Sunday Morning Worship Service
May 16, 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
Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 16, 2004
GREETING, WORDS OF WELCOME, RITUAL OF FRIENDSHIP, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Worship the Lord with gladness.
And enter the Lord’s presence with songs of joy.
PRELUDE Lord, I Stretch My Hands to You Jay Althouse
with duet by Phil Walsh and Mary Ann Hensley
CALL TO WORSHIP – John 14:26
Jesus said to the disciples, “the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.”
The crucified Christ is risen! Jesus is Lord, and the promises of Jesus are sure.
Let us rejoice together that there is one who comes alongside to enable our worship and walk the path of discipleship with us, the Spirit helper, the Advocate.
Praise be to God and to Christ Jesus for this wondrous gift.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
*HYMN # 150 Come, Christians, Join to Sing Madrid
*A TIME OF SILENT CONFESSION
*UNISON CONFESSION OF SIN
Compassionate God, we confess that there are times in our Christian journey when deaths and doubts threaten our faith, confusions confound, and loneliness and fear lead us into desolation. We can become so self-focused on our troubles that we begin to think there is no escape, that no one cares. We have forgotten there is one who shares this joyrney of life with us – the Advocate – who is ready to remind and assure us of your caring and your love, to lift our spirits, and to guide us toward the light of a new day of hope and trust. Forgive our failure to invite and expect the presence of the Paraclete. Forgive our failure to be receptive and perceptive of the Holy Advocate who can enliven our worship, enlighten our minds, enlarge our hearts, and equip us to witness to the teachings of Jesus by our living and loving any and all to whom we are guided. Grant us the grace of your pardon, we pray. Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Jesus said that we would know the truth and the truth would make us free. (John 8:32) it is the Advocate who declares the truth of God’s forgiveness to our troubled souls, reminding us that the sacrifice of Christ sets us free from the guilt and shame of our sin. Praise be to God for the Paraclete, the liberating Spirit of Jesus!
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Gloria Patri Hymn # 579
OLD TESTAMENT READING Proverbs 15:13-22
MINUTE FOR MISSION Miss Dot Hunger Fund
Peggy Sheppard
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN OF THE CHURCH
HANDBELL ANTHEM I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art
Arr.- V. W. Stephenson
NEW TESTAMENT READING John 14:23-29
SERMON The Paraclete
The Reverend Marc Sherrod
*HYMN # 310 Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee St. Agnus
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – from “A Brief Statement of Faith”
In life and in death we belong to God. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve. We trust in God the Holy Spirit, everywhere the giver and renewer of life. The Spirit justifies us by grace through faith, sets us free to accept ourselves and to love God and neighbor, and binds us together with all believers in the one body of Christ, the church. The same Spirit who inspired the prophets and apostles rules our faith and life in Christ through Scripture, engages us through the Word proclaimed, claims us in the waters of baptism, feeds us with the bread of life and the cup of salvation, and calls women and men to all ministries of the church. In a broken and fearful world the Spirit gives us courage to pray without ceasing, to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior, to unmask idolatries in church and culture, to hear the voices of peoples long silenced, and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace. In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God’s new heaven and new earth, praying, “Come, Lord Jesus!” With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.
PRAYER CONCERNS AND A TIME FOR SHARING
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
DEDICATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
*DOXOLOGY AND PRAYER OF DEDICATION
HYMN # 326 Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart Morecambe
*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.
Today's flowers are given in honor of our musicians, liturgists, acolytes and ushers. Thank you for leading us in our worship service. Our Liturgist today is Edith Miles. Our Ushers/Greeters are Dan and Debbie Hyder.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GRADUATES as they transition to new opportunities! Join us at 6:30 this Wednesday’s Fellowship Supper as we honor Rebecca Dailey, Bram Hyder, Thomas Cantrell, Caleb Sherrod, Chelsea Richmond, and Shawn Hart.
NEXT SUNDAY is Youth Sunday.
FLOWERS FOR OUR SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE – If you would like to provide flowers for our Sunday worship service please sign up on the flower chart located on the sanctuary bulletin board.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR for a special music performance by our own Dianne Griffith, Mary Ann Hensley, and Caleb Sherrod who will offer an afternoon recital May 23, 5 p.m. in Bethel’s sanctuary. Afterwards, participants in this year’s mission trip to New Mexico will host a fundraiser dinner in the Fellowship Hall. Come and invite your friends and family! Food provided; donations welcomed.
BETHEL RECORDS
MAY 7, 2003 –
Attendance – 117
Contributions – $4,003.60
Evening Circle – $118.07
Memorials – $255.00
| PLEASE PRAY FOR: Ella Winsbro, Ginny Warlick, Betty Ulrich, Carol Jane Row, Marge Hettrick, Henry Tulley, Tora Phillips, Justin Earl, Christine Woods, Al & Dot Davis, Charles Pickel, Ruth Moutoux, Florence Simmons, Susan Todd, Presbyterian Churches & Pastors- Ooltewah (William E. Mills) & Knoxville-Parkway (Joe M. McKewen) |
THIS WEEK
MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY: BODY RECALL – 9-10 AM
| TODAY – |
YOUTH (PLAN FOR YOUTH SUNDAY ON MAY 23) – 6:00 PM |
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| TUE – |
PARISH LIFE COMMITTEE – 7:00 PM |
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| WED – |
HANDBELLS – 5:30 PM
PROPERTY & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE – 5:30 PM
FELLOWSHIP DINNER (HONORING OUR GRADUATES) – 6:30 PM
CHOIR – 7:30 PM
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| SAT – |
EVANS-KELLOGG WEDDING (JOHN KNOX CENTER) – 5:00 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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