Sunday Morning Worship Service
November 14, 2004
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
Stewardship Dedication Sunday
November 14, 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
CALL TO WORSHIP – I Peter 1:23-25
You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable see, through the living and enduring word of God.
All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord endures forever.
That word is the good news that was announced to you.
Christ Jesus is the good news, and in him is life everlasting.
Let us praise and worship the God of our salvation!
PRAYER OF THE DAY
*HYMN # 559 We Gather Together Kremser
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Gracious God, through the ages you have revealed your saving love to us, but still we try to secure our lives through self-effort. We confess that we are empire builders, building industrial and technical empires based on competition and profit, scientific empires based on research findings, personal empires based on social status and influence, and national empires based on political and military power. We behave as though these are inviolate and eternal, when they are but passing phenomena. We confess the pride in believing we can memorialize ourselves through such means. We confess the fear of end times. Forgive our misguided aspirations and endeavors, we pray, and establish us anew in your eternal word. Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
In everlasting love, God reaches toward us and draws us into forgiving arms. Our souls are redeemed by grace. Our hope and confidence in eternal life that is ours in Christ Jesus is restored.
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven!
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Gloria Patri Hymn # 579
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Isaiah 65:17-65
A MOMENT WITH THE CHILDREN OF THE CHURCH
Nancy King
ANTHEM Lord, I Stretch My Hand to You
NEW TESTAMENT LESSON II Thessalonians 3:6-13
*HYMN #272 Lord of the Sparrow Roeder
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – from “A Brief Statement of Faith”
We trust in God, whom Jesus called Abba Father. In sovereign love God created the world good and makes everyone equally in God’s image, male and female, of every race and people, to live as one community. But we rebel against God; we hide from our Creator. Ignoring God’s commandments, we violate the image of God in others and ourselves, accept lies as truth, exploit neighbor and nature, and threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care. We deserve God’s condemnation. Yet God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation. In everlasting love, the God of Abraham and Sarah chose a covenant people to bless all families of the earth. Hearing their cry, God delivered the children of Israel from the house of bondage. Loving us still, God makes us heirs with Christ of the covenant. Like a mother who will not forsake her nursing child, like a father who runs to welcome the prodigal home, God is faithful still. 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 & THE LORD’S PRAYER
DEDICATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
*DOXOLOGY AND PRAYER OF DEDICATION
*HYMN # 376 Love Divine, All Loves Excelling Hyfrydol
(Please bring your Gifts Dedication form forward)
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
*CHOIR RESPONSE The Lord Bless You and Keep You
*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 Jill McMaster in recognition of National Organ Donor Sabbath.
The Liturgist today is Hannah Sherrod.
Our Ushers/Greeters are Roger and Anita Richmond.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
TODAY IS STEWARDSHIP DEDICATION SUNDAY. Forms are available in the narthex if you forgot to bring yours today. Please bring your form forward as we sing the closing hymn.
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING today following the worship service to hear a report from the Nominating Committee.
COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING SERVICE will be hosted by the Kingston United Methodist Church on November 23, 7:00 p.m. The offering will be split between the Roane County Cooperative Ministries and Hands of Mercy Enterprises.
THE PASTOR will be on study leave this week. Rev. Patricia Harvey will preach next Sunday.
BETHEL YOUTH are invited to a “Movie Night” tonight at Denise Martin’s home at 6 p.m., 102 Meadowview Drive, Kingston, 376-6605.
PLAYHOUSE – We will leave Bethel at 2 p.m. Please make checks payable to Marianne Shadden ($19).
NEEDED – A few people with the gifts of artistry and/or administration to attend the Gifts Discernment Ministry Initiative meeting on Monday, November 15 at 7:00 P.M. We will be in the classroom below the sanctuary.
| PLEASE PRAY FOR: Jerry Morris, Doris Barber, Ginny Warlick, Kay Michener, Carol Jane Row, Tora Phillips, Fred Meers, Christine Woods, Al & Dot Davis, Frank & Cathie Sanders, Ivy Basalone, Mary Sykes, Justin Winsbro, Ruth Moutoux, Susan Todd, Presbyterian Churches & Pastors -Rockwood First & Sevierville First (Donald Grady) |
THIS WEEK
MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY: BODY RECALL – 9-10 AM
| SUN – |
YOUTH GATHERING – 6:00 PM |
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| MON – |
GIFTS DISCERNMENT MEETING 7:00 PM |
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| TUE – |
ALPHA – 6:30-9:30 PM |
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| WED – |
HANDBELLS – 5:30 PM
PROPERTY & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE – 5:30 PM
FELLOWSHIP SUPPER – 6:30 PM
CHOIR – 7:30 PM
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| THU – |
GET FIT, ROANE COUNTY – 6:30 PM
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