Sunday Morning Worship Service
August 28, 2005
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
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
August 28, 2005
GREETING, WORDS OF WELCOME, RITUAL OF FRIENDSHIP AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
This is the day that the Lord has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP
We are standing here on holy ground.
O give thanks to God and call upon God’s name.
God calls us and promises to be with us in all of life.
Sing to God and praise God’s holy name.
Let our hearts rejoice in the wonderful works God has done.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
*HYMN #441 I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord St. Thomas
*CALL TO CONFESSION
*UNISON CONFESSION OF SIN
God of merciful kindness, we confess to you our failures. You have called us to be your people and like Moses, we find excuses. You promise to be with us but we turn from you and worship false gods. Like Peter, we are stumbling blocks rather than proclaimers of the god news of your love for us. We confess our failure to hold fast to what is good; to love one another with mutual affections; to be patient in suffering; to contribute to the needs of others and to be hospitable to all your children. O God, give us wisdom to discern what is right, courage to deny ourselves, and strength to turn to you for all things. In the name and for the sake of Jesus the Christ. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. I declare to you, in the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. May the God of mercy, who forgives you all your sins, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life.
Thanks be to God! In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Gloria Patri Hymn #579
OLD TESTAMENT Exodus 3:115
MOMENT FOR MISSION Hands of Mercy Dolores Sandmel
A TIME WITH THE CHILDREN
SPECIAL MUSIC Bless the Lord, O My Soul Quartet:
Julie Bunch, Jim Condon,
Mary Ann Hensley & Phil Walsh
NEW TESTAMENT Matthew 16:21-28, Romans 12:9-21
SERMON Resisting Caesar Rev. Marc Sherrod, ThD
*HYMN #372 Lord, I Want to Be a Christian I Want to Be a Christian
*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. In that promise we affirm our faith. Amen.
SHARING OF PRAYER CONCERNS
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND LORD’S PRAYER
DEDICATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
*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 #333 Seek Ye First Lafferty
*CHARGE AND BLESSING
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE God Be with You Till We Meet Again Hymn #540
*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 Chris Badger.
The Ushers today are Henry & Carolyn Tulley.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
We join the Barber family in grieving the death of Doris Barber’s son, Thomas Barber, a retired Commander of the United States Navy, Monday evening. The flowers are in loving memory of Thomas from Doris, Gail, James, and Daniel. A photo of him with his wife Jan, is on the table in the narthex. In lieu of flowers, please send gifts to the Building Fund for the First United Methodist Church in Hendersonville, TN or to Campus Crusade for Christ.
You are all invited to make a joyful noise to the Lord at our Annual Hymn Sing tonight at 7:00 p.m. After the singing, we will adjourn to the Fellowship Hall for cookies and ice-cream.
Join us as we hike the Little Greenbrier Gap Trail next Sunday, September 4. The hike will be 2.6 miles round trip and is described in the guide book as "a short country lane hike on a broad old road bed that ascends, but only slightly." We will depart from Bethel shortly after the conclusion of the morning service and return to Kingston around supper time. Please bring appropriate clothing and shoes to change into before leaving, as well as a picnic lunch and snacks for the ride up and for after the hike. If you have any questions, please call Mark Banker at 376-2118. This should be a great hike for both young and old alike.
Thank you to Julie Bunch, Jim Condon, Mary Ann Hensley, and Phil Walsh for providing Special Music for today’s service
Attention Singers! Choir rehearsals will begin this Wednesday evening, August 31st at 7:15 p.m. If you would like to share your singing talents, this is the opportunity for you. All are welcome.
Can’t read music, can’t carry a tune? Then the Handbell Choir is for you. The Handbell Choir will resume their rehearsals Wednesday, September 7th at 5:45 p.m. All are welcome to join.
Please sign up for our upcoming trip to the Cumberland County Playhouse to see "Ain't Misbehavin'" on Sunday, October 9th at 2:30 p.m. We will carpool from Bethel leaving the parking lot at 2:00 p.m. A sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board in the back of the church. You may also call Alicia in the church office to sign up. Watch future bulletins for more information.
Doris Barber and her family in the death of her son, Thomas Barber.
Sue Carter, Al & Dot Davis, Madge Mounger, Tommy Sandmel, Justin Trivette, Margaret True, Evelyn Waldrup
Commitment Cards for Bethel's Capital Funds Campaign are in the pews. Please prayerfully consider what your pledge will be and use an envelope when you place your card in the offering plate or send it to the church office.
|
Pledges to date
|
32 |
$ 281,000 |
| Funds on hand |
|
$ 200,000 |
| Total |
|
$481,000 |
Carolyn McNew and Jim Schall will be at the front of the sanctuary following the service today to hear any comments or answer questions about the building plans.
Please mark your calendars for a Congregational Meeting on Sunday, September 18, when we will hear recommendations concerning a building program.
THIS WEEK'S EVENTS
|
Sunday
|
Aug 28 |
Hymn Sing and Ice-Cream Social |
7:00 P.M.
|
| Monday |
Aug 29 |
Boy Scout Meeting |
7:00 P.M. |
| Wednesday |
Aug 31 |
Choir Practice |
7:15 P.M. |
Attendance Last Week – 81
Average Attendance in 2005 – 111
| Undesignated Offering |
$5,069.66 |
| MO – Nigeraguan Relief |
$50.00 |
| Grace School |
$40.00 |
| Youth Minister Fund |
$100.00 |
| Building Fund |
$100.00 |
| TOTAL |
$5359.66 |
|
|
August 28, 2005
GREETING
OPENING PRAYER
READING #1 Psalm 96
HYMN # 1 Morning Has Broken Hymn # 469
HYMN #2 Spirit Hymn # 319
READING #2 John 16:16-24
SPECIAL MUSIC Just a little Talk with Jesus Quartet
HYMN #3 I Love to Tell the Story Upper Room Hymn #100
HYMN #4 He Lives Upper Room Hymn #39
READING #3 Luke 7:1-10
HYMN #5 My Faith Looks Up To Upper Room #30
HYMN #6 Be Thou My Vision Hymn #339
HYMN #7 Trust and Obey Upper Room #51
READING #4 Romans 3:21-26
SPECIAL MUSIC The Wonderful Grace of Jesus Quartet
HYMN #8 What a Friend We Have in Jesus Upper Room #109
HYMN #9 Amazing Grace Upper Room #17
CLOSING PRAYER
Thanks to our volunteer quartet for sharing their excellent musical talents
with us - Julie Bunch, Jim Condon, Mary Ann Hensley and Phil Walsh.
Please proceed to the Fellowship Hall for refreshments following the Service.
|
