Sunday Morning Worship Service
September 14, 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-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 14, 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 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God Luther
CALL TO WORSHIP
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have established, who are we that you even consider us?
Yet, You have made us little less than God, and crowned us with glory and honor.
You have given us dominion over the works of your hands.
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
PRAYER OF THE DAY
*HYMN # 376 Love Divine, All Loves Excelling Hyfrydol
*A TIME OF SILENT REFLECTION
*UNISON CONFESSION OF SIN
O God, for the most part, our lives seem well under control. Everything proceeds quite smoothly. We feel content and even happy with our efforts. But, then times come when things fall apart and the center cannot hold. It is at these times that we are confronted with our inability to save ourselves. Deep down, we become aware that we have not loved you, our neighbors or even our own lives. We have been faithless stewards of your bounty. It is not for lack of trying. It is simply that there are experiences, mysteries, challenges and tragedies which we seem unable to fathom, let alone, face. At these points, we realize our own limits and open our lives to our need for your living presence. Come into our lives once more with your forgiveness and most amazing grace; in the name of Jesus, our Savior and Lord. 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
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing Hymn # 356
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet, Sung by flaming tongues above;
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it, Mount of God’s unchanging love!
MINUTE FOR MISSION Sunset Gap Ministry
Dolores Sandmel
OLD TESTAMENT READING Proverbs 1:20-33
A MOMENT WITH THE CHILDREN OF THE CHURCH
ANTHEM For Where Love Is, There Is God Wagner
NEW TESTAMENT READING James 3:1-12
SERMON When Religion Becomes Evil
The Reverend Marc Sherrod
*HYMN # 358 Help Us Accept Each Other Baronita
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – from “A Brief Statement of Faith”
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!”
PRAYER CONCERNS AND A TIME FOR SHARING
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
The Reverend Bill Shenk
DEDICATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY “Brother James” Air Wood
*DOXOLOGY AND PRAYER OF DEDICATION
*HYMN # 289 O God of Every Nation Llangloffan
*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 All Creatures of Our God and King Kirchengesange
*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 Kay Michener. Our Liturgist today is Nancy King. Our Ushers/Greeters are Helene Ricker & Jane Walsh.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
BETHEL YOUTH to Parkway Presbyterian Church, Knoxville tonight. Be at the church at 5:30 to carpool.
EVENING CIRCLE will meet at 6:00 P.M. in the church lounge. We will study the unnamed woman who saved the city of Abel, 2 Samuel 20:1, 14-22.
FALL CLOTHING DRIVE – Bethel’s clothing drive for Sunset Gap will be continuing until Sept. 21. Please bring your clothing, small appliances or other small items you may wish to donate to the church during this time and leave them in the lounge.
FELLOWSHIP SUPPER on Wednesday will be focused on the Youth Mission Trip.
THE PASTOR will be on vacation/study leave Sept. 20-26. Next Sunday, we will welcome to Bethel Cindy Benz, a candidate for Minister of Word and Sacrament.
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN will have a spiritual retreat at First Presbyterian Church of Cleveland on Saturday, October 4. The retreat topic is "God Speaks! Are You Listening?" and the keynote speaker is Mary Elva Smith, Associate Director of Women's Ministries, PC(USA). If you are interested in attending with other Bethel women, contact Edith Miles or Carol Brown. Reservations are due by September 23rd.
ANNUAL WOMEN’S RETREAT at John Knox Center Nov. 14-16. If you are interested in attending, pick up a copy of information & registration form in the narthex.
ALZHEIMER'S MEMORY WALK is September 28th. Please support our Bethel walkers who walk in honor of Roberta Cash. As of this writing our walkers are: Debbie Hyder, Kerry Hyder, Eden Sherrod, Chelsea Richmond, Linda Preston, Julia McGill, Scott McGill, Frederick Morgan. We are looking for more walkers and more sponsors!
THIS WEEK
MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY: BODY RECALL – 9-10 AM
| TUES – |
PRESBYTERY AT SIGNAL MOUNTAIN – 10:00 AM
PARISH LIFE COMMITTEE – 7:00 PM
|
|
| WED – |
BELLS – 5:30 PM
PROPERTY & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE – 5:30 PM
FELLOWSHIP SUPPER – 6:30 PM
CHOIR – 7:30 PM
SESSION – 8:00 PM
|
|
