Sunday Morning Worship Service
August 24, 2003
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
Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 24, 2003
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
CALL TO WORSHIP
Praise the Lord, all nations!
Extol the Lord, all peoples!
For great is the Lord’s steadfast love toward us
And the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!
The Lord’s name be praised!
PRAYER OF THE DAY
*HYMN # 356 Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing Nettleton
*A TIME OF SILENT REFLECTION
*UNISON CONFESSION OF SIN
Dear Lord, through Jesus Christ you have called us to be your disciples, but we do not do what you have asked us to do. We do not show our faith through our words and actions. We do not tell our friends and families of your love for us. We are prone to ignore those who have not heard the good news rather than helping them to find you. We do not use the strength we could get from our faith to solve problems in our community, country, and world. Have mercy on us, O God, and though we do not deserve it, forgive us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
People, hear the Good News! God sent Jesus Christ into the world so that the whole world would be encouraged to live in harmony and to give glory to God in one voice.
The gift of repentance has been given to each of us.
Therefore, go in peace with the assurance that our prayers have been heard and our sins are forgiven.
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE
My Faith Looks up to Thee Hymn # 383
My faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine:
Now hear me while I pray, Take all my guilt away, O let me from this day be wholly Thine!
OLD TESTAMENT READING Psalm 99
A MOMENT WITH THE CHILDREN OF THE CHURCH
SPECIAL MUSIC Clarinet Duet Medley
Jonathan Copeland & Caleb Sherrod
NEW TESTAMENT READING Mark 12:13-17
SERMON A Taxing Question
The Reverend Marc Sherrod
*HYMN # 282 If Thou but Trust in God to Guide Thee
Wer Nur Den Lieben Gott
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – from “A Declaration of Faith”
Jesus is our living Lord. Jesus was dead and buried, but God raised him from the dead. We are certain that Jesus lives. He lives as God with us, touching all of human life with the presence of God. He lives as one of us with God. Because he shares our humanity and has bound us to himself in love, we have an advocate in the innermost life of God. We declare that Jesus is Lord. His resurrection is a decisive victory over the powers that deform and destroy human life. His lordship is hidden. The world appears to be dominated by people and systems that do not acknowledge his rule. But his lordship is real. It demands our loyalty and sets us free from the fear of all lesser lords who threaten us. We maintain that ultimate sovereignty now belongs to Jesus Christ in every sphere of life. Jesus is Lord! He has been Lord from the beginning. He will be Lord at the end. Even now he is Lord!
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 # 441 I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord St Thomas
*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 Alfred & Jan Rybka celebrating their anniversary. Our Liturgist today is Mark Banker. Our Ushers/Greeters are Frank & Janet Kornegay.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING after worship today to hear a report from Bethel’s trustees.
HANDBELL WORK SESSION – 6:30 p.m today.
ALL ARE INVITED to a Healing & Wholeness Service next Sunday at 9:00 a.m. in the sanctuary led by the parish nurse and pastor.
EVENING CIRCLE will meet at 6:00 P.M. in the Church lounge. We will be sharing faith and friendship through a Bible study of Jephthah's daughter (Judges 11:29-44).
ADULT CHOIR will begin practice on Wed., Sept. 3 at 7:00 p.m.
BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP – If you are planning to come to the book discussion group on Thursday, please meet with Karen Schall after church to get directions or make arrangements to carpool. (Book - Oral History by Lee Smith)
CONGRATULATIONS on the birth of James Alan Asbury on August 1st at 8 lb 4 oz. His parents are James & Malia Asbury, Gail King is his grandmother and Doris Barber is proud great-grandmother.
PRISON VOLUNTEERS who wish to attend the 5th Sunday worship at the Morgan County site on Aug. 31st should contact Karen Schall before 8/25.
FAMILY PICNIC – Sunday, August 24th - 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. at John Knox Center
BABAHATCHEE COMMUNITY BAND presents their “Annual Music & Melons Concert” - Sunday Aug 24, 3 p.m., Riverfront Park, Harriman. Bring a lawn chair & enjoy the concert.
NEWSLETTER DEADLINE – August 26th, 9 a.m.
BETHEL RECORDS – Aug 17, 2003 - Contributions $4038.17, Youth Mission Trip $10.00, Memorial Fund $100.00
PLEASE PRAY FOR: Christine Woods, Betty Hall, Margaret True, Al & Dot Davis, Ruth Moutoux, Florence Simmons, Presbyterian Churches & Pastors - Chattanooga-Agape Mission (Felix A Burrows, Jr.) & Maryville-Baker’s Creek (Ronald E. Sabo)
THIS WEEK
MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY: BODY RECALL – 9-10 AM
TODAY –
EVENING CIRCLE (IN THE LOUNGE) – 6:00 PM
JOHN KNOX PICNIC – 2-6 PM
HANDBELL WORK SESSION – 6:30 PM
NEXT SUNDAY –
HEALING & WHOLENESS SERVICE – 9:00 AM
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