Sunday Morning Worship Service
September 19, 2004
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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
Theological Education Sunday
September 19, 2004
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 Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel Pethel
CALL TO WORSHIP
As in the days of Jesus - the blind receive their sight,
So may we see, O Gracious Savior.
As we receive our sight, as we see more clearly,
May we also see our sister and our brother, the hungry and the poor, those who are black, brown, yellow, those who live next door, and those who live half a world away, all of these are our neighbor.
Open our eyes as we sing, open our hearts as we pray, open our lives as we worship You this day!
PRAYER OF THE DAY
*HYMN # 285 God, You Spin the Whirling Planets Australian Hymn
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Forgive us, Lord when our witness is timid and heartless. Forgive visions of your kingdom clouded by human folly; songs of your glory sung in dissonance; half-hearted attempts at service prodded by guilt. Restore in us the wonder of your love, and a longing for your presence with us. Teach our tongues to sing the melody of your grace; help us run the race set before us looking to Christ who loves us, who shows us who you are and calls us to be servants, in whose name we pray. 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.
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Gloria Patri Hymn # 579
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Hosea 6:1-6
A MOMENT WITH THE CHILDREN OF THE CHURCH
ANTHEM Chosen to Serve
NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURE Luke 5: 27-32
SERMON Are You Wearing Blinders?
Rev. Patricia Harvey
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – From “Searching for Shalom” by Ann Weems
Our Lord was a Lord who turned things upside down and inside out, a man who dined with sinners, a man who befriended prostitutes and tax collectors, a man who was called a heretic, a man who broke the Sabbath rules, a man who changed water into wine. And he bids us to follow him; to turn things upside down and inside out, to go where the hurting are, to change water into wine, to change who we are into the Kingdom of God. Amen.
*HYMN # 343 We Are Called as Partners in God’s Service Beecher
PRAYER CONCERNS AND A TIME FOR SHARING
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER
DEDICATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY My Jesus, I Love Thee Gordon
*DOXOLOGY AND PRAYER OF DEDICATION
HYMN # 420 God of Grace and God of Glory Cwm Rhondda
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION AND RESPONSE 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 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 flowers today are given by Ted & Lillian Walton in memory of their daughter, Sharon McGill.
The Liturgist today is Deb Hyder.
Our Ushers/Greeters are Frank & Marilyn Harris.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Today we welcome our Parish Associate, Rev. Patricia Harvey, to the pulpit.
THE REA CIRCLE is hosting a special program on Sunday, September 26th. Janet Nippert will be speaking on her summer experience in Puerto Rico with a youth program. Our PW Enablers from Rockwood have been invited and also women from First Presbyterian Church in Harriman. The program is 6:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.
THE YOUTH OF BETHEL (Jr. High thru College) are invited to share an afternoon of swimming, fun and food today at Chuck and Cathy Allen's home. We will meet at the church at 2:30 and carpool to the house. We will be having hot dogs, chips, drinks and home made ice cream for supper. You are welcome to bring anything else you would like.
JOHN KNOX CENTER WORK DAY – Saturday, Sept. 25th, 9-5. Lunch provided. Call 376-2236 or go to admin@johnknoxcenter.org to check out projects.
PRESBYTERIAN YOUTH GROUP DAY – Sun, Sept. 26, 2-6 p.m.@ Maryville College. Jr. High & High School Students & Leaders. Outdoor adventures, good eats! Leave Bethel @ 1 p.m. Call the church office with their reservations. Additional adult drivers will be needed.
TWO BY TWO, Cumberland County Playhouse in Crossville, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2:30, please sign-up by Monday, September 20. It's early but there are only 77 more seats available out of 250. Sign up at the church office or call Marianne Shadden.
If you want to be on America's Most Unique Train on Saturday, October 16th, 3 pm, we need you to sign-up by Monday, September 20 at the church office or call Marianne Shadden 354-3609. This is a 90-minute, 14-miles trip through East Tennessee scenery. Cost: $13 and $9 for children under 12. More details in October Open Door.
| PLEASE PRAY FOR: Tora Phillips, Fred Meers, Anne Robertson, Ginny Warlick, Carol Jane Row, Evelyn Waldrup, Christine Woods, Al & Dot Davis, Mary Sykes, Justin Winsbro, Ruth Moutoux, Susan Todd, Presbyterian Churches & Pastors - Fairfield Glade (Dale Marshall) & Knoxville-Fairmont (C. Michael Mills) |
THIS WEEK
MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY: BODY RECALL – 9-10 AM
| TODAY – |
YOUTH SWIMMING – LEAVE CHURCH AT 2:30 PM
REA CIRCLE
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| TUE – |
ALPHA – 6:30-9:30 PM |
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| WED – |
HANDBELLS – 5:30 PM
CHOIR – 7:00 PM
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| THU – |
BOOK GROUP – 2:00 PM |
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