Sunday Morning Worship Service
May 2, 2004
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.
THE SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
Fourth Sunday of Easter
May 2, 2004
GREETING, WORDS OF WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Worship the Lord with gladness.
And enter the Lord’s presence with songs of joy.
PRELUDE Still Are the Waters Parks
CALL TO WORSHIP
Jesus reveals himself as living presence and speaks to us, his disciples, saying “Follow me.”
We are sent to be the assurance of Christ’s friendship.
Jesus says, “Follow me to the doubting and fearful, the oppressed and the hungry.”
We are sent with a word of faith and love to speak, the bread of life and hope to share.
As we join in worship today, let us listen to Christ’s call and command and be prepared to respond.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
*HYMN # 244 Let Us with a Gladsome Mind Monkland
*UNISON CONFESSION OF SIN
Merciful God, in your gracious presence we confess our sin and the sin of this world. Although Christ is among us as our peace, we are a people divided against ourselves as we cling to the values of a broken world. The profit and pleasures we pursue lay waste the land and pollute the seas. The fears and jealousies that we harbor set neighbor against neighbor and nation against nation. We abuse your good gifts of imagination and freedom, of intellect and reason, and have turned them into bonds of oppression. Lord, have mercy upon us; heal and forgive us. Set us free to serve you in the world as agents of your reconciling love in Jesus Christ. Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON – 1 Tim. 1:15; 1 Peter 2:24
Hear the good news! The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, that we might be dead to sin, and alive to all that is good. I declare to you in the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Gloria Patri Hymn # 579
PASSING OF THE PEACE
Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another. The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. And also with you.
DEDICATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – THE APOSTLES’ CREED (TRADITIONAL)
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
*HYMN # 170 The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want Crimond
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE
GREAT THANKSGIVING AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is truly right and our greatest joy to give you thanks and praise, eternal God, creator and ruler of the universe. At your word the earth was made and spun on its course among the planets. Your hand formed us from the dust of the earth and set us among all your creatures to love and serve you. When we were unfaithful to you you kept faith with us, your love remained steadfast. When we were slaves in Egypt, you broke the bonds of our oppression, brought us through the sea to freedom, and made covenant to be our God. By a pillar of fire you led us through the desert to a land flowing with milk and honey, and set before us the way of life. You spoke of love and justice in the prophets, and in the Word made flesh you lived among us, manifesting your glory. He died that we might live, and is risen to raise us to new life. Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with angels and archangels and with all the faithful of every time and place, who forever sing to the glory of your name:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
You are holy, O God of majesty, and blessed is Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, whom you sent to save us. He came with healing in his touch, and was wounded for our sins. He came with mercy in his voice,
and was mocked as one despised. He came with peace in his heart, and met with violence and death. By your power he broke free from the prison of the tomb, and at his command the gates of hell were opened. The one who was dead now lives. The one who humbled himself is raised to rule over all creation, the Lamb upon the throne. The one ascended on high is with us always, as he promised. We give you thanks that the Lord Jesus, on the night before he died, took bread, and after giving thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, eat. This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. In the same way he took the cup, saying: This cup is the new covenant sealed in my blood, shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me. Remembering all your mighty and merciful acts, we take this bread and this wine from the gifts you have given us, and celebrate with joy the redemption won for us in Jesus Christ. Accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving as a living and holy offering of ourselves, that our lives may proclaim the One crucified and risen. Great is the mystery of faith:
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these your gifts of bread and wine, that the bread we break and the cup we bless may be the communion of the body and blood of Christ. By your Spirit make us one with Christ that we may be one with all who share this feast, united in ministry in every place. As this bread is Christ's body for us, send us out to be the body of Christ in the world. Nourished at this table, O God, may we know Christ's redemptive love and live a new life in him. Help us who recognize our Lord in the breaking of bread to see and serve him in all whose lives are broken. Give us who are fed at his hand, grace to share our bread with the hungry and with the hungry of heart. Keep us faithful in your service until Christ comes in final victory, and we shall feast with all your saints in the joy of your eternal realm. Through Christ, all glory and honor are yours, almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit in the holy church, now and forever. Hear us as we pray together . . .
COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
HYMN # 509 For the Bread Which You Have Broken Cross of Jesus
*CHARGE AND BLESSING God Be With You 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. Amen.
*All who are able may stand.
This worship service is broadcast on WKTS 90.1 FM at 12:30 p.m. today.
Bethel offers Sunday school for children and four educational opportunities for adults at 9:45 AM. Childcare (babies and preschool age) is offered at 9:45 and 11 AM. Restrooms are located in our Educational Building, first floor and lower level. Ushers can provide large print hymnbooks and activity sheets for children.
The Sanctuary Flowers today are provided by the Patton family in honor of Jack & Joan Patton.
Our Liturgist today is Edith Miles.
Our Ushers/Greeters are Chris Badger & Helene Ricker.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
BETHEL SYMPATHY is extended to Diane Russell in the death of her mother, Ruby Nell Skinner, on April 25.
SPRING CONCERT - R.C.H.S. Band, May 10, 7 PM, Roane State Community College.
NO FUN LUNCH this month. NO Youth Group Meeting Tonight. Youth Sunday has been shifted from next Sunday to later in May.
YOU ARE INVITED to tonight’s performance of the Knoxville Youth Symphony Orchestra, 7 p.m. at University of Tennessee Alumni Hall.
BETHEL RECORDS -April 25 –Attendance 127, Contributions $2,290.81, One Great Hour of Sharing $20.00, Youth Mission Trip $50.00, H.O.M.E. $30.00, Memorials $120.00
BETHEL RECORDS
April 25, 2003 –
Attendance – 127
One Great Hour of Sharing $20.00
Youth Mission Trip $50.00
H.O.M.E. $30.00
Memorials $120.00
| PLEASE PRAY FOR: Carol Jane Row, Marge Hettrick, Henry Tulley, Justin Earl, Christine Woods, Al & Dot Davis, Ella Winsbro, Charles Pickel, Ruth Moutoux, Florence Simmons, Susan Todd, Presbyterian Churches & Pastors- Maryville- New Providence (Emily J. Anderson) & Chattanooga Northminster (Becky A. Downs) |
THIS WEEK
MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY: BODY RECALL – 9-10 AM
| TODAY – |
PANTRY SUNDAY THIS WEEK
REA CIRCLE – 6:00PM
NO YOUTH GROUP MEETING
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| TUE – |
CIRCLE II – 1:00 PM |
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| WED – |
HANDBELLS – 5:30 PM
CHOIR – 7:00 PM
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| THURS – |
EVANGELISM COMMITTEE (FELLOWSHIP HALL) – 6:00 PM
MISSION OUTREACH COMMITTEE – 6:30 PM
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| SAT – |
MOTHER/DAUGHTER LUNCHEON (FELLOWSHIP HALL) – 12:00 PM |
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HYMNS WE LIKE TO SING
Parish Life and Worship is planning a Sunday Evening Adult-Fellowship Gathering in the sanctuary on Sunday, July 11, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Please let us know your favorite hymn - just e-mail us or call the church office (865-376-6340). Everyone is invited to make a joyful noise to the Lord. Afterwards we adjourn to the Fellowship Hall for cookies and ice-cream.
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