Sunday Morning Worship Service
July 23, 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
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
July 23, 2006
11:00 a.m.
GREETING, WORDS OF WELCOME, RITUAL OF FRIENDSHIP AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
The whole earth is full of God's glory.
PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP
I will sing of your steadfast love forever, O God!
With my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.
Your steadfast love is established forever;
Your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
*HYMN #441 I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord St. Thomas
*CALL TO CONFESSION
*UNISON CONFESSION OF SIN
God of peace, without your love in Jesus Christ we are hopelessly distant from you. You know the brokenness of our living, the emptiness of our pursuits, the futility of our hope for fulfillment apart from your power and your love. We confess to you our frailty, our great need, and our sinful condition. Redeem us, Holy One, by the saving power that raised from death your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. In Christ make us one new humanity, at peace with each other and with you, joined together in the Spirit to be a dwelling place for you, our God. Amen.
*WORDS OF ASSURANCE
God is giving birth to miracles in our lives, if only we would be open to them. Listen. God stands at the door and knocks, if we hear God’s voice and open the door, God will come in and live with us offering us love and forgiveness and life. Let us believe the good news of the Gospel.
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 Psalm 89:20-37
MOMENT WITH THE CHILDREN Mariana Oonk
NEW TESTAMENT LESSON Ephesians 2:11-22
SERMON One New Humanity Rev. Marc Sherrod, ThD
*HYMN #316 Breathe on Me, Breath of God Trentham
*AFFIRMATION 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 #386 O for a World Azmon
*CHARGE AND BLESSING
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Let There Be Peace on Earth
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me,
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father, brothers all are we,
Let me walk with my brother, in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now,
With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow,
To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me!
*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 Jane Walsh.
The Ushers today are Teresa Hettrick & Chelsea Richmond.
The flowers are provided by the Dailey/Pierce Wedding Party to the glory of God.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please donate to Bethel Operation Kindergarten. There are 14 children who are starting Kindergarten this August who will benefit from your generosity. School supplies cost $17 and class fees are $20 per child. The party is set for Friday, July 28 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Bethel. Sponsors are asked to arrive at 10:15 a.m. to be ready for the arrival of the families. Please contact Linda Brown, Julie Bunch or Amy Coen with any questions. Desserts would also be quite welcome.
Seniorcize is a physical fitness program for all people. You don't have to be a senior citizen to join our small group of folks who enjoy fellowship and exercising together. So, come on down to the Fellowship Hall on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 – 10 a.m. and join the fun beginning again July 31. Everyone is welcome!
This Wednesday's study will focus on actions of our General Assembly, recently concluded in Birmingham, Alabama. Materials that reflect various perspectives on the adoption of the "Peace, Unity and Purity" report are available in the church office for your review prior to our study time on Wednesday morning at 10 a.m.
The deadline for the August Open Door is Tuesday, July 25.
Mark your calendars for a fun time at our annual Church Picnic on Sunday, August 6 at the Hettrick’s. Games for young and old and in-between will start at 3:00 p.m. If games are not for you, just come on down for a little R+R and fellowship before the big feast around 5:00 p.m. Our menu consists of BBQ, Baked Beans, Buns, Potato Chips, Cole Slaw and Dessert. The only thing we ask YOU to bring is a lawn chair and your favorite beverage. Maps are available in the Narthex. The driving directions are:
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Directions to Church Picnic
From Bethel or downtown Kingston, proceed West (toward Rockwood) on US70, turn right at entrance to Steam Plant, and take the left fork, Swan Pond Road. Pass the coal yard, cross the rail spur and proceed along the ash pile. Turn right at the first right, Swan Pond Circle. You will want the third right turn: Lakeshore, Indigo Bunting (Swan Harbor) and Walker Street. After turning right on Walker Street (see picket fence), proceed down Walker two short blocks, crossing Alice Street and turn right at Lake Street. You have found your way to our drive. Look for balloons along the way. Carpools and lawn chairs and canned or bottle drinks are most welcome. Lost? Call 882-6513.
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If you can provide a dessert for our Church Picnic on August 6, (cookies, brownies, etc.), click HERE to let the church office know your name and what you can bring.
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Doris Barber, Sue Carter, Al & Dot Davis, Helen Roostee, Bettie Shenk, Anne Smith, Ron Thompson, Justin Trivette
Christine Woods is a patient at Roane Medical Center, Room #119.
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The Bethel Book Club will meet this Thursday, 1:30 p.m. at Carol Brown's home, 1146 Circle Drive, in Kingston. The book being reviewed is Sullivan's Island: A Low-Country Tale by Dorothea Benton Frank. If you need directions, call Carol at 376-7171.
Thanksgiving to God and congratulations to Rebecca Daily and Joseph Pierce who were married Saturday, July 22 here at Bethel.
On Sunday morning, August 13, we will welcome Jonathan Plug of the Sunset Gap ministry to a joint gathering of our adult Sunday school classes in the Fellowship Hall. Join us at 9:45 a.m. as we hear about this ministry and then for the 2nd Sunday fellowship time at 10:30 a.m.
There is a new usher sign up sheet on the bulletin board located in the back of the sanctuary for August, September and October. If you are interested in being an usher, please be sure to sign up.
THIS WEEK'S EVENTS
| Sunday |
July 23 |
Youth Group
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2:00 P.M.
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| Tuesday |
July 25 |
Newsletter Deadline |
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| Wednesday |
July 26 |
Bible Study
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10:00 A.M. |
| Thursday |
July 27 |
Bethel Book Club |
1:30 P.M.
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| Friday |
July 28 |
Operation Kindergarten Lunch |
10:30 A.M. |
| Sunday |
July 23 |
Youth Group |
2:00 P.M. |
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