Sunday Morning Worship Service
May 13, 2007

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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.

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The Service For The Lord’s Day
Bethel Presbyterian Church
Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 13, 2007
11:00 a.m.

GREETINGS, WORDS OF WELCOME, RITUAL OF FRIENDSHIP AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

I am the vine, you are the branches, says the Lord.

Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit.

PRELUDE

CALL TO WORSHIP   

Let the peoples praise you, O God.

Let all the peoples praise you.

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy.

For you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

*HYMN #469   Morning Has Broken   Bunessan

*CALL TO CONFESSION

*UNISON CONFESSION OF SIN

Almighty God, Jesus came to bring peace, giving not as the world gives, but in a way that stills our hearts and calms our fears. Yet we struggle to receive what he offers. Peace in our world, in our homes, in ourselves frequently eludes us. Sin fosters hatred and hostility, envy and strife, self-loathing and self-pity. Release from these burdens. Cleanse us and open us to the peace of Christ, the peace that passes understanding. Amen.

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE

Thanks be to God,
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!

GOSPEL LESSON   John 14:23-29

MOMENT WITH THE CHILDREN   Rev. Patricia N. Harvey

ANTHEM   I Am Just a Little Child   Chancel Choir & C. Coen

SECOND LESSON   Acts 16:9-15

SERMON  Another Country Heard From   Rev. Bill Shenk

*HYMN #376   Love Divine, All Loves Excelling   Hyfrydol

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

Christ calls us to pilgrimage toward the kingdom. Jesus announced the coming of God’s kingdom and its hidden presence in the midst of the world’s kingdoms. He taught his disciples to seek God’s kingdom first. We believe Christ gives us and demands of us lives in pilgrimage toward God’s kingdom. Like Christ we may enjoy on our journey all that sustains life and makes it pleasant and beautiful. No more than Christ are we spared the darkness, ambiguity, and threat of life in the world. We are in the world, but not of the world. Our confidence and hope for ourselves and other people do not rest in the powers and achievements of this world, but in the coming and hidden presence of God’s kingdom. Christ calls each of us to a life appropriate to that kingdom: to serve as he has served us; to take up our cross, risking the consequences of faithful discipleship; to walk by faith, not by sight, to hope for what we have not seen. The hope God gives us is ultimate confidence that supports us when lesser hopes fail us. This hope gives us courage for the present struggle. Amen.

SHARING OF CONCERNS AND PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

OFFERING

*DOXOLOGY   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 #411   Arise, Your Light Is Come!   Festal Song

*CHARGE AND BLESSING

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE   Hymn #539 vs.1

Savior, again to Thy dear name we raise
With one accord our parting hymn of praise.
We stand to bless Thee ere our worship cease;
And, now departing, wait Thy word of peace.

*POSTLUDE

 *All who are able may stand.

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A Special Thank You

The flowers are given by Tom & Jane Pickel
in memory of their mothers, Christine Dunlap and Mae Pickel.

The organ is being played by Marilyn Gaffin.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Roberta Cash, Al & Dot Davis, Reid Hutchison, Barbara Schilling, Marnie Shields, Jordan Sherrod, Marc Sherrod, Marci Smith, Margaret True, Christine Woods

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THIS WEEK'S EVENTS

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Sunday	May 13	Mother’s Day
Monday	May 14	Seniorcize Boy Scout Meeting Stewardship & Finance Meeting	9:00 A.M. 6:00 P.M. 6:00 P.M.
Wednesday	May 16	Seniorcize Prayer Group Property & Personnel Meeting Fellowship Supper Choir Practice	9:00 A.M. 9:45 A.M. 5:30 P.M. 6:30 P.M. 7:15 P.M.
Thursday	May 17	Mission Outreach Meeting	6:00 P.M.
Friday	May 18	Seniorcize	9:00 A.M.
Sunday	May 6	Youth Sunday
		Confirmation Class Youth Group	9:45 A.M. 2:00 P.M.