Sunday Morning Worship Service
August 31, 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-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 31, 2003
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 Michael Rodgers
CALL TO WORSHIP
Although life’s experiences may have formed in each of us different understandings of who God is,
Still, we gather together to worship God, the center of our lives and faith.
But is God the Center, providing, guiding and holding our lives together, bringing light to our days and our ways?
We would like to think so. Faith tells us so.
Then, let us worship together and open ourselves to God’s presence and light.
We will celebrate together God’s challenges to us; from generation to generation, we will praise the miracle of God’s awesome love.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
*HYMN # 229 From All That Dwell Below the Skies Lasst Uns Erfreuen
*A TIME OF SILENT REFLECTION
*UNISON CONFESSION OF SIN
We say that we praise your name forever and ever, O Lord, but our lips utter phrases that are seldom lasting. We confess that our actions have not been enduring. We have cherished things of our own making far beyond the glories of your creation. We have neglected your children in need for the sake of our own pleasures. We have been notorious in self-glory, rather than celebrating the fame of your abundant goodness. Our lives have become unmanageable and we are poor stewards of the gift of life itself. Have mercy on us. Renew us. Enable us now to pass on to generations yet to come our blessings from you and our knowledge of your most gracious love. Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
The good news in Christ is that God offers us life at every moment, forgiving us, and inviting us to the freshness of new beginnings. Let us proclaim this God of grace.
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 Exodus 19:1-9
A MOMENT WITH THE CHILDREN OF THE CHURCH
Margaret Murr
SPECIAL MUSIC
Michael Rodgers
NEW TESTAMENT READING Peter 2:9-10
SERMON From Altar to Table to World
The Reverend Marc Sherrod
*HYMN # 359 More Love to Thee O Christ
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – Philippians 2:5-11
Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess to the glory of God: Jesus Christ is Lord! Amen.
PRAYER CONCERNS AND A TIME FOR SHARING
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
DEDICATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY Michael Rodgers
*DOXOLOGY AND PRAYER OF DEDICATION
*HYMN # 446 Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken Austrian Hymn
*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.
*POSTLUDE Toccata in G Major Smith
*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 Chris Badger. Our Liturgist today is Becca Dailey. Our Ushers/Greeters are Dan & Debbie Hyder.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
OUR PRAYERS are with the whole Hettrick family in the loss of their home to fire this week. Monetary gifts can be made out to Bethel and designated “Local Disaster/Emergency Relief Fund.”
SPECIAL THANKS to Michael Rodgers for sharing his talents with us today.
RALLY DAY - Be sure and join us next Sunday, Rally Day, during the Sunday School hour in the Fellowship Hall, for a dramatic presentation by Bethel’s children and youth, and during worship, to hear about the experience of this year’s Mission Trip participants.
CHILDREN & YOUTH SWIM PARTY at 4:00 p.m. next Sunday at the Sherrod’s house. (Call 717-4881 for directions.) Children third grade and under should be accompanied by an adult.
ADULT CHOIR will begin practice on Wed., Sept. 3 at 7:00 p.m.
CIRCLE II will meet at Carolyn Tulley’s home at 1:00 p.m. Meet at the church to carpool.
PLEASE PRAY FOR: the Hettrick family, Christine Woods, Betty Hall, Margaret True, Al & Dot Davis, Ruth Moutoux, Florence Simmons, Presbyterian Churches & Pastors - Kingston - Bethel (S. Marc Sherrod) & Friendsville -Big Spring (Beverly B. Johnson)
THIS WEEK
MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY: BODY RECALL – 9-10 AM
TUES – CIRCLE II (AT CAROLYN TULLEY’S HOME) – 1:00 PM
WED –
BELLS 5:30 PM
CHOIR 7:00 PM
THURS – MISSION OUTREACH COMMITTEE – 6:30 PM
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