Sunday Morning Worship Service
May 14, 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
Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 14, 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
CALL TO WORSHIP
We gather in the presence of God, through whom all families on earth receive their life and their name.
We wish to be strengthened in our inner selves, that Christ may dwell in our hearts.
We seek to be rooted and grounded in God’s love and in the love of Christ which surpasses understanding.
We come to worship and to praise the source of love and peace. Glory be to God in the church and in Jesus Christ to all generations forever and ever.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
*HYMN #473 For the Beauty of the Earth Dix
*CALL TO CONFESSION
*UNISON CONFESSION OF SIN
God of peace and justice, we long for the peace within, and without. We long to find serenity of spirit in the midst of life’s struggles. We long for harmony in our families and in all our relationships. We long for the day when each family everywhere might live in peace without fear, enjoying the fruit of vine and tree. Yet we confess that there is much anxiety, fear, distrust, and even violence within us. We are not willing to take the risks and make the sacrifices which peace requires. Look upon us with kindness and mercy; rule in our hearts and our world; and show us how to walk in your path; through the grace of Jesus Christ. Amen.
*WORDS OF ASSURANCE
Hear the good news! God has forgiven each one of us and calls us to take parts in the drama of redeeming love. Praise God, who accepts and uses our very human lives in the unfolding story of salvation and new life.
Thanks be to God. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
*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 Genesis 18:1-15
MINUTE FOR MISSION Evangelism Alfred Rybka
MOMENT WITH THE CHILDREN
ANTHEM
NEW TESTAMENT READING John 15:1-8
SCRIPTURE READING I John 3:16-24
SERMON People Who Need People Rev. Marc Sherrod, ThD
*HYMN #436 We Are Your People Whitefield
*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 #422 God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending Beach Spring
*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 Dolores Sandmel.
The Ushers today are Henry & Carolyn Tulley.
The flowers today are from Tom & Jane Pickel.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bethel sympathy goes out to Sue Muecke for the death of her brother, John Qualls who passed away on May 8.
The deadline for registering for our mission trip to Bayou la Batre is today. The trip will be June 3rd through the 10th. If you are planning to go on the trip, you can get a registration form from Deb Hyder or in the church office. There will be an informational meeting after the Family Supper this Wednesday, at 7:30 p.m.
A Sunset Gap delivery will be made May 24. Please gather all donations and place them in the choir room prior to this date. If you have any questions, please contact Frank Jones at 376-7319. Thank you for your support of Sunset Gap.
We give thanks for the marriage of Jessica Stiles and Lee Vaneaton at Bethel yesterday. Jessica is the granddaughter of Bill & Bobbie Martin.
Next Sunday will be Laity Sunday, when members of the congregation will lead the worship service. Join us for this special celebration. The pastor will be on vacation May 19-26.
Please prayerfully consider signing up for flowers or to be ushers during a Sunday Worship service. We are in need of both. For more information, please call Alicia in the church office or email her by clicking here.
The state of Tennessee will hold its first sales tax holiday August 4–6. The following items will be exempt from sales and use tax: clothing with a price of $100 or less per item, school supplies with a price of $100 or less per item, and computers with a price of $1,500 or less per item. For more information visit www.tennessee.gov/revenue/didyouknow/salestaxholiday.htm.
|
Doris Barber, Sue Carter, Wanda Carter, Al & Dot Davis, Bram Hyder, Anne Robertson, Marnie Shields, Justin Trivette, Margaret True, Ted Walton, Christine Woods
|
Truman Anderson – Room #503
Bettie Shenk – Room #356
Marsha McCaslin – Surgery 05-15-06
The Bethel Family is Cordially Invited to
A 90th Birthday Party for Marnie Shields
Saturday, May 20 at 1 p.m.
at 1840 James Ferry Road
THIS WEEK'S EVENTS
| Sunday |
May 14 |
Mother’s Day
Fellowship Sunday
|
|
| Monday |
May 15 |
Seniorcize
Boy Scout Meeting/Court of Honor
|
9:00 A.M.
6:00 P.M.
|
| Tuesday |
May 16 |
Parish Life Meeting |
7:00 P.M. |
| Wednesday |
May 17 |
Seniorcize
Bible Study
Property & Personnel Meeting
Family Supper
Choir Practice
Mission Trip Meeting
|
9:00 A.M.
10:00 A.M.
5:30 P.M.
6:30 P.M.
7:15 P.M.
7:30 P.M.
|
| Thursday |
May 18 |
Design & Development Meeting |
6:00 P.M. |
| Friday |
May 19 |
Seniorcize
|
9:00 A.M.
|
| Sunday |
May 21 |
Youth Group |
2:00 P.M. |
|
