TO OUR GUESTS, we extend a warm welcome. We invite you to participate in signing our Friendship Folder, adding your address and phone number if you'd like to receive our church newsletter or a pastoral call. When we pray the Lord's Prayer at Bethel, we say "sins...sin against us" rather than "debts..." or "trespasses..."; during "a time for sharing" we welcome prayer requests from the congregation. On first Sundays each month, all who put their trust in Christ and who have received baptism in any Christian church are invited to share his sacred meal. We are glad you are with us. Please come again.
GREETING, WORDS OF WELCOME, RITUAL OF FRIENDSHIP AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
O praise the Lord with me,
Let us exalt God's name together.
BELL PRELUDE How Great Thou Art
CALL TO WORSHIP
God is our guide and our companion, supplying us with all our need.
God refreshes us beside still waters and restores our souls.
Worship God with glad and generous hearts.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives.
And God will always keep us in the goodness of God’s love.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
*HYMN # 220 All People That on Earth Do Dwell Old Hundredth
CALL TO CONFESSION
The proof of God's amazing love is this: while we were sinners Christ died for us. Because we have faith in him, we dare to approach God with confidence. In faith and penitence, let us confess our sin before God and one another.
(Silent Prayer)
*UNISON CONFESSION OF SIN
Loving God, forgive us our sins. Forgive us the times when we have done things we should not have done and the times we have not done things we should have done. You ask that we love others as you love us. Yet, we find it hard to love those who are different than ourselves. We have not been overly concerned about injustice as long as it didn’t affect our lives. Let the power of the Holy Spirit be present in us. Forgive us in the name of the living Christ. Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
The good news in Christ is that God offers us life at every moment, forgiving us, and inviting us to the freshness of new beginnings. Let us praise this God of grace! Give thanks to God, for . . .
in Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Gloria Patri Hymn #579
MINUTE FOR MISSION Miss Dot Hunger Fund Peggy Sheppard
A MOMENT OF CELEBRATION FOR THE LIFE AND FAITH OF
FRED ALLEN MEERS
July 22, 1927 – April 9, 2005
United with the Bethel Presbyterian Church on October 15, 2000
OLD TESTAMENT READING
Psalm 139:1-12
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
BELL ANTHEM O Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing! Valerie W. Stephenson
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
GOSPEL READING John 10:7-18
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.
