

One License Licensing Permission:

Reprinted/Podcast/Streamed with Permission under One License #A-737632. All rights reserved.

 


PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

 


SCRIPTURE: Psalm 145:10-18

10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,

    and all your faithful shall bless you.

11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom

    and tell of your power,

12 to make known to all people your mighty deeds

    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

    and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

The Lord is faithful in all his words

    and gracious in all his deeds.

14 The Lord upholds all who are falling

    and raises up all who are bowed down.

15 The eyes of all look to you,

    and you give them their food in due season.

16 You open your hand,

    satisfying the desire of every living thing.

17 The Lord is just in all his ways

    and kind in all his doings.

18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,

    to all who call on him in truth.

 

Holy wisdom, holy word. Thanks be to God!



ANTHEM

Jesus Is the Living Stone

(Sanctuary Choir)

 

Copyright information:

Music by Mary McDonald. Words Adapted from 1 Peter 2:4-8

© 2010 Lorenz Publishing Company, a division of The Lorenz Corporation. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.

One License Licensing Permission:

Reprinted/Podcast/Streamed with Permission under One License #A-737632. All rights reserved.

 


SCRIPTURE: John 6:1-14

This is the gospel of the Lord.

Thanks be to God!

 


MESSAGE

Amazing Children of the Bible Series:

The Boy with Loaves and Fish

Pastor Karen

 


*HYMN: GtG 649 vv. 1, 2, 3, 5

Amazing Grace

 

Copyright Information:

Text: Stanzas 1–4, John Newton, 1772; stanza 5, A Collection of Sacred Ballads, 1790;

Music: Columbian Harmony, 1829; arr. Edwin O. Excell, 1910, alt. All rights reserved.

One License Licensing Permission:

Reprinted/Podcast/Streamed with Permission under One License #A-737632. All rights reserved.

 


*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: APOSTLE’S CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

 

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.


I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

 


SHARING JOYS AND CONCERNS

 


PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

O Lord, have mercy upon us;

O Christ, have mercy upon us;

O Spirit, have mercy upon us,

and grant us your peace.

 

We pray for those who have no peace…

 

We pray for those whom you have called to be peacemakers…

 

Give us strength and courage and faith to trust Jesus Christ…

 


INVITATION TO THE OFFERING

 


OFFERTORY

Improvisation on Rally Day

(Organ Solo)

By Dr. Pablo Lavandera

 


*HYMN OF RESPONSE: STF 2129 v. 1  

I Have Decided to Follow Jesus

 

I have decided to follow Jesus,

I have decided to follow Jesus,

I have decided to follow Jesus,

No turning back, no turning back.

 

Copyright Information:

Text and Music: Anonymous

One License Licensing Permission:

Reprinted/Podcast/Streamed with Permission under One License #A-737632. All rights reserved.



*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

We give you thanks and praise, O God,

for you have chosen the poverty of the world

to make your people rich in faith.

Help us to put our faith into practice

through the offering of our lives—

giving food to the hungry,

clothes to the naked,

and shelter to the poor;

all for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord,

your Word made flesh. Amen.

 

 

*HYMN: GtG 300

We Are One in the Spirit

 

Copyright Information:

Text and Music: Peter Scholtes, 1966; © 1966 F.E.L. Publications, assigned 1991 to The Lorenz Corp.

One License Licensing Permission:

Reprinted/Podcast/Streamed with Permission under One License #A-737632. All rights reserved.

 

 

*GRACE/BENEDICTION

 

 

POSTLUDE

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

(Sanctuary Choir)

 

Copyright Information:

Text: Henry van Dyke, 1907, alt. Music: Ludwig van Beethoven, 1824; adapt. Edward Hodges, 1842, alt.

#611 from Glory to God Presbyterian Hymnal

One License Licensing Permission:

Reprinted/Podcast/Streamed with Permission under One License #A-737632. All rights reserved.

PARTICIPATING IN TODAY’S SERVICE


Pastor

Rev. Dr. Karen Crawford

 

Liturgist

Linda Cherney

 

Clerk of Session

Dulcie McLeod

 

Organist/Choir Director

Dr. Pablo Lavandera

 

Musicians

Sanctuary Choir

 

Ushers

Kim Fix

Rudy Mancilla

 

The Stream Team

Deacons

Elizabeth Bliss

Charles Bunton

 

Trustee of the Week

Dave Marmelstein

This Week at FPCS



Today, Sunday 9/13

Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal

Worship with Blessing of the Backpacks and Teacher Commissioning

Potluck Brunch following Worship

 

Monday 9/14

Office closed

Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal at 7:30 p.m.

Handbell Choir Rehearsal at 8:30 p.m.

 

Tuesday 9/15

Office hours 10 a.m. to noon

Presbytery Meeting at Sisters of St. Joseph

in Brentwood at 9:30 a.m.

 

Wednesday 9/16

Office closed

One Summer in Savannah Discussion at the Manse at 7 p.m.

 

Thursday 9/17

Office hours 10 a.m. to noon

 

Friday 9/18

Office hours 10 a.m. to noon

 

Saturday 9/19

Office closed

 

Sunday 9/20

Choir rehearsal

Worship with Baptism at 10 a.m.

Sunday School following Time with Young Disciples

Community Groups at FPCS

 

AA

Monday - Saturday at 1 p.m.

 

NA

Wednesdays and Fridays at 6:30 p.m.

 

Al-Anon

Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.

 

Nar-Anon

Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m.

 

GA

Mondays at 8 p.m.

 

Weight Watchers

Thurs. 5:30-7 p.m.

Fri. 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Sat. 8-10:30 a.m.

 

Smithtown Yoga

Mondays and Thursdays at 10 a.m.

 

Tai Chi

Mondays 1- 2 p.m.

 

Fire-Fly Oasis

various days in Room 21

 

Long Island Tabletop Games

Saturdays 3-11 p.m. 

OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH

 

SESSION

Dulcie Stoepker McLeod, Clerk

Penny Wilson, Assistant Clerk

Class of 2026

Bill Russell

Lori Kenney

Dawn Agostini

Isabel Buse

Class of 2027

Terri Miller

Ellen Ames

Tom Sartain

Tony Scarlatos

Class of 2028

Penny Wilson

Dulcie McLeod

Lori Yastrub

DIACONATE

Barbara Ruoff, Moderator

Elizabeth Bliss, Vice Moderator

Suzanne Perri, Treasurer

Charles Bunton, Secretary

Staci Landi, Assistant Secretary

Class of 2026

Charles Bunton

Barbara Ruoff

Linda Goodwin

Marilyn Garupa

Sara Hubbs, Jr. Deacon

Class of 2027

Suzanne Perri

Lisa & Alyssa Hubbs

Class of 2028

Elizabeth Bliss

Debbie Rosenberg

Staci Landi

TRUSTEES

John Agostini, President

Lynne Leftenant, Vice President

Rob Goodwin, Treasurer

Susan Gensinger, Secretary

Betty Bunton, Assistant Secretary

Class of 2026

Dave Marmelstein

Joe Ruiz

Rob Goodwin

Class of 2027

Lynne Leftenant

John Agostini

Terrell Eichacker

Class of 2028

Marci Deakins

Susan Gensinger

Betty Bunton

TREASURER

Jocelyn Pajares


 

RECEIVING TREASURER

Dawn Agostini


CHURCH STAFF

 

The Rev. Karen Crawford, Pastor

Phone: (631) 813-9172

Email: karenpts@gmail.com

Pastor’s Blog: http://pastorkaren.org

 

Dr. Pablo Lavandera

Organist/Choir Director


Tracy Henchey

Communications Manager

fpcscommunications@gmail.com

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH of SMITHTOWN


175 East Main Street

Smithtown, New York 11787

 

TEL: (631) 265-5151

FAX : (631) 979-4197


          E-mail: FPCS@optonline.net

Web Site:  www.fpcsmithtown.net