Sunday Morning Worship Service
October 23, 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
Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost
October 23, 2005
GREETING, WORDS OF WELCOME, RITUAL OF FRIENDSHIP AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Worship the Lord with gladness,
And enter the Lord's presence with songs of joy.
CALL TO WORSHIP
God, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
You have loved us even before creation existed; from everlasting to everlasting you are our God.
Your time is not our time; but you renew us like the dawn refreshes and renews the earth.
God is with us in all places and all times. Let us worship God.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
*HYMN #467 How Great Thou Art O Store Gud
*CALL TO CONFESSION
Hear the words of the psalmist. The law of God is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of God are sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of God are right, rejoicing the heart; the ordinances of God are true, and righteous altogether. Have we not doubted and denied God’s ways? In penitence and faith let us now turn to God, seeking the medicine of God’s grace.
*UNISON CONFESSION OF SIN
Almighty God, you call us to love you with all our hearts, souls, and minds. We have failed. Not only do we find it difficult to love you completely, we find it hard to love our neighbors as ourselves. Our hearts flutter, our souls do not comprehend, and our minds seek tangible evidence of your love for us. We are loyal to little gods, gods that don’t really matter. Refresh us and renew us as the rain of your love renews the earth. Forgive us our hardness of hearts and renew our love for one another. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Hear the good news! Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ, and Christ died for us, Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us. Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old life has gone; a new life has begun. Know that you are forgiven and be at peace.
Thanks be to God! In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen.
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Gloria Patri Hymn #579
NEW TESTAMENT Matthew 4:18-22
MINUTE FOR MISSION Debbie Hyder
OLD TESTAMENT Exodus 12
SERMON Is It Time to Roast Marshmallows? Rev. Leigh McCaslin
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Apostle’s Creed (Traditional) Hymnal Page #14
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
SHARING OF PRAYER CONCERNS
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND LORD’S PRAYER
DEDICATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
OFFERATORY MUSIC My Shepherd Will Supply My Need Shays
*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 #368 I’ve Got Peace Like a River
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE God Be with You Till We Meet Again Hymn #540
*POSTLUDE Trumpet Tune Handel
*CHARGE AND BLESSING
*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 Amy Coen.
The Ushers are Debbie & Kerry Hyder.
The flowers are given by Jennie Morris in memory of her mother, Mrs. Bobbie Britton.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please welcome Rev. Leigh McCaslin to the pulpit today while our pastor is away. Leigh is the new director of the John Knox Center and a member of our Presbytery.
We need a multitude of volunteers to contribute to a personalized Advent devotional booklet we plan to prepare for this Advent Season. Suggested devotional scripture verses have been assigned for each day. We will ask each volunteer to select a day and then prepare a personal message of approximately 300 words or less to share with the congregation in the booklet. Please sign up in the back of the sanctuary on the bulletin board.
The Session has called a Congregational Meeting immediately after worship in the church sanctuary on October 30th. The purpose of this meeting is two fold: First, for the congregation to hear and act on a recommendation from the Session to reduce the size of Session from 15 to 12 members. Second, to vote on a slate of nominees for the class of 2008 to serve on Session and one Trustee for the same class on the Board of Trustees. The nominees for Session are: Julie Bunch, Frank Jones, and Anita Richmond. The nominee for Trustees is George Warlick. Nominations can be made from the floor provided that the person’s permission has been secured in advance.
During the worship service on November 6th there will be a brief dedication ceremony for the Markers that will be placed on the hill to denote where Bethel Church once stood. Following the Worship Service, at 12:30 p.m., there will also be a brief ceremony on the hill where the Markers will actually be placed on the poles - everyone is invited. A group picture will be made and an article will be placed in the Roane County News. Several folks from the Historical Society and from DAR will attend. Thanks to Roger Richmond and Boy Scout Troop 101 for digging the holes and setting the poles in concrete. We are having two separate ceremonies because we realize that it would be difficult for some to go up the hill.
Bethel will be collecting Big Box Tops from General Mills products and Food City receipts. As they are collected, they will be turned into Kingston Elementary for school equipment. Please help out by bringing in your box tops and receipts!
Doris Barber, Sue Carter, Al & Dot Davis, Madge Mounger, Erma Shesler, Duie Swicegood, Justin Trivette, Margaret True, Evelyn Waldrup
The Healing and Wholeness Service for October 30th has been cancelled.
We would like your e-mail address. If you would like to receive Bethel updates or prayer requests via e-mail please e-mail the church office with your address at 1bethel@bellsouth.net.
Deb Hyder has written a paper titled Tennessee Public Health Association Conference 2005. It contains information on the Flu Vaccine, Immunization Updates, Depression, Childhood Obesity, and more. Please pick up a copy in the Narthex.
Six of our youth, along with youth advisors, Gary Lemasters and Denise Martin, have been attending the Senior High Retreat at John Knox this weekend.
Be sure to check the Lost and Found Box in the Narthex for any items you may have left behind.
The 2005 Flower chart is posted at the back of the sanctuary. If you would like to provide flowers for our worship service, please sign the flower chart. There are still several Sundays available.
If you are interested in being an Usher on Sunday mornings, please sign up on the chart in the back of the Sanctuary.
The Mission Outreach Committee is collecting clothes for all seasons, household items, and toys to take to Sunset Gap. Please place all donations in the designated area in the Choir Room.
Meals for Muffins is an ongoing program to collect dried cat and dog food for the Roane County Animal Shelter. Please place all donations in the designated area in the Choir Room. Designated funds are also welcome.
The Session has formed four work teams to study various building options (see the October Open Door for more details). There will be a meeting of all the teams on Thursday, October 27 at 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
- Option A - Purpose: to keep the sanctuary in its current location and perform all necessary repairs to address all issues related to safety and accessibility. Chairperson: Frank Harris, Steve Jacks, Jack McNew, and Henry Tulley.
- Option B - Purpose: to relocate the sanctuary over a new basement foundation and connect it to the educational building. This is basically the same as the proposal recently brought to the congregation by the Building Proposal Committee. Chairperson: Laura Dailey, Ken Dungan, Gary Griffith, Nancy King, and Jim Schall.
- Option C - Purpose: to build a new sanctuary on Bethel’s property. Chairperson: Mark Banker, Julie Bunch, Joe Coen, Tom Roostee, and Dave Stevenson.
- Option D - Purpose: to expand Bethel’s sanctuary at its current location. Chairperson: Jane Walsh, Carol Brown, Frank Jones, Helen Stevenson, and George Warlick.
*Please note that the folks on these work teams do not necessarily endorse that particular option, but rather offer their services as a way to seek resolution to Bethel’s building needs.
THIS WEEK'S EVENTS
|
Monday
|
Oct 24 |
Exercise With Bill
United Way Meeting
|
9:00 – 10:00 A.M.
2:00 – 4:00 P.M.
|
| Wednesday |
Oct 26 |
Exercise With Bill
Handbell Practice
Choir
|
9:00 – 10:00 A.M.
5:45 P.M.
7:15 P.M.
|
| Thursday |
Oct 27 |
Building Proposal Work Teams |
6:00 P.M. |
| Friday |
Oct 28 |
Exercise With Bill
|
9:00 – 10:00 A.M.
|
| Sunday |
Oct 30 |
Congregational Meeting
Youth Group
|
12:00 P.M.
5:00 – 7:00 P.M.
|
| Undesignated Offering |
$ 2,586.51 |
| Peacemaking Offering |
$100.00 |
| Rent - MidEast |
$100.00 |
| Cookbooks |
$85.00 |
| Circle II |
$67.50 |
| High School Retreat |
$67.50 |
| John Knox Lunch |
$143.00 |
| TOTAL |
$3,149.51 |
|
