Sunday Morning Worship Service
April 30, 2006
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.
Bethel Presbyterian Church
Third Sunday of Easter
April 30, 2006
11:00 a.m.
GREETING, WORDS OF WELCOME, RITUAL OF FRIENDSHIP AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
O give thanks to the Lord, for the Lord is good;
God’s steadfast love endures forever.
PRELUDE Immortal, Invisible God Only Wise Handbell Choir
CALL TO WORSHIP
See what love the God has given us,
that we should be called children of God!
You alone, O God, make us dwell in safety.
Let the light of your face shine on us!
PRAYER OF THE DAY
*HYMN #457 I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art Toulon
*CALL TO CONFESSION
*UNISON CONFESSION OF SIN
Wondrous God, you sent Jesus Christ into this world that we would know your love and share your life. Yet we resist you, and fail to walk in your ways. Your good news becomes stale to us; we lose our awe at your power over sin and death. We allow the cares of this world to rob us of our Easter joy. Cleanse our hearts, O God. Remind us that we belong to you. Nurture us in the life abundant, that we would grow into the full stature of our calling as your children. Give us zeal in our living, and keep us pure, that our witness may be true and vibrant in service to you through our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
*WORDS OF ASSURANCE Eden Sherrod
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!
Thanks be to God. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! Amen.
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Gloria Patri Hymn #578
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.
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Psalm 4
ANTHEM Alleluia Handbell Choir
MOMENT WITH THE CHILDREN
NEW TESTAMENT READING I John 3:1-3
SERMON Children of God Rev. Marc Sherrod, ThD
HYMN #426 Lord, Speak to Me, That I May Speak Canonbury
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – from A Brief Statement of Faith
We trust in God, whom Jesus called Abba Father. In sovereign love God created the world good and makes everyone equally in God's image, male and female, of every race and people, to live as one community. But we rebel against God; we hide from our Creator. Ignoring God's commandments, we violate the image of God in others and ourselves, accept lies as truth, exploit neighbor and nature, and threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care. We deserve God's condemnation. Yet God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation. In everlasting love, the God of Abraham and Sarah chose a covenant people to bless all families of the earth. Hearing their cry, God delivered the children of Israel from the house of bondage. Loving us still, God makes us heirs with Christ of the covenant. Like a mother who will not forsake her nursing child, like a father who runs to welcome the prodigal home, God is faithful still. Amen.
SHARING OF PRAYER CONCERNS
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND LORD’S PRAYER
DEDICATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
*DOXOLOGY Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow Hymn #592
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.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
*HYMN #485 To God Be the Glory To God Be the Glory
*CHARGE AND BLESSING
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE God Be with You Till We Meet Again Hymn #540
God be with you till we meet again:
Loving counsels guide, uphold you, With a Shepherd’s care enfold you:
God be with you till we meet again.
*POSTLUDE
*All who are able may stand.
Bethel offers Sunday school for children and four educational opportunities for adults at 9:45 A.M.
Childcare for babies and preschool age children is offered at 11:00 A.M.
Restrooms are located in our Educational Building on the first floor and the lower level.
Ushers can provide activity sheets for children and large print hymnals if needed.
The Liturgist today is Ken Dungan.
The Ushers today are Carol Brown & Dolores Sandmel.
The flowers today are from Justin Trivette.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
After the worship service today, the youth will host a luncheon followed by the Annual Auction. The Youth will be selling their time and talents as well as those of the congregation. The funds raised through this year’s Auction will be used for a mission trip to the hurricane stricken gulf. Please support the church youth by coming to the luncheon and auction.
Bethel’s Super Saturday will be this Saturday, May 6 at 10 a.m. Rev. Fritz Schilling, Coordinator for the Katrina Relief efforts, will be informing us about the activities and missions of the Presbytery of East Tennessee. He will give an overview of past and future missions in the disaster stricken area. Participants of previous work trips are encouraged to attend and to share their experiences. Refreshments will be provided.
The Design & Development Committee for our building program will be available to answer questions in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday, May 14 during the Sunday school hour and during the food and fellowship time beginning at 10:30 a.m.
The Mother/Daughter Luncheon will be held Saturday, May 13th, 2006 at noon. It's this time of year again! Mothers and daughters prepare for another wonderful time of fun, food and fellowship at Ivan's in Rockwood. Please make your reservations as soon as possible, but not later than Monday, May 8th. You may sign-up on the bulletin board in the back of the sanctuary or by calling Alicia in the church office.
The Babahatchie Community Band will be having a concert this afternoon at the Harriman High School Auditorium beginning at 3 p.m. Come support our very own Bill Shenk and Jill McMaster who are in the band.
If you would like to provide flowers for a Sunday worship service, please sign up on the chart in the back of the Sanctuary. There are still several Sundays available.
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Doris Barber, Sue Carter, Wanda Carter, Al & Dot Davis, Leslie Pogue, Anne Robertson, Marnie Shields, Ashley Lynn Tollett, Justin Trivette, Margaret True, Ted Walton, Christine Woods
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If you are interested in being an Usher on Sunday mornings, please sign up on the chart in the back of the Sanctuary.
A discussion on The Essentials of the Reformed Faith at Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church will be Thursday, May 4. Supper will begin at 5:45 p.m. with the gathering at 6:45 p.m. Please call 522-9804 by May 1 for more information or to sign up.
THIS WEEK'S EVENTS
| Sunday |
Apr 30 |
Youth Luncheon/Auction |
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| Monday |
May 1 |
Seniorcize
Boy Scout PLC
Design & Development Meeting
Boy Scout Meeting
|
9:00 A.M.
6:00 P.M.
6:00 P.M.
7:00 P.M.
|
| Tuesday |
May 2 |
Circle II |
1:00 P.M. |
| Wednesday |
May 3 |
Seniorcize
Bible Study
Choir Practice
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9:00 A.M.
10:00 A.M.
7:15 P.M.
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| Thursday |
May 4 |
Mission Outreach Meeting |
6:30 P.M. |
| Friday |
May 5 |
Seniorcize
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9:00 A.M.
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| Saturday |
May 6 |
Super Saturday |
10:00 A.M. |
| Sunday |
May 7 |
Youth Group |
2:00 P.M. |
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