Sunday Morning Worship Service
September 28, 2003
(Want to see a past Bulletin? Just click HERE)
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
Evangelism Sunday
September 28, 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
CALL TO WORSHIP
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
Come, let us worship God, giving thanks that we are called as Christ’s faithful witnesses!
PRAYER OF THE DAY
*HYMN # 477 Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim Hanover
*A TIME OF SILENT REFLECTION
*UNISON CONFESSION OF SIN
Gracious Lord, we have come together as sisters and brothers from many good places in your world. We pray and confess not only for ourselves and our loved ones, but also for our world. We marvel at the beauty of your creation. We rejoice in your presence that sustains us. We grieve over the destruction that can come all too quickly upon us. We weep for the pain your children endure. We regret the wounds we inflict upon each other. We ache for our broken relationships and the ways we divide ourselves. In your good world, there is hatred. There is violence. God, forgive us. Forgive us for what we have done wrong. Forgive us for the good we have failed to do. Forgive our frail sightedness that fails to see your intentions. Forgive our fear that keeps us from living according to your intentions. Pour your Holy Spirit upon us. Renew our trust in your unfaltering mercy. Provide us the energy and patience to sow seeds of love. Grant us holy anger to challenge what is and courage to work for what you intend there to be. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Sisters and Brothers in Christ Jesus, let us be assured that our prayers have been heard by our loving God who is attentive to the details of our hearts and the world. In as much as we have confessed with sincerity our sins, our needs, our weaknesses, and our fears; let us with confidence receive the forgiveness, energy, patience, courage and love that only Jesus Christ can offer!
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 Evangelism
Carolyn Tulley
A TIME WITH THE CHILDREN OF THE CHURCH
HANDBELL ANTHEM Gift of Grace
NEW TESTAMENT READING John 1:35-42
SERMON The E Word (or, Come and See!)
The Reverend Marc Sherrod
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – from “A Brief Statement of Faith”
We trust in Jesus Christ, fully human, fully God. Jesus proclaimed the reign of God: preaching good news to the poor and release to the captives, teaching by word and deed and blessing the children, healing the sick and binding up the brokenhearted, eating with outcasts, forgiving sinners, and calling all to repent and believe the gospel. Unjustly condemned for blasphemy and sedition, Jesus was crucified, suffering the depths of human pain and giving his life for the sins of the world. God raised this Jesus from the dead, vindicating his sinless life, breaking the power of sin and evil, delivering us from death to life eternal. With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.
PRAYER CONCERNS AND A TIME FOR SHARING
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
DEDICATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY My Shepherd Will Supply My Need Wood
*DOXOLOGY AND PRAYER OF DEDICATION
*HYMN # 412 Eternal God, Whose Power Upholds Forest Green
*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 Madge Benfield, in memory of her husband, Clyde. Our Liturgist today is Nancy King. Our Ushers/Greeters are Clay & Nancy Landers.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PLEASE PLAN to join us for lunch (meal provided) after worship on Oct. 5th as the session outlines the final phase of the visioning process. Also, next Sunday is World Communion and reception of the PCUSA Peacemaking Offering.
EVENING CIRCLE will meet at 6:00 P.M. in the church lounge. We will study the plight and deliverance of the unnamed widow of 2nd Kings 4: 1-7. All women of the church are invited to attend.
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 today. Please support our Bethel walkers who walk in honor of Roberta Cash. Those walkers are: Debbie Hyder, Kerry Hyder, Eden Sherrod, Chelsea Richmond, Linda Preston, Julia McGill, Scott McGill, Frederick Morgan, Matt Hines. Meet at the church at 1:00 p.m.
PLAYHOUSE NEWS – Reservation to see "42nd Street" at the Cumberland Playhouse in Crossville on Nov. 2nd, 2:30 p.n. (Central Time). We will carpool from Bethel at 1:45. Please put your reservation in offering plate or call Kathy at the office.
THIS WEEK
TODAY – WORSHIP COMMITTEE - - 7:30 PM
MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY: BODY RECALL – 9-10 AM
| WED – |
BELLS – 5:30 PM
CHOIR – 7:00 PM
|
|
|
| THURS – |
MISSION OUTREACH COMMITTEE – 7:00 PM |
|
